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I had a contracting career starting from 2002 (department of justice), then periodically did contracts up till 2012 yearly. The last one was with Telkom, earning R250 per hour.
My contract was completed and I was sinking into unemployment - well, roughly for four months. In this time frame I made loans to support my financial needs.
I eventually got a job in Midrand that paid R35K per month and I was able to pay off my debt regularly without any issues.
In September 2013, after a nice meeting with the whole company and making it publicly known that it had too many developers, I was indirectly retrenched by words like "1 company, 1 system".
After September, I was unable to pay my bills. Three months later I got ITC listed.
I lost two job offers in January because of the R25K ITC listing. Small things like a TV licence are a killer; it's R400 when lawyers phone you - and you get to go to court 'free pass' as they are the only legitimate entity that can summon you to a courthouse if you don't pay your TV licence.
This is irrespective of the daily calls asking you for their money. So, today I have a total debt of R90K.
Life is good, I have a sideline business with 0 customers and a possible contract in Houghton for two months ... then I'll be back at square 1 - unemployed.
That's unless I can use the little money from the two-month contract to pay for my marketing and get 1-5 customers in time.
So yes, I have tried to get out debt through means I will not recommend.
But I am happier than ever - living on a shoestring at my dad's on a R600 per week allowance.
I have been unemployed for six months now, I am 38 years old which is a factor in itself.
- Fin24
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