Opinion

THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS The now lifting of the so many restrictions imposed on us the past 20 months is great room for cautious optimism. But the so-longed-for return to normality may, just may, not be what we imagine or would necessarily like. The changes that have occurred globally — in societies, …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON “Yes, well no …maybe,” is not exactly an answer in the affirmative but it’s one that is used by South Africans when they haven’t worked out their answer. It covers all the options and it’s a turn of phrase I found myself using the other day when asked: …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR LAST week saw the ins and outs of Budget 2022 released. A fiver here, a price hike there, much of it was covered in the media. But what about the nitty gritty? How will it actually affect you? It really is imperative that we review our finances after every budget …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS WE all like a good fright now and then, and not just at Halloween, if only for the adrenalin rush and the cocoon of comfort that leaves us sated after the thrill has gone. Of course, there are those who are schlock and horror junkies needing frequent fixes …

BY CLAIR WHITTY When it comes to keeping kids healthy it all begins with the diet. If your child is a picky eater you could top up their nutrient level with a multivitamin formula. For children from age one I love the BetterYou Junior Multivitamin Oral Spray. It’s sprayed onto the inside of the cheek …

BY ANDREW MCDONALD HYPNOTHERAPIST THE BATTLE to get your kids to sleep is well-known to most parents. It’s a natural part of growing up when children test boundaries and bedtime is one of the biggest. However, Mums and Dads know the importance of getting a good night’s shut-eye, particularly with school back. So what do …

BY JOHN ELLIS, FINANCIAL ADVISOR WE have written before that maximising your pension contributions is a very effective way to save for your retirement and can be very tax efficient. As the cutoff dates for making your tax return nears here are ways you can save toward your retirement with the blessings of Revenue. Tax-saving …

AS I SEE IT BY MARIANNE HERON ALL may be fair in love and war but hardly in politics, where below-the-belt insults get traded regularly. Recent examples of accusations levelled at our representatives include ‘leaking’ and ‘blindsiding’ and now Mary Lou McDonald has added ‘mansplaining’ to the list. That’s a hard one to take. Not …

THE FACT OF THE MATTER PAUL HOPKINS Three years ago when she was 15, Helen’s friend, a year older, enticed her into his house, when his parents were out. After some small talk he pounced on her and attempted to remove her clothing. Helen, thankfully, managed to fend off her attacker and flee. Her mother, …