Isaac shows how with discipline and a goal it is possible to build up a portfolio of properties on a limited salary that will one day pay you an income. It is important however to make sure that you do not over extend yourself and risk losing your...
According to Piet Viljoen of valuation-based asset manager RE:CM, investors need to be well informed about the risks associated with money market investments. The primary objectives of a money market fund are capital protection and provision of...
To some people hedge funds are unfathomable investments which grab international headlines when risky bets result in a sticky end. In South Africa however hedge funds and hedging strategies are mostly used to protect investors’ capital. We look how...
“I have an extra R300 that I want to invest with Satrix as a debit order. Is this the right time to invest now and which Satrix fund should I chose?” asks Stanley. Maya replies: The world is a challenging place at the moment and we will see far...
“I am really committed to getting out of debt and I have R4000 a month to do so. I currently owe R30 000 on my FNB Credit Card, R25 000 on my ABSA credit card and I have a loan with FNB for R15 000. Should I consider debt consolidation?” asks Nina....
One of the questions I am often asked by self-employed people is how to budget. Most self-employed people tend to live in a world of feast or famine. When times are tough they skimp, beg and borrow, but when times are good they spend like the good...
At the moment estate agents are calling this a buyers’ market as property prices have come off their highs and interest rates are at historic lows. However many young first-time buyers are not able to take advantage of favourable market conditions...
Most people only realise they are blacklisted when they apply for credit. A credit provider is very unlikely to provide further credit if you have unpaid bills, if you were unable to pay your last debts, what is the chance you will be able to pay...
A sense of disquiet has been growing among independent financial advisers around the pricing of certain investment products sold by tied agents. When a product’s cost structure makes it virtually impossible to beat a cash rate or when other equally...
For most young people just getting out of debt is the main priority, however what if you are one of those rare “savers” who have saved a lump sum by the time you are in your early 20’s – where is the right place to invest it and how to you balance...
In November 2001 the first Ipod went on sale at a price of $399 which was around R3300 at the time. If instead of buying the Ipod you had bought shares in Apple (the American company that produces the Ipod), your investment would be worth $26 000 today! That is around...
If you use your cellphone when travelling abroad you usually return to a phone bill that makes your credit card bill look tame. Here are some cost cutting tips from MTN: Use SMS roaming only, while abroad - simply dial *111*14# to activate SMS roaming. Once activated,...
Online shopping is making our lives a lot easier and saving time fighting queues at shopping malls, but it has its own set of risks. Brian McGrory, Head, Consumer Debit Products at Visa identifies ways to keep your shopping safe. Christmas is almost here but are you...
Adrian Saville, CIO of Cannon Asset Managers, suggests shares to buy with your December bonus I have been using the Samsung I9000 Galaxy for the past year and I am hooked. Given the incredible agility and resilience of this device, together with its affordability, it...
My son asked me the other day what the point of saving 10c is because it can’t buy anything. He has a point; quite frankly any coin under 50c is just annoying and makes your purse heavy. However, the previous week I had been at lunch with some women who shared with me...
Seeing tow trucks parked at my local intersection recently reminded me of a scam whereby tow-truck drivers dupe unsuspecting accident victims into allowing them to tow the victims' vehicles. The scam involves the driver telling you he will call your insurance provider...
When you invest globally, you can invest in either rand-denominated (asset swap) or foreign domiciled funds, which are denominated in foreign currencies. According to Stephan Schalekamp, manager of fund research and development at Stanlib, an asset-swap fund is a unit...
City Press was recently sent a copy of a loan agreement between a customer and micro-lender Letsatsi Finance. In this agreement Letsatsi Finance lent the customer R8000 and included insurance on the loan at a monthly cost of R320. According to the loan agreement this...
Today I received a press release from an insurance company which made me realise I have been very lax about my security. The article raised the point that most people do not change their locks when they move into a new home. I just realised I never even thought about...
Whether you're a tenant or a landlord, it's wise to keep in mind the legalities of residential letting in South Africa. Landlords need to follow correct procedures in terms of recovering rental. A landlord is obliged to send a letter of demand notifying the tenant of...