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Take charge of your money

Take charge of your money

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Category: Smart Choices

Make better money choices and start thinking about consequences of your actions. We’re faced with money decisions each and every day so best to have a few tricks up your sleeve to help you manage your money better and make smart choices.

Things in the finance world are not necessary binary. It’s often not a choice between an exact right and an exact wrong. Things can work either way and it’s interesting to try to think about circumstances and how one choice could be better than another.

These are my posts on how to make smart choices. How to think about situations differently and try your best to make a better money decision.

Who needs life insurance

Who needs Life Insurance?

by Brendan28 June 20183 December 2020Leave a comment

Life insurance is one of those things that most people feel they need, and Financial Advisors and telemarketers love selling it as it's probably quite an easy sell. A small monthly cost which when you die will turn into a…

Read More Who needs Life Insurance?

Insurance, Smart Choices life insurance, podcast
Stash it don't flash it

Stash it, don’t flash it

by Brendan7 May 20184 November 20204 Comments

CCID Poster The city of Cape Town Improvement District recently launched a public safety campaign aimed at tourists and safety within the city center. The slogan is "Stash it, don't flash it". I love it though as it is hugely…

Read More Stash it, don’t flash it

Financial Habits, Smart Choices invest, save, spend
Credit cards pros and cons

Credit Cards pros and cons

by Brendan23 April 201822 February 202111 Comments

Credit cards are really useful and convenient now days, but it's so easy to fall into debt and your finances can quickly spiral out of control. Let's explore the credit cards pros and cons and see if it's something that…

Read More Credit Cards pros and cons

Financial Habits, Smart Choices calculate, credit card, debt free, emergency fund, interest, shopping
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
Special wedding day

Your special wedding day

by Brendan2 April 201820 October 2020Leave a comment

Getting married is a truly magical experience but wow, it can be expensive, stressful and over the top! There is so much to consider when planning your wedding day. From family and friends, food, venue, weather, and the list goes…

Read More Your special wedding day

Budgeting, Smart Choices celebrate, expenses, keep track, plan, spend, stress, wedding
Why spend money you don't have?

Why spend money you don’t have?

by Brendan5 March 201817 October 2020Leave a comment

It seems weird that anyone would spend money that they don't actually have but yet it happens all the time! Have you ever justified buying something by saying "oh well, it's payday next week anyway", or even worse "I'm buying…

Read More Why spend money you don’t have?

Financial Freedom, Financial Habits, Smart Choices cashflow, debt free, plan, shop
Money and values

Values and money

by Brendan26 February 201817 October 20206 Comments

This week has been an interesting one as I've been reminded of my values on two occasions. Firstly, I happened to read this post from The Disruptors "Do you want it all now or are you prepared to wait" which…

Read More Values and money

Financial Freedom, Smart Choices Focus, kindness, values
My worst money mistake

My worst money mistake

by Brendan22 February 201812 January 2023Leave a comment

My worst money mistake is really an awful story to recall but I was pleased to be able to share it on Mel's Postbox as part of her money series. In a nutshell, I didn't have car insurance when my car…

Read More My worst money mistake

Insurance, Smart Choices insurance, mistake
Save water at home

How to save water at home

by Brendan12 February 201813 October 2020Leave a comment

Cape Town recently experienced the one of the worst droughts ever and forced us all to look at how to save water at home. In fact, we were fast approaching 'Day Zero' when the city predicted the water supplies to…

Read More How to save water at home

Save Money, Smart Choices challenge, Habits
How a lesser paying job makes sense to me

How a lesser paying job makes sense to me

by Brendan18 August 20174 September 2020Leave a comment

This may seem like a strange blog post. Why on earth would a finance blogger even consider a lesser paying job, and let alone be pleased about it? Before you start thinking that I have lost my mind you better…

Read More How a lesser paying job makes sense to me

Financial Freedom, Smart Choices balance, Goals
Should I save money or pay debt

Should I save money or pay debt?

by Brendan19 June 20174 November 2020Leave a comment

It's easy to feel pressured to have a savings account or some type of investment. Should I save money though or pay off debt? It's so tricky to know. Let's have a look at some of the things to consider…

Read More Should I save money or pay debt?

Pay off debt, Smart Choices interest, invest, save
Give your card a break

Give your card a break

by Brendan30 May 20174 November 2020Leave a comment

I like to give my credit card a break sometimes and so once a week I hide it away for a full 24-hours. This simply means that I cannot spend anything on my card that day. I can obviously spend…

Read More Give your card a break

Financial Habits, Smart Choices cash, challenge, credit card

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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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