Just the other day, I decided to book some hotel rooms for my relatives, who were scheduled to visit me this weekend. Verily, I did my duty by driving my faithful car to the nearby Armada Hotel. I asked the counter lady what the price was -- how much it was for a night. She told me something about a "rack rate", and mentioned that it was RM295-00 per night. Then she showed me a brochure that said the usual price for such a room was RM420-00 per night. I thought it was a good deal.
Then I did something different. I went online and checked on the price of the hotel, through one of these hotel booking websites. (I won't name any, so that you can choose the ones that you already know). I found that it was RM215 per night for a similar room, booked online.
I decided that I would investigate further. I went to PJ Hilton and was quoted RM330++ for their basic offering -- and it was apparently already discounted. When I went online it was RM285++ per night.
In the end, I wound up booking rooms at one of the leading hotels in KL for my relatives, and I would like to believe that it was a good deal. Anyway, I wasn't worried because the website has a cancellation policy where you can book and cancel before the day of check-in , without any penalty. This is definitely one of the big money savers....
Friday, January 13, 2012
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
A Simple Daily Itinerary Planning System
Dear Reader,
Today I would like to propose a system for planning our daily itinerary. I often have activities tend to go on way past their planned time. The means forward is to create a foolproof system to help me plan for a full day's work and an eventful evening.
Here's the first proposal: 7-8-9-3-2-1.
This simply means:
7: Wake up at 7 o'clock.
8: Start work at 8 o'clock.
9: Work for 9 hours. (Until 5 o'clock)
3: Relax for 3 hours. (Until 8 o'clock)
2: Be productive for 2 hours. (Until 10 o'clock)
1: Wind down for 1 hour, then sleep. (Sleep at 11 o'clock)
Sounds like a good day to me, don't you think?
Here's the second one: 6-1-4-1-4-3-2
This one means.
6: Wake up at 6 o'clock
1: Get to work in 1 hour (7 o'clock)
4: Work for 4 hours (until 11 o'clock)
1: Rest for 1 hour (until 12 o'clock)
4: Work for 4 hours (until 4 o'clock)
3: Rest for 3 hours (until 7 o'clock)
2: Be productive for 2 hours (until 9 o'clock)
Sleeping at 9 o'clock at night and waking up at 6 o'clock in the morning sounds like what my maternal grandfather used to do. I should add that he was a successful businessman in Kedah.
Here's a third one: 9-1-1-4-3-2-1
This means:
9: Wake up at 9 o'clock
1: Get ready for work in 1 hour (until 10 o'clock)
1: Work until 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
4: Work for 4 hours (until 5 o'clock)
3: Rest for 3 hours (until 8 o'clock)
2: Be productive for 2 hours (until 10 o'clock)
1: Relax for 1 hour (until 11 o'clock) then sleep.
Sleep at 11 o'clock. That's what healthy people do.
Conclusion
This system is a simple way to plan your day. Of course, this might improve with further tweaking. If you have your own version, let me know. Drop me a comment.
Using this system, we view the day in chunks of work and rest. Don't stress over it, because we are all free to map out our fun times and our work times according to our individual needs.
With that in mind, I bid you: Thank you for reading.
Today I would like to propose a system for planning our daily itinerary. I often have activities tend to go on way past their planned time. The means forward is to create a foolproof system to help me plan for a full day's work and an eventful evening.
Here's the first proposal: 7-8-9-3-2-1.
This simply means:
7: Wake up at 7 o'clock.
8: Start work at 8 o'clock.
9: Work for 9 hours. (Until 5 o'clock)
3: Relax for 3 hours. (Until 8 o'clock)
2: Be productive for 2 hours. (Until 10 o'clock)
1: Wind down for 1 hour, then sleep. (Sleep at 11 o'clock)
Sounds like a good day to me, don't you think?
Here's the second one: 6-1-4-1-4-3-2
This one means.
6: Wake up at 6 o'clock
1: Get to work in 1 hour (7 o'clock)
4: Work for 4 hours (until 11 o'clock)
1: Rest for 1 hour (until 12 o'clock)
4: Work for 4 hours (until 4 o'clock)
3: Rest for 3 hours (until 7 o'clock)
2: Be productive for 2 hours (until 9 o'clock)
Sleeping at 9 o'clock at night and waking up at 6 o'clock in the morning sounds like what my maternal grandfather used to do. I should add that he was a successful businessman in Kedah.
Here's a third one: 9-1-1-4-3-2-1
This means:
9: Wake up at 9 o'clock
1: Get ready for work in 1 hour (until 10 o'clock)
1: Work until 1 o'clock in the afternoon.
4: Work for 4 hours (until 5 o'clock)
3: Rest for 3 hours (until 8 o'clock)
2: Be productive for 2 hours (until 10 o'clock)
1: Relax for 1 hour (until 11 o'clock) then sleep.
Sleep at 11 o'clock. That's what healthy people do.
Conclusion
This system is a simple way to plan your day. Of course, this might improve with further tweaking. If you have your own version, let me know. Drop me a comment.
Using this system, we view the day in chunks of work and rest. Don't stress over it, because we are all free to map out our fun times and our work times according to our individual needs.
With that in mind, I bid you: Thank you for reading.
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Unpaid Debts - Sold to Collectors
Companies buy and sell debts as a business. In this Q&A, a retiree asks who he should pay since different people have been trying to collect from him at different times.
Is the article worth reading? Yes, I'd say so, even though it may at first glance appear to be an Aunty Agony type of column. Thanks to the article I found out that there is such a thing as a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in America. Perhaps, it'd be a good idea to examine its contents and propose a similar statute here in Malaysia.
Here is an excerpt:
Actually, most of it is common sense once you understand what has happened to this retiree's debt. I would say that in settling your debts, the creditor almost certainly wants to maximize the collection that he is able to extract from you, and thus by implication, the creditor also wants to minimize the cost of making that collection. Thus, if you are helpful and co-operative, it is almost certain that the creditor will accept your proposal of payment by instalments to settle the debt. Act tough, however, and the creditor will feel threatened enough to want to pull some court summons to intimidate you into paying up.
- Link: Credit Cards.com, 4th January 2012. Who Do You Pay When A Debt Goes Into Collection? by Erica Sandberg.
Is the article worth reading? Yes, I'd say so, even though it may at first glance appear to be an Aunty Agony type of column. Thanks to the article I found out that there is such a thing as a Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in America. Perhaps, it'd be a good idea to examine its contents and propose a similar statute here in Malaysia.
Here is an excerpt:
How you're going to deal with the bill. Now that you know your rights, work within them to rectify the problem. Contact the last collector to hold the debt and ask if he would accept partial payments of what you can afford until the account is paid in full. You may also try to settle for less than the total balance, but don't count on acceptance. They're under no obligation to settle. What they do want is the money, so if you start to send some, they should calm down and stop contacting you. If the collector does settle for less than the amount owed, you and your wife will most likely be liable for paying taxes on the amount forgiven.
Actually, most of it is common sense once you understand what has happened to this retiree's debt. I would say that in settling your debts, the creditor almost certainly wants to maximize the collection that he is able to extract from you, and thus by implication, the creditor also wants to minimize the cost of making that collection. Thus, if you are helpful and co-operative, it is almost certain that the creditor will accept your proposal of payment by instalments to settle the debt. Act tough, however, and the creditor will feel threatened enough to want to pull some court summons to intimidate you into paying up.
Video - Being Frugal - The Original Sustainability
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This video was filmed in January 2010. The speaker is Chris Farrell, a contributing editor of Bloomberg Businessweek. Why should you watch this video, which I found kind of boring but relevant nevertheless? :-D Well, Farrell speaks about being frugal today, which is viewed as a good thing. He talks about frugality in his childhood, how people used to pinch pennies back then and how they pinch pennies today, and how it is viewed positively today.
I quite liked that he said that frugality is different from being a cheapskate. The usual connotation is "Frugal" means "Cheap", but it doesn't mean that. "Frugality is the opposite of being a cheapskate. It's about being very conscious about the impact of your spending."
I found this video quite heartening, for the fact that Farrell tells you, that there is great pride to be had in being frugal. There is nothing to be shy about in trying to be frugal. :) How good life would be if we could be more frugal!
So, if you enjoyed this video, please consider reading his articles. Farrell writes at Bloomberg Businessweek. Here are links to three of his recent articles.
This video was filmed in January 2010. The speaker is Chris Farrell, a contributing editor of Bloomberg Businessweek. Why should you watch this video, which I found kind of boring but relevant nevertheless? :-D Well, Farrell speaks about being frugal today, which is viewed as a good thing. He talks about frugality in his childhood, how people used to pinch pennies back then and how they pinch pennies today, and how it is viewed positively today.
I quite liked that he said that frugality is different from being a cheapskate. The usual connotation is "Frugal" means "Cheap", but it doesn't mean that. "Frugality is the opposite of being a cheapskate. It's about being very conscious about the impact of your spending."
I found this video quite heartening, for the fact that Farrell tells you, that there is great pride to be had in being frugal. There is nothing to be shy about in trying to be frugal. :) How good life would be if we could be more frugal!
So, if you enjoyed this video, please consider reading his articles. Farrell writes at Bloomberg Businessweek. Here are links to three of his recent articles.
- Bloomberg Businessweek, 11th July 2011. The Joy Of Cash by Chris Farrell
- Bloomberg Businessweek, 20th March 2011. A College Degree is Still Worth It by Chris Farrell
- Bloomberg Businessweek, 30th December 2011. Professional Women and a Secure Retirement by Chris Farrell.
Wednesday, December 28, 2011
Another End of the Year Post
The coming year will be an unknown variable for many people. It's been a year since I felt victimized by certain events that led to me almost losing my sanity. An unknown man had hit on my girlfriend, and she had responded. It was a devastating revelation, which I had discovered only by accident. I hung on to the relationship, and things eased up. She left my firm to work elsewhere; I tried my best to cope. As it is, we have tied the knot, because despite her straying, my heart hankered for her. The next year will definitely be a transformational journey for me, as I embark on the "journey of a thousand steps". Next year, I hope to make things good. Next year, I plan to earn more and embark on a journey of fatherhood, husbandhood, and sonhood. I have been living apart from my family for nearly a month and I have found the effects of living away to be maturing and liberating. However, this is probably due to the wife not moving in yet. She has her idiosyncrasies that I am willing to put up with, such is my great love for her.
Something that I've discovered since moving into this apartment is that she likes to throw away food. Bread that has been bought must be consumed within three days; otherwise, she will discard it. The same thing goes for milk; she assumes that milk packets must be quaffed within two days of their opening. After that, she will discard it. I strongly feel that this is wasteful, despite her best arguments that it is for the best, especially pointing to the dangers of eating expired food. How long does food keep? In fact, food keeps longer than what she thinks, but then again, I am the one buying the groceries each week and swiping my card. Her only obligation is to get rid of things. This is a perverse logic that will not bode well in the long run.
I found these few links to be very useful in estimating how long to keep food in the food pantry.
Something that I've discovered since moving into this apartment is that she likes to throw away food. Bread that has been bought must be consumed within three days; otherwise, she will discard it. The same thing goes for milk; she assumes that milk packets must be quaffed within two days of their opening. After that, she will discard it. I strongly feel that this is wasteful, despite her best arguments that it is for the best, especially pointing to the dangers of eating expired food. How long does food keep? In fact, food keeps longer than what she thinks, but then again, I am the one buying the groceries each week and swiping my card. Her only obligation is to get rid of things. This is a perverse logic that will not bode well in the long run.
I found these few links to be very useful in estimating how long to keep food in the food pantry.
- Demesne.info, How long does food keep in the pantry
- Bread.com, Keeping bread fresh
- Wikihow.com, How to store bread
- Today I Found Out, Bread goes stale about six times faster in the refrigerator than at room temperature
- Lifehacker, Store bread at room temperature for six times the freshness
Certainly, the big surprise is finding out that bread goes stale faster in the fridge than at room temperature.... Something that I will keep in mind. :)
End of the Year
It is the end of the year. Have you been more frugal this year? This is always the aim, but it is not always attained. Sometimes we try our best-est to achieve certain ideals, but those ideals remain elusively out of our reach. Nevertheless, we must continue to strive to attain them. In that trying, we refine our mind, and we train ourselves to disciplined willpower. If a man should fail to strive, very quickly he will become slovenly and unkempt in his mind. An athlete that fails to work hard in his training will soon find his muscles atrophying. The muscle man who stops going to gym quickly develops a small paunch which balloons into a belly. Thus, continuous efforts to improve should never stop.
Good things come in threes, and tonight I'm in the mood to think about three things. There is a new stage in my life, and things require some rumination.
First, I'm about to be married to the girl that I was complaining about last year. This means that it's a brand new stage, with the same old person. Inevitably, old habits will resurface, even though we wish to greet each and every new day with eyes renewed. Our weariness in dealing with the same old thing, day after day, will cause us to take things for granted. Thus, I must remind myself to be calm and appreciate each day for what it is. If we were to see somebody else do something for the first time, we would not be surprised to find ourselves wondering why it is done in this way or that; yet if we were to look at the people closest to us, we would think, "Oh, he's usually like that, and there's no reason for him to change." Yet change is the only thing that is constant in this world, and knowing that, we should continuously examine the foundations of our assumptions. Keep trying to be good, never becoming evil, and striving to deliver the best that we can. Only in this way can we deliver something for the better good of humanity. It's just too easy to become disillusioned and disappointed in other people. Always try to see the better side of things. In this way, marriages and relationships can last, because they are nurtured with love and care, and remain ever fresh, rather than becoming staid and stale.
Second, one must learn to conquer himself. It is a far greater challenge to master one's eccentricities and create a golden example from them, than it is to fight another man and bring him down in hand-to-hand combat. It certainly helps you to get more organized and to plan your day better. Being on top of things is an aim that many people forget along the way, while they strive to realise the big dreams that they have dreamt up in their daydreaming haze. Certainly, a man can dream up contraptions and grand schemes, but eventually he has to come to the realisation that without pulling his act together, he'd be a total mess and find it very difficult to get anything done. Whip yourself into shape, just like the athlete wakes himself up at dawn to run around the park. Drill yourself in tasks until habit becomes a skill, so that you can perform certain basic tasks. Control finances, be punctual, be honourable, and always tell the truth. It might smart at first, but in the long term things will become bearable, even desirable. I simply cannot tolerate a life where we have to cower in fear of our lies being discovered. That is no life at all, and if a man were alive, there would hardly be any life in his eyes, because he does not find anything in himself to be proud of. This is the struggle that all men who wish to rise above the norm must conquer. Finances are especially important, but not to the point of robbing Peter to pay Paul. An honest day's living was always the pride of the poor man, no matter how hopeless his lot.
Third, keeping one's promise is fundamental to generating trust. When one is trustworthy, people will seek him out to positions of responsibility. Yet those who climb to the heights of power frequently forget the responsibility thrust upon them and become corrupted. This should never happen. One must always be true to himself. I do not believe that the evil man's conscience does not impinge upon his every thought, to the point where he suffers and has to commit more evil to smother his conscience. Hence I must think of my every move and my every step, how I have to act and move in order that I can keep my promises. A man who tries to be reliable but fails to plan his actions, becomes unreliable. One must also stand up bravely to ensure that he can carry out his responsibilities. I remember once that my followers came for a dinner function, and there were not enough seats for them. They were disgruntled and told me that I was a bad leader, because I did not reserve the chairs for them. Actually, on that evening I had told them to come early and because it was a free seating hall, I had to give up the seats that I had reserved for them. I watched them go off elsewhere for their own dinner. I resolved to prevent the recurrence of this incident, which I could have. Still, it was a difficult situation for me.
Thank you for dropping by this website.
May the coming year bless you greatly.
Good things come in threes, and tonight I'm in the mood to think about three things. There is a new stage in my life, and things require some rumination.
First, I'm about to be married to the girl that I was complaining about last year. This means that it's a brand new stage, with the same old person. Inevitably, old habits will resurface, even though we wish to greet each and every new day with eyes renewed. Our weariness in dealing with the same old thing, day after day, will cause us to take things for granted. Thus, I must remind myself to be calm and appreciate each day for what it is. If we were to see somebody else do something for the first time, we would not be surprised to find ourselves wondering why it is done in this way or that; yet if we were to look at the people closest to us, we would think, "Oh, he's usually like that, and there's no reason for him to change." Yet change is the only thing that is constant in this world, and knowing that, we should continuously examine the foundations of our assumptions. Keep trying to be good, never becoming evil, and striving to deliver the best that we can. Only in this way can we deliver something for the better good of humanity. It's just too easy to become disillusioned and disappointed in other people. Always try to see the better side of things. In this way, marriages and relationships can last, because they are nurtured with love and care, and remain ever fresh, rather than becoming staid and stale.
Second, one must learn to conquer himself. It is a far greater challenge to master one's eccentricities and create a golden example from them, than it is to fight another man and bring him down in hand-to-hand combat. It certainly helps you to get more organized and to plan your day better. Being on top of things is an aim that many people forget along the way, while they strive to realise the big dreams that they have dreamt up in their daydreaming haze. Certainly, a man can dream up contraptions and grand schemes, but eventually he has to come to the realisation that without pulling his act together, he'd be a total mess and find it very difficult to get anything done. Whip yourself into shape, just like the athlete wakes himself up at dawn to run around the park. Drill yourself in tasks until habit becomes a skill, so that you can perform certain basic tasks. Control finances, be punctual, be honourable, and always tell the truth. It might smart at first, but in the long term things will become bearable, even desirable. I simply cannot tolerate a life where we have to cower in fear of our lies being discovered. That is no life at all, and if a man were alive, there would hardly be any life in his eyes, because he does not find anything in himself to be proud of. This is the struggle that all men who wish to rise above the norm must conquer. Finances are especially important, but not to the point of robbing Peter to pay Paul. An honest day's living was always the pride of the poor man, no matter how hopeless his lot.
Third, keeping one's promise is fundamental to generating trust. When one is trustworthy, people will seek him out to positions of responsibility. Yet those who climb to the heights of power frequently forget the responsibility thrust upon them and become corrupted. This should never happen. One must always be true to himself. I do not believe that the evil man's conscience does not impinge upon his every thought, to the point where he suffers and has to commit more evil to smother his conscience. Hence I must think of my every move and my every step, how I have to act and move in order that I can keep my promises. A man who tries to be reliable but fails to plan his actions, becomes unreliable. One must also stand up bravely to ensure that he can carry out his responsibilities. I remember once that my followers came for a dinner function, and there were not enough seats for them. They were disgruntled and told me that I was a bad leader, because I did not reserve the chairs for them. Actually, on that evening I had told them to come early and because it was a free seating hall, I had to give up the seats that I had reserved for them. I watched them go off elsewhere for their own dinner. I resolved to prevent the recurrence of this incident, which I could have. Still, it was a difficult situation for me.
Thank you for dropping by this website.
May the coming year bless you greatly.
Sunday, November 27, 2011
Oil, Sugar and Salt
These were the words that came to mind as I turned on my computer, and I could not resist writing a few words about them before the fleeting thought disappeared for good.
Dear Reader,
As you know, many developing countries and developed countries are facing a problem that is known as "obesity". This perhaps stems from several factors, a few of which I discern as follows:
The solution may be not to cut these tidbits out but to replace them with healthier offerings. Perhaps housewives and busy executives can do that, but it'd be a tiresome chore to do it day in and day out. Hence companies that produce sweets, condiments, coffee powder, and fast food, should take responsibility by taking a hard look at their recipes. They should innovate healthier offerings by measuring the oil, sugar and salt content of the products. If they can cut down on using oil, sugar and salt, this will mean savings in terms of ingredients. New competitors to the marketplace should also consider producing products with less sugar, oil and salt, effectively creating a new market of trendy yet healthy food.
There's a reason why people miss food like "mom cooked it". Home cooked food is prepared with love and affection and served up piping hot. It's offered in small batches -- unless you have a big family -- and everybody shares. More often than not, home-cooked food is healthy because mothers will consider the balanced diet for their children -- veggies, proteins, and carbs. Left to their own devices, kids and young adults will indulge in whatever they like to eat -- chocolate bars, cookies, fried chicken, and such. It seems that there is no food shortage in developed countries, despite the Malthusian prediction that population growth would outstrip food production capacity. In fact, planet Earth just celebrated her citizen no. 7,000,000,000 very recently.
Here is one business idea -- housewives and mothers should get together to author a book on healthy snacks for children. They could work hand-in-hand with fast food restaurants to revamp the menu offerings with food that mothers will easily approve of. It is a known fact that fast food restaurants now serve people around the clock, and their products are not always healthy. A stamp of endorsement from housewives and mothers for certain menu offerings will assure other mothers and housewives that this or that establishment is worth going to.
You know, for a while, I really enjoyed the Chicken and Beef Foldover offered at McDonalds. Yet it seems to have disappeared... the latest "healthy" offering I see is the Original Chicken McDeluxe, which tries to live up to its healthy image despite a healthy dollop of mayonnaise. In any case, the march towards healthy yet delicious snacks is only one part of the battle. Because food has become affordable (for those earning a reasonable income), there is a danger of over-consumption. People are over-consuming, eating portions that are bigger than their forebears are used to. Perhaps it is the psyche of those who have lived through poverty and wars to justify eating better and bigger portions, to justify it by thinking of the hard times that they have lived through. Nevertheless, rather than eating large portions, they can remember the poor and the suffering, living in countries where food is insufficient.
Here is another idea: perhaps fast food restaurants can offer patrons burgers, and half-a-burger. The price will be the same for both, but should the consumer choose half-a-burger, he can pay the full price (of the burger) and half of it will be donated to the poor and the suffering in developing countries. It will be a win-win for all parties concerned: The restaurant does not undermine its present offerings with cheaper offerings, the consumer can eat more healthily, and the poor people of the world will get their food subsidized or donated.
That's probably a new business model there, and a consultant could probably charge for it, but I'm being generous today and throwing this idea out to the open so that people can look at it and make some changes. :)
Dear Reader,
As you know, many developing countries and developed countries are facing a problem that is known as "obesity". This perhaps stems from several factors, a few of which I discern as follows:
- Fast food restaurants - They often fry their fries and burger patties with dollops of oil and salt.
- Sugar - Plentiful in fizzy drinks, coffee and tea, and other beverages. Also to be found in sweets and other condiments, such as "energy bars" (which people consume despite being fully energized).
- Work stress - As economies become more developed, people are employed in high stress jobs, leading to lack of proper living habits and unhealthy eating habits. This leads to a never-ending story of fast food restaurants and wi-fi coffee houses that serve ultra-rich coffee boasting three or four layers of different tastes and textures that will tickle your tongue.
- Junk food - Snacks like are often salty and oily, despite their display of "nutritional information" at the back of the packaging.
- Physical/Lifestyle factors - People do not exercise either because they do not have the time or the inclination for it, or both.
The solution may be not to cut these tidbits out but to replace them with healthier offerings. Perhaps housewives and busy executives can do that, but it'd be a tiresome chore to do it day in and day out. Hence companies that produce sweets, condiments, coffee powder, and fast food, should take responsibility by taking a hard look at their recipes. They should innovate healthier offerings by measuring the oil, sugar and salt content of the products. If they can cut down on using oil, sugar and salt, this will mean savings in terms of ingredients. New competitors to the marketplace should also consider producing products with less sugar, oil and salt, effectively creating a new market of trendy yet healthy food.
There's a reason why people miss food like "mom cooked it". Home cooked food is prepared with love and affection and served up piping hot. It's offered in small batches -- unless you have a big family -- and everybody shares. More often than not, home-cooked food is healthy because mothers will consider the balanced diet for their children -- veggies, proteins, and carbs. Left to their own devices, kids and young adults will indulge in whatever they like to eat -- chocolate bars, cookies, fried chicken, and such. It seems that there is no food shortage in developed countries, despite the Malthusian prediction that population growth would outstrip food production capacity. In fact, planet Earth just celebrated her citizen no. 7,000,000,000 very recently.
Here is one business idea -- housewives and mothers should get together to author a book on healthy snacks for children. They could work hand-in-hand with fast food restaurants to revamp the menu offerings with food that mothers will easily approve of. It is a known fact that fast food restaurants now serve people around the clock, and their products are not always healthy. A stamp of endorsement from housewives and mothers for certain menu offerings will assure other mothers and housewives that this or that establishment is worth going to.
You know, for a while, I really enjoyed the Chicken and Beef Foldover offered at McDonalds. Yet it seems to have disappeared... the latest "healthy" offering I see is the Original Chicken McDeluxe, which tries to live up to its healthy image despite a healthy dollop of mayonnaise. In any case, the march towards healthy yet delicious snacks is only one part of the battle. Because food has become affordable (for those earning a reasonable income), there is a danger of over-consumption. People are over-consuming, eating portions that are bigger than their forebears are used to. Perhaps it is the psyche of those who have lived through poverty and wars to justify eating better and bigger portions, to justify it by thinking of the hard times that they have lived through. Nevertheless, rather than eating large portions, they can remember the poor and the suffering, living in countries where food is insufficient.
Here is another idea: perhaps fast food restaurants can offer patrons burgers, and half-a-burger. The price will be the same for both, but should the consumer choose half-a-burger, he can pay the full price (of the burger) and half of it will be donated to the poor and the suffering in developing countries. It will be a win-win for all parties concerned: The restaurant does not undermine its present offerings with cheaper offerings, the consumer can eat more healthily, and the poor people of the world will get their food subsidized or donated.
That's probably a new business model there, and a consultant could probably charge for it, but I'm being generous today and throwing this idea out to the open so that people can look at it and make some changes. :)
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