Don’t find yourself in a debt spiral as interest rates remain high

Ashley Lechman|Published

The SARB’s monetary policy committee (MPC) unanimously voted to leave the repurchase rate (repo rate) unchanged changes at the 14-year-high of 8. 25%.

Demand from consumers for debt management increases: Debt busters

Staff Reporter|Published

These were some of the findings from DebtBusters’ Q3 2023 Debt Index, a quarterly review of data drawn from debt-counselling applications.

How your credit score affects your car insurance

Staff Reporter|Published

Many drivers are unaware of the link between their credit score and their car insurance, while some people don’t know if there is a link to start with.

Ruan Jooste’s Rants and Cents: EasyEquities offers options for the more modest man

Ruan Jooste|Published

Rich people have always used their equity portfolios to tap into cheap loans and avoid large tax bills.

Unmanaged consumer debt is affecting every South African

Staff Reporter|Published

As inflation and the cost of living continue to rise, a growing number of households in South Africa are struggling to meet their financial obligations. In many ...

There is a light at the end of the tunnel for over-indebted consumers

Ruan Jooste|Published

According to the National Credit Regulator’s (NCR) Credit Bureau Monitor for March 2023, South Africa currently has 27. 07 million credit active consumers with 90. ...

Vehicle repossessions on the increase

Supplied|Published

South Africans are struggling to keep up with their monthly expenses in the wake of a string of interest rate hikes that have seen steady and steep increases in ...

Consumers back to old ways as debt levels rise

Martin Hesse|Published

Money lessons that South Africans were forced to learn during the Covid-19 pandemic are quickly being forgotten as high interest rates and inflation take their toll ...

Escaping from the debt trap. What are your options?

Opinion|Published

The Reserve Bank’s Quarterly Bulletin for the fourth quarter of 2022 states that consumers spend 62. 3% of their net disposable household income to service debt. ...

Ruan Jooste’s Rants and Cents: Till debt do us part - debt review is not the silver bullet the industry proclaimed it to ...

Ruan Jooste|Published

Parliament’s portfolio committee on trade, industry and competition met recently to engage with the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (Dtic), the National ...

Alternative Dispute Resolution: a viable option to Debt Review

Opinion|Published

While the National Credit Act (NCA) defines an Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) agent as “a person providing services to assist in the resolution of consumer ...

Ruan Jooste’s Rants and Cents: Big changes coming in financial services dispute resolution

Ruan Jooste|Published

Minister Enoch Godongwana appointed Leanne Jackson as the chief ombud of the council, for five years, late last year.

More living on credit as living costs rise – report

Given Majola|Published

South Africans opened more credit accounts to help them navigate the pressured economic climate, while lenders offered smaller loans and imposed limits on revolving ...

Debt counselling enquiries rise as financial stress mounts

Staff Reporter|Published

Many of the enquiries are from consumers who took on debt to buy assets such a motor vehicles when interest rates were at historical lows last year.

Is settling your home loan early always a smart money move?

Staff Reporter|Published

It’s worth comparing the interest that’s being charged on your bond versus the potential returns you could make in other products.

Interest rate storm looms for credit-dependent consumers

Martin Hesse|Published

The credit market has stabilised in the aftermath of the pandemic and there has been growth in credit card spending. However, consumers have left themselves vulnerable ...

What happens to your debt after you die?

Ruan Jooste|Published

In the event of a person’s death, their assets and liabilities are transferred to a deceased estate.

How well do you understand your credit score?

Staff Reporter|Published

It’s the thing that can literally unlock doors or be the invisible obstacle to your life goals if you’re not serious about building it and keeping it in pristine ...

Different ways of dealing with debt – from DIY to sequestration

Martin Hesse|Published

Debt is likely to be a major problem in your life if you have let it spiral out of control. Martin Hesse looks at the different ways you can climb out of the hole, ...