Australian personal finance news, tips and advices.
by AFB
Marriage has been a pillar of society for centuries. Most young Australians still support the concept, but financial concerns have made them more apprehensive about having large, traditional marriages.
Choosi recently released its Cost of Love Report. The purpose of this report was to understand the views Australians hold about marriage and the decisions they are likely to make.
Some of the core findings are listed below. ... (read more)
by AFB
Financing is important for small businesses in a variety of ways. Needing quick money often has connotations of having poor cash flow and not being able to meet your short-term liabilities. This is far from the only reason for needing business financing though.
Financing is often a solution for growth projects when businesses owners do not want to dilute equity any further. The conventional way to grow is to sell a portion of the company to an investor, in which you can raise perhaps hundreds of thousands without adding to your debt. ... (read more)
by AFB
Today’s post comes from Alex. He blogs over at www.MutilateTheMortgage.com and is a fellow Australian based and focused financial site. Head over there to find out how to go from “no idea” to mortgage free in under 10 years!
Did you know that paying off your mortgage in 10 years can be setup quickly and is in fact very easy to do? It’s true! Just a quick alteration in how you pay your home loan can save you hundreds of thousands of dollars. ... (read more)
by AFB
When looking into property insurance, it usually doesn’t take too long before we come across a horror story about someone being under-insured, and discovering all too late that they’re seriously out of pocket.
What we encounter less of, is someone being over-insured, but according to Australian property insurance specialists, Flex Insurance, it’s potentially more common than we think. And it all comes down to knowing what’s already covered by your strata insurance and what you need to cover under your own contents or landlords’ insurance. ... (read more)
by AFB
From time to time, almost everyone finds themselves in a situation where there is simply not enough money to do the things that you want to do. When these circumstances arise, taking out a low rate personal loan can be a prudent financial choice. However, many people are hesitant to take on new debt because they feel like their reasons are not valid.
These days, there are many legitimate reasons why you should consider a personal loan. Personal loans are an effective way of accessing enough extra cash to finish projects, make major purchases, or pursue life-changing experiences. This is rather vague, however. ... (read more)
by AFB
Personal finance isn’t a very fun topic to discuss at dinner parties. However, consumers need to be financially literate if they are to thrive. The Choosi Dollar Report 2019 researched the spending habits of Australian citizens and their understanding of financial issues.
A number of important issues were highlighted in this report. The key points are listed below.
Australians have become more uneasy about their financial situations in recent years. The report shows that half of Australians experience concerns about their money on a weekly or even daily basis. The majority of Australians are unable to maintain the same standard of living, as inflation erodes the value of their paychecks. The survey showed that 62% of Australians said they were unable to keep up with cost of living increases. It also showed that 44.6% of Australians feel anxious about their debt at least most of the time, if not all of the time. ... (read more)
by AFB
Several different credit cards let cardholders pay off a portion or some of their outstanding balance through an instalment plan. These payment options break down your balance into monthly instalments spread over a fixed time or predetermined rate. For example, if you had a $1,000 balance and set up an instalment plan over ten months, you’d pay $100 per month instead of paying it all off at once. This is a basic calculation used as an example only, it does not include the addition of interest to the amount borrowed. ... (read more)
by AFB
Taking out a mortgage is the largest financial commitment that most Australians will make in their lifetime. If you invest in a property you could be making repayments for the next 30 years. This article will focus on a number of tips that can help you save interest on your mortgage and pay off the debt on your home at a faster rate.
Rather than spending any large lump sums you receive, pay them straight into your loan. Think of larger windfalls as an excellent opportunity to reduce the overall interest on your loan and therefore the overall cost of your mortgage. Unexpected windfalls can include: ... (read more)
by AFB
Apart from buying a house, superannuation is likely to be one of the biggest investments that you will make in your lifetime. Understanding your options and making the right decision can make the difference between scraping by or having that well-deserved, worry-free retirement.
In 2005, new legislation was introduced that put the power of super firmly in the consumer’s hands and gave many Australians like yourself the power to choose which fund your contributions would be made into. ... (read more)
by AFB
Breathtaking landscapes and seascapes, vibrant urban life, laidback lifestyle—these are what pull people to Sydney. However, Sydney is not just the biggest city in the country, it is also the priciest. In fact, the UBS ranks Sydney as among the ten most expensive cities to live in. Basic expenses alone already cost around $2,500 for a family with one to two children. Ten years ago, a 2010 survey by the Sydney Business Chamber indicated that half of the survey respondents believe they need $100,000 or more per year to live comfortably. ... (read more)