Remote Wellness Blog—SA Student-run
Being a student is supposed to be about learning, growing, and creating the future you want. If we are being honest, one of the hardest lessons I have had to face in university has nothing to do with academics. It’s about money, or more accurately, the lack of it.
This past week has reminded me how easy it is to make financial mistakes as a student and how quickly those mistakes can spiral into stress. I have had moments where I could not afford food, where electricity in our unit ran out because of careless use, and where I felt like a burden just thinking of asking someone for help. The pressure of being broke does not only affect your wallet. It affects your mental health. It makes you feel anxious, overstimulated, and sometimes even hopeless.
The truth is that financial literacy is not something most of us are taught before coming to university. We arrive with bursaries, allowances, or part-time income and assume it will be enough. But then real life happens. Toiletries run out, small daily expenses add up, and before you realize it, you are left with nothing until the next payment comes in.
The Emotional Toll of Money Stress
Money is not just numbers; it also carries emotions. For me, running out of money has meant feeling ashamed when my food spoiled and I couldn’t replace it. It has meant convincing myself not to reach out to family because I didn’t want to be a burden.
These feelings were heavy, and they show just how much financial pressure affects mental health. Students may look fine on the outside. Attending lectures and group projects but silently battling panic about how to survive until the next allowance. That emotional weight makes it harder to believe this will get better.
Common Mistakes Students Make with Money
Looking back, I can see where I often went wrong. I did not always track my spending, so small purchases like snacks, takeaways, or “just one more” grocery item added up. I did not plan, so when emergencies came, I was not ready. These mistakes do not make us bad people; they make us human. Becoming aware of them is the first step toward making better financial decisions.
Personal Reflection: Small but Powerful Solutions
After struggling with money and stress and realising how quickly small mistakes can pile up, I found myself at a breaking point. I was frustrated, exhausted, and wondering how I kept ending up in the same situation.
In the middle of that low point, I remembered something powerful from a financial literacy class we had earlier this year. One lesson stuck with me: always save your money before you spend. At the time, I did not take it too seriously. I thought, “I will apply it when I am older and earning more.” Yet when I was sitting there with almost nothing, those words came back to me.
It made me realise how easy it is to dismiss small, practical advice until life forces you to see its value. If I had been setting aside even a little from the bursary money, I would have had a cushion for moments like this. That realisation stung but also gave me a sense of direction. I do not have to wait for a “better time” to start making better financial decisions. I can start now, with whatever little I have.
Here are some small but powerful solutions that I have started to embrace:
- Save first, spend later: Even if it’s just a tiny amount like R100 or R50, set it aside as soon as money comes in. That way, when an emergency comes up, you have something to lean on.
- Plan your spending: I learned the hard way that buying without a plan always leads to regret. Writing down what I need for the week helps me see the bigger picture and avoid wasting money.
- Be mindful of small purchases: Those little takeaways or treats add up. When I looked back, I realised some of my financial stress came from spending on things I didn’t even remember later.
- Practice delayed gratification: Sometimes you want to buy something immediately, but if you wait and really think about it, you may find that you do not need it after all.
- Take care of mental health while budgeting: One thing I noticed is how bad financial stress can make you feel mentally. I started reminding myself that being broke does not mean I am a failure; it just means that I need better strategies.
I am not saying that I suddenly have it all figured out, but I am learning that small steps matter. Even when it feels like the world is against me, these small but powerful solutions give me a bit of control back.
So, if you are a student like me, trying to make sense of money and sometimes feeling overwhelmed, remember this: you may falter, but what matters most is rising again. You need to reflect, learn, and keep moving forward. Small changes really can make a big difference.
