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It might be a cliché, but knowledge is definitely power. Especially when it comes to making informed decisions about your personal finances
and debt. Below are some valuable tips which you can use to protect
your financial interests and increase your overall financial wellbeing.
- Know Good Debt from Bad: Good debt means you are able to borrow money and repay it on time. This way you are able to
build up a good credit record, which enables you to borrow in the
future. On the other hand, bad debt means you take out a loan, but are
unable to repay it on time and you do not have enough money to live on. - Shop Around: Ask for a quote before you take on any debt. You have a right to this in terms of the National Credit Act
(NCA). Under the Act, you are not allowed to be charged more than the
NCA interest rate limit on your loan and other credit agreements each
year. In addition, if the credit provider insists that you take out
credit life insurance, you can use an existing policy. You are not
obliged to make use of the credit providers’ credit life insurance. - Be Honest: Do a proper budget and ensure that you can afford the repayment. You should not be spending more than 35% of
your salary (after-tax) on monthly debt repayments. If you rely on
commission or overtime to obtain a loan, make sure this is sustainable
before you borrow. - Reduce Interest Repayments: If you can save some money and use this to offset the amount you borrow, you can greatly
reduce the amount of interest that you pay. Avoid using the budget
facility on your credit card as this simply extends your repayments
with the result that you end up paying more in interest. - Be Proactive: If you have difficulty paying back the amount you have borrowed every month it should serve as a warning
sign that you are running into financial difficulties. Talk to your
credit provider as soon as you think you may not be able to repay them
so that you can renegotiate the terms of the loan. You also have the
right to make use of a registered Debt Counsellor, who will help you to
reschedule your debt, when you are over indebted. - Be Punctual: Pay your debt or accounts on time. If you do not, this information is reflected on your credit report. When
you have difficulties with your repayments, pay what you can afford –
don’t stop with repayments. This will be an indication to your credit
provider that you are attempting to repay the loan and this is normally
accepted in good faith. - Know the Terms and Conditions: When you are in trouble with your repayments, your credit provider can sell these
assets or items on your behalf. However, they also have a right to
collect the difference from you irrespective of what they sold the
assets for. The alternative to returning assets on a voluntary basis is
to sell the assets yourself or to apply for debt counselling where your
repayments will be rescheduled in line with your budget. - Protect Assets: If you purchased a vehicle on credit, you must keep it insured. If you do not, the bank has a right
to remove the vehicle on a temporary basis until you provide them with
proof of this insurance. It is also good to shop around in order to get
cheaper cover if possible. Make sure your home insurance is also up to
date. - Rainy Day Fund: Create an emergency fund and plan for major expenses. As a minimum, it is a good idea to keep an amount
free on your credit card limit for emergencies.
Remember you can also contact the National Credit Regulator on 0860 627 627 with any credit related enquiries who is there to protect you
as the consumer.
If you would like to learn more about how you can manage your money better, Compuscan Academy has a workshop on the subject. You
can contact us at Tel: +27 21 888 6000 or e-mail us at info@compuscanacademy.co.za
You can also visit our website at www.compuscanacademy.co.za or our blog at www.compuscanacademy.wordpress.com
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