Money stress eases slightly in South Africa, but financial pressures remain

South Africans are reporting lower levels of financial stress than in recent years, with stress levels returning to where they were in 2022. However, financial pressure remains a significant concern for many households.

These findings come from the 2025 DebtBusters Money-Stress Tracker, which surveyed over 27,000 people in May and June, making it one of the largest online surveys examining the impact of money stress on South Africans' lives.

The 2025 survey found that:

• 70% of respondents experienced money stress. This is down from 78% in 2023 and 75% in 2024. Although the extent of financial anxiety is declining, the impact on daily life remains substantial. Of those experiencing financial stress, 91% felt it affected their home life, 73% their work life, and 73% their health.

• Women continue to bear a disproportionately higher burden of financial stress. Nearly three out of four female respondents reported feeling stressed. Women are around 10% more stressed about finances. They are 20% more stressed about work life, home life and health compared to men, although stress levels for both genders have decreased by 5% to 15% across all facets of life since 2024. The shift is attributed to fewer national crises, such as loadshedding, reduced inflation, and people starting to better manage their finances, allowing them to look beyond short-term survival.

 Money-Stress Tracker collaborating psychologist Andrea Kellerman notes that even a 5% drop in stress (from 75% to 70% in the past year) results in people sleeping and coping “a bit better,” suggesting the profound impact even small improvements can have on resilience and perception.

Key financial concerns

For people feeling financially stressed, short-term concerns continue to dominate, with the top two being running out of money before the end of the month and struggling to pay off monthly debt.

The impact of interest rate increases, while still significant, has subsided compared to 2023 and 2024.

Demographic variations

• Age: Middle-aged (35 – 44 years) respondents were the most financially stressed. Concerns about retirement increased for those aged 45 and older, compared to 2024, indicating that this age group is now able to look beyond the short-term concerns which traditionally dominate.

• Income: Lower-income groups are the most concerned about the impact of interest rate increases or unexpected expenses. While electricity costs are an elevated concern across all income groups compared to 2024, retirement worries are more pronounced in the upper-income brackets. People earning more than R20,000 a month remain among the most financially stressed, often qualifying for and taking on more credit than their earning capacity allows.

• Region: People living in the Western Cape are the most financially concerned, surpassing Gauteng, which reported the most money stress in 2024. The Western Cape is also where most people worry about unexpected expenses and retirement. Smaller provinces, such as the Northern Cape, Limpopo, and Mpumalanga, saw significant increases in concerns about electricity costs and interest rates.

Borrowing and debt repayment trends

• 63% of respondents allocated 30% or more of their after-tax income to debt repayment. 48% spend over 40% paying back what they have borrowed, a level considered unsustainable.

• People who are 45 or older are under the most severe debt-repayment pressure, with 60% having unsustainable levels of debt.

• Those earning over R20,000 a month also face considerable pressure to repay debt.

Addressing money stress

• 37% of respondents reported actively cutting back on monthly spending, compared to 43% in 2022. This suggests savings fatigue has set in.

• Seeking higher-paying or better jobs is a growing trend, with 35% of consumers exploring these options to make ends meet. This has increased from 26% in 2022.

• Younger consumers are more proactive about sticking to budgets and are almost four times more likely to seek better employment, showing 56% more intent to manage money stress than people aged over 35.

• Respondents elaborating on how they manage money stress revealed a shift in coping mechanisms. In 2022 and 2023, people tended to seek better jobs or start a side hustle, while in 2024, debt counselling was the preferred way to relieve financial stress. Now, there is a growing emphasis on entrepreneurial efforts, multiple income streams and financial independence, reflecting a move towards self-reliance and creating diverse sources of income.

Benay Sager, executive head of DebtBusters, says that despite the slight reduction in overall stress, over 90% of South Africans with unsustainable debt do not proactively seek professional support such as debt counselling.

“This underscores the ongoing importance of stress-management programmes, financial education, and awareness campaigns that address stigma and promote early intervention. It also highlights the need for innovative solutions to deal with money stress, particularly those that help consumers stretch their money further.”

SUNDAY TRIBUNE