Combat cost-of-living hikes and keep saving

Cost of living pressures coupled with rate rises have made it more difficult to save for a home deposit and afford the lifestyle you’ve either become accustomed to or are dreaming of. Budget Direct’s Cost of Living Survey & Statistics 2023 found that despite the living cost index for employee households recording its largest quarterly … Read more

Managing your financial health

Understanding financial health Financial health is an important part of our lives. When we take care of our financial health we can better manage financial stress and achieve our financial goals. Financial health is made up of three components: the ability to meet everyday commitments like paying your bills and making loan repayments the resilience … Read more

Six things to look out for with retirement planning

Key takeaways Things to be mindful of with retirement planning such as procrastination, underestimating your financial requirements, and failing to update your plans as your circumstances and needs evolve. How to avoid the common pitfalls to help ensure your retirement plans remain on track. Retirement should be a time when we can kick back, relax, … Read more

The upfront costs of buying a home

When saving for your first (or next) home, it’s common to focus on building up the deposit and servicing your upcoming home loan. However, there are other upfront costs when buying a home that you should be aware of from the get-go. With it being particularly challenging these days to get your foot onto the … Read more

Airbnb vs long term rentals – do the numbers stack up?

In just 15 short years, Airbnb has transformed from a platform helping homeowners earn cash from their spare rooms to a business and property investment strategy. There are between 100,000 and 350,000 short-term rental properties across Australia, with homes making up approximately 85% of those listings according to various portals.i While it might seem like … Read more

Tax and the super after-life

Many people assume there is no tax payable on super benefits received after someone passes away, but that’s not always the case. Whether or not tax is paid on a super death benefit depends on the beneficiary’s relationship with the deceased. Although some beneficiaries receive their money tax-free, others can find themselves paying significant amounts … Read more

Manage the cost of living

Here are some quick ways to reduce your living costs. Having a money plan helps you stay on top of your spending and bills. There’s also free support and services to go to if you’re feeling overwhelmed. If you’re in crisis and struggling to pay for essentials, there are services to help you with food, … Read more

How to increase your IQ for later in life

Key points: Dr Vincent Candrawinata founded Renovatio Bioscience in 2016 following antioxidant research at the University of Newcastle Dr Candrawinata is among many researchers who believe that a person’s intelligence quotient, commonly referred to as IQ, can be increased — instead of simply remaining static throughout life As a lauded expert in the field of … Read more