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Showing posts from May, 2023

11 reasons you are struggling to save money

There are many reasons  people struggle with saving money. Many factors that we are sometimes are unaware of. In this article we will discuss some of these reasons.  11 reasons you are struggling to save money 1.Cost of living It would be an injustice to talk about saving money without acknowledging the cost of living. The inflation rate keeps rising which means prices are hiking while our income remains the same.  High costs of living, such as housing, healthcare, and education, leave little room for saving after meeting essential needs. 2. You don't Budget (or stick to it) A budget is to your finances what water is to your body. You might survive a day or two without it but in a long term you will feel the effects. Without a clear budget, it's challenging to track income, expenses, and savings. Overspending becomes common, making it difficult to save 3. You live beyond your means Spending more than you earn will leave you with nothing to save.  Spending more than w...
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Cash Envelope System: How to Budget using Cash Envelopes

  A cash envelope system is a budgeting tool used by many. It is a way to track exactly how much money you have budgeted for each expense category for the month and tuck the cash away. You essentially categorise your expenses and then put money in an envelope labeled with that category. The advantages of using Cash Envelope Systems Keeps you on track with your spending It enforces discipline and holds you accountable It limits you and helps avoid overspending Forces you to plan ahead You will not have overdraft fees and credit charges You will also avoid impulse purchases. Steps on how to use Cash Envelope Systems Create a unique budget every month You need to tailor your budget according to your needs (and wants) for that particular month. Make it as accurate as possible. Choose what budget categories to use with a cash envelope system You already know your monthly bills. You just need to create categories for them. For example, you can have a groceries category, utilities ca...
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10 Sites that pay moms to write- Make money Online

Did you know that there are sites that pay moms to share their stories? Yep. Getting paid to share what you already know. These sites pay moms to share their stories. They're a perfect side hustle for stay-at-home moms and working moms too. Some of these sites pay as much as $800 to their contributors.  1. Money Pantry - Pay $150+ Money Pantry is a personal finance blog. They are always looking for writers. You can write about ways you save money in your household. Anything that has to do with finances. Those small (or big) things that improve your finances. 2. Freelance Mom - Freelance Mom allows ‘MOMpreneurs” to share their journey of being a mom and an entrepreneur. You can write about the ups, the downs, and anything in between. Moms can share their coping mechanisms. How they started, and how they keep the balance. Basically anything relevant to being a mom and an entrepreneur.  3. Healthy Living -Pay $150+ Healthy Living is centered around a healthy lifestyle, pa...
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Financial Planning? All you need to know about 401k

We are always encouraged to plan for the future. Have a retirement plan. But more often than not, people rarely ever explain what a retirement plan is. How to go about it and what options you have. In this issue, we will dive deep into the good, the bad, and the ugly about retirement plans. We will mainly focus on the most common one, 401(k). What is a 401(k)? A 401k is an employer-sponsored retirement plan. It is named after section 401(k) of the U.S  Internal Revenue Code. The employee agrees to contribute a certain percentage of their salary to an investment account for retirement. Employers may match some or all of the amount.  This is a great investment vehicle for ordinary folks who work a 9-5. It is designed to encourage the working class to save and prepare for their retirement. There are primarily two types of IRA; the traditional 401(K) and ROTH 401(k). The main difference is that the traditional 401(k) is made pre-tax and therefore reduces the taxable income and the...
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Diversifying Your Investment Portfolio in South Africa: A Comprehensive Guide

Investing in South Africa can offer numerous opportunities for growth and wealth accumulation. However, it's essential to understand that all investments carry some degree of risk. Diversifying your investment portfolio is a crucial strategy to mitigate risks and optimize returns. In this comprehensive guide, we'll delve into the strategies and steps you can take to diversify your investment portfolio in South Africa. Understanding Portfolio Diversification Portfolio diversification is a risk management strategy that involves spreading investments across various assets, industries, and geographic regions. The aim is to reduce exposure to any single asset or risk. Diversification helps balance potential losses in one area with gains in another, ultimately aiming for a more stable and profitable overall portfolio. In South Africa, diversifying your investment portfolio typically involves considering a mix of asset classes, such as equities, bonds, real estate, commodities, and ca...
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8 Easy to start side hustles in South Africa

 08 side hustles you can do in South Africa in 2022 to earn extra income With the standard of living continuously increasing in South Africa and the unemployment rate skyrocketing, it is not shocking that most of us are looking for alternative ways to earn income.  1. Freelancing There is a huge market for freelancers on the web. Ranging from freelance writers, web developers, social media managers, virtual assistants, etc. You can use your skills and knowledge to earn income online without being permanently employed as a norm. Platforms such as Fiverr, Upwork, and freelance.com offers you a chance to meet international customers. These platforms are easy to use and free too, so you do not need start-up capital.    2. Uber or Bolt Driver Do you have a car and a few minutes (or hours) a day or on weekends to spare? You can create another stream of income by becoming a driver for Bolt and Uber. You can create your own schedule and choose how long you ...
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How to repay debt faster- a detailed plan

Paying off your debts is one of ways to achieve financial freedom according to personal finance gurus such as Dave Ramsey and Suze Orman. To achieve financial freedom, your assets must exceed your liabilities. As such, paying debt gets you closer to the goal of financial freedom.  In this article we will explore ways in which you can repay debt faster and the methods you can use to repay it.  7 Effective ways to pay off debt fast 1. focus on one debt at a time  Focusing on one debt at a time will keep you motivated as you will see results faster. You do not ignore the other debts. You have to make minimum payments on all your debts and then put the leftover money towards one debt at a time.  2. Pay more than the minimum Building on the previous point, you have to make more than the required/minimum payments to get out of debt faster. Paying only the required amounts means you will have to pay into a full term. Thus not paying off your debt faster. 3. Get on a budget ...
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