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Editor's Note | Issue 8 of 2024

I recently got to attend the annual Debt Counsellors Association of South Africa conference in Gauteng.

Can you imagine? 200 Debt Counsellors all yakking on and on about their favourite topic: debt review.

What I noticed this year was that while everyone was talking about how nice it would be to get more clients to help (obviously), there was little negativity about the debt review process this year. All the bad vibes were reserved for those trying to scam people into falling for “get out of debt review” cons. But no one had negative things to say about any of the credit providers, no one was moaning about how the Regulator was not doing this or that, no one was bemoaning particular courts making life difficult (ok there is that one court that recently started asking consumers to come in for the matters again…but other than that). In fact, the tone of most conversations was generally very positive.

‘the tone of most conversations was generally very positive’

And a positive mindset can go a long way. When you feel negative, then every little thing becomes a mountain. Even if you know that you are blowing it out of proportion it still doesn’t make you feel better. It just irritates you more.

However, when you feel positive then even bigger obstacles can fade into something manageable.

Mindset matters.

Now, you may not exactly be as excited about debt review as Debt Counsellors are. That would be totally unreasonable. But you may well be benefiting from the process every day. You probably wake up each day and no one calls you to try collect on your debt. You check your bank balance and you have enough funds to go buy groceries. You check how much debt you have this month and it is a little less than last month instead of growing uncontrollably. That’s pretty exciting in its own way.

And if you look at the big picture and see how you have taken back control of your finances and are starting to get debt free it can put you in a positive mindset. It can help you focus on the stuff that really matters like family, friends, financial security and being happy.

This month not only do we review what that conference was like (for those who missed it) but we also talk about skills that you learn during debt review that will help you for years to come. These are life skills. An additional benefit of debt review that is not immediately obvious but will stand you in good stead.

We also catch up with financial news, get tips and advice and see how debt review is more than a process it is a mindset, a life style.

So, we hope that you enjoy this issue as much as 200 debt nerds loved talking about debt review all day long. And with the Debt Review Awards coming up (the Oscars of Debt Review) we are all getting very excited about that was well. Another excuse to yak about debt. Yay!

We hope that you are relieved at living with less debt stress. We hope you are content with the progress you are slowly making every month. We hope that you have a positive mindset each day. We hope that you are excited as you get closer and closer to your goal of becoming totally debt free.