Are you spending with a YOLO mindset?

Let's be real: your parents didn't put in all those hours, make sacrifices, and stress over giving you a better life so you could waste your paycheck on takeaways and monthly clothing hauls that won't matter in a year. If anything, they worked hard so you'd have a head start — an opportunity to build something meaningful.

But are you using that opportunity, or is your money just vibing?

As Robin Sharma said at Momentum's recent Science of Success Festival, "Small daily seemingly insignificant actions lead to stunning results."

The good news? You don't need to make drastic changes overnight. The small habits, stacked over time, will help you secure the bag and create a life you're proud of.

Here's how you get started:

1. Do a YOLO audit

Start with the hard truth: are you spending your money on things that actually matter? Here's a simple move: review your past month's bank statement.

That's a pretty sweet deal because, chances are, you're already contributing to a retirement annuity each month, and if that's the case, you can score a nice tax deduction for it.

• Highlight every expense that wasn't a "need" (think takeaways, impulse buys, and convenience splurges).
• Add it up.
• Then ask yourself: What could this money have done for the future you? A weekend getaway? A chunk toward your first home?

Action tip: Redirect some of that spending into a savings account labelled after a goal that excites you. "Paris trip" or "Dream home fund" hits differently when you see it grow.

2. Start stacking small wins

Ever feel like growing your money is impossible unless you're already rich? That's a myth. Levelling up financially is built on small, consistent habits that add up over time.

"It's not what you do once a year, but what you do daily that will change your life." ~ Robin Sharma.

Small habits you can start stacking:

• Read two pages of a financial book every day. Pair this habit with something you already do, like drinking your morning coffee or daily commute.

3. Redefine your identity

Your parents saw your potential — now it's time to see it in yourself. "Your self-identity determines your external reality," Sharma explained at the Science of Success Festival. If you identify as someone growing their money and creating a legacy, your actions will align with that vision.

For example:

• Instead of spending R300 on a night out, host a budget-friendly dinner with friends at home. Use the leftover cash to fuel your financial goals.
• Celebrate small wins. Did you save R1 000 this month? Write a journal about it, reflect on how it feels, and set a bigger goal for next month.

4. Reclaim your time

Let's talk about your phone—did you know the average person spends over 4 hours a day scrolling? That's 70 days a year gone to endless distractions. [stats shared by Robin Sharma]

It's time to flip the script here. Instead of losing hours to scrolling and not achieving anything, use small chunks of your day to make intentional money moves.

Action tips:

• Spend 15 minutes daily reviewing your budget, setting financial goals, or planning for your future.
• Replace mindless scrolling with purposeful learning—read two pages of the recommended books, listen to a money podcast episode like The Diary of a CEO Savings Expert or this episode from The Truth Table on Money Traumas. You can also journal your financial progress.

Your phone can be a tool, not a distraction. It's about using it intentionally to work for you—not letting it work against you.

Your parents dreamed of giving you a better future — and you're living it. But their sacrifices won't mean much if you're not intentional about how you use your opportunities. The best part? You don't have to make huge changes overnight.

The small habits, done consistently, will create the financial freedom you deserve. So, what will you start today? Your parents' hustle got you here — now it's your turn to build the legacy.