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Recession - The best time to innovate
'Recession-hit' may soon be the next latest addition to the Oxford
English Dictionary. If the number of times it has been used in the
last year is anything to go by...I think we have a clear winner! While
for most it means lay-offs, pink slips, and goodbye to the good life,
welcome simple life; some actually manage to deal with it really well
- the key is to innovate and be resourceful. How you look at it makes
all the difference.
Here are a few feasible tips that will steer you through:
'Your colleagues grumble about their wife's cooking
but swear by your wife's cheese risotto and chilli chicken' - Now's the time to
put it to good use. The next time they invite themselves over or demand a dabba,
casually sneak in a bill, VAT, Service Tax et al in place. No price is too big
for good home-made food every day. After all, the key to a big bank balance is
through another man's stomach.
"The home theatre you bought last year still
burning a hole in your pocket with its steep electricity bill?' - You don't have
to stash it in some corner of your house yet. The next time everyone wants to
catch the latest flick, use it to give them a movie theatre like experience at
your own house. Couch seating, cola and popcorn chargeable obviously.
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'Think of new and innovative ways to get
out of hosting the birthday, anniversary, Diwali, and New Year parties your
friends insist you throw. Sample this, "my son's allergic to cakes Mr.
Kumar, a birthday party is completely out of question?", or better still,
start throwing carefully planned hints to your friends about how much you
love surprise parties.
'Holidays usually turn out to be expensive
affairs. However, they work wonders in keeping your mind off the recession
blues. Instead of burning a hole in your pocket going to already overcrowded
exotic locales, think innovative. Land up your relative's place unannounced
for the summer professing your deep faith in familial bonding as the elixir
for rejuvenation and settle down for a few weeks enjoying the famous Indian
hospitality. Ignore all hints of their conspicuous unease and discomfort
till they threaten to do the same to you next year. |
'Tired of wearing the same
clothes every week, and your peanuts of a paycheque stops you from buying more
outfits? Dig out your old college bellbots and polka dots and claim that the 60s
are back with a bang. Pooh pooh your friends for being so uptight and refusing
to acknowledge what's 'in' this season.
WARNING: Following all
the above advice to the T may be injurious to health or may cause people to snub
you or run away at the mere sight of you. But don't get discouraged, it is just
an indicator of how well you are managing even in times of recession, and a
little malice and resentment should not.
Contributed By:
Rajvi Gupta,
Pursuing MA in English and Communication Studies, BA English-Lady Shri
Ram college.
raajvi_gupta@yahoo.com
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