JOHANNESBURG - The high cost-of-living and slow economic growth are forcing South Africans to make tough financial decisions.
Some are dipping into their savings, while others cut non-essential spending.
It’s the challenge of putting food on the table as costs soar.
Inflation and rising prices of essential goods and services are squeezing household budgets.
This has left many grappling with difficult financial decisions.
Consumers are really battling to juggle their finances when purchasing goods.
But many say they're sticking to their budgets.
"I turn to look to the catalogues; I compare the prices and when I am comparing the prices, I turn to check which is the cheapest one, then I go along with it. I don't buy like, just to buy."
Another shopper said: “I normally use catalogues; I look through the different shopping centres to see where the best specials will be. The coffee is on special at Checkers. I am going to Checkers, and that's how I normally do it every month."
Some consumers told eNCA that even transport is affected.
"Due to my job, I do use my own transport, but I am also very wary of where I drive. I don't just drive my car, and also in terms of the petrol prices, it has hiked up in the last couple of months, and also again, with the bank that I bank with, you will get the rewards back. I get 30 percent where I put petrol."
Another said: “I use taxis and also Uber because we are a group of people, so we just contribute that R20, you see now I save. If I were alone, I was going to use more."