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March 28, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Debt Review explained in 6 Easy Steps
There are a lot of misconceptions, some negative, as to how the Debt Counselling (also known as Debt Review) process truly works. So let’s forget the urban legends and myths, here is the low down on Debt Review explained in 6 easy steps. Firstly a fact that most SA citizens aren’t aware of is that...
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March 26, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Enjoying Easter Within Your Limits – Ideas & Suggestions
Easter is a fantastic celebration and one that the entire family enjoys. After all, what’s not to love! A long weekend of public holidays and, of course, the most important aspect – lots of delicious chocolate eggs and good food! But you don't have to run into "Easter Debt" trying to do it though. The...
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March 14, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
The 7 Deadly Money Sins
The “seven deadly sins” characteristically acts as a caution for one not to lose their bearing on their moral compass. What you may not yet realize is that some of these mannerisms filter through into our daily lives and cause chaos on our finances. In the scriptures of finance, the following shopping and spending...
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February 14, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Tough Economic Times - Tips
South Africa’s decaying economic climate is currently making everyone nervous. Reports of fraud, mismanagement of funds and bribery is rampant across the country. We still have a very long way to go before things start to look up and it’s not going to be anytime soon. Although these financial realities are staring South Africans in the...
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January 26, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Is your debt getting you down?
Let’s be honest, most people pretend they are fine when in fact they’re really struggling financially. They try to convince themselves that everything is OK, they but on a show and a dance in front of their friends to fool them into believing their living the dream.In fact though, if you look closer you’ll...
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January 24, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Vehicle Repossession - Know your rights
This year has started off with quite a few consumers inquiring about what their rights are in terms of vehicle repossession. So I have decided to write this piece and give consumers out there the facts regarding car repossession and all that it entails. Having a car repossessed has a tremendous impact on anyone’s life, not...
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January 19, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
When Grocery Shopping Leaves Your Wallet Empty – Tips & Ideas
Are you left confused every month as to how your grocery bill ended up higher than what you budgeted for previously? You sit wondering where the money went, and it unfortunately it has the knock on effect of disrupting the rest of your finances. Here’s the shocker, statistics show that South African households do not have...
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January 16, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Good Money Choices - How to make Them All Day Long
Here are some tips for making good money choices from the moment you get out of bed in the morning, until you close your eyes at night. Financial security rests on a foundation of good money choices. Every day we're faced with thousands of little decisions, many of which have financial implications, for better or...
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January 15, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Payday Loans – How to Avoid Them
We’ve all seen and heard those stupid adverts on T.V and the radio. Some loan agency offering Payday loans for consumers needing a “quick fix”. They brag about how within minutes, you’ll have the money transferred into your account and off you can go again all your life’s problems solved in one easy transaction!...
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January 11, 2018 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Simple steps you can take in 2018 to be debt free in 2019
You “CAN” settle your credit card, store accounts and loans by the end of 2018 as long as you commit wholeheartedly. This is how you slap yourself awake to the reality of your financial situation and get started! In the run up to the festive period it’s easy to ignore your debt concerns, and get...
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December 1, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Debt Recycling and What It Means
Debt Recycling, no I’m not talking about doing your part for the financial environment. Here we’re talking about a toxic problem that can be extremely hazardous to you if you don’t break the cycle. So I guess what we’re going to be talking about in this article is, “DONT RECYCLE DEBT!!!” Overdrafts and credit cards are...
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November 22, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Getting the Most Out of Your 13th Cheque
It’s that time of the year again when many South Africans eagerly await their end of year bonus...well...the lucky few that are destined to get one this year that is. While the idea of having extra cash to spend over the holidays is often an terrifically excitable idea, it’s extremely important to remember that the...
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November 15, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Debt Questions you’re Afraid to Ask
You learn a lot in high school that you will most likely never ever use, well personally I never took anything away. Geography is only useful if you’re an engineer. Diagramming a sentence is the duty of an English Professor and the Periodic Table is great if you’re a scientist! While there’s obviously space for...
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November 6, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
People You Shouldn’t Take Financial Advice From
When you have monetary troubles it seems that everyone in your life has some type of financial advice, suddenly everyone is a freaking expert it’s truly amazing! Everyone from your grandmother to your mechanic and dentist has an opinion on how you can save money and obtain financial freedom. It’s always been one of my pet...
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November 3, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Scary Consequences of Debt
There are monsters, ghouls, ghosts and all manner of things that go “bump in the night” that apparently scare the heebie jeebies out of us. These supernatural creatures hide out under our beds and become the main features in our nightmares. Do they really exist or are they just figments of our overly creative...
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October 23, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Money Emotions and How to Manage Them
In our recession state of affairs, it often pays to cultivate calm before making financial decisions.
Envisioning your goals and sharing them with others can help you overcome the money emotions that might prompt detrimental financial decisions.
Are you splurging on small indulgences to help cheer yourself up? This is what we call “emotional spending” and...
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October 3, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Debt You (Possibly) Don't Owe - When a Debt Collector Calls
Here's how to confirm whether the caller is genuine and determine whether the debt is yours or not. These tips will help clear up the confusion. Receiving a call from a debt collector is always concerning let alone just plain upsetting. But it's even more unsettling when the debt collector is calling about an account you don’t...
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September 14, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Ask Yourself These Questions, Before You Shop
One of the concepts to mindful consumption is to pause and take the time to reflect before making purchases. What if every time you were about to make a purchase, that little voice in your head asked you if you really needed it? And forced you to have a hard think over the long-term ramifications...
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September 13, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
What are the Differences between Secured and Unsecured Loans?
To understand your debt better you need to be able to differentiate between the two types of debt. So which is more important you ask? There are two major types when it comes to debt: secured debt and unsecured debt. When borrowing money knowing the difference is important, for prioritizing your debts during payoff, and for...
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September 12, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Online Shopping Addiction and Ways to Combat it
Can’t resist the online sales? Your desire to shop can be stopped; let’s discuss how you can go about making some positive changes to curb your addiction. Many of us might joke about our shopping addictions or be quick to call someone that we know a “shopaholic”. I often discuss this topic with people that don’t seem...
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September 8, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
The Best Way to Pay off Debt Conveniently
What is the best way to pay off your credit card debt? If you’re still dwelling in the big debt hole, we can definitely help you climb out of it. Oyisa United Debt Specialists debt settlement programs are specially designed to fit your paying capacity and financial situation. We have the smart solutions on how to deal...
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September 7, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
How to Enrol in a Debt Counselling Program
So you’ve finally decided on using a Debt Counselling program to help you reduce your monthly debt repayment and work on paying off all of your debt. Great! Now how do you go about enrolling? Well that is what we are going to discuss in this blog post. *A quick recap for those unaware: Debt Review...
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September 6, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
How Does Debt Counselling/Debt Review Work and How Can OUDS Help Me
The most common question we at Oyisa United Debt Specialists encounter from new clients is the following: “What exactly is Debt Counselling/Debt Review and how will I benefit from your program?” We have a short answer to this in our FAQ page, but let us elaborate on the answer here on this post. How does Debt Counselling work? The first...
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September 5, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Consider these Debt Settlement Tips before Making a Decision
Debt is unfortunately a constant part of our lives, well at least for most of us. It’s an undeniable fact that at some point, many of us will experience financial difficulty that will cause us stress and likely affect our relationships. The cause of our personal indebtedness could be a result of many different factors, unfortunate...
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September 1, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Easy strategies to Building an Emergency Fund
Don't be side swiped by unexpected expenses that cause havoc on your finances. OUDS suggest that consumers should be saving at least 10 percent of their income for unanticipated expenses. These are essentially for financial “emergencies,” such as replacing a broken fridge, an unplanned trip to the doctor to repairing damage to your home. Luckily there...
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August 31, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Ways You May Be Throwing Away Cash without Realizing It
How common financial decisions like buying a house or car can go terribly wrong. You’re not a moron...hopefully, you're just stressed out! Even if you're battling financially with income and mismanage your money, you may be very capable of making sound financial decisions. Let me explain because the previous sentence may seem to make no sense...
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August 30, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Debt Stress – How to Cope & Deal
The financial stress can have a real impact on your health both mentally and physically, causing you to develop unhealthy habits and even become sick. Swimming in debt can be stressful to say the least, but over time, having to constantly stress about money can take a real toll on your health. People with large...
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August 29, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Our Dysfunctional Relationship with Shopping and what it Say’s About Us
Often we have a dysfunctional relationship with shopping, its more common than you think, so let’s explore the cause of this behavior in-depth I was once told a story by an individual about how growing up their father would buy them nice things from expensive stores because he was always feeling guilty for breaking up the...
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August 28, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Solving Money Fights in a Marriage
With a little compromise and creative budgeting, you and your spouse can stop fighting over finances. Did you know that money related fights in a marriage are one of the most accurate precursors of an impending divorce? Don't go looking up the number for a divorce lawyer just yet. Even if you and your spouse frequently argue...
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August 24, 2017 | written by Scott Cockcroft
Motivational Images and How They Can Motivate Your Finances
Illustrations to guide people toward better financial choices. Financial planning has two sides: the logical, which focuses on tasks such as making monetary decisions and creating a spending plan, and then the more emotional aspect of what, drives people to really get on top of their finances. There’s a lot that goes into someone being financially...
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