I love this time of year - it has a taste of the crazy without being full blown frantic. I can lull myself into a (perhaps false) sense of security that I’m on top of things. I can write my lists, prepare my budgets, get things sorted at work to reduce the last minute rush, support my team to finish the year strong, fill [...]
Before a bank will lend you any money they have a duty of care to make sure that you’re considered to be a “good risk” - especially if you’re trying to secure a mortgage. So what are the red flags that lenders look for? Given that we’re fresh from Melbourne Cup Day, gambling is a huge red flag. So if you like a bet [...]
We’re coming up to an expensive time of year so it’s a good time to review your spending plan, your shopping lists and your gift lists. There’s no doubt that it’s a great idea to take advantage of Black Friday sales and other deals that come up - but only if you need what you’re buying! I can’t tell you the number of outfits, [...]
Holidays seem to have a special magical power, don’t you think? Whether it’s booking them, going on them or getting home from them, they all hold their special powers of anticipation, excitement and contentment. They can be extravagant, cultural explorations to far off lands with the one/s you love most, simple trips away with a bunch of mates or a solo escape from your [...]
Summer is fast approaching and our minds tend to turn to our outdoor space right about now. How is it looking? Do you need to invest time or money to make it more functional for relaxing or entertaining? It’s really important to think of your outdoor space as an extension of your home - whether it’s a balcony on your apartment or a yard [...]
One thing that Aussies love is buying property. Sadly, particularly for younger generations, this "Great Aussie Dream" seems to be out of reach now with affordability being such a challenge. But we can always try, right? If you're hanging onto this dream or trying to ignite the dream within your kids, here are my tips to making it happen: Save! Save before you spend. [...]
Many of us have a desire to invest in property as a way to create wealth and secure our future. In Australia particularly, property often increases in value faster than other investments and is believed to be a less risky option, so it makes sense that this is so high on our radar and goal list. So where do you start? The first [...]
Every now and then I get itchy feet and need to change things around. I don’t want to move house, I’ve just been on holidays, I love my family and my team at work - so they’re all staying… but something needs to change. I feel like I’m in a bit of a rut? Does this happen to you too? What do you do [...]
I meet a lot of people who are having trouble saving money. My first question to them is "Where is your focus? Earning or spending?" One of the biggest misperceptions that we have is that the more we earn, the more we’ll have. Sadly, this isn’t always right and it ends up being “the more we earn, the more we spend”. It’s a little [...]
The spring/summer real estate sales season has arrived and if you’re in the market to buy or sell, we’ve got some great tips for you. If you’re selling, there are a couple of things that are non-negotiables if you want to get the best sale price: De-clutter and de-personalise your home. Look at it from a stranger’s point of view and remove, clean up, [...]
