Managing debt after retrenchment: five steps
Published on 19 September 2025
Update your budget, check UIF and insurance, contact creditors or your counsellor and prepare the documents needed after retrenchment.
Read more →Debt review guides and money tools
Find answers about debt review, debt counselling and managing your money. Start with the question that matters to you, then follow the guide to a practical next step.
Find the answer you need
Before you apply
Check whether debt review fits your situation and compare the alternatives.
- Who qualifies for debt review?
The income, expenses and commitments a counsellor needs to assess.
- Is debt review worth it?
Weigh the benefits, restrictions and responsibilities before deciding.
- Debt review, consolidation or administration?
Compare what each route involves and the questions to ask about cost.
- Debt review and sequestration
Understand why these options need different assessments.
- Common debt review misconceptions
Read answers to common worries about the process.
- Borrowing to pay existing debt
Recognise the borrowing cycle and consider your next step.
- How to choose a debt counsellor
Use the register, ask questions and compare the support offered.
Fees, interest and repayments
Understand a quote and the difference between a lower payment and a lower total cost.
- Debt review fees
Know which charges to ask about before accepting a quote.
- Credit-card interest and debt review
Understand how interest affects repayments and what to discuss with a counsellor.
- The cost of a payment holiday
See why postponing a payment can change the amount you repay.
Creditors and legal notices
Understand collection stages, your responsibilities and when to ask for help.
- How the debt collection process works
Understand notices, summonses and later collection stages.
- How repossession works
Read about repossession, voluntary surrender and the documents involved.
- Debt review and repossession
Understand why the stage of an account matters when asking for help.
- Creditors during debt review
Read about creditor conduct and your responsibilities under a plan.
- Debt review and legal protection
Understand the steps to discuss when legal action is a concern.
- Garnishee orders and salary deductions
Learn about the legal documents involved in debt collection.
- Reckless credit allegations
Read about the assessment of lending and a case described by DRC.
- Signing personal surety
Understand the commitment before guaranteeing another person’s debt.
- National Credit Act amendments in 2014
A historical article about changes to credit legislation.
While you are under debt review
Find guidance on payment problems, emergencies, work and family circumstances.
- Can you get a loan during debt review?
Understand credit restrictions, emergency needs and borrowing after clearance.
- Need money urgently during debt review?
Prepare an action plan for an unexpected shortfall.
- An emergency during debt review
What to prepare and discuss when your circumstances change.
- Can you pause a debt review payment?
Understand why a missed payment needs attention before you skip it.
- Managing debt after retrenchment
Start with your budget, documents and conversations with creditors.
- Debt review and your job
Read about employment questions to discuss before applying.
- Debt review and marriage
Prepare questions about household finances and your marriage contract.
Completing debt review
Understand the repayment term, clearance and the next steps for your credit record.
- Completing or leaving debt review
Find out why your legal stage and supporting documents matter.
- How long does debt review take?
Understand what can change the length of a repayment plan.
- Your credit record after debt review
Read about checking your record after completing the process.
- Understanding the 2014 credit amnesty
A historical explanation of credit information amnesty.
Budgeting and paying off debt
Plan household spending, compare repayment methods and prepare for unexpected costs.
- Build a household budget in five steps
List your income, spending and debts, then check the plan each month.
- Paying off debt yourself
Prepare a budget and choose a repayment order you can maintain.
- Planning a holiday-season budget
Set aside ordinary expenses before deciding what to spend on celebrations.
- Teaching children about money
Use everyday decisions to practise spending and saving.
- Borrowing money for someone else
Consider your own liability before taking credit for friends or family.
- Managing fuel costs
Consider transport costs as part of your household budget.
From Debt Review Centre
Read client accounts and company news in their original context.
- A debt review repayment example
Read the circumstances and repayment figures described in this case.
- A client’s interest-rate example
Read the account-by-account rates and figures described by DRC.
- A creditor write-off case
Read this individual account in its original circumstances.
- DRC Cares: Adelaide drought relief
Company news about a community assistance project.
Free money tools
Choose the tool that answers your question. The figures are estimates; they do not decide whether you qualify for debt review.
- Debt review calculator
Check your budget and an illustrative payment before fees.
- Household affordability
See what remains after living costs and debt payments.
- Debt-to-income ratio
Compare debt repayments with monthly income.
- Debt avalanche calculator
Compare paying the highest interest rate first with minimums only.
- Total cost of credit
Explore how interest, payments and term affect repayment cost.
- Emergency fund calculator
Work out a savings target based on essential spending.
- Can I afford this purchase?
Check a planned purchase against the money left in your month.
- Net worth calculator
Compare the value of your assets with the debts you owe.
- Financial health self-check
Explore your household finances with an educational score.
- Credit score education
Explore credit behaviours without running a credit check.
- Prescribed debt checker
Identify questions to discuss about an older debt.
Choosing between different approaches? Compare debt relief options.
Browse all articles, page 7
What to do when Over-Indebted
Published on 19 September 2025
When you find yourself in a situation where your debt has become unmanageable you have various options but choosing the option not favourable to your situation could have detrimental consequences. Her…
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Understanding Credit Amnesty
Published on 19 September 2025
THE TRUTH ABOUT THE CREDIT AMNESTY Our firm has been inundated with queries regarding the credit amnesty incepted earlier. The various queries portray that there is a lot of misperception regarding th…
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National Credit Act amendments in 2014: a historical article
Published on 19 September 2025
Read the original explanation of the 2014 amendments and find links to debt review, Section 129 notices and completion guidance.
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How to teach children about money
Published on 19 September 2025
Use everyday spending choices, simple savings goals and age-appropriate budgets to help children practise managing money.
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Garnishing Orders
Published on 19 September 2025
It is imperative that you, the Consumer, be informed of their rights, when it comes to credit. This is important as some Credit Providers thrive on uninformed consumers and tend to use “Bullying” tact…
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Borrowing to pay debt: recognise the cycle
Published on 19 September 2025
Understand how borrowing to cover repayments can create a recurring shortfall. Check your budget, compare options and respond to arrears.
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Real Life Debt Review Scenario
Published on 19 September 2025
As more and more consumers experience increased financial pressure due to increasing living expenses, most of these consumers now consider applying for debt review in order to reduce their debt repaym…
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Repossession: how it works
Published on 19 September 2025
Repossession of assets can be a stressful topic to even think about, but your most important right as a consumer, is that only the Sherriff of the Court may force you to surrender your possessions, by…
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