Over the past number of years, the cost of living has increased for the majority of people in South Africa. Many struggle to cope with paying for food, housing, travel, school-fees and all other living expenses. In our reality of widespread poverty, many people turn to borrowing money. Little wonder then that a recent World Bank report based on a survey conducted in 2014 ranks South Africans as being the highest money borrowers in the world. They mainly borrow from family and friends (71%) but for many, private informal money-lenders are the easiest and quickest way of obtaining extra cash. However, this causes many workers to be in a permanent debt trap, often ending up with no wages at the end of the week or month. What is being done about and is there a solution?