The SA Handbook guide
Money
Budget, debt, credit and the everyday choices that shape your finances.
What to do with your first salary
Use your first paycheque to set up a money system that still works after the excitement wears off.
Read guide →How to create a simple monthly budget
A useful budget is a short plan for your take-home pay, including costs that do not happen every month.
Read guide →How much rent can you afford?
Work out a comfortable ceiling using take-home pay and the complete cost of the home.
Read guide →What is an emergency fund?
An emergency fund is accessible cash for urgent, necessary and unexpected expenses or lost income.
Read guide →How large should your emergency fund be?
Set a target using essential monthly costs, income stability, dependants and the risks you carry.
Read guide →How credit scores work in South Africa
A credit score is one bureau’s summary of your credit profile; lenders also use their own affordability and risk rules.
Read guide →