How to avoid property pitfalls
If you have seen the movie Money Pit, in which Tom Hanks and Shelley Long play a hapless couple whose home renovations plummet from bad to disastrous with every swing of the hammer, it’s easy to see why buyers should be beware. But it’s not just hidden and costly repairs that can snag home owners […]
Reduce your bills with these household items
See what things you might have at home that could deliver you cost savings later on. We all enjoy the odd bargain and inexpensive label that delivers quality at a fraction of the price; however, sometimes shelling out a bit more up front can mean greater cost savings down the track. Check out these seven […]
It pays to contribute to your partner’s super
If your spouse is a stay-at-home parent, working part-time or out of work, adding to their super could benefit you both financially. If your spouse (husband, wife, de facto or same-sex partner) is a low-income earner or not working at the moment, chances are they’re accumulating little or no super at all to fund their […]
Tax time is approaching and that means a juicy refund may be just around the corner. It’s a busy time for scammers too, and last year alone 48,000 Australians fell prey to tax scams between July and October. Already this year, the Tax Office has registered over 17,067 scam reports with victims collectively losing $1.5 […]
– short-term risks, but five reasons for optimism Key points – The political scandal around President Trump is likely to speed up rather than stop his pro-business reforms. – However, after a strong run, shares remain vulnerable to a short-term correction with worries around Trump, North Korea, the Fed, etc, providing potential triggers. – But […]
Selfie obsessions – What’s it all about?
Mirror on the wall In 2013, “selfie” was officially added to the Oxford Dictionary. It refers to a person taking a photo of themselves with their own phone or camera. The idea of taking a self-portrait isn’t really new. It seems since the beginning of time we’ve felt the need to capture ourselves in some […]
How to cope with losing independence
If you or a loved one is experiencing a loss of independence, you may be able to maintain a sense of control. Few, if any of us, look forward to losing independence. In fact, research reveals that 75% of older people feared losing independence while only 29% feared dyingi. It also revealed that 44% were […]
Safeguard your ability to pay off your home loan
It’s not unusual that life can be smooth sailing one minute and throw you a curveball the next. You might be hit with an injury or illness, a reduction in income or redundancy, a separation from your partner, or even a death in the family—all of which can be difficult, emotionally as well as financially. […]
Pragmatism and fairness rule Key points – The 2017-18 Budget has a welcome focus on housing affordability and infrastructure. – Subdued wages growth is keeping revenue collection down contributing to a slight deterioration in near term deficit projections (a deficit of $29.4bn for 2017-18) but a return to surplus is still projected for 2020-21. – […]
– Bank mortgage rates, home prices and implications for investors Key points – The RBA has left interest rates on hold. The arguments to cut or hike rates are evenly balanced and we can’t see an official rate hike until second half 2018. – For the RBA to hike rates just to slow the Sydney […]