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 things to consider when saving for a house deposit Before you can step onto the property ladder and buy your first home, you’ll likely have to do some serious saving to build up a deposit. Here are some things to consider that can help get you started, and on the road to home ownership sooner. Work out your current situation It might sound obvious, but it’s easier to reach a savings goal when you …
Can you teach your kids to defer gratification? 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. While it is possible to help kids have a money-saving mindset by teaching them to delay gratification, it’s …
How to review your direct debits and save Direct debits can be extremely convenient and even save you money. But they can become costly – and may even send you into debt – when you lose track of your automated payments. Conduct regular reviews to keep on top of your direct debits. Here’s how. Type ‘direct debit’ into your internet search engine and the words ‘hassle free’, ‘easy’ and ‘simple’ will likely pop up in …
What happens to my super when I move overseas? If you’re a permanent Aussie resident, your super will remain subject to the same rules. If you’re a temporary resident, you can apply to have your super paid to you after you leave. You might be leaving the country for a variety of reasons – career, love, new opportunities – or returning home. You’ve probably got a checklist of things to do before you go, so …
8 tips to manage your debts How you tackle your debts may make a big difference to what you pay in the long run. It’s not uncommon in Australia to have some form of debt, whether that be credit card debt, a personal loan, student tuition, car finance or a home loan. The good news is, certain debt can have its advantages and generally that will come down to three things, including whether that debt …
9 ways to boost your super savings Check out what you could do while you’re still earning an income and have time on your side. Many of us turn a bit of a blind eye to super. We hope it’ll be enough when the time comes and believe the government’s age pension is available if we fall short. Not everyone is eligible for the age pension, and we may live a less than modest lifestyle …
The plunge in shares & flow on to super – key things for investors to keep in mind during times of market turmoil Key points Share markets have fallen sharply in recent weeks continuing the plunge that started early this year due to worries about inflation, monetary tightening, recession & geopolitical issues including the invasion of Ukraine. It’s still too early to say markets have bottomed. This will weigh on super returns for this financial …
Review of 2021, outlook for 2022 – recovery to continue as we hopefully learn to live with covid Key Points 2021 was again dominated by the coronavirus pandemic, along with concern about higher inflation and monetary tightening but shares, unlisted assets and balanced growth super funds saw strong returns. Continuing solid economic growth, rising profits and still easy monetary conditions should result in good overall investment returns in 2022, but they are likely to be …
How to create visibility on spending goals in retirement Retirees looking to develop a sustainable financial plan face a challenging technical problem. So it makes sense to simplify some of the inputs. Those of us who focus on the production of investment returns for retirees’ financial assets often choose to make simple assumptions about consumption patterns in retirement. However a more detailed understanding of priorities for spending in retirement can inform the design of appropriate …
