credit card debt Archives

Three-Minute Financial Check-up

11 January, 202321 December, 2022 Updated on21 December, 2022 Budgeting

While the standard of living is constantly improving in Australia, economic disruptions, stagnant wage growth and continually increasing house prices are putting more and more people under financial stress. A recent report by the social research group, the Melbourne Institute, ‘Taking the Pulse of the Nation’, found one in three Australians reported being under financial stress. It found that those on fixed-term contracts and anyone self-employed were particularly vulnerable to feeling financial stress, as were people employed in the hospitality and IT sectors. There is nothing worse than that niggling feeling that you’re not in control of your financial situation or worse, the dread that you may not be able to meet your next home loan repayments or that you’ve maxed out your credit cards. For many people, it is simply that their lives are so busy they never have the time to focus on their financial position and so the constant pressure of earning money and paying bills can easily spin out of control. Just as all financial situations can be improved, so all financial problems can be resolved and the earlier you act, the better. Just the simple step of reaching out for help will make you feel better about your financial situation. So, it may be as simple as being unsure whether you will have sufficient savings in super to retire in the way you were hoping to, or it might be that you have created a debt mountain that you feel helpless to reduce. If you find yourself spending a large part of the day worrying about your finances, if you have trouble sleeping at night or if your financial position is causing repeated arguments between you and the people you care most about, it is important that you reach out for help. A good place to start is completing this Three-Minute Financial Check-Up. If you answer no to any of the questions on this list, you should make time to discuss your financial situation with a qualified financial adviser. They will be able to tell you just how serious your situation is and more, how you can take steps immediately to improve your financial position and help you get you back on track, so you do feel in control. Your Three Minute Financial Check-Up Action YES NO Do you pay all your credit cards off in full by their due date? Do you sleep easy knowing all your bills will be paid when they fall due? Do you have a budget, and do you stick to it? Are you making all your loan repayments on time? Do you know exactly how much your home loan is today? Do you know what you would do if you lost your job tomorrow? Are you confident about your children’s financial future? Do you have life and total and permanent disability insurance in place? Do you have income protection in place? Do you know how much you have in super? Are you and your partner in agreement about your finances? Do you feel confident about your overall financial position? The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.

Being sensible with Buy Now Pay Later this silly season

7 December, 20221 December, 2022 Updated on1 December, 2022 Budgeting

Move over debit and credit cards; consumers are flocking to Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) services. Afterpay, Zip Pay and several similar payment solutions allow shoppers to take home their goodies now while paying them off via a few weekly, fortnightly or monthly payments. There’s no interest payable as such, although fees are charged for late payments. A survey by Mozo reveals that 30% of Australian adults have one or more BNPL accounts and we’re not afraid to use them. Afterpay, our most popular BNPL service, achieved sales of $4.3 billion across Australia and New Zealand in the 2019 financial year, nearly double its sales of the previous year. With the nation set to splurge around $27 billion on Christmas, it’s a safe bet that plenty of that spend will be by BNPL. But with 60% of those surveyed by Mozo admitting that BNPL lead them to buy things that they wouldn’t have otherwise, it begs the question: how to use this payment option sensibly during the silly season? 1. Set your limits Make sure you have a budget for your Christmas spend, and use it to help resist the temptation of impulse purchases. 2. Track your spending Don’t just track your BNPL spending. Make sure you review credit and debit card purchases, too. Are you staying within budget across all your spending methods? 3. Avoid fees Around one third of BNPL users have missed at least one payment. While late fees may seem modest, they can add up. 4. Don’t repay BNPL loans with a credit card If you don’t pay off your entire credit card bill within the interest-free period, adding your BNPL repayments to the card may see you paying a high rate of interest on your purchases. Better to use a debit card or direct debit from your bank account, and making sure there’s enough money in the account to meet payments. 5. Avoid BNPL if you’re saving for a home loan Lenders may look at your use of BNPL as a sign that you don’t have significant savings and are living from payday to payday. The lower your debt, of all types, the easier it will be to get a mortgage. 6. Have a happy festive season Used wisely, BNPL can help you jingle your bells and put the merry in your Christmas. Just make sure you know what you’re signing up for and that you can meet all of the regular payments. Take care, and you’ll be able to enjoy the start of the New Year without a financial hangover. For further budgeting tips and financial advice, talk to us. We’re here to help. The information provided in this article is general in nature only and does not constitute personal financial advice.