If your wallet could talk, it would scream

South Africans spent 2025 playing financial whack-a-mole. By the third week of December, many South Africans are staring at their bank balances wondering where it all went, once again. The average disposable income? R6,690 a month. The cost of a basic 44-item household food basket? R5,420.30. That leaves barely R1,200 for everything else: transport, utilities, essentials, emergencies - and a little breathing space.

Households weren’t careless. They were squeezed from every direction. Electricity hikes, rising fuel prices, last-minute takeaways, gifts, and holiday splurges drained wallets faster than most could track. By December, the question on almost every South African’s mind is the same: “Where did all my money go?”

“2025 was brutal, but predictable,” says Pedri Reyneke, CEO of Multilink Financial Services. “Families didn’t overspend - they were unprepared. Daily costs quietly ate at bank balances while households scrambled to cover the unexpected. Stop guessing. Start controlling. And with a few simple habits, you can break the cycle in 2026.”

Take control in 2026: practical steps that actually work

1. Budget ruthlessly

Visibility is everything. Tools like Old Mutual’s Vault22 (formerly 22seven) automatically track your spending and reveal exactly where your money is leaking. Prefer manual methods? A simple Excel sheet dividing fixed costs, essentials, and discretionary spending works just as well. If you can see it, you can control it.

2. Enforce category limits

The envelope method isn’t old-fashioned. Assign limits to groceries, transport, bills, gifts, and fun. When the envelope is empty, spending stops. No dipping into next month’s petrol to cover this month’s takeaway.

3. Pay yourself first

Automate savings as a non-negotiable debit: R300, R500, R1,000 — whatever your budget allows. Treat it like rent or electricity. Over time, small contributions grow into a meaningful safety net.

4. Review and recalibrate quarterly

Every three months, ask: Where did I overspend? What surprised me? What can I prepare for next quarter? Spotting patterns early prevents minor leaks from becoming crises. This isn’t busywork - it’s your financial lifeline.

5. Build buffers for essentials

Food, fuel, and utilities rarely stay flat. Price hikes are the new normal. Anticipate increases and build a small cushion to absorb shocks. Even a modest buffer can stop a surprise from snowballing into a stressful month.

6. Challenge hidden costs Look beyond obvious splurges. Subscriptions, add-ons, and small daily habits quietly drain your budget. Identifying and trimming these can free up cash - without feeling restrictive. Many are shocked to see how much these tiny costs add up over a year.

The cost of doing nothing

Ignoring these habits comes at a real price: mounting debt, late payments, shrinking savings, and repeated stress. Financial strain isn’t just about money, but it also affects sleep, relationships, and mental health.

“When households ignore small, cumulative costs, they lose control of their finances,” Reyneke warns. “Proactive planning and disciplined tracking don’t restrict your lifestyle - they give you confidence, security, and real choice over your money.”

Make 2026 the year you take back control

Next year doesn’t have to be another rinse-and-repeat cycle of financial stress. With visibility, practical habits, and the right tools, households can patch leaks, grow meaningful savings, and decide exactly where their money goes.

“At Multilink, we don’t just provide advice: we empower households to take back control,” Reyneke concludes. “2026 can be the year South Africans stop scrambling and start planning. The choice is yours: repeat 2025, or finally decide where your money goes.”