I always have mixed feelings about celebrating Women’s Month in South Africa. We’ve made great strides but also seem to be falling behind on too many important issues. In the financial planning space, it has become very clear that more work needs to be done to assist women with making better financial decisions. There are many issues to be highlighted but we’ll be addressing just four of them this women’s month. The most obvious one of […]
Continue readingMore TagAuthor: Gugu Sidaki
Sleep and wellness
I’m generally a light sleeper and get woken by the slightest sounds and movements around me. Being a mom to young children has compounded this effect and often renders me sleep deprived for weeks on end. On a good night, I get about an hour’s worth of deep sleep and approximately 5 hours of light sleep which I track on my fitness device. It’s unhealthy and I’ve been feeling its effects over the past few months. […]
Continue readingMore TagJoie de vivre
Are you happy? Do you possess feelings of great pleasure? This is joy. Apparently, the amount of joy one feels improves with age. A study conducted by Comfort Keepers, a senior care specialist company in California, found that people above the age of 60 years possessed the most amounts of joy. Many of the individuals surveyed cited the following as their sources of joy and happiness, in order of priority: Family Love Music Wife Food Friends […]
Continue readingMore TagWellbeing budget
New Zealand’s prime minister, Jacinda Arden, is a breath of fresh air. The world took particular note of her leadership style during the unfortunate terrorist incident that took place in that country a few months ago. She appeared kind, empathetic and her government took swift action in the wake of the attacks by banning military-style semi-automatic rifles. On May 30th, she and her government released the first ever Wellbeing budget where the focus will be on […]
Continue readingMore TagMore analysis on the current state of world happiness
More work is now being done on the state and drivers of general wellbeing of individuals globally. While the numbers such as income distribution, economic growth and unemployment rates are important, they only tell a portion of the story and what affect our overall wellbeing. Gallup describe themselves as a global analytics and advice firm that helps leaders and organizations solve their most pressing problems. They have produced a number of documents around this subject matter […]
Continue readingMore TagWorld happiness
I use social media a lot and I’m always shocked at how much negative content there is. Poor economic conditions globally, climate change, crime – keeping up to date with all of it can make you think that the world is generally in a bad state. The World Happiness Report 2019 was released in March and it’s always such an interesting read. This is the 7th year that the study is conducted and measures an array […]
Continue readingMore TagStarting early
I’ve mentioned in a previous article that I’ve purchased piggy banks for my 4-year-old daughter and her 2-year-old brother. For now, all we’re doing is collecting coins and, to them, it’s still a game about who’s piggy will fill up the fastest. Occasionally, we talk about what we’re going to do with all the funds collected but they’re still too young to fully grasp the actual value of the coins they’re collecting. David Whitebread and Sue […]
Continue readingMore TagMaking a difference
StatsSA recently released the General Household survey 2018 results. Below are some of the findings that affect the youth in particular: The base of grant recipients is far too large and unsustainable in the long run. It is, however, undeniable that the beneficiaries of these funds would be in complete distress without them. There is also a direct correlation between access to grants and improved childhood development which further strengthens the case for them to remain. […]
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What better way to commemorate youth month than highlight issues surrounding the youth of this country, and to also try and seek solutions to these issues. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is a body, who’s mission it is to promote policies that improve the economic and social well-being of people around the world by providing a forum in which governments can work together to share experiences and seek solutions to common problems. The […]
Continue readingMore TagMy biggest financial mistake was an investment property
I know so many people who romanticize the idea of having an investment property. It’s always a sure bet – buy a second property, fix it up and watch the money roll in. In theory, this is a great idea and I know so many people who’ve been so successful at this. I used to hold this view until a few years ago. I bought, what I thought, was a great investment property in a well-kept […]
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