7.1
Annexure B
p. 41
Required Expenses
This clause is a parent heading. Its detail is set out across the 25 sub-clauses below:
7.1.1
Rental, where no bond
7.1.2
Debt Counsellors could ask the following questions
7.1.3
Groceries (food, toiletries, cleaning materials) - groceries
7.1.4
Water & Lights (if not part of rental)
7.1.5
Rates & Taxes (if consumer
7.1.6
Body corporate levies
7.1.7
Domestic workers depending on circumstances, e
7.1.8
Education
7.1.9
Consumers may apply for subsidised school fees
7.1.10
Existing tertiary education
7.1.11
Transport (public transport and/or reasonable running expenses
7.1.12
Telkom phone or cellular phones or internet access within
7.1.13
Multiple cellular phones
7.1.14
Encourage consumer to set limits on cellular phone contracts
7.1.15
Maintenance that should be paid
7.1.16
Utilities but encourage the consumer to reduce usage where usage
7.1.17
Clothing and shoes within reason, higher amount for growing
7.1.18
Chronic medication (obtain proof that not covered by medical aid
7.1.19
Support of relatives with valid reasons
7.1.20
Financial Services - Debt Counsellors
7.1.21
Medical Aid - the consumer
7.1.22
Life Assurance
7.1.23
Credit Life - money that a consumer pays to an insurance company
7.1.24
Insurance - money paid to an insurance company to protect
7.1.25
Anything else that can be regarded as required
NDRC Practice NoteLast reviewed 2026-04
Legal context
Required expenses are non-negotiable household costs (housing, food, utilities, transport to work, education, chronic medication). They take precedence over credit obligations in the affordability calculation.
Drawn from NDRC's active case work. For your situation, see our debt counselling overview.
Cite this clause
National Credit Regulator. (2015). Annexure B — Debt Review Assessment Guidelines, clause 7.1: Required Expenses. Guideline 001/2015 (Debt Review Task Team Agreements 2010), p. 41.Related clauses
Based on NCR Guideline 001/2015, p. 41. For NDRC's interpretation and application, see our debt counselling overview. Download original PDF.