Environmental and financial costs of fast fashion Avoid becoming a fashion victim by understanding the real cost of fast fashion. You might have a friend who wouldn’t be caught dead in the same outfit twice. But what’s the real cost of fast fashion – the buy it, wear it once, throw it away culture of cheap clothing that has hit the mainstream? What is fast fashion? Not dissimilar to the fast-food movement, fast fashion is …
When to charge your kids board It’s not just those aged 20 to 24 living at home – about 5% of people 40 and over are also sharing a roof with mum and dad. I recently came across a news story about a hapless New York couple, who have taken their 30-year old son to court in a last-ditch effort to get him to move out of home. My first thought was “only in America”. …
What to consider when buying a car Here’s a list of questions to ask yourself when you’re on the hunt for a new set of wheels. Whether it’s new or used, buying a car isn’t something we do very often. It might be your first big purchase, so it’s something you don’t want to get wrong. Before you hit the dealerships or the internet, check out this list of what to consider when buying a …
How to deal with financial stress – nearly 1 in 3 affected Close to one in three Aussies is feeling the pinch financially, with money worries reportedly leading to sleep loss, conflicts in relationships, isolation, as well as a range of other things.i These were the findings from the inaugural Financial Stress Index, compiled by global research firm CoreData on behalf of Aussie group, Financial Mindfulness, which indicated financial stress is not only being experienced …
The rise of the gig economy and side gigs (thanks to technology) Chances are you either have a side gig (a way to make money on the side of your usual job), want to have one, or you benefit from someone else’s. While the gig economy has been bubbling away in the background for a while now, it continues to be on the rise, and people are finding new ways to make a bit of …
How to make money by turning your unwanted goods into cash Whether it’s not-quite-right gifts you have received or the results of an annual clean out, your trash might be someone else’s treasure. A survey by online marketplace Gumtree found that Australians received more than 21 million unwanted gifts for Christmas in 2017 with an average value of $68 eachi. If that sounds familiar, you might be among – or might want to consider joining …
What is the cost of raising a child? We take a look at the costs that come with raising kids through the different stages of their life. Laughter, joy and fun are some of the words associated with having kids, but there’s another word that often gets overlooked – expensive. Whether you’re just starting to think about having a family, have a baby on the way, or are already in the trenches with one – …
We tried a no-spend challenge – here’s what we learned What happened when three AMP employees set out with a grand ambition: to spend no money at all for a week. If you’re like most of us, you’d probably like to spend less money. But keeping track of where your money goes – and especially your spending on all of the little things – can be hard. One way to identify and tackle your spending …
The inconvenient cost of convenience apps In today’s digital world, there’s a mobile phone app for just about everything. It can make life easier, but convenience can come at a cost. Smartphones have wrought remarkable changes to our way of life in just a few short years. Need a ride somewhere? There’s an app for that. Too tired to cook dinner? There’s an app to supply takeaways direct to your door. Need cash in a …
Australians reveal their priority goals Most Australians indicate their biggest life goal is a financial one, but many admit failing to plan is a roadblock. Increased household debt, record-high property prices and the aftermath of the global financial crisis have not impeded Australians’ belief in their ability to achieve their goals. In fact, an August 2016 research paper by The Financial Planning Association of Australia and McCrindle, showed four in five Australians were confident they could turn …
