Single women in South Africa were the biggest group of property buyers in the last year, according to the latest Lightstone property report. This trend has been gaining momentum since 2012 and can be attributed to a few factors such as higher education levels which have led to better paying jobs. The gender pay gap, however, is still a concern. Women in South Africa earn approximately two thirds of what their male counterparts earn. It then […]
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Home ownership versus your ability to accumulate wealth
Owning your own home, whether it’s a bachelor pad or five-bedroomed mansion, is a deeply personal and emotional attachment we have to a space that transcends rationality. It is bigger and more important than just being about bricks and mortar. For many, home represents a great sense of achievement, independence, protection, love, a refuge and so many other intangibles. In South Africa, the vast majority of the population was restricted from owning their homes and from […]
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Winter is here
It has become evident that burning excess energy unnecessarily is a no-no (in my world anyway). I’ve hung up my running shoes and have given my gym ensembles a break for now because winter is here. And yes, I am well aware that summer bodies are made in winter ???? I’m looking to buy a few good books over the next couple of weeks to keep me occupied while sitting snuggly near the heater. And I’m […]
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A grim picture
In simple terms, financial literacy is the ability to make sound decisions regarding saving, borrowing and investing. It is the basic comprehension of the principles of personal financial management. April is world financial literacy month and a time to highlight and reflect on the importance of financial education and its effects on the citizenry as it is widely accepted as one of the biggest contributors to the inequality gap. The less an individual knows about the […]
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A new way
In our culture, when a woman gets married, she gets called into a room by aunts and other older female relatives and gets given the ‘lay of the land’. She’s taught never to question her husband about his whereabouts, to dress modestly when in the company of her in-laws, never to nag etc. I know this because I went through a similar process myself. It’s done in good faith and intended to help you navigate the […]
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A whole new world (Part 2)
My mother retired too early, the first time around. She also didn’t have a clear plan for her retirement. I remember sitting in a meeting a few years ago and getting 3 missed calls in a row from her on my mobile. I thought something was terribly wrong so I rung her back in a panic, thinking something was wrong. To my horror, all she wanted was to confirm if my brother and I were joining […]
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3 financial lessons learned from my toddlers
The holidays were brutal. I spent a solid 6 weeks with 2 very energetic toddlers and got very little rest. It was a little painful. In any event, spending all that time with them reminded me of a few things that children do that can be applied to your finances, and life in general. Be selfish My children are born 2 years apart and fight constantly. Their biggest issue is having to share things – toys, […]
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Your financial journey
There are many people who profess to have the remedy for poverty, low cash flow etc. You see them all the time on social media platforms claiming to have the key to your financial future. They flash their fancy cars and expensive homes and want you to join them on this crusade. Having been in this industry for over a decade, what I can tell you for sure is this: There is no quick-fix, no matter […]
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‘Tis the season…
The tinsel is strewn and the Christmas lights are up EVERYWHERE. The holidays are fast approaching and expectations are running quite high with children and what gifts they’ll be getting. There is nothing better than giving presents to children. The excitement and shear joy they experience with gifts is quite special. But, if your household is anything like mine, they already have more than enough. If you are brave, and are willing to face the tears […]
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Begin with the end in mind
I spent the past weekend in Elgin in the Western Cape. It was the 17th annual Elgin Open Gardens event where many country gardens were opened to the public for viewing. This gives avid gardeners and enthusiasts an opportunity to enjoy the expansive and colourful country gardens and a chance to buy plants/flowers on offer. It was a slow paced, inspiring treat which got me thinking – this would really be an ideal way to spend […]
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