Youth Month is a chance to reflect on what it means to be young in South Africa today. For many, that means looking for opportunities in a tough job market, managing rising costs, and trying to build a future in an uncertain world.<\/p>\n
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Whether you’re studying, sending out CVs, starting your first job, or running a side gig, money can feel like both a headache and a superpower. That’s why financial resilience matters. It’s about being able to handle setbacks, adapt when life throws curveballs and keep moving towards your goals.<\/p>\n
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Here\u2019s the tough part, nearly half (45.8%) of young South Africans actively looking for work are unemployed. \u201cThat means financial stability doesn\u2019t just \u2018arrive\u2019 with the first paycheck.\u00a0 Instead, it\u2019s built deliberately through everyday money habits, smart decisions, and multiple income streams,\u201d says Clair Brenner, FNB\u2019s nav\u00bb CEO.<\/p>\n
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But young people aren’t just waiting around. Across the country, many are finding creative ways to earn, learn and grow. Some are tutoring. Others are creating content, selling products online, coding, freelancing, offering services in their communities or turning hobbies into income streams.<\/p>\n
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Technology is also making it easier for them to access opportunities, learn new skills, and grow income in ways that were not possible a decade ago.<\/p>\n
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\u201cOne thing we\u2019ve seen at FNB is that there is a palpable demand among the youth for tools to intuitively support money management. Young consumers are increasingly focused on understanding their spending, building savings habits, and making more considered financial decisions, even when income is constrained,\u201d adds Brenner.<\/p>\n
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Lethukuthula Ngcobo, FNB’s Product Manager for Integrated Advice, says this reflects a broader change in mindsets. “Financial literacy is about understanding your options, making informed choices and building habits that help you move closer to your goals.”<\/p>\n
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While everyone’s journey is different, a few practical habits can make a meaningful difference over time.<\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n \n “Consistency matters. Small actions repeated over time can have a meaningful impact on your financial future,” Ngcobo adds.<\/p>\n \n \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n Financial resilience isn\u2019t about sudden windfalls or lucky breaks, it\u2019s about steady choices, creative hustles, and community support. And here\u2019s the fun part,\u00a0 every time you save, learn, or share knowledge, you\u2019re not just surviving, you\u2019re building options for your future self. Think of financial literacy as the toolkit and resilience as the outcome; together, they help people navigate uncertainty, grab opportunities, and create stronger futures.<\/p>\n \n This toolkit doesn\u2019t have to be complicated. For example, My Advisor on the FNB banking app gives you tailored insights and practical tools to help you plan smarter, gives you a better perspective of your money habits and helps guide you towards your financial goals.<\/p>\n \n \n Youth Month celebrates energy, ambition, and resilience, qualities that shine just as brightly in the way young South Africans are managing money today. One decision, one habit, one step at a time, they\u2019re proving that financial resilience is more than survival. It\u2019s a superpower.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Youth Month is a chance to reflect on what it means to be young in<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":170,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-169","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-business"],"yoast_head":"\n\n
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