"I Thought Investing Was for Rich People": How Omolemo Proved Herself Wrong at 19

Omolemo thought investing was something you earned the right to do once you had a salary and a settled life. As a second-year Computer Science student, she's proving that's not how it works. Here's how a YouTube recommendation from her mom, a year-long challenge, and a few honest habits turned her into one of our youngest, most intentional investors.

For a long time, Omolemo Samanthah Ranokeng had a clear picture of who investing was for. It was for people with stable incomes. People with established careers. People who already had money.

"As a student, it did not make sense to me why someone would put money away when they could use it immediately," she says.

It's a belief a lot of young South Africans carry quietly. And it's exactly the belief Omolemo, now 19, has spent the past year unlearning.

She's in her second year of a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science at the University of the Witwatersrand, originally from Moruleng, a village in the North West. She's drawn to solving hard problems and building systems that protect people, and she hopes to one day mentor other young people into tech. That same long-view thinking is what eventually changed how she saw her money.

A saver long before she was an investor

Omolemo grew up aware of how money worked in her home. Budgeting and managing expenses were normal dinner-table topics, so she learned early that money needed planning.

She started saving young, too. Whenever she got pocket money, she'd put some aside for things she wanted. In her early teens she opened a 32-day notice account, though she admits she'd often dip into it before reaching her goal.

If that sounds familiar, you're in good company. It's one of the most common patterns we see: people who genuinely want to save, undone by how easy it is to reach the money.

What shifted for Omolemo was a small structural change.

"One thing I appreciate about my Franc account is that it helps hold me accountable," she says. "Because the money is invested, I am less tempted to dip into it, and sometimes I simply forget it is there, which works in my favour."

That's not a willpower story. It's a system story. And it's a good reminder that discipline is often less about trying harder and more about putting a little distance between you and your money.

How she actually started

Omolemo discovered Franc through her mom, who insisted they watch Itumeleng Moloto, a Certified Management Accountant who helps everyday people learn to save, get out of debt, and build wealth on YouTube. During one discussion, Itumeleng mentioned investing through Franc.

"I looked it up and saw they had a year-long challenge and saw it to be a great way to challenge myself," Omolemo says. "Hearing about the challenge made investing feel practical and achievable."

That's the part worth sitting with. Investing didn't click for her when someone explained compound growth or fund performance. It clicked when it became a challenge she could actually take on. A goal with a finish line. Something to show up for.

What the Student Wealth Score taught her

When Omolemo got an email from Franc about the Student Wealth Score, the framing caught her attention. It recognised that student life looks very different from managing money later on, and that the survey was built around the real habits, goals and pressures students face.

One line stuck with her: that your student years are often where lifelong money habits are formed, because the financial decisions you make now shape your future for years. "After reading that I was like, mmmh, fact," she laughs.

When her results came back, her first reaction was honest disappointment. She'd hoped to be doing better.

But that's where the score did its real work. "It gave me valuable insight into my current habits and highlighted areas where I could improve," she says. What she valued most wasn't the number. It was the practical tips that came with it. "Instead of simply pointing out weaknesses, they provided guidance on steps I could take, and I am keen to apply those lessons moving forward."

A lower-than-hoped score didn't discourage her. It gave her a starting point. That's the whole idea behind measuring where you stand: not to judge, but to show you the next step.

The mindset that's keeping her going

Ask Omolemo what financial freedom means to her, and she doesn't reach for a big number.

"It means being able to make choices without constantly worrying about money," she says. "Sometimes buy something because I like it, without financial stress. It is not necessarily about being extremely wealthy, but rather about having enough security and stability to live comfortably and pursue opportunities when they arise."

Her near-term goals are refreshingly grounded. Finish her degree. And on the money side, one specific commitment: don't withdraw from her investment account for the entire year, and keep reinvesting her returns. For someone who used to raid her own savings, that's a real shift.

Longer term, she's thinking about a career in tech, travelling, experiencing different cultures, and staying curious. But she's clear that the foundation gets built now, in small, consistent steps.

Her message to other students

If there's one thing Omolemo wants other young people to hear, it's the same thing she had to learn herself.

"Investing is not something you wait to do once you become wealthy," she says. "You can start small and build consistently over time."

She also offers a balance that's easy to lose in all the start-investing-now enthusiasm: it shouldn't come at the expense of your immediate needs. "It is about finding a balance between living in the present and preparing for the future."

And to the students who feel investing simply isn't for people like them right now? She gets it, because she was one of them.

"I understand why they might feel that way, because I once thought the same," she says. "Investing is not about how much you start with. It's about developing the right mindset and building good habits. Start with small contributions, remain consistent, and trust the process. It may not always be easy, but with patience and discipline, it is possible."

Omolemo's story echoes something we saw across the country in the Franc Wealth Index 2026, our study of almost 4,000 South Africans. The biggest driver of financial wellbeing wasn't how much someone earned. It was the habits they built around the money they already had. People who invest regularly and set and review their goals scored two to three times higher on financial wellbeing than those who simply earned more.

You don't have to wait for a bigger salary to start building those habits. You can start with what you have, today.