Everyone dreads the middle of the month.

The sinking feeling of being “platsak”. You wonder: where has all my money gone?

My budget never works out! Do not worry; the struggle is real for everybody.

Consistent deductions, such as rent, utilities, and car insurance, are easy to track. It is those irregular ‘necessities’ that drain our wallet.

Three common budget busters, according to Debt Rescue on businessteach.co.za, are car-related expenses, banking fees, and, of course, food.

Let us take a quick look at how they drain our wallet, and what we can do to prevent that “platsak” feeling:

• Car-related expenses: Car insurance may be a consistent deduction, but there is always an extra tank of petrol that needs filling. We might find ourselves in an unexpected accident that is not covered by the insurance. Simply budget an additional R100 to R200 a month; just in case.
• Banking fees: We often overlook banking fees. Swiping our card has become second nature. Only after payday do we receive an SMS or email stating, ‘this is your monthly banking fees’. Of course, we do not budget for it. Thus, withdraw cash and use your debit/credit card less. Less swiping, fewer fees.
• Food: We all love food and it is something we cannot live without. The problem comes when we go shopping when we are hungry. It is natural to stray from the shopping list and shop as you go. Stick to the list and eat before you go shopping. There will not be any “I-did-not-budget-for-this” items in your trolley. Believe me!

None of us is perfect when it comes to our finances. Let us help each other out in making the middle of the month more pleasant and less “platsak”.

ALSO READ: Stop feeling broke and fix these money habits

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