The retail marketing machinery is in full swing with the start of Black Friday and the festive season, as we face an onslaught of messaging to make us spend, spend, spend. Every year, it feels like Christmas spending starts earlier. Walking through...
South Africa is battling a relentless and rapidly evolving criminal threat: scamming. Far from being a niche problem, this sophisticated crime has metastasised into an epidemic, inflicting financial devastation on citizens and businesses alike....
If you’re earning money through social media – whether through sponsored posts, affiliate links, or brand partnerships – SARS has some important news for you. The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has officially recognised social influencers as...
By Rita Cool, Head: Individual Consulting Strategy - Best Practice at Alexforbes I often like to think of financial planning through the lens of a capsule wardrobe – a timeless collection of essentials that can be adapted as your needs evolve. Just...
Rory Brachner, founder of Doshguide, explains how paying for a flat-fee financial adviser could be one of the smartest investments you make. Most South Africans don’t think that they can afford expert financial advice, but so many of us spend...
Listen to how one mother managed to shift her mindset to transform her relationship with money. When Thokozani first began her financial coaching journey with Mapalo Makhu, her relationship with money could only be described as “poor and...
Thokozile Kumalo, Tax Consultant at Tax Consulting South Africa, lays out the law when it comes to claiming home-office expenses. As the 2025 tax filing season kicks off, many South Africans working from home are wondering what home-office expenses...
I recently had a conversation with a friend about the pros and cons of using diet pills and injections. She was arguing that people are using medication – that comes with serious side effects – instead of using self-discipline. It’s easy to talk...
The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has announced the official start of the 2025 tax filing season, effective from 7 July 2025. Filing season for non-provisional taxpayers will close on 20 October 2025, whereas provisional taxpayers have until...
A few weeks ago, I posted some graphs about the declining marriage rates in South Africa from the Outlier.co.za newsletter. This set off a robust conversation about why marriage rates were declining. There was a strong feeling that because many...
Amidst the excitement of wedding planning, it’s easy to overlook a crucial aspect of marriage: financial planning. Metropolitan Gauteng’s General Manager, Queen Malobane, urges couples to have open, practical discussions about money before the big day. “This isn’t...
To avoid nasty surprises such as frozen bank accounts or getting stranded abroad, South African residents need to understand South Africa’s exchange control regulations. Well over 300 000 South Africans embarked on international trips during early 2024, according to a...
Starting your first job is a big deal. It comes with new responsibilities, formative learning curves, a regular paycheque, and, unfortunately – tax. Geo Kilian, tax attorney at Hobbs Sinclair Advisory, lays out the tax basics you need to know as you kick off your...
Old Mutual is warning the public about a highly sophisticated investment scam currently circulating on social media and messaging platforms such as WhatsApp. The scam falsely uses the names and images of real employees and the Old Mutual company logo to create a...
The last few weeks have been a rollercoaster ride as Trump’s policy decisions have given new meaning to uncertainty! The markets have not experienced this level of volatility since 9/11. With tariffs on and then off again, no one is predicting anything, as honestly,...
Who wouldn’t love a salary increase of over 5% this year? Most employees would be happy with a raise that keeps up with inflation. But in 2025, even an inflation-related increase might not be enough to keep up with the rising cost of living as the taxman is taking a...
Attila Kadikoy, Managing Partner at Levantine & Co, warns wealthy individuals that tax authorities are increasingly adopting AI to help identify tax evasion. Many investors consider tax as a major contributor to wealth erosion – and rightly so. My advice has been...
Parents who miss maintenance payments may soon find their access to credit affected. Ayanda Ndimande, Head of Business Development at Sanlam Credit Solutions, takes a closer look at new enforcement measures. The Department of Justice has introduced a new policy...
Last week was a very strange time to be a financial journalist. Journalists are usually given a copy of the budget before the Finance Minister tables it in Parliament. After spending the entire morning at Parliament writing our stories about the impact of a planned 2%...
With the tax year-end only a few days away, provisional taxpayers must remember to make their second provisional tax payment. Danielle Luwes, Tax Director at Hobbs Sinclair Advisory, explains what is possibly the most mis-understood taxation in South Africa....