10 experiences for $10 For the next time you’re itching to get out, but don’t want to spend a fortune, here’s a list of 10 things to do for about $10 (or less). 1. Get near some water If you live in Australia, you probably live within 50km of the coastline.i And if you don’t, there’s a good chance you live near another type of water source – a river, dam, lake or even the local …
Money can buy you happiness, you’re just spending it wrong This is the view of Dr Michael Norton from Harvard Business School. Michael’s research indicates that money can indeed make you happy if you use it to buy experiences, time, or invest in others. Buying experiences – when we buy experiences, we don’t just buy the duration of that experience. Michael’s team’s research found that we’re happiest the day before leaving for a holiday–the anticipation is …
Six traits of Australians living the dream Almost one in four Australians (23%) believe they are definitely or mostly ‘living the dream’, according to recent research from the Financial Planning Association.iHere are six traits that have helped them to achieve their dreams. 1. Strong personal habits Australians living the dream are family oriented, spending more quality time with their family during the week than the average Australian. And they’re five times more likely to meditate …
Money can buy you happiness – if you spend it right At AMP’s recent Amplify program, high-profile Harvard Business professor and behavioural finance expert, Michael Norton, asked the crowded room a question. If you found $20 in the street today, how would you spend it to make yourself happiest? Norton, whose TED Talk on money and happiness has attracted almost 3.5 million views, followed up with another question: Think of the last $20 you had …
Selfie obsessions – What’s it all about? Mirror on the wall In 2013, “selfie” was officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. It refers to a person taking a photo of themselves with their own phone or camera. The idea of taking a self-portrait isn’t really new. It seems since the beginning of time we’ve felt the need to capture ourselves in some way – cave drawings, painted portraits, photo-booths. And now with the reverse camera …
How to make technology work for you Automate the boring things Set up direct debits so your bills are paid on time without having to remember all the due dates. And if your credit card is weighing you down, set up a regular payment and pay the full amount each month if you can to avoid more interest. Or at least pay the minimum monthly amount before the due date rolls around. You’ll have peace …
Gut instinct is no match for expert advice By Paul Clitheroe 6 February 2017 One of the marvelous aspects of living in the digital age is the ready availability of information. It’s a far cry from the days when we often made decisions based on a hunch, and that’s just as well. Research by broking group Mortgage Choice confirms that one in three Australians have regretted a financial decision based on gut instinct. When it …
How to cope with losing independence If you or a loved one is experiencing a loss of independence, you may be able to maintain a sense of control. Few, if any of us, look forward to losing independence. In fact, research reveals that 75% of older people feared losing independence while only 29% feared dying1. It also revealed that 44% were worried about moving into an aged care facility. Whether a physical, social or emotional …
Why goals succeed where resolutions fail By now school, work and daily routines may be ruling your week once again. And if you made any resolutions over the holiday season, chances are you’re probably slipping back into your old ways. Don’t worry. Researchi has proven resolutions rarely work. Mainly because resolutions tend to expect us to change habits we’ve built over a lifetime, overnight. Psychology professor Peter Herman calls them the “false hope syndrome” because …
Can delayed gratification help you with your finances? The benefits of delayed gratification and how it can help you achieve your financial goals. Are you the type of person who always has to have the latest clothes, smart technology or gym gear? If you answered yes to this question, you could be a person who likes instant gratification, that is, you like to indulge in instant reward now, rather than exercising self-control1, in return for a …
