Financial Tips & Guides

loan guides

Wonga vs Boodle: Which Short-Term Loan is Cheaper in 2026?

Wonga charges up to 5% per month. Boodle charges 0.74% per day. On a R2,000 loan for one month, that's R460 vs R902 in fees. A real side-by-side comparison of South Africa's two most popular short-term lenders.

Romans • 12 Jun 2026

4 min read

loan guides

Capitec vs African Bank: Which Personal Loan Wins in 2026?

Capitec starts from 12.25% APR, African Bank from 12.00%. Both charge the same NCA fees. Both offer fixed rates. So which one should you choose? A straight side-by-side comparison of amounts, terms, rates and who each lender suits best.

Romans • 12 Jun 2026

5 min read

financial planning

Two-Pot Retirement: Before You Withdraw, Read This

R57 billion withdrawn. 62% of claimants are on their third withdrawal. The average claim is R9,290 — clearly not a once-in-a-decade emergency. Before you open the app and submit another savings pot claim, here is what the data says about what you are actually doing to your retirement.

Romans • 09 Jun 2026

7 min read

personal finance

The Debt Squeeze: Why South Africa's Middle Earners Are Running Out of Salary

South Africans earning R50,000+ a month are now spending 101% of their take-home pay on debt. Electricity is up 165% in a decade. Wages grew 22%. The gap in between was quietly filled with credit — and now the bill is arriving. A data-driven look at the debt crisis hitting people who thought they were doing fine.

Romans • 02 Jun 2026

6 min read

market analysis

SARB Hikes Repo Rate to 7%: What It Means If You're Borrowing Right Now

The SARB lifted the repo rate by 25 basis points to 7% on 28 May 2026, its first hike in three years. Prime is now 10.50%. Here is what shifts for South African borrowers.

RandCash Team • 28 May 2026

4 min read

personal finance

Retrenched in South Africa: The Financial Decisions to Make Before the Panic Sets In

South Africa's unemployment rate just hit 32.7%. Ford, Goodyear, Nestlé, Isuzu — the retrenchment notices are landing across every sector in 2026. If you've just received yours, here's the financial playbook: what to do first, what to protect, and what not to do while you're still in shock.

Romans • 18 May 2026

8 min read

loan guides

Vehicle Finance in South Africa: What Dealers Don't Tell You (But Should)

South Africa is a car country — public transport leaves most people with no real choice. But vehicle finance is one of the biggest commitments you'll make, and the dealership's finance desk isn't always working in your favour. Here's the full picture: deposits, interest rates, balloon payments, and what the monthly instalment number is actually hiding.

Romans • 11 May 2026

7 min read

loan guides

Student Loans and Funding in South Africa: NSFAS, Bank Loans, Bursaries and What to Do When None of It Works Out

Every year the same conversation happens in South African homes when the university letter arrives: how are we going to pay for this? NSFAS, bank loans, bursaries, private lenders — here's the honest version of what's available, how it works, and what to do when the first option falls through.

Romans • 11 May 2026

8 min read

responsible borrowing

"I Had Five Loans. Then I Had One." — A Conversation About Debt Consolidation

Nandi was managing five separate debt repayments every month — a store account, two personal loans, a credit card, vehicle finance. Then she consolidated everything into one. She tells us exactly how it happened, what it cost, and what she wishes she'd done sooner.

Romans • 09 May 2026

7 min read

responsible borrowing

Should You Borrow to Start Your Small Business? The Real Pros and Cons

Every entrepreneur hits the same wall: the idea is ready, the money isn't. A loan sounds like the answer — and sometimes it is. Here's an honest look at when borrowing to start your business makes sense, when it doesn't, and the questions you need to answer before you sign.

Romans • 08 May 2026

7 min read

responsible borrowing

Risk Policy Explained: What It Is and Why Paying on Time Changes Everything

There's a file somewhere with your financial life in it. Every payment, every skip, every late month — it's all in there. This is what lenders mean by risk policy, and here's why understanding it is one of the most valuable things you can do for your financial future.

RandCash Editorial • 07 May 2026

7 min read