By Rorisang Modiba
- Neighbours use WhatsApp groups to organise shared shopping trips to save expensive petrol money and dodge all unnecessary travel costs.
- Workers find it hard to afford daily taxi fares and take short-term payday loans to survive until the month ends.
The rising cost of living and high fuel prices are forcing South Africans to completely change how they travel, shop and manage money.
People are creating new ways to survive the financial pressure instead of just complaining about petrol prices.
Social forecaster Carmen Murray said communities are building new support systems to save money.
Neighbours are starting a trend called “one route buying”. They use WhatsApp groups to organise shared shopping trips. This helps them save fuel and dodge unnecessary travel.
Murray said people care more about fuel efficiency than ever before. Drivers talk about petrol grades and fuel providers. They look for ways to make petrol last longer because even small savings matter.
At home, families are changing how they eat. Many households are cutting out takeaways. They cook more meals at home and watch their groceries and leftovers closely to stop waste.
High taxi fares are causing stress for workers. Some employees struggle to afford the daily trip to work.
This transport struggle has started talks about remote work and flexible hours. Some communities have set up their own transport systems. They charge a fixed monthly fee to keep their travel costs more predictable.
When savings run out, people turn to debt. Payday loans and short-term borrowing are becoming more common as South Africans try to survive until the month ends.
Murray said South Africans are fighting back with resilience and creativity. Small businesses and informal networks are stepping up to help people adapt to the tough economy.
Pictured above: A fuel pump.
Image source: Pexels
