Blue collar, white collar – how the job you do can affect your financial stress It’s fair to say that COVID took a toll on the working habits of Australians. Deep into lockdown and we were all getting slightly frayed around the edges. We knew we were all in this together. But we couldn’t help looking around and comparing our situation with those of friends and family in other walks of life. In the white-collar …
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 …
The benefits of reaching your 60s in Australia The upside to getting older is becoming eligible for government benefits that could help lower the cost of living. So, it’s the big one. Sixty years old. It’s hard to believe… In a youth-obsessed culture it seems we’re constantly being reminded about the downside of getting older. And it’s true there are some aspects of ageing that are less than optimal. The body can get a bit …
Your end of financial year super checklist With the end of financial year fast approaching, now is a good time to consider how you can use superannuation to maximise your tax benefits. While certain contributions may be able to reduce your taxable income or see you pay less on investment earnings, there are a range of considerations. These include how much money you have in your super, whether you’re still in the accumulation phase and …
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 …
Super contribution rules when you’re in your 60s and 70s Know your options around making contributions, accessing your super savings and when Age Pension entitlements could be affected. Whether you’re still working, or you’ve already retired, rules around super contributions, accessing super and things like age pension eligibility do ramp up once you hit your 60s and 70s. There have also been a lot of rule changes in the super space, including some around age …
7 tips to reduce your debts before you retire As your working life draws to a close, your social life and recreational activities don’t have to. If you’re a little anxious about money still owing, here are a few pointers. Ahh retirement! You may have been dreaming about it for decades. You visualise yourself putting away your uniform, high-vis or corporate gear, farewelling that lovely boss of yours and spending the rest of your days …
Part of preparing for your future may involve making a plan for your money to grow. Investing is one way to increase your money over time. Use Moneysmart’s investor toolkit to get across the investing basics. Understand key concepts like risk tolerance, diversification, portfolios, and asset names. To learn more about investing visit Moneysmart.gov.au. Original Author: Produced by Moneysmart and published on 24/02/2022 Source
Comfort spending in the land down under – what we buy and why A year ago, takeaway food was number one on Australia’s comfort-spending list. If habitual purchases like this are still taking their toll, here are some tips for 2022. Over a 12-month period, Australians forked out a whopping $37 billion (and then some) on comfort spending1. You know, the things you might buy to pass the time or make yourself feel better. If …
