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Is your office striving to be more green?
Green Office Week takes place in South Africa in April every year and in 2013 it will be from Monday 22 to 26 April. This national campaign is designed to motivate and inspire you and your work colleagues to adopt
behaviours which respect the environment. The aim is to get everyone to look at how we can Recycle, Reduce, Reuse, and save
Donkey joins horse meat on the menu
As if Europe’s horse meat problem weren’t enough, consumers in South Africa have just learned they may have been eating donkey burgers, goat sausage, and water buffalo lunch meat.
Make bicycle tyres last longer
I found a post on that shows how to extend the life of a bicycle tyre using Neutral Cure Silicone. Parents of young children will appreciate the fact that it claims to extend the life of a bicycle tyre, which can be a costly exercise if you have two or more children riding a bicycle, so I thought what the heck... give it a try!
Are banks taking liberties?
This past week was an eye-opener for my family as far as ABSA is concerned. After having his salary deposited into his cheque account, my hubby was dismayed when he could no longer withdraw cash from the account. He tried repeatedly, at different ATMs, and on different days, to withdraw from his cheque account, only to be offered a receipt that said there were problems with his account.
Wallet, purse or handbag stolen?
Before heading out to do you holiday shopping take stock of what is in your wallet, purse or handbag and leave non-essentials at home. The more lightweight your personal items, the easier it will be to handle and look after.
Shopping for a Christmas tree this year?
While an artificial Christmas tree may not be considered an eco-friendly or sustainable option, when carefully packed and stored away at the end of the festive season, an artificial tree will provide enjoyment for your family for years to come.
DIY Divas at Woodlands Boulevard
The Woodlands Boulevard Ladies Club got together on Wednesday 31 October, 2012, to make tug-along toyboxes for the Jakaranda Childrens Home. The event was organised by Woodlands Boulevard centre management, sponsored by Builders Warehouse at Woodlands Boulevard and held at the Woodlands Boulevard Spur.
Desirable homes for sale in South Africa
I love and hate receiving the weekly newsletter from Property24. On the one hand I get to see inside some of South Africa's most expensive homes, and on the other hand I want to sell up and move. It's not that I hate my house, but it's human nature to want something you can't have...!
Know your rights: Boundary walls
The boundaries between your properties mark where your rights end and your neighbours' begin. Having a knowledge of each others' rights and obligations is the first step in establishing a good relationship with your neighbours and enjoying your rights to the full.
Living with noisy neighbours
Whether you live in a townhouse, cluster development or free-standing home, at one time or another you may have or have to put up with noisy neighbours. What does the law say about dealing with noisy neighbours and do you have to put up with it?
Inspect before you buy
Although it's the law that home sellers have to be up front about defects, it's amazing what a coat of paint will cover up and you will only start noticing problems six months down the line - when it's too late for recourse.
More and more women are doing DIY
Why are more women getting involved in DIY? I have come up with various theories for this phenomenon and you are welcome to add your own comments on the Home-Dzine facebook page:
Electric vehicles are not the way to go [yet]
With the bulk of South Africa's electricity being generated from low-quality coal, Wits researchers have reported that electric cars will not reduce greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming.
Mobile devices can explode!
Just when you thought nothing else could go wrong, imagine your GPS exploding, or even your cellphone. While new battery technology is more eco-friendly than older NiCad batteries, if you leave them switched on or plugged in for too long they could explode due to excess heat.
Secure your home
Don’t be put off by the ugly old-fashioned options in many of our homes. There are many more designs to choose from these days, and Trellidor has some attractive suggestions.
Is your car protected by DataDot?
Microdot technology is a groundbreaking innovation in vehicle identification created to solve the problem of identifying stolen or hijacked vehicles... And it looks certain to revolutionise the motor insurance industry.
Landlord or tenant - who pays?
If problems arise with rented properties, especially those in the residential sector, they frequently revolve around maintenance issues.
2012 budget and the property industry
The macro economic climate presented in the 2012 National Budget suggests that the South African property market will in the next year, continue to trade in an environment characterised by uncertain and subdued economic growth.
Don't overspend when decorating
If you're planning a decorating project in the near future, be sure that when your redecorating project is done, you haven't overspent to achieve that look. While you want everyone who sees it to think it looks like a million bucks, woe to your wallet - and possibly your credit - if you spend too much.
Make money in 2012
Let's face it, 2011 was a tough year for all. Fuel prices going up, unemployment, groceries costing more, all contributing to a year we would rather forget. While the outlook for 2012 doesn’t look much better, with every new year comes a new chance to change one’s own circumstances... new year, new start.
Plan carefully before you renovate
Renovation is a ‘dirty’ word, not only for the dust and mess, but also as a cause of serious stress. Indeed, additions and alterations have been known to reduce grown men to tears and strong women to helpless rage.
Is your property underinsured?
The value of a home can increase significantly following extensive remodelling or renovation work. When you are carrying out any serious work to your home it is vital to contact the insurer of your property to ensure that your coverage is still correct.
Buying a home vs renting a home
House prices and interest rates have fallen to such a great extent, that the monthly cost of owning a home is now more affordable than at any point in the past 15 years and less expensive than renting in a number of South African suburbs.
Is a home office tax deductible?
Working from home certainly has its perks, especially if your home office enables you to reclaim your hard-earned money back from the taxman.
Prepare for floods
So far this year we haven't seen much rain up here in Gauteng, but that may change in the next couple of months and perhaps now is a good time to prepare for any eventuality.
Ensure a home is safe
Everyone looks forward to going away on holiday - including burglars. The SAPS provide you with some tips on ways to protect your home and possessions.
Are you insured for replacement value?
A new survey reveals that it is almost 30% cheaper to buy an existing house than rebuild one. As a result, it is vital that you consider the rebuild cost when insuring rather than the market value or you may be left underinsured.
WDC 2014
Winning World Design Capital 2014 is a win not just for Cape Town – it’s for the region, the country, the continent.
Screwed art
Andrew Myers blends modern material with classical figurative technique. It is his unification of these three characteristics that results in the innovative and modern artwork that captivates viewers and has been so highly acclaimed nationwide.
CPA puts the squeeze on
The new CPA (Consumer Protection Act) poses many benefits to the South African public, however, the act itself does enforce legislation that could negatively affect landlords and property managers earning a living in the rental market.
Need an architect?
There can be few things in life that are theoretically more satisfying than designing, or even remodelling, your own home.
Celebrate Diwali
Diwali, popularly known as the “Festival of Lights”, is an important annual Hindu festival that is celebrated by families performing traditional activities together in their homes.
Poisoned home
In the Cape Town suburb of Plumstead stands a house poisoned by the over-application of a pesticide by a fumigation company some 11 months ago.
National Credit Act
We highlight things you need to know about the new National Credit Act.
Plan for emergencies
Making sure everyone knows where to go in case of an emergency, can be the key to protecting your home and family.
Homeowners insurance
When you buy a home the bank requests that you take out a comprehensive insurance policy to the value of your home. This home owners insurance covers the replacement cost of builders should anything occur.
Choose the right fish
The ocean has always been viewed as a bottomless resource but the reality is that marine resources are finite. What can you do to make a difference?
Paying too much for your car insurance?
Are you paying too much for your motor vehicle insurance? Do you review your policy at least once each year?
Preventing water damage
Water damage is the most common cause of household insurance claims. Not surprisingly, it is also the area in which most damages claims are rejected by insurers.
Step onto the property ladder
The City of Cape Town is the first municipality in South Africa to launch a large scale pilot - with plans for a city wide roll-out - of a door to door recycling collection service.
Cape Town leads the way in recycling
The City of Cape Town is the first municipality in South Africa to launch a large scale pilot - with plans for a city wide roll-out - of a door to door recycling collection service.
Unite on Women's Day
I have seen myself what women, often in the toughest circumstances, can achieve for their families and societies if they are given the opportunity. The strength, industry and wisdom of women remain humanity’s greatest untapped resource.
Michelle Obama in SA
During her recent visit to South Africa, America’s First Lady, Michelle Obama, scheduled visits to Day Care Centres in Zandspruit.
Location, location, location
What most of us want is a nice property in an area to which we can easily and quickly travel to and from work.
Incandescent bulbs ban
Incandescent light bulbs are to be banned in South Africa and all users will have to switch to other sources of light such as the more energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs that are considerably more expensive.
Inspect before you buy
Buying a home is risky business. After a lengthy search, you’ve found your perfect house in the right suburb but neglected to investigate what lies beneath the surface.
Smart shopping
The Pick 'n Pay smart shopper card is a rewards card that gives you cash back on just about everything in your trolley. Simply swipe your card and for every rand spent, we give you 1 smart point.
Rats on the prowl
Are rats really the dread disease-carriers they're said to be, and , even if they're not, what can you do to keep them off your property?
Surfing safety
With most of my waking hours divided between sitting in front of my PC and surfing the net and doing DIY projects, I know how tricky it can be to avoid getting a virus. Here are some tips to help you stay virus-free.
Life cycle of a plastic bag
We’ve all seen images of birds and fish, with plastic grocery bags in mouth. The toxins they carry are nearly impossible to eliminate as we don’t really know how if ever they break down naturally.
Home buyers check list
Puchasing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make during your lifetime. Managed well, it can be a very rewarding investment over the long term.
How clean is tap water?
After hearing rumours, stories and goings-on about our water supply, and the purity thereof, I decided that it was time to take a closer look at the situation.

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