What is enough?

I had a chat with a friend who has been living abroad nearly a decade since the time her husband studied there and now he's working there as well. Now they are looking forward to go back to Malaysia for good as they think it has been so long living abroad and the children are reaching the school-going age.

But she's been telling me, she doesn't know whether it's the right time to go home. The husband still searching for job in Malaysia and they are not sure whether he can secure a good job with a handsome pay since the current economy is unstable. And she worries since only her husband is going to work, and she will not (as she thinks she would not be able to get any job because she hasn't been working since she got married), the expenses to raise a family will not be enough. Currently, their life, eventhough only one spouse working, is comfortable enough. And she knows for sure, if the husband secures a job in Malaysia, the pay probably won't be as much as he's earning now.

However, by staying longer, will make things more complicated in future.....more difficult to get a job, (by being too much experienced or specialized, switching job is much harder), children's future education at stake, buying house....

But how much is enough?

I've been asking myself the same question, you know. I don't know how is it going to be for me and my family when we go back in Malaysia later on. I don't know whether is it possible for me to get a job, earning as much as I used to get before I resigned. And we used to live with two person's salary (well, it wasn't so much but we didn't have much problem financially), I wonder how we will survive with one person's income.

And with the current situation at my husband's working organization, things/policies have been and are changing, he doesn't really know whether he'll be promoted or get a raise. It is all in grey area.

So will it be enough?

Well, my two cents points: What is enough is subjective to say....

Like this malay proverb says " makin besar periuk makin tebal lah keraknya". The more you earn, doesn't it not normal to spend more?

Especially when we are surrounded with family or friends who are doing well in life, well...in terms of material, I would say. I don't deny my own feeling of envy when I see friends of ex uni-mate or ex-colleagues bought big house, expensive car or going for a vacation abroad. Somehow, it feels like a competition...as if you must also get the same standard of living because what others are getting.

I reckon it's difficult to get rid these feelings because we are human...and there are devils, who keep persuading us to want more and more.....

Maybe we should think of those people who get less income than us, some even get below the par, the poor and misfortunate in life? Can we compare ourselves with them?

And what if those luxuries gone in a second? Like the earthquake that struck Padang recently?

So, I told my friend (and myself as well)....as for her and the family now, the target is to start a life in the home country..... you can plan for the best, but don't expect too much .....and bear in mind too that you can't forever expect that everyday has sunshine.....there would be rainy or stormy days...most importantly is how prepare are you to go through it.

So what with the 'small' salary? Find ways to make ends la...