Coping for 20-somethings: Jamaica edition

It's the 26th..which means you just got paid..and while some of us are about to celebrate this "gift of manna" from Private and public sectors, a number of us have fallen back into the rut of fretting what our salaries will look like after all our bills ninja slash our net balance making us consider homelessness a better option. 

"20-somethings?" "Debt?" "Stressed over what?"

I did say Jamaica.

Because, Jamaica.

Because, light bill, rent (whether you live on your own or not), car loan, STUDENT LOANS, loans you took out for your parents as retribution for parenting you, water, cable, internet..even that pesky lady from Accounts' church that's having a fish fry. DEBT.

Ever so often you might lose it. And that's okay. Because you're entitled to. You live in a country where you did the right thing, stayed, made a contribution to society and you still got screwed. So, before you lose it (permanently), here's a small survival strategy for making it on those days when you feel hopeless:

    1. Rum

The first answer is always rum..or any libation you prefer. I've never known a 20-something that has never had a stash of whites in their kitchen cupboard, on the counter where it's visible (so you know where your safe refuge is) or if your job is shitty, in your desk drawer. It helps when you're overwhelmed to just slowly have a seat, possibly away from all people, and just pour yourself a drink. You might have a hangover the next morning, but you'll wake up feeling like your responsible self again and push through your struggles.

    2.  Think of all the things you've accomplished thus far

You've sidestepped being a bum, you've withstood pregnancy scares, your road rage (thus far) hasn't landed you in prison, you made it through university and passed although you don't remember 1/2 of what you learned and you've become that proud child your parents brag about to their friends. Small mercies my friend. You could've been on to child #4 AND be broke or that guy that asks everybody for a rizzla. Small mercies.

   3. Take leave. Vacation, Sick, Casual..

I see people burn themselves out for a company (private, worse public), and all they have to show is a plaque for best attendance..when the bags under your eyes never went down at any point in time in the years you've been employed. BEST ATTENDANCE bredrin? Really? HR is doing their job by making sure everything is running on point for a company, why won't you do the same for yourself?

Another thing, don't be afraid or feel bad you took a sick day or a casual day. You took the day but you're stressing over the work you were supposed to be doing that day..the day you took the sick day for. Don't do it. For vacation leave, don't spend more than 50% of vacation lying in bed watching TV. Get out, do something, read a book, meditate, go into the country, go to beach etc. Use your vacation to find a little peace.

    4. Cry

I'm smiling while typing this but I'm dead serious. Sometimes you need a good cry. It's Jamaica. Politicians are out there, wasting your money and laughing in your face with it, flossing it out with their friends and "defending" you the next 2 weeks about "your rights". You can't buy nice things, you can't go to nice places and a Zinger is now $535. It's okay to just stare off into the abyss, pour yourself a drink, cry, cry yourself to sleep and try to pick yourself up again tomorrow. Sometimes it works.

   5. Try to Tidy up your financials

You know your bills are X, clear them off immediately. Loans are usually salary deductions these days so you don't even have that money to play with anyway. Clear up loans as much as you can e.g. through consolidating (if it makes sense), don't get that $4M car because you're expecting a promotion soon and don't stretch yourself too thin. Shit has a tendency to go wrong..leave a finger room just in case.

   6. Curb the mindset of "You want it now and the rest 'will work itself out'"

Redman owes you $15 grand and he told you you'll get it soon. Redman owed you that money since last semester before you graduated..three years ago. You want that Invicta watch and a friend is coming from the US in 2 weeks. You want to buy it. DON'T DO IT. DO NOT DO IT. Wait until you have that 81% disposable money (you're 81% sure you don't need/want it for anything else) and if it coincides with the opportune moment, do it. If it doesn't, set it aside until it does. And under no uncertain terms should you borrow money (unless it's a financial institution and the purchase is 100% warranted) to buy something while you wait to be paid from someone else. Never do it. NEVER. EVER. DO . IT.

Last but not least (you'll come up with some more I'm sure), breathe. Try to calm down, take a walk, sit or lie in a quiet room and just breathe. You may need 30 minutes, you may need 3 hours. And when you're up again, you're ready.

You'll kick ass.

- Gibbie