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Ketchup clothing brand, Mbabane (2026)

17/08/2026

7 FOOLISH MONEY MOVES THAT KEEP PEOPLE BROKE IN ESWATINI

Money mistakes are costly - not just in numbers, but in missed opportunities for growth, peace of mind, and generational wealth. Sadly, many of us are guilty of these mistakes without even realizing it. Let’s break down 7 foolish things people do with money (and why you should avoid them):

1️⃣ Borrowing MONEY to invest in things you don’t understand

It sounds smart to “invest,” but if you don’t understand what you’re putting your money into, it’s just gambling.

Example: Taking a loan of E 20,000 to buy “shares” in a friend’s vague business, only to lose it all.

Always study before investing.

2️⃣ Co-signing a loan for someone else

When you co-sign, you are saying: “If they don’t pay, I will.” And sadly, most times, they don’t.

Example: You co-sign an E 15,000 furniture loan for a cousin, they default, and suddenly your payslip is being deducted. Protect yourself - don’t sign what isn’t yours.

3️⃣ Investing in Ponzi Schemes

Quick money is tempting. Ponzi schemes promise to double your cash in weeks, but they collapse as fast as they rise.

Example: You put E 5,000 in a “pay 1 get 2” WhatsApp group. You might get lucky once, but when the chain breaks, the last people in lose everything.

4️⃣ Delaying investing and missing compound interest

The earlier you start, the more your money works for you. Waiting costs you millions over time.

Example: If you invest E 1,000 per month from age 25 at 10 % returns, by 55 you’d have over E 2 million. Start at 35 instead? You’d only have about E 700,000. Time is the magic.

5️⃣ Saving Money in the Bank (and nowhere else)

Banks are safe, yes - but they don’t grow your money. With interest rates at 3 - 4 % while inflation eats 6 - 7 %, your money is silently losing value.

Example: E 10,000 saved for 5 years may grow to E 11,500 in the bank - but groceries that cost E 10,000 today may cost E 14,000 in 5 years. You’re falling behind.

6️⃣ Not protecting your family with life insurance

Many people avoid life insurance thinking it’s a waste. But what happens if the breadwinner passes? Families are left begging.

Example: For E 300/month, you can cover your family with a policy that pays E 500,000+ if you die. That money keeps your children in school and your family secure.

7️⃣ Investing just because “Everyone is doing it”

Following the crowd is dangerous. What works for others may sink you.

Example: You hear everyone buying cattle, so you rush to buy 10 cows at E 7,000 each - without knowing how to manage them. Soon, disease wipes them out. Always research before joining trends.

Money mistakes are costly - but financial wisdom pays forever. Avoid these 7 traps and you’ll be far ahead of the average spender in Eswatini.

Which of these mistakes have you seen people around you make most often?

16/08/2026

FROM A HOMELESS DRUG ADDICT TO A UNIVERSITY GRADUATE: THIS IS MY STORY

I grew up with my grandmother, while my mother worked as a textile worker at the Matsapha Industrial Site.

My father was a deadbeat dad. After having five firstborn children in different parts of the country, he was never really present in my life. I don't remember receiving even a single cent from him.

My mother took full responsibility for me. She provided everything I needed, including paying my school fees. I was her only child.

In 2008, my father died. I did not feel much loss because I had already grown up without him in my life. His absence had become normal to me.

Then, in June 2010, my life changed completely.
My mother died mysteriously.

I found her in a confused state, running around the house. I was still a teenager. I took her to the hospital, but within a few days, she passed away.
Suddenly, I was an orphan.

I continued attending Inyandza High School, where I was doing Form 2. One of the biggest questions in my mind was: Who was going to pay my school fees?

Strangely, the school never chased me out of class. When teachers called students who had outstanding school fees, my name was never mentioned.

I thought perhaps they were giving me a grace period.

I passed Form 2 and went to Form 3.

I was under the OVC programme, a government programme that supports orphaned and vulnerable children with school fees. I only needed to pay the top-up fee, which was much better than paying the full amount.

I attended the whole first term of Form 3. When the second term started, I became worried because I knew I had not paid my top-up fees.

But whenever the school called students with outstanding balances, my name was never called.
I became frustrated.

I thought maybe my name was not on the system.
So I went to my class teacher and asked what was happening.

She looked at me and said:

"Mr. Mamba paid your school fees. He also paid your school fees last year."

That was the first time I learned that someone had been quietly paying my school fees.

I had no idea.

I remember being a brilliant student. At one point, I got position 3, and my teachers had great hopes for me.

But while I was doing Form 2, I had already started experimenting with drugs. At first, it was only occasionally.

By Form 4, the habit had become worse.
I passed Form 4 and was promoted to Form 5.

Unfortunately, when school opened in 2013, I did not report immediately. I stayed at home smoking drugs.

When I finally returned to school in the second month, the headteacher did not allow me back into class.

He's probably going to see this 😂.
Sir, I understand what you did. Looking back, I deserved it.

That moment changed the direction of my life.
After being chased out of school, I went to work in the forests of Motigny Investment, pruning trees.
It was one of the most difficult years of my life.

I was still smoking drugs, but deep inside, I knew I wanted to go back to school.

In December 2013, I went to my uncle to ask for financial assistance because I wanted to return to school.

At that time, my uncle had bought a Quantum and two cars. I believed money was not a problem.

But when I asked him for help, he told me:
"I don't have money."

Those words devastated me.
Later, he gave me E 5,000, which was money he owed my late mother.

At the beginning of 2014, I took that money, bought school uniforms and went back to school. I registered under the OVC programme, paid my top-up fees and returned to class.

Again, I was promoted to Form 5.
At the beginning of 2015, however, the school would not allow me into class because I had not paid my school fees.

I started moving around my neighbourhood looking for piece jobs.

One neighbour gave me a job to renovate his fence for E 600. I took E 500 from that money and went to pay my school fees.

I was allowed back into class.
But I was still using drugs.
Then something happened that changed my life, at least temporarily.

Early in February, while I was doing Form 5, my friend and I hosted a marula house party. During the party, we smoked ma*****na and glue.

The following day, I became very sick.
That experience forced me to make a decision:
I was going to quit drugs.

This time, I took the decision seriously.
Something amazing happened.

I had been promoted to Form 5 with position 34. After I changed my life and stopped using drugs, I improved to position 8 in my first term.
By the third term, I was position 5.

My teachers started seeing something different in me.

My class teacher and teachers for different subjects had hopes that I would pass well and eventually go to university.

But life had other plans.
Just a few months before I was supposed to write my final examinations, I was chased out of the home where I was staying with my uncle and grandmother.

I became homeless.
Sometimes I slept on mountains and in bushes.
Sometimes a friend would allow me to sleep at his place, but I had to leave early in the morning before his family realised that I had spent the night there.

I had no one.
I only had myself.

I stopped attending school for almost two weeks.
Eventually, I went to my class teacher and explained that I was homeless and could not attend school.
She found me a place to stay at a nearby home where other pupils who lived far from school were accommodated.

The children welcomed me warmly.
They were good to me.

During weekends, they would go home to visit their parents and return with groceries.
I had nothing to contribute, but they shared what they had with me.

I will never forget that kindness.
But mentally, I was not okay.
I was carrying too many things at once.
Maybe that is one of the reasons I did not perform as well as I could have in my final examinations.
When the results came, I had only credited four subjects.

I was devastated.
I had worked so hard. I had done piece jobs to raise money for school fees. I had fought my way back into school. I had changed my life.
But I still felt like I had failed.

The disappointment took me back to drugs.
I later started working as a security guard.
I was ashamed of the job.

Whenever I saw relatives or former classmates, I would hide because I did not want them to know that I was a security guard.

I felt like I had failed in life.
One day, while I was on duty, a pastor who was passing by came to speak to me.
He said:

"I will never preach to you to quit smoking drugs, but I know one day you will quit and help others do the same."

At the time, his words did not move me.
But I never forgot them.

By 2017, those words started making sense.
I spent a lot of time thinking about my future.
I knew I did not want to remain where I was.
I knew I had to change.

On 31 October 2017, I smoked ma*****na for the last time.
I have never smoked it again.

The following morning, I woke up early, collected everything I used for smoking and threw it into the toilet.

I had almost 1kg of ma*****na, packs of ci******es and other smoking materials.
Everything went down that toilet.
After that, I said a small prayer asking God to help me.

Quitting was not easy.
There were times when I could not sleep. I would sometimes lie awake until morning.
I went on Google and searched for information about how to quit smoking.

I read article after article and started applying the advice.

I changed my friends.
I changed my habits.
I changed the things I did.
I changed my environment.
I started exercising after work.

At that time, I was staying at KaKhoza in Manzini. I would run from KaKhoza to Mahhala and back.

Three months after I stopped associating with my old smoking friends, I met one of them.
He looked at me and said:

"You are starting to look fresh."

That statement motivated me even more.
I had a dream.
I wanted to turn my life around.

In February 2018, I enrolled at IMDC Institute in Manzini for evening classes while continuing to work as a security guard.

I would knock off at 4:30 pm and be in class by 5 pm. Classes ended at 7 pm.
I did that throughout the year.

I paid my school fees and examination fees using my own savings.

When examinations approached, I asked my supervisors if I could change my shifts.
They agreed to allow me to work at night.
So I would go to work carrying my books and study materials.

While on duty, I would study at night.
The following day, I would go and write my examinations.

Sometimes I was writing while extremely tired and sleepy.

But I had a goal.
I knew what I wanted.
And that investment paid off.
When the results came, I was happy.

I applied to different universities across the country.
Eventually, I received university admission and a scholarship.

In November 2022, something happened that I will never forget.

I became the first university graduate in both my father's and mother's families.

I did it without wealthy uncles.
I did it without family connections.
I did it without someone carrying me through life.

I took charge of my destiny.

Sometimes when I look back at everything I went through, I still ask myself:

How did I survive all of that?
I lost my parents.
I became homeless.
I battled drug addiction.
I dropped out of school.
I worked as a security guard.
I was ashamed of myself.
I slept in bushes and mountains.
I struggled to pay school fees.
I failed to get the university results I wanted the first time.

But somehow, I kept fighting.

Today, I have done a number of things that I never imagined possible when I was that young boy struggling to survive.

I founded the Eswatini National Author's Awards.
I have built a consultancy business with offices at Mbabane House, third floor, Office #312.
I write for both the Eswatini Observer and Times of Eswatini newspapers.

Most importantly, I have developed a passion for helping other people fix their lives, especially people who feel like they have lost their way.

I am not sharing this story because I believe I am better than anyone.
I am sharing it because I know what it feels like to have nothing.

I know what it feels like to be rejected.
I know what it feels like to be ashamed of yourself.
I know what it feels like to sleep without knowing where your next meal will come from.
I know what it feels like to have a dream but no money to pursue it.
And I know what it feels like to fall down again and again.

But I also know this:

Your current situation is not necessarily your final destination.
You can start again.
You can change your friends.
You can change your habits.
You can go back to school.
You can learn a new skill.
You can rebuild your life.
You can fail and still rise.

I was once a homeless teenager who was addicted to drugs and had no idea what his future looked like.

Today, I am a university graduate, writer, entrepreneur and consultant.

If I could change my life, I believe you can change yours too.

Never allow your past to convince you that your future is finished.

Sometimes, the person who has suffered the most has the greatest story to tell.

And sometimes, the greatest comeback starts when you have absolutely nothing left.

This is my story. And I am still writing it.

Clement T Dlamini

Business Development Strategist | Certified Personal Finance Advisor (CPFA)

For individual financial literacy coaching sessions
Business plans with cash flow projections
Business proposals
Company profiles
Financial statements
Company registrations
Tender documents
Research projects
Design posters and marketing materials

Book on WhatsApp: 7816 3486

Visit my office at Opposite Mbabane municipality council,Mbabane house, third floor, office #312

14/08/2026

5 WAYS TO COLLECT MONEY FROM POOR PEOPLE - AND HOW TO STOP PLAYING THE GAME

Let’s be brutally honest.
One of the easiest ways to remain financially broke is to spend your money trying to look financially successful.

You earn E 10,000.
You spend E 9,800 trying to look like someone who earns E 30,000.

You earn E 20,000.
You spend E 19,500 maintaining a lifestyle designed to convince people that you are doing extremely well.

Then payday comes again.
And again.
And again.
Years pass.

The car has changed.
The phone has changed.
The clothes have changed.
The restaurants have changed.
But your financial position has not changed.

This is how the poverty trap can work.

Here are five major ways money is collected from people who are financially struggling.

1. 🚗 EXPENSIVE CARS

Many people see someone driving an expensive car and immediately assume:

“This person is rich.”

Not necessarily.

A person earning E 15,000 per month can finance a E 300,000 vehicle.

Suddenly, everyone thinks they are wealthy.

But behind the beautiful car could be:

E 5,000 monthly instalment
E 1,500 fuel
E 1,000 insurance
Maintenance costs
Other debts
No emergency fund
No investments

The car looks rich.
The owner may not be.

The dangerous part is that people then compare themselves with others.

“My friend has a new car. I also need one.”

So they borrow money to purchase an image.

Ask yourself:

If nobody could see my car, would I still want to buy it?

That question can save you thousands of Emalangeni.

2. 🏠 EXPENSIVE LIFESTYLE AND RICH NEIGHBOURHOODS

Some people believe living in an expensive neighbourhood automatically makes them wealthy.

It doesn't.

You can live next door to a millionaire and still be financially broke.

Imagine earning E 20,000 and paying E 9,000 for rent because you want to live in a prestigious area.

Someone else earning the same salary might pay E 5,000.

That's a difference of E 4,000 every month.
Over one year:
E 4,000 × 12 = E 48,000.

That is E 48,000 that could have gone toward:

💰 Savings
📈 Investments
🏠 A deposit
🎓 Education
💼 Starting a business
🚨 An emergency fund

There is nothing wrong with living in a beautiful neighbourhood.

But don't spend your future just to impress your neighbours.

3. 🍖 EATING OUT, ENTERTAINMENT AND ALCOHOL

“Feed the body that works.”

Yes, you work hard.
But your body doesn't need you to destroy your financial plan every weekend. 😂

Imagine spending:

E 300 on food
E 300 on drinks
E 200 on transport
E200 on entertainment

That's E 1,000 every weekend.

Approximately:

E 4,000 per month.
And:
E 48,000 per year.

You may say:
“But I deserve to enjoy my money.”

Absolutely.
Enjoy your money. But don't let enjoyment consume your entire income.

There is a difference between enjoying life and financing a lifestyle you cannot afford.

You don't have to stop eating out.
You need to stop allowing restaurants, alcohol and entertainment to become your biggest financial priorities.

4. 👕 EXPENSIVE CLOTHES AND BRANDS

Some people know every designer brand.

They know the difference between original and fake.
They know exactly how much the shoes cost.
They know exactly how much the jacket cost.
They know exactly how much the handbag cost.

But ask them:
“How much do you have invested?”

Suddenly, there is silence. 😂

You can wear E 5,000 clothes and have E 200 in your bank account.

You can wear a E 1,000 outfit and have E 100,000 invested.

Clothing can make you look wealthy. It cannot make you wealthy.

Buy good clothes.
Look professional.
Take pride in your appearance.

But don't spend your investment money trying to prove your financial status.

5. 📱 EXPENSIVE PHONES AND SOCIAL MEDIA STATUS

Some people don't buy phones anymore.
They buy cameras, status and validation.

“I need the latest iPhone.”
“I need the best camera.”
“I need the latest Samsung.”

Then the phone costs E 18,000.

Meanwhile, they have:

E 0 emergency savings.
E 0 investments.
E 0 business capital.
E 0 retirement savings.

And E 18,000 worth of phone.

There's nothing wrong with owning a good phone.

But remember:
A phone is a tool, not a financial achievement.
And social media makes this problem worse.

People post:

✈️ When they fly
🍽️ When they eat
🚗 When they buy cars
🏨 When they travel
👗 When they buy clothes
💍 When they get engaged
🥂 When they are celebrating
📱 When they buy new phones

Then other people see the posts and think:

“I also need that lifestyle.”
And the cycle continues.

The problem is not cars.
The problem is not clothes.
The problem is not restaurants.
The problem is not phones.
The problem is using money to create an appearance of wealth instead of building actual wealth.

There are people spending E 25,000 every month trying to look successful while having nothing saved.

Meanwhile, someone earning E 12,000 is quietly saving E 2,000 every month, investing, building a business and buying assets.

Who is actually winning?
The person receiving applause today?
Or the person building financial security for tomorrow?

Instead of asking:

“How can I look successful?”

Start asking:
“How can I become financially secure?”

Instead of buying a more expensive car, consider building an investment portfolio.

Instead of upgrading your phone every year, consider putting that money toward an asset.

Instead of spending every weekend on entertainment, allocate part of your income toward your financial goals.

Instead of buying designer clothes to impress people, invest in skills that can increase your income.

Instead of competing with your friends, compete with your previous financial position.

REMEMBER THIS:

A person earning E 30,000 and spending E 30,000 is not necessarily wealthier than someone earning E 15,000 and investing E 4,000 every month.

Income is important.
But what you do with your income is even more important.

Don't spend your entire salary proving to people that you are doing well.

Your goal should not be:

“I want people to think I'm rich.”

Your goal should be:

“I want my money to work for me.”

Because the real flex is not driving an expensive car.
The real flex is having no unnecessary debt, an emergency fund, investments, assets, multiple income streams and peace of mind.

Don't compete to look rich.
Compete to become financially free.

Clement T Dlamini

Business Development Strategist | Certified Personal Finance Advisor (CPFA)

For individual financial literacy coaching sessions
Business plans with cash flow projections
Business proposals
Company profiles
Financial statements
Company registrations
Tender documents
Research projects
Design posters and marketing materials

Book on WhatsApp: 7816 3486

Visit us at Opposite Mbabane municipality council,Mbabane house, third floor, office #312

13/08/2026

MAY WE NEVER LOSE ANOTHER LIFE OVER DEBT - DEBT SHOULD NEVER COST YOU YOUR LIFE

Financial pressure can be extremely heavy.
When bills are piling up, loan repayments are overdue, creditors are calling, and your income is no longer enough to cover everything, it can leave you feeling overwhelmed, anxious, ashamed and hopeless.

But please remember this:

NO AMOUNT OF DEBT IS WORTH YOUR LIFE.

Debt is a financial problem. Your life is priceless.
If you are currently struggling with debt, the first thing you need to understand is that you do not have to carry the burden alone.

1. FACE THE DEBT INSTEAD OF RUNNING FROM IT

Sit down and calculate exactly how much you owe.

For example, if you earn E 10,000 per month but your total monthly debt repayments are E 7,000, the problem is not that you are "bad with money." Your repayment obligations may simply be too high for your current income.

Knowing the numbers allows you to make a realistic plan.

2. TALK TO THE PEOPLE YOU OWE

Don't disappear when you cannot pay.
Speak to the bank, lender, supplier, family member or other person you owe. Explain your situation honestly and ask whether you can negotiate a more manageable repayment arrangement.

If you can only afford E 500 per month, don't promise E 2,000 just because you are under pressure.

Promise what you can realistically pay - and pay consistently.

3. STOP BORROWING TO REPAY BORROWED MONEY

One of the most dangerous debt cycles is taking a new loan to pay an existing loan.

You borrow E 5,000 to clear one debt, then another lender charges you E 6,000 to clear the new debt. Before long, your salary is being used to service yesterday's borrowing instead of building tomorrow's financial security.

Borrowing to repay borrowing can become a financial trap.

4. BE CAREFUL WITH STOKVELS AND VILLAGE BANKING WHEN YOU ARE ALREADY STRUGGLING

STOKVELS and village banking can be useful financial tools when your income is stable and you can comfortably afford the contributions.

But if you are already struggling to meet basic expenses and debt repayments, committing yourself to another monthly contribution can increase financial pressure.

Don't join financial commitments simply because everyone else is doing it.

Your financial situation must determine your commitments.

5. LIVE WITHIN YOUR CURRENT INCOME

If you earn E 8,000, don't build a lifestyle that requires E 15,000.

You don't need to impress people with expensive clothes, phones, cars, parties or weekends out when your bank account is already struggling.

Don't borrow money to maintain an image for people who are not paying your bills.

6. BE CAREFUL ABOUT STARTING A BUSINESS ENTIRELY WITH BORROWED MONEY

Entrepreneurship is powerful, but every business carries risk.

If you borrow E 100,000 to start a business and the business takes six months to generate meaningful income, the loan repayment does not necessarily stop because the business is struggling.

Where possible, start small.
Save.
Test the market.
Reinvest your profits.
Grow gradually.

You don't always need E 100,000 to start something that can eventually become a E 1 million business.

7. CUT WHAT IS NOT NECESSARY

When you are heavily indebted, this is not the time for lifestyle competition.

Look at your monthly expenses.

If you earn E 12,000 and spend E 1,500 on entertainment, E 1,000 on unnecessary subscriptions, E 1,200 on eating out and another E 1,000 on impulsive purchases, that's E 4,700 that could potentially be redirected toward necessities, debt repayment or rebuilding your financial position.

Small sacrifices can make a significant difference over time.

8. ASK FOR HELP

There is no shame in saying:

"I am struggling financially and I need help creating a plan."

Speak to someone you trust. Seek financial guidance. ( You can book financial guidance coaching and come to my offices), Talk to your family where appropriate.

Asking for help is not weakness.
Sometimes wisdom is knowing when you cannot solve everything by yourself.

9. DON'T MAKE A PERMANENT DECISION BECAUSE OF A TEMPORARY PROBLEM

Your current financial situation can change.

Today you may owe E 50,000.
Today you may have no savings.
Today your business may be struggling.
Today creditors may be calling.

But today is not your entire life.
You can restructure.
You can negotiate.
You can reduce expenses.
You can increase your income.
You can rebuild.
You can start again.

REMEMBER THIS:

Debt is temporary.
Financial setbacks are temporary.
Losing money is not losing your worth.

Being broke today does not mean you will be broke forever.
Your bank balance does not determine the value of your life.

If you are struggling with debt, don't suffer in silence. Make a plan. Talk to someone. Seek professional advice where possible. Take one step at a time.

One payment.
One month.
One decision.
One opportunity.

You can rebuild your financial life.
And above everything else:

DEBT SHOULD NEVER COST YOU YOUR LIFE.
MAY WE NEVER LOSE ANOTHER LIFE OVER DEBT.

If you know someone struggling financially, share this message with them. You might be reminding someone that there is still a way forward.

Clement T Dlamini
Certified Personal Finance Advisor (CPFA)

Are you ready to take control of your money?

I offer practical Financial Literacy Sessions covering budgeting, saving, debt management, and investing.

📍 My Offices:

Opposite Mbabane Municipal Council
Mbabane House, 3rd Floor
Office #312, Mbabane

📩 Book your session today.
WhatsApp: 7816 3486

12/08/2026

The reason why EEC keeps increasing prices of electricity in Eswatini

12/08/2026

10 THINGS THAT CHANGED WHEN I STARTED MANAGING MY MONEY

For a long time, I thought the solution to my financial problems was simply to earn more money.
Then I learned something important:

You can earn more money and still remain broke if you don't know how to manage what you already have.

When I started managing my money intentionally, these 10 things changed:

1. I stopped wondering where my money went every month.

I started budgeting every money.

If I receive E 15,000, I don't simply spend until the money disappears. I give every emalangeni a purpose - food, transport, bills, savings, investments, debt repayment and personal spending.

A budget helps you tell your money where to go instead of wondering where it went.

2. I realized I had more money available than I thought.

Sometimes the problem isn't that you don't earn enough.

The problem is that money is leaking through small expenses.

E 50 here. E 100 there. Takeaways. Unplanned airtime. Unnecessary subscriptions. Impulse purchases.

For example, if you waste just E 100 every day, that's about E 3,000 per month and E 36,500 per year.

Small leaks can sink a big ship.

3. I built an emergency fund that gave me peace of mind.

Before, every unexpected expense felt like a crisis.

A broken car. Medical expenses. A family emergency. Loss of income.

I started building an emergency fund gradually.
Even saving E 500 per month gives you E 6,000 in one year.

You don't need to become rich before you start preparing for emergencies.

4. I stopped buying things I didn't really need.

Managing money taught me to ask:

"Do I need this, or do I simply want it?"

Not every sale is a bargain.
Not everything trending on social media deserves your money.

Sometimes financial discipline means walking away from something you can afford because you know you have a bigger financial goal.

5. I started investing before I felt ready.

I stopped waiting for the day when I would have "enough money."

I learned that investing is not only for people with E 100,000.

Even E 200, E 500 or E 1,000 invested consistently can become meaningful over time, depending on the investment and its returns.

The important lesson is to start learning, understand the risks, choose appropriate investments and remain consistent.

6. I stopped living from payday to payday.

My salary stopped being something that simply arrived and disappeared.

I began creating a financial buffer.
The goal became:

"How can I make my money work beyond this month?"

Financial stability means having money left after your needs are paid - not spending your entire salary simply because you received it.

7. I learned the difference between assets and liabilities.

I stopped assuming that everything I owned was making me wealthier.

An asset generally puts money into your pocket or has the potential to increase in value.

A liability creates financial obligations and takes money out of your pocket.

Understanding this difference changed the way I looked at cars, property, businesses, investments and debt.

8. I stopped trying to look wealthy and started trying to become wealthy.

This was one of the biggest changes.
I realized that a person driving an expensive car may not necessarily be financially wealthy.

They could be heavily indebted.

Meanwhile, someone living modestly could be quietly building investments, owning productive assets and becoming financially secure.

Don't spend money to impress people who are not paying your bills.

9. I realized that small amounts invested consistently can become powerful over time.

Imagine putting away E 1,000 every month.

That's E 12,000 per year.

Over 10 years, that's E 120,000 of your own contributions - before considering any investment growth.

This is why consistency matters.
You don't always need a huge amount.

Sometimes you need a good habit repeated for a long time.

10. I built a financial plan instead of hoping things would work out.

I stopped saying:

"I'll start saving when I earn more."
"I'll invest when I'm financially ready."
"I'll deal with my debt later."

Instead, I started setting specific financial goals.

How much do I want to save?
How much debt do I want to eliminate?
How much do I want to invest?
What assets do I want to build?
What financial position do I want to be in five or ten years from now?

Money doesn't usually change your life overnight.
Your financial life changes through small decisions repeated consistently.

E 500 saved today may not look impressive.
E 1,000 invested this month may not make you rich.
Cutting one unnecessary expense may not feel significant.

But when these decisions are repeated for years, they can completely change your financial position.

And remember:

The money you keep, manage and put to work is often more important than the money you earn.

Don't only work hard for money.
Learn how to manage it. Save it. Protect it. Invest it. And give it a purpose.

Your salary is not the final destination.
It is a tool for building financial security and wealth.

MANAGE YOUR MONEY BEFORE YOUR MONEY MANAGES YOU.

Clement T Dlamini

Business Development Strategist | Certified Personal Finance Advisor (CPFA)

For individual financial literacy coaching sessions
Business plans with cash flow projections
Business proposals
Company profiles
Financial statements
Company registrations
Tender documents
Research projects
Design posters and marketing materials

Available for bookings as a speaker 😊

Book on WhatsApp: 7816 3486

Visit us at Opposite Mbabane municipality council,Mbabane house, third floor, office #312

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