As the new year begins, many people take the opportunity to reassess their financial standing, reorganise their budgets and set resolutions aimed at achieving better financial health throughout the year. However, for most families, budgeting often remains little more than a plan on paper when the realities of life set in and financial commitments continue to rise, especially for households with young or school-going children, putting more strain on their cash flow. This situation has also resulted in many people having no savings, even for emergencies, exposing them to the risk of falling into more serious financial distress.