Homeschooling families in South Africa are among some of the most resourceful, resilient and intentional people. We take the brave decision to do something counter-culture, we make sacrifices and we take responsibility for our children’s academic education. We invest time and energy into shaping their futures.
But when it comes to financial planning, many parents struggle because they were never taught those skills themselves. As a result, many households live from pay cheque to pay cheque, with little to nothing set aside for emergencies or big, infrequent purchases like well-respected, beautifully crafted, high quality curriculum products.
At Footprints, we understand this reality. As two homeschool moms, we’ve been there ourselves. We know that many mothers don’t earn much, if anything at all, because they are homeschooling!
We recognise that families need to be as intentional about planning their financial futures as they are about their family’s academic futures.
When families strengthen their financial habits, they not only make curriculum purchases easier, but they build long‑term stability and model essential life skills for their children.
Why Curriculum Suppliers Don’t Offer Credit
Many of South Africa’s favourite homeschool curriculum providers are small businesses. They don’t have deep pockets or corporate backing. Offering credit would place them at significant risk, especially in an economy where defaults are common.
More importantly, here at Footprints, we don’t want to encourage families to go into debt.
Consumer debt steals your future income. You end up paying high interest, it creates stress and it hijacks financial freedom. Debt also teaches children that borrowing is normal instead of normalising good stewardship and intentional planning.
Instead of perpetuating the cycle of debt, we want to help families build better financial habits that make curriculum purchases and all financial decisions manageable, predictable and confidence-building.
Research shows that money is the second greatest cause of conflict in relationships. We hope that couples will settle on a plan they both agree upon and that this too will increase peace in the family.
Five Ways to be More Intentional about Money
Many people mistakenly think that when they earn more, they’ll save more but the evidence shows that financial intentionality doesn’t start with earning more. It starts with planning better with what you have. High earners still end up bankrupt if they don’t have effective money plans. In other words, money that doesn’t have a plan and a purpose disappears, even if you have a lot of it!
1. Teach Children Financial Skills by Example
Most parents were never taught financial literacy. That’s why it often feels intimidating or we think we are just ‘not good with money’, but you can break that cycle. You can change that mentality.
The first step is to know where you are, to “know your numbers” as they say. Once you have that, sit down with your children. Show them your budget. Explain your decisions. Let them see you:
- planning ahead
- saving intentionally
- avoiding debt
- choosing long‑term stability over short‑term convenience
Children learn financial wisdom the same way they learn character, by watching you live it and by having family conversations about it.
Below is a simple, monthly budget that any family regardless of income can adapt. Change the numbers to suit your personal situation. You could make a new list or search online for a template where you can insert exact amounts and calculate your living costs more accurately. This is just a starting point for a conversation. It’s a tool to help you look at your numbers and take control. It’s the first step in becoming more intentional about money.
Basic Family Budget Template
| Category | Amounts | Description |
| Housing & utilities | 25-30% | Rent/bond, electricity, water, rates |
| Food & household goods | 15-18% | Groceries, cleaning supplies, toiletries, petfood |
| Transport | 10-12% | Fuel, public transport, car maintenance |
| Medical & insurance | 5-8% | Medical aid, gap cover, life insurance |
| Education & curriculum savings | 5-8% | Monthly contribution toward next year’s curriculum |
| Long‑term savings | 10% | Your future financial security fund |
| Debt repayment* | 10% | Credit cards, store accounts, lay‑by balances |
| Cellphone, date & Internet | 2-3% | Airtime, data, fibre/Wi‑Fi, device payments. |
| Sport & Hobbies** | 1-2% | Extramurals, club fees, equipment, creative hobbies |
| Lifestyle & treats** | 3-4% | Clothing, outings, small luxuries. |
*If you have current debt, don’t take out more. Pay it off, one month at a time.
** If you have debt, then the last two categories should be closer to zero so that you can pay off the debt faster.
After you have created a realistic budget, take the remaining four steps to improve it over the next few months. Encourage your children to help you, where appropriate.
2. Save a Tenth and Save First
Start by saving 10% of your income every month or build up to that percentage, if that’s a big step right now. This is your foundation, the first step towards future stability and your first intentional step toward financial strength. Find a printable template or make your own savings tracker to mark off, so the whole family can see your savings growing.
Every time you receive money, there are many people waiting for it: the supermarket, the bank, the landlord and countless businesses competing for your attention. There is also one more person waiting: your future self. Most people pay everyone else first and hope something is left over to save. Usually, there isn’t.
Financially successful people reverse the order.
Open a separate account and pay in your savings amount first. Make this a priority. Once you’ve saved three months’ income, you will have built your emergency fund, which is to be kept aside as a buffer that protects your family from unexpected crises.
After that, open another high‑interest savings account and begin building long‑term wealth. Let your children research options from the various banks and pick the type of account that suits you best.
The sooner you start, the more your saved money will compound and grow over time. At first the savings may seem so insignificant and the increase may seem so little, but in time, it will grow faster and faster. Just start.
3. Find and Fix Your “Money Leaks”
Most families have small regular expenses slowly draining their budget. These include things like:
- Unused gym memberships (Gyms rely on the fact that about 67% of members stop attending regularly but keep paying out of guilt.)
- Forgotten or unused app subscriptions
- Audiobook or streaming services you rarely use
- Outdated insurance premiums that need adjusting for depreciation
- Unhealthy vices we should reduce, like drinking, smoking, take-outs and junk food
- Lotto ticket purchases
- Luxuries, indulgences or little ‘treats’
- Impulse purchases – those “its on sale” or “just swipe the card” moments
Instead of swiping or tapping your card for unplanned purchases, use your phone banking app to immediately shift that amount into your savings account.
Diverting the “leaks” to “savings” is an effective new habit that can make a huge difference over time.
4. Stop Making Credit Purchases
Consumer credit is not your friend. It is a silent thief of future income and it comes with interest charges that rob you even further.
Plan to:
- stop making new credit purchases
- pay off any existing consumer debt
- close accounts you no longer need
- avoid lay‑by and store credit traps
5. Budget Monthly for Next Year’s Curriculum
Instead of scrambling for money when it’s time to buy your next curriculum, build it into your monthly budget. Even a small monthly contribution adds up over 12 months.
This habit alone can eliminate stress, prevent debt and make homeschooling more productive and peaceful.
An eclectic mix of homeschool curricula
Intentional Families Build Intentional Futures
As we often say, homeschooling is not just about academics, it’s a lifestyle of learning. It is a commitment to shaping your children’s future with wisdom and care.
Financial intentionality is part of that calling.
When you plan your finances, you reduce stress, increase stability, model responsibility and build generational wisdom into your children. You set them up for a future where financially they know how to thrive.
If you weren’t taught financial literacy when you were growing up, you can and should deliberately change that for your own children, but it won’t “just happen.”
When it comes to financial literacy, it’s the same as with your children’s academic development:
If you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Start today. We know homeschoolers are intentional and so we encourage you to build new financial habits for a more purpose-focused financial future. Then you and your children will experience the joy of making your dreams become a reality, little by little.
Also Read
Homeschooling in Hard Times
Why “What’s the Best Homeschool Curriculum?” is the Wrong Question
Entrepreneurship for Kids
Seven Skills School Don’t Teach Children
Don’t Be a Pirate Homeschooler