Growing up in a small mining town, Rosina inherited a strong work ethic from her parents. Both firstborns from a village in Limpopo, her parents fought tirelessly to provide. They sacrificed to ensure their kids had what they needed – but with it came an unspoken rule: don’t ask for more than the basics.
Luxuries were always worked around the calendar: her mom’s birthday in June meant a bonus would come in, and December was reserved for Christmas and New Year’s Eve clothes. Spending moments were planned.
Overcompensating to never feel that again
While still studying, Rosina landed her first job as an intern. At the time, she was earning R4,000 – and she blew it. But not on what you might think.
“The trauma of not having ever again. So what I knew for sure, is that I never want to get into a point of just not having and there being a lack of something” she admits.
That meant her cupboards at res were overflowing with every snack and biscuit you can dream of. Every treat she’d ever wanted was now always there. And while you could say it was reckless, it was feeding her sense of relief. It was control. It was safety. Rosina still managed to set aside money for her tuition because she didn’t want to burden her parents.
From short-term focus to future security
Rosina worked hard in her early 20’s – studying, building her career – and eventually it got her to a place where she earned enough to start thinking about her long-term stability. That’s when her mindset shifted from short-term comfort to future security.
The company she worked for at the time got a retirement annuity out for her. She then took the initiative to get funeral cover and life policies, and made a conscious effort to slowly increase her contributions as her income grew.
Everything accelerated when Rosina’s daughter was born. “I just took it to another level, because I also thought of her, ensuring that she has a tax-free savings account that that I've reached, that I've maxed out by the time she's older” she explains.
She became intentional about building an emergency fund, maxing out a Tax-Free Savings account for her daughter, multiplying her savings pockets and reviewing her long-term investment structure. As a single parent, she wanted both safety and dignity – not just for her daughter, but for herself.
Combining community and a powerful wealth tool
When she posted a picture of a Pêche Le Creuset pot on her WhatsApp status with a playful idea: “Who wants to join a stokvel so we can buy ourselves these pots at the end of the year?” she didn't think her friends would respond the way they did; they replied instantly.
Before she knew it, she had unintentionally built a small, powerful financial circle of women – different ages, different incomes, different careers – united by one goal: invest together, learn together, stay consistent together. This is where one of her friends introduced her to the Franc app. She learned that Franc made things easy to understand, motivated her through encouraging messages and most importantly, gave her an overview of her money’s growth.
Rosina mentioned that the Franc app’s notifications kept her consistent with her deposits while still feeling encouraged. Having that clear line of sight into her investments was an added benefit; what used to feel like money disappearing into thin air suddenly became something she could see and track, which made the biggest difference.
With a tribe all utilising the same platform, they encouraged each other by sharing a variety of media: Le Creuset hauls, screenshots of balances, TikTok videos of other financial girlies reaching their goals, celebrating their compound interest. It was accountability wrapped in laughter, memes, screenshots, and honesty.
The magic was in the togetherness.
And whenever someone wanted to increase their contribution? The whole group voted. It was a true democracy. But that’s the thing about being challenged in this space: it was a healthy kind of peer pressure.
When someone felt discouraged, the group kept her on track. And when half the group wanted to cash out and half wanted to reinvest, nobody judged. They celebrated each woman’s choice.
“We’ve renamed the group to Future Billionaires,” Rosina laughs. “And now we’re investing for five years, non-negotiable.”
The tribe’s superpower: turning emotional triggers into healthier habits
What Rosina couldn’t do alone, her community helped her. A former colleague who’s now an exec. A student. A housewife. A banker. An auditor. A consultant. Different backgrounds. Different salaries. The same goal: financial growth with heart. They learnt that by building these habits, they were building financial confidence:
- Slow down impulsive decisions
- Challenge instant gratification
- Validate treating yourself responsibly
- Keep long-term goals in sight
- Make investing feel fun, not intimidating
And that’s where Rosina found her peace.
Looking ahead
Rosina is building a future of options for herself and her daughter. She’s investing consistently with Franc and doing it with her tribe by her side. She’s building new habits, new tools, and new confidence. And most importantly:
She has a community that shows up for her – and helps her show up for herself.
Her journey is a reminder that money isn’t meant to be navigated alone. Your community matters. And sometimes, the biggest shift happens when you realise you’re allowed to want more for your future – and more joy for your present.
