THE summer holidays are approaching fast and willbeonusinablink of an eye.

The moment the first Christmas ad airs on TV, we realise that the year is ending and that we had promised the children that we will go on holiday this year.

Most of us had not planned for it financially because we live from hand to mouth. It was a struggle to make it thus far through the year and it was mercies from above (and elsewhere) that kept the balju away from our front door.

The political and industrial unrest in neighbouring South Africa is threatening to take us into another economic crisis while haven't fully recovered from the previous one. Mine workers are striking and demanding R16 000 per month, twice what a teacher with a degree earns per month.

By the way, I see a brain drain coming in the South African corporate sector because many graduates will apply to go underground and get their hands dirty for that salary. In the meantime, our whole livelihood is threatened by the transport strike in SA, because we import everything from there. Economists warned that the inflation rate can skyrocket if shop shelves keep on emptying and scarcity of products push up the prices. Another petrol price hike is looming and will put more pressure on our wallets.

With the influence of the above mentioned outside factors on our financial situation, we are still going on holiday at the end of

the year. Some of us are lucky enough to have distant families who stay at the coast. We will just go unannounced and surprise them because if you call and ask them if you can come, then they will have all sorts of excuses for you not to come. It is cheaper

to stay with them if you take in consideration the economic circumstances. You do not pay for accommodation or food, it is all for free because we are family. You can enjoy sun, sand and sea carefree and get a fully cooked mealattheendofthedayanda nice soft bed for the night.

Those of you who do not have family where you can crash for the holiday, can book in at the resorts on the coastline like Mile 4, 8 and 108 and camp. You can rent a big funeral tent for a good price because the undertakers also need the money because there are fewer funerals during holiday times.

If you know someone who is in the army, you can also 'organise' a big army tent for free and save on renting cost. You can borrow a fish rod and fish for your meals for free. If you start now and buy a few canned food products at the end of the remaining months to stock for your end of the year holiday, then your food problems will be sorted. You can buy your meat for the holiday in December on credit and only pay it in March when they threaten you with lawyers.

For cash in hand, we do what we all do every year. We skip all payments, those that aren't deducted by the bank like furniture accounts, clothes and all small accounts. Those who are brave hearts will even withdraw the money from their bank accounts before the deductions are made to get their hands on cash to enjoy a good holiday and face their fears next year when they are well rested. Bad economic circumstances or not, we will go on holiday.