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Sticking to twelve simple financial resolutions in 2012 can potentially save you thousands of dollars each year as well as the opportunity to redefine your financial plans.
And much of this is really just a matter of working with what you already have, by restructuring your existing arrangements so they work more effectively for you. (more…)
There’s a change in dinner party banter occurring around many dining tables in Australia.
Gone are the conversations which centre around property prices and interest rates – only to be replaced by what good deal you can get on your internet, utilities, phone, groceries, petrol, car, insurances and basically anything that constitutes household spending.
In fact, it’s routine for someone to talk up which company or website they found their bargains through and how much they have saved in the process.
How times have changed. (more…)
Forget mortgage stress – it’s household stress we are suffering from!
This was highlighted recently in the latest Genworth Homebuyer Confidence Index (HCI) which shed some light on how borrowers are managing their financial obligations – particularly in light of various media reports about mortgage stress. (more…)
If today’s address at a business luncheon by Reserve Bank Governor Glenn Stevens is anything to go by, he has mentioned that subdued household spending will likely rebound “at some point” as consumers gain confidence in the sustainability of mining-led growth.
More specifically he said “some sectors are also seeing the impacts of a shift in household behaviour towards more conservatism after a long period of very confident behaviour.” (more…)
Regardless of whether you own or rent your property, running a home can be a costly exercise.
Notwithstanding the rising costs of energy over the last few years which has put a dent in many household budgets, there are all the other associated costs to run a house, which in combination, can keep you emptying your pockets – unless you look at ways in which you can cut down. (more…)
Another potential interest rate rise, another round of Christmas presents to buy, another end-of-year social function to attend – and another bank balance goes begging.
So let’s not pull any punches here – December is an expensive month any way you look at it. (more…)
In the midst of planned or unplanned changes to your personal circumstances there is still the issue of finances and often your mortgage to consider. But with some careful thought, there are strategies you can apply to ensure you keep in control of your financial situation, so it doesn’t end up controlling you. (more…)
How times have changed.
Gone are the days when families had takeaway once a week (which usually consisted of fish and chips on Friday night) or when the biggest family night out was heading down to the local Chinese restaurant.
The fact is, it’s a tell-tale sign that things have changed when you can watch a 5 year-old eat sushi with chopsticks better than you can!
In short, there’s been a generational change in how we go about our social lives – and for some borrowers and aspiring home buyers, they simply can’t afford it because some of these social habits are holding them financially captive. (more…)
I’d like a dollar for every time I’ve heard a politician talk about the issue of debt during the current election campaign.
And while there’s no disputing that debt is certainly a problem in Australia – whether it’s government debt or consumer debt, it still comes down to how to manage your way out of the situation, which is why it’s at the heart of who will win office this Saturday.
So as I’m not a Federal Treasurer or Finance Minister there’s no point putting in my two bobs worth on how to address government debt.
However….what I can do is shed some light on the issue of consumer debt by going through the ten main causes. Because often when you see individual triggers of debt it can become easier to eliminate the cause, rather than trying to manage the symptoms. (more…)