In this week’s Budget Busters segment, Graeme Butler speaks to a financial advisor to reveal the simple tricks that can boost your savings amid the cost-of-living crunch.
The famous Big Mac index is a light-hearted gauge of whether currencies are at their ‘correct’ level and a useful way of comparing international salaries.
Desperate to get your hands on some quick cash? Your superannuation savings may seem like a good option. Here’s when you may be able to tap into your nest egg and how much you can take out.
ANDREW CARSWELL: Anthony Albanese could broker world peace and Australians would still gripe that he hasn’t done enough to address the rising cost of living.
Have you inherited the family home? You may want to cash in now and sell in a hot market, or hold on to it for a while. Be aware that timing is everything if you want to avoid a capital gains tax hit.
Q+A: Are you up for a big compensation payout? If you’re a pensioner, Centrelink doesn’t care why — or from where — you get the money, as long as they know about it. And that could cost you your pension.
MUST READ: Your Money’s Nick Bruining has been in the financial advice game for 35 years. He’s seen it all. Here’s his checklist to make sure your adviser is a legend and not just a money-sucking lemon.
Sick and tired of spending hours waiting for Centrelink to pick up the phone and answer a simple query? We’ve got the shortcut you’ve been waiting for to get problems sorted much sooner.
Q+A: Self-managed super funds offer flexibility but the cost burden to run them can be tough to swallow. If you’re paying an accountant $5500 and have less than $900k in there, it could be time to shut it down.
Mum needs to move into care. The natural inclination might be to sell up everything, including the family home, to fund a spot in a nice place with great staff. But that could be a huge mistake.
Seniors face a $100,000 rise in aged-care costs when changes take effect next year.There’s also fears the hike could create a supply shortage as families race to move parents in early to beat extra fees.