“Let’s Indulge”: Joburg Teacher’s Monthly Budget From R21k Salary Has Mzansi Shocked at What’s Left
- A Grade 2 teacher from Johannesburg shared her complete monthly budget breakdown
- The 30-year-old educator's video went viral with over 31,000 reactions as South Africans related to her financial struggles
- Comments flooded in with people sharing their own salaries and expenses
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Source: TikTok
A Johannesburg teacher has left South Africans stunned after breaking down exactly how she spends her R21,000 monthly salary.
Content creator @judy_kudu, who teaches Grade 2 and regularly shares personal content about her life, family, and school experiences on TikTok, posted the eye-opening video on 1 August, 2025.
The post was shared with the caption:
"Let's indulge... When we say we're broke after payday, believe it. It ain't easy, but we Soulja on😊"
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In the video, the 30-year-old teacher reveals her complete financial picture. Her child's crèche costs R1,550, rent takes R2,100, policies cost R1,700, and groceries are R2,000. She pays R100 for Netflix, R550 for hair and nails, a hefty R6,500 for her car, R1,600 for insurance, and R1,000 for petrol and R3,500 in black tax.
When all expenses are added up, the teacher is left with very little from her monthly salary, highlighting the financial pressure many South African educators face.
Source: TikTok
Mzansi reacts to the teacher's budget
The viral video attracted over 31,000 reactions, 1,000 comments, and 400 shares as South Africans shared their financial situations:
@Saint asked:
"What is pedagogical?"
@Khanya❤️ related:
"Black tax depends on my mood!"
@rosesithole6 shared her budget:
"Scholar transport driver R45,000. Rent R5,000. Monthly Fuel R8,000. Groceries R3,000. Car payments R0. Netflix R100. Dstv R700. Wifi R625. Monthly Electricity R1,200. BLACK TAX R3,000. School Fees R0. Nails R0. Insurance R3,100."
@Nation_ revealed:
"Call center: Salary R15,400. Bond R3,400 car R3,250 Grocery: R1,600 Black tax: R1,000 Business emergency: R1,000 Fuel: R1,600... Otherwise, I have incomes(3)."
@sibongile questioned:
"What is black tax... So supporting your family is black tax😳😳😳 yho hai ke😳"
@Dorcas Waga Selaelo joked:
"Even the FBI won't get that information from me 😂"
@Miss I shared:
"Rent R5,500, car R8,800, child care taker R3,500, groceries R5,000, fuel R2,000, insurance and policies R5,000. Salary R25,000 plus spouse allowance R10,000."
@mpho sepeng was shocked:
"Car instalment ke R6,500... Kgante, my sister, which car are you driving ka salary ya 21k?"
Living costs in South Africa
According to experts at Wise Move, South Africans need to earn at least R27,600 per month to live comfortably in 2025. This includes covering rent, utilities, food, transport, healthcare, and having some money left for savings and entertainment. The average net salary in South Africa is R23,392 per month, which falls short of this comfortable living budget.
With the rising cost of living, many South Africans like this teacher struggle to make ends meet despite being employed in essential professions like education.
Watch the TikTok clip below:
Source: Getty Images
Other stories of South Africans' salary details
- Briefly News recently reported on a South African principal's salary that sparked heated debate, but what shocked people most was the housing allowance amount that divided opinions online.
- A retail pharmacist's payslip went viral on TikTok, leaving viewers stunned by the massive tax deductions that highlighted frustrations with the South African tax system.
- A confident 23-year-old security officer proudly revealed his salary amount on social media, but his savings strategy had Mzansi praising him as an inspiration.
Updated by Hilary Sekgota, Human Interest HOD at Briefly News.
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Proofreading by Roxanne Dos Ramos, copy editor at Briefly.co.za.
Source: Briefly News
