u/AwesomeTrish

Hey Guys, need some advice please 🙏

I'm an avid user of edibles, I'm a lightweight though and only need about 20mg max at a time.

I rarely smoke joints, mostly because I prefer the convenience and ease of edibles, plus I dislike the cough and throat irritation. But I love the quick onset and heady high from smoking, something that I don't get from edibles.

I'm thinking of vaping thc - I've heard it doesn't smell as strong (I live in a complex with very close neighbours) and you don't need as much to feel high. But I also hear the negative lung effects are worse with a vape than it is with a joint, plus there's a chance of psychosis.

What's your experience with thc vape pens? (I'd probably get mine from 420 Monkeys) Any downsides? And any info would be appreciated.

Thanks guys!

As an introvert and homebody with little to no friends, I spent most of my 20s working on myself and gaining skills that I thought would stay with me. I would do TV shows, stand-up comedy and sales - despite being somewhat a shy individual. I grew to a point where conversations flowed easily, I could step out of my comfort zone without anxiety, and I always sought adventure.

I had been in a long-term toxic relationship, which is where my burnout first started. This led to my work taking a knock and me being reprimanded. As time went on, I did my best to wear a mask and compartmentalize. It went well, until work had become incredibly stressful too, and masking was eating at my energy.

I started losing myself in ways I thought I was experiencing residual brain damage from a hospitalization a few years prior.

It's been about 2-3 years of living in burnout. I had no idea how bad it could be. I have good days where stress isn't too bad, so I'd think I'm healing, but it just takes one bad/overwhelming/stressful situation to throw me straight back into losing myself.

Symptoms I'd experienced were making bad choices at work and costing the company - things that when I look back is shocking how I didn't actually lose my job. I lost all my social skills - dealing with any sales makes me fxcking exhausted and I'm not friendly and approachable like I used to be. I can't have conversations with most people - not even family I grew up with and being around others feels stressful. I have no desire for adventure - which is very odd because that's been my motivating factor since I was a child - now I want the easiest ways to do things, even spare time is just me couch locking for hours which sounds more appealing than doing something new and exciting. My brain refuses to future-plan, and thinking about anything more than a week from now brings me anxiety.

I forgot what it's like being excited and enthusiastic - any energy I have is used on just getting me to tonight alive and without a meltdown. I've had depression, and I'm not depressed right now, but I'm moving on autopilot and the world feels void.

I've never been the type to live beyond my means - living small and at peace was my goal. I was achieving it. At my previous job (around 5 years ago), I was an administrator - getting paid enough for the basics and a little savings, and spoiling myself every now and again. I even went on holiday twice in one year. It didn't feel like I was deprived.

This year, I am struggling. I'm earning more than double what I was earning back then - in a new job and as a manager. Life hasn't changed much - I still live in a studio apartment, haven't acquired any debt or purchased anything new and I'm still happy with a small life - but even that has become hard to maintain.

I have no savings at the end of the month. I cannot fathom going on holiday. I'm literally living month on month which is something I am not used to and did not expect as I got older. I had to dip into my savings just to help me make it through last year.

I can't quite side hustle - I already work 8 hours a day, have a 2 hour commute and bloody exhausted when I get home. I'm not married, I don't have any kids, and just keeping myself alive feels like a mission. Purchasing anything is a need vs a want thing. My shoes are worn in and my feet hurt while walking, there's a huge rip in my jeans I keep stitching up and I'm literally eating the cheapest things I can find, my car needs repairs and I've been putting it off for when I have something small to put towards it.

It's really scary. A family friend retired last year, and my neighbour retired this year. They both worked in sectors where once you reach 60, they force you to retire - give you a retirement package and send you off. 60 used to be old, but people live until 80 or 90 years old nowadays.

The family friend now sells food from her home and admits to working harder and being more stressed now than she ever was while working. My neighbour also spoke to me about not being sure what she's going to do next with her life and she's worried for when her money runs out.

What are things going to look like when I get there? I'm 33 now, not a drop of savings to my name, no assets, no investments or retirement packages, I'm scared and it's depressing.

Hey Everyone,

A few years back (2022 tax year) I changed jobs. Somewhere between, my taxes weren't filed properly and my 2022 tax return wasn't filed at all.

I wound up with a R250 penalty, but I had no idea what was happening and where the problem was so I requested and filed a return. But it wasn't for right year, and the penalty kept going up. I tried on various occasions to dispute, but since I honestly didn't know what I was doing with the e-filing, I essentially made zero progress in trying to dispute the penalty.

I am completely compliant and the 2022 return has been filed. I don't owe any taxes.

It reached a point of R9000 and they handed me over to debt collectors. And in April 2026, SARS basically drained my account of the R9000.

I finally reached out to an auditor who has been trying to assist pro-bono, but they sent me a mail the other day stating:

- Please be advised that we have tried to waiver the admin penalties but it was declined by SARS, the reason they keep on declining the matter is because the debt was settled! It relates to the 2022 tax year assessment penalties and three (3) years have lapsed.

I don't know what to do next. I've reached out to the auditor, but since they're assisting me at no cost, they aren't giving me more feedback.

Is my R9k lost? Do I still stand any chance? Does anyone have any suggestions, or experienced anything similar?

Thanks in advance guys!

Hey Everyone,

A few years back (2022 tax year) I changed jobs. Somewhere between, my taxes weren't filed properly and my 2022 tax return wasn't filed at all.

I wound up with a R250 penalty, but I had no idea what was happening and where the problem was so I requested and filed a return. But it wasn't for right year, and the penalty kept going up. I tried on various occasions to dispute, but since I honestly didn't know what I was doing with the e-filing, I essentially made zero progress in trying to dispute the penalty.

I am completely compliant and the 2022 return has been filed. I don't owe any taxes.

It reached a point of R9000 and they handed me over to debt collectors. And in April 2026, SARS basically drained my account of the R9000.

I finally reached out to an auditor who has been trying to assist pro-bono, but they sent me a mail the other day stating:

- Please be advised that we have tried to waiver the admin penalties but it was declined by SARS, the reason they keep on declining the matter is because the debt was settled! It relates to the 2022 tax year assessment penalties and three (3) years have lapsed.

I don't know what to do next. I've reached out to the auditor, but since they're assisting me at no cost, they aren't giving me more feedback.

Is my R9k lost? Do I still stand any chance? Does anyone have any suggestions, or experienced anything similar?

Thanks in advance guys!

Hey Everyone,

A few years back (2022 tax year) I changed jobs. Somewhere between, my taxes weren't filed properly and my 2022 tax return wasn't filed at all.

I wound up with a R250 penalty, but I had no idea what was happening and where the problem was so I requested and filed a return. But it wasn't for right year, and the penalty kept going up. I tried on various occasions to dispute, but since I honestly didn't know what I was doing with the e-filing, I essentially made zero progress in trying to dispute the penalty.

I am completely compliant and the 2022 return has been filed. I don't owe any taxes.

It reached a point of R9000 and they handed me over to debt collectors. And in April 2026, SARS basically drained my account of the R9000.

I finally reached out to an auditor who has been trying to assist pro-bono, but they sent me a mail the other day stating:

- Please be advised that we have tried to waiver the admin penalties but it was declined by SARS, the reason they keep on declining the matter is because the debt was settled! It relates to the 2022 tax year assessment penalties and three (3) years have lapsed.

I don't know what to do next. I've reached out to the auditor, but since they're assisting me at no cost, they aren't giving me more feedback.

Is my R9k lost? Do I still stand any chance? Does anyone have any suggestions, or experienced anything similar?

Thanks in advance guys!

My partner moved in recently with his beautiful 5 year old Sib. She's the sweetest little doll and I absolutely adore her!

On previous visits to him, I would pop an Allerway and have my asthma pump ready - no issues, but I've also never spent longer than a weekend with her.

I've also spent a day at a Sib cat cafe - no allergies while there, came home, no issues either.

I've added Purina One Live Clear to her diet for a week now.

Our place is a studio ground floor apartment so a no cat zone isn't possible.

I am looking into getting a Hepa filter as well.

I am concerned though, I am intensely allergic to cats. At the moment, I can't breathe very well due to my asthma being aggravated and using the pump 4 or 5 times a day. Last night eye got so itchy, it basically looked like I was socked, I couldn't open it. I have horrible congestion and can't remember what it feels like breathing through my nose. It feels like I have an ongoing cold, and went from sleeping well to barely sleeping at night.

I'm hoping that in two months I don't feel this. I'm grateful I read so many success stories on here, but I've also read a few where the allergies never went away and you just have to deal with.

I couldn't have asked for a better kitty - she is absolutely well behaved and the sweetest little thing, rehoming her is not an option and I'll struggle if I have to, but any tips would be amazing right now ❤️ Thanks Guys!