VIEW THE FESTIVE-SEASON DRAIN ON THE WALLET

The country is open! It is the first time in two years that our country has opened in December. President Cyril Ramaphosa eased the Covid-19 pandemic lockdown restrictions to revive the country's economy, which was majorly affected by the pandemic.

With the festive season around the corner, what does it mean for me, financially?

I am not from Johannesburg, but I work in the City of Gold. The festive season for me means travelling back home to be with my family. I mostly drive to my hometown of Gqeberha. The petrol price is set to shoot up and might cost around R20 per litre. R20 per litre! That is a lot of money.

On the road, you must also take breaks and have meals. It is about a 10-hour drive. You start spending money before you even reach your destination.

When you arrive, because the country is open, there will be Imigidi invitations – not just one; there could be five invites. (Umgidi is a celebration to welcome a man from the initiation school.).

When invited, it is a decent thing to do to show up bearing gifts. Wedding invites are also on the cards during the festive season. You must also have a gift, a beautiful outfit. The tally goes up on your expenditure.

Because it is the festive season, people are jolly. Impromptu parties will be thrown, because hey, it is the festive season. You also need to budget for the consumables and braai meat.

And let's face it, you haven't seen some of your friends and some family members for some time. It will be a great time to reconnect. The bank account

Dieketseng Maleke

continues to deplete.

I have kids. In December, I buy school uniforms and stationery. Most parents know that schooling in South Africa can be expensive, but hey, it is what it is. Then there is Christmas. Braai after lunch with more consumables.

When New Year's eve is knocking, you wish you could get another paycheck.

We must not forget that every month without fail, there is also Black Tax. According to the Urban Dictionary, it is: “The extra money that black professionals give every month to support their less fortunate family and extended families.” This I don't mind; it is essential for me.

How do I navigate the festive season without going broke?

• Save every month. I know it sounds like a cliché and is sometimes unachievable. If you put a bit of money aside during the year, it might take the pressure off when the festive season arrives.

• Budget. I drew up my budget before the festive season. So when it comes, I am prepared.

• Have a contingency fund in my budget. As much as you can budget, you can never know what will happen, so having this fund in your budget makes it easier to move around.

• Learn to say no. It is okay to decline some invitations.

• Partake in free activities. Luckily, I am from a coastal town. I can take the kids to the beach for a full day of fun. I make sure they have eaten before we leave the house. I only buy them ice cream at the beach.

South Africa has one of the highest unemployment rates in the world. This was true even before unemployment increased as a result of the global financial crisis in 2008. And before Covid-19.

The country’s youth unemployment rate is even higher than the average. The (youth) employment tax incentive was supposed to help in addressing the problem. The incentive was adopted by Parliament in 2013 and came into effect in 2014. The original incentive offered to reduce the tax bill of firms that employed new workers between the ages of 18 and 29 who earned below R6 000 per month. The idea was that reducing the effective cost of hiring young workers, by subsidising up to 50% of their salary, would lead to firms creating more jobs for this group.