Articles by Athenkosi Sawutana
It’s possible to change your marriage regime
Many people wed before they sign an antenuptial contract (ANC). This is especially practiced by people in customary marriages and those not clued up about the ANC. The law says if there’s no ANC before the wedding takes place, the marriag...
Thinking of skipping your debit order payments? Don’t!
When you’re under financial strain, it’s tempting to think that you can skip your payments today and make up for it tomorrow. But the truth is, there’s no guarantee that tomorrow will be any easier financially
Raise a deposit for your house in 5 steps
If you’re a first-time home buyer, you could be lucky enough to be approved for a 100% bond, but if you aren’t, a 10% deposit might be required. This could be a daunting prospect. However, a few financial tweaks t...
My employer ceased contributing to my pension – what now?
According to the Financial Sector Conduct Authority (FSCA), employers stop contributing to the fund mostly because of cash-flow problems. This at times could be due to lack of income or a difficult economic climate. But what do you do when you...
Parental benefits – what has changed?
Until recently only female contributors were allowed to apply for maternity benefits at the Unemployment Insurance Fund (UIF) when taking parental leave. But this has changed as fathers are now also entitled to some parental benefits when they w...
Everything you need to know about putting your house in a trust
As one of your most valuable assets, it’s natural to want to protect your house. Some people do this by putting it in a trust. Is this the right thing to do?
The bank took money from my account – is this allowed?
You’ve just deposited money into your account and suddenly you see a notification from your bank. Money has been deducted from your account to pay the outstanding debt you have with the bank. Is this allowed?
How much does it cost to draft a will?
Having a will allows you to determine who inherits your property when you die. We consider the costs of drafting a will.
Retrenched; which payments are you entitled to?
In the current economic climate, retrenchments are a regular occurrence. If you find yourself on the receiving end, you may have questions about the payments that are due to you.
New homeowner? Be aware of these extra expenses
You’ve overcome all the hurdles of buying a home. You’ve managed to pay your deposit and your closing payments, and now you’re a proud title deed holder. However, there are other expenses waiting around the corner. Are you prepared?
How to build a good credit record
Credit scores range from 300 to 999, depending on the credit bureau. The higher your credit score, the more likely you will qualify for credit. If your score is below 620 it’s unlikely that you will get credit. However, there are things y...
Avoid debt collectors, choose debt counselling
There are two things you can do when you are struggling to pay your debt. You can either let your creditors hand your debt over to debt collectors – or you can let debt counsellors help you deal with your debt.