Expert's advice on how to break free from punishing debt cycle

Debt may seem like a means to an end – a necessary part of modern life.

- Jaco Prinsloo

But for many, it's more than just money owed.

Debt is a weight that holds you back, a chain that limits your freedom and a slow drain on your financial future.

For those caught in the cycle of debt, financial progress can feel like running on a treadmill.

No matter how hard you work, you're not moving forward.

The burden of repayments eats into your salary before you even see it. Debt quietly controls more than just your money – it controls your life.

It affects the decisions you make, the risks you can't take and the dreams you delay. When you're buried under repayments, survival becomes your only focus. There's little room for bold financial decisions or long-term planning.

It takes a few minutes to apply for a loan or swipe a credit card, but the repayments last for years.

The illusion of wealth is everywhere. Social media fuels the need to "look rich" – but the truth is, many who appear wealthy are drowning in debt.