What to share with an advisor so the plan fits your real month

You've just sat down with a debt advisor, ready to sort out a plan. They're asking questions about your expenses, your income, where your money goes—and you're realising you haven't actually kept track. Or worse, you have numbers in your head that feel right but don't match reality. What you share in the next hour will shape whether the plan they write actually works when you try to live it.

Most plans fail not because they're badly designed, but because they're built on incomplete or wishful information. An advisor can't create something realistic if you give them a rough idea instead of the truth. This isn't about judgment; it's about accuracy. The more honest and detailed you are now, the sooner you'll have a plan that fits your actual life.

Start with what you actually spend

Don't guess. Bring bank statements, your phone records (for data and airtime), receipts if you have them, or even a rough list you've written down over the past week. If you use cash, jot down what comes out of your wallet. An advisor needs to see where money leaks—not the version of your spending you think should happen, but what really does.

Be specific about things that vary month to month. If you buy groceries differently when children are in school, or your electricity bill swings wildly with the seasons, say so. If load-shedding has pushed you to run a generator or buy gas, that's a real cost that affects what's left over. If you've been borrowing from family some months to cover shortfalls, tell them. These aren't failures to hide; they're the texture of your real month, and the advisor needs to see it.

Include the costs you might forget: car insurance, medical aid, school fees once a year, car maintenance, birthday gifts, or clothing replacements. These don't happen every month, but they happen, and when they do you need money for them. An advisor will help you spread them into a monthly buffer so you're not caught short.

Bring your debt statement too—the full list. Don't round or estimate the balances or interest rates. If you're not sure of a rate, bring the statements so the advisor can read the actual figure. They'll also need to know which debts are priority (bond, rent, car finance) and which have consequences if you miss payments.

Be honest about what you actually earn

If your income is steady, this part is straightforward: bring a recent payslip. But if it's irregular—commission-based, freelance, cash work, informal business—you need to show a pattern. Bring bank statements for the last three to six months so the advisor can see the average and the range. Not the best month or the worst, but the real rhythm.

If you're expecting a bonus, inheritance, or a side income to start soon, mention it, but make clear: is it certain? When? Don't let a hope inflate the plan. The advisor's job is to build on what you can count on now, and adjust later if things improve.

Also mention if your income is about to change—retrenchment risk, a new job starting, a child about to enter school and free up childcare money. These shape what's realistic to commit to over the next few months.

Once you've handed over the truth—messy, detailed, and unglamorous—the advisor can build a plan that doesn't rely on you suddenly becoming someone else. They can't magic away your debt, but they can show you what's actually possible from where you're standing now.

When you're ready to find someone who'll take the time to understand your full picture, Strove's verified debt counsellors and budget advisors are vetted to explain what they're doing and why. You'll know what you're paying for and what to expect.