Bought a used car? Take it on a long trip within 6 months
Thinking of buying a used car or recently bought one? One of this week's Consumer Hacks explains why taking your used car on a long trip within six months could help you spot major defects while you're still protected by the Consumer Protection Act.
The Consumer Protection Act gives you six months from taking delivery of a used car to return it to the dealer at their cost if it has a major defect. But you need to discover that defect first. A long road trip is the best stress-test — it exposes problems that short local drives never will.
A case in point: a woman bought a 2020 SUV for R270,000, and it broke down catastrophically on a highway drive -in month eight. Two months past her CPA protection. The repair bill was R155,000.
Reach to the back — the freshest products are hiding there
Supermarket shelf-stackers always load new stock behind old, nudging you to grab what's in front - the stuff closest to its sell-by date. Make a habit of reaching to the back of the shelf for dairy, bread, meat, and any perishable with a short shelf life.
You'll routinely get products that are days or even weeks fresher. And while you're checking dates, know this: "best before" is about quality, not safety. Food past that date is often perfectly fine. "Use by" is the one to respect - that's the safety date.
Wearing a luxury watch at the airport? Put it in your bag before you reach security
Organised syndicates are targeting travellers with expensive watches at South African airports - and security checkpoints are a favourite hunting ground.
The tactic: spot the watch, wait for it to land in a screening tray, then distract the owner with a bag search or a request to turn around. In one recent incident, a Rolex was snatched this way; in another, the attempt narrowly failed.
The fix is simple: before you join the security queue, slip your watch into your handbag or carry-on. Also stay alert after landing - some criminals follow targets all the way home.
Your appliances will last years longer with one monthly habit
Most appliance breakdowns are preventable. Run white vinegar through your dishwasher on a hot cycle once a month, it clears limescale and grease and can add years to the machine's life.
Also, pull your fridge away from the wall twice a year and vacuum the coils at the back: dust buildup makes it work harder, uses more electricity, and shortens its lifespan. Clean your dryer's lint trap after every load and check the external vent annually -a blocked vent is also a fire hazard. Ten minutes of maintenance beats an R8,000 replacement.
Do a subscription audit — you're probably paying for things you've forgotten
Streaming services, fitness apps, cloud storage, that online magazine you signed up for during lockdown - subscriptions are designed to be easy to start and easy to forget. Go through your bank or credit card statement and highlight every recurring debit.
Cancel anything you haven't used in the past month. One audit typically uncovers R500–R1,500 in annual waste. Also watch for free trials that auto-convert to paid plans - set a phone reminder the day before any trial ends so you're the one deciding, not the algorithm.
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