Chantel has been married for almost two years and was caught slightly off-guard recently when she realised she was pregnant with her first baby. “Even though my husband and I are both extremely good at saving, we didn’t have a specific budget for a...
Don't fall into the trap of taking on unnecessary consumption debt in a misguided attempt to build up your credit record. Far too many 20- and 30-year-olds are struggling to meet monthly debt repayments, impacting their ability to break the...
So you finally decide to venture into the world of shares and market movements, but where can you find a platform that is friendly for the beginner investor? Often eager investors give up when they are faced with a trading or investing platform...
Late last year the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) made two announcements that could see the cost of borrowing reduced. The DTI has adjusted the maximum interest rate that will be allowed on loans from May 2016 (see below) and also released...
Nkosenhle writes: I took a loan from a credit provider in 2002 and after a few payments I was unable to continue, so the company issued a garnishee order against my salary until the amount was paid off. Despite having settled the amount, after a...
I recently required surgery to my ankle after sustaining a serious injury quite a while back. Thanks to this ongoing ankle saga, if I ever want to be able to hike and run again I am going to have to commit to some serious rehabilitation work which...
Willie writes: I am planning on leaving my employer after 25 years and I want to cash in my pension fund of R2.1 million. How much tax will I pay? I am 50 years old. Maya replies: When you resign and cash in your pension, the tax is worked out on a...
While attending a business conference in Guangzhou, China, Mrs Sithole collapsed and was rushed to the intensive care unit of a local hospital with cerebral bleeding. She was diagnosed with an aneurysm and was hospitalised in China for four and a...
Makabongwe writes: I believe in investing for growth but I don't have sufficient knowledge about unit trusts. Currently I have invested in Allan Gray unit trusts via debit order. I am worried that I have not selected the correct funds, namely the...
In this podcast we search for the truth behind credit cards – are they really a good thing to have in your wallet? We chat to Chris Labuschagne, CEO of FNB credit card and we asked him how many of their customers pay off their cards in full at the...
It's that time of year again, when storms and hail hit the northern parts of the country, so insurers have started to issue reminders of the precautions you can take to minimise storm damage. Johan van Greuning, head of Standard Insurance at Standard Bank says that in...
Themba writes: Our employer is an NGO that doesn't subsidise the medical cover of employees yet it is compulsory to have medical cover according to the employment contract, unless the employee is dependent of someone else's cover like the spouse. The employer deals...
What's your child's money personality? Natural saver or spender? In episode 13 of the Change in your Pocket series, we give you tips on how to teach your child to save. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tpp9L7_Q_JU&feature=youtu.be – Video supplied by BrightRock Welcome...
By Vickie Lange, Institutional Best Practice Specialist at Alexander Forbes Last year the tax changes to all retirement funds and the retirement benefit changes to provident funds (together known as T-day changes) which were originally scheduled for 1 March 2015 were...
Episode 12 of the Change in your Pocket series looks at pocket money, and how you can use it to teach your children about the value of money and how to manage it. https://youtu.be/dFstCrhEcN0 – Video supplied by BrightRock Welcome to The Change Exchange where we are...
Absa is the first bank to allow customers to reverse unauthorised debit orders online. Debit order fraud is on the increase in South Africa. Syndicates are obtaining a database of accounts illegally, and hitting these accounts with small amounts. According to the...
A referral by the NCR may see the removal of the Edgars Club fee. In early November, the National Credit Regulator (NCR) referred Edcon Limited to the National Consumer Tribunal for charging consumers a club fee on credit agreements. This follows the referral of JDG...
When you consider what it will cost to educate your child, it's easy to fall into a flat panic. Episode 11 of the Change in your Pocket series looks at ways to save for your child's education. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BI2-NFTx4gQ – Video supplied by BrightRock...
Investing for your children is a generous act of foresight and certainly opens up future opportunities for them. However, you need to be aware of the tax implications of investing money on behalf of your children. This is the view of Carla Rossouw, tax specialist at...
In Episode 10 of the Change in your Pocket series, we give you practical tips on how to go about saving for a deposit on your first home. https://youtu.be/mTmjtAoE-Tw – Video supplied by BrightRock Welcome to The Change Exchange where we are discussing the ins, outs,...