Pay-Later Debts reach $903M in Australia

Did you see the report in LinkedIn Daily Rundown today that Australians collectively owe $903 Million in Buy-Now, Pay-Later debts?

An ASIC report found 1 in 6 customers who use payment methods like Afterpay and Zip Pay were in financial trouble like being overdrawn, delaying bill payments or borrowing money to pay off debts.

Of those people struggling, 60% were aged between 18 and 34.

Your Spending Plan can help you Take Control Of Your Money

It gives you a clear path; know exactly what you have to spend, and watch your savings grow.

Create www.yourspendingplan.com.au in an easy-to-follow course format.

Its cheaper than 4 cups of coffee.

#financialgoals #savings #linkedin #shopping #payments #financialfreedom #financialplanning #personalfinance #afterpay #zippay

When is Too Early to Start Your Christmas Shopping?

Are you ready to start Christmas shopping yet? Is it too early? Are you emotionally ready yet?

Can you imagine buying whatever you want: An iWatch, or even a new iPhone, that handbag you keep eyeing off as you walk past the store, a new jacket, or the latest sports shoes. Put it on your credit card, or split it over two credit cards, then it won’t seem as bad when you look at the statement.

We’ve all done it and it feels good. Coming home with bags of goodies, trying them on in secret, then when quizzed weeks later “When did you get that?” you retort “This old thing”. Haha, they’ll never know. Surely you’ve heard the old saying that “You live up to your income”, as your paycheque or income rises, so does your lifestyle. There’s nothing wrong with living well.

But, and there is always a But… that one-off spending spree is very rarely a “one-off”. It is addictive and gets the pleasure endorphins pumping. “Why not do it again, next week, it was fun and there’s still credit available on the card” And on top of all that the airlines are giving you reward points! Why wouldn’t you use your card?

Did you know that Australians owe approximately $33 billion in credit card debt. Here’s an easier number: Thirty-Three Billion Dollars. Personal debt per credit card holder is $4301.00 with an average of $723.45 in interest per annum. Yikes!

For many of us refusing to use a credit card is simply not an option. Without one it’s difficult to pay bills and even make reoccurring payments. So use it for that and not for shopping. What should you use for shopping and spending I hear you murmur sarcastically, Use a debit card. You can’t spend more than you have in the bank that way. You’ll find you will spend less and when you next look at your bank statement you’ll even question what you are buying and maybe start to budget.

While you’re at it, have a look at your monthly credit card statement. It shows how long it will take you to pay off your balance and how much interest you’ll pay if you only pay the minimum each month. (The short answers are “forever” and “heaps.”)

So overspending once in awhile is good for you; hopefully it shows you how addictive it can be and gets you to review the financial consequences of that binge. Although a “once-off” may not impact you that much now, think about those endorphins that are working to create a monster, and there’s nothing more destructive than a spending monster.

What about all that money you are spending on short term pleasure, and could be using toward the car, or house, renovation, holiday: the big ticket items that need saving for. Shame as those would be long term memories, not just a day of short term pleasure, even if it is in the name of Christmas.

What can you do to resist the “spending-money-I-just-don’t-have” urge?

Firstly use your debit card more than your credit card. Secondly put a simple budget in place, and then you’ll know what you have to spend, and what you don’t. We like to call a budget ‘Your Spending Plan’ as that is what we are all working around: Spending.

Here’s a helpful downloadable guide to control your spending and build your savings. 6-steps to Financial Security, a Free e-book from Your Money Sense. It’s a good starting point to get you in the right mindset to manage your money.

So next time you go for a bender at the shopping centre, take a few deep breaths before walking in, and think about the long term financial goal.

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Arc Wealth Financial Adviser - Karen Vickers

Suite 20 / 6-8 Herbert Street, St Leonards, NSW 2065

Australians Addiction to Debt is at a New High

When house prices are strong, household spending is also often high. Home owners think they are sitting on the golden egg, so they just keep spending.

When house prices drop, so should spending. But as we have seen in the past 6 months, housing prices have come off the boil, yet consumer spending is at an all-time high.

Are we in a property bubble? Probably not.

Will there be a crash? Probably not.

You need a bit more than a cooling off of Chinese investors to crash a property market. Factors like a depression, massive unemployment, exceedingly high interest rates, and an excessive oversupply of properties also need to be in play. They’re not.

So, although a crash is not on the horizon, the drop in the value of ‘Your Castle’ should give you cause to ease off your spending.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics says that “if their debt is either three or four times more than their income, or 75% or more of their assets value”, then a household is over-indebted.

Two-thirds of Australians’ debt is secured by their property. So, if your spending keeps increasing, yet your property value drops, you’re actually in a position of borrowing too much. And there will come a time when you need to reign it in. Probably sooner than later.

But managing your spending is easier said than done, right? Firstly, because not many of us know how to create a budget to check just how bad our spending may be. And secondly because it’s easier to ignore it.

Budgeting should be your fundamental starting point to make sure your spending is in control. After all, how can you tell you’re on track if you don’t know where your hard-earned pay-cheque is going?

Some of us, correction: most of us, will find it daunting to maintain a budget. Getting all your expenses together, tracking what should be paid and when, how much you have left for entertainment, saving for long-term goals – it’s enough to make you give up before you start. But what if there was an easier way to manage your cash-flow that didn’t require hours of sifting through receipts or crunching numbers?

Online spreadsheets and budget are a challenge, for anyone. Where do you start, what does this mean, what does that mean? What goes here, what goes there.

Let me help you there. Here is a link to Your Spending Plan as built by a Sydney based company, Your Wealth Vault, which educates people through the process of setting up a personal budget.

They have built an easy to use Course which guides you through the important steps to making a budget, and half way through you’ll have your fully functioning Spending Plan, just by way of following through the quick and easy course.

You’re probably thinking that all sounds too easy, there must be a catch.

There is no "catch", but there is a charge to use this ground-breaking money-saving software. Good thing is it’s no more than the cost of a few cups of coffee a month, or a bottle of wine, and way less than a few hours parking at a Sydney beach.

If you are serious about getting your finances organised and knowing exactly what is coming in and what is going out, then start the Course and create Your Spending Plan. You can always easily cancel if you feel it’s all too hard and life can get back to “overspending normal”.

SO start here >> Your Spending Plan

Australian’s Household Debt Ranks #4 In The World. When Will We Listen?

You’d probably think the consumer country, United States would rank above Australia, but they are almost half of our debt per household.

Australians have a debt problem and they’re not listening. High household debt is worrying at its best. It’s like a big semi-trailer screaming down the highway. If something bad happens in front of it, the driver has an extremely difficult time trying to stop, or even manoeuvre.

You’re probably saying it’s ok because our interest rates are low. What happens when they go up a quarter of a percent or half a percent, let alone when they creep up 1%? It’ll hurt.

The cost of ‘necessities’ like power, insurance, transport and health creep up every year. The fastest real household spending growth (2016/17) has been in Communications (phone, internet etc) at a rate of 6.6%, Medicine and Medical Aids at 4.9%, Household Appliances (because we are a Nation of consumers) at 4.9%, and Transport Services at 4.8%. Have your wages crept up at those rates?

Something has to give when household expenses are increasing each year, and household incomes are not. It’s usually the household savings that suffer.

So, you are in a better position than most if you actually have savings when things change. What if you don’t?

Then your debt increases. You borrow against your home, or you chase around for another credit card and start that evil route of spending money you don’t have.

I don’t want to get all technical and confuse you with WPI and GDP numbers as most of you will switch off so I’m keeping it simple.

It’s ok to have debt if it’s manageable within your means, but just be wary that low interest and a fairly good economy does have cycles and can change for the worst.

You need to keep a close eye on your finances, not just in your head, or a bank’s phone APP on your account’s activity this month. No, you really need to sit down and create a budget.

The secret is to have a plan, some guidance, direction, a helping hand. When it comes to saving, or not spending, it’s easy enough to put a plan in place, but whatever tool you use must break it down for you.

To take control of your money you need to understand the flow of it: Money comes in from . . . and Money goes out to . . .

Your budgeting tool needs to show you what your finances currently look like, what simple options are available to budget, and then how you can easily save money from that budget.

Everyone talks about a “Budget Plan”. I personally call it “Your Spending Plan” because that is what we are trying to control here – your spending

By creating a Spending Plan you can learn:

• ·       What your expenses are to the dollar
• ·       Know exactly what you have to spend
• ·       How to use your credit card wisely
• ·       And be able to take charge of your money and build financial security.

If you understand how your money flows, and you can learn that, you will see exactly what you are spending, what your expenses are, and how small changes can save you big money.

If you’re still reading this, you obviously know that you need something to help you manage your spending. I’m not saying to stop spending. You just need to be able to manage your money better.

Your Wealth Vault has created a course format budget which guides you step-by-step to create Your Spending Plan giving you the knowledge and capability to have optimum control over your money.

Spending, which you’ll still do, will take on a whole new light. You’ll be able to do it without the guilt and remorse you currently face.

The course, and creating and managing Your Spending Plan each month, will set you back the cost of 3 cups of coffee each month, but what you will save on your expenses should far outweigh that cost.

If you have ANY concerns about your finances and your spending, you need to visit Your Spending Plan.

#1 Way to Stop Overspending and Get Your Budget Under Control

You start every month with really good intentions, or maybe you wait for your new years resolution to roll around to “save more money this year.” Just like the diet, you soon succumb to “oh just this once” and then you get buyers remorse at the end of the month when all of your bills come in.

The signs of being a spending culprit should be fairly self-evident so I won’t go into detail other than to list them:

·       Your budget doesn’t add up – if you even have one. You’re spending more than you make.

·       Your credit cards are always at their limit.

·       You can, or do, only pay the minimum payment. This can get you into so much trouble financially.

·       You splurge on buying stuff, or on entertainment, and neglect your bills.

·       If your income rises, so do your expenses.

·       There’s more in your wardrobe than in your bank account.

·       You can’t make a start to make a change.

You may think you can’t change, but you can as long as you firstly realise there is a problem. It’s kind of like being a gambler, smoker, or alcoholic – you want to quit but it’s too hard to know how, or where to start, let alone stick to it.

The secret is to have a plan, some guidance, direction, a helping hand. When it comes to saving, or not spending, it’s easy enough to put a plan in place, but whatever tool you use must break it down for you.

To take control of your money you need to understand the flow of it: Money comes in from . . . and Money goes out to . . .

Your budgeting tool needs to show you what your finances currently look like, what simple options are available to budget, and then how you can easily save money from that budget.

Everyone talks about a “Budget Plan”. I personally call it “Your Spending Plan” because that is what we are trying to control here – your spending.

By creating a Spending Plan you can learn:

·       what your expenses are to the dollar

·       know exactly what you have to spend

·       how to use your credit card wisely

·       and be able to take charge of your money and build financial security.

If you understand how your money flows, and you can learn that, you will see exactly what you are spending, what your expenses are, and how small changes can save you big money.

If you’re still reading this, you obviously know that you need something to help you manage your spending. I’m not saying to stop spending. You just need to be able to manage your money better.

Your Spending Plan is a step-by-step budgeting tool which gives you the knowledge and capability to have optimum control over your money. 

Spending, which you’ll still do, will take on a whole new light. You’ll be able to do it without the guilt and remorse you currently face.

The course, and creating and managing Your Spending Plan each month, will set you back the cost of 3 cups of coffee each month, but what you will save on your expenses should far outweigh that cost.

If you have ANY concerns about your finances and your spending, you need to visit Your SpendingPlan.

Just Because You Spend Money Doesn’t Mean You Have Money To Spend

Does your overspending get the better of you? You know you need to do something about it but there is always a Sale on, and a Bargain at the next store.

You start every month with really good intentions, or maybe you wait for your new years resolution to roll around to “save more money this year.” Just like the diet, you soon succumb to “oh just this once” and then you get buyers remorse at the end of the month when all of your bills come in.

The signs of being a spending culprit should be fairly self-evident so I won’t go into detail other than to list them:

• Your budget doesn’t add up – if you even have one. You’re spending more than you make.

• Your credit cards are always at their limit.

• You can, or do, only pay the minimum payment. This can get you into so much trouble financially.

• You splurge on buying stuff, or on entertainment, and neglect your bills.

• If your income rises, so do your expenses.

• There’s more in your wardrobe than in your bank account.

• You can’t make a start to make a change.

You may think you can’t change, but you can as long as you firstly realise there is a problem. It’s kind of like being a gambler, smoker, or alcoholic – you want to quit but it’s too hard to know how, or where to start, let alone stick to it.

The secret is to have a plan, some guidance, direction, a helping hand. When it comes to saving, or not spending, it’s easy enough to put a plan in place, but whatever tool you use must break it down for you.

To take control of your money you need to understand the flow of it: Money comes in from . . . and Money goes out to . . .

Your budgeting tool needs to show you what your finances currently look like, what simple options are available to budget, and then how you can easily save money from that budget.

Everyone talks about a “Budget Plan”. I personally call it “Your Spending Plan” because that is what we are trying to control here – your spending.

By creating a Spending Plan you will learn:

• What your expenses are to the dollar

• Know exactly what you have to spend

• How to use your credit card wisely

• And be able to take charge of your money and build financial security.

If you understand how your money flows, and you can learn that, you will see exactly what you are spending, what your expenses are, and how small changes can save you big money.

If you’re still reading this, you obviously know that you need something to help you manage your spending. I’m not saying to stop spending. You just need to be able to manage your money better.

Your Wealth Vault has created a ‘Your Money Sense’ course which guides you step-by-step to create Your Spending Plan which gives you the knowledge and capability to have optimum control over your money.

Spending, which you’ll still do, will take on a whole new light. You’ll be able to do it without the guilt and remorse you currently face.

The course, and creating and managing Your Spending Plan each month, will set you back the cost of 3 cups of coffee each month, but what you will save on your expenses should far outweigh that cost.

If you have ANY concerns about your finances and your spending, you need to visit Your Spending Plan.

7 Steps to Make a Household or Personal Budget

When you get your pay cheque, whether that’s weekly, fortnightly, or monthly, check the instructions.

What? You didn’t get instructions with your pay-cheque!

Instructions seem to be included with everything these days, yet with something as important as your money, you don’t get instructions. You’re just left to figure it out.

How much should you spend to make it through to your next pay-cheque? How much can you save? How much do you need for groceries, bills, kids and so on?

No one is born with money management skills, it is a learned skill. And those that do learn it DO manage their money better. They have more to spend, more to save, and more to go around in general.

If you can build a personal, family or household budget, you’ll manage your money effectively and have more money in your pocket.

Often people don’t attempt to make a budget because they don’t want to face the realisation of frustration, guilt, envy, anger, shame or disappointment.

If this sounds like you, Get Over It!

It’s never too late to start managing your money. Create a budget, or Spending Plan, now and the benefits will show immediately.

If you budget well, you don’t have to make more money, but you will have more money available.

I’m about you to give you the 7 Steps you need to get on top before you build Your Spending Plan, but don’t be put off as there is an easy to way to implement all of this. You’ll get a link to a shortcut and easy way to create Your Spending Plan at the end of this article.

1. Setting Goals – What do you want and when do you want it? Make realistic goals to work toward.
2. Identifying Income and Expenses – Put your hands on your bills and expenses. “Garbage In = Garbage Out”. Get it right the first time.
3. Separating Needs From Wants: You have to prioritise what your money will be spent on. You can’t have everything.
4. Designing Your Budget: You must work out what current and future spending is required. This needs planning.
5. Putting your Spending Plan into Action: You need to check and make regular updates for Your Spending Plan to work. It is not a once off exercise.
6. Managing seasonal expenses: Your expenses are not always the same. You need the tools to make this as easy as possible.
7. Look ahead: How will your personal circumstances change in the future? What could happen in a year, 5 years, 10 years?

If you put a Spending Plan in place, you’ll always live within your means. You’ll know at a glance what expenses are coming up, what you’ve been spending, and how much you have to splurge on life’s little luxuries.

You’ll avoid the anxiety of not knowing what’s next.

Money can be a great thing to have but a dangerous thing if you don’t know how to manage it.

Your money should give you a sense of happiness and freedom, not fear, anxiety and uncertainty.

The basis of happy money is knowledge, and it’s not that hard to get. Your Spending Plan is designed to make you get the most from the money you have.

I’m gathering if you don’t already have a household or personal budget, it’s because you don’t know where to start.

Online spreadsheets and budget are a challenge, for anyone. Where do you start, what does that mean, what does this mean? What goes here, what goes there.

So here is the link to the shortcut I told you about. Your Spending Plan as built by a Sydney based company, Your Wealth Vault, educates people through the process of setting up a personal budget.

They have built an easy to use course which guides you through the 7 Steps to making a budget, and half way through you’ll have your fully functioning Spending Plan, just by way of following through the quick and easy course.

You’re probably thinking that all sounds too easy, there must be a catch.

There is no “catch”, but there is a charge to use this ground-breaking money-saving software. Good thing is, it’s no more than the cost of few cups of coffee a month, or a bottle of wine, and way less than a few hours parking at a Sydney beach.

If you are serious about getting your finances organised, and making your money “happy”, then start the Course and create Your Spending Plan. You can always easily cancel if you feel it’s all too hard and life can “just go on”.

SO start here >> Your Spending Plan