Many South Africans have nothing left to save, says NDCA

South Africans can't afford to save because they simply have no money.

As many South Africans count down the days until payday, the National Debt Counselling Association (NDCA) says rising living costs and debt repayments are leaving many households with little or no disposable income to save.

The warning comes during National Savings Month, which encourages consumers to build financial resilience. However, the NDCA said that for many households, the challenge is not a lack of financial discipline but a structural affordability problem, with essential expenses and debt repayments consuming most, if not all, of their monthly income.

The association's warning is reflected in TransUnion's latest Consumer Pulse Study, which found that 39% of South Africans expect to miss at least one bill or loan repayment, while only 37% believe their income is keeping pace with inflation.

Nearly eight in 10 (79%) ranked inflation among their top household financial concerns, highlighting the pressure on already stretched budgets.