BUSINESS FORUM: Swine spirit can cause January disease

Christmas is a time for giving and sharing and indeed of spending a lot.
Since almost everyone is now in the holiday mood, I have decided to take a break on serious business issues and focus on human spending behaviour during Christmas holidays.
Business sales usually sky rocket in December as the spending patterns will be high.
However, it is important to properly budget your finances as school fees, rentals and groceries will still need to be paid for in January.
Avoid what I termed the “swine spirit” and spend wisely. If you analyse the swine or a pig you will notice that, even after eating, it still wants to eat some more, it is never satisfied.
This may apply to us humans as well, as we spend these holidays, there should be a cap on what the limit is.
Planning and budgeting should always be part of our lives to avoid unnecessary stress.
A swine is also very reckless as it can eat its own child and waste. This behaviour can be equated to borrowing money in order to finance luxury these holidays.
Zimbabwe’s economic situation is still tough and it is important to adjust and spend within our means.
Spending money which was meant for January school fees and rentals is indeed eating your own child. It is being reckless.
Adjust to the environment and spend what you can. Spending for unbudgeted items is very risky these days as covering that gap can be very strenuous.
Do not behave like a swine and be wise.
A swine is also very dirty, it can defecate were it also feeds. Some individuals can be rebellious and get over excited at work simply because they are shutting down for holidays.
Some assignments can even be left hanging. Remember, work is work and either it is a holiday or not it must be executed.
Your job is the one which provides income and it feeds you. Remember January is coming and if you behave dirty you can be fired. Do not defecate on the hand that feeds you.
Another characteristic of a swine is lack of discretion, judgement and discernment. A swine can behave in any manner and do anything.
Some enjoy drinking a lot during holidays. It is not a bad idea to enjoy with friends and family but it is important to have limits.
Poor judgement can even lead to road accidents. Poor judgement can also lead to financial stress. Discretion is important.
Simply because your colleagues can afford to spend their holidays at resorts does not mean you also have to do that if your finances do not allow.
Use your discretion and assess if you can afford certain lifestyles or not. Do not behave like a pig which can do anything.
Swine also snort and stick their nose to the ground, they hardly face upwards.
This resembles a selfish mentality. This characteristic applies to almost everyone.
If the company performed very well in 2015, employers should reward their employees and not be selfish by spoiling themselves and neglecting employees.
The same cascades downwards, especially to family man. Do not be selfish and spoil yourself only by neglecting your family.
By being selfish, come January, affected individuals’ morale can be very low and can even strain relationships either at work or at home. Do not be selfish like the swine.
Jim Yih an international financial advisor stated that many people in the world lack formal education on money.
He said there is little formal financial education in the school system and there is very little offered in the workplace.
So many people have to learn from friends or family but that creates its own set of problems because many of them don’t have the knowledge, ability or resources to teach others about money. Financial stress is very common in Zimbabwe, but there is a cure.
The starting point is a little knowledge but true success comes from action. It comes from taking control of your financial affairs and developing good financial habits.
Behaving like a swine can indeed lead to financial stress. Times have surely changed. Average spending during holidays has arguably decreased in Zimbabwe as compared to the 80’s and 90’s when most households had decent household incomes.
As we look forward to 2016, it should be our focus as Zimbabweans and ensure that consumer spending improves.
Some reports in the media suggest that funds from diaspora to Zimbabwe were more than FDI. This is an indication that our fellow Zimbabweans in the diaspora are ensuring that the Christmas spirit is kept alive in Zimbabwe.
The swine spirit should be cast out in the nation of Zimbabwe. Let us not be greedy, selfish, dirty, lack discretion and judgement like a swine.
Facts indicate clearly that diaspora has kept many Zimbabweans afloat. The term “January disease” is now like an every month term for Zimbabweans as most struggle to earn a living and cover their basic needs.
In 2015 we saw Government salaries’ dates being changed, bonuses being delayed and as well as a lot of corruption being exposed.
It is every Zimbabwean’s responsibility to ensure that we cast out the swine spirit in 2016. Merry Christmas to all and wishing you a prosperous swine spirit free 2016.
Taurai Changwa is an articled accountant, ACCA finalist and MD of SAFIC Consultancy. He writes in his personal capacity and can be contacted at [email protected], Facebook page SAFIC Consultancy and WhatsApp number 0772374784.