You can be up to date with your accounts and still worry about money every day. Perhaps there is nothing left after payday, an unexpected expense would upset the budget, or you have no idea whether your retirement savings are enough.

The useful first question is specific: what needs attention now, what needs better information, and what is outside your control?

That distinction underpins a practical technique recommended by the NHS: separating problems you can act on from hypothetical worries, then making a clear plan for the actionable ones. It will not remove financial hardship, but it can help organise concerns that otherwise feel overwhelming.

The Pressure Is Real

DebtBusters’ July 2026 Money-Stress Tracker surveyed almost 18,000 website subscribers during May and June. 72% reported financial stress, and among those respondents, 92% said it affected home life and 75% felt it affected their health. These are participants’ reported experiences, rather than figures representing every South African. 

The survey’s leading immediate concerns were running out of money before month-end and meeting debt repayments.

But a statistic cannot tell you which step to take. Your own circumstances can.

Turn a General Fear Into a Specific Task

The NHS recommends writing worries down and identifying what you can do, how you will do it and when. 

Applied to money, that might look like this:

• “I won’t get through the month.” List the money available, essential expenses and payments due before payday. Establish the actual shortfall.
• “I don’t know whether I can retire.” Gather your latest retirement statements and arrange a financial planning discussion.
• “What if I lose my job?” Separate any immediate action available, such as updating your CV, from repeatedly imagining an outcome you cannot predict.

These are starting points, not promises that the underlying problem will disappear.

If a Repayment Is Becoming Unaffordable, Make Contact

The National Credit Regulator recommends approaching your credit provider to discuss lower instalments when you cannot meet your obligations. 

Prepare for that conversation with your income, essential expenses and the amount you can realistically afford. Ask:

• What arrangements are available?
• Will interest or fees continue?
• Will the repayment period or total cost increase?
• Can I have the proposed terms in writing?

Do not assume a lower monthly payment means a cheaper debt. Understanding the full arrangement helps you assess whether it addresses your difficulty.

If the problem persists, an NCR-registered debt counsellor can assess your position. Formal debt counselling has fees and credit restrictions, so understand the implications before applying. 

Give Repeated Worry a Boundary

If the same concerns keep interrupting your day, the NHS suggests trying a daily 10 to 15-minute “worry time”. Write concerns down, identify possible actions and schedule what cannot be done immediately.

When the thought returns, remind yourself of the time or action already planned. This is a self-help technique to try, rather than a guaranteed solution or replacement for care. 

Choose Help That Matches the Problem

For uncertainty about investments or retirement, seek advice from an appropriately authorised financial services provider. Use the FSCA’s official search to check authorisation. 

For worry that is regularly disrupting sleep, concentration or daily life, speak to a healthcare professional. Anxiety can affect all three, and addressing the financial question may be only part of the support needed. 

In South Africa, SADAG provides access to counsellor callbacks and free support groups. You can seek emotional support while working through the money problem. 

The Bottom Line

Before closing another statement or postponing another call, write down the one question you need answered. It could be the size of this month’s shortfall, the terms of a payment arrangement or whether your retirement plan is on track.