Most South Africans cut grocery spend, with 86% feeling the strain

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The survey reveals that many buy food on credit, and some even omit essentials from their budgets due to the cost of living.

South Africans are feeling the pinch of the high cost-of-living crisis, with a recent Debt Rescue survey finding that 86% of households are cutting back on groceries to afford other essentials like electricity.

The survey was conducted to assess the severity of the cost-of-living crisis on households, according to Business Tech.

FINANCIAL STRAIN LEADS TO DIFFICULT EXPENSES

The survey revealed that many families are being forced to cut essential items, like food, to afford electricity and other critical needs.

Debt Rescue conducted the survey ahead of the 12.7% electricity tariff hike that took effect for direct Eskom customers on April 1 this year.

Annaline van der Poel, Chief Legal Officer at Debt Rescue, in an interview with Newzroom Afrika, said this is a serious situation, pointing out that this is the second survey conducted in the past year to evaluate the impact of the cost of living, with a specific focus on electricity.

Van der Poel said in both surveys that a significant percentage of respondents indicated that they altered their dietary habits due to financial limitations.

Initially, families coped by reducing daily meals while still trying to include essential nutrients.

Although inflation has slowed down, Van der Poel said it is important to recognise that household debt is still rising, albeit at a slower pace.

“For the average household, income is not keeping up with that. Debt is still at enormously high rates.”

VULNERABLE POPULATIONS BEAR THE BRUNT OF HIGH COSTS

Vulnerable populations, especially those dependent on social assistance grants like SASSA payments, bear the brunt of the high cost of living.

Van der Poel said that when essential tariffs, such as electricity prices, increase, any benefits from rising grants can be negated, putting beneficiaries in an even more precarious financial situation.

COST OF LIVING SURVIVAL TIPS

To survive this high cost of living, Van der Poel suggests meticulous budgeting, creating a realistic and honest monthly budget, and seeking out specials and discounts on essential items by reviewing community papers and comparing prices.

“This requires discipline and careful planning to manage expenses within the limited control available to individuals. For those with credit cards, it is strongly advised to reduce their use, reserving them only for absolute emergencies when all other options have been exhausted.”