Have You Tried These Saving Tips to Hit Your First R50,000?

Let’s be real—saving money is hard. But reaching that first R50,000 milestone doesn’t have to feel impossible. In fact, it’s totally doable if you’ve got the right methods in place. So, let’s break down some tried-and-tested ways to grow your savings — methods that real people have used to get there. No vague “spend less” advice here; we’re talking actual steps.

1. Automate Your Savings: Out of Sight, Out of Mind
   One of the easiest ways to start saving is to automate it. Set up an automatic transfer from your checking account to a savings account every month. Choose an amount that’s realistic for your budget, like R1,500 a month. It might seem small, but here’s the math:
   
   R1,500 per month x 12 months = R18,000 per year.
   
   In under 3 years, you’ll hit that R50,000 without even thinking about it. It’s like a sneaky way to save because you’re making the decision once, and the money disappears from your account before you’re tempted to spend it. Trust me, this works wonders because you never even see the money sitting there.
   
   There are also apps that can analyze your spending patterns and automatically set aside money when it detects you can afford to save. The AI looks at your income and spending habits and transfers small, manageable amounts into your savings without you having to lift a finger.
   
   For example, these apps might transfer R100 here or R200 there based on your spending, so you don’t even notice. Over time, those little amounts add up. Say an AI-driven tool saves R400 per month for you—that's R4,800 a year!
   
   
2. Micro-Investing 
   If you want to grow your savings faster, you can also turn to our AutoInvest feature on the app. This will allow you to invest small amounts of money into stocks, ETFs, or Unit Trusts or bonds with no effort. .
   
   For example, by investing just R500 per month, your money can start earning returns. With a moderate 6% annual return, after five years you could have over R35,000—all from small, consistent contributions.
   
   
3. Round-Up Spare Change
   Some modern banking apps offer round-up savings features that automatically round up every transaction to the nearest rand and stash away the difference. For example, if you buy a coffee for R18.50, the app rounds it up to R19 and saves the extra 50 cents. This doesn’t sound like much, but if you’re swiping your card frequently, it adds up!
   
   Imagine you make 50 transactions a month, with an average round-up of R2.50—that’s an extra R125 saved per month, or R1,500 a year!
   
   
4. Treat Your Savings Like a Bill
   Instead of thinking of savings as something you’ll get to “if there’s money left over,” flip the mindset. Treat your savings like a non-negotiable bill. Set up a separate account and transfer a specific amount of money on payday, just as you would pay your rent or utilities.
   
   For example, decide to save R1,000 every month and make it the first payment you make. By doing this, you’re prioritizing your future self and ensuring you’re building your savings consistently. You can start small—R500, R200—whatever fits your budget. But commit to it regularly, and you’ll be surprised how quickly it adds up.
   
   
5. Use Tax-Free Savings Accounts (TFSAs)
   A Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) allows you to grow your savings without being taxed on the returns, making it one of the most powerful tools for saving and investing. You can contribute up to R36,000 per year (with a lifetime limit of R500,000), and all interest, dividends, and capital gains are tax-free.
   
   For example, if you invest R3,000 a month into a TFSA and earn a 7% annual return, after 10 years, your total investment could grow significantly, and you won’t pay a cent in taxes on the earnings.

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