What 5 things would you grab if your house was on fire?

Your home is on fire (God forbid) and you have time to safely grab 5 items (assume all people and animals are safe). What did you grab?

This is not a post about the tragic consequence of anyone’s property actually being on fire but one of personal conflict between what’s practical, valuable and sentimental and planning for ahead. What you would take from your burning house reflects your interests, background and priorities. Think of it as an interview about your life, condensed into one question: What would you save?

Maybe you’re now pondering this question: “What would I take from my burning house?” Would you go the practical route and snatch your computer or phone, or are you more sentimental, opting for old photos and toys? It’s a tough one.

Sometimes it takes a moment of crisis to realize what matters. Sometimes it takes a really difficult question to force you to think about what you value in life. A plan is critical even if it’s formulated over the course of a minute.

So you’ve got your 5 items together but what about the rest of the contents when it does burn to the ground? Oh well that’s easy right, insurance takes care of that. Sure it does, but what exactly was in there and what was everything valued at? Here’s a quick tip that you can do next time you have a spare hours, or when there’s nothing on TV: Create a mini movie, room-by-room, the playback being very valuable when making an insurance claim. Walk through each room and record your stuff. Be sure to shoot serial numbers and add commentary by reading out model numbers. Save it onto a hard drive or flash-drive, collect important receipts and documents and store it all together in a quick-to-go place.

So now you’ve got a plan for when your house burns down. What about a plan for the inevitable: Life? Yep you need a plan to be financially secure when you grow old – and anywhere in between. You need a financial plan. Again, you need to spend a bit of time putting it together, collecting your important financial information and then starting a budget so you know what’s coming in and what’s going out, money-wise. It’s not that hard. You can start here by downloading our Free Your Money Sense e-Book: “6-steps to Financial Security”.

So back to the burning house. We’ll assume the cat and dog were ok: What 5 things did you grab?

Are Your Financial Habits Normal?

Each day you get up and shower, get dressed, have breakfast, feed the pets and go to work: or something like that. That’s normal for you but it doesn’t mean it’s normal for the next person.

Did you know that when it comes to your money, there is a normal too? Your money normal encompasses your ability to pay your bills, educate your kids, buy a home or retire in comfort and security. That will change for everyone.

So how do you define your money-normal, as it can impact your life in huge ways?

Some people believe that you save regularly and stay out of debt. Others believe that the future is unknowable, so why worry about it. We ultimately define our actions based on our habits and what we believe is appropriate or in our best interest.

Meet Chandler who is a frugal spender, a good saver and even manages to invest here and there. He is happy with that lifestyle and always manages to have money available to do what he wants to do, when he wants to do it. He is organized, disciplined, a planner and a saver.

On the flip side Joey likes to spend as required, he likes to do and have what he wants and needs without consideration of next months finances, and as a result lives from day to day, not interested in, or maybe not knowledgeable of what he requires to save for the future. He thinks it will be there when it’s needed; somehow. (Of course there are many variations of those two examples.)

Both of these fictional people believe that their approach is normal. And it is because they live it. But the consequences can be very different. It’s not a matter of who is wrong or right – it’s simply, their normal.

You need to understand your normal, does it bring you closer to your happiness, satisfaction, comfort and a secure financial future?  If so, keep it going. If not, perhaps it’s time for a new normal…

A good start to being money-normal is to get a plan in place. Start by downloading our Free Your Money Sense e-Book: “6-steps to Financial Security”.

What is your “normal”?

Dream your Goals

If you don’t know where you are it’s often hard to know where you are going. Establish a budget; then revise and review. Your budget is a living document, it keeps changing so you need to keep assessing and adapting to these changes. Put some realistic goals in place and try to stick to them. You’ll benefit in the long run. www.YourWealthVault.com.au

8 Really Important Things To Know When Starting Out

Whether you are starting your financial journey out of Uni, getting your first job, climbing the career ladder, jumping into a relationship, buying property or starting a business, you need to take control of your financial future. Here are 8 really important things to know when you are starting out.

One: Live without a credit card

Did you know that Australians owe approximately $32,673,480,146 in credit card debt as of this morning. 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.

Two: You don’t have to keep up with the Joneses

Keeping up with your peers is dangerous. Just because they have the latest model of car or go on the holiday that you’ve always wanted to, doesn’t mean you should too. You don’t know what their situation is: they may have inherited some money, or they may be so far in debt that you don’t want to follow. You are you, they are they, don’t get confused with that. Live within your own financial means not your peers.

Three: Choose your partner very carefully

Business or personal partner, this is relevant to both. Don’t be impressed by a showy display of money or wealth, it may just be a façade and have a bucket load of debt supporting it. Be careful and be aware. When a business starts making money it’s very tempting, particularly if it is a new concept to your partner. There are so many horror stories of partners who get all consumed by newfound wealth and blow it all. Money can bring out greed in a person… very easily. Keep your finger on the pulse.

Four: Start Saving

More than 40% of a recent survey said they were able to meet their normal monthly expenses, but a third admitted they were worried about their ability to do so. The report said that the results clearly showed there are a large number of people who struggle to cope financially, and the problems are not always linked to the size of their pay-cheque. In many instances people are living in the hope that they will achieve their goals rather than planning for a fulfilling and secure future.

57% of those surveyed had no regular savings plan, and peaked among 45 to 54 year olds, who are often nearing the peak of their earnings capacity. Close to 40% of people would be unable to maintain their current lifestyle if they lost their income for three to six months, thanks to not enough savings.

So how do you counter that? Put a simple budget in place, as you never know when your financial situation can and will change. We like to call it Your Spending Plan as that is what we are all working around: Spending.

Five: Develop a budget

Don’t spend more than you earn. It’s hard to keep track of spending if you don’t have a budget. Putting a simple budget in place lets you know what you have to spend, and what you don’t. We like to call a budget a Spending Plan as that is what we are all working around: Spending.

Six: Get yourself health insurance

Without health insurance, you may not be able to afford expensive medical services when you need them but there are many more reasons why you need health insurance: Shorter waiting periods for elective surgery, choice of doctor, extras benefits to name a few.

You could end up paying more for private health insurance over your lifetime if you don’t take out hospital cover before 1 July following your 31st birthday. If you join after this time, you may be required to pay a 2% loading on top of your premium per year for every year you are aged over 30 and do not have private hospital cover, up to a maximum loading of 70%. For example, if you take out private hospital cover at age 45 you may pay 30% more than someone who took it out at age 30.

Do you really want to be significantly out of pocket when you are sick?

Seven: Keep track and set some goals

If you don’t know where you are it’s often hard to know where you are going. Hopefully you establish your budget, then revise and review. Your budget is a living document, it keeps changing so you need to keep assessing and adapting to these changes.

Put some realistic goals in place and try to stick to them. You’ll benefit in the long run.

Eight: Understand Superannuation

If you want enough money for a comfortable retirement, spend some time learning about superannuation. Taking a few steps now to boosting your Super will make a huge difference to your lifestyle in the future.

Superannuation is a way to save for your retirement. The money comes from contributions made into your super fund by your employer and, ideally, topped up by your own money. Sometimes the government will add to it through co-contributions and the low income super contribution.

Your employer must pay 9.5% of your salary into a super fund. This is called the Super Guarantee and it’s the law. The Super Guarantee will gradually increase to 12% in coming years.

Over the course of your working life, these contributions from your employer add up, or ‘accumulate’. Your super money is also invested by your super fund so it grows over time. When you retire, you will have money to live off – a nest egg. Super is a lifetime investment that has many benefits. Super can be a minefield of information so ask an expert for help, It’ll save you money in the long run.

So if you are starting out on the career path, in a budding relationship, a new business or “it’s just time”, get a grip on controlling your overall financial situation. Here’s a great Free e-book from Your Money Sense: 6-steps to Financial Security It’s a good starting point to get you in the right mindset when you are starting out.

7 Steps to a Financially Independent Divorce

Are you a single parent? It’s more common than you think. The first thing to accept is that you are now financially independent, or need to be. At first that can seem overwhelming, particularly as a single mum. Just understand that there is plenty of help out there if needed. There is such a great network of support through women in business networking groups on Facebook and LinkedIn. And they really are very supportive and helpful with lots of personal experience to tap into.

Get out and live your life, personally and in business. Embrace your kids, activities, the city, and financial opportunities. And take control of your finances; understand them and rework them to suit your new lifestyle.

Here are 7 financial steps to get you back on track after divorce:

1: Embrace that you are now financially independent. Yes, you may be eligible for child support, but also remember this, you may not end up getting it. But you can control how much you earn, and you can earn far more than a judge may order you be paid. It’s also very important at this stage to move on emotionally in this phase of your life; don’t rely on someone else.

2: Set some short- and long-term financial goals. In the short-term you may need to pay off a credit card bill, build an emergency savings account, or simply put; make more than you spend. Your longer term goals may include buying a home, saving for your kids’ college, or investing for retirement.

3: Set quality of life goals. There is no point in paying off a credit card bill if it means you work so much that you never see your kids or have time to exercise. Consider free time, quality time with your family, for their health and well-being. Think about how your money and life can work together.

4: Decide to make more money. Take a mentor, someone you know is doing it well, out for coffee to learn about opportunities in your profession. Research about doing further study. Consider starting your own business. Talk to your boss about working from home and other life-balance arrangements.

5: Get rid of bills for stuff you don’t need. Haven’t been to the gym in six months? Get real with yourself and cancel that bill. Look at your mobile phone and cable bills – can you trim down your services?

6: Go on a shopping diet. No more trips to the shopping centre to browse, on or offline. Make a strict list before stepping foot there, and do no stray into the cosmetics department for a “treat” no matter how good a deal it is! By making each purchase a conscious one, you will feel empowered and confident about your money.

7: Give yourself a break. Getting back on your feet after a divorce can be a long process full of setbacks. But this can also be one of the most exciting and empowering times of your life.

For most single parents, their lifestyle will be different from the past because of their changed financial circumstances. Try not to dwell on the past, and how different it may have been, because it will just eat away at you emotionally.

Build a financial plan that outlines your assets, income streams (from investments and working) and obligations (debts, living costs etc). Calculate a cost of living figure and come up with an amount that represents the weekly, monthly and annual commitment. If there is a gap between cost of living and income (wages, investment income and government entitlements) then develop a plan to plug that income deficit.

Here’s a helpful downloadable guide to take back control of your financial situation. 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.

A Husband is not a Retirement Plan

Unfortunately most women will face immense challenges as they reach retirement due to an imbalance in superannuation savings between men and women. The gap between men and women is said to be approximately 46% which leave many women reliant on their spouse and/or the age pension in retirement.

Why is there such a gap in savings for retirement between the genders? That is a broad answer but can be mainly attributed to these factors: career opportunity; more women in part-time work; women are working less hours than men; earlier retirement; and unfortunately the ever increasing reason:- Divorce. Most females will succumb to one or all of these factors in their work lifespan.

Women, often commonly referred to as mums, are generally the primary care-givers in the family so this cuts into their career opportunities, length of working life, and therefore their earnings potential and super contributions as a result. That’s fine if you have planned for this when you and your spouse retire. But what if your relationship doesn’t go the distance?

Whilst divorce rates have decreased ever so slightly over the past few years, the rate is still 1 in 3, meaning it is more likely for women to end up single prior to retirement, or not being able to retire at all. If you are one of the fortunate ones who stick it out, or even better truly love and trust your partner, then you will be in a situation of mutually funded retirement. Congratulations.

Not wanting to spread doom and gloom here to the female population but women tend to outlive men so your planning needs to take into account that alone time, personally and financially too.

There are so many variables as to why the female population may end up short-cashed in retirement, and it’s ok, really. You just need to plan ahead. Think about the what-ifs: What-if you don’t earn enough to generate enough Super, what-if your partner does leave this world prior to you, or what-if your relationship doesn’t make the distance?

Plan, plan and more planning. You need to establish your our financial retirement identity and plan. Here’s is where I can help: My name is Karen Vickers and I am a single mother who has faced many of the challenges above. I am also a financial adviser with many female clients and I am passionate about helping and educating women to take a hold of their own financial future. If you need any help with establishing a personally financial secure future, please do not hesitate to connect with me at ARC Wealth and we can discuss it confidentially.

If you want to start with some self-education then here’s a helpful downloadable guide: 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 and build your own retirement nest-egg.

Overspend once in a while, it’s good for you.

Imagine going to the shopping centre on Saturday and 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 $32,673,480,146 in credit card debt as of this morning. 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 a while 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 Saturday of short term pleasure.

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