By Reggie J

THE credit crunch has taught me that when something I've been dreading happens, forcing me to make changes in my life that I didn't want, it often turns out to be a good thing in disguise.

Life is good at kicking us when it feels we need a nudge in the right direction, and we're not going there under our own steam.

So when something as serious as the current recession happens, I start to wonder about life's reasons.

Let's face it. We've been hurtling toward the financial rapids for some time now.

We've grown used to being able to buy pretty much whatever we've wanted, whether we could afford it or not, because for many years, we've had the bank people begging us to let them lend us the money.

Then - the loss of jobs, almost in the blink of an eye.

Yes, agreed, it's not all our doing.

But we do have ourselves to blame, too.

We have been spending like there is no tomorrow.

Our children have been growing up with no real understanding of what money is worth, and how to earn it.

This is the time to teach them. It is a reminder about the value of money, again.

Now, I'm not pretending that the credit crunch is something positive, as my financial thumbscrews are as tight as anyone else's right now.

But if ever there was a time when it is good to look at life through rose-coloured glasses, this is it.

And I do believe that something positive can come out of this recession.

In the words of the song... can we start again please, and learn how to make do and to save up for the things we want.

For some old enough to remember - it's a bit of the 1980s downturn spirit - those who previously wouldn't dream of buying their loo rolls anywhere other than Cold Storage roughing it with the rest of us at Sheng Siong.

So, while the next year or two may be a little tight for most of us, like all things, it will pass.

And once the financial wrecking-ball has come to rest, we will have learnt far more sustainable ways of living on this planet and, let's hope, the old model of the rich growing richer while the poor grow poorer, will also be but a dim and distant memory.

** The writer is a former Singaporean marketing professional

This article was first published in The New Paper on Dec 16, 2008.

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