2020 has been a very difficult year for most people. The loss of livelihoods as many companies were either forced to scale down or shutdown has been and continues to devastate so many. To compound the issue is the upcoming December holidays where many people will be spending time with family and will invariably spend more money than usual. Having a regular income and still not being able to afford all the things you need and/or […]
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Leave your children with lasting money lessons
I have two young children and often, as I presume many parents do, I find myself imagining them in their 20s, 30s and even 50s — how they’ll look, the kind of people they’ll be, what they’ll be up to, and so on. One of the many things that keeps me awake at night is the lessons I need to impart to them that will have a positive impact on their lives. What can I teach […]
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Women, do something for yourself for a change
Women are known to think more of and do more for others than themselves, in the process sacrificing their careers, money and general wellbeing. In this women’s month, think about this: There is a very high likelihood that you, as a woman, will have to parent alone, will not save enough money to cater for your needs and will ultimately die poor and alone. Study upon study shows the odds are stacked against women. According to […]
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Is it possible to save in difficult times?
July has been designated Savings Month by the South African Savings Institute. Going by current data, South African households don’t really save much. SA’s household savings ratio refers to the income saved by households during a certain period and is calculated and published by the South African Reserve Bank. At the end of 2019, our savings ratio was -0.20%. That means, as a country, we spent more money than we earned and didn’t save at all. […]
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Be cautious about where you seek financial advice
The lockdown has been a very interesting time for many financial advisers. Now that people have more time on their hands and are mostly in front of their computers, there seems to be a greater need to get their financial affairs in order. This is a very good thing. Over the years, I have noticed how many interesting and sometimes dangerous conversations about money take place on many different platforms. A recent observation is that on […]
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Keep those you support in the loop on your finances
South Africans are more than familiar with the joys and the strain of having to look after extended family. Stretching the rand further than what is considered humanly possible is a lot of people’s lived experiences. This is commendable and something that should be celebrated, if only it didn’t come at such a big cost. With impending job losses and an extended lockdown, the strain is going to be more pronounced. We’re all under pressure to […]
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It’s time to have those difficult conversations
We’re all reading more than usual. And, based on everyone’s social media posts, baking more than ever. I made bread and vetkoek for the first time and they turned out really well. But while we’re all becoming more domesticated, we’re also having to confront some of our worst nightmares, brought by Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdown. Many businesses have had to shut and many more will do so. With closures come the casualties – you and […]
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How to keep your business on a sustainable financial path
As an entrepreneur, I know how difficult it can be to manage your finances effectively. Often the lines between personal and business funds are blurred, particularly in the beginning when you’re trying to establish your business as an independent and self-sustaining entity. The Seed Academy, an entrepreneur support programme, found in its latest “State of Entrepreneurship” survey that 60% of the surveyed entrepreneurs were full-time entrepreneurs and that the majority (88%) were self-funded. Self-funded entrepreneurs, who […]
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Love languages and money
Gary Chapman wrote an international bestseller in 1992 titled The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate. He writes about the five ways to express and experience love between romantic partners which he calls “love languages.” They are gift giving, quality time, words of affirmation, acts of service and physical touch. Over the years, there have been a few variations of this book and the most interesting one I’ve found is the personal finance […]
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Investing in happiness
The beginning of a new year is a time for reflection, planning and new beginnings for many. Many personal finance writers have been giving extensive and very valuable tips regarding budgeting, saving and investing to kick-start the year. These are important lessons to learn and not having money is devastating on many levels. It is, however, equally important to note that money cannot give you all the happiness you require. Jonathan Clements, an acclaimed personal finance […]
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