Comparing interest rates is not simple, especially when comparing interest on maturity with annual compounding interest and nominal interest rates. Take for example an advert for a five-year fixed deposit with 13.3% interest on maturity. In this...
TymeBank adapts for growing client base
Maya Fisher-FrenchDec 19, 2019
TymeBank has announced that after nine months of trading, they have onboarded one million customers. Of these customers, approximately 45% (450 000) transact once or more a month. Although the bank’s main customer focus has been lower-income...
Video: Teach your kids the value of money
Maya Fisher-FrenchDec 17, 2019
A woman asked me recently why she should give her children pocket money as she can afford to buy them what they want – unlike her upbringing where her parents were struggling, and she had to save for the things she wanted. Yet by not giving her...
Escape the festive season without debt
Maya Fisher-FrenchDec 16, 2019
If you do just one thing this festive season, plan for those 40 days to the next paycheque. As we approach the end of 2019, I could write a long list of all the things you need to do to get your finances in order for next year – but that can wait...
Listen: How to get financially ready for 2020
Maya Fisher-FrenchDec 13, 2019
In the final My Money, My Lifestyle podcast for 2019 Maya (@mayaonmoney) and Mapalo (@womanandfinance) discuss how to prepare your finances for an uncertain future. Should you use your bonus to pay off debt or rather invest it? Do you have enough...
Find medical cover that fits your pocket and your needs
Maya Fisher-FrenchDec 12, 2019
It is that time of year when you will receive a letter from your medical scheme confirming your benefits and premiums for next year. This year the average scheme increases were between 8% and 12%. According to Alexander Forbes Health, these price...
Video: How to reach R1 million in 5 years
Maya Fisher-FrenchDec 10, 2019
Last year we had a Money Matters show where we illustrated how you could save R1.1 million within 15 years using your tax-free savings allowance of R2 750 per month. A viewer asked us if it was possible to reach R1.1 million within five years by...
OBS advises to check your loan statements
Guest AuthorDec 9, 2019
Incorrect balances and terms on home loans, personal loans and revolving credit make up a significant portion of complaints to the Ombudsman for Banking Services (OBS), according to its latest report. Of the 5 996 cases it has closed so far this...
Listen: Building a retirement portfolio
Guest AuthorDec 6, 2019
The last four years of poor market performance highlighted the risk of relying on capital drawdown in retirement. In this final edition of our Investment Series with Marriott Income Specialists, Maya (@mayaonmoney) and Mapalo (@womanandfinance)...
Are illegal debit orders a thing of the past?
Maya Fisher-FrenchDec 5, 2019
After a significant spike in the number of illegal debit orders, banks say action has been taken to clean the industry of rouge players. Despite much fanfare around the introduction of DebiCheck which puts customers in control of approving debit...

Previous Articles
Video: Where to invest?
Dec 3, 2019
Money Matters viewer Khutang wanted to know whether it is safe to invest in Bitcoin and more generally, where a wannabe investor should be investing. As Khutang is specifically talking about investing, this would not be your emergency funds or short-term savings for a...
Why the net worth calculation trumps how much you make
Dec 2, 2019
One of my favourite calculations is the net worth calculation. It is not only meant for those who appear in rich lists of magazines, but is an important calculation for anyone who is working towards financial freedom. Effectively, the net worth calculation lets you...
Listen: Why offshore investing is wise
Nov 29, 2019
A decision to invest offshore should not be driven by fear but should rather form part of a diversified investment portfolio for the best risk-adjusted return. In this episode of My Money, My Lifestyle, Maya (@mayaonmoney) and Mapalo (@womanandfinance) chat to Duggan...
Using a personal loan to pay off your home
Nov 28, 2019
“I have been paying extra into my mortgage each month but it still taking a long time to pay if off”, says Martha, a reader who wonders if it would make sense to rather take out a personal loan over five years and use the money to settle her mortgage. Her logic is...
Video: Understanding credit insurance
Nov 26, 2019
If you have taken out credit, you mostly likely have a credit life policy linked to that loan for which you are paying a monthly fee. While it has many names such as credit life, credit protection insurance or payment protection insurance, it is essentially an...
Court application could remove a million garnishee orders
Nov 25, 2019
One million garnishee orders could be removed if excessive fees and interest paid on judgement debt is curbed. Once a judgement has been granted against a consumer, the cost of that debt can escalate rapidly. In a real-life example, a judgment was brought against an...
Listen: Why women make great money managers
Nov 22, 2019
Maya and Mapalo discuss how women tend to approach money and finances and why this can be either a positive or hold them back from taking necessary risk. Sean Sanders and Louis Buys from crypto platform Revix join the discussion sharing their experiences, not only on...
How to hit the jackpot on Black Friday
Nov 21, 2019
By Lee Naik, CEO TransUnion Africa Some people love it. Some people hate it. But whatever your feelings about Black Friday, the one thing you can’t do is ignore it. South African retailers and consumers alike have embraced America’s favourite shopping day in all its...
Video: Money is not gender equal
Nov 19, 2019
Money is not gender equal. The facts remain that women earn less than men and carry the greatest load in raising children whilst balancing work and family. On average, women live seven years longer than men, so we need to save more for retirement. If a man is saving...
Q&A: Debt Review
Nov 18, 2019
A recent court ruling provided clarity around exactly how and when an individual may exit debt review, but there is still a lot of confusion around the debt review process. I have recently paid off my car and some credit I had, but I still have four outstanding debts...








