Don’t have your Nedbank ID yet?
Nedbank ID single sign-on gives you full digital access to Nedbank’s banking and lifestyle products and services on the Money app or Online Banking.
Log in
Log in to Online Banking or another one of our secured services.
Bank your way with low fees and extra benefits.
Enjoy 55 days’ interest free credit and other benefits.
Buy, transfer or shop globally with a travel card.
Affordable loans and interest rates from R2k to R300k.
Up to 100% property loan and 105% for first-time buyers.
Debt management support when you need it the most.
Cover for you and your family in the event of death.
Car, building, house contents, valuables and more.
Bond, credit card, overdraft, loan and car repayments.
Guaranteed income and growth plans for future income.
Achieve your financial goals with expert planning.
We’ll help manage your assets, debts and estate planning.
Accounts
-
Everyday banking Simpler more affordable
-
Kids accounts For children under 16
-
Youth banking For 16 to 26 year olds
-
Seniors accounts For 55 years and older
-
Private Clients Personalised banking services
-
Private Wealth The globally integrated account
-
Digital wallet Your phone is your bank account
Credit cards
Digital banking
Switch to Nedbank
Fraud awareness
Forex
-
Send and receive international payments
Greenbacks
Accounts
-
On demand Money available at any time
-
In 24 hours Cash in your hand the next day
-
In 32 days Funds ready within a month
-
End of term Investments left until maturity
Investment services
Share trading
Personal loans
Home loans
Overdrafts
Vehicle finance
Solar finance
Debt assistance
Funeral cover
Short term insurance
Credit Life
Travel insurance
Business cover
Secure investments
Financial planning
Estate, wills & trust services
Nedbank Private Wealth
Speak to a financial adviser
Blog
Talk to us
Find us
- Login & Register
- Online Banking
- Online Share Trading
- NetBank Business
- NedFleet
- Nedbank Greenbacks
- Nedgroup Investments
- Nedbank ID
- Bank
- Accounts
- Credit cards
- Digital banking
- Switch to Nedbank
- Fraud awareness
- Forex
- Greenbacks
- Explore Bank
- Accounts
- Everyday banking
- Kids accounts
- Youth banking
- Seniors accounts
- Private Clients
- Private Wealth
- Digital wallet
- See all accounts
- Premium banking
- Get help choosing
- Goal saving
- Family Banking
- Refugees and asylum seekers
- FAQ
- How-to guides
- Discontinued accounts
- Everyday banking
- MiGoals Premium
- MiGoals Plus
- MiGoals
- Kids accounts
- MiGoals4Kids
- Youth banking
- MiGoals Premium
- MiGoals
- MiGoals Plus
- Seniors accounts
- MiGoals Premium Senior
- MiGoals Plus
- Private Clients
- Pay-as-you-use
- Young Professionals
- Private Bundle and Private One
- Private Wealth
- Private Wealth Bundle
- Digital wallet
- MobiMoney
- American Express
- Amex Gold
- Amex Platinum
- Digital banking
- Switch to Nedbank
- Fraud awareness
- Send and receive international payments
- Safe and secure incoming international payments
- Secure outgoing international payments
- To Africa
- Greenbacks
- Exclusive discounts
- FAQ
- How-to guides
- Save & Invest
- Accounts
- Investment services
- Share trading
- Explore Save & Invest
- In 24 hours
- JustInvest
- PlatinumInvest
- Tax-free Savings
- MoneyTrader
- EasyAccess Fixed Deposit
- PrimeSelect
- In 32 days
- Electronic 32Day Notice
- 32Day Notice
- End of term
- Tax-free Fixed Deposit
- Electronic Fixed Deposit
- Electronic Optimum Plus
- Platinum Fixed Deposit
- Fixed Deposit
- OptimumPlus
- Investment services
- Share trading
- Borrow
- Personal loans
- Home loans
- Student loans
- Overdrafts
- Vehicle finance
- Solar finance
- Debt assistance
- Explore Borrow
- Personal loans
- Loan consolidation
- Secondhand car loan
- Home improvement loan
- Exclusive short-term loan offers
- Explore loans
- FAQ
- How to guides
- Loan consolidation
- Secondhand car loan
- Home improvement loan
- Exclusive short-term loan offers
- Home loans
- Building loan
- Switching home loan
- Repossessed properties
- Start your home buying journey
- Solar-energy Finance
- Earn R32,000 p/m or less? See offer
- HomeVision extra funds
- Home-buying Toolkit
- Managing your home loan
- Explore home loans
- FAQ
- How to guides
- Track application
- Building loan
- Switching home loan
- Repossessed properties
- Start your home buying journey
- Solar-energy Finance
- Earn R32,000 p/m or less? See offer
- HomeVision extra funds
- Home-buying Toolkit
- Managing your home loan
- Student loans
- Explore student loans
- Overdrafts
- Vehicle finance
- Solar finance
- Debt assistance
- Consolidate all your debts into a simple loan | Nedbank
- Short-term payment relief | Nedbank
- Take charge and restructure your finances | Nedbank
- Assisted-sales solutions for homes and vehicles | Nedbank
- Flexible payment plans for loans and credit | Nedbank
- Understanding how repo rate works | Nedbank
- Consolidate all your debts into a simple loan | Nedbank
- Short-term payment relief | Nedbank
- Take charge and restructure your finances | Nedbank
- Assisted-sales solutions for homes and vehicles | Nedbank
- Flexible payment plans for loans and credit | Nedbank
- Understanding how repo rate works | Nedbank
- Insure
- Life cover
- Funeral cover
- Short term insurance
- Credit Life
- Travel insurance
- Business cover
- Secure investments
- Explore Insure
- Life cover
- Get a call back
- Explore MyCover life
- Funeral cover
- Individual R10,000
- Individual R30,000
- Family Cover
- Build your own cover
- Get a call back
- Explore MyCover Funeral
- Individual R10,000
- Individual R30,000
- Family Cover
- Build your own cover
- Short term insurance
- Vehicle insurance
- Building insurance
- House contents insurance
- Valuables insurance
- Valuables insurance
- Get a call back
- Explore MyCover short term insurance
- Vehicle insurance
- Building insurance
- House contents insurance
- Valuables insurance
- Valuables insurance
- Credit Life
- Home loan credit life
- MFC Vehicle Finance Assurance
- Overdraft Assurance
- Balance Protection Plan
- Personal loan Assurance
- Get a call back
- Explore credit life
- Home loan credit life
- MFC Vehicle Finance Assurance
- Overdraft Assurance
- Balance Protection Plan
- Personal loan Assurance
- Travel insurance
- Business cover
- Secure investments
- Guaranteed Growth Income Plan
- Guaranteed Growth Plan
- Get a call back
- Explore MyCover Funeral
- Guaranteed Growth Income Plan
- Guaranteed Growth Plan
- Plan
- Financial planning
- Estate, wills & trust services
- Nedbank Private Wealth
- Speak to a financial adviser
- Explore Plan
- Financial planning
- Investment planning
- Insurance planning
- Give
- Retirement planning
- Investment planning
- Insurance planning
- Give
- Retirement planning
- Estate, wills & trust services
- Will drafting
- Ensure your estate is managed by an executor | Nedbank
- Trust services
- Financial accounting
- Tax services
- Leave the admin of your estate to us, and not to your loved ones | Nedbank
- Will drafting
- Ensure your estate is managed by an executor | Nedbank
- Trust services
- Financial accounting
- Tax services
- Leave the admin of your estate to us, and not to your loved ones | Nedbank
- Nedbank Private Wealth
- Speak to a financial adviser
- Learn
- Blog
- Explore Learn
- Blog
- Contact us
- Talk to us
- Find us
- Explore Contact us
- Talk to us
- Find us
Budget better with 3 lessons from 2021
Budget better with 3 lessons from 2021
Staff writer
Posted 05/12/2021 Updated 23/05/2023 2 mins
Saving money in the good times helps you through the tough times.
Sometimes it takes the harsh realities of life for us to catch a wake-up and make much needed changes in our lives. The global pandemic was one such reality-check that has caused many to re-evaluate and recalibrate their lives.
For some, the lockdowns and restrictions showed how brittle their finances were, exposing them to all sorts of trouble and heartache. You can avoid similar disasters if you apply these 3 lessons about getting your budget in order.
A rainy day fund is a must
If some disaster struck tomorrow, would you be able to survive on savings for a few months? Or for as long as 6 months? Not many of us can say that we would be able to, even though we should be aiming to build up a substantial savings buffer.
You can start by committing a set amount every month and trying increase that whenever possible. Is this easy? No. Will you reach your goal overnight? No. Will this give you a sense of security in case disaster strikes? You bet it will.
Choose an amount you can afford and use a scheduled transfer to place the money out of harm’s way in your savings account at the start of every month. Most of us spend first and try to save from what’s left – you need to turn that behaviour on its head, even if it means taking a look at your lifestyle and cutting back on unnecessary expenses.
By making saving a fixed cost that you pay by debit order every month, you automatically adjust the amount you have left over to spend on purchases you might want, but don’t actually need.
Save wherever, whenever you can
It’s very tempting to spend money when we have it. But it’s in these good times that we should be most diligent in saving for the future. Doing so may feel like you’re denying yourself the fruits of your labour, when in fact if you waste that money today, you’re denying yourself a comfortable future.
If you haven’t already, create a budget that helps you see what you’re spending and how much you’re overspending.
Simple changes in your daily routine can make a huge difference over the long run. Some money-saving changes you can try include:
- Setting up a lift club with colleagues
- Packing your own lunches and cooking more meals at home
- Buying produce fresh, local, and in season
- Having one or more meatless days per week
- Unsubscribing from services you no longer use or can do without
Keep busy for less
The confines of the lockdowns made many of us realise that we can do away with some of the luxuries we once considered absolutely essential.
Learning to stay entertained and occupied, or developing new fitness routines and craft hobbies has given many a different perspective on what’s important. Use this time and opportunity to pursue your passions, and put any savings toward your financial goals.
Use your budget
A household budget is the best way to stay honest with yourself: how serious are you about gaining control over your finances?
If you haven’t already, create a budget that helps you see what you’re spending and how much you’re overspending. By cutting back on unnecessary expenses, you can put that money to better use in your savings account. Nedbank has excellent budgeting and budget-tracking apps available on the Nedbank Money app to help you get control.
The pandemic may have shaken us up a little. The trick now is to take the lessons we’ve learnt and apply them to our budget so that we’re better prepared for any future crises.