Money lessons from
Africa’s Big Five
There’s a lot we can learn from nature,
even money and management.

What is On The Money?

The On the Money Programme is a financial education initiative created to teach all Namibians how to best manage their finances. The programme is based on the behaviours of our Big Five animals. The unique characteristics of the Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo, as found in nature, have been distilled to teach us how to manage our personal and family finances. Here in Namibia, we've invited two friends of the Big Five to provide even deeper insights!
BOOK A WORKSHOPIf you'd like us to run a workshop for your staff, please get in touch.Big Five Secrets

Find out the secret of each of the Big Five animals and two of their friends! Apply these to your everyday money management.

Secret of the Lion

Eat first ahead of the pack by committing to an automatic, fixed savings plan. This will help you change your spending patterns. Even if you save small amounts, you will be developing a savings habit.

The Secret of the Lion brochure will help you:

  • Commit to a savings plan.
  • Identify the minimum savings level you should have and how to achieve this.
  • Identify different savings vehicles available to you.

Please get in touch to make an appointment by calling us on +264 (0) 81 956 1834 or emailing us onthemoneynam@oldmutual.com | VVeii@oldmutual.com | AManetti@oldmutual.com

A cartoon lion that represents a lesson in the Old Mutual financial education program.
Secret of the Leopard

Have a clear idea of your goals and what you are saving for. Be realistic - the leopard always aims for things it knows it can get.

The Secret of the Leopard brochure will help you:

  • Record clear and specific short-, medium- and long-term visions that are realistic, achievable and inspiring.
  • Understand the importance of reflecting on and researching your visions, and the best way to get support for achieving them.
  • Use your visions to ensure easier and more consistent financial discipline

Please get in touch to make an appointment by calling us on +264 (0) 81 956 1834 or emailing us onthemoneynam@oldmutual.com | VVeii@oldmutual.com | AManetti@oldmutual.com

Secret of the Leopard
Secret of the Elephant

Knowledge is power. The elephant never forgets. Human memory is a little unreliable. Proper record-keeping will help you understand your spending habits much better and how to change them to suit your income and future goals.

The Secret of the Elephant brochure will help you:

  • Identify different kinds of expenses and how to manage them.
  • Develop a family budget at least once a year.
  • List a simple five-step budgeting process that works.
  • Develop a plan to track difficult variable expenses using the elephant envelopes method.

Please get in touch to make an appointment by calling us on +264 (0) 81 956 1834 or emailing us onthemoneynam@oldmutual.com | VVeii@oldmutual.com | AManetti@oldmutual.com

Secret of the Elephant
Secret of the Rhino

Getting out of debt can be one of life's most difficult challenges, but it is also one of the most important things you can ever do. The rhino's weapon is to charge. When threatened, it looks for the biggest threat and charges, taking swift control of the situation. Learn from the rhino by charging down your debt as fast as you can.

The Secret of the Rhino brochure will help you:

  • Plan and manage your debt.
  • Identify the risk, pitfalls, limitations, and unforeseen events that affect a budget
  • Understand how to charge down your debt.
  • Explain the consequences of not having a good credit rating.

Please get in touch to make an appointment by calling us on +264 (0) 81 956 1834 or emailing us onthemoneynam@oldmutual.com | VVeii@oldmutual.com | AManetti@oldmutual.com

Secret of the Rhino
Secret of the Buffalo

The mighty buffalo is deliberate and steady. It steadily grows and protects its herd, knowing its strength and future are in its numbers. Financial institutions invest your money to make it grow. Our lesson is that it's important to leave your investment for a long period of time - so it can grow. Choose investments that suit you and stick to them.

The Secret of the Buffalo brochure will help you:

  • Understand why you have to invest to increase your assets.
  • Understand the power of compound interest.
  • List and explain the four financial options to save money.
  • Know your rights when dealing with investment brokers and products.

Please get in touch to make an appointment by calling us on +264 (0) 81 956 1834 or emailing us onthemoneynam@oldmutual.com | VVeii@oldmutual.com | AManetti@oldmutual.com

Brandon the buffalo
Meet two of the Big Five's friends

The Ostrich and the Peacock have some key lessons for us too. Find out what these are.

Lessons from Ostrich

The truth is that many of us live only from month to month because we are just a little bit scared of what we may find if we look closely at our financial status. At least if we don’t look closely, we have the excuse of saying “Well I’ve never really looked closely at it.” This fear delivers behaviour very much like a famous African animal, the ostrich.

Do you find yourself:

  • Hiding away from the truth
  • Not confronting reality
  • Hoping that if you don’t worry about it, it will go away; and
  • Experiencing fear and chaos

Take Action

Face the situation because no matter how much you try to ignore your money issues they will not go away until you face them. Let’s face the reality and refrain from the ostrich fear.

Please get in touch to make an appointment by calling us on +264 (0) 81 956 1834 or emailing us onthemoneynam@oldmutual.com | VVeii@oldmutual.com | AManetti@oldmutual.com

Olivia the ostrich
Lessons from Peacock

A Peacock’s personality is:

  • Proud
  • Boastful
  • Arrogant
  • Excessive

Many of us use money to ‘show off’ the way the peacock uses its incredible feathers to show off and win a mate. We think we have to spend money to buy new clothes, shoes, even cars and houses so that people will think better of us.

Facts
We buy things we don’t want to impress people we don’t like, with money we don’t have.

Take Action
We can buy things we need and want, but with a little bit of planning and easy cash management, you can have both security and fun.

Please get in touch to make an appointment by calling us on +264 (0) 81 956 1834 or emailing us onthemoneynam@oldmutual.com | VVeii@oldmutual.com | AManetti@oldmutual.com

A cartoon peacock that highlights a lesson in the Old Mutual financial education program.
ENRICH YOUR KNOWLEDGE EVEN FURTHER If you enjoyed our Big Five plus Two videos and would like to learn more about savings, investments and related topics, visit our Money Matters page. Financial Education with On The Money