Data from the first quarter Debt Index from DebtBusters shows that in real terms, South Africans now have 31% less disposable income than six years ago. The study further suggests that consumers are making up the shortfall in real income by borrowing and for those taking home more than R20 000 a month unsecured debt has also increased by 54% since 2016, while their debttoincome ratio is now at a mindboggling 150%.