What does your financial well-being really look like? Budget Insurance is running a survey to better understand the financial needs of good South Africans and how it can help you budget away those expensive days, giving you financial freedom in 2026!
South Africa (23 February 2026) – Let’s talk money! Yes, we know it can be a very contentious topic, but in today’s world, where every cent counts, staying on top of how to make your money work for you is key! Tando Ngibe, Senior Manager at Budget Insurance, is giving some insightful tips for building a solid financial foundation.
Now is the perfect time to start planning, to get ahead – really reflecting on where you are at and getting a deeper understanding of how best to save for that rainy day and budget for life’s everyday commitments. To do this, it is crucial to first identify your own state of financial well‑being, as well as reflect on your personal outlook on financial health.
This is why Budget Insurance is inviting you to take part in a quick 7-minute survey that looks at exactly this, including affordability, spending patterns, and perceived value of insurance. And to make it a sweeter deal, you stand the chance to win R5000 in Checkers vouchers.
To take part in the survey, click here.
This survey is broken into 4 categories:
- Financial well-being – looking at one’s current outlook, whether it has improved or not, the factors impacting you, including cost of living and financial commitments, as well as potential financial well-being for the year ahead.
- Spending Habits & Savings – understanding your own money habits, defining how much of your salary you spend and how quickly and the financial commitments that make up your spend.
- Debt Management – this section looks at consumers’ state of debt, what’s keeping them up at night, the ability to pay down debt and the mental and physical impact thereof.
- Insurances – your view on insurance, the impact on finances and what you may be missing.
Says Ngibe: “Given the shifting economic environment we live in, there is no doubt that consumer finances too are shifting where majority of people are truly struggling to make ends meet or are JUST getting by. As such, to be able to better serve our customers, we want to understand what makes them tick financially and how we can better serve these good South Africans when it comes to making their budgets stretch!”
Here are a few quick tips that Tando has provided, as you start thinking about your finances and where you want to see yourself financially in 2026!
- Use rules like 50/30/20 (spending 50% on essentials, 30% on wants and 20% on savings/debt) as a starting point and adjust to your reality.
- Build and protect your emergency fund: Life is unpredictable. So always plan for unexpected costs, such as medical bills. An emergency fund is different from a savings funds so make sure you keep these separate.
- Manage and reduce high-cost debt: High-interest debt is one of the fastest drains on your finances, so tackle your highest interest debts first and take it from there.
- Take advantage of tax-efficient savings and investments: tax-free savings are always the best option, as you can save up to R36 000 a year or up to a million in a lifetime – and as it sits there, you gain the benefit of compound interest.
- Plan for taxes and rising costs: South Africa had unexpected tax increases in 2025, and beyond this, we also saw an increase in the average food basket as well as everyday living expenses such as fuel and electricity – all items that impact our budget.
- Educate yourself continually: the more you understand your finances and behaviour with money, the more likely you are to make better choices.
So, if you are looking to make 2026 your strongest financial year yet, these tips and the survey are geared to help you! Cheers to helping us build better, smarter insurance for good South Africans!
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