Coping with challenges in January
By Maria Famakinwa
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January, the first month of the year is usually characterized with lots of needs and aspirations. Some described it as a fresh beginning towards achieving set targets for the new year while others especially the salary earners often see it as a tedious, long, harsh and hard month.
This, according to survey, revealed the various hardships many people go through in making ends meet after spendings during the yuletide season. Many often forget that after all merriments are over and the usual festive rush subsides everyone resumes fully and work begins earnestly. Then comes a full month with its competing demands such as paying house rent, school fees and other pressing needs. These push many into a tight corner especially when salaries are sometimes delayed till the following month and the means to meet their needs becomes tight.
The Hope spoke with some residents in Akure, the Ondo State capital, on how they have been coping in the month of January. In the submission of a public analyst, Mr Tayo Ademola, there is no reason for unnecessary spending on festivities and only to struggle to pay children school fees and meeting other needs in the family. ”The first month is being referred to as the longest month, not because it has longer days than any other month, but because of the financial demands they often face after spending a lot during yuletide season. Some because of unnecessary spending during the festive period start the new year with debt to pay house rent and tuition fees,” he said.
Sharing similar sentiments, a civil servant, Mrs Adenike Ajayi, explained that coping in the first month of the year is always difficult because people are faced with the reality of paying school fees. According to her, some people actually planned ahead but could not resist the temptation of not buying new clothes, and shoes for their children to look nice during the festive seasons. ”Though, many remembered that they will pay school fees by January, but then also wanted their children to look different during yuletide celebrations,” she said.
”Many bite more than they can chew thereby causing lots of financial problems for themselves in meeting up with the subsequent expenses. January will surely be difficult for some people who believe so much in spending wastefully during festive cerebration. As a matter of fact, there is no sense in raising your children up to believe that they must buy Christmas clothes but train your children to know that you have the obligation as a parent to buy shoes and clothes for them when you can afford them and not necessarily festive periods. When we are able to do this, people will see January like any other month.”
In the contribution of a trader, Mrs Stella Benson, there is no difference between January and other months as people claim maintaining that other months such as September when students resume another session is even more demanding in terms of finance, as school fees, new books, uniforms among other needs would be met.
She added that she preferred January most because more sales would be made. On how she managed during festive period she said, ”I planned well during December to avoid debts in January. I ensured I shop only for needed items and pay part of my children school fees. Wise parents should understand that the December period is not the right time for shopping, because prices are always hiked, as sellers capitalise on the festive season to exploit buyers,” he said.
”I also suspend all travelling to avoid unnecessarily spending at the period. I do not believe in visiting your village during festive period because it can be done at any time. All these avoidable spending are the reasons people complain too badly of January, because they have lavished all they have made from February to November on yuletide and New Year. January to me, is not different from other months because each month has its own stress and financial demands.
”Though, December is usually quite financially demanding, but people should be prudent during this month and remember that yuletide and new year celebrations will come and go and always plan for the new year.”
A farmer, Mr Olusegun Olabode, in his reaction, disclosed that he had been planning for January since September and never allowed the yuletide celebration to change his plan.” I have four children, one of them in the university, so I need no one to advise me to plan for January. It’s only those without pressing needs who will not plan ahead,”he said.
”Everyone knows that January being the first month of the year comes with a lot of financial demand hence the need to plan for it. It is surprising to me that some parents plan to buy Christmas clothes for their children but fail to plan about how to get their school fees paid on time, which I think it is the most important thing to do. Despite the fact that most private schools send their bills to parents during vacation to help them plan along, many did not see it as important until when they start sending their children out of schools. Throughout the holiday, I work to save money for my children school fees and not to buy Christmas clothes. January to some is tough because they did not plan for it.”
For Mr Jade Aloba, a motorist, January is a peak period for commercial drivers as many who travelled during festive period will start going back to their locations and students resuming back to schools. His words,” As far as my businesses are concerned the month of January is always booming period for us. We have travellers going to their different locations and students going back to schools. I usually seize the advantage of the rush to make more money and cover up for the money spent during yuletide season.”
