Dingzzzz

Ong Aileen had it all in her life. High flying bank executive, loving family and many great friends, though some are fair weathered ones. If there was any flaw she had, she was a really generous person. Maybe, over generously. 

She enjoys spending lavishly on her friends when someone’s birthday came along, an anniversary was to be celebrated, loan out huge amounts when someone asked to borrow money. She knew how to lead a high life too, living in a huge 5 storey high bungalow and had a collection of exquisite furniture. 

Her downfall came when she took a huge loan for one of her “friends in disguise” from the bank. Her friend disappeared with the money after a few days and she struggled to pay off the huge loan and the ballooning accumulated interest. 

In a matter of three months, she, declared bankrupt, had no choice but to downgrade to a 3 room HDB flat. When her employers sent men to confiscate her property and valuable items, she did not do anything to stop there but just stood motionless watching them. 

From an annual household income of 30,000, her family of four had to rely on 3,000 a month as her husband took over as the sole breadwinner. She no longer had the means to continue her former lifestyle. She had to save and scrimp whenever possible and buy only items she absolutely needed. The irony being, as she braved through trying times, none of the friends she had much affection for bothered to stretched a helping hand.

After 3 long years, she paid off her debt, worked back into her old position and got her old salary too. However, she did not slip back into her old spendthrift days, choosing to save instead. Later on, this money was used to fund her children’s education and even their weddings. 

Of course, her “friends” did try to curry her favor as she regained her former status, but she merely shrugged them off, knowing them to be an unreliable lot. Formerly a spendthrift, she learnt her painful lesson and discovered the importance of saving for rainy days.