Buhlebendalo Mda on early paydays, perception, and understanding your worth
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When you don’t come from money, earning for the first time can feel life-changing. Even relatively small amounts can seem huge, simply because you’ve never had it before. But that lack of life experience can come at a cost.
In this episode of On the Money, singer and songwriter Buhlebendalo Mda joins Old Mutual’s Financial Education Programme Manager, Thabo Hollo, to reflect on early paydays in the music industry, the realities behind advances, and how quickly your perception of earning can shift once you understand the bigger picture.
It’s a candid conversation about money, context, and how not fully understanding the value of what you earn can leave you vulnerable. At its core, it’s a reminder that understanding your worth goes beyond what lands in your account.
On the Money is Old Mutual’s financial education podcast, where public figures and everyday people share their real stories about money – the good, the bad, and the unexpected.
Thanks for listening! Interested in getting more financial education? Visit our website for free resources. You can follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
In this episode of On the Money, singer and songwriter Buhlebendalo Mda joins Old Mutual’s Financial Education Programme Manager, Thabo Hollo, to reflect on early paydays in the music industry, the realities behind advances, and how quickly your perception of earning can shift once you understand the bigger picture.
It’s a candid conversation about money, context, and how not fully understanding the value of what you earn can leave you vulnerable. At its core, it’s a reminder that understanding your worth goes beyond what lands in your account.
On the Money is Old Mutual’s financial education podcast, where public figures and everyday people share their real stories about money – the good, the bad, and the unexpected.
Thanks for listening! Interested in getting more financial education? Visit our website for free resources. You can follow us on X, Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube.
Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction.
- 00:30 Meaning of the name “Buhlebendalo.”
- 01:26 Growing up in Soweto & Kwa Zakhele.
- 03:35 Childhood personality & early curiosity.
- 04:49 Being a love child & family upbringing.
- 06:30 Discovering music in Creche.
- 07:44 Becoming part of The Soil.
- 09:33 Early career, money & record label reality.
- 11:03 First earnings & saving habits.
- 13:03 Group dynamics & money discussions.
- 15:29 Childhood poverty & money trauma.
- 19:45 Money as energy & Relationship with debt.
- 25:59 What the music industry lacks.
- 29:26 Advice to her younger self & teaching her daughter about money.
- 32:48 Buhle’s next chapter: mentorship & entrepreneurship.
- 36:20 Lessons for young artists.
- 38:39 Letting go of burdens & leaving The Soil.
- 40:54 Financial discipline & avoiding debt.
- 41:52 Closing remarks.
