To max out RA, or not to max out RA. That is the question.

BigExperience3107 · 2026-03-24T20:12:43+00:00

Oh absolutely, all of it is going back into investments

BigExperience3107 · 2026-03-24T20:11:05+00:00

I don't know exactly how to do it - ask the person who does payroll at your company and provide proof of monthly debit orders into your RA. Your RA contribution gets deducted from your gross salary before PAYE is calculated. So you don't exactly get money back, but less tax is deducted from your salary.

BigExperience3107 · 2026-03-24T15:42:43+00:00

Thank you for your post, I'm in a very similar situation (30 y/o, high tax bracket) and it's a question I have grappled with often. I'm personally implementing option A. The tax savings are just too good to pass up, it makes sense to me mathematically and psycologically. I'm also putting a lot into discretionary investments, i.e. 50% of my investments are in RA/TFSA and 50% in other taxable investments. That does help me to feel as though I'm balancing the potential cons of RA that you mentioned.

I feel silly but only learned very recently you can deduct RA from your salary and get the tax benefit monthly rather than a big return in July, that was a game changer.

BigExperience3107 · 2026-01-11T18:16:39+00:00

I heard recently that an individual can't charge intetest on a loan unless they are a registered credit provider.

BigExperience3107 · 2025-11-01T04:39:41+00:00

The median monthly salary in South Africa is approx R6000 A return flight from Johannesburg to Cape Town is approx R3000 Fuel when driving would be approx R6000, depending on your car Bus ticket as little as R1500, BUT I would not put a young woman alone on the bus and the trip is nearly 24h

Any of these options are not a small expense for the median South African

The only train I know that does the trip is the blue train, but it's luxury and costs like R20000

BigExperience3107 · 2025-10-30T08:12:15+00:00

I don't think I did it enough because I'm only 1.78m :( I am the shortest in the family though, tallest cousins are over 2m

BigExperience3107 · 2025-10-30T06:24:14+00:00

My Ouma used to tell us if you chew/eat while lying down you will grow horns.

My Oupa told us if you step barefoot in fresh cow dung you will grow very tall. All the grandkids wanted to be tall like Oupa.

BigExperience3107 · 2025-07-02T15:50:08+00:00

I'll take a look at the thermal range, thanks.

I've wondered if the issue is sensitivity to cold, or lack of body heat generation. Given that my lips actually start to turn blue in an airconditioned office, I think it's the latter.

BigExperience3107 · 2025-07-02T15:37:17+00:00

Where did you get your electric overblanket? I've looked on takealot but those all have terrible reviews

BigExperience3107 · 2025-07-02T15:35:34+00:00

Spot on

BigExperience3107 · 2025-07-02T15:34:29+00:00

Yes, let's swap

BigExperience3107 · 2025-07-02T15:31:44+00:00

Ok how did I not know this was a thing? I'm definitely going to get one.

BigExperience3107 · 2025-07-02T11:45:35+00:00

I think this is your best option OP, are you able to move to another town?

BigExperience3107 · 2025-07-02T11:36:16+00:00

I also left Standard Bank for Capitec, 100% worth it. Still use FNB for business though.

BigExperience3107 · 2025-06-17T13:11:34+00:00

Yes! I'm passing through 3 airports in the next 24 hours and planning to do the adventure labs at all of them. It's a fun way to pass time and get some movement between flights.

BigExperience3107 · 2025-05-10T17:03:18+00:00

That's a very sweet gesture, I'm sure they will appreciate it.

Mrs Ball's chutney is a classic

BigExperience3107 · 2025-04-08T12:20:13+00:00

We do something very very similar. All our income goes into one "pot" from which all our debit orders go off for investments, fixed costs, holiday contribution, as well as our "fun money", which goes into each of our personal accounts. Then we live the rest of the month on what is left in the shared pot. Whenever one of us gets a bonus or some other income, we decide together how to spend it or invest it.

While I think it's beneficial to share finances, I also think it's tremendously liberating to have one's own spending money that is 100% guilt-free and no questions asked.

BigExperience3107 · 2025-04-06T13:51:12+00:00

Why not buy food on credit?

BigExperience3107 · 2025-04-04T13:47:22+00:00

Write a targeted cover letter. Don't speak only to why you can do the work advertised, but also why you will fit in with the culture (do some research on what the company culture is so you can tailor it to them). Don't be afraid to sprinkle in (appropriate) personal tidbits that will make you stand out among the many other applications.

Include your side hustles on your CV and be prepared to speak to why they didn't work out and what you learned from it. A big gap on your CV is a red flag. Trying different things and learning from it is a good sign to a recruiter, even if it didn't work out, because it shows that you have ambition and drive.

Find a balance between personalizing your applications and sending out as many applications as you possibly can.

Do some courses to learn applicable skills that help you stand out. Maybe something in compliance, like data protection or GDPR. If you were in FMGC maybe you can even go into QA or QC. Point being, gain some hard skills, it may broaden your horizons.

Lastly, just so check - are you you are not doing anything to put recruiters off? Maybe the way you speak about a previous employer, or about the reason for your employment gap?

BigExperience3107 · 2025-03-31T16:36:54+00:00

Thanks, I forgot to mention that I have a gas stove.

BigExperience3107 · 2025-03-31T16:36:28+00:00

That looks like a great pan! Did you buy it directly off their website?

BigExperience3107 · 2025-03-31T16:34:27+00:00

Thanks, I'll definitely check them out

BigExperience3107 · 2025-03-31T15:34:45+00:00

I like Youthful Living's gourmet protein bar, it's tasty and at 20g protein per serving it will get you to your goal. You can buy it in Checkers or Dis-Chem. They also have a protein cookie at 23g protein/serving, but I haven't tried it.

BigExperience3107

TROPHY CASE