Many South Africans were never formally taught how money works.

For some families, money was a source of stress. For others, it was something nobody spoke about at all. Many people grew up hearing phrases like:

• “Money doesn’t grow on trees.”
• “We can’t afford that.”
• Or simply watching parents and caregivers try to make ends meet from month to month.

People often learned about money through pressure, sacrifice, survival, and observation rather than through financial education.

And those early experiences shape far more than we realise.

The Financial Lessons We Carry Into Adulthood

Even today, many adults react to money based on lessons they learned growing up.

Some people learned that money disappears quickly, so they spend it before it is gone.

Some learned that debt is dangerous and should never be discussed.

Others learned that helping everyone else comes before helping themselves – even when it leaves them struggling.

For many South Africans, financial responsibility started early. Helping with groceries, supporting siblings, contributing to household expenses, or assisting extended family often became normal long before financial stability was possible.

Over time, these experiences quietly shape our financial behaviour.

That is why many people:

• Avoid checking their bank statements.
• Feel anxious every time they spend money.
• Overspend emotionally after stressful periods.
• Struggle to say no when family or friends need help.
• Feel guilty spending money on themselves – even when it is necessary.

Sometimes, we think we are “bad with money”, when in reality, we are simply repeating financial habits and survival behaviours learned years ago.

Awareness Is Where Change Begins

This is not about blame. It is about awareness.

Financial habits are often formed long before people start earning their own income. When those habits are repeated for years, they begin to feel normal – even when they create pressure.

But habits can change.

One of the most powerful shifts a person can make is moving from automatic financial behaviour to intentional financial behaviour.

That starts with noticing patterns instead of ignoring them.

Financial wellness begins with understanding yourself and your relationship with money. The more aware you become of your habits, the easier it becomes to make different choices.

This is how we move from #NoMore financial autopilot to #KnowMore intentional decision-making.

Questions Worth Asking Yourself

A simple way to begin is by asking yourself:

• What money lessons did I grow up with?
• Which habits still affect me today?
• Which habits are helping me?
• Which habits are creating pressure or stress?
• What financial behaviours do I want to change going forward?

These questions may seem simple, but they often reveal patterns many people have never stopped to examine.

Awareness creates choice.

And choice creates change.

Small Changes Matter More Than Big Promises

Changing financial habits does not require dramatic action or overnight success.

Lasting financial change usually comes from small, consistent decisions repeated over time.

That can look like:

• Reading your bank statement instead of avoiding it.
• Tracking your spending for a week.
• Planning before shopping.
• Comparing prices before buying.
• Asking questions before taking on debt.
• Setting small savings goals, even if the amount feels modest.

These actions may not feel significant in the moment, but over time they build confidence, control, and stability.

In a 2020FIX year, many South Africans are discovering that financial progress is not always about earning more first. Sometimes it begins with understanding more, planning better, and breaking habits that no longer serve you.

You Are Allowed to Learn Differently

Many South Africans were not taught how money really works.

That does not mean it is too late to learn.

Financial wellness is not about being perfect. It is about becoming more aware, making better decisions over time, and creating fewer financial surprises and pressures in your future.

Sometimes the biggest financial breakthrough is not earning more money.

Sometimes it is understanding your money habits better than ever before.

Practical Takeaway

Set aside just 10 minutes this week to review your recent spending without judging yourself.

Do not focus on what you “should” have done. Simply look for patterns.

Ask yourself:

• Where does most of my money go?
• What spending was necessary?
• What spending was emotional or impulsive?
• What pressures influenced my decisions?

You may be surprised by what you discover.

Clarity is often the first step toward better financial habits – and toward saying #NoMore to behaviours that keep you stuck while choosing to #KnowMore about the habits that help you move forward.