Save for something big. Using goals to achieve your dreams Many people don’t find budgeting and saving easy, nor is it on top of their priority list. Most of us are programmed to look for short cuts, or believe that with a bit of luck – and rising house prices – ‘we’ll be right’. But in reality, saving for the lifestyle we want does require a degree of discipline and an active interest in looking …
New research shows one in three Australians think retirement is too far away to plan for. That’s a big mistake. Retirement rolls around faster than you think. Take it from me, the day when you’re ready to hang up your work boots is likely to roll around far more quickly than you anticipate, and it pays to be prepared. If you think time passes more quickly as you get older, you’re absolutely right. It turns out …
5 ways to simplify your life If managing life’s everyday complexities only seem achievable when you’re daydreaming about the chef, cleaner, personal assistant or nanny that you don’t have, you’re probably not alone. And, if ‘turbulent’ is the way you’d describe your day-to-day routine, these tips may help you get back the hours you need for the things that matter most. 1. Organisation – the Holy Grail Planning yours or the family’s life can take …
Resolutions for a wealthy future Shedding a few kilos and getting fit are popular New Year’s resolutions, but along with improving your health why not resolve to boost your wealth in 2016? The best way to do that is to have a clear picture about what you want to achieve. Perhaps you want to buy a new car, save a deposit for your first home, prepare for the birth of a child or go on …
A Few Summer Credit Card Blunders And How To Avoid Them Summer is usually the time for people to sit back and relax. All through the year, hardworking round the clock means some well needed rest is deserved. But beware to not let the leisure and complacency extend to your pockets. Summer time is the time to guard your money and finances rather well because mistake outlets are open everywhere. So which blunders should you …
Go easy on the plastic over Christmas With the silly season fast approaching, it’s time to start planning how you pay for Christmas. From gifts to food, the tab can add up quickly. If this year is anything like last Christmas, on average we’ll each spend an extra $1,079 over the December/New Year period, and that’s on top of regular expenses. That makes now the time to draw up a Christmas budget. In addition …
Love and money – safeguarding relationships Are you or your partner making sneaky ATM trips? Engaging in late-night online banking sessions? If so, you – or they – could be guilty of ‘financial infidelity’. Forget sex, religion or politics, the experts all agree that money is the most common cause of relationship tension. “We think about relationship compatibility from just about every angle except money, yet finances are a top cause of divorce. Many people …
Let’s talk about money When it comes to analysing the state of Australian relationships, you can forget the bedroom. The really revealing behaviour takes place behind closed bank accounts. Let’s talk about money.. It is no secret that money is often at the heart of divorce and family disputes. Money has certainly not bought love for Australia’s richest person, Gina Rinehart who is locked in a bitter court battle with her children for control of …
Honey, the kids shrunk my retirement An increasing number of Peter (and Peta) Pans are refusing to fly the coop, staying in the family home well into adulthood. It’s estimated that in the next five years, more than one million 18 to 29-year-old Australians will still be living with their parents. Put another way, nearly a third of people close to retiring will still be supporting their adult children at the end of this decade.i …
Are we becoming a cashless society? Australians are edging towards a cashless future, as consumers use debit cards or other electronic payment methods in preference to cash at the checkout and online. But whether we will entirely shun notes and coins in the future is not certain. For one thing, cash has its benefits. It’s easier for small transactions such as buying a coffee or tipping a waiter. However, the rise of contactless, credit …
