Budgeting

  When it comes to handling your money responsibly, some lessons are timeless. Some of us had the fortune of having money-savvy parents to pass down lessons while others had to learn the hard way by trial and error. Today, we can avoid many mistakes by following a few pieces of general wisdom about handling money which can be readily found in books and in online articles. While the …

Knowing how to make good financial decisions and responsibly handle your money is one of the most important things we have to learn. Financial skills are learned over time, often with mistakes, but there’s no reason we have to learn every financial lesson the hard way. Teaching young people financial skills gives them a crucial foundation for them to establish their independence in the world. The earlier you start …

Aside from property, a car is one of the biggest purchases you can make. It’s easy to get caught up in the excitement of it, but don’t let it prevent you from making sound financial decisions. Before you start looking, figure out exactly what you can afford. Don’t forget to factor in other costs like annual registration fees, insurance, petrol, repairs, maintenance, roadside assistance and road tolls. If you can’t …

The ideal financial future is different for everyone. We each have our own unique goals for what we want out of our life and the way we organise our finances and save plays a big part in that. Some of us want to buy a home and pay it off as soon as possible. Others focus on being able to take holidays each year. Whatever an ideal financial future is …

Looking for some quality personal finance apps to make your life easier? There are a few that already get a thumbs up from us including our own range of home loan and finance calculators. But there are many more that allow you to take your financial management to the next level without the complexity of spreadsheets or stacks of paper. Here are our favourites for 2018 available for both iOs …

Trying to save money, feed your family and enjoy life without a good budget is like running a marathon without any training. Making a realistic, comprehensive budget is the single best way to take control over your finances. In essence, a budget is simply a way to easily see what is coming into your bank account and what is going out but, in practice, it can feel like so much …

Financial planning is important for people of all ages and income brackets. To develop a coherent financial plan, you need to set goals for your money. We’ll help you understand how to set realistic financial goals and start planning how you’ll achieve them. What Is Important to You?  You’re more likely to succeed if you have specific financial goals that are important to you. It’s easier to stay motivated if …

Considering how important financial skills are for successfully navigating life, it’s surprising how little we learn about it during school. Our financial education tends to be the sole responsibility of our parents mixed with a variety of lessons given to us from books, TV shows and movies (many of which aren’t helpful). A poor financial education can have very serious effects, especially when it comes to the consequences and benefits …

Budgeting is one of the most basic and effective tools for managing your money. But many people tend to avoid making a budget because it is extra work or they feel as though it means restricting themselves from enjoying their money. It’s not every day that we talk about the importance of budgeting. However, if you’re serious about your financial wellbeing, then budgeting is something you absolutely need to do. …

Talk of homeownership in Australia being dead is premature. Yet, when people say the ‘dream’ of homeownership is over, they may be right – these days, it’s a battle not a dream, but it’s a battle you can still win. Why Owning a Home Is So Difficult The percentage of Australians aged 25-34 who own their own home fell more than 21% between 1982 and 2011, down to just 34%. …