Debt-repayment burden worsens as cost-of-living pressure returns
The latest Money-Stress Tracker finds persistent financial strain alongside changing coping strategies and a growing willingness among some consumers to consider debt counselling.
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Debt pressure shifts up the income ladder despite rate relief
DebtBusters data shows repayments still swallow most take-home pay, with pressure shifting upwards to higher earners and credit thinning out for lower-income households.
NCR signals tougher affordability enforcement as vehicle finance risks mount
Lenders and dealers should dig deeper into living costs, dependants, and insurance obligations to avoid stretching consumers beyond their means.
Debt counselling is designed for financial distress, not convenience
The Credit Association of South Africa sets out key aspects of the process that consumers should understand.
Interest rate relief offers breathing space, not a turnaround in household finances
Despite easing inflation and lower borrowing costs, South Africans entering debt counselling use 71% of take-home pay to service debt, according to DebtBusters.
A way out sought for consumers stuck in debt counselling
The National Debt Counselling Association is pushing for a regulated mechanism to remove consumers from incomplete debt counselling caused by life-changing events.
Avoid the January debt hangover: experts share festive spending tips
Experts urge South Africans to plan, set budgets, and prioritise essentials to enjoy the holidays without starting the year in debt.
NDCA pushes for fit and proper requirements for debt counsellors
The Association’s proposal will embed COFI’s principles and the TCF outcomes into debt-counselling practice.
Signs that consumers are becoming desensitized to high debt levels
Nearly half of South Africans dedicate more than 40% of their take-home pay to repayments – and there are indications of ‘savings fatigue’.
Gen Z may be the key to fixing SA’s debt crisis
While Millennials and Gen X buckle under rising debt, Gen Z’s openness to credit education and digital tools offers hope for reversing South Africa’s deepening financial crisis.
NCR issues guidelines for credit providers on debt counselling process and deductions
The changes, which include stricter compliance rules and clearer protocols for stopping debit orders, are designed to streamline the process and protect consumers.
Debt crisis deepens: South Africans using up to 75% of income to repay debt
DebtBusters’ Q4 2024 Debt Index reveals a worsening cash flow crunch, with rising reliance on short-term loans and record-high debt service ratios.
Why your salary feels smaller: purchasing power plummets as debt levels soar
Even as inflation eases, high interest rates continue to erode incomes, forcing many South Africans to rely on loans to get by.
South Africans ‘ignore’ debt woes: survey highlights growing financial strain
The Money Stress Tracker survey finds that consumers’ response to financial strain is long on intent but short on action.
