Is Money Stress Taking a Toll on You?
According to a survey of 14 000 people by Debt Busters last year, a significant majority of South Africans are feeling financial stress. It found that 70% of us are stressed about money in some way. More than half of the participants said that they are worried about...
Should You Top Up Your Retirement Annuities Now?
With the end of the tax year approaching, talk to a professional about whether you should top up your retirement annuities (RAs) this month! Remember that all contributions into an RA reduce your taxable income, and therefore the amount of tax you pay. You can...
Budget 2023: The Minister of Finance Wants to Hear from You!
“Finally, we pay tribute to the millions of South Africans, whose resilience and courage during these times of pandemic and economic hardship, is an inspiration to all of us who have the privilege to serve in the public sector.” (From the 2022 Budget Speech) Finance...
Living Wills: 6 Myths Busted
Health issues and mortality are facts of life, no matter how remote they may seem at the moment, nor how distressing they are to contemplate. For your family’s sake as well as for your own, make sure that you have a Living Will (or another form of “advance healthcare...
Four Simple Steps to Start the Year on the Right Financial Foot
“Remember that small steps can create giant leaps over time, so never think of any financial or spending matter as a small one.” (David Bach) The start of a new year is always a good time to take stock. So why not give your finances a check as a new year’s present...
Discover the Freedom of a Tidy Portfolio
“I'd like to tidy up the entire planet. I would go anywhere if there were something that needs tidying.” (Marie Kondo) There’s nothing better than ripping out a bunch of weeds and revealing a flourishing garden in the process! While most of us are able to maintain a...
Why Lottery Winners End up Broke: The Importance of Your Financial Context
Many of us imagine how life changing it would be to win the lottery. After all, a few million rand would leave anyone better off, wouldn’t it? Unfortunately, the rather alarming answer to that question is actually “no”. Research from the National Endowment for...
Three Books for the Holidays
With the festive season around the corner, it’s time to think about taking a rest, putting your feet up, and perhaps spending some quiet time with a good book. There are many really useful books about personal finance available. Here are three recommendations to keep...
6 Ways to Achieve Financial Freedom
Let’s be honest, we all desire financial freedom. Who doesn’t dream of retiring early, travelling the world and indulging your hobbies, all the while knowing your loved ones are taken care of? While this may seem like some far-off pipedream, the heart-warming truth is...
Why You Need to Watch Out for The Butterfly Effect
Covid-19 has upended almost every aspect of our lives, and it continues to do so. We all know now when we travel that there may be havoc at some airports, as the airlines are understaffed. The markets, meanwhile, continue to be taken on a veritable rollercoaster...
What is This Volatility Risk People are Always Talking About?
In the Covid crash, from 20 February to 23 March 2020, the S&P 500 fell 34%. This was the fastest 30% decline in stock market history, and it was caused by the massive uncertainty of what would happen as governments started to impose lockdowns. As the market dropped,...
It’s Wedding Season – Three Questions to Ask Before You Marry
“Marriage is a matter of more worth / Than to be dealt in by attorneyship” (Shakespeare) Wedding Season is well and truly upon us, and if you (or anyone near and dear to you) is busy planning for marriage (note that we are talking “civil marriage” here, “customary...