By Anita Dangazele
- After overspending every December, the mother was forced to borrow money for uniforms and stationery each January.
- By using her December bonus and stokvel payout for school costs, she says she no longer starts the year in debt.
As the new school year begins, many parents are scrambling to buy uniforms and stationery after heavy Christmas spending.
But East London mother Noluvo Kobo says she learned the hard way that December pressure often creates January problems.
Kobo, who has two school-going children, said she used to dread the start of every year because she had no money left after the holidays.
“In previous years, I was very stressed,” she said. “After December, I wouldn’t have a cent left for school supplies.”
She said the pressure to buy Christmas clothes played a big role.
“Every year I felt I had to buy new outfits,” she said. “Then I’d end up borrowing money for stationery and school needs.”
Three years ago, she decided to change how she used her December money.
“Instead of buying Christmas clothes, I used my December bonus to pay for school expenses,” she said. “That decision changed everything.”
She also joined a stokvel that pays out at the end of December, which she now uses to cover school fees and supplies.
“With the stokvel money, I can pay school fees early and buy everything my children need,” she said. “I start the year stress free.”
Kobo said many parents feel pressured to spend in December without thinking about January.
“We need to treat December like any other month,” she said. “The economy is tough. Christmas clothes are not a priority if they push you into debt.”
Pictured above: School supplies.
Image source: Supplied
