How Tenda Got His Groove Back and Claimed His Financial Freedom

I won’t lie to you — I was struggling. Like many new graduates, I thought that once I finished university and landed a job, life would start to improve. But reality hit hard. It took me nine long months to get my first real job, and by that time, I was already in deep financial trouble.

It all started when…
I was the first in my family to go to university. My parents couldn’t afford the tuition, so I took out a student loan, worked part-time to pay for rent and food, and stretched every cent. By the end of my fourth year, I was living off peanut butter sandwiches and pilchards — no exaggeration.

Then came the job hunt. I knew appearances matter, so I opened a store account and bought a suit, some shirts and ties — trying to look the part. That decision would come back later to haunt me financially.

Hitting rock bottom
Just as I was managing to cover rent and loan payments with my restaurant job, the old skorokoro (borrowed from my uncle) gave in. I panicked. I needed transport to get to interviews, so I made a desperate move — I took a short-term loan from a loan shark to buy a small car.

To make ends meet, I started a side hustle buying fresh vegetables at 4am and selling it to street vendors — all while still waitering and attending interviews. I was exhausted.

Finally, I got a break. I landed an entry-level job. But the relief was short-lived — the debt was suffocating. Student loan. Store account. High-interest short-term loan. My money was disappearing as quickly as it came in.

The turning point: Absa Personal Loans to the rescue

That’s when my friend Jakes told me about Absa’s Personal Loans. He said I could consolidate my debt — student loan, store account, and short-term loan — into a single loan with terms I could afford.

I checked out the Absa website. It was all there:

•  I needed to earn at least R2 000/month paid into a bank account
• Be able to provide three payslips or bank statements
• A valid SA ID
• Proof of residence since I wasn’t an Absa customer
• And I could even use their loan calculator to see what my repayment would be.

How I got my groove back

I clicked “Find a branch,” visited my nearest Absa branch, and met with a loan adviser. She helped me work out a manageable repayment based on my salary and the loan term that suited me best.

Once approved, I switched my banking to Absa and set up a debit order for the monthly loan repayment — straight from my salary.

What I’ve learned

Now, I can finally focus on building the career I’ve worked so hard for — with peace of mind and financial breathing room.

Absa helped me take control of my finances and gave me a real shot at financial freedom.

Now I can focus on building the career I’ve always dreamed of. Absa has given me the financial freedom I never thought I could have. That and real peace of mind!

Find out more about Absa Personal Loans or visit an Absa branch.

Loans are subject to a credit and affordability assessment.

Terms and conditions apply.

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