Reduce expenditure
This leaves another option; to reduce expenditure. As any householder knows, this is often easier said than done.
Like the rest of us, minister Mboweni must consider where cuts can be made and what the consequences are. Education? Healthcare? Safety and Security? Energy?
Householders have similar decisions to make. Do you reduce bond or rental payments by selling or moving somewhere cheaper? Stop paying for your children’s tertiary education? Cancel medical aid policies or armed response contracts?
For many of us these aren’t viable choices, but just as the finance minister wants government departments to cut fruitless and wasteful expenditure, careful consideration of how and where we spend our money might deliver some savings.
Do we really need to drive the latest model car or shop in designer boutiques?
Can we spend less on entertainment or eating out?
Hard decisions
Sometimes these are hard decisions, but Kappers says that if they look carefully at their monthly expenditure, most households can make some savings.
“It can be a daunting exercise, but it’s worth checking on what you’re spending your hard-earned money,” Kappers says.
“You may be surprised at how much you save if you cut out some unnecessary expenses.”
Another thing to consider is your credit score. If the finance minister decides the country isn’t going to pay what it owes or behaves in a way that concerns international investors and lenders, global ratings agencies will downgrade the country.
Check your credit score
The same thing applies to your household finances. If you behave irresponsibly taking on credit you can’t afford, make payments late or stop paying at all, it will reflect on your credit score.
“Ultimately, this may make it more difficult, if not impossible to apply for credit, get a loan, a bond or car finance in the future. It could also mean you pay more interest,” Kappers says.
“Your credit score tells people how financially reliable you are. A poor score limits your options, while a good score will enable you to access more financial opportunities.”
Ironically, although news headlines regularly remind South Africans about how the ratings agencies view the country, most of its citizens have no idea what their personal credit scores are.
By law, all South Africans are entitled to one free credit score a year, but most don’t bother to check.
PERSONAL FINANCE
Take tips from Tito
Battling with your budget? Look carefully at your household expenditure
Image: Esa Alexander
SA finance minister Tito Mboweni has a problem familiar to most South Africans – limited income and lots of obligations.
Mboweni spelt out his vision for 2019 in his budget speech on Wednesday February 20.
Although his headache is a lot bigger than the citizens he serves and the decisions he makes will affect every South African, there are some principles in common to all of us and the way householders manage their finances.
SA financial services provider DirectAxis chief marketing officer Marlies Kappers takes a look at a few of these principles with a view to helping the consumer understand better how to budget.
The ability to generate more income is one of these common areas, and the finance minister depends mainly on money raised from taxes.
Just as it’s difficult for most people to increase their income by asking their boss for an increase or trying to grow their business, so the minister has limited scope to increase taxes.
Listen to further analysis of the budget here:
Reduce expenditure
This leaves another option; to reduce expenditure. As any householder knows, this is often easier said than done.
Like the rest of us, minister Mboweni must consider where cuts can be made and what the consequences are. Education? Healthcare? Safety and Security? Energy?
Householders have similar decisions to make. Do you reduce bond or rental payments by selling or moving somewhere cheaper? Stop paying for your children’s tertiary education? Cancel medical aid policies or armed response contracts?
For many of us these aren’t viable choices, but just as the finance minister wants government departments to cut fruitless and wasteful expenditure, careful consideration of how and where we spend our money might deliver some savings.
Do we really need to drive the latest model car or shop in designer boutiques?
Can we spend less on entertainment or eating out?
Hard decisions
Sometimes these are hard decisions, but Kappers says that if they look carefully at their monthly expenditure, most households can make some savings.
“It can be a daunting exercise, but it’s worth checking on what you’re spending your hard-earned money,” Kappers says.
“You may be surprised at how much you save if you cut out some unnecessary expenses.”
Another thing to consider is your credit score. If the finance minister decides the country isn’t going to pay what it owes or behaves in a way that concerns international investors and lenders, global ratings agencies will downgrade the country.
Check your credit score
The same thing applies to your household finances. If you behave irresponsibly taking on credit you can’t afford, make payments late or stop paying at all, it will reflect on your credit score.
“Ultimately, this may make it more difficult, if not impossible to apply for credit, get a loan, a bond or car finance in the future. It could also mean you pay more interest,” Kappers says.
“Your credit score tells people how financially reliable you are. A poor score limits your options, while a good score will enable you to access more financial opportunities.”
Ironically, although news headlines regularly remind South Africans about how the ratings agencies view the country, most of its citizens have no idea what their personal credit scores are.
By law, all South Africans are entitled to one free credit score a year, but most don’t bother to check.
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