Our First Few Rands

OUR FIRST FEW RANDS
Leaving home for the first time is for most first years an exciting and liberating feeling. I agree. And only a few actually realize the implications of doing such. Yes, one is going to university, and will from time to time return back home, but it will only be for the mere ‘visit’, and not to stay. We are so distracted by all our hopes and dreams, what we plan on doing differently when not in the presence of our parents, when we have complete ‘freedom’, when we are independent, yet we fail to realize that this is the beginning of another journey. That is, the beginning of the rest of our lives.
Like most of my peers, I have been exposed to having a bank account, and actually keeping the bank card with me, giving me complete access to all the available funds. However, I do not think my bank balance has had the kinds of bank balances I’ve had this year! Money for textbooks, my monthly allowance, emergency money, and also for miscellaneous items is handled by myself, and I wouldn’t change a thing about that. Maybe I have always been to honest, or naïve as some may put it, but over-stating amounts of money I needed was not an option for me, but now it is.
One may think though, that this money is always put to good use. For instance, I’m saving up for a deposit for my first car, or the big gift I want to buy my parents, or my December holiday, but no, it is for now, and the rest of the few weeks until I need more, or luckily, if my allowance comes through.
The main point I am driving at is that, us first years may think we know how to handle our money, but very few actually do. The aim is just to have this money. It is alarming to know that budgeting is seen as something that only our parents should do, that is, include our allowances in their budgets at all times. This money that we want so badly is not at all spent on things that will in future benefit us, as I have already mentioned, but on useless items that that we really CAN live without, like that pair of jeans that’s on sale at Edgars, or that nice bag I saw the other day at Mr Price. I am not at all saying it is wrong to spoil yourself at times, but it must not be all the time. We scream and shout about the inflation rate, yet if anyone was to ask you the price of cereal at Pick n Pay as compared to Checkers, it would take a while before an answer is available. Although, if asked how much a court of Storm costs at Graham Liquors in comparison to Preston’s, an answer would almost jump out, the whole pricelist in fact, even one from Tops.
Judging from that, we cannot say that we are in any way ready for ‘the real world’ if our priorities are as distorted as they are presently. Many of us are fortunate enough to be from well-off families, and you’d think that we would at least lessen our unnecessary spending, review our family situations, and master the art of saving. But no, coming to university, has made many of us very irresponsible, careless, over-extravagant, selfish people, and oh, liars as well.
I then worry and wonder if we are ready to face actually having to work for our money, handling our own affairs, having only one source of money, once a month, or are we still a little rough around the edges? Who knows? But, for now it’s a bit understandable, though unjustifiable, that we are just first years that have recently moved out of home, and so we are merely abusing our privileges, for as long as they are available at our disposal.
It’s almost the end of first year, our year ruled by debauchery, but will our nasty habits outgrow us, or will they lurk around until we graduate. Or, will they, because we are accustomed to them, remain a part of us even in future?