Temptations..

I have written about Amma using my discounted( student) train season ticket and buying me a daily student ticket when we travelling from chengannur to Kottayam. (Initially Amma and I had a season tickets. Amma’s expired before mine)

When the TTR came for inspection, Amma pretended that she thought it was her season ticket and hence she bought me a student daily ticket. Her “ aiyyo saareey” performance was worthy of an Oscar.

The TTR was very considerate of Amma’s “genuine” mistake and didn’t fine her. All in all Amma saved my daily ticket cost minus the cost of Adult  ticket = probably 2 RS. For my mother it was a big deal. Every penny counted. naalu penkuttikale kettikkan ullathalle…

I promised myself that I will never do what my mother did. And I can honestly say that I have kept my promise all these while.

This month has been a rather expensive month for me. Christmas vacation, back to school expenses and two traffic tickets for speeding (600$). The last one is of course my own doing. Both times I was caught for not noticing the 70km zone has changed to 60km.. ( road sign nokkunnathinu pakaram valloneyum vayum nokki irunnal inginey okke sambhavikkum!!!) In addition to all these expenses, I also need about 50.000$/year for each child if my children get admission to an Ivy league college. I do have education policies, but it won’t be enough and am now frantically saving every dime.

Yaya needed a haircut and off we went to salon. Like me, Yaya is a midget. She still wears kids size 4 shoes!  Most of her Aussie classmates are a head taller than her. The salon has two different rates for primary school and high school kids. ( abt 7$ difference) As we were at the till, the staff looked at Yaya and asked her “primary school?”  I was just about to say “Yes” and before I could open my mouth, I heard Yaya say, “No, high school”

There goes my 7 $ I thought and then I remembered amma’s money saving adventures. I felt ashamed that I for a second I too fell for the mallu quest for money saving called kalippeeeru..

But deep in my heart, I am proud..that even though I am totally screwed up, my children are honest to the core.

2 thoughts on “Temptations..

  1. hahaha!! my kid is tired of my frugal ways!! and I have only one and I have no education policy!! and I still will have to pay about the same for her college and I have started to tell her that getting scholarships would be a big help!! you are way ahead of many.. so relax 🙂

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