Money is the Fuel, Purpose is the Map

Money lessons from watching his parents lose everything

Michael grew up in a home where money meant survival. He remembers his mother counting every cent, stretching groceries to the end of the month, and sometimes relying on the church to cover gaps.

“The message was clear: money isn’t just numbers on a bank statement. It’s the difference between dignity and dependence. It made me hyper-aware, from a young age, of both the fragility and the power of money.”

His father, a talented mechanic who once worked on Jody Scheckter’s Renault R8 Gordini, lost everything, including his pension, when a business partner betrayed him. That collapse shaped Michael’s mindset: financial security is never guaranteed.

“It seared into me a truth I’ve never shaken: financial security is fragile, and you should never put all your eggs in one basket. It made me cautious, but it also made me downright stubborn about building buffers.”

Money habits built on discipline

Determined not to repeat his father’s mistakes, Michael saved from his very first paycheque. Even while juggling student debt and late-night restaurant shifts, he built the habit of saving. Over the years, that discipline expanded: emergency funds, resisting lifestyle inflation, and budgeting every rand.

But he also had to let go of some patterns.

“The pain of varsity debt scarred me into adopting a simple rule: if I can’t pay it off quickly, I probably can’t afford it.”

When money became meaning

In his twenties and thirties, money was about keeping his head above water, building security, and protecting against the unexpected. It was practical, disciplined, and cautious. But midlife invites different questions. It’s less about survival and more about meaning. It’s less about success and more about significance.

For Michael, the answer became clear:

“Money is not just a vault for tomorrow, it’s a vehicle to live more fully today.”

That realisation deepened when his partner, Nix, suffered a stroke in her forties. It was a brutal reminder that tomorrow is never guaranteed. For Michael, the message was simple: planning without living is only half a life. So, when he turned 45, he finally gave himself permission to say yes to a long-held dream: buying a Land Cruiser to begin overlanding Africa.

“I spend my days telling people about financial planning, but what’s the point of all that planning if you never cash in on the life you actually want?”

Today, money means freedom: to support his daughters, explore Africa with Nix, and say yes to opportunities that bring joy and fulfilment. Divorce and fatherhood have sharpened his priorities, and his daughters’ futures remain non-negotiable. But he also wants them to see that life is meant to be lived, not just survived.

“Midlife makes you impatient with nonsense and laser-focused on purpose. Purpose is everything – my radio work, my writing, my overlanding dream, they’re all tied to telling stories that matter and living with intention.”

Michael’s advice for Midlife

If he could speak to his younger self, Michael would say:

“Don’t chase status or stuff. Chase freedom. And stay the hell away from credit card debt.”

And for anyone in the messy middle of life:

“Midlife isn’t a crisis, it’s an opportunity for recalibration with the benefit of all the experience you’ve gained up to now. It’s the moment you stop living by default and start living by design. Embrace the mess; it’s where the clarity comes from.”

His top three money lessons?

• Start saving from your first pay cheque, no matter how small.
• Kill debt before it kills your options.
• Balance the future with today, because tomorrow is never guaranteed.

So many of us spend years saving, planning, and providing for others, only to realise that we’ve postponed our own joy. Michael’s story is a reminder that the gift of midlife is the invitation to pause, ask what really matters now, and give ourselves permission to live more fully. Because money is not the goal. Life is.

Always remember, when it comes to your money, be inspired, be brave, and be on purpose.

Kim