Merry-go-rounds
Susu, chama, esusu and every other rotating savings circle — how they work and how to run one well.
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Merry-go-rounds
Bidding merry-go-rounds and chit funds: how auction rotations work
How bidding merry-go-rounds work — members bid a discount for early access and the discount is shared. Worked example, rules and the risks to watch.
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Merry-go-rounds
How to start a merry-go-round with friends (step by step)
A practical launch plan for a friends' merry-go-round — choosing members, setting the amount, agreeing the order, and the first meeting checklist.
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Merry-go-rounds
Is a merry-go-round worth it? The math of early and late payouts
Who really gains in a merry-go-round? Worked examples showing the early payout as an interest-free loan, the late payout as zero-interest saving, and inflation's effect.
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Merry-go-rounds
Merry-go-round scams: 8 warning signs of a fake savings circle
How to tell a genuine merry-go-round from a pyramid scheme dressed up as one — eight warning signs, real examples like blessing looms, and what to do if you joined.
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Merry-go-rounds
Stokvels in South Africa: types, rules and how to run one well
A guide to South African stokvels — rotating, savings, grocery, burial and investment stokvels, typical rules, banking options and how to keep one healthy.
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Merry-go-rounds
What is a merry-go-round? The complete guide to rotating savings circles
How merry-go-rounds, susu, chama and other rotating savings circles work, why they're so popular, the risks to watch for, and how to run one fairly.
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Merry-go-rounds
How to decide the payout order in a merry-go-round fairly
Five ways to choose who gets paid first in a susu, chama or merry-go-round — random draws, need, seniority, bidding and swaps — with the trade-offs of each.
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Merry-go-rounds
What to do when a member doesn't pay: a step-by-step playbook
How savings groups and merry-go-rounds should handle late and missed contributions — from friendly reminders to penalties, guarantors, suspension and exits.
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Merry-go-rounds
Merry-go-round rules template (copy and adapt for your group)
A ready-to-use rules template for a merry-go-round, susu or chama rotation — contributions, deadlines, payout order, late payments, defaults, swaps and exits.
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Merry-go-rounds
Weekly, fortnightly or monthly: choosing your merry-go-round schedule
How often your merry-go-round should pay out — matching the schedule to members' income, group size and goals, with examples of how long each option takes.
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Merry-go-rounds
Susu in Ghana: how it works and how to run a safe susu group
A practical guide to susu in Ghana — the difference between a susu collector and a rotating susu group, how payouts work, and how to keep your group safe.
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Merry-go-rounds
How to start and run a chama: a practical guide
Everything you need to start a chama — merry-go-round, investment and welfare chamas, officials, constitution, records and avoiding the common ways chamas fall apart.
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Merry-go-rounds
Using a merry-go-round to pay school fees on time
How parents plan a merry-go-round around school fee deadlines — timing payouts to the term calendar, choosing the amount, and handling several children.
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Merry-go-rounds
Esusu and ajo: how Nigeria's rotating savings circles work
A clear guide to esusu and ajo in Nigeria — how the rotation and daily collector models work, their benefits and risks, and how to run a trustworthy circle today.
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Merry-go-rounds
Merry-go-round vs savings group: ROSCA vs ASCA explained
The difference between a rotating merry-go-round (ROSCA) and an accumulating savings group (ASCA), with a side-by-side comparison and when to switch.