Every person, especially every woman, should be working towards more than one stream of income. Not out of greed, but out of self-preservation, says the writer.
Image: Meta AI
THERE'S a question society asks far too easily, often from a place of comfort and distance: “why didn’t she just leave?”
It sounds simple. Logical, even. But for many women across South Africa, that question couldn’t be further from reality. Because leaving isn’t just about walking out the door. It’s about having somewhere to go. It’s about having money in your pocket, food on the table, and a plan for tomorrow. It’s about children who still need stability, school fees that don’t disappear, and a world that doesn’t always offer a safety net.
With unemployment rates hovering around 50% in parts of our country, the idea of “just leaving” becomes a privilege many simply do not have. And that’s where the conversation needs to shift. We need to stop asking why women don’t leave and start asking how we empower them so they can. Because true freedom doesn’t begin at the door. It begins with options. And options are created through financial independence.
Let’s be honest: money matters. Not in the superficial, status-driven way we sometimes pretend to reject, but in a deeply practical, life-altering way. Money gives you the power to choose. The power to say no. The power to walk away from what breaks you and move towards what builds you. And this isn’t only about escaping abusive relationships. Sometimes, it’s about recognising that a relationship, even a “good” one … no longer serves who you are becoming.
Life is far too short to stay stuck in something that no longer aligns with your growth, your joy, or your purpose. But how do you leave when your life, like so many, is built on two incomes? How do you choose yourself when survival depends on shared stability? You prepare. You build. You create options before you need them. Every person, especially every woman, should be working towards more than one stream of income. Not out of greed, but out of self-preservation. Out of dignity. Out of the understanding that your future should never be entirely dependent on someone else’s presence, choices, or behaviour. Because when you have options, everything changes.
You speak differently. You decide differently. You live differently. You stop shrinking yourself to fit circumstances, and you start expanding into possibilities. So where do you begin - especially if you feel like you have nothing extra to give? You start where you are. Look at your current skills. What do you already know? What can you offer, even on a small scale? It could be cooking, admin work, childcare, sewing, tutoring, selling products, or even leveraging digital platforms to earn remotely.
The goal is not perfection The power of choice it’s momentum. Then, make a decision. A real one. Not a “one day” decision. Not a “when things settle” decision. A now decision. Because the truth is, nothing changes unless you do. And once you’ve made that decision, discipline becomes your greatest ally. Small, consistent actions, even if they feel insignificant at first, begin to compound. An extra R500 earned. A new contact made. A skill improved. These are not small wins; they are the building blocks of independence.
We often wait for big, dramatic changes to transform our lives. But real change? It’s quieter than that. It’s in the daily choices. The sacrifices no one sees. The commitment to keep going, even when progress feels slow. And slowly, something powerful begins to happen. You realise you are not stuck. You were just unprepared. There is a difference. Because once you start building, even in the smallest way, you are no longer at the mercy of your circumstances. You are actively reshaping them.
And that is where freedom truly begins. You matter. Your voice matters. Your happiness matters. You deserve a life where you are not choosing survival over self. So start today. Start small. Start scared, if you must, but start. Because the power to choose your life is not something you wait for. It’s something you build.