Is money the key to happiness?

Is money the key to happiness? Numerous research reports and studies agree having more money can lead to improved wellbeing, but only up to a point. It seems that once your personal income cruises past roughly the six-figure mark, you can’t expect to get any happier from having more. How you spend your money, on …

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How to save for retirement in your 40s

By the time you’re in your 40s you’ll potentially be earning more money than you may have previously – but you may also have unexpected or unwelcome expenses, like divorce. At this age you might also put retirement planning on the backburner in favour of more pressing financial commitments, such as your home loan and …

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How to refinance your home loan

If you’re thinking about refinancing your home loan, this step-by-step guide shows you what to expect and how to navigate the process. Refinancing can mean talking to your current provider to renegotiate your arrangement with them (an internal refinance), but it often refers to switching to a different lender to secure a better deal (an external …

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Federal Budget Oct 2022 Summary

This year’s Federal Budget focuses on providing relief for those with children, homebuyers and social security recipients whilst maintaining pre-election commitments. Note: These changes are proposals only and may or may not be made law. Personal taxation No changes to personal income tax: The Budget did not contain any measures announcing changes to personal income …

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What’s super and how does it work?

A helpful guide to understanding the basics of super. Superannuation, commonly known as ‘super’, is money set aside while you’re working so you’ll have money for retirement. Your money is put into a fund, where it’s invested on your behalf by a trustee, to help you earn returns and grow your savings. The amount of …

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Money Worries and your mental health

Worrying about your finances can take a real toll on your mental health. With many people experiencing financial stress, we look at what you can do to improve your financial (and mental) wellbeing. According to the Melbourne Institute, one-in-three Australians are now reporting financial stress, while one-in-five are feeling ‘mental distress’. The Melbourne Institute also found …

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Having the money talk with your partner

While you may have been putting off the money talk with your partner, matters of the bank account are very important. In fact, discussing your finances with a long or short-term partner, can save you uncomfortable conversations down the track, especially when you start to manage money together. While you don’t necessarily need to know …

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7 tips to improve your financial wellness

People who have been financially stressed in the past are often able to recover through changes to their behaviour and mindset. Here are some suggestions of things you could do which may help you to improve how you feel financially. Create a budget that works for you When it comes to creating a budget, try …

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