So your family are dreaming of a pet from Santa this Christmas. Well before you fall in love with a pet that your family are wishing for, understand the true cost of having a new furry family member in your home. The cost of owning a dog over its lifetime can be up to $25,000 […]
Funny thing, money. On the one hand it can get us excited or give us a real sense of achievement (think reaching a savings goal). On the other hand, it’s something we tend to keep to ourselves. Whether our finances are in great shape or need a bit of TLC, talking about it openly with […]
Parents and guardians want to send children out into the world armed with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed. So we talk to them about the birds and the bees, we teach them to catch a ball and drive. But oddly, many of us never talk to them about money and how to […]
We check out the three largest contributors to household spending in Australia and where people would source additional cash if living expenses rose. If you worked a full-time job in Australia in 1975, the average amount you would’ve earned a year was about $7,600, whereas today, that figure would be closer to $72,000, according to […]
In the 21st century era of digital transformation, being able to browse, choose and pay for our purchases anywhere, anytime has taken shopping to a whole new level. The way we consume and spend has changed dramatically as a result. Here in Australia, Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) arrangements have emerged as a very popular […]
Although marriage, mortgage, and young children may have characterised your 30s, your 40s often feature growing responsibilities and ever-competing priorities. Your parents are older, your mortgage is still on foot, children’s education costs are growing, and though retirement may seem a distant reality, planning for that reality becomes an important consideration. The good news is […]
Diversification is the act of spreading the money you have to invest across a number of different types of investments. For example, rather than putting all your money into shares in one company, you split it across multiple shares in companies which operate in different industries or different countries. You might also spread to other […]
Being forewarned about the costs of children, particularly educating them, provides an opportunity to prepare for the hit to the family budget. Take Ben and Laura, a young professional couple with a combined after-tax income of $150,000. They plan on starting a family in a few years and after allowing for other financial commitments decide […]
Choosing a beneficiary is usually a simple task, but there are a few things you should keep in mind when you decide. A beneficiary is the person who will receive your life insurance payment should you pass away. When choosing yours, it’s important to think about who would be most financially vulnerable without you in […]
Buying a property together is a major relationship milestone. It’s right up there with opening a joint bank account, getting married, and even surviving your first major disagreement. It’s understandable that such a big milestone – and investment – can become highly emotionally charged. So whether you’re looking to buy your first home, a holiday […]
