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Take charge of your money

Take charge of your money

Budgeting, Saving, Investing, Money Tips

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    A collection of the most popular personal finance posts, spreadsheets and downloads.
  • How to get out of debt
    Your 8 step guide to pay off all your debt. Based on my personal experience of dealing with debt.
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Category: Pay off debt

Learn how to pay off debt, irrespective of your income.

Debt is something that most people have, but nobody actually wants.

You probably have some debt – and that’s fine. We borrow from our future selves to live the life we want – now, including having a roof over our heads. Sometimes it’s unavoidable although most times it really is.

But, debt is bad – this is fairly obvious.

Debt used for buying a house is generally considered “good debt” but it’s not always the case. It really depends on whether you can afford to pay off your debt and manage it. A lot also depend son your overall finances and your relationship with money.

This is a collection of posts on how to pay off debt, create a budget and spending plan, and manage your finances better. Declare war on debt.

A great post to start with is Tumi’s debt story. See how she recovered from R172k worth of consumer debt!

Be sure to look at my post on How to pay off debt

Never lend money to friends

Nqobile’s debt story

by Brendan9 July 201919 April 2021Leave a comment

A real debt story from a reader which started when she agreed to lend money to friends! Unedited How I got into debt So the year was 2017 (I was 23 years old at the time), in April my 2…

Read More Nqobile’s debt story

Pay off debt debtstories, interest, real life
Tumis Debt Story

Tumi’s debt story

by Brendan1 July 201918 March 202210 Comments

Read Tumi's debt story of how she got into 172k of consumer debt, her stress, and how she has now almost finished paying it off

Pay off debt debtstories, Financially free, real life
My own debt story

My own debt story

by Brendan15 June 201920 September 20212 Comments

I was recently asked about my debt story and what the actual turning point for me was. It was hard to think about as it's an area of my life that I've kind of pushed to the far corners of…

Read More My own debt story

Pay off debt credit, credit card, debtstories, personal, snowball
Warning signs of credit card overuse

10 Warning signs of credit card overuse

by Brendan2 April 20196 May 2021Leave a comment

We all love the convenience of credit cards but they're so easy to misuse and one can quickly end up in a terrible debt situation! Take a look at these warning signs of credit card overuse, and think about them…

Read More 10 Warning signs of credit card overuse

Financial Habits, Pay off debt credit card, shopping
Save money or pay off debt

Is it better to save money or pay off debt?

by Brendan2 January 20191 April 20216 Comments

Is it better to save money or pay off debt? Debt is obviously expensive, but there is a great argument to be had to start an emergency fund

Pay off debt, Save Money calculate, emergency fund, interest, invest
home loan initiation fee

The true cost of the home loan initiation fee

by Brendan21 October 201820 September 20211 Comment

There are so many fees, taxes and costs involved when purchasing a property that it comes as a relief when the bank offers to add the home loan initiation fee on to the loan so that you don't have to…

Read More The true cost of the home loan initiation fee

Pay off debt, Save Money bond, calculate, formula, home loan, interest, mortgage
Credit card debt

5 warning signs of a credit card debt trap

by Brendan27 September 20181 April 2021Leave a comment

Credit cards are dangerous things as they make it far too easy to buy stuff that you don't actually have money for! And what's worse is that the credit cards are marketed as giving you freedom, giving you things that…

Read More 5 warning signs of a credit card debt trap

Pay off debt balance, credit card, Financial Health, Financially free, track
What is good debt

What is good debt?

by Brendan6 September 201822 January 20212 Comments

In last weeks radio interview discussing why people get into debt, I was asked about good debt. What is good debt and is it okay to have it? It's a question I often get asked and hence I decided to write…

Read More What is good debt?

Pay off debt car, consumerism, Financially free, home loan
How to deal with feeling broke

How to deal with feeling broke?

by Brendan28 May 201831 August 20208 Comments

It's not uncommon to feel broke - I wish I had real statistics on this but I'm sure if you asked around your office or college you'd probably find lots (if not most) people saying that they're broke. Everyone obviously…

Read More How to deal with feeling broke?

Financial Health, Pay off debt broke, Budget, calculate, Habits, stress, take charge
Unwind the spiralling debt

Unwind the spiralling debt

by Brendan30 April 20181 April 20212 Comments

Spiralling debt can easily happen as one small thing leads to the next and you slowly but surely get wound up in more and more debt. Enough to eventually pull you down like a whirlpool. I've been thinking about it…

Read More Unwind the spiralling debt

Pay off debt Budget, credit card, Focus, Goals, spend
Should I pay my home loan or invest?

Pay home loan or invest?

by Brendan9 April 201826 October 202122 Comments

I was wondering today whether my strategy of paying off my home loan early instead of investing is indeed the best. You know, pay home loan or invest? There are so many things to consider and I sometimes relook at…

Read More Pay home loan or invest?

Investing, Pay off debt, Smart Choices bond, calculate, excel, Goals, home loan, my story, property, save, travel
Find financial freedom

Financial freedom by paying off your home loan

by Brendan5 February 201813 July 20211 Comment

Owning a place that you can call home is really awesome, but having to pay for it over 20 - 30 years is absolutely dreadful! It's like having a noose around your neck; just one mishap and bang - the bank…

Read More Financial freedom by paying off your home loan

Financial Freedom, Pay off debt bond, Goals, home loan, invest, property

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Taking charge of your money has nothing to do with how much money you have, but rather how and where you spend it. Are you in charge or is you partner, spouse or habits in charge? Do you feel like money simply flows out of your account, or are you in control of what is spent, and where?

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