Explore the impact of the 49-day pay gap on South African consumers during the festive season, as December salaries stretch thin and spending habits shift. Image: Max Pixel.
With many employers paying December salaries as early as the 13th, the gap before the next payday is significant – 42 days for those usually paid on the 25th and 49 days for month-end earners.
The festive season adds financial pressure as South Africans stretch their December salaries while spending more than usual. Standard Bank’s analysis shows that South Africans spend their salaries faster in the last two months of the year. Interestingly, November salaries are spent faster than December’s.
December salaries last slightly longer, with customers taking two to three extra days on average to spend 50% of their income compared to November. Higher middle-income and high-income earners take nearly twice as long to spend half of their December income—around 11 days compared to just six days for entry-level customers.
“The trend in November is largely driven by Black Friday, which encourages extended spending. In December, while salaries last longer, the financial strain is tied to early pay dates and the long gap before January’s payday,” says Shené Mothilal, solution owner of Digital Money Manager at Standard Bank.
Top spending categories for December and January
With November salaries spent quickly and December salaries stretched to cover nearly two months, many consumers rely on December pay to manage festive and New Year expenses. Spending trends vary by customer segment: entry-level market customers prioritise groceries early, likely stocking up for festive consumption while emerging high-income earners increase loan payments in November to support holiday spending. Young professionals focus on transport, groceries, restaurants, and clothing before Christmas, often shifting debit orders earlier in December. Wealthier clients allocate a larger share to holiday travel and related insurance compared to other segments.
At an overall level, we see the following trends in Spending Categories for individuals:
December:
Clothing (+0.5%) – Festive shopping dominates.
Fitness & Self-Care (+0.3%) – Driven by New Year’s resolutions.
Shopping Centres (+0.3%) – Peak holiday shopping.
Home (+0.2%) – Year-end preparations.
Entertainment (+0.2%) – Festive celebrations and school holidays.
January:
Education (+0.7%) – Upfront school and university fees.
Digital & Connectivity (+0.1%) – Back-to-school and work needs.
Savings (+0.1%) – Post-holiday budgeting.
Entertainment (+0.1%) – Continued school holiday activities.
Holiday & Travel (+0.1%) – Lingering festive season costs and delayed travel.
Preparing for the financial stretch
The financial pressure during the festive season highlights the need for effective money management and Standard Bank has a range of features designed to help customers plan their spending more effectively.
For example, the Budget Manager feature in the bank’s mobile app provides valuable insights into spending habits, empowering customers to make informed decisions and allocate realistic budgets that factor in their likely festive spending.
The Future Payments feature goes a step further by projecting upcoming expenses over the next 14 to 30 days. It doesn’t just account for debt repayments but also includes habitual spending patterns, so you don’t forget your recurring spending, amidst your festive spending. The Money Movements feature shows customers their spending patterns, helping them plan smarter.
Mothilal says the focus was on creating tools that support customers in managing their finances better, especially during periods when of financial strain. “Understanding spending habits is crucial, especially during the festive season when budgeting demands increase. Tools like our Budget Manager and Money Movements provide valuable insights to help consumers budget effectively and avoid the post-holiday financial pinch,” she adds.
PERSONAL FINANCE