Festive season bells and monthly debts
Tumie Modise | Monday October 13, 2014 17:14
We all look forward to the end of the year and it is mostly due to the impending festive season. And this period is never without its own drama.
At the beginning of the year, almost everyone makes resolutions. While I cannot even remember mine, I only recall that this year, I made an undertaking not to get into any unnecessary debts. Also, by September, to have paid off all my outstanding debts and bills and save for the festive period.
Recently, a study on the nation’s spending habits was released. Not surprising, as a country we did not fare very well. Admittedly our economy is not up there with the rest of the first world yet and so the report wasn’t so alarming in that regard.
What transpired from this report is basically that we are a nation that lives from month to month, or is it day to day? Most people, especially the working class, barely just scrape though the month until the next payday.
Payday should be declared our national ‘Thanks Giving day’. I know I am not alone when I say that almost every month-end, I am constantly amazed at how I even made it through the month without robbing a bank! There is nothing as painful as being knee deep in debt. But if there is anything worse than that, its having someone owe you and then they cheekily give you the run around every time they are supposed to pay you.
It is even heartbreaking when you meet them by chance (because they are always on the run) and they even appear well fed and happy!
I want to meet the genius that came up with a certain concept of ‘metshelo’in this country. In local lingo, metshelo are basically just self- help schemes often by a group of friends or colleagues. The agenda is simple; to save money for the festive season.
Unlike pyramid schemes, with these schemes all members are equal stakeholders and often one or two people will be appointed as book keepers.
I joined such schemes for the very first time some seven years ago at my previous place of employment. It is at one of these societies that I learnt that while the end of year rewards are often worth the trouble, the schemes also carries some serious risk factors with it.
It‘s already mid-October and if, like me, you belong to these metshelo’s ,then it is time to start worrying.
It is not always the borrowers who take off with the loot, some trusted book keepers have been known to pull similar stunts too.
It is really a gamble, as it is, our money is already not any safer in bank vaults. But the mistake we often make is we to leave things until the very last minute.
Once again, stressful times are here! Soon, friendships are going to get thoroughly tested, working relationships at work are going to be strained, blood pressures are going to go up and soon cell phone batteries will miraculously breathe their last, well until next January.
A couple of years ago I witnessed two gentlemen hot on the heels of a stiletto -clad female at Game City mall. The old and tired, “I haven’t gone to the bank to cash my money yet” line didn’t work this time around for this elusive Cinderella.
For, this time around, the gentlemen were having none of that and so they simply loaded her up in their car then frog matched her to the nearest ATM, once they got to this mall.
The last time I saw the two gentlemen though, they were out of their breath and running aimlessly around the mall after the lady pulled a Houdini right before their two pairs of eyes!
It is that time to do the balancing of books again. The other day, I even dreamt that the defaulters at our motshelo connived, pulled a fast one on us by seeking asylum in one of the neighboring countries!
I wouldn’t put that past them, for their stunts just become more daring by the day. As for me, this time around I am not taking chances with anyone.
When that day comes where we share of the loot, I will only pay the rest of my balance once everybody’s money is on the table. Twice beaten, thrice shy!