I hear and get all sorts of business, relationship and career advice on a daily. This are people who would tap into your life acting in your situation presumably for your best interest and give advice of what to do and all. most of it is usually advice that one never asked for, but I guess it makes for good small talk right?

So I drive a 2008 black hatchback Toyota Yaris that I bought second hand 6 months into getting into the working world. By far the best purchase I’ve ever made, being frugal about my money it took me 3 months to shop for a car, now like most people I wanted a nice good looking car, but not only that, i was also looking for durability, quality, comfort and longevity. Which I found in my ever so gorgeous Jinx (which i termed the ‘she’ opposite of my Res nickname Zinx).

Been with this little beauty (no pedophile vibes), so I’ve been with this beauty for almost 4 years now and I’m just about done paying the debt up. looking at this Bae now I don’t really see why i should let her go, i mean I work an 8 to 5 all week, work is 5 minutes away in this gorgeous windy city of port Elizabeth. She’s still in great shape, has never let me down never. Insurance payments on her are minimal and really looking forward to not having to pay for a car! There’s enough expenses for a black brother like myself in this day and age. we should be saving money up for Lobola or better yet a house.

The crazy thing is most people who know me and what I do and people who assume my financial position always ask why am I driving a Yaris?? You see as a society, especially around my black beloved society we draw certain standards for working people and pile on pressure for them to acquire cars and other assets regardless of their monthly Salary; so trust that when a brother finally gets that employment contract they turning up with a Beast of A German machine… (Please check an article we published last year about your first car determining your retirement).

Vusi Thembekwayo once said “We black people are the only race that measure our success by how many failures we see around us, our normative measure is how ahead am I from the people who are not doing so well!!” So immediately as one steps into the employment scene they immediately enter the competing game regardless of how much they earning, how much of debt they getting into just so they can match up with society’s silly standards. Most of it is made believe, I mean yeah its all good when people think you have money but when you get home and those bills and debt collectors start ringing up your phone, reality steps in.

As a race we aught to really address the things that steal away wealth from us, we need to address how looking good surpasses feeling good, we need to address that we do not need to seek acceptance by balling and living a certain life. The danger with this is you end up with friends that encourage such habits and then its hell from there, you locked in… the beauty of being honest with yourself and situation and staying in your financial lane is that you get to meet other sober minded geniuses that believe in what you believe, and yes that includes your own miss independent lady that understands hard-work and understands where money comes from so she wont feel the need for you to go out on a weekly or spoil her on credit. Wouldn’t you just love such a life? where your happiness is the highest priority, where a night out with friends is all about having fun and not flashing your wealth to people who shouldn’t really be seeing it?

One thing I always say to myself and friends with regard to car is that I really love LOVE cars, but I will not move from one bicycle to another… meaning I will not move from a small car to another small give or take fancier car as i know that after 2 or 3 years I will definitely want to change it. rather save up for a bigger car give or take a Benz, something you know will outlive you, something that you wont want to change after 2 years, and also something that retains its value.
“A man who is a master of patience is a master of everything else…..” GL

#MONEYMONDAY

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