Aussie Finance Blog

Australian personal finance news, tips and advices.

How Much Does Landscaping and Gardening Cost?

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Tasteful landscaping and gardening are very effective in increasing the sale value of homes and property. According to a recent article on OpenAgent, an investment in colourful plants, as well as practical garden spaces, can add at least $15,000 to the value of a home. Real estate agents have long extolled the value of simple flowering plants, which quickly enhance a property’s sale value.

Professional landscaping, such as decks, garden spaces, patios, and sitting areas, with fireplaces and pools, exemplify, to potential buyers, a space ready for restful family activities. Real estate agents tell us that professional landscaping can add 6 to 7 per cent to the value of a home, whereas, if you neglect your garden, it can lower the value of your home from between 5 and 15 per cent. ... (read more)

Comfort Spending: How to beat the $1400 a year habit

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By Rhianna Dews, Money Writer at Mozo

Despite all the benefits that come with the digital world we live in today, its fast pace has ultimately led to a rapid increase in stress and anxiety, with Beyond Blue data revealing that 1 in 7 Australians are currently experiencing an anxiety condition.

What makes matters worse is the way in which Aussies are coping with the pressure. Mozo’s 2019 Comfort Spending Report found that Aussies are spending $1,430 each year on average in attempts to dilute stress, boredom and anxiety. This works out to a massive total of $25.5 billion each year! ... (read more)

How to Live Within your Means Whilst still Enjoying a Takeaway

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“Brick Oven Special Pizza” (CC BY-SA 2.0) by Mike Saechang

Enjoying a delicious freshly-cooked takeaway meal at home is one of life’s simple pleasures. It’s a moment in time when you can relax and unwind with family or friends and sample some of your favourite foods without even having to lift a finger in the kitchen yourself. Unfortunately, for people who need to tighten their financial belts to save money for a house deposit or to pay off that loan, takeaways tend to be one of the first things binned from the luxuries list. That’s without even attempting to find other ways of cutting back and keeping enough cash for a couple of takeaway treats each month.

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How to Budget and Save Money on a Low Income

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Surviving on a low income isn’t easy in times when the cost of everything is rising faster than the average wage. Financial obligations can be frustrating and fraught with uncertainty even with proper money management, while saving money can seem almost impossible during lean times. People who want to budget and save money on a low income do have options, but creative thinking is required and diligence is essential.

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inkl: Noise Free News

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Compensation for this post was provided by inkl. Opinions expressed here are my own.

Front page news used to be important. However, in the rush to position themselves as viable online services, many news publishers diverted resources toward gossip journalism, in-your-face advertising and even clickbait articles. The concept of newsworthy journalism and commentary has become clouded. Serious readers are often left out in the cold or diverted to pulpy headline articles about funny cats, dogs and babies at the expense of major world events. The time is right to introduce inkl, the noise-free news service that delivers only important news and information provided by the world’s leading news publishers.

By the year 2000, major newspapers had started grappling with the inevitable transition toward online publishing. Resistance from within the industry was strong, especially among ageing chief editors and business owners, but the push by savvy young entrepreneurs continued unabated. The writing was on the wall, and the new technology was ultimately embraced as the way forward. The next step was to create a profitable business model without sacrificing quality.

 

 

Newsflash: Real News is Back

Old habits die hard, with the financial bottom line dictating terms. Tabloid style journalism won the day and front page news is now often a melting pot of frivolous escapism and stories with no quality or depth. But many of us still appreciate real news and the ability to access it without first wading through a pile of trash. What to do?

inkl has heard the call loud and clear, providing both free and premium services suited to every type of reader. In fact, even the inkl Premium Unlimited Service, which garners all the top news from around the world, costs far less than a traditional newspaper. Imagine: all the biggest news easily accessed on one site. That’s inkl, with features including:

  • Email editions with headlines delivered straight to your inbox
  • Editors Picks from the most reputable news services
  • No ads, clickbait or mundane gossip
  • Browsing privacy assured
  • Deeper story perspectives supported by the best editorial staff

    • ... (read more)

    What Credit Score Is Needed to Buy a House or Car

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    For most of us, purchasing a house and a car are two major situations where borrowing money is essential. They are significant financial outlays that require dedicated effort to pay off over a long period of time. Banks and other lending institutions rely on our credit score for approval of loans, so what credit score is needed to buy a house or car?

    Credit scores are the safeguard banks use to protect themselves against the possibility of loan defaults. They are based on a range of data related to the borrowers previous financial accountability and present financial status. Whether we like it or not, our credit score is a personalised risk assessment, and involves disclosure of both good and bad financial dealings. The positive and negative are taken into consideration for our individual credit score.

    Banks are in competition with each other in obtaining custom, therefore their credit scoring system for loan approvals is secretive. Generally, the only people privy to the bank’s system are those working within their own risk division. For this reason, a home or car loan application that has been refused by one bank may be accepted by another bank.

     

    Credit score components include:

  • Defaults and overdue accounts
  • Positive and negative credit history
  • Arrears in credit
  • Account activity related to credit cards, phone accounts and personal loans
  • Employment and residence stability

    • ... (read more)

    What is Home Renovation Loan

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    Renovating a home can be one of the most fulfilling achievements for a home owner or investor. However, when things go wrong (as they inevitably do) your renovations can turn into a financial nightmare. Taking out a home renovation loan that is tailored to your needs can be one of the most astute financial decisions you will ever make.

    Understanding which home renovation loan best suits your project is the first step toward a successful outcome. The ‘plan’ in financial plan is more than just an idea; it’s an essential factor in making sure you add maximum value to your premises. Unless you have savings set aside for your home renovation, you need to understand what type of loan best suits you. ... (read more)