Back to School: Adulting 101

This is a back-to-school article, but not for learners or students. This one is for the parents and guardians, the people responsible for turning January into school fees, uniforms, stationery, transport money and lunch boxes, all while recovering from December.

This article is also not one of those generic pieces telling you to “budget better” and “plan ahead” without explaining what that looks like. This is about starting the year with intention, a plan, and a mindset shift that can make back-to-school and the rest of the year meaningful.

There is a simple rule of life: enjoyment always sends the invoice later. If you spend an evening out with friends drinking beer or wine, you wake up with a hangover. If you party too hard and overspend in December, January delivers its own hangover, back-to-school expenses. A reflection of the financial decisions made the prior month.

I believe the mistake many people make is treating January like an emergency instead of what it really is, the beginning of a new financial year. This is the moment we all pause and ask ourselves a powerful question “what is my plan for this year, and where is my money actually going?”

Back-to-school costs are predictable. They happen every year. Which means they should be planned for like any other important financial goal. This is the point where investing and disciplined saving stop being “nice ideas” and start becoming practical tools for everyday life. Even small, consistent monthly contributions towards education savings, emergency funds, or long-term investments can remove the pressure to rely on cash loans, overdrafts, or debt when January arrives.

Start the year with a plan. It requires honesty, structure, and the right guidance. You will need a reliable financial adviser that adds real value and that puts actual numbers to your goals, set up education savings, choose appropriate investment solutions, and ensure your money is working for you.

At SanlamAllianz Investments, we see January as a reset point. A time when clients who committed to monthly savings and investment plans begin to see the benefit of consistency. A simple conversation with your trusted financial advisor today can turn your life around, because it is true what Robert Kiyosaki said, “It’s not how much money you make, but how much money you keep, how hard it works for you, and how many generations you keep it for.”

The best back-to-school gift you can give your child is a new uniform and a financially confident parent.

Erry Iipumbu is an investment analyst with SanlamAllianz Investments.