The financial difference for women

Recent decades have seen huge gains made in the financial empowerment of women. However complete financial equality won’t happen soon and in some cases may be unattainable. So what are the areas where women lag financially, and when it comes to retirement planning, what can be done?

4 key issues

  • Gender pay gap. Across all industries, including those in which female workers outnumber males, men are, on average, paid 18% more than women. For non-managerial clerical workers the gap is relatively small at 8.8%, but in key management positions women receive 26.6% less than their male peers. Large gaps also occur in the legal and medical professions.
  • Lower superannuation balances. While the pay gap is one reason why women have less in superannuation savings than men, another big contributor is time out of the workforce to raise children. Of 20 OECD countries, surprisingly Australia has the third lowest employment rate for mothers, particularly sole parents.
  • More expensive disability insurance. While pure life insurance is cheaper for women, income protection and disability insurance is more expensive. This is because women have longer life expectancies than men, but they make more claims, and for longer periods, on both temporary and permanent disability policies. For trauma insurance younger women pay more than men of the same age, and older women pay less than their male counterparts. Future advances in medicine may help to even out these differences.
  • Being single. Single women (and men) lose out on the financial economies of scale enjoyed by cohabiting couples. About 24% of Australians live in one-person households, and across all age groups, 55% of those living alone are women.

Focusing on super

While it will take significant social and political change to redress some of the financial imbalances between the sexes, there are things that women can do to improve their long-term financial position:

  • Understand the situation. If you are planning on taking time out of the workforce, what are the implications? As an example, 35-year-old professional Simone earns $120,000 per annum and has a super balance of $60,000. She plans on having three children and expects to be a full-time mum for seven years before returning to full-time work. As a result she may likely have around $77,450 (17%) less in super at retirement at age 67[1] than if she didn’t take time off.
  • Consider the options. Simone’s partner could plug some of this gap and potentially receive a tax benefit each year by making spouse contributions to her super fund while she is out of the workforce. This isn’t an option if Simone is (or becomes) single.

Another possibility is to increase contributions upon her return to work. If Simone salary sacrifices 2.9% of her pre-tax income to super, she could wipe out the estimated shortfall by the time she retires.

She could also consider changing her investment strategy or, less appealingly, delaying retirement.

Planning is the key

It certainly isn’t fair, but the reality is that more women, particularly single women, face greater financial hurdles than men. Planning for the range of scenarios is essential. To make sure you’re on the right track with insurance, superannuation and saving, talk to your licensed financial adviser.

For more information about planning for your future please contact us on 03 836 8399.


[1] Calculated using the Career Break Super Calculator available at www.moneysmart.gov.au using default settings.

Important:

This provides general information and hasn’t taken your circumstances into account. It’s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what’s right for you. Any information provided by the author detailed above is separate and external to our business and our Licensee. Neither our business, nor our Licensee takes any responsibility for their action or any service they provide.


Monetary Policy Decision - Statement by Philip Lowe, RBA Governor, February 2018

At its meeting today, the Board decided to leave the cash rate unchanged at 1.50 per cent.

There was a broad-based pick-up in the global economy in 2017. A number of advanced economies are growing at an above-trend rate and unemployment rates are low. Growth has also picked up in the Asian economies, partly supported by increased international trade. The Chinese economy continues to grow solidly, with the authorities paying increased attention to the risks in the financial sector and the sustainability of growth.

The pick-up in the global economy has contributed to a rise in oil and other commodity prices over recent months. Even so, Australia’s terms of trade are expected to decline over the next couple of years, but remain at a relatively high level.

Globally, inflation remains low, although higher commodity prices and tight labour markets are likely to see inflation increase over the next couple of years. Long-term bond yields have risen but are still low. As conditions have improved in the global economy, a number of central banks have withdrawn some monetary stimulus. Financial conditions remain expansionary, with credit spreads narrow.

The Bank’s central forecast for the Australian economy is for GDP growth to pick up, to average a bit above 3 per cent over the next couple of years. The data over the summer have been consistent with this outlook. Business conditions are positive and the outlook for non-mining business investment has improved. Increased public infrastructure investment is also supporting the economy. One continuing source of uncertainty is the outlook for household consumption. Household incomes are growing slowly and debt levels are high.

Employment grew strongly over 2017 and the unemployment rate declined. Employment has been rising in all states and has been accompanied by a significant rise in labour force participation. The various forward-looking indicators continue to point to solid growth in employment over the period ahead, with a further gradual reduction in the unemployment rate expected. Notwithstanding the improving labour market, wage growth remains low. This is likely to continue for a while yet, although the stronger economy should see some lift in wage growth over time. There are reports that some employers are finding it more difficult to hire workers with the necessary skills.

Inflation is low, with both CPI and underlying inflation running a little below 2 per cent. Inflation is likely to remain low for some time, reflecting low growth in labour costs and strong competition in retailing. A gradual pick-up in inflation is, however, expected as the economy strengthens. The central forecast is for CPI inflation to be a bit above 2 per cent in 2018.

On a trade-weighted basis, the Australian dollar remains within the range that it has been in over the past two years. An appreciating exchange rate would be expected to result in a slower pick-up in economic activity and inflation than currently forecast.

Nationwide measures of housing prices are little changed over the past six months, with prices having recorded falls in some areas. In the eastern capital cities, a considerable additional supply of apartments is scheduled to come on stream over the next couple of years. To address the medium-term risks associated with high and rising household indebtedness, APRA introduced a number of supervisory measures. Tighter credit standards have also been helpful in containing the build-up of risk in household balance sheets.

The low level of interest rates is continuing to support the Australian economy. Further progress in reducing unemployment and having inflation return to target is expected, although this progress is likely to be gradual. Taking account of the available information, the Board judged that holding the stance of monetary policy unchanged at this meeting would be consistent with sustainable growth in the economy and achieving the inflation target over time.

 

Source: Reserve Bank of Australia, February 6th, 2018

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Reserve Bank of Australia
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Ethical investing – putting your super where your heart is

Millennials – take a bow. Not only are you concerned about how your super is invested, you are more likely than other age group to act on your beliefs when choosing a super fund.

Research commissioned by the Responsible Investment Association Australasia (RIAA) reveals that 75% of Millennials prefer to invest in a responsible super fund than one that only considers maximising financial returns. Well ahead of Gen X on 66% and Baby Boomers on 68%.

Across all demographics, the proportion of people who would rather invest in a super fund that “considers the environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues of the companies it invests in and maximises financial returns”, as opposed to a fund that focuses solely on maximising returns, has risen by 27% since 2013.

That’s a pretty strong trend which sends a clear message not only to superannuation and investment fund managers, but also to the wider corporate community – people care about more than just profits. They also want their investments to contribute to the greater good.

What makes an investment ethical?

Ethical investment funds may use positive screens to select companies that are doing ‘good’ things, or negative screens to exclude companies doing ‘bad things’. Or they may do a bit of both.

There are, of course, different views as to what is ‘ethical’. Someone with strong religious convictions may be interested in a very different range of investments than someone with deep environmental concerns. Typically, though, ethical funds tend to avoid investing in companies involved in weapons manufacture, alcohol, tobacco, gambling or fossil fuels while favouring renewable energy companies, sustainable technologies or healthcare.

Even then it can be difficult to decide if a particular company is ‘good’ or ‘bad’. Many people avoid investing in companies that mine uranium, but those same companies may also extract the materials needed to build wind turbine towers. Or a bank that finances coal mines may also lend to solar farms and energy efficiency projects.

Given the wide range of ethical considerations, you may need to do some in-depth research to find the fund or funds that best match your values.

Is your fund doing the right thing?

While you may have an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ attitude to your super, it’s important to remember it’s your money and you get to choose where and how it’s invested. Start with your fund’s website or disclosure documents and look for the environment, social and governance section.

Most large super funds offer a range of investment options, only some of which may match your idea of ‘ethical’. However, there may be a direct share option, allowing you to construct your own portfolio of shares in companies that are compatible with your values. Or you may look to the increasing number of investment managers that apply ethical filters across their entire range of funds.

Advice moves with the times

Fortunately it’s becoming easier to track down the investment funds that suit you.  Talk to us about the issues that are important to you so we can help you invest your super where your heart is. For more information about ethical investing please contact us on 03 9836 8399.

Sources:

“From values to riches. Charting consumer attitudes and demand for responsible investing in Australia.” Responsible Investment Association Australasia https://responsibleinvestment.org/

Important:

This provides general information and hasn’t taken your circumstances into account. It’s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what’s right for you. Any information provided by the author detailed above is separate and external to our business and our Licensee. Neither our business, nor our Licensee takes any responsibility for their action or any service they provide.


The financial implications of technology

You can’t go anywhere these days and not see people glued to some device. Some of us wonder what we ever did without this modern-day “must have”, but love ‘em or hate ‘em, mobile (aka smart) phones are here to stay.

With all good things, there can be a downside. The cost of mobile phones and other devices is often not in the purchase but in the upkeep, and as many teenagers are discovering (many too late), mobile phones can lose them a good credit rating even before they’ve left school.

Numerous young people (and some not so young!) get caught up in the advertising hype, and think that they must have the latest toy with all the bells and whistles only to find out that their cheap monthly rental is a cover for restrictive terms.

The result of these savvy sales deals is that many thousands of Australians are talking themselves into unnecessary debt – a high price to pay for staying in contact with friends.

However, used sensibly, mobile devices can be very cost-effective. It all comes down to making sure you’re aware of all the costs associated, and controlling your habits.

Easier said than done when peer pressure abounds, but there is a smart alternative – choose prepaid. You know how much you’re paying upfront and when you run out of credit, you simply “buy more time”… and you stay in control.

Other suggestions for managing your mobile device include:

  • Be sure of what you’re signing up for… read the small print and ask questions;
  • Ignore the advertising spin that tempts you to constantly upgrade to the latest model;
  • Use a PIN to access your phone. This stops others using it without your consent and is particularly helpful if you lose your phone.

Help is available

If you are in the market for a new mobile device and are bamboozled by the seemingly hundreds of options, there is a plethora of comparison websites available. These compare the phones, plans and telecommunications companies. Some provide calculators – type in your current usage and you receive a comparison of the alternatives available.

If you or your children are looking to buy or upgrade a mobile phone, take the time and do your research first… before you talk to a salesperson. As always, the time spent in the short term will be well worth it in the long run.

For information about cashflow and money management please contact us on 03 9836 8399.

Important:

This provides general information and hasn’t taken your circumstances into account. It’s important to consider your particular circumstances before deciding what’s right for you. Any information provided by the author detailed above is separate and external to our business and our Licensee. Neither our business, nor our Licensee takes any responsibility for their action or any service they provide.


Is your will still relevant?

Many of our best laid plans rarely follow through exactly as we might have hoped. However, it’s another story when it comes to planning for what happens after we’ve left this planet. Our ideas about who will benefit from our estate could potentially change often during our lifetime.

Estate planning ensures that when we die, our assets can be passed promptly and tax-effectively to the people we love or to the charities we support.

Just like life, an estate plan is not static. As life changes, a will should be adjusted to ensure it remains relevant. There are many events that can trigger a need to review an estate plan, for instance:

  • Marriage – which revokes the wills made by the spouses when single;
  • Divorce – which revokes any gifts made under a will to the ex-spouse;
  • Changes in the family such as births and deaths;
  • Changes in relationships such as children entering or leaving de-facto arrangements;
  • Death of a person who plays a key part in the estate plan such as an executor or trustee.

Here are some examples of when a life changed and the estate plan did not keep up.

Who gets the house?

Joel was a young executive married to Jane, a corporate lawyer. They were both busy and successful in their careers and had no children. They drifted apart and Joel started a new relationship with Sophie. They rented an apartment together and six months later were delighted to discover Sophie was expecting their first child. Joel was finalising an important deal and would “get around to arranging things” as soon as the ink had dried on the contract.

That never happened because he was killed in a car accident driving home from the office. Joel and Jane were still married and as they had owned their house as joint tenants, it passed automatically to her. The trustees of Joel’s super fund split his super between Sophie and Jane. Sophie was left to raise their child on her own without the financial support Joel would have wanted.

Who controls the money?

Trevor and Jennifer had planned their retirement meticulously including an estate plan. Their wills provided for a testamentary trust to be set up when they died. Trevor’s older brother agreed to be the trustee because he knew their family and understood what Trevor and Jennifer wanted. Their intention was that the trust would support their grandchildren through their education and establishment of their lives.

A few years later, Trevor passed away after a brief illness and Jennifer followed shortly afterwards. By this time, Trevor’s brother was in a nursing home suffering dementia and therefore could not fulfil the trustee’s obligations. The family had to approach the courts to appoint a replacement which meant the trust might not have been administered in the way Trevor and Jennifer had earlier wished.

Who supports Alex?

Mandy had brought up three children on a tight budget since divorcing their father. She arranged her finances well and took out insurance to ensure her children would be supported if she died or could not work. Mandy’s will appointed her sister, Penny, as guardian of her children and executor of her estate.

Unfortunately, Penny became seriously ill and Mandy agreed to look after Penny’s son Alex, as well as her own family. When Penny unexpectedly died Alex was left some money from her estate. When Mandy was revising her financial plans to cope with these events, her financial adviser recommended she apply to become Alex’ guardian, increase her insurance cover, appoint a new guardian for the children and include Alex in her will.

These are common scenarios, so if your family situation or ideas change, be sure to ask for professional guidance in updating your estate plan accordingly.


Holidays without financial baggage

We all need something to look forward to and for many members of Generation X the lure of discount airfares and package deals are irresistible; others have luxury holidays high on the agenda.

And why not? We all love a holiday and what’s more, happiness, apparently, is not just in the holiday itself, but in the planning of it too.

Research conducted by Roy Morgan Research concluded that people with an overseas holiday planned are optimistic about the future. Not surprisingly, there’s a demonstrated link between optimism and health and well-being.

But it’s not just the planning; it’s how you fund your trip that has the biggest impact.

Alex and Tony are both in their mid-40s. During their annual portfolio review with us, Alex talked of their dream to visit Europe. With a hefty mortgage, they couldn’t see how they could afford such a holiday without refinancing their home.

To their surprise, we suggested they consider a savings account tailored to meet this specific goal.

These accounts are opened with a small initial sum, and pay bonus interest to encourage regular deposits.

Assisted by their local travel agent the couple planned the holiday of their dreams. They paid the upfront deposit, and with our guidance, selected a suitable account to save up the balance. An agreed amount was automatically transferred from each of their salaries every fortnight to this new account.

Eighteen months later, Alex and Tony sent us a selfie taken while sipping coffee beneath the Eiffel Tower.

Saving for something upfront may be considered somewhat old-fashioned. These days, there is a variety of options for funding the trip of a lifetime.

Some people sell assets like share portfolios or the ‘mid-life-crisis’ jet-ski that never got used.

Many others turn to credit cards or holiday loans.

Holiday loans are unsecured personal loans lending up to $50,000 over terms of up to seven years. They’re quick to establish and approved cash is easily accessed. Interest is calculated at personal loan rates, i.e. lower than a credit card.

Jules and Paul financed their holiday using a holiday loan and returned with some fantastic memories. They also came home to a sizeable debt.

Many returning holiday-makers experience a kind of depression known as Post-holiday blues. Seriously – you can Google it!

Post-holiday blues seems to coincide with the fading of the tan and the unwelcome arrival of loan statements.

With little incentive to save for the holiday before they left home, the couple had zero incentive to pay for it once they’d returned.

The Huffington Post suggests that to beat post-holiday blues, simply plan your next trip. Dispirited, Jules and Paul couldn’t even dream about another holiday. They were left depressed and servicing a loan that impacted their lifestyle for years to come.

Conversely, Alex and Tony returned from their big trip refreshed and debt-free.

With proof that it works, the couple drew up a new budget and savings strategy a few weeks after getting home. Having ticked Europe off the list, they’re eagerly anticipating their next adventure in South America. We’re looking forward to following their travels on Facebook!

 

New Year Financial Checklist

As we welcome 2018 and ponder how fast the last 12 months have come and gone, many of us find ourselves thinking about the coming year and our aspirations for the future.

Let’s face it, we worked hard last year and now is the time to reflect on what we have achieved; where we want to go; and what we need to get there. These times of reflection are critical to our lives whether we run our own business, are employed or retired.

A financial checklist is an excellent tool to see how you are progressing towards your goals and to help identify any specific areas you might need to focus on in the immediate future.

The key issues to consider are:

Home loan review

If you’re still making repayments, is it time to revisit your progress? Are you able to increase your payment amounts or frequency to save interest? With interest rates so low, should you refinance for a better deal or lock in a low fixed rate?

Other debts

Review the amount of personal loans, credit card or other debts currently being paid off. If the total of all loans exceeds 10% of household income, you need to implement a plan to reduce them as a matter of priority. Consolidating debts could help control interest costs but take steps to ensure this doesn’t become an excuse to spend more.

Savings

How much money did you save this past year? Are you spending first and saving what’s left? If your savings aren’t as healthy as you would have hoped by this time of the year, remember to pay yourself first by allocating up to 10% of your income to a regular savings plan.

Insurance

When illness or accidents strike, most people are caught insufficiently protected. It’s important to regularly review your insurance policies to ensure that you and your family have adequate cover. When was the last time you reviewed your insurance cover?

Superannuation

What is the current value of your super? If you don’t know, now is a good time to check. Is it working as hard as it should be? Are the fees reasonable? Are you on track to meeting your retirement needs or should you start making extra contributions?

Your will

Making a will itself is not particularly difficult or even terribly expensive. It is a fact of life that people get married, have children, change relationships, get divorced or establish new interests. Left unaddressed, any of these may result in a will being legally challenged. Estate planning matters such as Powers of Attorney and Medical Directives should be regularly reviewed in addition to your will.


Make this year a financially healthy one

Another year is over – how was it for you? Did you achieve everything you’d hoped?

Are you better or worse off financially than you were this time last year?

With a new year in front of you, what can you do to make the most of every moment?

We’ve put together a guide to get you started.

January to March

Make a start by turning wishes into goals. Some might be long-term like becoming debt-free, saving a home deposit, or retiring in a few years’ time. What can you do this year to support those goals? Write it all down and give it a name – something you can own.

At the same time, don’t forget living for now. Prepare a month-by-month budget that makes room for the fun times – holidays and celebrations – as well as covering the necessities.

Anticipate spikes in your spending. Do your car, home and life insurance premiums all seem to fall due at the same time? Investigate monthly premium payments, or spreading renewal dates across the year.

Use this first quarter to bed down the budgeting habit and track your actual spending against your plan.

At the end of March, do a quick review of your progress so far and make adjustments if necessary.

April to June

It’s time to prepare for the end of financial year (EOFY). By June 30 you will want to have made any intended additional superannuation contributions (make sure you stay within relevant limits) and finalised donations to your favourite charities.

Is there any other tax-deductible expenditure you can bring forward?

June is also the month for EOFY sales – an opportunity to grab some bargains on early Christmas shopping and birthday gift purchases. Don’t forget to include these in your budget.

July to September

If you’re expecting a tax refund for the financial year just finished, lodge your tax return early.

What are you going to do with the windfall? Whether you put it towards one of your goals or blow it on a big night out is up to you. Just make sure it’s part of The Plan.

With your tax return out of the way, the third quarter is a good time to start a bit of financial spring-cleaning. Review your super and savings, insurance and will, loans and credit cards, power of attorney, and overall financial strategy. Is everything up to date?

How’s your super doing? Would salary-sacrificing help?

Can you consolidate debt or refinance at a lower rate?

October to December

Into the final strait and how are you tracking? Are you ‘on plan’?

Maybe the plan you came up with back in January wasn’t realistic. It’s not too late to adjust both your strategy and your expectations.

If things are looking good, it’s important to stay focused. Christmas is looming with its temptations to over-spend.

Once the turkey and plum pudding have settled, it’s time to review the year just gone and to give yourself a pat on the back for what you’ve achieved. Then take a deep breath, check your goals, and update your plan for the coming year.

Invaluable help

Your financial adviser is an expert in working out the financial details of how you can achieve your goals. Just as important is the regular encouragement they can provide along the way.

Ready to start planning?

Give your adviser a call and make a date to nut out your plan for the coming year.

Please contact us on 9836 8399 to discuss.

 


Start planning early to get what you want!

Australians are living longer. According to the World Health Organization, we enjoy the fourth best life expectancy in the world behind Japan, Switzerland and Singapore.

Great news for Millennials! Your life expectancy has been tabled at 74 for men and 80 for women. Astounding advances in medical technology could mean you will live much longer! With all that living to be done, how on earth will you fund it?

Well there’s always the Bank of Mum and Dad, right?

Doubtful, you see, according to a 2017 joint survey by National Seniors Australia and Challenger, the main issue concerning older people is ensuring they have regular and sufficient income.

This is because they are also living longer and are structuring their affairs to ensure they don’t outlive their savings. Your parents are healthier and more financially savvy than their own parents were and they’re considering their options.

It might seem like an historical event now, but self-funded retirees took an unexpected hit during the Global Financial Crisis (GFC). Ten years on, and investments have still not recovered. A recent report by the SuperGuide announced the top-performing super fund for the last ten years to June 2017 earned an average of 6.1%. That’s not much.

It’s probably not a good idea to rely on an inheritance either. From the survey mentioned above, only 3 percent of respondents planned to leave their savings to their children.

A combination of longer life expectancy and sluggish investment growth has seen many retirees opting for strategies like downsizing their homes to supplement retirement income.

It’s common to live with Mum and Dad to save a healthy home deposit. Sometimes parents even offer financial assistance to give their children a leg-up into their first home. As a result, it’s quite reasonable to assume there’ll be further help later on.

These days, it’s increasingly likely that you’ll find your parents are simply not in the position to give further help, much as they’d like to.

But independence is empowering! It means taking control.

Borrowing from family can be awkward; they may want a say in how you spend the money, or it can leave you feeling you must consult them before making decisions.

Controlling your own destiny might be challenging, but financial self-reliance is rewarding. You just need to know where to start.

Financial advisers consider your income, expenses and financial goals. They work with you to tailor a plan to manage debt and develop a good savings habit to put you on track to getting what you want.

Contribute even the smallest regular amount and you’ll be amazed at what you can achieve.

This is because interest is calculated on your savings balance. Regularly topping-up your balance – even once a month – really boosts your savings as the interest combined with your contributions compound one on top of the other, over and over. It’s like free money!

What could be better? Only the fact that professional advice costs less than you might expect.

Please contact us on 9836 8399  if we can assist you .

Important

Any information provided by the author detailed above is separate and external to our business and our Licensee. Neither our business, nor our Licensee take any responsibility for any action or any service provided by the author.

Any links have been provided with permission for information purposes only and will take you to external websites, which are not connected to our company in any way. Note: Our company does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy of the contents/information contained within the linked site(s) accessible from this page.


How much money do you throw away?

Incredibly, Australians are now literally throwing away coins rather than using or saving them. This article highlights this issue and recommends some ideas to reduce wasting money; whether it is as coins or other expensive habits. It provides a simple example of how much a small amount can grow into a substantial figure.

While the move is on to become a cashless society, notes and coins are likely to be with us for some time yet. ‘Touch and go’ payments may be increasing, but for many small purchases most of us still rely on good old cash. And because it’s easier to hand over a note for each purchase than to scramble in our pockets or purses for the correct change, by the end of the week we often end up with a hefty pile of low value coins. These coins are such a pain that, according to one survey, 93% of respondents admitted to throwing away five cent pieces, with 29% even ditching ten cent pieces.

Okay, so tossing away a dollar’s worth of small change each week won’t put much of a dent in your future wealth, but at least consider dropping those coins into a donation box. Combined with thousands of other peoples’ donations your spare change can make a real difference to the services that charities provide.

There are, however, other areas where we effectively throw away money, and in amounts that can really add up:

  • Food: on average Australians throw away around one third of the food we buy.
  • Gas and electricity: when was the last time you shopped around for the best deal on your gas and power bills? You could save hundreds of dollars a year.
  • Gift cards: often end up at the back of a drawer until they expire, or you may only spend part of the total value.
  • Impulse buying: how much do you spend on clothing you don’t wear and stuff you don’t use?
  • Lunches: even if you skip the smashed avo, a takeaway lunch costs much more than one you make yourself.

In most of these cases the solutions are pretty obvious.

  • Only buy the food you will use. A few loose carrots and apples might be a better buy than the kilo bags that start to rot in the crisper. If you regularly have a surplus of some foods find recipes that use them. Soups and casseroles are a great way to use up all sorts of ingredients.
  • Compare what other gas and electricity retailers are offering.
  • Have a good look at your credit card statement. Were all your purchases necessary?
  • Place your gift cards in front of your credit cards to remind you to use them instead.
  • Make your own lunch. Many people can easily save $10 or $15 dollars per day with very little effort. Once any impulse buying habits are under control, this could be the supercharger of your savings.

Will implementing these changes make a real difference? Let’s see.

Imagine that you adopt some of these suggestions and as a result save an average of $60 per week. Stashed away in a savings account earning an interest rate of 2% per annum for 20 years, those modest weekly savings will grow to over $76,700. Contributed to an investment that provides an average return of 7% pa and you could be looking at having around $136,000 in 20 years’ time.

Does that give you a better idea of how much money you could really be throwing away?

What to do with your newfound savings capacity will depend on your goals and situation.

Your financial adviser will be able to help you make the most of the money you don’t throw away.

Please contact us on 9836 8399

Important

Any information provided by the author detailed above is separate and external to our business and our Licensee. Neither our business, nor our Licensee take any responsibility for any action or any service provided by the author.

Any links have been provided with permission for information purposes only and will take you to external websites, which are not connected to our company in any way. Note: Our company does not endorse and is not responsible for the accuracy of the contents/information contained within the linked site(s) accessible from this page.