We must expect a roller coaster new year

THE AMERICAN satirist PJ O’Rourke once suggested that a state of inebriation was proper for the festive season. “This drunkenness,” he said, “culminates on NewYear’s Eve, when you get so drunk you kiss the person you’re married to. ” O’Rourke was widely regarded as an expert in these matters. But that was in another age, […]

Beware of debt in bleak 2018

SOUTH Africans have been warned to brace themselves for tough times this year. Debt Rescue chief executive Neil Roets said major price increases are predicted for food and essential items due to the slow economic growth rate. Roets said their statistical analysis of the debt situation in South Africa showed consumers would notch up record […]

Consumers warned of piling up debt

Many people have already maxed out their credit cards Consumers who collectively owe more than Ri.7i-trillion in outstanding debt should guard against ratcheting up even more debt over the Christmas holidays. Neil Roets, CEO of one of South Africa’s largest debt counselling companies, Debt Rescue, said having spent copiously on Black Friday and Cyber Monday, […]

Good omens for consumers

Fuel price is set to drop against stronger rand, signalling lower inflation and economic growth if sustained BERNARD SATHEKGE HOLIDAY travelers can expect some relief at the petrol pumps in the new – year, as the price of petrol which was – threatening to hit R15 / liter could drop next Wednesday on the back […]

Excitement grows over R100m Lotto prize

Durban – The destiny of a South African or perhaps a few people could change tonight when the Lotto draw for the biggest jackpot since 2015 takes place. January is traditionally a bleak financial period for many people after December’s Christmas spending spree and the purchase of school clothes and fees for the new academic […]

Cryptocurrency a risky investment for indebted consumers

Cryptocurrency investors applying for debt counselling

STAFF REPORTER A RAPIDLY growing number of South Africans are getting into financial trouble by “investing” in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin and Ripple. Neil Roets, the chief executive of debt counselling company Debt Rescue, says he was amazed when people driven to the brink of bankruptcy because they had bought into get-rich-quick schemes involving cryptocurrencies […]