The Consumer Protection Act provides significant protection for consumers; the Act does not, however, remove the obligations of consumers when undertaking an agreement. “A small business hired a hall for an event scheduled for 7pm on a Saturday...
You are Here >
Home > Financial Sense Home >
How to save for your child’s education
Choosing to save for your child’s education ahead of your own retirement plan may be a risky strategy but it is understandable given the rising costs of education. According to the Old Mutual Savings and Investment Monitor, 54% of South Africans...
Saving towards a 5-year goal
A reader wants advice on where to save towards buying a property. “My mother, sister and myself would like to open a savings or investment plan whereby together we would contribute R900 monthly and increasing it by R300 yearly or bi-annually for...
Card fraud: don’t transact in the open
Free internet connectivity provides an opportunity for fraudster. Free internet services are the hunting grounds of fraudsters who use remote devices to log keystrokes on your laptop when you transact online, says Henk Vermeulen, card fraud...
Starting an investment club
How two groups of professional women have used an investment club to build their own wealth If you have an existing savings club with a group of friends that you want to take to a new level, starting an investment club to build wealth is a great...
Investing your Batho Bonke windfall
ABSA’s empowerment deal, Batho Bonke (BB), is unwinding at a very interesting time for investment markets. All local asset classes apart from cash have delivered excellent returns over the past year, the stock market is at all time highs, and...
No home loans for non-FNB customers
Over the last ten years mortgage originators such as ooba and BetterBond have played a significant role in increasing the competitiveness of home loans. By assisting customers to shop around for the best rates bond originators forced the banks into...
The secret to money is already in your pocket
Old Mutual’s On The Money financial management programme, which targets mainly lower-end to middle income earners, helped me understand that the secret to being financially independent does not lie in earning a lot of money, but rather in learning...
Cost effective investing
A study by international fund rating agency Morningstar showed that the best indicator of outperformance by a fund was low costs. It is however often the cost of accessing that investment rather than the actual management fees that really hurts...
Now is not the time to blow your windfall
This month some households will experience a financial boost with either a bonus or a tax-rebate. Many South Africans have become used to having bonuses and tax refunds as an expected additional income instead of an ‘unexpected extra’, and...
Previous Articles
One in four can no longer afford medical aid
One in four people can no longer afford to pay for medical aid, a flash survey among users of online financial guide, Justmoney.co.za, has revealed. As the price of medical aid premiums rises by an inflation-busting average of 9.11%*, adding to the cash woes of many...
RSA retail savings bonds as an investment
“Are RSA retail bonds still a good choice of investment over a 3 or 5 year period. And what interest rates are the offering at this stage?” writes Peter who is 65 years old. Maya replies: If you are simply comparing interest rates to a bank deposit then the RSA retail...
RSA retail savings bonds as an investment
“Are RSA retail bonds still a good choice of investment over a 3 or 5 year period. And what interest rates are the offering at this stage?” writes Peter who is 65 years old. Maya replies: If you are simply comparing interest rates to a bank deposit then the RSA retail...
RSA retail savings bonds as an investment
“Are RSA retail bonds still a good choice of investment over a 3 or 5 year period. And what interest rates are the offering at this stage?” writes Peter who is 65 years old. Maya replies: If you are simply comparing interest rates to a bank deposit then the RSA retail...
RSA retail savings bonds as an investment
“Are RSA retail bonds still a good choice of investment over a 3 or 5 year period. And what interest rates are the offering at this stage?” writes Peter who is 65 years old. Maya replies: If you are simply comparing interest rates to a bank deposit then the RSA retail...
Retail vs construction industry
Geoff Blount of Cannon Asset Managers looks at the relative valuations of Mr Price and the construction industry in 2007 and in 2012 with some remarkable conclusions. At Cannon Asset Managers, we have always believed that the price you pay for an investment is the...
Five tricks to reduce your home loan
Homeowners can reduce the term of their home loan and the total that they pay in with careful budgeting and clever tricks. A house is usually the biggest asset that you will buy in your lifetime, but it's made affordable by the 20-year term of monthly repayments. Most...
Seven questions to consider when selecting a medical scheme
It is that time of year when your medical scheme will require you to select your plan for next year. This is a good time to reflect on your medical needs to ensure that you are on the correct plan. Andrew Edwards, principle officer at Liberty Health says many people...
Global IT and consumer stocks looking overpriced
A price bubble appears to be developing in the global IT sector, led by Apple Inc, while traditionally defensive sectors like consumer goods and health care are also looking very expensive, according to Craig Chambers, MD of Dibanisa Fund Managers. Meanwhile,...
How risk affects your investment performance
Whenever you read anything about investing you hear words like volatility, risk and growth assets but how exactly does this affect your investment returns? There are two types of investors: one group is very risk averse and prefers to stick to cash-like investments...