Christmas expenses take a toll on families

On Sunday, January 11, 2015, no members were present at the meeting of the Association of the inhabitants of Nkoandi in Yaounde. Certainly, it is the first meeting of the year. It is during this meeting that objectives are set, but members did not turn up.

Loan applications flooded the president's table. "I need 100 thousand francs at all costs, otherwise my two children will not be allowed in school on Monday," pleaded a mother. Two other parents in the same situation were desperate. "You see, we did not make a lot of deposits because of the economic situation. We only have 500,000 F on the table and we can't empty the account completely. We can only give each applicant half the requested amount," the president of the association explained.

The month of January already looks financially difficult considering long, pending future wages. After the 'crazy' spending during holidays, pockets, wallets, bank accounts are dry.

Workers in the public and private sectors, low-income earners, senior officials seem to be in the same situation. "Having made my contributions for months, I didn't have to suffer in this period. I had in fact planned to collect my part of the contribution at the beginning of this month.

Unfortunately, many people have not paid their contributions due to financial difficulties. It is by the grace of God that I am still surviving. Fortunately for me, I don't have a big debt. I just manage to survive day by day', noted Judith E.

Simeon B., teacher noted that "I admit that I really enjoyed the feast in December and the impacts are already being felt. Before even the 15th of the month, I only had 5,000 F left. I am even lucky because the shopkeeper just around my area has agreed to open a credit notebook dedicated to food products. Otherwise, I would have been in a fix as to how to complete the month", said the young man.

The teacher confessed that if he had children, the situation would have been worst for him and his wife, Angèle E. "we anticipate future wages with all eagerness".

At home, my wife prepares dishes that are not expensive: rice with vegetables or peanut sauce with cassava harvested from our farm. At this time, meat and fish is a luxury. Thankfully, we are able to afford three meals a day", he added.