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Feb 2018Downsizing should be a choice, not a wealth strategy
Downsizing to a coastal town or regional hub can hold lifestyle appeal, but don't bank on it as a strategy to fund your retirement. For many empty nesters, who may not have had the benefit of employer-paid super throughout their working life, the value of the family home can be seen as the jewel in the crown of a retirement funding strategy. After all, who…
05
Feb 2018Love and money? It’s not about control
With Valentine's Day around the corner, it's a good time to explore shared ideas, and how you manage money as a twosome. Our approach to managing household finances can make a big difference to the health of a relationship. Thankfully, the old line about “I earn the money. She spends it” no longer has relevance in modern relationships. Today’s lifestyles, housing commitments and our career…
31
Jan 2018What is the retirement age in Australia?
With no definitive retirement age in Australia, the date you exit the workforce will probably come down to personal circumstances and whether you can afford it. The age you retire in Australia isn’t set in stone. You can really retire whenever you want to, but health, financial commitments and your ability to fund the lifestyle you want will play a big part. For this reason,…
31
Jan 20187 healthy habits that could improve your bank balance this year
See how you could benefit your body, while upping the change in your back pocket at the same time. For many of us, the new year often begins with good intentions and a handful of new year resolutions, which may or may not begin right on 1 January. You might be working toward the day you return to work, or sometime over the next few…
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Jan 2018Bitcoin – is it really for you?
Some people may have made big money, but plenty of latecomers would have experienced dreadful losses. If I could sum up the contents of my junk emails over the last 12 months in a single word it would be: Bitcoin. I can’t tell you how many unsolicited invitations I’ve received to start trading bitcoin. This alone is a concern but when heavy hitters like the…
15
Jan 2018Are you eligible for government school subsidies?
Get up to speed with the government subsidies you may be able to claim before the kids go back to school. With 2018 now in motion, many parents and carers are looking at how they’ll cover school fees for the year ahead, not to mention other costs, such as uniforms, shoes, stationery and equipment. The Schoolkids Bonus was phased out in July 20161, but the…
12
Jan 2018Now to clear the festive debt
Australians racked up an extra $29 billion in credit card debt over the festive season, and without early action plenty of people could still be paying off Christmas 2017 in 12 months’ time. Australian cardholders each notched up an average of $1,727 in holiday debt based on figures from comparison site Finder. The interest cost alone could top $230 million. The news isn’t all bad…
07
Jan 2018Strategies to make your resolutions stick
Happy New Year! As we kick start 2018, you’ve probably made a few resolutions. It’s not a bad idea – simple lifestyle changes can improve our health and put valuable dollars back in our pocket. The trick however is to make your resolutions last the whole year, and that can call for a couple of clever strategies. The potential for big savings Resolutions often involve…
30
Nov 2017How to have a budget friendly holiday this summer
Holidays usually equal good times, but they don’t have to equal big money. Everyone loves saving a dollar or two, and one place it really pays to stretch your money further is on holidays. After all, the more cost effective your holidays are, the more of them you can afford to have! If you’re still searching for a destination to escape to this summer, we’ve…
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Nov 2017How to deal with financial stress – nearly 1 in 3 affected
See how financial stress is impacting people's physical and mental wellbeing, and what steps you could take to turn things around. Close to one in three Aussies is feeling the pinch financially, with money worries reportedly leading to sleep loss, conflicts in relationships, isolation, as well as a range of other things1. These were the findings from the inaugural Financial Stress Index, compiled by global…