Early Christmas gift

ALBERTON – The petrol price will decrease by 1.75 per cent on Wednesday, November 4. Wikus Olivier, a debt management expert at DebtSafe, says that consumers must be aware that while petrol prices have decreased, the South African economy remains strained.

In a survey conducted by Debtsafe earlier this year, the statistics show that 51 per cent of the participating respondents were not able to meet their minimum debt repayment requirements. Thirteen per cent of respondents indicated that they couldn’t make any payment after the December holidays.

Olivier warns consumers to consider every cent before spending. “Before spending money on travelling or expensive trips and gifts, make sure you don’t have large financial concerns in the beginning of the new year,” he says.

He encourages people to plan ahead and to use saved cash rather than a credit card to purchase gifts.

Olivier advises individuals to take every financial aspect into consideration to ensure that they will not run out of money during the holidays, and that they don’t return to a higher mountain of debt or newly acquired debt that will be expensive to pay back.

He also says that another fuel price reduction closer to the holidays is expected.

To save fuel while travelling check the car’s tyre pressure, reduce external fixing when not in use, turn off air conditioning, use high quality fuel and avoid stop-start driving.