Financing a New Car? Tips to Ensure You Get the Best Deal…#ImperialAuto

Hi Friends, 

Purchasing a brand-new car is really exciting – and once you have made the decision you are likely to want to get your car NOW! Be careful not to let your excitement interfere with financing option decisions. Here are some tips from Imperial Auto to ensure that find you the best finance deal possible.

• Speak to the finance and insurance (F&I) manager at your nearest dealership. This will allow you to interact with a specialist and clarify any questions you may have. They can also assess your specific situation and offer you advice on structuring your finance agreement.
• Ensure you structure your deal the best way for you. Here are some options: 
• Deposit – paying a deposit reduces your monthly repayment. If this is possible – it would be a smart move to make from the get-go!
• Fixed VS linked interest rate – during periods when interest rates fluctuate, you may want to consider discussing a fixed rate with your bank. This option has pros and cons to consider.
• The contract period – remember that a longer period reduces the monthly instalments but attracts more interest payable over the period. This is entirely based on what you can afford on a monthly basis.
• Balloon payment – opting for a balloon payment means that you will need to settle a lump sum in order to own the vehicle at the end of the contract period. Although a balloon payment will reduce your monthly repayments, it increases the financial burden at the end of the contract period. You need to be consciously aware of the future implications of this type of deal structure.
• There are a range of insurance products available that cover both the car (warranties, service and maintenance plans) as well as yourself (death, disability and retrenchment cover) which you can consider. Whichever you choose, would depend on your personal situation as well as the car you intend buying.

The F&I will submit a single application to all the banks and obtain quotes from the various banks on your behalf, thereby making the process transparent for you to choose the best interest rate.

There’s no guarantee that you will be approved for vehicle finance, but there are things you can ensure you do which will help improve credit health and greatly increase the chances of being granted credit. 

1. Work out your affordability 

Find out how much you can afford to spend on a car. To do this, simply take your income (after taxes and deductions) and subtract all living expenses. These costs must be deducted from your total income to find out your disposable income.

2. Don’t forget the running costs 

Affording a car isn’t just about the monthly installment. Fuel, maintenance, and insurance are additional monthly expenses that need to be budgeted for.

According to an article on Business Insider, the latest motor trade sales from Statistics South Africa show that South Africans are spending more on fuel than on buying new vehicles. [1]

3. Save up for a deposit 

Financial responsibility reflects well on your credit profile and will assist in ensuring your finance application will be approved. If you’ve shown the bank that you can budget responsibly, you’ll really impress them with a deposit. Paying a deposit reduces the amount of credit required for the transaction which, means lower monthly repayments and improved affordability.

4. Get rid of unnecessary debt 

The National Credit Act requires the bank to take all credit facilities into account, so your credit card and overdraft debt is assessed. These figures are used in assessing your affordability.

For more useful info on purchasing a car visit: https://imperialauto.co.za and join the conversation on Facebook - https://web.facebook.com/imperial.auto.sa.

[1]https://www.businessinsider.co.za/south-africans-now-spend-more-on-fuel-than-on-new-cars-2018-7

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com or editor@thelifesway.com to collaborate on your products, events, and services. #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra! 

How to Get A Little More #Hygge in Your Heart? #Danish #Lifestyle

Hi Guys,

If you think about all the little things that bring you joy, you’ll probably find that they range from curling up with a book next to a fire, drinking tea in bed before you start your day, and even calmly sorting out your car insurance online. There’s no telling what lights up a person’s world, but what is sure is that happiness is a lifestyle. One of the best approaches to living a happier life is take a page out of the hygge (pronounced hue-gah, kind of like ‘sugar’) book.

This Danish lifestyle philosophy has no direct English translation, but simply, it can be described as an atmosphere in which you feel at home and at your most comfortable. It focuses on being comfortable and content as you go about your daily life. To help you get a little more hygge in your heart, here are a few tips.

BRING IT HOME
Generally speaking, hygge is about feeling cozy, which you can achieve by creating stress-free atmospheres in your living spaces. For some, this means placing candles around the house and infusing their homes with the smell of Christmas. Mostly, though, it means decluttering things that don’t bring you joy and filling your home with comfy-cozy textures, like fluffy pillows, different kinds of blankets, softer light bulbs to reduce the strain of a harsher white light, as well as drinking copious mugs of tea and hot chocolate.

Ahhhh yes, so much better.

Source: https://www.tes.com/lessons/Qxz3AK0hauw4Yw/hygge

CONTINUOUS AND INCREMENTAL
It’s not possible to change everything at once. Who has the time, let alone the cash to just update their life in a whirlwind? Not only is it not possible, it’s not healthy and can lead to feeling like a failure if things don’t look and feel how you want them to straight away.

So, aim for continual changes that build on each other, like:

• Holding hands and snuggle. Walking, reading, sitting on the bus… you can do this anywhere, anytime.
• Stocking up on candles. Choose different cozy scents for each room of the house and revel in the atmosphere that fragrance creates.
• Unplugging and writing. Put your phone down, pick up a pen, and write letters to your loved ones – or start a diary, Bridget Jones-style.
• Investing in soft, cuddly blankets and pillows. And not just for your bedroom, because you can be comfy in any room of the house that has surface on which to sit.
• Going on nature walks. Nature brings out the hygge, so bundle up in your snuggliest clothes and embrace the fresh air and beautiful surroundings.
• Choosing not to shower. Showers are functional, so unless you’re in a hurry to get clean, rather have a bath with candles, bubbles, a good book, and some relaxing music.

BRING HYGGE INTO YOUR OFFICE
One of the best ways to make sure that your hygge doesn’t stop at home is to make sure that you follow this philosophy at work, too. For instance, it’s highly recommended that you stop multitasking. Instead, slow down and focus your energy onto one thing at a time. You’ll find that you’ll be calmer, more intentional about each project, and more efficient.

Other ways to hygge-ify your work life:

• Write down your notes. Choosing a notepad over your iPad gives your eyes a break from screens and helps you remember what you’ve jotted down more sharply.
• Bring a little outdoors into your indoors. A few plants, even fake plants (of the better quality), can trigger relaxed emotions, not to mention brighten up the office.
• Don’t drink your usual cuppa at your desk. Take a proper break in whatever comfy corner you can find.
• Personalise your space. Without adding clutter, do up your desk with photos of family and friends (in beautiful frames to delight the soul) and update your stationary to add a splash of style and colour.

And how do you know if you’ve brought hygge into your heart? Well, that altogether depends on you, but if you start to feel a sense of familiarity, warmth, and contentment wherever you are, then you know that you’re on the right track. If you’re still curious, then there are a few books on the subject, including How to Hygge by Helena Olsen; Hygge, The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Søderberg; and The Year of Living Danishly by Helen Russell.

Cheers!!!

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to blog, share and influence about your products and services on all my Social Media channels #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra !

Sell your vehicle @CarZarDotCoZa and Get @Uber_RSA Trips worth R3000 #CarFreeCareFree

Hi Guys,

Fuel, insurance, tolls and parking fees keep going up - these costs of owning a vehicle in South Africa are increasing making it difficult for some motorists to sustain owning a car. More car owners are turning to alternate modes of transport, that’s why Uber and CarZar, the fastest growing car buying service for the second-hand car market in South Africa, have teamed up to simplify the lives of those wanting to sell their vehicles.

According to a recent Stats SA Survey on domestic tourism, domestic transport costs come in second only to shopping for consumers. This is due to a decline in disposable income, consumers are therefore finding themselves in a spot where they need to reprioritise funds in order to essentially, do more with less.

For those looking to sell their vehicles to reduce some of their financial pressures, Uber and CarZar are taking out the stress and intensive admin of selling a car independently, while providing sellers with a reliable transport alternative once they’re sold their car.

This partnership will bring a sense of relief to car owners who want to sell their vehicles but still want to enjoy safe, affordable and reliable transport while they are looking at their alternative transport options. Uber and CarZar’s partnership is centred around the #CarFreeCareFree movement. With the rise in costs such as fuel, this partnership is set to extend a helping hand to consumers who need one. CarZar has teamed up with Uber and will provide those who sell their vehicles to CarZar up to R3 000 in free Uber rides! This deal is effective as of 29 June 2017.

“Uber’s goal is to help reduce traffic congestion in cities which will, in turn, result less, unproductive, time wasted sitting in traffic. Partnering with CarZar helps us help those who’ve sold their vehicles to understand what a great, hassle-free option Uber is,” says Shavaye Govender, Lead : Partnerships & Uber for Business, Uber SSA.

CarZar CMO, Francesca Berta, says, “We are very excited to be one of the first brands to partner with Uber to promote a car free society.”

She adds, “We look forward to offering sellers a solution to their temporary transport issues once they sell their vehicles to CarZar, and what better way to start than experiencing hassle-free Uber!”

Those interested in taking advantage of this offer can go to www.carzar.co.za for a quick and easy way to sell a car, and experience the benefits of Uber.

 

Cheers!!!

 

Contact me at thelifesway@gmail.com to blog, share and influence about your products and services on all my Social Media channels #TheLifesWay #PhotoYatra !