Money & Loan Guides for South Africans
Plain-language, practical guides — no jargon, no sales talk. Know your rights and your numbers before you borrow.
Whether you're taking your first payday loan or consolidating debt, a few minutes of reading can save you hundreds of rand and stop an application from being turned down. These guides are written for real South African borrowers — no jargon, no upselling. Every figure is based on the National Credit Act and its regulations, and each guide shows when it was last updated.
Know your rights & the rules
NCA Interest Rate Caps & Fees Explained
Every legal maximum a South African lender may charge — interest, initiation fees, service fees — in one table, with worked examples.
Read the guide →How to Improve Your Credit Score in South Africa
Where to check your score free, what actually moves it, and a realistic month-by-month plan to raise it.
Read the guide →Loan Requirements in South Africa: Full Checklist
Exactly which documents lenders ask for, who qualifies, and how to avoid the most common reasons applications get declined.
Read the guide →How to Apply for a Loan (Step-by-Step)
From working out what you can afford to getting paid out — a simple, practical guide to applying the smart way.
Read the guide →Debt Review in South Africa Explained
How debt review works, how it compares to consolidation, the pros and cons, and how to get a clearance certificate.
Read the guide →Work out your numbers
Loan Repayment Calculator
Monthly instalment and total cost of any loan — including the NCA fees most calculators leave out.
Use the tool →Affordability Calculator
How much can you safely borrow? See what a lender's affordability assessment is likely to conclude.
Use the tool →Get Your Loan Offers
Ready to borrow? Get matched with NCR-registered lenders in under 2 minutes — free.
Get matched now →How to use these guides before you borrow
If you're not sure where to start, follow this order:
- Check what you can afford first. Use the affordability calculator to see a realistic borrowing limit based on your income and expenses — this is the same principle every NCR-registered lender applies.
- Understand the true cost. Run your amount through the loan repayment calculator and read the NCA interest rate caps so you can spot an unfair quote instantly.
- Get your documents ready. The loan requirements checklist shows exactly what lenders ask for and the most common reasons applications get declined.
- Improve your odds. If your credit record is holding you back, our credit score guide has a realistic month-by-month plan.
Frequently asked questions
Are these guides free?
Yes — everything on LoanNow is completely free to read and use, including the calculators. We earn a commission only if you choose to apply with a lender through our links, and it never changes your rate.
Is the information up to date?
Each guide shows a "last updated" date and is based on the National Credit Act and its regulations. Interest-rate caps move with the SARB repo rate, so we review the figures regularly.
Do you give financial advice?
No. Our guides are general information to help you borrow responsibly, not financial or legal advice. For debt problems, speak to a registered debt counsellor or the National Credit Regulator.