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A classic trend I have seen lately is people who fast forward voice notes. What has happened to us? We used to send letters and wait three to four weeks for a reply! These days, if you send a WhatsApp message and the blue ticks show up with no reply, it feels like a crisis. Your money is no different. Long-term thinking is your true north when it comes to building wealth. Wealth building is a…

You only have R1000 left at the end of each month.  Life is expensive, the budget is tight as usual, we all relate we live in Mzansi. No fluff. Raw honesty.  R1000 can actually build wealth.  You don’t need a fat bank account. All you need is to start.  Saving money only is the start. On its own it won’t build long-term wealth. Lets unpack where to put that R1000 and how to get…

Luxury living sounds like staying five nights at Kruger Shalati overlooking the Sabie River in Kruger National Park. Not always. Luxurious living can be calm and collected, no need to scream from rooftops. There is no need to tell everyone you are rich; actually, most people think riches should shout with branded clothes. Not so with the wealthy, silence is peace and calm. Time freedom is a…

You paid off the minimum amount on your credit card. Good job. Your bank rewards you with more debt. Congratulations, your credit card limit has been increased. Before you process the items in your Takealot cart, there is a massive catch. Credit card money is the bank’s money, not your money. I was killing time scrolling through Facebook when I came across a post from someone who was…

Ladies and gentlemen, you have boarded the freedom ship destined for financial independence. Please listencarefully to the safety brief: In the event of an emergency docking, this ship has life jackets. Please fasten yourlife jacket before helping someone else. Oh, easier said than done!Black Tax is a real mountain to be climbed. How can you stay afloat when your brother, sister, cousin, mom,dad,…

Freedom overload in the foothills of Sani Pass, Southern Drakensberg. If your employer gave you 10 free days: no emails, no phone calls and no reporting, what would you actually do? I decided to answer that question for myself. So, I’m running a 10-day freedom test. It’s the perfect time to do this. It’s July school holidays and I’m on leave. It’s been interesting not to worry about work,…

How to Achieve Financial Freedom through Intentional Mindsets “‘Normal’ is the problem. Normal kills both your money and your time. Working just to pay bills… living for working, and no living at all.” “The retirement system is not an age game; it’s a maths game. You just have to learn to be served by money rather than serving it.” “Without financial literacy, ‘Freedom Day’ means absolutely…

​ “A” comes before “B.” It’s simple don’t confuse this, unless you want to fail your personal finance alphabet.  Your money game is exactly like rugby; a kick conversion comes after the try. Speaking of tries, I am busy writing this while watching the Springboks vs. the Barbarians. Official international rugby season 2026 the Boks are here, time to save some boerewors rolls for a braai! ​Saving…

Come November 2026, it’s municipal voting season here in South Africa. Most local politicians are smiling, thinking, “Could be my opportunity.” Everywhere one looks, election posters are smiling back at you. Put your X on my name, I have your back. In case you are wondering, I am not one of them; I’m definitely not planning to start a political party. I am here to check on your wallet instead.…

Artificial blueberry jam is not the same as my new combo: blueberries on almond butter sourdough toast. Whichever way you prefer, Artificial Intelligence is here to stay. In fact, AI is changing how we work as I write this article. How Humans Adapt to Disruptive Technology and AI Technology is fascinating. From a Stone Age hunting tool to Instagram, now to ChatGPT, humans have sought to improve…

Dear FJ, I write to you about money, the tool that makes the world work. No matter who you are or what you do, money affects you. Don’t chase money, even though you need it. Rather, chase time. Time is more precious than money and a scarce resource. School doesn’t teach this; even universities skip this module. Everyone seems to be on a pursuit for money. Money can surely afford you things that…

Balancing the needs of today while pursuing financial freedom tomorrow is a tough juggle. It’s one of those things that requires intentional thinking; otherwise, we can drift too far in either direction. By the time you wake up, time might be gone, or you might be poorer than you are today. This equation is not either-or. Balance is the key. Easy to speak about, but hard to execute. It’s like…

Financial independence or financial freedom means different things to different people. Yes, you need to define these terms in ways that make sense to you and in your own context. I think the rigid way of thinking numbers only in personal finance is unhelpful. It is not about exiting the working world as soon as possible. Particularly in South Africa, working optional or reduced working hours…

Have you noticed some of the bigger houses in your neighbourhood? Maybe even your own extra-large house? Our eyes tend to size up our neighbours’ things more than ours. It’s like you are sitting in the restaurant and the next table’s rump steak looks bigger than yours. It’s all 250g, the chef weighed them. Lifestyle inflation is self-made inflation. Unlike economic inflation that you cannot…

Financial freedom is about choices, options, flexibility, and autonomy. Ideas of freedom are not about how high your salary is, but about how effective and efficient you can use your salary. Just by being aware of potential freedom, you are worlds apart from most people. Most individuals are not aware of the possibility of freedom, or perhaps they are stuck in the so-called normal life. Normal…

Is it ever too late to get your personal finance in order in South Africa? You want my honest, no-fluff answer? Late is usually an excuse. It’s never too late to fix your money issues. Apparently, April is Financial Literacy Month. I missed it. This post is late by design. As the famous quote goes, better late than never. Take this literally, by the way. A few savings and investments are better…

Your bank balance affects your overall health. If you spend everything you earn, both your body and wallet will feel it. You have been paid, and there is a surprise bonus too. A double salary SMS just popped up on your phone. A warm, fuzzy, exciting feeling fills your stomach, and your bank balance smiles. If you check your resting heart rate, you might even notice it improving. That’s how…