Bloomsbury Economics recently released their 2019 Indigo Wellness Index which ranks 191 countries according to various measures to find out which are the healthiest and unhealthiest. The results are disappointing for South Africa to say the least; we were ranked the unhealthiest country in the world.

Looking for the drive of your life? How about the most spectacular view you could ever behold? If you're in the mood to test your driving ability and like to live life on the edge, there are roads in this world that will give you the thrill of a lifetime.

There are many reasons why someone may need a loan – to start a small business, to make improvements to their home, to pay for education, or even just to cover water and electricity for the month.

According to NAAMSA, South Africans have been buying an average of 40,252 new cars each month since 1994! Of course, some months were better than others; the highest total vehicle sales figure for a month was 65,689 in August 2006, and the lowest was 18,482 in April 1994, according to Naamsa Sales Reports.

Unroadworthy cars and vehicles running below expected performance standard on may be a big problem. Regular roadworthy tests are not a legal requirement, so it is possible that many cars do not fully comply with South African roadworthy regulations or may possibly run lower in terms of capability.

From the time the first automobiles were mass-produced, manufacturers have raced to improve on their vehicles and trump their rival automakers. The first petrol-powered combustion engine car, the Benz Patent-Motorwagen, was produced in 1885 and pioneered the automotive world with its three wheels and open top.

Even though many of us spend a great deal of time in our cars, there are a lot of misconceptions about the rules of our roads. Hippo.co.za takes a look at five of these to help clear up some of the confusion.

Apps have turned our cellphones into pocket PCs, able to perform just about any task, some you might never have even thought of before. Here are hippo.co.za’s 10 favourite things you didn’t know you could do with your smartphone.

You’ve probably heard many National Health Insurance (NHI) debates recently and seen headlines about the Bill; relevant to all South Africans. However, confusion remains concerning its role out, economic effects and its consequences and benefits for all South Africans as well as the role private medical aids will play in this scenario.

South Africa has seen a rise in road accidents resulting in injury or death over the past decade as showcased by the vehicle accident reports of South Africa presented by StatsSA and Automobile Association. According to research presented by the Automobile Association (AA), South Africa is facing a major crisis with road safety, as the national road death toll has been hovering well over 11,000 deaths per year since 2007.

Funeral practices can reveal a lot about a culture. Japanese funerals, in particular, are interesting due to their varied and fascinating history. From the humble unmarked graves of everyday people to massive stone tombs that even the most comprehensive funeral insurance wouldn’t cover.

Renting versus owning a home is a debate with no single, right answer. If you’re wondering which is best for you, read on to find out how current and future market conditions, your job location, your individual preferences, and even modern technology all affect which option you should choose.

Stats SA’s latest report shows that, in 2017, 53.5% of our population fully owned their own homes. If you’re reading that and wondering how so many people have managed to pay off their bonds, you’re thinking along the wrong lines.

Their playful faces, adorable kisses, and joyful personalities make us treat our pets as family members. For many pet owners, going on holiday without their furry friends is unthinkable. If you plan to travel with pets, here’s a basic guide to making it as safe and enjoyable as possible for them and yourself.

Modern drones have been widely available for just over a decade, and in that short time, humans have found countless uses for them, some that already seem as if they’re straight out of a Hollywood sci-fi blockbuster. Hippo.co.za looks back on the history of drones and forward to their potential for great (and not-so-great) applications.

The South African Reserve Bank says our country’s consumer debt amounts to nearly R1.73 trillion, and the National Credit Regulator says that 40% of indebted people are behind on repayments of some kind. While some debt is perhaps a normal part of life, being over-indebted is something that should be avoided.

As with all financial services, there are laws around TFSAs that strictly govern how and where you can save your money. Hippo.co.za takes a look at the ins and outs of these kinds of savings accounts to see if they really are as great as they seem.

Bugatti, the French manufacturer of some of the world’s fastest cars, has just unveiled a one-off masterpiece at the Geneva Motor Show in Switzerland. La Voiture Noire was built to be the most exclusive car in the world and the price is estimated to be over R250 million!

Autonomous technology is changing the way we engage with our surroundings in every aspect, such as how we drive, work, make coffee, and even how we receive news. Advanced technology is changing the foundation of these industries daily, and the widespread automation of the car industry is looming.

It’s pretty impressive that South Africa has 46 Blue Flag beaches, right? Here are three we think you should definitely check out, but you won’t go wrong if you visit any of the other 43 world-class beaches these holidays.

Nissan Motor Company announced their intention to increase production at their Rosslyn plant in Pretoria, South Africa on Wednesday 10 April. The plan follows their recent halt on producing new models at their Sunderland production plant in United Kingdom due to ongoing negotiations and uncertainties surrounding Brexit.

Did you know that South Africa is eighth on the list of most public holidays worldwide? Along with Kenya, Russia, and Finland, we have 12. Many of these occur between March and April, making it an excellent time to take a break from work, relax and perhaps travel.

South Africa’s Finance Minister, Tito Mboweni, gave his first budget speech on 20 February 2019 and has received praise and criticism in equal parts for it.

If you’re like many South Africans, between your car and your bond, you probably spend a large portion of your salary on what you drive and where you live. Unless you keep a close eye on your budget, you may not realise just how much that portion is.

No South African is immune to all of the above, which is why having life insurance is so important, particularly if you have people who depend on you.

There are several new cars coming to South African shores in 2019. Some are upgraded versions of old models and some are entirely new. If you’ve been thinking of getting some new wheels, one of these models may be just what you’re looking for.

Tax is confusing. Medical aids are confusing. Put them together and it can feel impossible to figure out. Is claiming medical expenses back from tax really worth it? We explain how it works to help you make up your mind about whether or not you want to.

Taking out a personal loan was not always a readily available option for many South Africans. Instead, people used the benefits of combining their resources; when they needed money for a rainy day, they turned to stokvels.

Your own elders may even have some unusual advice about living a long and healthy life. While there might be some substance to those old traditions, calculating the life expectancy of a population is a little more complicated.

Despite high accident rates on South African roads, relatively few drivers have car insurance. According to the Automobile Association (AA), there are currently around 11.4 million registered vehicles on South African roads with only 30% to 35% covered by insurance. The report also states that roughly 800 000 vehicles are either unregistered or aren’t roadworthy.

Government have vowed to explore ways in which to mitigate the negative effects on South Africa’s rising fuel prices. Deputy president, David Mabuza has confirmed that “government is currently considering available options to address the costs of petrol and diesel.” From July 2017, to July 2018, the fuel price increased by 25.2%.

The National Consumer Commission (NCC) recently called on customers to be observant of the “sell -by” dates on products to avoid using foul goods. NCC deputy national commissioner, Thezi Mabuza said that if consumers discover that the products they have been sold have expired, they should take back the products to the supplier, according to a report.

In an effort to streamline the driver’s licence renewal process and curb corruption, the Department of Transport and the Road Traffic Management Corporation (RMTC) has rolled out The National Traffic Information System (NaTIS), a new online booking platform that makes it easier for drivers for keep their licenses up to date.

If you are considering buying a new or used car, doing research before you set foot in a showroom will not only help you find the perfect car, but also help you keep an eye out for red flags. There are a variety of ways scammers can take advantage of car buyers, which can result in a financial nightmare that hits the victim’s pocket hard.

South Africans shell out more money filling up their petrol tanks than they do on new cars, according to data released by Statistics South Africa. In an analysis of the latest motor trade sales for 2018, it was revealed that the average fuel spend was R 14.75 billion of the total consumer expenditures in the motor trade sector. By comparison, around R14 billion of the income generated in the automotive industry this year, came from the sales of new cars.

The Minister of Public Service and Administration, Ayanda Dlodlo, has announced plans to launch the government’s ambitious Public Service Graduate Recruitment Scheme in the coming years. This sets out a long-term vision for how the government will help graduates get a foothold in the working world and decrease the unemployment rate among young people.

Could the gadgets that are widely promoted as a safer alternative to using a cell phone be just as risky as manually making or receiving a call or text message at the wheel? According to the National Safety Council (NSC) in the United States, they might be. Their argument? Using devices such as a Bluetooth earpiece or dashboard holder is every bit as big a distraction as handheld cell phone use.

Congestion in Cape Town and Johannesburg remains one of the biggest headaches for South Africans. Unfortunately, the problem only seems to be getting worse year on year. In 2016 traffic app developer TomTom declared Cape Town the most congested city in the country, informally taking the title from Johannesburg.

Store accounts have overtaken credit cards as the most frequently-used credit payment method, according to a recent report by debt counselling firm Debt Rescue. The study, which looked at the types of debt incurred by consumers under debt-review, the age-group debt exposure and the debt-type ratio, found that the number of customers who shopped on their store card increased by 5.6% from 15.2% to 20.8% during the first quarter of this year compared to the same period last year.

In 2017, Gumtree launched its first pre-owned vehicle awards, in order to recognise and award the best-selling second-hand cars in South Africa. While the used market has slowed down, it still outruns the new market. As of 2017, the demand for new cars had increased by 3% from 2016, while the demand for used cars decreased by 1.5%.