Jakarta, costly? Not for the Low End community

JAKARTA. Jakarta is one of the most expensive cities in Indonesia and the capital’s high cost of living is a frequent source of complaint among residents. So anyone wanting a few tricks and tips on how to live cheaply in Jakarta without adopting a pauper’s lifestyle might want to take a look at Facebook group Jakarta Low End Living.

The group provides a space for Jakartans to share tips on spending low without sacrificing quality, its introduction stating: “It’s not that high-end is bad, but if you can get the same result for half the price, why not?”

Thirty-year-old writer Felix Dass said he joined the group because he agreed with the concept, which he interpreted as “life hacking”.

“Living in Jakarta isn’t as bad as people think. Most people think Jakarta’s an expensive city, but there’s always a cheaper way,” he said.

Felix gave rental costs as an example. “Renting is always a major problem for young workers in Jakarta. However, I found a decent two-story apartment in Benhil, Central Jakarta, for only Rp 1.7 million [US$145] per month,” he said.

He insisted that there were always better alternatives as long as people were willing to dig for information and listen for tips.

“The posts in the group have provided me with alternatives for lots of things,” he said.

One post that interested him was on making a sofa out of wooden pallets. “You can also make cushions from foam and fabric,” he said, adding that the cost was only around Rp 200,000.

Felix said he was amazed with the posts, having just bought a Rp 1.5 million sofa-bed.

The group advertises advice on ways to slash your budget on a range of activities, from traveling and cooking to entertainment and fashion.

Member Toton Suhartanto, for example, posted about free entertainment hubs like Galeri Indonesia Kaya at the Grand Indonesia shopping complex in Central Jakarta and Dutch cultural center Erasmus Huis in South Jakarta, which offers regular free cultural events including concerts and film screenings.

Meanwhile, member Imam Wiratmadja showed how to avoid the high cost of transportation in the capital city.

Because Greater Jakarta public transportation is not integrated, Imam wrote that people usually spent Rp 20,000 for an ojek (motorcycle taxi) from stations or bus stops to homes.

His method was to park his bicycle near the bus stops where ojek drivers usually congregate, relying on them to guard his bicycle. “You just need to lock the bike to an electricity pole,” he said.

Others posted their own garage sales or recommendations for shops that sell for less than large corporate stores.

The founder of the group, 39-year-old Niang, said he started the group after writing an article containing tips to live thriftily as a freelancer.

“The response from my Facebook friends was positive and I thought it would be fun to create a discussion group on the same theme,” he said.

Niang never predicted the dramatic rise in the number of enthusiasts. “The group is open to anyone who wants to join as long as they share the core values,” he said.

As of Tuesday, the Facebook group had upwards of 3,000 members.

Niang said he intended to create a website for the group in the near future and wanted to see more offline activities among the members.

The group met twice last month, once on Aug. 15 in Menteng Park, Central Jakarta, and the second time on Aug. 30 in the Pasar Santa traditional market in South Jakarta, when dozens of members showed up.

Pasar Santa’s third floor has been transformed into a voguish market targeting youngsters with 300 kiosks all rented by young entrepreneurs running modern coffeshops or selling vinyl records.

Felix said the meet-up was intended for discussion and direct interaction among members.

“It was exciting to see the diverse group members sharing stories on implementing low-end living,” he said.

Ajeng Chunduk, a 25-year-old kindergarten teacher from Bekasi, West Java, said she came to the event to explore the new shops and meet new friends.

“I teach in Bandung, so this is a good opportunity to meet the group members personally,” she said. (Corry Elyda)