Becoming a Focused Financier: How Sanele Found His Savings Groove

For years, Sanele – who works in administration in the public sector – had been trying to save consistently. He understood the value of saving, consumed hours of financial content online, and had even created different bank accounts to separate his savings.

But still, he’d always find himself dipping into his savings when he needed money urgently.

This year, though, something changed.

“I set a goal in the Franc app. R10,000. I picked a weekly deposit amount that worked for me – R590. And for the first time, I actually stuck to it,” says Sanele.

Here’s how he turned his good intentions into real financial progress – and what others can learn from his story.

Who is Sanele?

Sanele works in administration in the public sector, with a specific focus on finance and sports.

“I don’t want to say I love money,” he laughs, “but commerce is all I know. I studied it, I work in it, and I think about it a lot.”

He’s not just a numbers guy – he’s also a concerned citizen, deeply engaged with issues of financial literacy in South Africa. He’s particularly passionate about helping young people, especially those in careers that pay well early but don’t always last long-term.

“I consume a lot of podcasts and YouTube videos – finance, sports, economics – and the pattern I always see is people not being prepared for life after the money stops coming in,” he says.

But even with his passion for money management, his own savings journey hasn’t always been easy.

The struggle: saving in a bank account just wasn’t working

Sanele had tried to build up savings before. He had a bank account dedicated to saving, separate from his main bank account, but admits: “It’s too easy to dip in when you’re tempted.”

“I would save money in that bank account and then, when I needed to pay for something, I’d just use the card,” he says. “There was no discipline. I knew I needed a system that could keep me accountable.”

That changed earlier this year when he saw Jennifer Nxumalo – a public servant like himself – talking about the Franc app on YouTube. Her story hit home. “She was in a similar space to me, so I could relate,” he says.

He’d seen Franc ads before, but this time, something clicked.

“I opened the app, set up my account and immediately set a savings goal: I wanted to save R10,000 in the next 3-4 months for a family ceremony back home.”

A goal, a plan and some discipline

Once Sanele downloaded Franc and started exploring the app, he was impressed by how simple it was to use. He set up a savings goal for R10,000 and used the goal robo-advisor to work out that he’d need to deposit R590 a week to reach his deadline.

From there, it was about showing up consistently – and letting Franc do the nudging.

“Every Monday morning I’d get an email reminder: ‘This is your reminder to deposit R590.’ That automated Franc reminder kept me accountable. It brought the discipline I needed.”

Unlike a regular bank account, where his money was always in arm’s reach, the Franc app created a small barrier that made it harder to break his own rules. He also loved being able to track his progress and see his money grow.

“It was encouraging to see that interest being added. I felt like I was finally doing something with my money,” he says.

And then came an a small payout from work. Sanele was able to top up the rest from this and meet his goal early.

5 Tips from Sanele for sticking to your savings goals

Sanele’s approach is a great example of how a structured, goal-based saving plan can work – even for someone who’s struggled in the past. Here are his top takeaways:

1. Set a specific goal. “Don’t just say you want to save. Decide exactly how much you want, and by when.”

2. Choose an amount you can realistically commit to. “For me, weekly deposits worked better than monthly ones – it felt more manageable.”

3. Use a separate tool from your main bank. “With Franc, I wasn’t tempted to use the money the way I was with my normal bank account.”

4. Let automation and reminders help you. “Franc’s email reminders held me accountable every week.”

5. Track your progress and celebrate your wins. “Seeing the money grow made it exciting. When I reached my goal, it felt like a real achievement.”

What’s next: big plans for his future

Now that his first goal is complete, Sanele is already thinking ahead.

“My next main goal is to save money for my studies next year. I'll self-fund my Masters – I'm just waiting for outcomes of my applications,” he says. On top of that, Sanele plans to marry his supportive partner in the near future, and wants to start saving for that. 

He’s also interested in investing, not just saving – something he came across while trying to secure investments for the sports club he helps manage at work. For now, he’s focusing on clearing a few more commitments, but the plan is to start small and build from there.

“I’m not fully in yet,” he says, “but the goal is to invest regularly once I’ve sorted a few things out.”

Sanele sees huge potential in the Franc app – not just for himself, but for many South Africans trying to get a grip on their money.

He believes it’s particularly useful for:

• Young professionals who earn sporadically (like freelancers, creatives or part-time workers)
• People who need accountability in their savings journey
• Anyone who’s tried and failed to save through a normal bank account

“If Franc can help me stick to my goal, it can help a lot of people,” he says. “Especially those earning irregular income – they could deposit money whenever they get paid, and still have a system that keeps them on track.”

A final word

Sanele’s story proves that knowing about money and being good with money aren’t always the same thing. Sometimes, what we need is a nudge, a bit of structure, and a tool that makes saving feel achievable. Franc gave him that.

Sanele is not just a man who knows about money. He’s someone who’s doing something about it, and inspiring others to do the same.