Tips for parents who became the bank of mum and dad this year Aussie parents have coughed up more than $26 million to help their adult kids since COVID-19 hit our shores – and one in five is at financial risk from doing so. Parents helping their adult kids financially isn’t an unfamiliar concept in this country, but figures reveal mums and dads have forked out approximately $26.8 million since the outbreak of COVID-19 in …
How to enjoy a credit-free COVID Christmas! After the year we’ve had, Australians may be more tempted to rely on debt to meet their holiday obligations. But there are other ways to get through the festive season without breaking the bank… At the best of times, Christmas can put a pretty severe strain on our hip pockets. And let’s face it, this isn’t the best of times. You don’t have to have lived through Melbourne’s …
Econosights: The impact of economic shocks on inflation Key points COVID-19 has caused a big change in consumer spending patterns. In developed countries, demand for goods has generally gone up but services demand has collapsed. Changes in demand along with some supply constraints have caused an increase in goods prices while prices for services have been weaker. Consumer inflation data uses consumer spending baskets from prior years to construct quarterly price changes. However, these …
Four take-aways from the RBA’s October meeting The RBA held its October board meeting today. Though there wasn’t as much movement as we expected, there were four key take-aways: 1. The RBA left the cash rate on hold The RBA left the cash rate on hold at 0.25% for the seventh month in a row. With the RBA recently explicitly stating that its forecast outlook for inflation and employment is not consistent with its objectives …
The twilight zone: Australian house prices falling but worse to come Average property prices across Australia’s capital cities fell for the third month in a row in July. The monthly fall, of 0.8%, means capital city prices have fallen 2% on average since their peak in April 20201. AMP Capital chief economist and head of investment strategy Dr Shane Oliver says average property prices rose by 10.3% between June 2019 and April 2020, but …
Why you need more than one budget Coming up with even a basic budget is a big achievement for most of us. But having more than one budget can actually help you get to your goals sooner. Find out why. Sticking to a budget can be a tough business. Even with a step-by-step budgeting guide to follow, having the discipline to stay on target with goals for spending and saving is a challenge. Even the task of …
Breaking down barriers to mental health Ever since his own battle with depression more than 30 years ago, former All Black Sir John Kirwan has campaigned for mental wellbeing for all. He talks to Miriam DeLacy about the key challenges and opportunities he sees in supporting mental health, in the workplace and beyond. For decades, being in the spotlight has been a part of life for Sir John Kirwan – known to his family, …
Putting your own needs first It’s a confronting thought, but elder abuse is more common in families than in aged care facilities. The most likely form is financial, and it often results from well-intentioned plans that go wrong. Here are some ideas on how to help your family avoid the pitfalls. It’s a win-win idea. A parent sells their home to move in with their adult child’s family, providing cash for the deposit or renovations …
WEBINARS JUN 20 – Safety, privacy and sustainable change – ethical investing in a pandemic 10 Jun, 2020 By Kristen Le Mesurier B Com, B Laws (Hons), M LawsPortfolio Manager – Multi Asset GroupSydney, Australia Important information While every care has been taken in the preparation of this video, AMP Capital Investors Limited (ABN 59 001 777 591, AFSL 232497) and AMP Capital Funds Management Limited (ABN 15 159 557 721, AFSL 426455) makes no representations …
COVID-19 and the job market 29 May 2020 How COVID-19 is affecting the Australian employment market and what it means for your job The coronavirus outbreak has had a major impact on Australians’ livelihoods. Many working Australians have needed to adjust to a loss of income resulting from working from home, reduced working hours, and in some cases loss of employment as government restrictions have taken hold. Let’s look at the state of play in …
