88% of parents had to cut back on essential expenses to cover back-to-school expenses – survey

Loading player...
GUEST – Hayley Parry - Money Coach and Facilitator at 1Life’s Truth About Money

Many parents are battling to afford back-to-school expenses and resort to skipping paying their medical aid and insurance premiums. Back-to-school has become a stressful time for parents all over South Africa due to the high cost of living.

According to a survey 1Life Insurance conducted in December 2023 among 1 983 South Africans, 88% of parents will have to cut back on essential monthly expenses such as food and transport to cover back-to-school expenses. The survey shows that over 36% of parents are most worried about the cost of school fees, which comes as no shock if you consider the steep cost of quality education. Additionally, the second largest concern is school uniforms (31%) and as a close third, the cost of stationery (29%)
24 Jan 2024 3PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Bitcoin at the Fed’s Crossroads

Bitcoin briefly touched a 12‑week high before pulling back—but with spot ETFs seeing some of their strongest inflows of the cycle, the market is shifting fast. Rob Price, CIO of Sound Money Capital, explains whether Bitcoin is still trading like a high‑beta macro asset or evolving into true sound money.
27 Apr 1PM 17 min

Oil’s Hidden Risks & Gold’s War Paradox

Oil is stuck near $90–95, but portfolio manager John Hasslet says the market is being held up by physical bottlenecks, not real fundamentals. He also unpacks why gold is falling during a major war and how inflation expectations are overpowering safe‑haven demand.
27 Apr 1PM 13 min

BofA Slashes SA Growth Forecast as Inflation Surges

Bank of America has cut South Africa’s 2026 GDP growth forecast to 1.3%, warning that higher oil and fertilizer prices will keep inflation above 4% for most of the year. Economist Tatonga Rusike explains
23 Apr 3PM 11 min

Understanding SA’s First Wealth Score

Franc unveils South Africa’s first-ever Wealth Score, revealing that financial habits—not income—are the strongest predictor of financial health. We unpack why SA’s national score is 45/100 and the behavior gap between knowing and doing with Dr. Thomas Brennan, founder and CEO of Franc.
23 Apr 3PM 13 min