Imali Matters

Imali Matters Financial Literacy is not just a concept but a necessity in our country...

Starting your career is supposed to be the beginning of financial independence. For many young South Africans, it is bec...
08/09/2026

Starting your career is supposed to be the beginning of financial independence. For many young South Africans, it is becoming the beginning of financial pressure.

Financial stress among consumers aged 24 and younger increased by 18% in the past year.

Their share of debt counselling applicants has also climbed to 9% in 2026, compared with less than 2% historically.

The biggest concerns? The rising cost of living and keeping up with monthly debt repayments.

But there is another side to the story. Young consumers are also more likely to stick to a budget, search for better-paying jobs, and use digital tools to manage their debt.

The message is clear: financial stress is arriving earlier, but so is the willingness to tackle it.

Read more about the financial pressures facing young South Africans: https://imalimatters.co.za/younger-consumers-hit-hardest-by-financial-stress/

Your salary may not have changed, but your monthly bills certainly have.Electricity prices rose by 8.1% and water prices...
08/09/2026

Your salary may not have changed, but your monthly bills certainly have.

Electricity prices rose by 8.1% and water prices by 10.1% between July 2025 and July 2026, while petrol prices jumped 26% between January and July this year. For households already trying to stretch every rand, these increases can quickly change what is left at the end of the month.

The latest Competition Commission Cost of Living Report shows why the inflation rate does not always reflect what households are actually experiencing at the till, at the petrol station and when the monthly bills arrive.

From food and transport to electricity, water and healthcare, the essential costs putting pressure on household budgets are adding up.

Read more: https://imalimatters.co.za/electricity-water-and-petrol-push-household-costs-higher/

What will you leave behind?For many South African families, legacy means culture, traditions and family values. But ther...
08/09/2026

What will you leave behind?

For many South African families, legacy means culture, traditions and family values. But there is another kind of inheritance that can shape generations: financial knowledge.

Children learn about money long before they earn their first salary. They watch how adults save, spend, budget and deal with financial pressure. Those everyday lessons can influence how they manage money later in life.

Building wealth is not only about leaving assets behind. It is also about passing on the knowledge and habits needed to protect and grow them.

From understanding needs versus wants to learning about saving, investing, borrowing, and compound growth, financial education can start at home.

Read more about building a lasting financial legacy and why financial literacy matters: https://imalimatters.co.za/what-will-you-leave-behind-why-financial-knowledge-matters-as-much-as-wealth/

Money Smart isn't just about knowing how to budget or save. It also means understanding what is happening to the money y...
04/09/2026

Money Smart isn't just about knowing how to budget or save. It also means understanding what is happening to the money you're putting away for retirement.

Do you know the name of your retirement fund? How much do you and your employer contribute? What happens to your savings when you change jobs? And, with the Two-Pot Retirement System, do you know when you can access your savings?

Your retirement fund could become one of your most valuable financial assets. Taking the time to understand it now could make a difference to your financial future.

This Money Smart Week, know your fund, know your rights, and ask questions.

Read more about understanding your retirement benefits: https://imalimatters.co.za/money-smart-today-financially-secure-tomorrow-the-power-of-understanding-your-retirement-benefits/

We’re pretty good at spring-cleaning our homes when September comes around. We clear out cupboards, throw away things we...
02/09/2026

We’re pretty good at spring-cleaning our homes when September comes around. We clear out cupboards, throw away things we no longer use, and make space for what matters.

But when was the last time you did the same with your money?
Maybe there’s a subscription you forgot about, a beneficiary you need to update, or that will you’ve been saying you’ll get around to.
You don’t have to sort everything out in one day. Start with one thing this week and work from there.

Read more for five simple financial admin tasks to tackle this September: https://imalimatters.co.za/this-september-give-your.../

Heritage Day is about more than braais, family recipes, languages and stories. It is also a chance to talk about the fin...
01/09/2026

Heritage Day is about more than braais, family recipes, languages and stories. It is also a chance to talk about the financial habits we pass from one generation to the next.

How did your parents teach you about saving? What was the most expensive money lesson they learned? Does your family know where the important financial documents are kept?

These conversations can help children understand saving, debt, credit, stokvels, insurance and everyday money decisions before they learn about them from adverts, influencers and easy-credit products.

This Heritage Day, talk about the money lessons your family wants to pass on.

Read more about six financial conversations worth having around the fire: https://imalimatters.co.za/five-questions-worth-asking-around-the-braai-this-heritage-day/

Women entrepreneurs gathered at NH Hotel Sandton on 28 August for the Women’s Business Summit, hosted by Achievement All...
01/09/2026

Women entrepreneurs gathered at NH Hotel Sandton on 28 August for the Women’s Business Summit, hosted by Achievement Alley Awards, bringing together business leaders and professionals for an honest conversation about what it takes to build and sustain a business in South Africa.

The discussions moved beyond the usual messages about empowering women and focused on the practical challenges entrepreneurs face, including funding, government red tape, delayed payments, leadership, technology, mental health and the importance of building strong business networks.

Honourable Jane Sithole, Deputy Minister of Small Business Development, highlighted the difficulties small businesses continue to experience when dealing with government, particularly when payments are delayed or administrative processes take too long.

The summit also looked at how women can support one another, build lasting businesses and create opportunities through collaboration.

Read more about the conversations and insights from the Women’s Business Summit:

Debt is becoming a bigger worry for South African households, with 50% of working South Africans saying they worry about...
27/08/2026

Debt is becoming a bigger worry for South African households, with 50% of working South Africans saying they worry about debt often or always.

For people who are genuinely over-indebted, debt review can provide much-needed breathing room. But entering debt review also means losing access to new credit, which can leave some consumers turning to informal lenders when unexpected expenses arise.

So, is debt review the right solution for you?

We look at what the latest figures reveal, why more South Africans are turning to debt counselling, and the risks consumers need to understand before making a decision.

Read more and know your options before signing up: https://imalimatters.co.za/is-debt-review-right-for-you/

Your home could be costing you more than you realise.In South Africa, the geyser can account for around 40% of a typical...
26/08/2026

Your home could be costing you more than you realise.

In South Africa, the geyser can account for around 40% of a typical household’s electricity use. Add rising electricity and municipal costs, and small upgrades can make a real difference.

From geyser insulation and LED lighting to solar, rainwater harvesting and efficient appliances, investing in your home could help cut recurring costs.

Read more to see which upgrades could pay for themselves over time: https://imalimatters.co.za/investing-in-your-home-can-put-money-back-in-your-pocket/

What happens when young people are given the tools to make smarter money decisions? In Brakpan, 50 young people took par...
26/08/2026

What happens when young people are given the tools to make smarter money decisions?

In Brakpan, 50 young people took part in a financial literacy workshop hosted by NFOSA and Ifeza Learning as part of the MSWSA 2026 campaign, themed “Money Smart: The Power of Possible.”

From budgeting and saving to credit scores, credit agreements and Buy Now Pay Later services, the workshop tackled the real money decisions young South Africans face every day.
The session also introduced participants to NFOSA’s free dispute resolution service and their consumer rights when dealing with financial service providers.

Read more to see how financial literacy is helping empower South Africa’s youth: https://imalimatters.co.za/nfosa-launches-mswsa-2026-campaign-with-youth-financial-literacy-workshop-in-brakpan/

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