Deur watter lens wil jy hierna kyk?
Here we are in a technical recession, and we, previously known as the Great Brak Post are taking a leap of faith and expanding our horizons as The Post to distribute good news from George, Great Brak River and Mossel Bay.
So South Africa is in a technical recession, what does it mean? The definition of a technical recession is that the economy has had two consecutive negative quarters of GDP growth. In an article published by Izak Odendaal of Old Mutual Wealth who argues that the economy is not necessarily currently in a recession. Data released last week only covers the March to June quarter, and we are already in September. If the current quarter posts positive growth, we will no longer be in a technical recession. Irrespective of how economists see it, these numbers confirm that the economy is under pressure, and SA is indeed in deep and troubled waters.
Izak advises us not to do anything drastic, because as discussed, the recession might already be over. Current thinking is that households should cut back on spending and tighten their belts, but if all households did this, the economy would slide back even further into recession! One should apply common sense with household finances and definitely not make any knee-jerk changes to investments or portfolios. An investment strategy should only change when personal circumstances change and not in response to market movements or economic developments.
Groot woorde word wyd en syd geopper, maar wat beteken dit nou eintlik vir die gewone man op straat soos ek en jy met of sonder ‘n indrukwekkende finansiële portefeulje? Natuurlik is dit nie goed vir groei en werkskepping in die land nie en kan ‘n hele paar mense opnuut hul werk verloor.
Die vraag is nou net deur watter lens gaan ek kies om hierna kyk?
Die natuurlike reaksie is om laer te trek en bymekaar te maak vir die nog maerder jare. My wyse moeder het altyd gesê, “jy kan dit in elk geval nie op die ou einde saamvat nie”. En daarmee het sy eintlik bedoel, bou eerder aan goeie verhoudings met jou medemens as om wêreldse skatte bymekaar te maak. Die onderliggende boodskap is dus om jou hande oop te maak en te gee wat jy nie nodig het nie. ‘n Ander se swaarkry -“suffering”, soos wat Karen Zoid dit so goed verwoord, is altyd groter as jou eie.
Met die petrolprys wat nou weer gaan styg is die antwoord om plaaslik te koop en behoort besighede in die area ook te sorg dat hulle pryse kompeterend is.
Vereenvoudig jou daaglikse bestaan deur die vraag te vra “Wat het jy vandag nodig?” As daardie behoefte aangespreek is behoort jy jouself as baie gelukkig te ag.
Nog ‘n baie goeie wenk, indien jy sou voel dat jy oorweldig word deur die negatiewe nuus en donker wolke om jou, is om net weer bewus te raak van die pragtige omgewing waar ons almal mag woon.
Good advice is to, take the focus away from yourself, reach out to others and consider ourselves as blessed with what we already have and where we live. Studies have revealed that the proximity to the ocean can have a positive impact on your health; the closer you are to the sea, the better you feel. In fact, doctors have been prescribing curative trips to the coast from as early as the 18th century, and recent studies suggest the link between the ocean and health is a scientifically proven fact.
Not only does the seaside promote good physical health, there’s much to be said for how it improves your mental wellbeing too.
So let’s tackle the technical recession with a different mindset. In a nutshell, build positive relations with your fellow citizen, get rid of unnecessary clutter that could be more useful to others, buy local and enjoy your daily life with what it has to offer. And above all live responsibly within your means.
