Y.I.Finance » You're Important

Start planning now! In a recent survey 48% of our respondents told us they have an investment property! That’s music to a financial specialists ears – it’s satisfying to hear those people have a financial strategy that could lead to a more comfortable retirement. However, 66% of respondents also said they are worried about not having enough money in retirement. This is a concern for many of us as almost 80% of Australians over 65 receive the aged pension. For Read More…

Identifying and acting on those missed opportunities We are all so focused on the money going out of our pockets that we sometimes don’t notice what’s coming in. When you think about it, there are many events in our lives when we do actually have a financial win, but because of our busy lifestyles, we don’t register them. It starts as early as when your children grow out of nappies. During the first 2.5 years of life the average spending Read More…

Attention all first home buyers…. Dipping a toe into the property market for the first time can be learning curve on a number of fronts. First home buyers (FHBs) often find lender policies confusing when trying to understand exactly what they need to do to meet the requirements. The concept of genuine savings is one area that can be confusing – and it doesn’t help that each lender tends to have their own policy. Now, you’re probably thinking ‘but surely Read More…

What you need to know! Does it seem like the finance world is dominating the news at the moment? Between the ongoing Royal Commission and the recent federal budget we wouldn’t really blame you if you were to start to ‘switch off’ to finance news. Is there a problem with ‘switching off’? Well possibly – especially if changes in the finance world that could affect YOU end up slipping under the radar! So what upcoming changes do you NEED to Read More…

Can it be tamed? Coffee is an essential part of daily life for many of us with caffeine often referred to as ‘the world’s most popular drug’. You only have to look around at the explosion of cafes and coffee trucks over the past 20 years to gauge its popularity. If you’re a traveller you will know coffee in Australia is some of the best in the world and our baristas are often seen as world leading in their profession. Read More…

Then take action now! In January 2018 there were over 16.7 million credit cards in Australia and 70.19% of us have a credit card. In addition: Australian households have the forth highest debt levels in the world after Denmark, The Netherlands and Norway. The ratio of average household debt to income has almost tripled since 1988 from 64% to 199.7% of annual disposable income. Average debt levels are $4,181 per person for credit card balances and $18,409 for car loans Read More…

Could you maintain your lifestyle in illness? A recent study* showed that 39% of Australians wouldn’t have enough savings to maintain their lifestyle if they lost their income for 3 to 6 months. In fact, an alarming 17% would find it difficult to get hold of $500 to $1000 in an emergency. For millions of Australians, maintaining a lifestyle simply means paying the mortgage and keeping on top of bills – not everyone takes an overseas holiday every year! When Read More…

Can it be both? Australians LOVE a holiday and overseas travel is high on the list for many of us we are also blessed with an abundance of fabulous holiday destinations in our own backyard. For some us us, when we find a piece of paradise on home turf the lure of our own holiday hideaway is strong. Be honest! Have you ever checked out real estate prices at your favourite holiday spot? Have you ever wondered if a holiday Read More…

The real world… Congratulations! There you are in your cap and gown, degree in hand. This is what you’ve been working towards these past few years. So… What’s next? Completing tertiary study can be both the most exciting AND daunting time of a graduate’s life. Some may head off for post-study travel (read our article on debt lag) but for most, graduation marks the transition to their chosen career and first step into the ‘real world’. Getting started Finding a Read More…

Need help with debt? Aussies are a nation of international travellers. In fact, during 2016 a record breaking 10 million residents left Australia to travel overseas on a short term basis. That’s 41 out of every 100 of us! We often hear people say “no matter where you travel overseas you’ll run into an Australian”. You can see why! Of course, the travel bug comes at a cost. Unless you have unlimited funds the more you plan, budget, save and Read More…