I just want to express my gratitude to City Press and Maya Fisher-French for the valuable lessons that I got from taking part in and winning the competition in 2016. When I entered the competition it was during a difficult time in my life.
It was quite an eye-opener for me to learn that debt also increases your stress levels and makes you anxious most of the time. Recently, I realised the importance of an emergency fund when my daughter lost all her belongings in a fire at her university residence. I have learnt the importance of delayed gratification. I do not buy furniture on credit, but I save until I can afford to buy what I need. I love travelling and I used to rely on my credit card for my travels.Now I have learnt to club in with a friend and save for our annual travels, that way we are able to share costs and to spend only what we have in the kitty.
I like this. I read the article about school fees versus retirement savings. That is an outstanding way of looking at how we manage our finances.