It is a known fact that unemployment figures in South Africa are amongst some of the highest in the world. Securing a job can prove to be one of the most difficult tasks one has to face, as job candidates are jostling with thousands of other...
You are Here >
Home > My Credit/Debt >
Can you live debt free?
I was recently interviewed by a magazine who asked if it is possible for a family today to live debt-free. My reply was “absolutely”. I believe that because of the proliferation of credit cards and easy access to credit, we have forgotten how to...
The risk of easy credit
“I've always been a saver and have hated debt with a passion. I applied for a store card to create a good credit rating. It soon became clear that I am not a disciplined spender so I paid off the card and closed the account. This year I bought a...
Debt: the kiss of death
Recently I had two very disturbing conversations about the world of debt. The first was a conversation with someone from the Credit Ombud about how debt administrators and debt collectors farm debtors’ books. Although this practice is less...
Financial hangover recovery plan
If you’re battling with a financial hangover from a holiday spending spree, we have a 5-point plan to get you back on track: 1. Budget Write down an accurate and honest list of your expenses and income. Use your recent bank statements, invoices and...
How long will it take you to pay off your credit card?
If you only pay the minimum due on your credit card you will remain indebted for decades. The Australian government’s website MoneySmart.gov.au has a very handy calculator that shows you how long it will take you to pay off your credit card based...
How to get out of debt review
If you can prove that you are able to start making regular payments, you can request to end your debt review. When Joseph Masemola's debt began to spin out of control in 2010, he applied for debt review via a debt counsellor. Since then, he has...
Independent consumer organisation to be launched
The National Debt Mediation Association is re-forming as a non-profit, independent financial wellness organisation to assist indebted consumers. The National Debt Mediation Association (NDMA) has over the past five years provided assistance to...
How to reduce your mortgage payments
“I would like to buy an R80 000 house and would like to know what my monthly mortgage payment would be,” writes Wilfred. Maya replies: How much you will need to pay each month to cover your mortgage will depend on your initial deposit and interest...
Old Mutual Savings Monitor: Reality hits
The latest Old Mutual Savings Monitor shows that South Africans are coming to terms with their new economic reality and taking control of their finances, but it’s still really tough to make ends meet. As households come under pressure from rising...
Previous Articles
The importance of having an emergency fund
An emergency fund is your most important savings priority. Thanks to a collision with an uninsured driver and vet bills due to a dog with a penchant for swallowing bouncing balls, our household was faced with thousands of rands worth of unexpected expenses within one...
The real cost of a personal loan
Michael wonders whether it's legal for a bank to charge more than double the amount of his personal loan. “I recently applied for a personal loan of R79 000 to buy a car as I did not qualify for car finance due to a poor credit record. After costs, the total value of...
Customers are flexing their muscles, says Credit Ombudsman
Borrowers are invoking their rights against unscrupulous lenders and debt counsellors. A greater awareness by consumers around their rights when it comes to borrowing money has led to an increase in complaints related to non-bank credit transactions, with the majority...
National Credit Regulator tackles unscrupulous loan sharks
The National Credit Regulator (NCR) is working with the South African Police Service (SAPS) to target "loan sharks" - credit providers who are using abusive methods to collect outstanding debts. ‘Operation Siyanda’ which was held in the Northern Cape recently is the...
Moves to address reckless lending
Changes to the National Credit Act are necessary to deal with reckless lending, but proposed amendments may have unintended consequences. The Department of Trade and Industry recently proposed amendments to the National Credit Act to deal with reckless lending. One of...
Make April 27th your Debt Freedom Day
The 27th of April is Freedom Day in South Africa, marking the annual celebration of South Africa's first non-racial democratic elections in 1994. Since political freedom, South Africans have striven to correct the wrongs of the past. South Africa currently has 19.69...
Spotlight on garnishee orders
A task team headed by Credit Ombud Manie van Schalkwyk has been established to investigate current practices and establish a code of conduct to address concerns that emolument attachment orders, loosely referred to as garnishee orders, are worsening the...
Putting words into practice
Putting a personal financial plan into action After writing my review on the South African version of Dave Ramsey’s Total Money Makeover, I received an email from a reader who shared his experience of getting his finances in order after reading the US edition of Total...
Profile of a reckless lending case
Without a proper record of credit, can a provider be responsible for reckless lending asks Maya Fisher-French How does someone get into the position where their debt levels reach 217% of their income and who is responsible? While a desperate consumer may take whatever...
Reckless lending charges are no deterrent
We are starting to see cases of reckless lending being brought before the courts, but the process will remain slow unless the National Credit Regulator provides support Despite many court rulings charging credit providers with reckless lending, the practice appears to...