What is Loyalty Tax? Firstly, Loyalty Tax has absolutely nothing to do with the ATO; it’s a far more underhanded way of extracting money from us. Some of the most well-know and trusted companies in Australia apply a loyalty tax against their longest-term customers. Energy, mobile, broadband, mortgage, savings, credit cards and insurance providers increasingly […]
Budgeting and Saving
Tax and Your Budget: Managing Debts | Tax Saving Tips | Budgeting and Saving | Personal Finances | Rental Income
Three money saving tips to re-ignite your savings
Not feeling the love for your savings account? Try these simple steps to reignite your savings strategy. The trouble is, traditional budgeting can be light on the fun factor. That leaves plenty of us in the dark about where our money goes. In fact, close to nine out of ten Australians are clueless about their […]
Saving Money: How to save a million dollars (really) – plus how to save money faster
How to be good at saving money It’s a comfort to know you can quickly get your hands on some money if you need it – without resorting to a loan from a bank, family or friends. It’s also a comfort to know you’ll be able to reach goals like buying a home and retiring comfortably. […]
The All-important Shared Finances Conversation
Every couple has ‘the conversation’ about sharing finances. But, as with all money-related matters, it’s rarely a straightforward process. We discuss all of your options below… Shared finances or keeping things separate The ‘traditional’ idea of shared finances involves a couple simply merging all their financial assets. So, you combine both savings accounts and debt […]
Pay Off Your Credit Card or Invest? What’s the Smartest Move?
Is it best to pay off your credit card straight away? Or do you make more money by investing in a high-interest account or shares? When it comes to simple savings strategies, this should be one of the first questions you ask. And thankfully, we’ve got all the numbers to help you decide. Credit Card […]
Claim Your Dental Expenses as a Tax Deduction
“Can my dental expenses be deducted on my tax return?” Let’s discuss how you can maximise your tax refund by legally claiming your dental treatment costs as a deductible expense. Update: 2013 Budget Changes May Affect Your Ability to Claim: The net medical expenses tax offset was slowly phased out starting in July 2013. Only […]