… Economist warns of a ‘long’ February for those paid early
BY PHUMELELE MKHONTA
MBABANE– It seems there is ‘no’ Janu-worry this year.
What was known to be a quiet and gloomy January, with low economic activity and financial frustrations, seems to be a thing of the past as this year, life is going on as usual.
This is according to an assessment by the public, who took this notion to their social media platforms, stating how this January was not frustrating as the ones in the past.
“The norm has always been to feel the frustration which came with January which included drastic financial shortages. This year, it seems like this month of January is like any other month- we can afford the basics of life and comfortably prepare for opening of schools,” said the social media users.
Their identities cannot be revealed because of ethical reasons.
When sought for comment, renowned Economist Thembinkosi Dube also agreed with the above argument, saying there seemed to be a normal economic activity, unlike the previous months of January.
“This may be attributed to the fact that civil servants got paid late than usual the past December and they have already been paid. However, this poses as a danger for the month of February as it may bring strain to them (civil servants),” said Dube.
Last year before the festive commenced, Dube warned the public against overspending during the festive season, saying they should budget to have a comfortable January.
Dube said people should be vigilant with how they use their money.
“It is a fact that people will want entertainment and that is a pivotal part of life, especially during this time of the year. However, the entertainment should not get out of control.
“People should budget and implement their budgets. If they have a suspicion some of the expenses might overlap they should reserve that money in their budgets,” he said.
The economist further said it was easy for people to get carried away and be engaged in activities which they did not plan for.
“It is very easy to get carried away in December and this is exactly what leads to the frustration in January- where expenses will still need to be attended to. To desist from the frustration, it is wise to stick to your budget.
“This will lead to a stress free January, knowing your account is set to cover all expenses,” said Dube.
