Debt Management Solutions

• Sign in to your Internet Banking profile.
• Take note of your total income. While you may know how much you earn, there may be salary deductions that can reduce the actual amount of money that enters your bank account.
• Analyse and add up all your living expenses such as groceries, fuel, clothing and school fees, etc.
• Lastly, analyse and add up your debt repayments such as personal loans, home loans, car loans, credit cards, etc.
• Remember deductions – what you can spend is not the same as gross.

If you cannot reduce your living expenses, then a budget is your best tool. Creating a budget is not as hard as you may think.

• Start by working out how much money you spend on debt every month.
• How much is leftover? This has to cover your living expenses.
• Make a list of the groceries you purchase every month.
• Look up the prices of these goods at retailers in your area. Remember, certain products can be bought in bulk without spoiling and this may be more cost-effective.
• Work out how much you spend on fuel per month and see if you can cut back. Remember, at participating Caltex stations you get UCount Rewards Points which can go a long way in a tight month.
• Add up any other monthly expenses you have, e.g. utilities, school fees, insurances and amenities.
• You now have an estimate of what you should spend for both debt and living expenses. Going forward, make sure you keep to these expenses. Overspending on one of these expenses will reduce the amount of money you have left at the end of the month.

Do your retailers offer loyalty programmes? Nearly all do, and this can add to your monthly savings.

Standard Bank offers a great rewards program, UCount, which gives you Rewards Points for spending at partner retailers or having certain debts with us. Take advantage of the program as these points convert into money which can then be spent.

Some creditors are willing to negotiate your repayment term or interest rate. Negotiate for a better deal. A saving of even a few Rand adds up at the end of the month. 

You can also apply this to insurances. Shop around for the best deal on your insurance, but don’t change Insurers without being fully aware of the terms and conditions.

If you need professional help resolving your financial stress, you can contact our Debt Care Centre. They’re a team of professionals who can assess your financial position and provide you with tailor-made solutions. They are not debt counsellors and working with them does not mean that you’re in debt review.