Family Support Planner (Black Tax)

What you will need

• Your take-home pay (R)
• Your own essential costs (housing, food, transport, debt) (R)
• What you currently give family each month (money, groceries, school fees, airtime, emergencies) (R)
• Who you support and for what (optional list) (list)
• Average unplanned family requests per month (funerals, ceremonies, emergencies) (R)
• What you want to save for yourself each month (R)

How it works

available = take_home - own_essentials - own_savings_goal. total_support = current_support + irregular_requests. sustainable_support = max(0, available) shown as the most you can give without borrowing. support_pct = total_support / take_home * 100. over_by = max(0, total_support - sustainable_support). Suggest a fixed monthly family amount (sustainable_support * 0.8) plus a small 'family emergency' pocket (sustainable_support * 0.2) instead of ad hoc requests. Conversation helper: generate 3 editable sentences, e.g. 'I want to keep helping. This is what I can give every month from now on: R{amount}. For emergencies I have set aside R{pocket}.' Respectful of culture: do not describe support as wrong; frame it as making support last.

What you get

• Support you can give without borrowing
• Family support as % of your pay
• Amount you are over each month
• Conversation starter

What it means

• You are giving more than your budget can carry, which often ends in debt; a set amount can help support last longer.
• Your support fits your budget; a fixed amount can protect you from unplanned requests.

Next step: Want help interpreting this? Talk to a money coach, or a counsellor if family pressure is affecting you.

Runs on the device. Nothing is saved unless the member chooses.