Why I almost pulled the plug on my cancer treatment
When I was diagnosed with breast cancer in July 2019, I had no idea what the financial implications would be. Although I have an entry-level hospital plan, I have no life insurance or dread disease cover. Both my husband and I are freelancers which means that our income fluctuates. We aim to have as few as possible fixed financial commitments which means we have a hospital plan, short-term insurance, and a data service provider. It would be irresponsible of us to commit to any other fixed expenses knowing that our income varies month-on-month. We further have no credit cards, or loans, or clothing accounts. No cash, no purchase. We also have to take into account our travel and maintenance costs. A trip from Parys to Johannesburg to meet with a client costs R2,300 if one uses the Automobile Associations (AA) calculator. Actual fuel cost is around R500 per return trip, and I travel at least three times a week. And according to the Southern African Freelancers' Association (SAFREA), t...