It's 2020 and there's not a Jetson or flying car in sight! (or am I showing my age by that reference?) Seriously, 2020 sounded so far away just 21 years ago when we were wondering what a new century would bring - and now we're into the third decade of that century! How did that happen? It's a great reminder of how fast time [...]
Arrggghhhh! Everything costs so much money! Christmas holidays can be a killer to your budget, so here are some ideas that won't break the bank. Picnic Bushwalk Amazing Race style of treasure hunt Day at the beach or baths Walk around the city centre checking out Christmas decorations Bike ride Botanical gardens visit Walk around your local park Board game marathon Family/Friends sports day [...]
Just like every other time of year, you need to have a budget for Christmas shopping. Probably even more so than every other time of year! It's the number one time for spending blowouts - so go in prepared. Who are you buying for? What's your budget for each gift? If you're watching what you spend, could you suggest a Secret Santa to your [...]
Summer holidays seem to cost a lot. If you've got kids or a big social network, they cost even more. First, you've got Christmas, then New Year, hopefully, holidays somewhere in there too. So it's often a time when we're thinking about how we can be making some money rather than spending it. Renting out your home or spare room through AirBnB or similar [...]
From my experience, you're usually firmly in one of four places when it comes to Christmas decorating: Like you've just stepped out of an American movie where more is more - and even more is even better. You start buying your decorations on Boxing Day and start getting the lights untangled in early November. Your house puts a strain on the power grid but [...]
If you feel like buying a house is similar to climbing Everest - on a snowy day - then you're not alone. But don't give up hope. There are some things you can do that will help you buy that house without giving up your lifestyle completely! Strategy 1: Rein in your spending This is a bit of a no-brainer, but it's also often [...]
OK, I'm calling it. It's time to get over the guilt! Why, particularly as women, are beating ourselves up for spending money? Whether it's on a night out, a new outfit or a pair of shoes or a few too many drinks on a Friday night, we need to be able to spend the money we earn. And we need to get over the [...]
When you're investing in property, you need to know whether you should be aiming for positive or negative cashflow. This should all be part of your investing strategy and will have implications on your tax. Positive cashflow This occurs when the property earns more from rental income than it costs you to hold it. This is a great strategy for new investors or for [...]
Investing in property is a whole different ballgame to buying a home, and there are a whole lot of strategies that you need to consider before you decide on which is best for you. And this is before you even start to look for the property! My advice: Do some research, talk to a professional about your circumstances and goals for investing BEFORE you [...]
I'm not a financial adviser, but I do take a professional interest in the way people manage their money. While some of us might be bored senseless at the thought of managing money or paying bills or discussing budgets - let alone living on a budget (or spending plan as I prefer to call them!), it's important that you at least have a clue [...]
