Preparing for the time of your life

  Preparing for the time of your life The choices we make in life have a big influence on our personal happiness and also on the wellbeing of those we love. Sometimes we anticipate choices with a sense of excitement. And sometimes life throws us curve balls in the form of unexpected events and important decisions.   Perhaps you are thinking about a career change or how to achieve a better work/life balance? Maybe you …

Save for something big

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 …

Women are building financial intelligence

Women are building financial intelligence International Women’s Day on 8 March encourages us to aim for parity for women. On average, Australian women are paid 17.1% less than meni. They also tend to spend more time away from paid work to have children and care for loved ones which impacts their income, savings and superannuation. The good news is things are improving. Women are building financial intelligence. Women are closing the gap Women have come a …

A bump in the road, then a new start

A bump in the road, then a new start Taking stock of how your life’s travelling at the start of a new year is a great idea but you might feel more urgency if you’ve recently come to the end of a serious, long term relationship or gone through a divorce. What’s next, you want to know. How do you rebuild your life, is your financial outlook positive, what happens if you find a new …

After the dust settles, a fresh start…

  After the dust settles, a fresh start… Taking stock of how your life’s travelling at the start of a new year is probably an exercise you’re likely to pursue with greater urgency if you’ve recently come to the end of a serious, long term relationship or gone through a divorce. What’s next, you want to know. How do you rebuild your life, is your financial outlook positive, what happens if you find a new …

Resolutions for a wealthy future

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 …

Your essential 2016 checklist!

Your essential 2016 checklist! These tips can help your health, wealth and happiness flourish in the coming year. Another year has flashed by even quicker than the last. Now’s the time to look back on whether you achieved everything you wanted to last year―and set your goals for the coming year. Here are some tips to help you get organised. Health and fitness Make appointments for health and fitness assessments. Then set your goals and …

Save Money Even When You Dine Out

Save Money Even When You Dine Out The reaction of most people with limited amount of money when they hear a dining out plan is the sigh “expensive”. It is true that dining out in most restaurants is an expensive venture, but you can still enjoy the occasional meal dining out without having to stretch your budget to the brink of a meltdown. This is possible if you are a smart spender. Smart spending doesn’t …

A Few Summer Credit Card Blunders And How To Avoid Them

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

  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 …