In this eye-opening episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French delves into the often contentious intersection of love and finance. Maya is joined by Queen Malobane Provincial General Manager at Metropolitan to unpack the complexities of dating and maintaining relationships when partners are in different financial leagues. Queen's recent article on the subject serves as a springboard for a candid discussion about the power dynamics and emotional challenges that arise when one partner earns significantly more than the other. They explore the impact of societal values on relations ..read more

In this practical episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French tackles the often-overlooked details of short-term insurance contracts that can have a big impact on your wallet. Maya shares her personal discovery of significant hikes in her insurance policy when it came to excesses - prompting a deep dive into what policyholders can do to navigate these changes. Joined by insurance expert Karen Rimmer from PSG Insure, they explore the trend of insurers adjusting excess fees and how this affects claims. Karen explains the reasons behind these industry shifts, including the aftermat ..read more

In this insightful episode of My Money My Lifestyle, host Maya Fisher-French takes you behind the scenes of South Africa's national budget with the expertise of Mr. Edgar Sishi, deputy director general of National Treasury and head of the budget office at National Treasury. As the nation grapples with the impact of financial decisions, Maya and Mr. Sishi dissect the complexities of a R2.37 trillion budget, the daunting reality of debt servicing costs, and the delicate balance of tax collection. Ever wondered about the gargantuan task of managing a country's budget amidst divergent opinions on ..read more

In this comprehensive episode of My Money My Lifestyle, Maya Fisher-French, a seasoned freelancer herself, delves deep into the world of taxes with tax experts Kagiso Nonyane and Dumisa Sihawu, from BDO South Africa.  They tackle the complexities of tax for freelancers, from understanding why tax may be deducted from your earnings to the intricacies of tax directives and provisional taxpayer status. Are you a graphic designer, writer, or any kind of freelancer juggling clients and projects? Then you have probably encountered the complexity of tax. Our experts break down the legalities ..read more

Why do so many people feel that the financial system is rigged against the average person, that the system is built to benefit the elite at the expense of the average person? In this podcast Maya has a frank discussion with David Buckham, founder and CEO of Monocle Solutions and author of The End of Money, The Age of Menace and Why Banks Fail, about the inherent flaws in the banking system and the reasons behind the erosion of trust across all areas of society – financial and political.  They unpack what is behind the narrative that South African banks have actively worked to weaken t ..read more

When her mother tragically passed away in car accident three years ago, the then 24-year-old Zihle found herself emotionally and financially responsible for her two younger sisters. To make ends meet Zihle turned to credit – what started off as “small loans” soon snowballed into larger and larger debts. The more the repayments ate into her disposable income, the more she relied on further credit to pay the bills.  Maya speaks to 2023 Money Makeover Challenge runner-up Zihle about her personal journey and how with the help of her financial adviser Anton Battiss she has been able to take c ..read more

In this podcast Maya speaks to Johan the winner of the 2023 Absa/City Press Money Makeover Challenge about how he reduced his debt by over R85 000, built up an emergency fund of R42 000 and increased his retirement contributions – all in just six months. Joined by his financial adviser Takalani Badugela, Johan discusses how small day-to-day choices over time created a significant debt burden and about his decision to enter debt review. Johan is an inspirational story of what is possible when you commit to a goal. Each year six people are selected for a money bootcamp. Each candidate is paire ..read more

When you get married or have a child there are so many exciting things to focus on like the wedding dress, invitations, the honeymoon and baby showers. The last thing we want to think about are the financial aspects. Yet it is the finances that will have the most lasting impact on our relationships. This is especially true when it comes to writing a up a will. After your marriage contract, this the most important document to get drawn up. In this conversation Maya and Andrea chat to fiduciary expert Moremadi Mabule about everything you need to know when writing up your will: How does your m ..read more

“Money conversations are hard. They are harder than talking about sex or the in-laws. How much money one earns versus how much a partner earns is linked somehow to our perceived value. The person who makes more money has more power unless there is a conscious approach in the relationship. The person who has more money has potential to dominate the conversation and control the flow of the money. Money can also be used to shame - blaming a partner for not earning enough or keeping the family in a standard of living. Money is a powerful tool in a relationship, and we need to be very aware of it ..read more

On 1 March 2024 there will be a radical change affecting everyone who is a member of a retirement fund.  This is known as the Two-Pot Retirement System and applies to any member of an employer pension/provident fund, a retirement annuity or a preservation fund as well as members of the Government Employees Pension Fund. There have been many questions and complaints about how the new system will work, especially when it comes to withdrawals.  In this podcast Maya speaks to Mr. Basil Maseko a Director of Tax and Financial Sector Policy at National Treasury about the thinking behind ..read more