Toolie Guides
In-depth, plain-language reads on the topics our tools touch — written for life in Southern Africa. Each guide walks through the practical detail beyond what a calculator alone can tell you.
Understanding APS: Everything Grade 12 students need to know
What APS actually is, how it's calculated, why Life Orientation doesn't count, the difference between minimum and competitive scores, and what to do if your APS doesn't quite make the cut. A complete reference for matrics and parents.
Read the guide →Shein customs in South Africa: The 2024 SARS rule changes explained
Why your Shein orders cost more than they used to, what changed in 2024, how customs duty actually works on clothing, footwear, and electronics, and the real strategy for ordering smarter from Shein, Temu, and AliExpress.
Read the guide →How to apply for NSFAS: A complete parent's guide for 2027
Who qualifies, what NSFAS actually covers, the application timeline that matters, the documents you'll need ready, what to do if rejected, and how to keep your funding once you're in. The full walkthrough.
Read the guide →Going solar in South Africa: A beginner's complete guide
The first-time-buyer's overview of backup vs hybrid vs off-grid, realistic costs, the questions to ask installers, CoC and SSEG explained, battery and inverter brand notes, and the SARS Section 12B tax rebate.
Read the guide →How these guides are written. Every Toolie guide starts with the questions real families ask us and the ones our calculators can't answer on their own. We research each topic against primary sources — SARS tariff schedules, NSFAS application rules, university admission requirements, installer regulations — and write it the way you'd explain it to a neighbour: plain language, real rand amounts, and the catches nobody warns you about. Guides are reviewed when the rules change, and each shows its last-updated date so you know how fresh the information is.
Suggest the next guide. Topics on our list include bursary motivation letters that win, choosing between ISFAP and NSFAS, and prepaid electricity tariffs explained. If there's something you'd like covered, email hello@gettoolie.com — we read every suggestion.