Many young people from disadvantaged backgrounds desperately need financial literacy. This economy? It’s like The Hunger Games out here – and none of us even volunteered.

We are expected to stride into adulthood with the confidence of seasoned CEOs, armed only with vibes and vague advice like, “Save your money.” Save what, exactly? The last R50 after rent, transport and supporting half the household and extended family?

Through a mix of trial, error and the occasional financial facepalm, some of us have learned how to budget, save and spend wisely. We know financial literacy matters. But knowing you should save is very different from being able to, especially when your paycheque vanishes faster than you can say, “EFT received.”

For many, supporting family is non-negotiable, even while trying to build something of our own. I’ve met many people who dream of starting families but feel they can’t afford to. Others have shelved personal goals because they are the financial lifeline at home. It is hard to chat about compound interest when your fridge is echoing.

In my circles, conversations often end with: “How are we making it to month-end?” The honest answer? We’re not. We’re surviving. Borrowing. Repaying. Borrowing again. It’s not financial planning – it’s monthly crisis management.

Some turn to loan sharks, not out of recklessness, but because desperation doesn’t leave much space for sound decision-making. Others are blacklisted from past mistakes, back when “interest rate” sounded like dating jargon. We weren’t taught how debt compounds, how credit scores work or how a “low monthly payment” can quietly snowball into a long-term regret.

With proper financial education early on, many wouldn’t be stuck in this loop. We’d read the fine print. We’d know that store account “VIP treatment” isn’t worth two years of repayments.

Financial literacy, taught right and taught early, could mean the difference between scraping by and building something sustainable. That’s where we all come in. If you’ve learned the hard lessons, share them. Let’s normalise real money conversations. Not just flexing, complaining or comparing salaries.

Let’s run workshops for young people and new employees. Teach them how to manage that first paycheque, how to resist the pressure to fake a lifestyle, how to stretch an income without snapping.

Live within your means. Turn that hobby into a side hustle, because an extra R1,000 can be the difference between stress and breathing room. Respect the job you have, even if it’s not the dream. Stay hungry for growth, protect your integrity and be ready when opportunity knocks.

Resilience is admirable, but it’s not a financial strategy. Let’s equip ourselves – and each other – with tools that actually work in this economy.

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