There are two major purchases you will make in your lifetime for which entering into debt can be justified: one is the purchase of property and the other is the purchase of a car. If you buy a car through bank finance, you will find that taking out...
A person under the age of 35 is more likely to claim for income protection or disability than death. While life cover may not be a priority, protecting your future income should be. When Greg, aged 35, was rushed to hospital after a virus attacked...
A reader wonders why her medical scheme deducted her medical expenses from her Road Accident Fund settlement. Paseka writes: I was in a car accident and was awarded around R2 million from the Road Accident Fund (RAF). I was admitted to a private...
We set ourselves a challenge to try and find medical cover for one of our readers. Our findings show that medical cover is expensive for many middle-income earners and that a comprehensive hospital plan is possibly the best option. Elizabeth has...
The Council for Medical Schemes (CMS), which is the regulator for medical schemes in South Africa, has initiated new processes to put more power in your hands so that you are able to take on large medical schemes. Consumers have always been able to...
You need to ensure that you have the correct type of life insurance policy in order to leave a legacy. In order to make insurance more affordable insurers have introduced age-rated premiums where you receive an initial discount on your life...
When Chantal Ogle returned to work after the December holiday and was told that the IT company she works for was no longer considered part of the holding company’s “core business”, she was taken by surprise. However, she soon realised that she...
When we bought a gorgeous Labrador puppy for our son’s birthday I decided to take out pet insurance. Little did I realise that this was one of the best financial – and emotional – decisions I would ever make. Since we live in an area surrounded by...
This article was provided by hippo.co.za There are a number of factors to be taken in consideration with the start-up of any business, and inadequate planning may lead to your company’s demise. One thing your business insurance does not cover is...
South Africans need better access to good, unfettered financial advice. But who is going to pay for this? Recently I was reminded of a story of a man I had once interviewed. Twelve years ago he was severely injured in a work accident and as a...
Instead of overwhelming yourself with resolutions in the New Year and then falling off the bandwagon too early, let 2014 be the year in which they stick. Andrew Edwards, Executive Principal Officer of Liberty Medical Scheme and fitness expert, Lisa Raleigh, outline...
Insurers are becoming more enthusiastic about suing uninsured drivers to recover costs. If you are uninsured and crash into another vehicle causing damage amounting to thousands of rands, you are liable for those repairs. Even if the other driver was insured, his...
With the price of petrol having reached record levels recently, carpooling is something you could consider as a means to cut your travel costs. However, if you do decide to carpool, you need to inform your insurer or broker immediately and find out what the...
“I feel that I am paying too much for the theft cover portion of my household insurance, as the insurance company values all my contents even though it would be difficult to steal all of it. In most break-ins the robbers just take things that are easy to grab like a...
Women have a responsibility to themselves and their family to remain involved in the family’s finances. A recent conversation between friends highlights so clearly the need for married women to get good financial advice. The discussion was about life insurance and my...
When moving in together, your household insurance policy may be the last thing on your mind – until you need to claim. In this day and age, it is quite common for couples to choose to live together either before or as an alternative to marriage. But before you move...
There's a new car insurance product available which could offer a good solution for those who think they can’t afford to insure their vehicles. Soaring petrol and maintenance costs may drive you to reconsider taking out comprehensive car insurance but short-term...
“Can I have more than one life insurance policy?” asks Susan Maya replies: Although technically you could have more than one policy, you need to be careful that you are not “over-insured” as you may not receive the full pay-out that you have been contributing towards....
There are ways to cut your insurance premiums as a young driver. Taking out motor insurance as a young driver can be very expensive, often making car ownership unaffordable. There are ways, however, to lower your risk and therefore your premiums. Gari Dombo, managing...
New regulations may find your electric fence on the wrong side of the law. In a society where homes need maximum protection from criminals, it is easy to understand why you might choose to use electric fencing to protect your family and your property. However, if you...