5 ways to help prepare your finances for a recession If you think storms may lie ahead, it makes sense to prepare your craft for choppy waters. With Australia facing continued economic uncertainty, it may be time to take stock of your finances and get in the right shape. First the good news. The Australian economy fared better in the first quarter of 2020 than many other countries¹. To the end of March, the economy …
Finding the right financial planner for you Money & Life contributors draw on their diverse range of experience to present you with insights and guidance that will help you manage your financial wellbeing, achieve your lifestyle goals and plan for your financial future. How should you start your search for a financial planner? There are some fundamentals you should look for in the first instance. A license to provide financial advice – Always look for …
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 …
Essential checklist for the end of financial year The end of financial year on 30 June is a good time to take stock and get your finances in order. This is an end of financial year like no other. Being prepared, reviewing your super contributions and submitting your return on time are good policies every year, but the shadow of COVID-19 (coronavirus) means many of us face unexpected pressures in a changing economic environment. Many …
Old and new money lessons for kids One of the most important things you can teach your kids is how to manage their money as this will help them better face the challenges of adulthood. In our world of ever advancing technology, children often don’t see physical money being exchanged. In fact, some Scandinavian countries are even doing away with physical cash altogether. These days, money can be moved with the swipe of plastic card …
Should you give your teenager a credit card? We live in a culture of smartphones, WIFI, home delivery, online shopping and online gaming, where most needs and wants can be met almost instantly. With so much temptation to spend, it’s vital to teach your kids the money skills to help them enjoy financial wellbeing as adults. One of these key skills is learning how to deal with debt responsibly. Researchers from Cambridge1 University found …
Finding the right level of insurance cover is important when you’re thinking about retirement. If retirement’s coming up on your horizon, the impact of COVID-19 (coronavirus) may have thrown a warehouse-sized rack of spanners in your planning. It makes sense to concentrate on things you can control, such as insurance. Too-high premiums can chew away at the foundations of your savings, at a time when they’re more important than ever. Under-insure and one …
If you’re feeling worried about the impact of COVID-19 on your financial wellbeing, you’re not alone. CoreData reports that 81% of Australians are fearful about the potential impact of the pandemic on their personal finances and the broader economy. While it is a challenging time in many respects, the added burden of financial stress can be especially hard on your mental health. Severe financial stress can lead to symptoms of anxiety and depression, even triggering …
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. Deferring gratification While it is possible to help kids have a money-saving mindset by teaching them to delay gratification, it’s a lesson that can take time …
Money Saving Mindset – How to encourage a money-saving mindset in your kids The right time to teach kids about saving money might be sooner than you think. The surprising truth is, kids form their money habits very early on. Behaviour experts at Cambridge University1 found children’s money habits are formed by the age of 7. With that in mind, it’s never too early to start teaching your kids how to make good decisions about …
