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Debtfree Magazine May 2020 – Editor’s Note

After 2 months in lockdown, most of us have run the whole gauntlet of emotions by now. The initial novelty of zoom meetings with the family wore off pretty quickly, then there was a growing realization that your income was going to be affected (already, pre lockdown, the Pandemic had been giving most businesses stress). Next, the point where the days started to blend (is it Thursday today? What’s a public holiday?). Round about that point a type of lockdown depression hit and you found yourself in your pyjamas all day just reading news articles, cruising social media and watching rubbish on TV.

All the while, the stats have started to climb. In the back of your head, you have said: well, at least we don’t have it as bad as Italy or the USA. Well done us! Maybe you watched the President’s speech, maybe you forgot it was happening….maybe you were a bit confused about what time it is until some people outside begin making a noise and you suddenly realize it is 8pm (where did the day go?).

Level 3

Now Level 3 Lockdown is calling (Oh, that means I might be able to start to earn something this month). Both exciting and terrifying as you realize you may have to face people again after forgetting how to “people”. Of course, it may also mean having to wear a facemask for 8 to 10 hours a day again.

We really need to give those Ninjas of history some serious credit for not only wearing masks all the time but also doing strenuous activity in it. No easy achievement. That is probably why no Ninjas are ever seen wearing glasses (they would fog up and they would die).

2 months of lockdown in an effort to give the medical community time to prepare to cope with the millions of infections that are coming and already the cracks are starting to appear with only a few thousand infections now. We are in for a rough time.

‘the pressure has mounted and most of us are willing to put our lives on the line facing the virus to avoid hunger’

As the lockdown progresses and you have run out of financial room to move, the pressure has mounted and most of us are willing to put our lives on the line facing the virus to avoid hunger. The world is changing around us as a mixture of global desperation and re-evaluation is taking place. Most people are being dragged kicking and screaming into the brave new digital world of online shopping and remote work and some are getting left in the dust due to social imbalances.

This month we consider if we are ready for all the changes coming our way (I don’t think I am). Sadly, the brave new world may just be a harder version of the old one. Scary. Maybe it will be better though? Either way the banks are starting to lose patience and will want to get paid pretty soon.

So, make those UIF TERS claims, hope your boss calls you in for some shifts and maybe put on pants today, please. We hope you enjoy the advice, tips, news and views in this month’s edition. We hope it motivates you to keep chipping away at your debts, entertains you and informs you while on your way to becoming debt free.

 

This article first appeared in the May 2020 issue of Debtfree Magazine.