If you have ever been in a situation where you felt unable to handle your debt, you will know what it would mean if someone was willing to throw you a lifeline that might enable you to walk away from the whole mess unscathed. It would give you the opportunity to start from scratch and rebuild you life without the looming shadow of countless creditors. Sound too good to be true? This is exactly what the South African government is planning to do for a certain group of indebted consumers.

Here’s a concise summary of the National Credit Amendment Bill, which was passed by the National Council of Provinces, and is now on its way to President Cyril Ramaphosa, who will be the one to sign it into law.

Valentine’s Day may have come and gone, but that doesn’t mean there’s no more need for romance for the rest of the year. At Libertine Consultants, we realise that it can be a little tough to treat your partner to some quality time if your budget is tight. Fortunately, we know of a few ways to enjoy a fun and affordable date without breaking the bank.

Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and we’ve got some great news – this year you don’t have to spend a ton of money to treat your partner to something special! At Libertine Consultants we always advocate living within your means, so we’ve made a list of budget-friendly gift ideas that will show your love without taxing your wallet. Here are a few of our favorites’:

The holidays are over and with schools back in session, it’s back to reality for most South Africans. January is a notoriously tough month for consumers everywhere, and 2019 has certainly not been any different. At Libertine Consultants, we are in the process of assisting many overindebted consumers who spent too liberally over the festive season, and now need to take their finances in hand to ensure that they can make ends meet for the rest of the year.

Whether or not you overspent over the holidays, there are quite a few reasons to keep your budget in check in 2019. Here are three of the most important reasons why South Africans should be tightening their belts this year:

Inflation is one of those buzzwords that often make its way into conversations about money and budgeting. Do you know what inflation is and how it affects your bottom line? There is no need to feel bad if you don’t – according to recent report less than 25% of all South Africans knew the exact definition and impact of this financial phenomenon. Today we give you a concise rundown on the most important things you need to know about inflation in South Africa and why you should keep an eye on it when you calculate your household budget.

A happy 2019 to one and all! At Libertine Consultants, we are very excited about the year ahead. Our hope is that we will go on to help as many overindebted South Africans as possible to overcome their financial struggles, so they may lay the groundwork for a more prosperous future. Are you wondering what you should be doing to safeguard your livelihood and make sound financial decisions in 2019? Here are a few financial challenges that are coming our way in the year ahead:

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! The holidays are here, school is out – it’s time to kick back, relax and spend some time with your loved ones. However, if you’re feeling the pinch of a strained wallet this festive season, the thought of all the revelry and gift-giving ahead could be stressing you out. Fortunately, there are ways to enjoy a cost-effective festive season without having to feel like a Grinch.

In our previous blog, we started to look at how you can plan for your financial future in your thirties. This included saving a percentage of your salary every month, harnessing the power of compound interest and spending less than you earn. Today we take a look at two further ways in which you can build wealth my making wise decisions in your prime earning years.

If you’re currently in your thirties, you may be wondering whether you should start saving for your old age. The answer to that question is a resounding yes. At Libertine Consultants, we often assist individuals who are unable to keep up with their debt in their later years, and wish they had made provision for it earlier. Here are a few ways to get started, so you may pave the way for a financially prosperous future.

In our previous blog we discussed why we normally recommend that our clients follow a financial reboot with some health-boosting selfcare. At Libertine Consultants, we believe that once the pressure of debt has been removed, you should take care of your mind and body and implement long-term lifestyle changes that will pave the way for a happier, healthier life in general.

Here are a few simple lifestyle changes you can make to improve your mental and physical health during and after debt review:

One of the most gratifying parts of being in the debt counselling business is walking the road with a client to get to the point where they are free of the financial burdens that weighed them down when they sought our services. The sheer joy and relief of being free from the shackles of debt is a wonderful thing to behold.

As debt-counselling professionals, we normally recommend that our clients follow a financial reboot with some health-boosting self-care. Here’s why:

In the course of assisting over-indebted individuals from all walks of life, our Libertine Consultants representatives are often asked what would happen to their debt if they should pass on. As such, we thought we’d share a concise summary of how debt is handled if the person in whose name it is should die.

In short: there is good news and bad news. Let’s start with the good news.

Being a parent in the 21st century can be a tough nut to crack. Our children are growing up exposed to countless media channels, which means it is vital that we lay the groundwork for proper understanding of life skills such as financial planning, so they are able to make sound decisions despite the constant marketing onslaught.

When you’re happily married and placing your career on the backburner to take care of the children while your partner pushes their career boundaries as the main breadwinner, difficult discussions about financial responsibilities are something we tend to sweep under the rug. After all, who wants to come home after an exhausting day at the office to answer a slew of questions about how the household finances are managed and what would happen if divorce becomes a reality? Pretty much no-one

At Libertine Consultants, a part of the debt counselling services we provide includes sitting with our clients to determine what they’re monthly expenses are. Something we’ve noticed of late is that many consumers tend to underestimate their transport expenses. So, we thought we’d share a few of the hidden costs you may not be considering when budgeting for the month.

This is the fourth and final blog in our four-part series on clearing your credit record in South Africa. If you’ve been keeping an eye on the blog over the last few weeks, you are now all caught up on the role your credit record plays in determining whether you are a sound investment for financial institutions who extend credit to SA consumers. We’ve discussed the role of credit bureaux in determining your overall credit score, how a credit record differs from a credit report, and what a good credit report should look like.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the blog over the past few weeks, you’ll have noticed that we are discussing where your credit record fits into the procedures South African financial institutions follow when determining whether you are a suitable candidate for credit or not. At Libertine Consultants, evaluating their credit report, is the most important starting point for each one of our clients – whether for a simple enquiry, a clearance issue or to determine if someone really needs debt review.

We really know our stuff when it comes to our clients' credit reports!

In previous articles, we discussed the role of credit bureaux in determining your overall credit score, and how a credit record differs from a credit report. Today we look at the main features of a good credit report.

If there is one thing that the Libertine Consultants team excels at, it’s helping our clients to improve their credit records! We have helped countless over-indebted South African consumers to properly manage the repayment of their debts. By fostering healthy repayment habits, their credit rating has improved significantly. But how does it all work exactly?

In our previous article, we discussed the role of credit bureau in determining your overall credit rating. Today we are discussing your credit record and how it differs from your credit report.

One of the credit services we provide at Libertine Consultants is credit clearance. This often includes helping our clients clear prescribed debt from their credit records. But what exactly is prescribed debt, when does it apply, and does it really mean you don’t have to pay an outstanding debt?