Ashton

Arcadia Finance - Marketing

I've been diving into online marketing and content creation, with a focus on personal finance and funding. But I'm not about dull finance content – I aim to create material that not only educates but genuinely helps. My mission? "Beyond information, I'm here to inspire!" Let's explore the world of finance together!

South Africa’s Job Market Strengthens as Unemployment Falls

South Africa’s Job Market Strengthens as Unemployment Falls and Labour Data Gets an Overhaul

11 November 2025

South Africa’s unemployment landscape has experienced a notable improvement, with the official jobless rate dropping by 1.3 percentage points in the third quarter of 2025. ...

Rand Shows Remarkable Resilience and Stability

Rand Shows Remarkable Resilience and Stability

10 November 2025

The South African rand has been showing impressive resilience throughout the year, demonstrating that its recent performance is not a mere coincidence. The currency has ...

The Difference Between Debt Restructuring and Debt Consolidation

The Difference Between Debt Restructuring and Debt Consolidation

10 November 2025

Managing multiple debts can quickly become overwhelming when repayments stretch your budget. In South Africa, debt restructuring and debt consolidation offer two distinct ways to ...

Debt Review vs Consolidation Loan: Which Is Right for You?

Debt Review vs Consolidation Loan: Which Is Right for You?

9 November 2025

Managing debt can be a major challenge, particularly when multiple creditors and repayment dates make it difficult to stay organised. For many South Africans, debt ...

Calculate Your Net Salary

How to Calculate Your Net Salary

8 November 2025

Your payslip can look confusing at first glance, but learning to calculate your net salary makes it much clearer. It’s the amount you actually take ...

Bank Loans vs. Fintech Loans

Bank Loans vs. Fintech Loans: Which Is Right for You?

7 November 2025

The rise of fintech lenders in South Africa has transformed how consumers and businesses access credit, offering faster, more flexible alternatives to traditional bank loans. ...

Retailers Offering Credit Should You Take a Store Loan

Retailers Offering Credit: Should You Take a Store Loan?

6 November 2025

Store credit has become increasingly common in South Africa, with major retailers such as Pick n Pay and Woolworths offering customers the option to shop ...

South Africans Braced for Triple Tax Blow

South Africans Braced for Triple Tax Blow

5 November 2025

South African taxpayers who belong to medical aid schemes are likely to face what experts are now describing as a “triple tax” to fund the ...

Is December a Good Month to Take Out a Loan

Is December a Good Month to Take Out a Loan?

4 November 2025

December is often a busy month for many South Africans, bringing extra financial pressure from festive spending, travel costs, and year-end obligations. For some, taking ...

South Africans Feel the Pinch as Medical Aid Costs Climb Sharply for 2026

South Africans Feel the Pinch as Medical Aid Costs Climb Sharply for 2026

4 November 2025

Medical aid members in South Africa are facing renewed financial strain, with one prominent scheme implementing an almost 20% increase in fees for 2026. While ...

South Africa Moves Closer to a Cashless Future as Digital Banking Takes Over

South Africa Moves Closer to a Cashless Future as Digital Banking Takes Over

3 November 2025

The traditional way South Africans have received and handled cash is undergoing a dramatic transformation. Across the country, an increasing number of people are choosing ...

Confirmed SASSA Grants & Payment Schedule for December 2025

Confirmed SASSA Grants & Payment Schedule for December 2025

3 November 2025

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) plays a vital role in supporting millions of South Africans through its monthly social grants. As 2025 draws ...

Major Fuel Price Drop

Major Fuel Price Drop Set to Bring Relief for South African Motorists Next Week

31 October 2025

Fresh figures from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) show that October ended with strong fuel price recoveries, paving the way for a petrol and diesel ...

Why Mobile Networks Are Now Offering Personal Loans

Why Mobile Networks Are Now Offering Personal Loans

31 October 2025

Mobile networks are reshaping how South Africans access credit by extending their reach beyond communication into financial services. Using customer data, mobile wallets, and app-based ...

Experts Caution Borrowers as Mashonisa Loans Rise

Experts Caution Borrowers as Mashonisa Loans Rise

30 October 2025

With rising living costs, stagnant wages, and the pressure of the upcoming festive season, countless South Africans are finding themselves in a financial squeeze. As ...

How Fintechs Are Changing the Way South Africans Borrow

How Fintechs Are Changing the Way South Africans Borrow

30 October 2025

The rise of financial technology (fintech) is transforming how South Africans borrow and manage money. Traditional banking, once limited by lengthy processes and strict requirements, ...

Short-Term Lending Surge Raises Caution

Short-Term Lending Surge Raises Caution

29 October 2025

South Africans are being urged to exercise greater caution this festive season as a nationwide crackdown on illegal microlenders intensifies. With the country facing rising ...

How South Africans Are Coping with the Cost of Living

How South Africans Are Coping with the Cost of Living

29 October 2025

The rising cost of living in South Africa has become a major concern for households across the country, affecting everything from groceries and fuel to ...

What to Expect from the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement

What to Look Out for in This Year’s Medium-Term Budget Speech

28 October 2025

South Africa is gearing up for the release of its much-anticipated Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS), with economists and analysts eager to hear Finance Minister ...

Credit Cards vs. Personal Loans for Everyday Expenses

28 October 2025

Managing everyday expenses in South Africa often means choosing between a credit card and a personal loan, each offering distinct benefits depending on your needs. ...

Why So Many People Used Retirement Savings to Pay Off Debt

Why So Many People Used Retirement Savings to Pay Off Debt

27 October 2025

Across South Africa, growing numbers of individuals have chosen to use their retirement savings to settle outstanding debts, often as a way to manage financial ...

New R3.5 Billion Beachwood Coastal Estate Rising Along Durban North’s Coastline

New R3.5 Billion Beachwood Coastal Estate Rising Along Durban North’s Coastline

27 October 2025

A major new residential development valued at R3.5 billion, known as Beachwood Coastal Estate, is currently being constructed along the scenic coastline of Durban North ...

South Africans Set to Celebrate as Petrol Prices Drop Sharply in November

South Africans Set to Celebrate as Petrol Prices Drop Sharply in November

24 October 2025

As South Africa nears the conclusion of October, the nation can look forward to a wave of relief at the fuel pumps in November. The ...

Interest Rate Cut Hopes Fade for South Africans

Interest Rate Cut Hopes Fade for South Africans

23 October 2025

South Africa’s latest inflation figures have delivered an unwelcome surprise for those anticipating early interest rate cuts, potentially derailing expectations of monetary easing in November. ...

Makro Launches Massive Early Black Friday Savings This Week

Makro Launches Massive Early Black Friday Savings This Week

22 October 2025

Makro and Game have officially announced the release of their early Black Friday promotions, unveiling a range of enticing deals that will become available on ...

Major Relief for Solar Users as Eskom Streamlines Approval Process

Massive Boost for Rooftop Solar Users in South Africa

21 October 2025

South African homeowners who have invested in rooftop solar have received a significant boost following a major regulatory update by Eskom. The power utility has ...

South Africans Turn Away from Eskom

South Africans Turn Away from Eskom

20 October 2025

Eskom, once South Africa’s dominant electricity supplier, is facing a dramatic decline in demand as years of steep price hikes have driven customers to find ...

Major Setback for South African Passport Holders

Major Setback for South African Passport Holders

16 October 2025

South African travellers have suffered a notable setback, as the country has fallen out of the global top fifty passports. According to the most recent ...

Expected Fuel Price Movements for November

Expected Fuel Price Movements for November

15 October 2025

Mid-month calculations from the Central Energy Fund (CEF) indicate that motorists in South Africa are likely to see fuel price reductions across all grades in ...

Chinese Car Brands Face New Challenges in South Africa

Chinese Car Brands Face New Challenges in South Africa

14 October 2025

The rapid rise of Chinese car manufacturers in South Africa, once seen as a triumph of affordability and innovation, is now beginning to show signs ...

End of Medical Aid Tax Credits on the Horizon

Medical Aid Tax Credits Could Soon Be History

13 October 2025

The National Department of Health (NDOH) has revealed that it is actively engaged in discussions with the National Treasury regarding proposed changes to South Africa’s ...

The State of South African Households: Findings from the 2025 Economic Survey

The State of South African Households: Findings from the 2025 Economic Survey

12 October 2025

Arcadia Finance conducted a 2025 national survey to understand how South Africans are managing their finances amid ongoing economic uncertainty. The results reveal how households ...

Home Loan Pressure

Home Loan Pressure: Why More South Africans Are Struggling With Bond Payments

11 October 2025

Buying a home is one of the biggest financial commitments most South Africans will ever make, and for the majority, this commitment is made possible ...

Borrow in November

Is November the Right Month to Borrow Money in South Africa?

10 October 2025

November is a period when many South Africans reassess their finances, with year-end expenses and festive spending adding pressure to household budgets. Deciding whether to ...

SARS Fraud Alert Taxpayers Urged to Stay Vigilant

SARS Fraud Alert: Taxpayers Urged to Stay Vigilant

10 October 2025

The South African Revenue Service (SARS) has issued another urgent warning to the public, cautioning taxpayers about a newly circulating scam aimed at stealing money ...

Confirmed SASSA Grants & Payment Schedule for November 2025

9 October 2025

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) provides crucial financial support to millions of South Africans through a range of social grants. With over 28 ...

Major Shift in Interest Rate Expectations for South Africa

Major Shift in Interest Rate Expectations for South Africa

9 October 2025

The latest minutes from the United States Federal Open Market Committee’s (FOMC) September session have reinforced expectations that the Federal Reserve will deliver additional interest ...

SARS Goes After these Taxpayers Leaving the Country

SARS Goes After these Taxpayers Leaving the Country

8 October 2025

Affluent South Africans relocating abroad are finding themselves under tighter scrutiny as the South African Revenue Service (SARS) steps up its enforcement actions and narrows ...

Personal Loan Defaults Hit Record Highs

Personal Loan Defaults Hit Record Highs: What It Means for You

8 October 2025

South Africa is facing a sharp rise in personal loan defaults, with more households struggling to keep up with repayments in the face of high ...

Eskom’s 2025 Tariff Hikes Backfire as Demand Plummets

Eskom’s 2025 Tariff Hikes Backfire as Demand Plummets

7 October 2025

A new in-depth review of Eskom’s electricity demand data reveals that the state utility’s steep 2025 tariff increases are being undermined by a significant decline ...

Payday Loans on the Rise Should You Consider?

Payday Loans on the Rise: Should You Consider One?

7 October 2025

Payday loans have become increasingly common in South Africa, offering fast access to cash for individuals facing unexpected expenses or short-term gaps between salaries. While ...

South Africa Faces New Reality as 25-Year Lifeline Ends

South Africa Faces New Reality as 25-Year Lifeline Ends

6 October 2025

After a quarter of a century, the African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) officially came to an end last week, marking the conclusion of one ...

Why More South Africans Are Applying for Loans in 2025

Why More South Africans Are Applying for Loans in 2025

6 October 2025

In 2025, a growing number of South Africans are turning to personal loans as financial pressures continue to mount and access to credit becomes more ...

Five Key Issues Hitting South Africa Today

Five Key Issues Hitting South Africa Today

2 October 2025

The South African rand gained considerable strength on Wednesday, with its performance largely buoyed by favourable manufacturing data and a softening United States dollar. By ...

Major Tax Refund Shake-Up

South Africa Prepares for Major Tax Refund Shake-Up

1 October 2025

The Office of the Tax Ombudsman (OTO) has released draft recommendations urging the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to overhaul its approach to verifying tax ...

230,000 Job Losses

South Africa Loses 230,000 Jobs in Latest Report

30 September 2025

South Africa’s formal job market has taken a heavy knock, with official data revealing that a staggering 229,000 positions were lost when comparing the second ...

Framework for Expired Driving Licences

South Africans Face New Rules on Expired Driving Licences

29 September 2025

The Department of Transport has officially gazetted a new set of regulations which make provision for expired driving licences to be regarded as valid identification ...

Social Grant Increases for October 2025

South Africa Confirms Social Grant Increases for October 2025

26 September 2025

The South African Social Security Agency (SASSA) has confirmed that from October 2025 there will be further adjustments to social grant payments, in line with ...

Pay Less Tax in SA

Pay Less Tax in South Africa the Right Way

25 September 2025

Prominent economist Dawie Roodt has encouraged South Africans to legally minimise the amount of tax they pay, advising citizens to use every available mechanism provided ...

Spam Calls Are Ruining Voice Calling

Why Spam Calls Are Ruining Voice Calling in South Africa

24 September 2025

Unsolicited spam calls have become such a widespread problem across South Africa that a growing number of people have chosen to stop answering their mobile ...

New Mandatory Requirement Issued by SARS

Businesses Face New Mandatory Requirement Issued by SARS

23 September 2025

Businesses across South Africa that are registered as VAT vendors have recently been reminded of significant new obligations relating to their tax compliance, which now ...

Driving Licence Holders in South Africa

Positive Update for Driving Licence Holders in South Africa

22 September 2025

South African motorists who have been anxiously waiting for their driving licence cards have received some encouraging news, as the severe backlog of applications has ...

South African Petrol Prices

Bad News Persists for South African Petrol Prices

19 September 2025

Despite the South African rand making notable gains against the United States dollar and global oil benchmarks trading within a fairly stable range, motorists are ...

A Tight Call for South African Interest Rates

A Tight Call for South African Interest Rates

18 September 2025

The question of whether South Africa will see further cuts to interest rates in the coming months remains highly uncertain, despite the recent release of ...