More consumers turning to rewards to manage living expenses
These programmes are having a significant influence on the way people shop, according to the 2024 Sanlam Benchmark Survey.
Debt
People’s expenses change in retirement. Shouldn’t their income too?
Conventional wisdom says that living expenses rise uniformly with inflation, so many financial plans are based simply on that. But analysing the spending patterns of retirees shows us that the data tells a different story.
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Government to withdraw R150bn from SARB’s gold and forex account to get a handle on debt
A proposed reform will see half the account’s R500bn distributed to a SARB contingency reserve (R100bn) and to Treasury (R150bn).
Confidence in the economy at an 8-year low, Old Mutual research finds
Latest Savings & Investment Monitor contains insights into South Africans’ appetite for investment risk and investing offshore.
Grave concern about increase in senior citizens applying for debt counselling
Instead of making provision for retirement, they are servicing debt.
Consumers relying on unsecured loans as inflation and interest rate increases bite
Cash-strapped South Africans spending more on essential items such as food at the expense of insurance products, says DebtBusters.
Important expenses not factored into the medium-term budget
A major concern is the contingent liability guarantees of municipalities and some of the state-owned enterprises.
Ombudsman sets out what consumers should know about prescription
The Ombudsman for Banking Services (OBS) has issued a communication that alerts consumers to their rights when it comes to debt that has prescribed. According to ombudsman Reana Steyn, most consumers are ignorant […]
Why do more South Africans feel better about their financial prospects?
According to a graph in this year’s Old Mutual Savings & Investment Monitor (OMSIM), 72% of respondents expect their financial prospects to improve over the next six months, whereas only 5% believe they […]
Political messaging, juggling spending demands, and the outlook for SA bonds
Jeff Schultz, senior economist at BNP Paribas South Africa, provides the following perspective on the Budget. He discusses: What the ANC hopes the Budget will achieve politically. The outlook for government revenue and […]
Curtailing spending is critical to lowering the debt ratio
The most notable feature of Budget 2022 is National Treasury’s intent to stabilise the government’s debt ratio, as it “saves” a significant portion of its current tax windfall, estimated at R181.9 billion in […]
These six themes ‘will be top of mind’ for active managers in 2022
The response to climate change, inflation, post-pandemic growth and China’s market interventions are among investment managers’ top concerns this year, according to Sanlam Investments. Sanlam Investments’ portfolio managers believe active managers will focus […]
Debt levels and Covid-19 – Is the worst yet to come?
DebtBusters’ latest debt index for Q2 2020 reveals that South African consumers’ debt levels continued to deteriorate over the lockdown, with higher-income earners having unsustainable debt-to-income ratios. Benay Sager, DebtBusters’ chief operating officer, […]
Debt levels and Covid-19 – Is the worst yet to come?
DebtBusters’ latest debt index for Q2 2020 reveals that South African consumers’ debt levels continued to deteriorate over the lockdown, with higher-income earners having unsustainable debt-to-income ratios. Benay Sager, DebtBusters’ chief operating officer, […]
GEPF – Rules changed regarding pension debt on divorce
Following the gazetting of the Government Employees Pension Law Amendment Bill on 23 May 2019, the Government Employees Pension Fund (GEPF) has amended and implemented the new rules and will no longer subject […]
South Africa and indebtedness – financial sector needs to step in
According to a Business Day article “the only thing that has saved consumers from a crippling increase in debt service costs is that interest rates are at their lowest level for almost 40 […]
