With Mother’s Day around the corner, many South Africans are thinking about how to celebrate the most important woman in their lives. But in a year where household budgets are under strain and everyday costs like fuel are climbing steeply, there is a quiet tension between wanting to make Mom feel special and staying financially responsible.
For Tali Anderssen, legal and compliance executive at RCS and a mother of three, this balancing act is all too familiar – both professionally and personally.
“Mother’s Day is incredibly meaningful, but it can come with a surprising amount of pressure. You scroll through social media and suddenly it feels like expensive gifts and elaborate surprises are the norm. They’re not. They’re just the loudest.”
Love your mother. Respect your budget.
Anderssen is clear that financial responsibility and heartfelt celebration are not in conflict. The idea that the size of a gift reflects the depth of your love is, she says, one worth rejecting outright.
“I can promise you that no responsible mother wants her children going into debt to spoil her for one day. Not one. If your mother is the woman who stretched the grocery budget, kept the lights on and quietly put others first, she will see the thought behind what you give her, not the price tag.”
Focus on meaning, not money
While social media tend to focus on big-ticket gifts, Anderssen says some of the most memorable Mother’s Day moments cost very little.
“What matters far more is the effort: breakfast in bed, a picnic in a nearby park, or even a relaxed afternoon spent together without the distraction of phones and schedules. A handwritten letter that says things that often go unsaid.
“Personally, I’d take a handmade card over a box of treats my kids can’t afford. The effort is what I’ll remember, not the cost.”
Plan ahead – set a budget
Doing anything last minute adds additional stress and, often, becomes unnecessarily expensive. Anderssen encourages consumers to approach Mother’s Day the same way they would any other planned expense. “Start by deciding on a specific rand amount that fits within your budget – having this set limit upfront helps prevent impulse spending.”
Another practical approach she suggests is to share the cost with siblings or family members. “Instead of everyone buying separate smaller gifts, the family can pool money together for one thoughtful experience or present. This reduces the financial pressure on each person and often results in something far more considered.”
Planning ahead also creates opportunities to find better value. Booking earlier, preparing something at home, or organising a shared activity often costs far less than a last-minute purchase.
Not sure where your budget starts?
For many South African families, the challenge is simply not knowing where the money goes each month. Before you can plan for any occasion, Mother’s Day or otherwise, you need a clear picture of what you are working with.
These steps will get you there:
- • Write down your total monthly income after tax, whatever lands in your account each month.
- • List every fixed expense below it: rent or bond, school fees, transport, insurance and any store accounts or loan repayments.
- • Whatever remains after those fixed costs is your real available income for groceries, airtime, data and everyday spending.
- • Set aside a saving amount each month before anything else, even if it starts at R100 or R200. Treat it like a debit order you pay to yourself first.
- • Once you can see your money clearly, decisions about special occasions become far less stressful and far less likely to leave you short the following month.
Anderssen adds one firm piece of advice: Be clear on what you can afford and stick within your credit limits.
“If you need a clear picture of where your finances stand before you spend, that’s exactly the kind of thing a free credit report can help with. RCS has made this available through its Credit Gateway, in partnership with Welltec; it’s a simple, no-cost starting point for anyone who wants to plan with more confidence.”
Set boundaries and ignore the pressure
One of the biggest drivers of overspending around special occasions is the subtle pressure created by social media and peer expectations.
“Social media tends to show the highlight reel,” Anderssen says. “It can make ordinary, meaningful celebrations feel like they’re somehow not good enough, when in fact they are exactly what most families can realistically afford.”
She encourages consumers to feel entirely comfortable setting a boundary around what they spend and to resist any pressure – whether from group chats, colleagues or curated social media feeds – to spend beyond what is sensible.
“Choosing to stay within your means is a sign of financial maturity, not a failure. How much you spend on Mother’s Day is not a measure of how much you love your mother. Anyone who suggests otherwise is wrong. And your mother, almost certainly, would agree with you.”
Know where you stand
“For consumers who would like support in managing their finances or planning for occasions like Mother’s Day, RCS offers a range of free resources along with accessible financial planning guides, educational resources and debt management advice,” she says. “Sometimes just having a clear picture of your finances can make it much easier to plan for special occasions without putting unnecessary strain on your budget.”
Anderssen’s message to South Africans this Mother’s Day is straightforward. Celebrate the woman who shaped you. Do it with thought, with effort and with honesty about what you can afford.
And know that RCS is in your corner – not just for the occasions but for the everyday financial decisions that make those occasions possible.
“The most important thing is simply making your mother feel valued. A thoughtful gesture, quality time, a small but meaningful gift – celebrating within your means is always something to be proud of. That’s the kind of thinking your mother probably taught you in the first place.”
Image credit: Freepik/pvproductions
