Donna Archives - Just One Lap

Raiding the savings

Donna Willan 6 June 2017Latest, Money cents

Seven years of dreaming and finally we are going to do it; we are building a new deck! Yes, it is expensive. Yes, it is unnecessary. Yes, it is an indulgence. No, we don’t have the cash in hand. Yet, I am thrilled that the builders start on Monday! What’s going on? I thought I ...

Managing a salary cut

Donna Willan 11 April 2017Latest, Money cents

Help! My take home salary has just been cut by 10% - we have less money! This is not a completely terrible thing. Some of you may recall my dilemma a few columns back where I was pondering whether I should join our company pension scheme or purchase monthly EFTs. Well the discussion became moot ...

How much home maintenance?

Donna Willan 1 November 2016Latest, Money cents

Our house is the biggest investment we will ever own, so shouldn’t we look after it really well? I think so, but then you get the naysayers telling you not to over invest in your home. So how much home maintenance is the right amount? I want to get the right balance between caring for ...

Retirement blues again

Donna Willan 4 October 2016Latest, Money cents

By coincidence, it’s been one year since I wrote my last blog on retirement after having written my third Money Cents column on retirement as well. It seems that I panic around this time of year. Could it be that my birthday is soon and it reminds me that I am getting old? So yes, I ...

Should children have bank accounts?

Donna Willan 20 September 2016Latest, Money cents

I still remember my first bank account; I was about six years old and my brother was eight. We went into our local Nedbank branch and opened an account. We felt so grown up AND we got a really great bank account activity book - every time we deposited money we did another activity in ...

Need a new car, plan early

Donna Willan 31 May 2016Latest, Money cents

So my car is the same age as my daughter, and she turns six next month – hmm how long can a car last, bearing in mind this is just a little Hyundai Atos. I guess I’ll be needing a new car in about four years. Now one of my basic money rules is ‘never ...

Cost of home security

Donna Willan 17 May 2016Latest, Money cents

I’m feeling a little vulnerable right now, as two weeks back we had five incidents in our street in four days! Fortunately, we also had some arrests. So I have been thinking a lot about our home security – are we secure enough? Do we need to do more? Can I afford more? Can I ...

Being wise about my annual increase

Donna Willan 3 May 2016Latest, Money cents

Wow, a 7% annual increase is awesome! The challenge now is what to do with it. Of course on pay day the kids and I had a lovely pizza evening to celebrate, but there after it will be wise spending. So what is the wisest way to handle an annual increase? I went back and ...

Tax Free Savings Accounts (TFSA)

Donna Willan 19 April 2016Latest, Money cents

There has been a lot of talk about the (relatively) new tax free savings accounts, so I thought I would reflect on how best to “seize this opportunity.” Each person can put a maximum of R30 000 a year into a tax free savings account. That means my children and I could each be doing this. ...

What are my big spends?

Donna Willan 5 April 2016Latest, Money cents

A few weeks back Simon challenged us to reflect on our big spends. He asked: “Do you spend more on your car than your kids’ education? See the problem?” It was a question that really spoke to me – and made me think about what my big spends are. Do I have the right priorities, ...