From spender to saver

From spender to saver After a bit of a wake-up call we managed to change our money habits….here’s how we did it Before I start I’d better explain our attitude towards money. We were having dinner with friends the other day and they were regaling us with tales of getting stuck into their spreadsheets on Saturday nights. It’s what they do for kicks, apparently. When they left, we were all ‘Gee, what are they like? …

How to save for retirement at every age

How to save for retirement at every age No matter how old you are or where you’re at with your financial goals, it’s important to plan for your retirement. The average Australian now lives to 82.8 years, making retirement a life stage that can continue for two decades or longer. So while this milestone may seem like a lifetime away now, it’s never too early or late to start planning for retirement. Our decade-by-decade guide …

How financial advice can help

How financial advice can help Even if a person has a small asset base and no funds to invest, the help and guidance of a financial adviser can be valuable. Accumulating wealth is a long-term process. It usually occurs parallel to a person’s professional, private and family life. A good approach can be to have a few key strategies in place so that wealth can grow through life’s journey. It’s perhaps more common to seek financial …

How to enjoy a credit-free COVID Christmas

How to enjoy a credit-free COVID Christmas! After the year we’ve had, Australians may be more tempted to rely on debt to meet their holiday obligations. But there are other ways to get through the festive season without breaking the bank… At the best of times, Christmas can put a pretty severe strain on our hip pockets. And let’s face it, this isn’t the best of times. You don’t have to have lived through Melbourne’s …

The right times for financial advice

The right times for financial advice COVID-19 has created uncertainty everywhere and impacted not just our health but our wealth too. From millennials to retirees, we’ve had to review our finances and adapt to the changing environment. We’ve seen volatile share markets, slashed dividends on bank stocks, record-low interest rates and sectors like airlines, tourism and traditional retail struggling to survive. On the other hand, online shopping and e-commerce have surged, and more people are …

The three key habits of the financially secure

Three key habits of the financially secure Financial wellness describes how we evaluate our finances and cope with any related stress. It can be a significant factor that affects our overall psychological wellbeing. AMP’s recent financial wellness research found three financial habits that people who are financially secure have in common: They save money regularly They pay off their credit card debt They avoid using layby and buy now, pay later (BNPL) services. We explore each of …

How can I make my retirement dream a reality?

How can I make my retirement dream a reality? What does your retirement dream look like – spending time on your hobbies? Seeing the grandkids more often? Maybe pursuing a passion, or travelling? According to AMP financial adviser John Dani, the people who are most content and happy in retirement all have this one thing in common – a well-defined purpose for their golden years. Mr Dani’s worked with hundreds of people over the last …

How to review your direct debits and save

  How to review your direct debits and save Direct debits can be extremely convenient and even save you money. But they can become costly – and may even send you into debt – when you lose track of your automated payments. Conduct regular reviews to keep on top of your direct debits. Here’s how. Type ‘direct debit’ into your internet search engine and the words ‘hassle free’, ‘easy’ and ‘simple’ will likely pop up …

Aussies saving for a rainy day instead of a holiday

Aussies saving for a rainy day instead of a holiday Not many people can say they’ve been unaffected by COVID-19. Whether you’ve lost work, had hours reduced or been fortunate to maintain employment, COVID has been a wake-up call for how we manage our money and set financial goals. Research1 by AMP shows that the majority of us now believe it’s more important than ever to plan for a secure financial future. For the first time …

6 steps to building good financial habits

6 steps to building good financial habits How financially secure do you feel? Recent research1 into Australians’ financial wellness – which is a person’s satisfaction with their current and future financial situation – revealed that people with good financial habits feel more financially secure. It sounds like a no-brainer. But adopting good financial habits isn’t always as easy as it sounds. Otherwise, we’d all be doing it already. With the impact of COVID-19 still being felt, …