Personal debt – maybe the mortgage isn’t so bad Household debt in Australia is high but more of us are taking a sensible approach to debt management. Nationally, our household debt ratio is nudging 200%. On paper it means we owe twice as much in debt as we bring home in our pay packets each year. It sounds like an alarming figure but as 74% of all households have some level of debt, the reality …
Spread your money, reduce risk Six out of ten Australians own investments outside of the family home and super. That’s good news. The only problem is that many people are still putting all their eggs in one, or just a few, baskets. The latest investor study by the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) found 40% of investors admit they don’t have a diversified portfolio. Almost one in two investors think their portfolio is diverse, yet …
Time for women to celebrate March 8 marks International Women’s Day – a good time for women to embrace opportunities to achieve financial independence. After more than 30 years in the money business I’ve seen women make great strides with their personal finances. The gender pay gap is narrowing, lenders no longer shun single women when they apply for a home loan, and little by little, women are gaining a larger slice of the superannuation pie. …
Add some extra cash to your New Year We all dream of an unexpected windfall, and there may be no better way to kick start 2018 than with some extra cash to your name. With a bit of digging around, it can be possible to find some forgotten funds you’re entitled to. A treasure trove of forgotten cash To begin with, many state government treasuries are filled with a trove of refunds and overpayments, unpresented …
One in three Aussies travel without protection It’s that time of the year when our thoughts turn to summer holidays, but amid the excitement of choosing a destination, don’t forget to arrange travel cover. In the last three years, one in three Australians have headed off internationally without the protection of travel insurance. If you run into trouble overseas it can be far more than just inconvenient. Lost baggage, stolen smartphones and delayed flights can …
Reduce your bills with these household items See what things you might have at home that could deliver you cost savings later on. We all enjoy the odd bargain and inexpensive label that delivers quality at a fraction of the price; however, sometimes shelling out a bit more up front can mean greater cost savings down the track. Check out these seven things that could provide you with financial benefits over the long term. 1. …
Living longer, working longer and super balances larger Australians with the best life expectancy in history will have to work longer in order to be able to fund their retirement. But research has found only half of all working Australians will be healthy enough to work in to their golden years. The latest AMP.NATSEM report, Going the distance: Working longer, living healthier, has found the majority of Australians have less than a 50 per cent …
Home equity – the $500 billion resource for seniors The latest round of figures showing rising home values in almost all our state capitals highlights how many Australian retirees could have a valuable resource at their fingertips. Older Australians, who may not have enjoyed the benefits of employer-paid super for their entire working life, can face the prospect of a lean retirement. However, one area where over-50s often have an advantage over their younger counterparts …
Volunteering abroad! Ever wondered what it would be like to uproot your life and do something completely different? People of all ages do just that by volunteering abroad. In places like Mongolia, Thailand, Romania, Mexico or Fiji, volunteers are needed every day. You could use your skills and experience on projects from archaeology, journalism, environment, to human rights, teaching, sports and healthcare. Whatever your specialisation, if you have the desire to enrich a community, …
