Imagine the scenario: you apply for a R30 000 credit card limit, but are rejected due to a low credit score – and then the exact same bank turns around and offers you a R135 000 personal loan instead! It sounds counterintuitive. How can a massive...
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The “celebration economy” and lifestyle creep
There’s a common perception that we are poorer than previous generations – that these days we’re struggling much more to make ends meet. Yet are we actually poorer than previous generations, or is it just that our baseline standards for what...
How to make your tax refund work harder
Before your SARS refund disappears into a holiday or shopping spree, consider how that lump sum could change your financial future, says Marnus Mostert, franchise principal and financial adviser at Consult by Momentum. Who doesn't love that little...
Reviewing your medical aid
It’s that time of year again: as we approach October, South Africa’s major medical schemes will start rolling out their annual price hikes and benefit changes for the upcoming year. With healthcare inflation consistently outpacing the general CPI...
How a 1% fee difference can change your retirement
An additional percentage point in annual investment fees may seem insignificant, but over a lifetime it can compound into millions in lost retirement savings. Yet many South Africans remain unaware of the fees they are paying to invest and grow...
Should you marry your partner for financial protection?
Many South African couples are surprised to learn that living together, even for many years, does not automatically confer legal rights, even if they have children. Despite how prevalent cohabitation is in South Africa, it is not recognised by...
Unlocking financial freedom with a debit order
In my latest podcast, I caught up with Adrian Hope-Bailie, the founder of Fynbos Money, to discuss their new products, which include retirement annuities and family accounts. I must be honest: I am a fan of what Fynbos Money is doing, because...
Cash in a lower-rate cycle: safe haven or silent risk?
Zander Loots, financial adviser at Alexforbes, warns investors about the risk of holding too much cash as interest rates trend lower. Cash offers comfort. It doesn’t fluctuate, it’s easy to access, and the balance doesn’t move when markets wobble....
You can now use WhatsApp to check if you have unclaimed dividends
As we move into the second quarter of 2026, it’s a great moment to pause and reflect on the progress made on the goals that were set at the start of the year: review budgets, make adjustments where needed, and look for practical wins such as...
Tackle the one financial stress that weighs you down
Atlas Finance Director, Brett Caminsky, has a three-step plan to help you win on your financial journey in 2026. Every January, South Africans make familiar promises: “I’ll save more,” “I’ll budget properly,” “I’ll get my finances under control.”...
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Six ways couples can manage their money – which one is right for you?
Money doesn’t have to be a trigger in your relationship if you both get on the same page with how to plan, manage and share it, says Johan Werth, Franchise Principal and Financial Planner at Consult by Momentum. How couples organise their finances is one of the most...
Why a balanced budget matters to all South Africans
At the Momentum post-budget breakfast, Momentum Securities CEO Steven Schultz said something that perfectly captures why the debate around our national budget should matter to every South African – not just economists and policy wonks. Schultz said: “The national...
The first person you should tell when you’re terminally ill
Greg Bradfield, Wealth Manager at Alexforbes, explains what you should do to prevent financial chaos if you should receive a terminal diagnosis. Most financial plans are built on hope – hope for long lives and long retirements, that children will grow up and become...
Great news for savers and SMEs, but don’t be fooled by inflation adjustments
There was a lot of good news in the 2026 Budget Speech for investors and savers, but our personal income taxes remain higher than they should be. Ahead of today’s Budget Speech, I was expecting changes to the tax limits and thresholds for our investments, but I was...
What South Africans refuse to cut from their household budgets
As Finance Minister Enoch Godongwana prepares to deliver the National Budget 2026 on 25 February, most South Africans aren’t thinking about trillions of rand, tax forecasts, or GDP growth. They’re thinking about school fees, rent and whether there’s enough left over...
Parenting with different money personalities
Having a child doesn’t just shift your sleep schedule. It can shift your relationship with money and, quite possibly, with your partner. Suddenly, you aren’t simply choosing between a holiday or a house deposit; your financial decisions will impact your new...
Your bonus isn’t broken – your budget is
Consult’s CFO Boipelo Ndimande discusses why your bonus this year might feel smaller than in previous years, and how to stretch your budget to make it through the notoriously expensive holiday season. You just can’t figure it out. Your 13th cheque arrived in your...
Goals vs rules
If you want to achieve things in your life, don’t set goals; set rules. I came across this concept in the book Clear Thinking – Turning Ordinary Moments into Extraordinary Results. The author, Shane Parrish, is the founder of the Farman Street blog and The Knowledge...
How to turn confidence into action
I am joined by Lee Hancox, Head of Channel and Segment Marketing at SanlamConnect, and behavioural scientist Kele Boakgomo, CEO of Yugrow, to chat about the rather interesting findings of the 2025 Sanlam Financial Confidence Index. According to the survey, South...
Could that SARS letter of final demand be fake?
In recent weeks, a number of taxpayers have reported receiving “final demand” letters that appear to come from the South African Revenue Service (SARS). While some of these are legitimate notices requiring urgent attention, others are fraudulent attempts to elicit...