Buy, sell or sit tight? Tips for Australians buying or selling a home during COVID-19 Some people are reacting by sitting tight and waiting for the housing market to smooth out. But it may not be so easy to put your plans on hold. You might have pre-approval for a home loan. You might need to get into a school zone for the start of the year. You might have a baby on the way. …
Where to seek advice in uncertain times The COVID-19 pandemic is a global crisis and people the world over are experiencing impacts in their lives as a result. To keep your anxieties about money to a minimum, find out where you can turn for help to secure your finances and income. With the ongoing escalation of the COVID-19 crisis many people are struggling. Huge changes are happening and we’re all being affected, socially, emotionally and …
Why people choose the wrong credit card Now we have a bit more proof that these warnings from consumer advocates were spot on. As banks face pressure to live up to claims they “put customers first”, the Reserve Bank released research finding almost two out of three Australian cardholders receive no “net monetary benefit” from having a credit card. When you think about it, that’s a surprisingly high proportion of customers who are no better …
When is the right time to downsize? Downsizing from a larger family home to somewhere smaller can be an obvious choice when retirement is on the cards. For others it’s a necessity and something they do reluctantly. So when it comes to timing your decision, what’s the right approach to getting the best outcome for you and your finances? When is the right time to downsize? We talked to CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER® professional Anne Graham, principal …
Money mistakes people make in their 50s and 60s Avoid these common money traps to make sure you have enough put aside for a comfortable retirement. When you’re in your 50s and 60s, you know you’ve worked long and hard for what you’ve achieved in life and probably have a fair idea of how you want to live in your future retirement. But it’s important not to become complacent and ignore the warning signs of …
Already retired Have you reached your retirement age yet you feel you’re not yet ready to give up work altogether? If you’re eligible for the Age Pension, the government offers incentives for working people to defer claiming it. On the other hand, if you’ve independently funded your retirement, you may benefit from keeping track of, or restructuring, your finances so you can maximise any government entitlement. Some questions you may wish to consider …
