How I dug myself out of a money trap to make my double-storey dream come true

When you’re drowning in debt and living on small change, it’s time to make the big changes that can put you in charge of your money

As a young girl, growing up in a middle-class family in the humble town of Klerksdorp, I had a dream.

From time to time I would say to my mum, “Can we go look at houses?” We would take a drive to one of the affluent suburbs in the hills.

Slowly driving up and down each street, we would admire the homes and point out our favourites.

“I’m going to have a double-storey home near the sea one day,” I would tell mum. I truly believed this was not just possible, but inevitable.

But somewhere along the way, I lost that dream. In 2008, while I was living in London, my mum was diagnosed with vascular dementia. With every visit back home, the deterioration was clear.

I feared the day that she would no longer recognise me. That day came in 2013, and it shook my world. My dreams were shattered. Nothing felt like it really mattered anymore. The years that followed were tumultuous.

I struggled with depressive episodes and alcohol abuse. I was very reckless with my money.

It wasn’t until 2015, then living in Cape Town, that I hit rock bottom. I would lie awake at night, crying over my financial situation. I got myself into more debt than I could handle.

I remembered how I used to lie awake at night, hearing my mum sobbing and stressing over money. The penny dropped.

Back then, I vowed to myself that I would never let money worry me. But instead of learning how to work with my money with care, I took the ignorant route.

Living for today, spending on credit, not thinking of the worry that will come later. Well, that day came.

I knew I had to find a way out of the mess myself. I had to make some tough choices. In the same week that I decided to give up alcohol for good, I signed up for debt review.

A court order blocks you from all further credit, and an agency distributes your monthly payment to your creditors.

It was going to take at least five to six years for you to get out of debt, they said. Turns out these two decisions would be key to my personal transformation.

With a sober mind, I had clarity again. I started dreaming about the future and what I wanted for my life. I joined courses and followed mentors on money management.

Money became one of my greatest teachers, and I realised my purpose on this earth was to teach others about money too.

As a “Mindful Money Coach”, I get to pass on the gift by helping people release their money-blocks. I provide them with practical tools to manage their finances with confidence.

Here are some of the practical steps I took with money to make this dream my reality.

• I faced my situation head-on and made a firm decision to change. The right mindset was vital, as I had to remind myself why I was committed to the journey of becoming debt-free whenever I felt despondent. 
• I stopped making new debt. I cut up my cards and closed my accounts as soon as the debt was paid-up.
• I added an extra amount to my debt repayments every month, whether it was R100 one month or R500 the next. Using this method, I paid my debt off years quicker than had I just paid the minimum.
• I started saving, for the first time in my life. At first, I could only put R100 away each month, but after six months I was putting away 10% of my income. I now have a firm habit of saving first, before spending the rest. As a result, I never have to use debt for emergencies or other unexpected events.
• I prioritised my financially-free future over unnecessary spending. Whenever I needed or wanted a new item, I’d ask myself if I could borrow it or buy it second-hand instead.    
• I had a monthly money date to look at my budget and plan ahead. Before this, I used to wing it and hope for the best. Facing the number is vital for progress and staying on track.  

But back to the dream house. When the journey got rocky, I held the vision and trusted the process. I didn’t think it would be possible for me to ever own a home. I put the thought to the side.

Then, three-and-a-half years later, and I was out of debt review early. A proud moment. The next year my aunt, who I regard as my second mum since my mother passed away in 2016, said that to help make it possible for me to purchase a home, she would put down a deposit, and I’d get a bond for the rest.

Off I went, searching. The moment I walked into the house I now call my home, I knew it was the one. Within a couple of weeks the paperwork was signed and the bond was approved. I now have a beautiful home in Cape Town.

“Mum, I have a double-storey house near the sea. Thank you for always believing in my dreams.”