African Generation Y students perceived personal financial management skills

Abstract

Effective personal financial management is of great importance, especially in a world where individuals are faced constantly with financial risks and uncertainties regarding their financial future. However, in order to plan effectively, control and manage financial risks and opportunities in the future, as well as enjoy personal financial satisfaction, it is essential that individuals be equipped with the necessary personal financial management skills. This article reports on a study undertaken to determine African Generation Y students' perceived personal financial management skills in the South African context. In South Africa, the Generation Y cohort, labelled as individuals born between 1986 and 2005, accounted for an estimated 32 percent of the country's total population in 2015, of which the African portion made up a projected 84 percent of this cohort. A quantitative research approach was used, whereby a structured, self-administered questionnaire was employed to collect data from a non-probability convenience sample of 500 African Generation Y students across two South African public higher education institutions' campuses located in the Gauteng province to determine their perceived personal financial management skills. The findings suggest that African Generation Y students perceive themselves as being skilled in personal financial management. Through better understanding students' perceived personal financial management skills, the results of this study may aid in creating awareness of certain shortfalls in African Generation Y individuals' personal financial management.