How you finish your year is a powerful way to create momentum for the new year. How much you achieved (or didn’t quite manage) this year can inspire how much you aim to achieve next year. In the same way that an athlete pushes harder in every game, or an artist stretches their skills with each new work, so too can we set our sights higher for the year ahead. And, planning for it now presents […]
Category: LIFE
How to stay out of the malls
Whilst the holiday season holds many treats and treasures, one of the most stressful errands is shopping for gifts. Finding the perfect gifts for your family, friends and colleagues isn’t a simple job. In addition to trying to find thoughtful and affordable gifts, battling the queues and parking frenzies only adds to the stress. Thankfully you can do your shopping from the comfort of your own home – online. Finding the best online gift sites is […]
Watching what you spend… and what you eat!
With all the treats at the social gatherings, watching both your budget and your diet during the festive season can be a challenge. Whether we’re talking about savings goals, or weight goals, it’s easy to get a little carried away. It’s wonderful to treat your loved ones and enjoy yourself, and during a holiday it’s important to be kind to yourself and let loose a little. However, if you want to enjoy the season to its […]
When to re-think your medical plan
The first benefit of medical cover is peace-of-mind, the second is that you will be protected from potential financial ruin should your hospital bill be more than you can manage. It is important to be on a medical plan that suits both your monthly affordability and caters to most of your medical requirements. Since changing your medical plan or option can be costly, you need to change at the right time and for the right reasons. […]
Sharing Is Caring
You’ve learnt lessons throughout your life. Some of them are unique to you, but many will apply to others too. Being open to sharing these will benefit those nearest and dearest to you – and help you reflect on what you’ve learnt. This is profoundly true when it comes to how we make decisions around our finances. Sharing these lessons may be a sensitive topic but it’s worth breaking the ice! Encouraging these conversations promotes honesty […]
The retirement gap needs a new rap
Retirement (as well as education and the job market) is one of our greatest future-unknowns. We know it will happen… but we are finding it harder to understand and predict what it might look like. This doesn’t mean we should abandon planning for it. If anything, it simply means that we need to change the way we start to talk about, engage with and plan for retirement. According to a global survey done by BlackRock, about […]
Earning more isn’t the answer
When it comes to building your wealth, it’s not about how much you make, it’s about how you work with what you have. You do not need a larger paycheck, you only need to invest and use your money wisely. Yes, more money gives you a larger budget to work from but that simply needs increased consideration. Here are some tips that will make it easier to build your wealth, even if you do not have […]
Four often overlooked steps to reducing financial stress
A lot of people are quite financially stressed right now. It’s understandable – it’s been a hard few years for most of us, and the uphill climb back to a bustling economy, both locally and globally, is far from over yet. Does that mean that we have to be stressed with where SA has been in the past five years? Not necessarily. You can reduce financial stress with the following tips. Step 1: Communicate One of […]
Five reasons to be stoked on SA
Most of us know someone who has emigrated, or is about to emigrate. After several hard years for our nation, it can sometimes seem like the bad is overwhelming. And, the South African media often seem to talk about nothing except the next new ‘sure disaster’. But it’s not all bad. There are some great things about being in South Africa right now! We’re not talking about the weather. Wherever you are, looking on the sunny […]
Diversifying happiness
The ancient philosopher Aristotle came up with a single word for what every person wants: ‘Eudaimonia’. Eudaimonia means happiness but more than that it alludes to a sense of fulfillment. Many people have viewed financial planning as the management of financial goals and resources. Typical conversations would include questions like: “How much will my assets grow, how can I get X amount by the time I am this age and what will my retirement look like?” […]