April in South Africa—a whole bunch of public holidays and long weekends, which means lekker family and friend get-togethers or mini holidays. Plus, too many impulse buys and spending! So, here’s some simple tips to crack down and get your routine back on track without sacrificing what matters:

How To Reboot Your Budget

  1. Check it out: Look at your bank statement and be honest about what was a treat vs. what was needed.
  2. Categorise it: Track your spending on food, transport, school, medical, entertainment, etc.
  3. Cutting back: Luxuries like takeaways, online shopping sprees, and high-end supermarkets.
  4. Still on holiday? If you are travelling this month, explore affordable options like visiting family or a self-catering house while sharing costs with friends.
  5. Meal prep: Home-cooked meals can help you avoid constant takeaways during the week.
  6. Phone a friend: If a friend/colleague works and lives close by, organise a carpool to save on fuel costs.
  7. Prioritise: Are there any hidden subscriptions you’re not using? Cancel it!
  8. Pause before purchase: Adopt a 24-hour rule for non-essential purchases—give yourself time to decide if it aligns with your financial goals.
  9. Pro tip: There are free tools on most South African banking apps or app stores where you can note your budget and track it properly.

Don’t Drop Protection When Times Are Tight

It’s tempting to pause or cancel medical or insurance policies when money is tight – but that’s when you’re most vulnerable! Let’s be honest: South Africa’s roads are full of potholes and broken-down robots, and when you add in human errors like speeding or distractions in traffic, driving becomes a mess.

In all of this, you don’t plan for a road accident. But you can plan for what happens after one.

  • accidentANGELS guarantees that if you’re in a serious car accident, you will get admitted to closest private hospital, not left waiting in a public queue.
  • It’s affordable, too, starting at only R149pm – the best way to protect yourself and your family from unexpected costs and trauma. 

Think Long-Term, Think Safety

It’s not about having lots of money. It’s about knowing where your money goes and what gives you peace of mind. When you invest in protection now, you can avoid a bigger financial fallout later. Remember road accidents don’t wait for a “better month”.

Getting back on track after weeks of spending and the holidays does not mean scrapping everything, isolating yourself, or saying no to everything, or holding fingers that you’ll be okay for a while. It means being smart about what you cut—and what you keep.

Check out our accident plans here – it’s a safety net when life takes a sharp turn.