John Makgato
The spirit of the hustle burns brightly in the hearts of young South Africans. What began as survival has evolved into an unrelenting pursuit of purpose, creativity, and potential – a true reflection of our nation’s bold, aspirational nature.
Yet for many, these big dreams are dimmed by the simplest of financial hurdles: a lack of budgeting and planning for tomorrow. What if that same relentless energy – the drive that keeps our youth pushing through, innovating and grinding – could be channelled towards something greater than just making it to the next day, paying the next bill, or scraping through the next month? What if it could be used to thrive now and start building lasting prosperity?
Unlock your potential with good money habits
This is the challenge and promise at the heart of YouthX by Nedbank – a movement created to make a meaningful difference in young people’s lives and helping them to unlock their X (potential). It is more than a recognition of their drive; it is a real, tangible pathway to building good money habits and achieving financial freedom.
This is because making better money choices takes more than ambition; it takes a plan, a partner and the right tools. YouthX by Nedbank offers all 3, empowering the next generation to move from survival mode to a mindset of structure, growth, and abundance.
Access to the right tools changes the narrative
For many young people, the challenge isn’t ambition; it’s access – access to financial education that speaks their language, to tools that simplify complexity, and to systems that reward discipline rather than exploit desperation. The hustle, for all its merits, often traps one in a cycle where long-term planning feels like a luxury.
This is where the narrative begins to change – with a Nedbank MiGoals account, a foundational step toward financial stability, from as little as R7 a month. Purpose-built and cost-effective, a MiGoals account is designed to drive behavioural change. It helps young people manage their money smartly and make the most of every rand.
Take charge of your financial journey early
Unlocking your X starts with understanding that long-term financial success is built on small, consistent habits. MiGoals is built on this principle. Daily money habits compound over time, and the earlier you start, the better.
Opening and managing a MiGoals account is as easy as unlocking your phone. Through the Nedbank Money app, you can take charge of your financial journey with features designed to make money management simple, smart, and empowering.
With tools like MySmartMoney, Nedbank does the heavy lifting, analysing your spending patterns and combining them with real financial insight to help track your spend and grow your money through the Money app. It is where aspiration meets structure: your spending becomes transparent, budgeting is automated, and your goals start feeling within reach.
A secure financial future is possible for all
Because when financial clarity meets ambition, the impossible starts to look inevitable. MiGoals gives young South Africans the space to dream big, plan smart, and turn pure vibes into real, tangible vision – 1 smart saving at a time. But structure without incentive is hard to sustain. That’s why MiGoals rewards financial discipline. For example, accountholders enjoy a 50% discount at Nu Metro. And YouthX goes beyond banking – it’s an ecosystem of empowerment.
Nedbank is committed to making banking easy and accessible for all. For young South Africans, this means supporting their journey from scarcity to structure, paving the way for a more secure financial future. The transformation begins with a few deliberate steps: a desire to thrive, a decision to plan, and access to the right banking partner and tools to help unlock their X.
John Makgato, Head of Youth Strategy and Client Value Proposition at Nedbank. He writes in his personal capacity.
