Debt Management

Debts and Cash Flow: Why Your Paycheck Might Be Fooling You

Imagine landing that dream job with a hefty salary, but somehow, you're still living paycheck to paycheck. Sound familiar? You're not alone. Many Australians are caught in a financial illusion, mistaking a high income for true wealth. Let's pull back the curtain on this money mirage and explore why your bank balance might not be telling the whole story.

Talk About Perfect Timing!

Sometimes life’s timing is perfect. We have written before about the best way to use an inheritance. Last Sunday, we came across an almost ideal scenario for when a young couple could receive an inheritance. Here are some of the best ways this couple could respond. It’s food for thought for any younger person.

When Mum and Dad are Bankers As Well

Recent estimates claim that the ‘Bank of Mum and Dad’ is Australia’s ninth largest lender. Given the state of house prices, this comes as no surprise. Most parents want to help their kids, especially with something as important as buying a home. But it is important that things be done correctly. There is such a thing as ‘the wrong way to help’ when it comes to one generation trying to help another.

RBA’s Inflation Struggle: The ‘Feet in the Oven, Head in the Freezer’ Problem

If your feet are in an oven and your head is in the freezer, on average you probably feel quite comfortable. That’s the problem with averages. And it is a problem worth remembering when it comes to the task ahead of the RBA as they try to bring inflation down.

Want a Lower Interest Rate? There’s no Harm in Asking

As interest rates continue to rise unabated, many of our clients are finding that things are getting tight. They are wondering what to do. Well, the first step for many people is to see if you can reduce that rate of interest.

All debt is paid off ‘After-Tax’

If you have a debt, you are probably making repayments. Each repayment you make is probably divided into two parts: interest and principal. Indeed, technically, you are only actually making a repayment if your regular payment includes an amount that reduces the principal of your debt.

When you have debt, every dollar you spend is a borrowed dollar. It’s a loop.

Many people have debt. Not as many people realise that, if you have debt of any kind, then every dollar you spend is another dollar you have borrowed. That’s how debt works.

Managing Debt Better – Good Debts versus Bad Debts

Interest rates are in the news and they will stay there for a while yet. So, now is a great time to think about how you are managing your debt. Over the next few weeks, we want to provide some fundamental advice that will help you or someone you love best manage their debts.

Small Change Can Create Big Changes

You probably already know that making extra payments on a loan can save you money. But few people realise just how much. A relatively small change today can help you save large amounts in the future. Put another way, your small change today can create big changes in the future.

What is the Target Cash Rate (and Why Does it Matter)?

Last week, for the third month in a row, the Reserve Bank of Australia hiked its target cash rate. The target rate is now 1.35%, up from the all-time low rate of 0.1% that it had been at since November 2020. So, what is the target cash rate? And why does it matter?