Believe it or not, probably yourself exclusive, most of us do have peculiar financial problems at this time of the year.

Sample the opinion of civil servants, Cameroonians in general or even the beautiful bartender as she serves you a glass of cheap wine. They all have the same story to tell as the date for schools to re-open approaches: "Times are hard, money scarce," they'll tell you.

But who's to blame? Well, all revolves on preparations for the new academic year. Even childless bachelors and spinsters do complain. Like the rat mole, we all know we must prepare for the rainy days. But unlike the rat mole that prepares judiciously for these rainy days, some parents behave as if this time of the year falls from the blues.

Year in year out, we've learnt nothing from the rat mole. Eventually, some can't do without school fee loans. Thus, an opportunity for bankers to reap where they did not sow through high interest rates; and for moneylenders to expose toothy smiles. Who says the rat mole cannot teach us lessons?