In this second episode of the Santam Insure Your Future Money Bootcamp, I’m again joined by Mapalo Makhu as we dive into the topic of budgeting, and how taking control of your day-to-day spending can significantly reduce financial anxiety. We hear...
Many years ago, when I was trying to pay off my debts and get my finances under control, I used the technique of “cash stuffing” (in those days, we called it “the envelope method”). This was essentially a way of going back to cash and avoiding...
People with lower incomes who plan properly are more financially secure than those earning higher salaries but failing to plan. Each year, I am involved in the Money Makeover Challenge, in association with City Press and Absa. It is a highlight in...
Lockdown and the economic fallout will affect different people in different ways. Some are fortunate enough to still be receiving a salary but according to the recent Old Mutual Savings and Investment monitor, over 50% have experienced a pay cut....
How do you turn your finances around? This is probably the question asked most frequently by people who are feeling overwhelmed by their financial situation. The answer is simple: start taking control of your money rather than letting your emotions...
Our family got into the habit of keeping a household budget after our own personal financial crisis 14 years ago. I have no doubt that without budgeting every month and maintaining strict financial discipline, we would simply have got deeper and...
Annual survey confirms consumer stress but also highlights rise in funeral polices. The recent FinScope SA report, which analyses how consumers are using financial products and services, has revealed a concerning trend around credit extension. It...
Sue Torr, a Director at Crue Invest, has conceptualised the #just1thing campaign to show people how sacrificing something small, like a cup of coffee or manicure, can have a meaningful, positive effect on your bank balance. The saying “short-term...
I recently returned from an overseas trip that I started planning nine months ahead of time. I used the time to plan, budget and make sure that when I returned from my well-deserved break that there would be no scary credit card bills to deal with....
There is no doubt that 2016 is going to be tough on households financially as price increases across the board push up our day-to-day living expenses. At the same time it is unlikely that we will see salary increases keeping up with our rising...
Budgeting and knowing where your money is going is all well and good, but how do you use this knowledge to reach the goal of being debt free? The whole point of budgeting and money management is to help you get in control of your finances, but it’s usually something...
Over the last few weeks I have been working on the Show Your Money Who’s Boss campaign, a collaboration between Maya on Money, City Press and 22seven.com, which required me to test drive the money management app 22seven.com. I had tried out 22seven.com before, when it...
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 dependency cycle and create...
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 involves spending 20...
My husband and I keep a household budget and have done so ever since 2004 when our finances went pear-shaped. It was only by creating a budget and learning to live within our means that we were able to survive when we hit financial Armageddon. Both of us had lost our...
Watch Episode 2 of the Change In your Pocket series for tips on how to draw up a budget. https://youtu.be/x8yK7_RgzyU - Video supplied by BrightRock So you’ve just landed the job of your dreams along with that salary bump that’s going to solve all your money problems....
So you’ve just got your first pay cheque and the temptation to go and blow the whole lot on a new wardrobe or a deposit on the car of your dreams will be huge. But you know that you also have to pay those boring expenses like rent, food and petrol. So how should you...
The One Rand Family project followed the experience of a relatively well-off family living on cash only ‒ in fact R1 coins ‒ for a month. If you haven’t followed the trials and tribulations of the One Rand Family aired on e.tv during July, it’s really worth catching...
Wikus Olivier, debt counsellor at DebtSafe, highlights a number of common financial mistakes that individuals often make, resulting in debt. However, these can be mitigated if discipline is practised and changes are made in spending behaviour. Consumers can often feel...
Financial Planning Week: 25-29 August CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professionals Craig Torr, Paul Rossouw, Ian Beere and Laverne Slater will be giving four free financial planning workshops in Cape Town on 26, 27 and 28 August, as part of Financial Planning Week in...