It’s a few weeks before Christmas and soon the streets of the townships will be buzzing with amagoduka (migrant workers) going home.

It is exciting times for most of those who last saw their families in the last year or two.

Taxi ranks and bus terminals in all the cities and towns have already started getting busy.

However, these are good times for some and bad times for many. I should be among those home-bound but, unfortunately, finances do not allow it.

Mark my words: not all migrants are returning home for Christmas this year. It has been a terrible year for many. I have never been this broke. I cannot even afford a bag of potatoes and other items to send home. That is how broke I am.

AmaXhosa will lie and tell you: akungenwa ngamali ekhaya, loosely translated, you don’t pay a cent to be home. Lies. There will be family gatherings and meetings. These gatherings are a way to embarrass those of us who have no money. These meetings are done for good purposes but in bad faith. The rich aunts rule if you do not have money. You cannot suggest that your pocket is empty as one will tell you, akudlalwa apha, we are serious.

So this is a year that I am not going home. I will remain here because I have no choice. I will go some time in the new year.

On the other hand, it will give me time for reflection and introspection.

For those of you who are in the same position as me, do not despair. We all know our homes are nice places to be during this time. If the situation does not allow for travel, do not force matters.

It is sad that we have experienced negative economic outcomes after going far from home to seek greener pastures. Our dreams of presiding in imigidi have become far-fetched. Some people have also spent their money stupidly. Many seem to fall for Black Friday, although I have heard that it has helped some get whatever they want cheaper.

Even if you are lucky enough to go home and spend Christmas with your family, coming back in January is a struggle.

I am happy I will not have to suffer the stressful journey back to Cape Town.

I will miss a lot by not going home. But that’s an issue I have already put aside for another day.

I know many will go home with physical and psychological scars as they were victims of their working conditions.

I pray that you will return in full recovery. Nigoduke, nibuye niphila. Do not stress too much about the rich aunties. Allow them to do whatever they want with their monies. Come back stress free.

#cost-of-living

Money is too tight to go home this festive season