HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO SPEND YOUR MONEY?

IT'S a question on our mind especially in time of looming depression. The news is that even our former BankBumiputra now enhanced by a new founding call 'CIMB' has told its staff members to take a six month break. Excellent BUT without pay and the duration to be regulated. Imagine soon how many others will come with the same offer.

The subject in question is however not about the economic position but how do you regulate your purchases. If you choose to pay with credit cards, you would of course have chosen the counters. If you pay cash over the table, you could be at a 'warong', 'pasar malam', 'pasar minggu', a 'mamak shop' or 'kedai Mak Milah'. The transaction too would not in most cases see a transfer of a RM50.00 note because the damage would be quite minimal.

Still many would go for convenience and comfort. That naturally make them invariably choose a supermarket where drive-in parking, air-conditioning, trolleys and proper dispensing machine for their cards are available and thrown in paper wrappings instead of the indomitable plastic as an act of benevolence.

The two photos on this page speak volume of the issue in question. You have seen many fruit stalls including the seasonal 'durian' huts by the side of the road. The exclusive fruit stall at Sunway Pyramid Subang which caught my eye recently is typical of the growing trend; offering the best of the best and pleasant to the eyes. Of course pleasantly rewarding to the owner too. No worry about quality or freshness. Some of the fruits are air-flown to grace your dining tables. Still it has taken several years before such innovation or change comes in.

Next, a housewife visits the open stall and meets with all the excitement that comes at a weekend market day. The morning sun welcomes the throngs of shoppers and happily she would greet or be greeted by friends and neighbors who made their way to the same place. For sure all items on sale will be fresh and transported at lightning speed to the market place by either motorbikes of motorcars and fresher than fresh. The housewife would failed in her culinary display or prowess if she failed to add a 'curry' dish in her weekend menu. She has to get the best of the curry spice. Here she has all the choices.

Now where do you shop? In short it has to be at the place that offers the best of the two world. Quality, friendliness, good price and whatever that meets your preference. Cost wise. I believe it is left to the purchaser.

A modern fruit stalls with all manner of fruits on display and at your choosing. Local as well imported fruits are there for your choice. Even dried fruits are available and dates in all its varieties are also on display. You would be tempted not to walk away without several bags of your delights. Clean and attractive it makes fruits now a hit and the stall a puller.

A world of difference in marketing as it stands now. Believe me it we adopt the same marketing style even the varied curry paste for 'gulai ikan. gulai daging, kurma, pindang, dalca' and others would be a sight even at the best of the supermarkets. Maybe soon we dare see this 'rempah' stall at KLCC in all its colors and hue. After all curry paste is a hit overseas now and curry paste sold at the choicest of localities would make our curry paste an international choice .