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Guides

Most of what follows is not about borrowing at all. It covers the things that decide whether borrowing is necessary in the first place — what your bank is charging you, how a credit record is built, what a stokvel or a burial society actually does, and how to get through a short month without a loan.

Guides 60

How short-term loans workThe mechanics of short-term creditHow loan interest is calculatedInterest calculation methodsWhat a credit agreement actually isTypes of credit agreement under the NCAHow to read a credit agreementReading and understanding a credit agreementHow to build a credit record from nothingEstablishing a credit recordSaving versus borrowing: the actual mathsComparing saving against borrowingWhat happens when you apply for creditThe lender-side application processHow lenders actually make moneyLender economicsCredit bureaux in South AfricaHow credit bureaux operateLoan or credit facility: which you haveLoans compared with revolving facilitiesMaking a monthly budget that survives contact with the monthBuilding a workable monthly budgetBuilding an emergency fund on a tight incomeStarting an emergency fundThe envelope method, adapted for bank accountsEnvelope budgeting in practiceCutting fixed costsReducing recurring monthly costsStokvels explainedUnderstanding stokvelsBurial societies explainedUnderstanding burial societiesHow to take control of your debit ordersAuditing and controlling debit ordersUnderstanding South African bank feesUnderstanding and reducing bank chargesChoosing a bank accountSelecting a bank accountSurviving JanuaryManaging the January squeezeDebt snowball or avalanche: which to useChoosing a debt repayment orderHow to negotiate with a creditorNegotiating a payment arrangementWhat a section 129 notice meansResponding to a section 129 noticeGarnishee and emoluments attachment ordersUnderstanding salary attachment ordersWhat happens in a collections processThe stages of debt collectionDealing with debt collectorsHandling debt collectorsWhen debt goes to courtCourt proceedings over debtWriting a hardship letterRequesting a payment arrangement in writingPaying off a loan fasterAccelerating loan repaymentWhat to do when you lose your jobFinancial steps after job lossLoan or credit cardComparing loans with credit cardsLoan or overdraftComparing loans with overdraftsLoan or store creditComparing loans with store creditLoan or buy now, pay laterComparing loans with BNPLBorrowing from familyFamily lending arrangementsPawn loans explainedUnderstanding pawn transactionsWhat a revolving loan isUnderstanding revolving creditSecured versus unsecured creditComparing secured and unsecured creditFixed or variable interestChoosing between fixed and variable ratesWhat a balloon payment isUnderstanding balloon paymentsSASSA grants explainedUnderstanding SASSA grantsHow to claim UIFClaiming from the UIFMunicipal indigent reliefMunicipal relief for household accountsThe national minimum wageUnderstanding minimum wage entitlementsUnderstanding your payslipReading a South African payslipTax and your take-home payHow tax affects net incomeRetrenchment and your moneyFinancial rights and decisions on retrenchmentMaternity leave and moneyManaging income during maternity leaveThe repo rate and your loanHow the repo rate affects borrowersInflation and your budgetManaging a budget under inflationHow to spot a fake lender websiteIdentifying fraudulent lender sitesProtecting your ID numberPreventing identity fraudWhat to do if your identity is stolenResponding to identity theftSIM swap fraudPreventing and responding to SIM swap fraudBanking safely onlineOnline banking securityHow to read a bank statementReading a bank statement criticallyWhat you agree to in a debit order mandateUnderstanding debit order mandatesKeeping financial recordsRecord keeping for financial mattersTalking to your family about moneyFamily conversations about moneyFinancial help for studentsStudent funding options

Why a loan comparison site publishes this

Because the cheapest loan is frequently the one not taken, and a site that only ever answers "which loan" would be leaving that out. Several of these guides end with a route that involves no credit agreement whatsoever.

They are also the pages with the longest useful life. A rate changes; how a credit bureau works, what a bank may charge you and how to argue with an incorrect listing do not, and they are worth reading before the month you need them.

Related

Responsible borrowingYour credit profileChecking a lender, and your rightsAll categories

Sources and last checked

Page last checked 10 August 2026. Statutory caps and lender terms change — confirm anything you intend to rely on with the provider or the National Credit Regulator. Found something wrong? Tell us and we will correct it.