When you don’t come from money, earning for the first time can feel life-changing. Even relatively small amounts can seem huge, simply because you’ve never had it before. But that lack of life experience can come at a cost.

In this episode of On the Money, singer and songwriter Buhlebendalo Mda joins Old Mutual’s Financial Education Programme Manager, Thabo Hollo, to reflect on early paydays in the music industry, the realities behind advances, and how quickly your perception of earning can shift once you understand the bigger picture.

It’s a candid conversation about money, context, and how not fully understanding the value of what you earn can leave you vulnerable. At its core, it’s a reminder that understanding your worth goes beyond what lands in your account.