Enjoy a water-wise holiday period

The Cape water crisis is now a reality of which most people living in South Africa are very aware. Cape Town is preparing for a harsh summer ahead, and the local government attests that it is doing everything in its power to ensure that the Mother City makes it through this challenging time.

Water consumption is currently at 585-million litres of collective usage per day, and must be reduced further, so it is important that all Capetonians do everything they can to help.

Even if you’re not living in the drought-stricken Cape, water is still a precious commodity that no one in the world should take for granted. Even leading water scientists predict that “future wars will be fought over water”. The head of the department of urban water management at UCT, Neil Armitage, explains that “a person needs four to five litres of water a day to survive and we’re using on average 200l per person per day.” It’s clear we need to drastically alter our water usage habits (and mindsets), so that we don’t continue to waste so much.

Water-shedding is now in place and the water supply will be disrupted in some areas during peak usage times (from 05:00 to 09:00, and 17:00 to 21:00). While a crucial measure, it’s natural to still want to enjoy your holidays, while abiding by restrictions. So here are six tips for how to save more water, prepare for any water rationing, and to support the City of Cape Town in its drought interventions.

1. Set up a grey water system
A grey water system allows you to recycle water from the sinks and shower to flush toilets and water the garden. There are a few different systems on the market, which can be set up to catch water from washing machines, dishwashers, dryers, and even sinks. Do also note that it’s important to always wait for a full load before running any dishwashers or washing machines, and consider investing in a machine that allows the rinse water to be reused for the next cycle.

Grey water can be safely used in the garden for irrigation, ensuring that little to no water is wasted. This not only saves gardens, but also saves money. Your sewage bill is based on your incoming water consumption, as opposed to your outgoing water. So, by setting up a grey water system, you will use water twice before sending it back into the municipal system, which will result in you using less and spending less.

It is quite simple to install a system. You will just need to switch to natural, biodegradable products to protect the integrity of the soil; and it’s advisable to use any grey water intended for the garden within 24 hours.

2. Stay informed about water restrictions and inform any guests
The Western Cape is expecting a further two million international tourists during the upcoming summer season, and chances are you may be hosting guests from abroad or from other parts of the country. Or maybe you live in another province and are making the fantastic decision to spend the holidays in the beautiful Cape!

Cape Town has recently launched an initiative called the ‘Save like a local’ campaign, which focuses on juggling local and international tourism with the existing drought interventions. According to an article published on Traveller24, the local government will rely heavily on the tourism sector to spread awareness, and has strategically placed water-saving messages in several languages across the city, including on airport billboards.

It is a good idea to keep informed of any developments by reading the local newspapers or following the Water Shedding Western Cape on Facebook. Not every holiday maker is aware of the current drought, so you may need to let guests know that water wastage is no longer permitted. Make them aware of any house rules you may follow to reduce and reuse water, and support them in making decisions that can benefit the environment that they will be enjoying.

3. Change to a water-saving toilet
Toilet water use can vary significantly, but older toilets can shockingly use up to 26 litres of water with every flush. Ideally, everyone should invest in a high-efficiency toilet that uses less than five litres per flush, but If you can’t afford to install a specially designed water-saving toilet, then consider at least installing a system that flushes grey water. Or simply add a brick or two to the cistern to reduce the amount of water the toilet uses.

Low-flow faucets and shower heads can also reduce water usage by as much as 30%, so it’s worth replacing old faucets and bathroom accessories with low-flow components before the holiday period starts. Put an hour aside to also try to find and fix any leaks, as this will save you water, money and stress once your house is filled with friends and family.

4. Invest in a natural swimming pool
According to a Traveller24 article, “with level 5 water restrictions firmly in place, the City of Cape Town’s Recreation and Parks Department is reducing the number of public swimming pools that will open for business this summer.” Only 12 of the 35 municipal swimming pools will be open during the peak summer season, and these facilities are distributed across the city to ensure equitable access.

With this in mind, if you’re fortunate to have your own swimming pool, consider changing it to a natural pool that doesn’t need any chemicals. Under current water restrictions, topping up of swimming pools is prohibited, so you won’t be able to run the pump if the water level is too low. It is, therefore, essential to buy a pool cover but, if your budget will allow, then changing to a natural pool is an effective way to avoid your pool turning into a swamp.

5. Create a water-wise garden
Prepare your garden for the long, hot summer ahead by planting hardy plants that can withstand drought. It’s also a good idea to replace grass with artificial turf, gravel or decking to save water. As it is no longer permitted to water gardens with municipal water, it is advisable to replace thirsty plants with those that require minimal water to survive.

An indigenous garden will use water efficiently, so start by clearing any invasive plants. These consume excessive amounts of water and compete with local flora, without offering any ecological benefits to the environment. South Africa has a diverse array of indigenous plants to choose from, which are adapted to the climatic conditions and can tolerate long periods of drought.

Landscape experts, Life Green Group, highlight that water is often wasted through inefficient irrigation, so they advise using a drip irrigation system, which delivers very small amounts of water directly to the root system to ensure water is not wasted through run-off or evaporation. Or simply plant a succulent garden, which has very little need for irrigation. Xeriscaping is a landscaping method that was developed in arid areas. A xeriscape is a very low maintenance garden, using a lot of stones and desert-adapted (xerophytic) plants, that will actually die if over-watered.

Also don’t be afraid of using much more mulch. It may be hard to wrap your head around this, but Life Green Group suggest that you leave the leaves in the flowerbed! Rather than forking the beds, use natural mulches, such as wood chips and leaves, to add texture and hold water. Mulch promotes water retention in the soil and helps develop the soil quality, whereas tilling is actually bad for soil biodiversity and root development.

6. Harvest water
Invest in a water tank to harvest rainwater and make the most of any glorious downpours!

A little bit of investment and preparation can make a massive difference in the long run. So follow these simple steps to enjoy a water-wise and stress-free festive season in South Africa.

Original source:

totalstay.co.za

traveller24.com

lifegreengroup.co.za

A bit about Bitcoin

According to an article published on USA Today, the biggest investing story of 2017 has been the incredible take-off of cryptocurrencies. Although several have risen to prominence over the past year, Bitcoin still remains the most popular. Here is a brief overview about this particular digital alternative currency — the price of which has tripled since the beginning of 2017, surpassing returns seen in many other investments.

1. What is Bitcoin?
Bitcoin started in 2009 and gained popularity as a way of sending money quickly and anonymously anywhere in the world.

As Bitcoin is decentralised, which means there is no government or central bank issuing or regulating it, using this cryptocurrency enables direct, private transactions between users, with virtually no transaction costs.

2. What is Blockchain technology?
It can accomplish the aforementioned tasks because it is powered by Blockchain technology. Simply explained in the article, a blockchain is a “decentralised and distributed ledger that can be accessed by many different parties simultaneously. When a transaction is completed, it is recorded on a “block.” When a block’s memory is full, it is added to the end of the blockchain, always in successive order. It then becomes part of the permanent database of transactions of the blockchain. For the purposes of Bitcoin, the blockchain records transaction details, like the amount and time, but not personal details of the parties involved.”

As transactions don’t need to be linked to a specific identity, but are tracked on this online database, its promise of anonymity has heightened Bitcoin’s appeal.

3. How can you buy Bitcoin?
There are many ways to buy, store and sell bitcoins. One of the most popular means is through a software known as a Bitcoin Wallet, which is a digital wallet used exclusively for bitcoins. Frequently used examples of these are Coinbase and Wirex.

For investors, the easiest way to gain exposure to bitcoins is often through a brokerage. Funds, such as the Bitcoin Investment Trust, were created for this purpose. However, it is important to be aware that shares in this fund (and similar ETFs) trade far above the underlying Bitcoin exposure.

4. Is it a wise investment?
It’s difficult to answer this question as every month there seems to be a new prediction about the future value of Bitcoin. In spite of its recent soar in popularity, which is thought to partly be accredited to increased faith in the legitimacy of cryptocurrencies, Bitcoin has experienced chaotic volatility in the past, and its future still looks uncertain.

There are many sceptics — Warren Buffett called Bitcoin a “mirage” in an interview in 2014, and JPMorgan Chase CEO, Jamie Dimon, said: “If you’re stupid enough to buy it, you’ll pay the price for it one day.” The global chief economist at UBS Wealth Management, Paul Donovan, also argued that cryptocurrencies will never gain universal acceptance as governments don’t accept Bitcoin and never will, as it is a big economic advantage for them to be the monopoly provider of money, so they won’t relinquish that power.

As a result, cryptocurrencies will arguably never be accepted as a medium of exchange for the single biggest transaction in any economy — paying taxes.

However, some analysts still forecast growth for Bitcoin, and the head of the International Monetary Fund, Christine Lagarde, recently stated virtual currencies might end up giving existing currencies a “run for their money.”

Many believe that, if this is the case, it is then disposed for a big correction, which will burst the Bitcoin bubble and send prices plummeting. Given the amazing returns the cryptocurrency market has seen this year, it would be reasonable to assume that prices will not continue to increase forever.

5. What should you be aware of if you do want to invest?
If you do wish to invest in Bitcoin, it is advisable to proceed with caution, and investors should be prepared for things to swing dramatically either way.

As the cryptocurrency exchanges are unregulated, there are potential consequences to consider, such as flash crashes. Cryptocurrencies are known to be extremely volatile, and people who own bitcoins should be prepared to face sudden losses at any time. As a result, it’s advisable to never put any money into virtual currencies that you can’t afford to lose. And if you do still wish to proceed, then it could be a good idea to diversify by buying more than one currency.

As Bitcoin is unregulated and virtual, it’s also important to be aware that any exchange is vulnerable to hacks. Investors have no guarantee that they’ll get their money back if something happens, and there is room for market abuse and illicit transactions.

However, what cannot be denied is that investors who have purchased Bitcoin have done spectacularly well so far. While investing in Bitcoin is not something that financial planners can advocate, as it is unregulated, and it is nearly impossible to accurately gauge its intrinsic value, it is alway advisable to stay well informed about an array of investment options. If you’re still a bit confused about Bitcoin, then don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting to discuss this cryptocurrency further.

Original source

Medical aid considerations

As we begin the run-up to the festive season, sounds of yuletide carols and outdoor concerts will soon fill the air, and you’ll find yourself pondering philosophical questions, such as who exactly likes Christmas pudding and why do we only eat cranberry sauce once a year? With all the merriment, it’s easy to get caught up in advent adventures and forget the more clerical side to the Christmas countdown. For, come the new year, along with all our resolutions to shed our newfound pounds, we will inevitably be faced with an increase in our medical aid schemes.

Some medical schemes have already announced their contribution increases for 2018 and, as of the start of October, Genesis Medical Scheme has the lowest increase at 5.8%, while Medshield has the highest at 10.9%. Before you look aghast, the good news is that Discovery Health and Bonitas Medical Scheme have announced relatively low increases, which will potentially put other schemes under pressure to stay below the 10% mark, even though not all of them will be able to do this. In fact, according to an FA News article, Bonitas announced its lowest increase in six years thanks to robust cost-containment initiatives that have enabled the medical scheme to keep the weighted average contribution in single digits for 2018.

According to a recent article published on Fin24, over the last 16 years, the average yearly increase of medical scheme contributions has been 7.6%. This is a phenomenon that is driven by the high cost of medication, new medical technology, and South Africa’s weakening currency.

South African medical schemes continue to face the challenge of making quality healthcare more affordable and accessible. They are required to focus on balancing costs, while ensuring members continue to receive good benefits. After a challenging year for the healthcare industry, with medical schemes facing escalating healthcare costs, as well as having to comply with the strict parameters of the Medical Schemes Act, increases are unfortunately inevitable. However, although you cannot avoid an increase, it’s important to work out how you will factor this into your budget in the new year. It’s also worth taking the time now to reflect on whether your chosen medical scheme is meeting your requirements.

In times of political instability and economic uncertainty, healthcare costs and claims tend to increase — particularly those regarding anxiety and depression. Sadly, recent studies show that over 17 million people in South Africa are dealing with anxiety disorders, and 1 in 3 of our countrymen are expected to be affected by a mental illness in their lifetime.

When considering a medical scheme, it’s important to review its benefits and programmes, as well as its costs. For example, in light of the aforementioned statistics, does your scheme offer a suitable mental wellness programme? Are there sufficient benefits for your family, as well as benefits that help to encourage positive lifestyle changes and focus on preventive care, such as pap smears for women over 21 and mammograms for women over 40?

Along with fairy lights and tinsel, the increase in medical aid prices will soon be upon us, so take a moment before you get caught up in Christmas crackers to decide how you’re going to reconcile this increase and whether your medical aid scheme is the right one for you. Don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting to discuss your needs and financial capacities.

Bitcoin and other virtual currencies: Investment or gamble?

The purpose of this article is to highlight important aspects that investors must consider as virtual currencies have clearly become the new “flavour of the decade”.

One of the first questions a potential “investor” should answer is, “Why do I want to invest in Bitcoin?” If the real answer is, “I want in on the action and to make a lot of money like everybody else!”, be very careful.

This may be the greedy part, that lies hidden in all of us, driving you towards putting some of your hard-earned money into virtual currency, which may very well have shown spectacular returns up to now. However, before you part with your money, based on past “performance”, consider this statement by Benjamin Graham, author of The Intelligent Investor:

“While a trend shown in the past is a fact, a “future trend’ is only an assumption.”

How many investment schemes, which have all promised extraordinary high returns in the past, have eventually exploded in the faces of people who could least afford it – even recently? How many times do we say after losing our money, “I should have known! When something looks too good to be true, it probably is”? Will history repeat itself as thousands of people, some of them even registered financial advisors, buy into, and express “expert opinions” about investing in virtual currencies such as Bitcoin, Darkcoin, Peercoin and Feathercoin? Again, Benjamin Graham warned:

“Those who do not remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

World famous investor and investment manager, Warren Buffett, thinks coin offerings will end badly. “People get excited from big price movements…,” he said. Buffett remains sceptical, saying: “You can’t value bitcoin because it’s not a value-producing asset.” He added that there’s no telling how far bitcoin’s price will go and described it as a “real bubble in that sort of thing.” [See  this link]

Jacques Plaut, Portfolio Manager, Allan Gray Equity Fund wrote: “We are always looking for good ways to preserve capital and earn returns for clients. We do not think bitcoin is an instrument which will enable us to do this… “I see some similarities with previous bubbles, but all the signs are not yet there.” Neville Chester, manager of Coronation’s Aggressive Equity strategy explained: “Bitcoin generates nothing. It is a speculative investment in that the value of a Bitcoin is determined only by the price someone else will want to pay for it.”

According to National Treasury, the Financial Services Board and the Reserve Bank, while virtual currencies can be bought and sold on various platforms, they are not defined as securities in terms of the Financial Markets Act. Bitcoin and other virtual currencies are not regulated, and Treasury has clearly stated that there are no specific laws or regulations that address the use of virtual currencies and consequently, no legal protection or recourse is afforded to users of virtual currencies.

According to Anton Swanepoel (financial services industry thought leader, speaker and author), “I have seen more than my fair share of hype in the financial services industry over the last 28 years to get very nervous when I hear how many people are buying into these currencies. It is during times like these that Warren Buffett’s advice comes to mind:

‘Be fearful when others are greedy…'”

So – are cryptocurrencies an investment or a gamble? At this point, they are a gamble.

The cappuccino effect

Wednesday, 8th November is National Cappuccino Day in the United States of America. Although this is commonly a time to celebrate the frothy goodness of this popular drink (whose name was interestingly inspired by the colour of the hooded robes of the Capuchin friars in Italy), it’s also an occasion to become aware of our spending habits. We may live a long way from our cousins in the northern hemisphere, but we can all benefit from the same guidelines when it comes to our financial well-being.

In a recent article published by Personal Finance, an investment actuary crunched the numbers to demonstrate how you can boost your wealth significantly in a relatively short period of time, simply by cutting out just one guilty pleasure a day — a cappuccino.

Many people savour the flavour of this power drink each morning, and many caffeine addicts can happily knock back a few in a row. However, calculations show that if you’re willing to give up just one of those daily cappuccinos, you could save nearly R40,000 in five years and over R90,000 in a decade.

With the ominous effects of inflation and the cost of living on the rise in South Africa, it can often seem impossible to save more money without the help of a big bonus or salary increase. However, Hildegard Wilson, a member of the Actuarial Society of South Africa’s investment committee, is quick to ascertain “that you can save without compromising your overall standard of living. With the power of compounding, where growth on your investment earns additional growth, these kinds of ‘breadcrumb’ savings can turn into large amounts over time.”

If you buy a cappuccino from Monday to Friday at an average cost of R25, your coffee habit is costing you roughly R500 a month. If you opt to forego the cappuccinos, you could alternatively commit to investing R500 a month in a multi-asset high-equity unit trust fund. Over the past decade (calculated up until March 2017), high-equity funds have delivered average annual returns of 8.2%. Although this figure offers no guarantee of future performance, if your investment were to achieve an annual average return of 8.2%, you would have just over R37,180 after five years and R93,130 after 10 years.

So, by foregoing just one cappuccino a day, you could generate a significant lump sum, which could make a serious dent in your debts, or top up an education or retirement fund.

Giving up a cappuccino is just one example of how you can make a difference to your savings. This doesn’t mean you can’t do anything if you don’t drink cappuccinos. The idea is to consider giving up certain little luxuries or vices to help you in the long run. Consider which lifestyle changes you are willing to make — particularly if they’re not good for your health anyway, like smoking — and start taking the small steps towards achieving big financial goals.

5 tips to preparing your business for December leave

December is often the busiest time of year for businesses, and the season comes with increasing demands for both employers and employees. It is also the time of year when many South Africans take the opportunity to take a well deserved break. However, as exciting (and much needed) a holiday may be, this does often create added pressure — both personally and professionally speaking — and many people find it difficult to juggle all their commitments.

As overwhelming as it can sometimes seem, it’s important to try to stay ahead of the competition during this time and to not let your work fall into disarray after your break. In order to prepare yourself and your business for your leave, and avoid any unnecessary stress when you return in the new year, here are five tips, published on Small Business Trends, that can help you get everything in order before the kids finish at school and Christmas is upon us.

1. Track your workload
Your success as an employer or employee this holiday season will depend on whether you’re still able to provide your customers or clients with what they want, when they want it. It is, therefore, important to stay one step ahead and plan adequately in advance. This may involve starting with an inventory list if you sell a product, or a to-do list if you sell a service.

Take a look at last year’s sales to see which products were most popular, or gauge how much you will need to do by looking back at the previous year’s records. That way, you will have a good idea of what stock or work is generally in high demand during this period, which will help you to budget your expenses and time. And if files or figures don’t give you a sufficient idea, put a plan in place to track sales and workflow this year so that you can be better prepared next November.

2. Minimise back-office work
Everyone is busy at this time of year, and managing the back-end of a business can easily fall to the wayside — especially if you have customers making urgent appeals that can’t be avoided.

Luckily, we now have a variety of technology at our fingertips, which can ease the burden of doing tasks such as billing, accounting, collecting customer data, and automating business transactions. If possible, make the most of these advancements to save yourself a lot of time and effort. A little investment in certain areas can make your business life much more efficient and profitable in the long run.

3. Stay on top of expenses
The pace at work may have stepped up a notch, which can make it challenging to stay up-to-date with daily tasks (at a time when you need to stay on top of things more than ever). This can, unfortunately, result in spending even more time than usual trying to reconcile checks and balance sheets when you finally do have the chance to get around to cranking the numbers.

However, it’s important to stay on top of expenses, as tempting as it may be to put this off for a later date. There should be no Rand unaccounted for at the end of the season as otherwise, by the time the new year rolls around, you’ll have forgotten the nitty gritty and find yourself wasting time working backwards. If you are having trouble keeping abreast on your own, certain products, such as the Ink app from Chase, can eliminate office drudgery by giving instant notifications of sales and purchases, and tracking receipts so that they’re not lost in the end-of-year hustle.

4. Develop a marketing strategy
Along with bright lights and Christmas carols, endless marketing gimmicks are also used during the festive season to entice customers. Try to stand out from the crowd during this period by offering promotions that are specific to your products or services.

If you have a robust contact directory, e-mail marketing can have a high conversion rate and be an effective means of making people aware of any special loyalty offers. Social media is also a useful tool, and it’s worth paying for promotion on some platforms. Ad campaigns through a search engine, such as Google, can be effective, and don’t be shy of offering in-store promotions if you have an actual shop.

Whatever you choose to do, don’t forget to gather customer data so that you can make people aware of future offers. It’s important to build an email list and a customer base, so a promotion that offers a discount for an email address can be a valuable exchange.

5. Maintain momentum
If you prepare in advance and manage your workload efficiently in the run-up to the holidays, then you’ll hopefully have less on your desk to contend with when you get back. Organisation, proper tracking and planned strategies are key, so that you can enjoy your leave and hit the ground running when you come back fresh in 2018.

If you ever find yourself at a loss and in need of advice, don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting to discuss how you can prepare yourself for the future.

Saving money for Christmas

“Have yourself a merry little Christmas, let your heart be light. From now on, all our troubles will be out of sight.” — Frank Sinatra

In the wise words of Sinatra, make sure your Christmas is as stress-free as possible so that you can focus on and enjoy the important things that the festive season brings, such as spending time with family and friends.

It’s easy to get carried away in the consumerist whirlwind of the silly season and find yourself in unnecessary debt in the new year. It’s also sometimes challenging to pay for Christmas expenditure with December’s pay packet alone, so it makes sense to save up as much as you can beforehand. Christmas may still seem like weeks away, but it’ll come around faster than you can sing Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, so it’s best to start saving as soon as you can.

There is a trend for South Africans to spend far more on their credit cards over the month of December than during other months of the year. However, it’s advisable to try to avoid borrowing money for the holiday season, as this may come with interest and fees that could set you back on achieving your financial goals and responsibilities in the new year. So here are four handy steps, published on The Money Advice Service, that will help you to save in the countdown to Christmas.

1. Set a budget
First things first, set yourself a realistic budget that includes food, presents, travel, decorations, and general festivities with friends. If need be, curb your enthusiasm in some areas — it could be worth sacrificing one night at a restaurant to be able to splash out a bit more on a loved one or some Christmas day aperitifs.

To begin on your budget, make a list of who you want to buy presents for, and allocate an amount for each person. If you are hosting Christmas lunch, then get confirmation for how many people will be coming over so that you can work out how much you will need to spend on food and drink. If you are tight on cash, consider sharing duties — so one person brings dessert, while another is in charge of salad.

2. Work out how much to save each week
Treat saving for Christmas in the same way as you would put money aside to pay a bill. By committing to saving a regular and manageable amount each week from now on, you’re far more likely to set yourself up for a Christmas win.

Start small if need be, by placing just R10 of loose change in a jar a day, or a R100 note each week. And, if that works, try putting aside a bit more from the start of December.

3. Start some new, affordable traditions
Consumer confidence in South Africa is currently quite low due to many financial pressures, such as elevated inflation, weak economic growth, a rise in interest rates, and an unstable political environment. However, many people still feel under pressure to please loved ones at this time of year, and to especially give children the “perfect Christmas”. This causes people to overspend and lose sight of the spirit of the season, which is to love our fellow man and spread goodwill.

Consider starting some new Christmas traditions that the whole family can do together. These may not only save you money, but will also help you to shift the focus to what Christmas is really about.

Get creative and make your own decorations, crackers or even presents. Offer sentimental gifts that may not cost much, but are highly valuable to the receiver because of what they represent. It’s also worth deciding as soon as possible on what you want to buy someone. Shopping for items in advance can help to spread the cost and save you from panic-buying goods just for the sake of it. A bit of planning may also enable you to find second-hand gifts that are as good as new and would still be adored.

Furthermore, it’s worth embracing the digital age and emailing Christmas messages to save on cards and postage costs. There are lots of free websites nowadays on which you create your own personalised cards, which are environmentally friendly, as well as affordable.

4. Put your savings in a safe place
If you’re only in a position to save a small amount each week, then it may be best to simply store it in a jar or tin in a secret spot. However, if you’re saving an amount that will quickly become a tidy sum, then it’s worth transferring the money on a weekly basis into an instant-access savings account if you have one. Try to see this as a separate savings pot specifically for the festive season, and be strict with yourself by only dipping into it if it’s for something Christmas-related.

While the December holiday period is a great time to simply enjoy life with family and friends, make sure that you don’t stretch your spending beyond what you are able to pay back. Follow these basic steps and don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting to discuss any financial queries or worries you have. Then have yourself a merry little Christmas now.

5 ways to manage stress

1st November 2017 marks National Stress Awareness Day in the UK, and the South African government even declared the whole month of October to be Mental Health Awareness Month, “with the objective of not only educating the public about mental health but also to reduce the stigma and discrimination that people with mental illness are often subjected to.”

Even though there may not be a public holiday to mark the event in South Africa, stress is clearly an issue that needs to be addressed in the country throughout the year, as a study by Bloomberg revealed in 2013 that South Africa was the second most-stressed country in the world, following Nigeria.

This could be contributed partly to the results of a global study by Ipsos and Reuters that revealed that more than half of South Africans do not take their annual leave, which is only equal to 15 working days in the first place. Comparatively, in Europe, the average worker takes five weeks of holiday a year.

With all this in mind, here are five tips to help you to manage workplace stress and focus on prioritising stress management in your life.

1. Watch out for signs
If you start to develop any symptoms that may cause you to become less productive at work, such as anxiety and depression, loss of interest, insomnia, fatigue, speak to someone or try to address the possible causes. Ask yourself what the potential correlation could be between your stress symptoms and tasks you do on a daily basis. It could be worth trying to keep a diary for a few weeks to spot trends and pinpoint issues.

Some factors may be beyond your control, but if there is a problem that could and should be corrected, then it’s up to you to determine if and how you can make a change. If the cause of your stress is something that violates your basic rights then it should be raised with the appropriate higher authority. This could be anything from bullying, to an unhealthy work environment or offensive colleague habits.

2. Take care of yourself
It’s important to take care of your physical and emotional health to build up your internal resilience against stress. Regular exercise and eating healthily can help significantly. Try to consume less oil and sugar, and eat more fruit and vegetables. Drink lots of water, and be sure to get enough sleep every night. You can enhance these aspects of your wellbeing by taking meditation breaks at work, walking during lunch, or standing at your desk for periods of time instead of sitting.

Work out a way to always take a time-out each day. Time away from your desk for lunch and regular breathers should help to alleviate stress, and planning holidays at evenly spaced intervals throughout the year can also make a big difference. It’s important to make an effort each day to disconnect from the stresses of your job, so try to set yourself boundaries by not taking work home with you, or working too much overtime, or postponing holidays.

Often we don’t prioritise managing our stress as it’s easy to justify that there’s something more urgent to do. However, the less we manage our stress, the more inefficient we can become. As a result, it’s important to set aside time to do things for our greater good, such as exercising, reading, meditation, or connecting with friends and family.
Try to be firm in your resolve and stick to prioritising your needs, even when other pressing matters arise. Cognitive restructuring and mindfulness are two techniques that can help you to do this. Cognitive restructuring is a way in which to recognise and change any irrational thinking patterns, such as negative self-talk. Mindfulness teaches you how to live in the present moment and be liberated from any future-oriented thinking or angst from any events that happened in the past.

3. Be organised
Managing your time well can help to reduce stress. It could be worth investing in an online project management platform or a time management app on your smartphone. Or just do simple things like make a list, set realistic time scales, prioritise your workload, and even delegate tasks. Focus on achieving a balanced schedule that does not put unnecessary pressure on you — work smart, not hard so that you can leave work on time and give yourself breaks during the day.

4. Work on your Emotional Intelligence (EQ)
How you deal with external stimuli can impact your daily stress levels and self-control. Learn to communicate with your colleagues in a way that reduces tension and encourages everyone to solve problems proactively as a team.

Notice when you or other people are stressed, and try to give and receive feedback compassionately. Make use of your support network and learn to talk about your feelings with family, friends, health professionals, or even your manager or supervisor. Simply talking about difficult situations and your feelings can help to relieve stress and help those around you to be aware of any triggers you may have.

5. Take a Stress Quotient™ assessment to measure your stress
TTI Success Insights South Africa aims to help organisations to diagnose stress and uncover the causes. A Stress Quotient assessment can show you how to explore seven common causes of stress in the workplace, and to make a plan to address problem areas and lower stress levels.
If your financial situation or future goals are stressing you out, then don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting to address any issues that are causing your anxiety. Don’t suffer on your own in silence when solutions can sometimes easily be found.

Use your smartphone to save money

A smartphone may be considered to be a pricey accessory, but it could actually save you money in the long run. According to this article published on Essentials, having a smartphone could be just the device you need to help you manage your financial situation and save you Rands overall.

1. Comparison-shopping app
Nowadays, most prices and product information are available online, so it doesn’t take much more than a few clicks of the mouse to do a bit of research and comparison-shopping. However, things start to get a bit trickier when you’re actually in the shop and not sure whether an item is fairly priced or available elsewhere.

Luckily, Price Check — South Africa’s leading price comparison app — gives you a retail shopping search engine in the palm of your hand. Thanks to this app, you can research a range of consumer goods, and even flights, using keywords or bar code numbers, and the app surveys a long list of retailers to find the best price available.

2. Budgeting app
When times get tough, you may need to put yourself on a good old-fashioned budget. However, this doesn’t have to be a painful experience. Your smartphone can make budgeting simple with an expense-tracking app, such as Pennies, Spending Tracker, Personal Finance or Saver. It may seem contradictory to spend money on an app to help you to save money, but it really can help you to streamline your expenses and review your financial situation clearly.

Each app offers something slightly different so you’ll have to decide which one suits your own habits and needs best. However, the general idea is that these apps give you the chance to enter your monthly spending allowance, then enter the amount of every purchase and assign it to an expense category. As the month goes on, you will see how much you have left to spend, and statistics will show you your daily spending average and top expenses. After a month of tracking your transactions, you should have an informative idea of your spending habits, which will allow you to work out where you can cut back.

3. Social entertainment app
The Entertainer is an app that initially requires an upfront annual fee of ZAR395+, but if you like to dine and drink out, go on holiday, or enjoy a healthy fitness and beauty regime, it can end up saving you money over the course of the calendar year that is valid.
This app gives you access to almost 2,000 buy-one-get-one-free offers, from restaurants, spas, hotels, activities and even some retail stores. There is currently an app for each of the following areas in South Africa — Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria, or Durban — and the price of the app varies for each place. So if you live or go out frequently in one of these cities, then it’s worth buying the area-specific app to start enjoying savings while being social.

4. Energy-saving app
There are even smartphone apps that can help you to control the energy consumption and costs of your home or business. By downloading an energy-saving app, your commitment will not only be to the environment, but also to your bank account, as a good way to start cutting energy costs is to keep tabs on how much energy you consume in the first place.

Watching your electricity meter rise and seeing how much money you burn every month is a great motivation for making small changes, such as unplugging appliances and turning off lights when not needed. So, get a grip on your monthly energy costs by using an app, such as Meter Readings or Wiser, on which you can record your meter readings and get estimates on your monthly energy consumption. Turn energy efficiency into an enjoyable challenge with an app that gives you energy-saving tips and notes your achievements, then save cash while saving the planet.

5. Fuel-tracking app
Many people’s budgets are feeling the pinch of the high price of petrol and diesel nowadays. So it can be very useful to track on a Fuel Log app how much you’re spending and how far your money is taking you. Every time you fill up at the petrol station, use the app to record your current odometer reading, litres and total price. As time goes on, you’ll be able to track your fuel consumption and find out whether you’re being as cost-efficient as possible.

6. Loyalty card app
Keeping organised is key to managing your household budget, and while loyalty cards can be a great way to save money, it can be annoying to keep a wad of them in your wallet. Luckily, apps like Stocard for Android phones and Wallet for iPhones have been designed to help you to digitally store your loyalty cards and say goodbye to all those loose bits of card and plastic that are causing clutter. These apps are not to be sniffed at as loyalty cards can allow you to save a sizeable amount when you tally up all your cashbacks and freebies.

As with all aspects of financial health, a smartphone is just one way to help you to save money. It can help you to be organised, maximise discounts and offers, and to avoid making foolish expenditures. However, it’s all part of a balanced financial diet, and if you wish to review your financial situation and discuss other ways to save money for your present and future, then don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting.

To Airbnb or not to Airbnb?

According to a 2016 Fin24 interview, Nicola D’Elia, the managing director for Airbnb Africa and Middle East, noted that Airbnb hosts in South Africa earn on average ZARR28,000 a month by letting their property on a short-term basis through this popular rental website. Furthermore, Nested released an encouraging report that found that South Africans could recuperate their house value quicker through Airbnb than via traditional rental options.

With such prospective returns, it’s clear that Airbnb can potentially offer an exciting income stream. However, an interesting article on Maya on Money analyses whether it’s worth the investment.

The article highlights that it is important for South Africans to not just see Airbnb as a get-rich-quick scheme, but to do careful research before buying a property if it’s intended to be used specifically for this purpose. It’s important to be aware that the average income in South Africa will be skewed by properties in popular locations. If you wish to achieve a near full-occupancy, you should look to invest in a place that is well situated near the heart of busy tourist hubs, and is also close to landmarks of note. The same property in a less central location might only be able to get bookings over the peak periods.

Depending on where you buy the property and the state it is in, as well as your own financial capacities, it’s also important to understand that there is a lot of extra work involved in running an Airbnb property compared with having a long-term tenant. As a result, the co-founder of Property Fox, Ashley James, advises setting “a goal of securing at least 60% more income from an Airbnb property than you would from a long-term tenant. Anything less than this, and you should consider very carefully whether it is worth it.”

If you are considering investing in a property to let on Airbnb, then it’s advisable to study its feasibility before you make any commitments. Start by researching what’s already available online. Websites like AirDNA provide area-specific Airbnb information, with details on the number of rentals in the vicinity, occupancy rates, the average price per listing type, and price shifts according to seasonality.

Spend some time on the Airbnb website learning about the area in which you wish to buy. While researching, act as though you are a potential renter and select the ‘check availability’ option to look at calendars over an extended time period. This will give you an idea of occupancy levels and any seasonal dips to expect. Also have a look at the map alongside the listings to see where there are clusters of rentals, so you know which places are popular or where there is too much competition.

If you do decide to invest in a property to let on Airbnb, there are ways to maximise your returns, such as adjusting your rates to suit low and peak periods, and uploading a short video to show off any attractions in your area. Find a few places that are similar to your prospective property and chart what each place offers in terms of amenities and prices. You can then determine what price will undercut your competition and what extras will set you apart.

Take into consideration that you will also need to budget for a regular cleaning service and welcome gifts for guests. Nice decor, modern amenities, secure parking, unlimited WiFi and special little touches will all help you to get referrals and great reviews.

Before making any decisions, pay close attention to all the expenses and legalities involved. Your accommodation needs to comply with zoning restrictions, and you may need to apply for permission from the city if you wish to buy an entire property for short-term lets. If your property is in a sectional title block or development, it is also important to check whether Airbnb and short-terms lets are actually allowed.

Airbnb does provide host protection insurance, but it’s advisable to understand what this entails and to be prepared to pay for extra coverage if necessary. In terms of tax, you will also need to declare your new revenue and understand any tax implications this investment may have. Deciding to buy an investment property is an exciting and potentially financially rewarding step, but there are lots of elements to consider before making any choices. If you wish to discuss any issues before committing, don’t hesitate to arrange a meeting.