Janu-worry is unamimously considered the longest month in the year, and it’s not an overstatement to say that South Africans spend January counting pennies or wishing that they did not have to overspend in December.
For many South Africans, the ‘Janu-worry blues’ is a familiar “hangover” experience thanks to the obligatory festive season spending spree that, for most, is a must-do, not a nice-to-have because of family gatherings, gift-giving and travel. And one that often leads consumers into a debt trap.
Neil Roets, CEO of Debt Rescue, says: “Every year we see many families entering January feeling the pressure of rising living costs and the busy festive season. With a few early, manageable steps, that pressure can ease and start shifting into a sense of control rather than panic.”