3 Ways How You Will Treat Yourself This Year

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Write down 3 ways you will treat yourself during the year

I don’t know about 3 ways but the major way that I will treat myself, now that things have calmed down a lot more with Covid and things are more open, I will check and see when I can get a few days off and budget permitting, I will once again book a hotel room for myself as a sort of staycation. All I would want is to book a hotel room, one with a comfortable and large bed, free wifi, room service and a tv. I would sleep, read, internet (the verb) and watch a few movies while drinking a bit and eating whatever they can deliver to me. That would be the best way to unwind and relax and recharge my batteries.

I’m gonna buy a few new shirts to upgrade my wardrobe. I haven’t in a while, mainly because of the pandemic and since I barely went out, why buy new clothes. So I have just ordered my first one and if I like that one, I will order a few more from that brand. I also need new pants and I guess I have to go out and find a few. Wearing new threads will make you feel new(ish) and make you feel a lot more fresh. It’s a great way to pamper yourself.

I think I will get a new smartphone this year. I currently have 2 phones – my Oppo F11 Pro is almost 4 years old and my main phone, which is the RealMe X2 Pro is gonna be 2 in July. I think I will sell off the Oppo and get a new phone to be my main one and keep the RealMe as my backup.

Prompt from 28 Enchanting February Journal Prompts for 2022 from MercyK.com

11 Weird Laws From The State Of Florida

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1. It’s illegal to lean a bike on a cemetery’s tree: Locality: Destin

2. It’s illegal to skateboard without a license: Locality: Florida State Laws

3. You can’t roll a barrel down the street. Depending on the barrel’s content, you can be fined: Locality: Pensacola

4. Women who fall asleep under a hairdryer can be fined: Locality: Florida State Laws

5. Men can’t publicly wear a strapless gown: Locality: Said to be in Miami (Source unknown)

6. Publicly singing a swimsuit is illegal: Locality: Sarasota

7. Unmarried women parachuting on Sundays could risk jail time: Locality: Florida State Laws

8. Being publicly clothed in liquid latex is illegal: Locality: Satellite Beach

9.  Horse theft is punishable by hanging: Locality: Florida State Laws

10.  A woman electrocuted in the bathtub using beauty tools can be fined after she’s dead: Good Lord, what were these people thinking?! Locality: Pensacola

11. In the state of Florida, the law states you must pay for the parking meter if you tie an elephant, goat, or alligator to it: Good Lord, what were these people thinking?!

Do You Wanna Go Back?

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What do you think it would be like to live in the past? What year would you choose?

While I do not want to go back to the past, there are some good things about living in the 80s & the 90s that I wish I could get back. Things were much simpler back then, ofcourse as anyone who has lived a few decades will tell you about the years gone by. My time spent as a child was pretty happy for the most part and I wish I could get back those years of enjoyment.

I read more back then, I watched a lot of cable yet I went out more and met my friends and spend a lot of time with my cousins. We hung out, we sung songs and we have a great time playing cricket or football. Despite the fact that I hate cricket! We also played board games in the evenings and played quiz games before we went to sleep. The guys slept in one big room, the gals slept in another. This was a wonderful time to grow up. Even later on in the later 90s I think I enjoyed my life a lot more.

Ofcourse technology wise we didn’t have it as advanced. No internet or wifi or laptop computers and no smartphones. Cable tv was better at that time though as we still had great shows that were on the air in reruns or in sync with the international releases. And we had great music playing all the time.

Prompt from Lalilo February ’22 Writing Prompt Calendar at Lalilo.com

Drinking A Couple Beers After 6 Months & Long Overdue Haircut

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Finally, after such a long time I was finally out and about. Post May and the second lockout which lasted for almost a month I haven’t been out for anything other than getting vaccines done in August. Then I had my hospitalization in October and then have only been out for hospital visits and doctor’s appointments. Today was the day that changed. What I needed most was two things and for the first I booked it via a phone call in the morning. A couple of days ago I had also called my cousin Sujith to see if he was game to meet up for a few beers and we arranged to do it today.

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I was long, long overdue for a haircut. Even though I am balding very badly on the top, my hair does grow at the sides and back. My last haircut was…..steady yourselves folks……back in late April or early May! My hair was so long at the back that it was almost shoulder length. It was very difficult to dry my hair after a shower. Also it started getting in the way at times and it was curling at the ends and when I shave it would get in the way. I should have cut my hair back in August or September but then yeah, I wasn’t going out anywhere.

So I had booked my appointment for a haircut at a nice saloon which I have been going since the last 2-3 years. Expensive but it is very nice and comfortable and you don’t have to sweat while waiting for your barber to be free. Besides, I only have to do this once every 4 months or so, therefore a little pampering is ok in my book. I shaved and showered and then got dressed and got into an Uber by 12:40 pm and reached there by 12:55pm. I waited for all of 5 minutes before I was seated and then got my long locks chopped off. Man, it feels good!

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While I was still getting my hair cut, Sujith reached the saloon and waited on one of the seats. Once my haircut was done, I paid and united with my cousin – we hadn’t met since July of 2020. Damn, that is such a long, long time. We walked over to Couchyn, my favourite bar which I hadn’t visited since February 2020, got a table and then checked the menu. Prices are so high these days but yeah once in a while it’s ok to enjoy yourselves. We ordered two Hoegaardens which was delicious and then two Coronos, which I had never had before. We munched on a bunch of French fries – which are way better than any fries from McDonalds, Taco Bell, Burger King, Chicking or KFC. Seriously!

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Ofcourse we chatted up a storm. We talked about what he was doing and his personal life, what I have been doing at work and my lack of a personal life. We talked about the usual stuff – Star Trek shows, Marvel movies & tv shows, other new tv series, girls & women, etc. After that we ordered one more Hoegaarden each and ended up the afternoon with two scoops of ice cream each. He had vanilla and I had chocolate. Everything was great tasting and I really have missed beer. It has been 6 months since I had had a meal out of the home and since months since I had any beer. How I have missed you, beer!

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Then I booked my Uber to come back home and we parted at the entrance. He walked to the Metro nearby and went home. I got into my Uber and had a nice chat with the driver who was also very kind. I came home and watched tv for a bit and took a nap before waking up for coffee.

Arsenal 2 Brentford 1

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Second-half strikes from Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka lifted Arsenal to victory over Brentford as the Gunners moved to within a point of the top four. England international Smith Rowe ran at the Brentford defence and curled a measured right-footed shot past David Raya to send his side on their way to a second successive win. His goal came following a first half in which Arsenal had two penalty appeals turned down. Bukayo Saka capped a satisfying afternoon for Mikel Arteta’s side when he slotted home, although Brentford felt they should have had a free-kick for a foul on Pontus Jansson in the build-up.

Brentford were superb when they beat Arsenal on the opening night of the season and, while Christian Norgaard struck an injury-time consolation, the Bees’ winless run extended to seven games. Victory moves Arsenal level on points with fifth-placed West Ham, who drew at Newcastle earlier on Saturday, and within a point of Manchester United in fourth with two games in hand on the Red Devils. Having not played since beating Wolves on 10 February, Arsenal started brightly as Alexandre Lacazette had a goal disallowed for offside with Martin Odegaard and Saka both firing wide. The main talking point from the first half, however, centred on Jon Moss after the referee waved away the home side’s appeals following Kristoffer Ajer’s challenge on the French striker in the box.

The Gunners had another shout for a spot-kick when Cedric Soares’ shot struck Yoane Wissa’s arm, but again it was turned down following a VAR check. But increasing frustration turned to elation three minutes after the restart when Smith Rowe collected Lacazette’s pass and drove at the visiting defence before finishing confidently. After scoring twice last term, it was a ninth goal of the season – and first of 2022 – for Smith Rowe, who was recalled to Arteta’s line-up to replace the suspended Gabriel Martinelli. Only Mohamed Salah, Diogo Jota and Raheem Sterling have scored more league goals than Smith Rowe.

WandaVision

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WandaVision is an American television miniseries created by Jac Schaeffer for the streaming service Disney+, based on Marvel Comics featuring the characters Wanda Maximoff / Scarlet Witch and Vision. It is the first television series in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) produced by Marvel Studios, sharing continuity with the films of the franchise and taking place after the events of the film Avengers: Endgame (2019). Schaeffer served as head writer with Matt Shakman directing. Elizabeth Olsen and Paul Bettany reprise their respective roles as Wanda Maximoff and Vision from the film series, with Debra Jo Rupp, Fred Melamed, Kathryn Hahn, Teyonah Parris, Randall Park, Kat Dennings, and Evan Peters also starring.

The series pays homage to past sitcoms, with Maximoff and Vision living in a reality that takes them through different decades of television tropes. WandaVision premiered with its first two episodes on January 15, 2021, and ran for nine episodes, concluding on March 5. It is the first series, and beginning, of Phase Four of the MCU. The series received praise from critics for its recreation of past sitcoms and for the performances of its cast, especially those of Olsen, Bettany, and Hahn, though there was criticism for the finale. The series has received numerous accolades, including 23 Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning three.

That Which Cannot Be Proven By Science?

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If all atheists only believe in things which are scientifically proven, then will they (atheists) agree those that not (yet) proven scientifically doesn’t exist, even, regardless of limitation in human ability to discover everything?

I can’t speak for all atheists. There is nothing mandatory for an atheist to believe in. Most of us will agree on some subjects and disagree on a lot more. That is because the only criteria for being an atheist is if the answer to the question “Do you believe in a god or gods?” is NO. Or even I don’t know. If it is the latter than you can’t say that you are a theist anyway.

Alright now to your question. Ofcourse not all atheists will believe in things that can only be scientifically proven. But it is better to believe in things that are proven to be true. Otherwise you could get taken for a ride. Some of them non-proven things are harmless and even fun. In my mind sometimes I am captaining the starship USS Enterprise.

For instance, I believe that there could be alien life out there on various planets and star systems. Is that scientifically proven? No. But I just can’t bring myself to be arrogant enough to think that in this wide, wide universe will millions and millions of planets and moons we are the only planet with life. It would be a shame and waste of space. I highly doubt we will prove it in my life time but it is fun to imagine what life is like out there amongst the stars.

Prompt from Quora.com

That Clear Moment Of Realization

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Write about the moment you realized you’d fallen in love (for the first time, with your current significant other, etc).

This is about my first girlfriend and I was aged 16. I first met her in the college that I had joined (this was during the pre-degree years when we did our 11th & 12th grades in a college to prepare us for degrees) and although I knew very few other students at the time and stuck to a small group of just 4, some of the other boys & girls were friendly with me. I had heard her name in the large class we had before I saw and her name was very unique for me at the time. I kept wondering which one was her and then I met her and spoke to her.

I can’t say that it was love at first sight but very close to that. It started as just seeing her brought a smile to my face and a pull at the ole heart strings. Pretty soon I started talking to her and our mutual friends in the class new that I had it bad for her. They even tried to set me up but she was very reluctant. We would speak on the phone quite a bit in the evenings and during the weekends. As I spoke to her and became closer, I knew that I was starting to like her a lot and more than just a friend. I would soon have visions of what I had then hoped would be my life with her. Ofcourse that did not happen.

However I do remember the day that I knew that I was truly head over heels for her and that it has progressed beyond just being a crush. We spoke on the phone on a Saturday and discussed a lot of personal things. My heart was heavy with feelings for her and when I kept the phone I was like in a trance. I went to my stereo system (this was 1992) and played the new album that I had just bought and was listening to that morning before I called her. The very next play that I played was the love ballad Bed Of Roses and I always associate my feelings for her with that song. She would later on become my girlfriend for about 5 years but yeah we parted on bitter terms.

Prompt from FEBRUARY BLOG PROMPTS {12 MONTHS OF WRITING IDEAS} at Food Fun Family

Those Delightful Cookie Sandwiches

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One of the sweets or dessert items that I have been craving but have rarely had a chance to get my hands on is macaroons. For years I have had a glimpse here or there and got pale imitations but never got the real deal. It was something I watched on Youtube videos, seeing chefs and cooking enthusiasts make them in the studios or in the kitchen. Well, now I have a few options – I only just checked – to buy some and can get them easily delivered to me.

A macaroon, or macaron in French, is a small cake or biscuit, typically made from ground almonds (the original main ingredient), coconut or other nuts, with sugar and sometimes flavourings (e.g. honey, vanilla, spices), food colouring, glacé cherries, jam or a chocolate coating; or a combination of these or other ingredients. Some recipes use sweetened condensed milk. Macaroons are sometimes baked on edible rice paper placed on a baking tray. Since the 19th century, a typical Parisian-style macaron is presented with a ganache,  buttercream   or jam filling sandwiched between two such cookies, akin to a sandwich cookie. The confection is characterized by a smooth squared top, a ruffled circumference and a flat base. It is mildly moist and easily melts in the mouth. Macarons can be found in a wide variety of flavours that range from traditional (raspberry, chocolate) to unusual (foie gras, matcha).

I bought a couple today, just a couple mind you, which were in the pista flavour and oh boy they were delightful. Crisp and so light and brittle and yet so delicious. The inside filling was delectable and I am still licking my lips at the thought of them. I will try to find a bigger pack that I can get to curb my cravings and everytime I am itching for a macroon or macron fix I can order the pack online.

New Work Schedule For 2 Weeks Or So

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Well I have changed my work shift yet again. But I do like this change as I get to relax a lot more. So I am conducting training for a set of folks who were taken on contract last year and were let go after the contract got over but are now rehired as we have new business from the clients. So despite they only stopped working for us less than 2 months ago, they are being taken through a training for the job that they were doing. My current shift for the next two weeks is 12:30 pm to 9:30 pm.

Which means I do not have to wake up super early and I also do not go to bed super late. Well, that last part depends on how tired & sleepy I get. So I wake up around 9 am and after coffee & a quick breakfast I go online until 11:45 am when I go to take a shower and then get ready for my shift. The batch of 20 folks come in by 12:30 pm and login to my WebEx bridge and we start. I give them a 45 minute lunch break at 2 pm and I too go and have my lunch at that time. Usually by 6 pm I give them another break for coffee/tea and snacks.

By 9 pm I run down the things I want them to recall for the day and whats coming up for the next day and make them fill out a daily survey and then send them on their way by 9:20 pm. I then go and have my dinner and relax till 11:30 pm. By then I have taken my medicines, gotten my water which I place next to my bed, locked my bedroom door and then I get naked between the sheets and lie back to watch episodes of the shows that I am currently watching. By 2:30 am I am fast asleep and off to dreamland.

What TV shows Are You Obsessed With This Month?

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What TV shows are you obsessed with this month?

1. Reacher is an American crime thriller streaming television series based on the Jack Reacher book series by Lee Child. The eight-episode first season, based on Killing Floor, Child’s 1997 debut novel, was released on Amazon Prime Video on February 4, 2022. As as fan of the two movies with Tom Cruise in the role, playing an older & more wiser version, I was excited to see the new series. Actor Alan Ritchson is sure to hit new heights of fame as he portrays the role to an amazing cheer from fans of the novel, who though Cruise wasn’t big enough in size to play the titular character. This is also a good series storywise and acting wise. No complaints here.

2. The Book Of Boba Fett is an American space Western television series created by Jon Favreau for the streaming service Disney+. It is part of the Star Wars franchise, taking place after the events of Return of the Jedi (1983). It is a spin-off from the series The Mandalorian that features the crime lord and bounty hunter Boba Fett from that series and other Star Wars media. The Book of Boba Fett exists alongside The Mandalorian and its other spin-off Ahsoka. Well obsessed is not the word. I really am not finding the deluge of Disney+ shows for Marvel & Star Wars to be that great. In fact, why is this one being made in the first place? But I do want to watch it and I finished the first 2 episodes but got a bit bored.

3. Cold Squad : This one is an oldie. Cold Squad is a Canadian police procedural television series that premiered on CTV on January 23, 1998, at 10 p.m., and ran for seven seasons. Led by Sergeant Ali McCormick (Julie Stewart), a team of homicide detectives from the Vancouver Police Department reopen long-unsolved, or “cold” cases (the titular “Cold Squad“), using present-day forensic technology and psychological profiling to help crack them. I watched the show on AXN back in the late 90s and early 2000s. Then in 2012 I rewatched it again. I love this procedural show which influence CSI, Bones and all the American shows that came after it. Yet it has never gotten it’s due.

Prompt from FEBRUARY BLOG PROMPTS {12 MONTHS OF WRITING IDEAS} at Food Fun Family

7 Things I Love To Do That Genuinely Bring Me Joy And Happiness

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List 7 things you love to do that genuinely bring you joy and happiness.

  1. Listening to my favourite songs from my favourite artists & bands and/or watching live concert clips from my favourite bands & artists .
  2. Watching comedy clips from tv shows or movies or any good standup comic. Sure to make me smile and laugh.
  3. Seeing puppies & dogs, whether face to face or on videos. Especially Golden Retrievers and Labradors but a lot of other breeds as well. Silly videos and endearing ones always makes me feel good.
  4. Watching my favourite vloggers when they have a new video out. Always makes me eager to watch it and enjoy the latest.
  5. Watching Star Trek tv shows, movies or anything related to Star Trek – that is sure to make me so happy. Just listening to those theme music pieces swells me up with joy.
  6. Watching great moments in sports like tennis, wrestling, NHL and football. Special times throughout the past years!
  7. Some kids who are really sweet and cute and who bring joy to everyone.

Prompt from DAILY JOURNALING PROMPTS – FEBRUARY 2022 at Krafty Planner

How To Make Your Business a Thriving Success

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Thinking of a brand new concept for a business and then having the passion and determination to see it through is a good starting point when you have dreams of running your own business. Collectively there is a lot to think about as a business owner and there are several aspects you will want to think about covering. So if you are thinking of starting your own business here are some things you will want to consider to really turn your business into a thriving success.

Create Something Different

Ideally the more unique and creative your business idea is, the better. There is a lot of competition, whether it is in city centers or online. So if you can come up with a concept or product that is truly unique then this will already be a great selling point for your business.

You then want to have a look at your competition and see if there are any areas in which your business can fill. Identifying your competition and analyzing your target market will help you to come up with necessary tweaks to improve it.

Have Your Finances In Order

Ensuring you have enough financial resources before you begin your business venture will be important. You don’t want to start your business only to find that you have run out of money further along the way. Keeping money aside will also be useful, in the eventuality that you need to inject some cash into your business for an unexpected expense. By creating a business account it will allow you to separate money from personal expenses and it will be a lot easier to keep track of how much you have purely for business needs.

Locate Your Ideal Business Premise

Finding the right sort of premise that is suitable for the service or product that you provide will be important. Whether it is a clothes shop, restaurant, civil engineering businesses or an office environment, you need to be situated in the correct sort of venue. Searching around for the ideal business premise will be necessary, so it’s worth taking your time to find the correct building instead of rushing into purchasing the first venue you come across.

You will want to identify where ideally you will need to be situated. Does your business premise need to be located in a city center area close to public transport? How large does the venue need to be? Will you be using it on a daily basis or just several times a week? Do you need a larger venue for production and distribution? There are various aspects to consider which you will also want to apply when you are searching for your ideal business premise. Getting in touch with a realtor will help you to view different premises before you need to confirm a specific choice.

Create Excellent Rapports With Your Business Partners and Suppliers 

If your business needs to rely on other business partners or suppliers to be able to provide you with a specific product to enable you to run your business, then you will need to establish good working relationships. You will need to be professional, polite, organized and reliable when dealing with your business contacts. The better working relationship you have the more likely they are to remain in business with you, which could certainly benefit your own business. So maintaining professional working relationships is very important when you are a business owner.

Build a Great Team 

The people around you are also pivotal to the success of your business. So it is important to hire the correct employees that will make up your team. You want to employ people that are genuinely enthusiastic about your brand and vision and will work hard to meet targets and drive business forward in terms of sales. Creating a positive and happy work environment will be conducive to how your employees perform on a daily basis, so as long as your team is happy and motivated they will continue to contribute towards business sales.

Advertise on Social Media 

If you want your business brand to be visible then you need to get onto social media to advertise. Setting up a business page will be easy to do and above all free, which is certainly a bonus. This will then enable you to create a social media campaign for your targeted audience whether it is in the form of a short marketing video or with memorable content that will capture your users interest. This is an excellent platform to be able to gain new customers and build up your business reputation.

Encourage Customer Loyalty 

Once you get a consumer to make a purchase, you then want to encourage them to return to your business. Creating a loyalty programme, offering discounts and signing them up to email marketing are effective ways to encourage that customer to repurchase from you in future. Once you have established yourself as a reliable, customer friendly brand it is going to be a lot easier to entice that consumer back again. You also want to value them as a customer by making them feel special. A happy customer is much likely to write a complimentary review and recommend you to other people which is another great way to boost your business reputation.

Overall you need to be organized, hard working and patient to be able to gradually grow your business concept into a reality. With these suggestions you will hopefully be able to establish yourself as a credible business owner who is running a thriving business.

What Would My Three Wishes Be?

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If you could make three wishes and they would come true, what would you wish for?

1. That all the illness, diseases and ails of the world (including lost limbs getting refitted with easily workable artificial ones) be erased from existence. No one thus can die of old age and we and our animals will live forever, in the age we are currently at and none of the old folks will have to worry as they are hale & hearty and can relax.

2. That every human gets a nice, comfortable and even luxurious home to live in as now money is not the main concern but well being in. So you don’t have to work for money and things; everything is provided to you and humanity – leaving borders, colour, creed, religion aside – works towards the betterment of all humankind. And our animals. So rest assured you and your pets (the dogs, the cats, rabbits, ferrets and assorted turtles, parrots, fish and whatever) will never go hungry, thirsty or want for shelter or anything. All of us will be safe in homes – apartments or standalone homes or townhouses – no matter what and will have everything we need.

3. We get several spaceships or starships as they will be called built and we develop an impenetrable forcefield that surrounds the ships and even our spacesuits so now – we can boldly go where no man has gone before! Seriously I want to explore the galaxy and beyond, walk on alien planets and see what is beyond that next star system. Let’s make it happen.

These are my 3 wishes!

Prompt from DAILY JOURNALING PROMPTS – FEBRUARY 2022 at Krafty Planner

Flagship Phones & Our Salaries

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Having watched a lot of laptop and phone unboxings over the years, but I have noticed that the price difference in Western nations as compared to countries like mine, which is firmly in the developing nations bracket. If you want to see examples I use the one below which is that after doing a quick Google search and using IT professionals as an example. I fall in one section of an IT professional (it’s weird but go with it) and I get a very good salary for someone in this city and state. Not the highest but in the upper levels (though I need more, just like anyone who has a lower or higher salary will always want more). Yet I can’t afford the flagship phones unless I have a bunch of savings to back it up.

Then I looked at the average salaries of IT professionals in the UK, Canada & The US. Compare the salaries that they get a month versus the prices of the flagship phones. Here is a rough idea below and man does it look sad for us Indians.

  • Average salary of an IT professional in the US : $73,352/yr or $6113 per month
  • Average salary of an IT professional in Canada : $70,00/yr or $5833 per month
  • Average salary of an IT professional in the UK : GBP 73,678/yr or GBP 6140 per month
  • Average salary of an IT professional in India : Rs.6,00,000/yr or Rs.50,000 per month

Now look at the prices of the two biggest flagship phones:

Samsung Galaxy S21 Plus : 64,999 / $699 / 1,299.99

iPhone 13: Rs. 74,900.00 / $829 /$1099

Yes, I know that the Galaxy S22 range is out but it isn’t launched in India yet so I do not know the price as of this moment. But still look at the difference for India. How can one afford them with their salaries? Unless you dip into your savings to buy them outright or pay the EMI for them. Which technically someone in the same position in the US, UK or Canada does not have to do. But they still use the carrier to pay the equivalent of an EMI.