A recent survey of South African working households has found that consumers are under extreme financial pressure, with all income groups now feeling the pinch given the current economic climate. The Old Mutual survey of 1 000 households found that even those in the highest income bracket earning R40 000+ every month were still feeling high levels of money-related stress, with a fifth admitting to being overwhelmed.
This finding is particularly surprising given that the highest income groups have historically been able to weather the storm financially, even during the toughest times. However, now rising inflation and slowing wage growth has pushed even the wealthiest South Africans to breaking point, with many households simply unable to save for the future.
Plans to pay for unforeseen expenses
When households are feeling the strain financially and are unable to save for the future, it is those unplanned expenses that can really push them over the edge.
Of the 1 000 households canvassed, half said they would be able to find R1 000 to cover an unforeseen expense, while only a quarter said they would be able
to pay an expense of R5 000 or more.
Alarmingly, even with access to fast cash, one-third of the households surveyed said they would struggle to borrow enough money to cover R10 000 in unforeseen
costs. Faced with this type of expense, respondents said they would:
* Borrow from family (56 per cent)
* Tap into savings (30 per cent)
* Miss a payment and make it when they can (26 per cent)
Sacrifices have to be made
With wage growth struggling to keep up with inflation, an increasing number of South African households are having to make sacrifices as they see their income, in real terms, fall. And, when it comes to cutting back on spending, it is the luxury items that are understandably the first to go.
Across all the income groups to respond to the survey, it was found that non-essential purchases such as holidays, eating out and entertaining friends were the first casualties when it comes to cutting costs. Next on the list are expenses like clothing, shoes, alcohol and beauty products.
The following list shows the luxury items and the proportion of the households canvassed that will be going without this year:
* Holiday and travel – 88 per cent
* Eating out / Entertainment – 86 per cent
* Entertaining at home – 85 per cent
* Alcohol – 78 per cent
* Shoes and clothing – 76 per cent
* Hair and beauty – 65 per cent
* Cigarettes – 65 per cent
* Domestic worker / Gardener – 61 per cent
* Food and groceries – 60 per cent
Are you going to have to make sacrifices this year? If so, what items will you do without? Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
