Whether or not yoga is your thing, you’re probably familiar with it. The practice of yoga has become popular enough that most people know what it is, but I bet you didn’t ever associate it with financial planning. Here are some core principles of yoga that relate to a disciplined financial plan: Balance Is central How is your financial posture looking? Are you on tip-toes or do you have a stable foot on the ground? Balance […]
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A woman’s will
Happy Women’s Day for tomorrow! In celebration of Women’s Month I wanted to share an article that focuses specifically on a financial planning aspect that is often overlooked for women. Recently, the Fiduciary Institute of Southern Africa (Fisa) discussed some important financial planning considerations for women that highlighted the need for an up-to-date will. It is estimated that at least half of the estates reported at the Master’s Office each year are of people who died […]
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Good habits to help you out of bad debt
You need to earn a lot to be well-off, right? Not so. Wealth is as much about controlling debt and spending as it is about income. If you earn a moderate salary and are free of short-term debt then you’re probably in a better financial position than someone who earns more, but spends it all on serving short-term debt. Essentially, good money habits boil down to three simplified points. Spend less than you earn and invest […]
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The power of positivity and a good plan
Have you ever told yourself, “When I have more money, I’ll be happier”? How about, “I’ll never be able to pay off this debt”? These sort of toxic money thoughts are holding you back from financial success – and happiness! A good financial plan needs to be attainable and measurable, those expressions are neither. The first step to a financial plan is both the hardest and the easiest – it’s the starting point. The point where […]
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Two things to remember when selling your house
It is hard to predict what the housing market will do with accuracy due to all of the economic and political factors affecting it. You might end up waiting months or years for something to change, and even then it may not be in your favour. However, when selling (or buying) a home one should still consider whether it’s a buyer or sellers’ market. In a buyer’s market there are more people looking to sell houses […]
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Watch out for online scams
The internet is rife with scam artists and most people are aware of this, but that just drives the fraudsters to get more creative with their deceptions. FNB recently issued a warning to clients about an email-based scam doing the rounds that tricks people into giving up their banking information. And they’re not the only ones – most banks have been hit with similar or other fraud attacks, with Standard Bank receiving the most recent – […]
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Will you be misunderstood?
Wills need to be worded very carefully to avoid confusion and misunderstanding during an already emotionally difficult time (and especially so when leaving property behind). Intentions can be easily misconstrued when layman rhetoric is interpreted in a legal manner. Even fairly straightforward sounding clauses can be interpreted differently. When it comes to property, you can assign several different rights to heirs. There are some presumptions in our law that will favour one outcome over another and […]
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Save or Service Debt?
Saving is important, but if you have a credit card debt or an overdraft to pay off does it still make sense to save? It is always a good idea to be saving IF you are in a position to put some money away. Due to the accessibility and convenience, credit card and overdraft facilities, in general, have higher interest and monthly account charges. So how do you know if you are in the position to […]
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Soup’s Up!
Winter is the perfect time for soups, they are jam-packed with vitamins to help you fight against the flu, the ingredients are basic, it’s affordable (you can use cheaper cuts of meat – for example), you can keep it for ages if frozen and… it’s warm! Warm, hearty foods on a cold day both comfort and sustain. Slow cookers can be bought for relatively cheap and use little energy – so set the soup up before […]
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Mid-Year Financial Review
When are you most likely to check on your investments? Is it when they are doing well, or is it when the markets are down and you’re feeling anxious? Chances are it’s the latter. This isn’t always the ideal time to make investment decisions as emotions are running high. That’s why taking the time to do annual and mid-year reviews gives you a better baseline from which to assess your portfolio. Also… much can happen in […]
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