Support the Teahouse
The stories are free to read and always will be. Supporters also get the writing made just for them — and the support that matters most still costs nothing.
What actually keeps this going
Reading is the point. If a story stayed with you, the most valuable things you can do are free: subscribe to the newsletter, send a story to someone who'd like it, and reply when a letter lands — that's how we know the digging is worth writing up.
And if you want to put money behind it
If you're able to support the work, it means a lot, whether that's a one-off coin in the kettle or a subscription. It helps keep the research going, the writing flowing, and of course, the tea topped up.
A cup of tea
Pay what you want — it covers supporter status for the month from today. Already covered further ahead? Nothing changes: this one is purely appreciation, never expected.
The standing order
A small monthly amount that keeps the digging, writing, and hosting going.
The long haul
The same thing, once a year instead of twelve times — and a little cheaper for it.
Each button opens Paystack's secure checkout page — you come straight back here afterwards.
Prices are in South African rand. The dollar and euro amounts are approximate, from the European Central Bank's daily rate. Your card is charged in rand and your bank does the conversion; some banks add a small fee for that.
The plain terms
- Your card never touches this site. Checkout happens on the secure page of Paystack, a Stripe company that handles payments for much of Africa's online commerce. We receive a receipt — we never see or store card numbers.
- We keep only the receipt's outline — which plan, the amount, the date. Exactly what we store, and why, is spelled out in the privacy policy, in plain words.
- Monthly support stops when you say so. One click on your account page — no hoops, no guilt emails. Time you've already paid for always runs to its end.
- Changed your mind? Ask for it back. Within 14 days of a payment we refund it in full, no reason needed — and after that, ask anyway. The whole thing is spelled out in the refunds and cancellation policy.
- The stories are never paywalled. Support is a thank-you, not a toll. Supporters get the extra supporter-only writing, but the stories are free and always will be — if you'd rather just keep reading, that is support too.