5 smart ways to spend your bonus

If you were fortunate enough to receive a bonus in 2019, you may be wondering how best to use your new-found cash injection. But with so many options (and distractions) vying for your attention, it can be difficult to know exactly what to do. So to help you out, we’ve put together a list of five pointers to help you navigate your way to spending your bonus in a smart and effective way.

1. Don’t give in to temptation

The temptation to splurge on that fancy new mountain bike or latest cool cell phone you so desperately want (but don’t really need) becomes very real once you actually have the money to make the purchase. While big-ticket items certainly bring short-term satisfaction, it’s important to weigh up the opportunity cost of not using that money more effectively. So if sanity prevails and you manage to resist the urge to take to the trails on a new set of wheels, the big question becomes: now what? 

2. Pay down debt

One of the very first options you should consider is to use your windfall to reduce any short-term debt obligations that carry high interest rates, such as personal loans or credit cards. However, it’s important not to make a habit of relying on your annual bonus to settle debt. While your company has shown that they value you as an employee, it would be prudent to view any future bonuses as a possibility, rather than a certainty. It’s also best to avoid building up these expensive debts altogether. 

3. Set up an emergency fund

It makes good financial sense to allocate a portion of your bonus to a “rainy day” fund (if you don’t already have one), that can be used as a safety net to cover unexpected once-off expenses, such as medical emergencies or critical home repairs. This can help you cover the cost of these unforeseen expenses without having to take out expensive short-term loans.

4. Invest for your future

Depending on which survey you read, the general consensus is that only about 6% of South Africans will be able to afford to maintain their standard of living in retirement. You may want to consider using your bonus to top up your retirement savings before the end of the tax year in February. This has the added benefit of saving some income tax - the government provides incentives to save towards retirement by allowing individuals to deduct their contributions from their taxable income (within certain limits). 

Read the full article: https://prudential.co.za/insights/articlesreleases/5-smart-ways-to-spend-your-bonus/ 

December 20 2019 By Prudential Investment Managers Personal Investing