Staying afloat through the crisis If you had asked me when I wrote my last piece for Financy what I would be writing about this quarter, I could never, in a million years, have predicted that it would be about a global pandemic. We’re dealing with a health crisis that no one in our lifetime has experienced, which is having an impact on global and domestic economies that no one could have forecast. Entire industries – tourism, …
When it comes to teaching kids about healthy money habits, there are few lessons more important than being able to defer gratification. By helping kids learn to put off what they want right now and save instead, they’ll be better equipped with the skills to be financially secure adults. Deferring gratification While it is possible to help kids have a money-saving mindset by teaching them to delay gratification, it’s a lesson that can take time …
Money Saving Mindset – How to encourage a money-saving mindset in your kids The right time to teach kids about saving money might be sooner than you think. The surprising truth is, kids form their money habits very early on. Behaviour experts at Cambridge University1 found children’s money habits are formed by the age of 7. With that in mind, it’s never too early to start teaching your kids how to make good decisions about …
Teaching your kids to spend wisely There are many reasons we fall into the trap of overspending. One reason is we get bombarded with very effective advertising on social media where data scientists and algorithms seem to know what we will be tempted by before we do. Perhaps we are emotional spenders and buy things because it feels good. Maybe we’re trying to keep up with the Joneses, or perhaps we lose track of how …
How to avoid bill shock with bill-smoothing payments Sidestep the shock of unexpected bills by smoothing out payments and making regular, automated instalments that can be planned well in advance. Ever experience that sinking feeling when you’ve opened a bill that you can’t possibly afford to pay? The shock of receiving a big bill – or worse, a number of them arriving at the same time – can be extremely stressful. Thankfully, by setting up …
5 saving graces of giftmas Gift giving is one of life’s joys, until the credit card bill comes through. Here are five ways to maximise the love without blowing your budget. According to a recent Financial Planning Association of Australia reporti, 85% of us find more joy in giving gifts to others than in getting them ourselves. Though we love the sound of ripping wrapping paper, almost three quarters of us don’t budget for gifts. …
7 Tips to improve your financial wellness What is financial wellness? How you feel, is your wellness. How you feel about your money is your financial wellness. This can be measured by the financial wellness index, which measures a person’s satisfaction with their current and future financial situation. Some days you might feel confident you can meet your needs within the boundaries of your current income, whereas other days you may feel like you don’t …
Types of Retirement and Superannuation Pensions explained If you’re retirement planning and wondering how you can access your super via different types of retirement pensions, how these differ to the government’s age pension, and what you should know if you’re considering withdrawing your super as a lump sum, it’s a good idea to get across the information below. Keep in mind that to access your super, you generally need to have reached your preservation age …
Boost savings with compound interest If your goal is to save for the future, or perhaps start putting away for your children’s education – then unless you plan on putting your savings under your mattress, the sooner you start the better. That’s because you could be missing out on earning compound interest along the way that could make a stark difference to the overall amount you save. The difference between simple interest and compound interest …
Resist today, Relax tomorrow. Can you recite the last line of Gone with the Wind? If not, you’ll find the answer at the end of this article. If you scrolled down straight away, you might be too keen for your own good. We’ve all heard that patience is a virtue, and it can even save you money. For people figuring out how to fund the lifestyle they’d like in retirement, now’s a good time to remember the …
