tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88171728497012955282012-01-18T04:26:08.426+11:00Manage your personal finances and tips on budgetingRhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.comBlogger911100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-88334031397862068442011-08-03T20:49:00.002+10:002011-08-03T21:13:41.575+10:00

RBA keeps offical cash rate at 4.75% at the monthly meeting on Tuesday, even though inflation seemed to be at the higher end of the acceptable 2% - 3% band.USA narrowly avoids default by a couple of hours and the world sharemarkets plunge. Investors are concerned that the world's largest economy is faltering and heading towards another recession.Wall Street fell over 2%, Asian markets over 2% and

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-46679886901492403552011-07-29T19:33:00.000+10:002011-07-29T22:47:49.304+10:00

Like 10 commandants of Christ you should regard these 10 best money rules listed below. Here you will get both traditional plans as well as personal tips that would serve both as investment tools and money management therapy. The first part covers most of the secured money savings options with maximum tax benefit. The later part presents views of personalized money management program and debt

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-71177868718231040062011-07-22T15:39:00.006+10:002011-07-26T16:47:18.198+10:00

Do you feel like there's always a sale on? It's on TV all the time and every time you go to the shopping centre, there's sign in every store promoting 20%, 30%, 50% off!I remember the days when there were two major sales; 1) Boxing Day sales and 2) half year stocktake sales. The state of the economy in Australia, especially the retail sector is under pressure from a lack of consumer confidence

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-54247355346569066972011-07-18T20:04:00.008+10:002011-07-18T20:41:17.608+10:00

It's that time of the year we all probably wish we managed better. Pretty sure most people say they'll do it better next year, be more prepared, keep all receipts and supporting documentation nicely filed and ready to take to the accountant or to help with preparing your own tax return.Whilst I'd love to provide you with a list of tips and tricks to be more prepared for this time of year, truth

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-42449755572947312332011-07-12T22:11:00.002+10:002011-07-17T20:43:02.003+10:00

During the most recent economic recession, consumers defaulted on their credit cards in record numbers, resulting in card issuers taking a less aggressive approach to finding new customers. Now that the economy is on the rebound, banks that issue Visa, MasterCard, American Express and the like are back with new ways to try to win a loyal customer base. They have resumed mass mailings and other

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-11640406928996243312011-01-19T13:06:00.004+11:002011-01-24T20:11:36.436+11:00

Middle of January, been back at work a couple of weeks, Christmas tree and cards are gone, it seems like a distant memory...now's a great time to start saving for Christmas 2011 - set up a Christmas Club savings account. The Christmas Club savings account can take many forms but the most common are the one offered by credit unions or banks. Whilst the bank or credit union accounts may not offer

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-50700286582513548242011-01-11T20:51:00.007+11:002011-03-24T10:46:54.099+11:00

You want to give yourself a $2,000 after tax pay rise, then prepare your lunch at home and take it to work. That's how much you could save by just cooking a little extra each night and taking it to work the next day or buying a loaf of bread, some ham and cheese. Really, if you put your mind to it, then it's not really that hard to save some serious cash.While you're at it, if you buy a coffee

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-17161986842693551252011-01-06T13:15:00.005+11:002011-01-07T14:09:04.195+11:00

Local Australian retailer, led by the retail kings Gerry Harvey and Solomon Lew, are pushing the Australia to have start charging GST on internet purchases as they believe it is an unfair playing field. Some commnetars are suggesting they are implying that shopping online from overseas sites is “unAustralian”!Their argument centers around the fact that is it significantly cheaper to purchase

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-92225716449609167382010-12-29T20:47:00.014+11:002010-12-31T15:41:17.808+11:00

Happy New Year!! The time when we celebrate the passing of another year and make a resolution that we're going to take control of our finances. What does that mean exactly? The answer to that question differs from person to person. Some people may have significant debts and need to drastically reduce their credit card debts, some people may have multiple investments that they need to reassess

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-24490555163966339812010-12-29T12:18:00.007+11:002010-12-29T14:36:46.448+11:00

I'm not that big on new year's resoltuions but I know some people who make a big deal about "starting afresh" on 1 January and changing all those things in their life that they don't necessarily like.Looking at the list of popular new year's resolution, I think it's great opporunity to connect your list of changes to another regular resolution, save more money.Get fit / lose wieght - this is one

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-59698573549202539062009-10-26T13:22:00.003+11:002010-01-01T23:29:08.339+11:00

With the start of a new year, here are 5 reasons why you should start budgeting today...1. Take control of your finances - Money experts will tell you, the first step towards taking control of your finances and saving money is regular budgeting. Budgeting allows you to plan and monitor your spending to identify and adjust for instances where expenses exceed your income. 2. Stop living payday to

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-73777502334617086232009-08-22T13:46:00.003+10:002009-08-22T15:02:37.412+10:00

Signs are starting to emerge that the Global economy is on the verge of a recovery. In Australia, the stock market has recorded stock gains since the lows of March 2009, the housing market has bounced back, unemployment is increasing at a decreasing rate and it looks like interest rates are going to rise by the end of this calendar year, if not sooner.I tend to agree with most commentators who

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-54615650019267412852009-07-08T21:00:00.003+10:002009-07-08T21:23:40.394+10:00

On Tuesday, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) left official interest rates at 3%. The second month in a row that there has been no change which indicates the Board of the RBA are happy that the economy is performing as it should i.e. not too hot meaning a rates hike or not too cold meaning a rate reduction.Indications from statements releases suggest that the RBA believe the economy may in

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-91933985693560846382009-07-04T17:25:00.003+10:002009-07-04T17:47:20.529+10:00

I regulalry post comments which include reference to the global share market, in particular Wall Street and the ASX. Whilst I keep an eye on what is happening the gloabl share markets, I do not actively trade in shares (apart from my non-performing Super) as I find it all a bit scary. I've read a lot of stories lately of people who lost significant amounts during the past 18 months due to the

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-52771370030638064962009-07-03T11:35:00.005+10:002009-07-03T17:46:50.080+10:00

Today saw the arrival of two new airlines which will continue to put pressure of flight prices for what were two of Qantas's most profitable routes.Tiger Airways will take off on the Sydney to Melbourne route and Delta Air will become the 4th carrier to provide a service to LA.Qantas, Virgin and United Airlines plus as of today, Delta Air make strong competition - in the last year, ticket prices

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-20563599129899054342009-07-03T08:18:00.003+10:002009-07-03T08:29:05.455+10:00

Data released in the USA today, indicates another 467,000 people lost their jobs in the month of June bring the total unemployed to 14.7 million or a national unemployment rate of 9.5%.President Barack Obama stated this was sobering news but Wall Street acted a little more strongly, tumbling over 220 points in trading. The S&P index has now record three weeks of consectutive losses.Commodities

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-18792403203997248452009-06-28T20:27:00.006+10:002009-07-01T20:34:32.336+10:00

Next Wednesday is 1 July and personally, I think July is a great time to review your personal finances and recast your budget for the next 12 months.I am an accountant and work for a company that operates on the financial year 1 July - 30 June, so for me Wednesday represents the beginning 09/10 financial year from a work perspective. As such, I can't help but think a new personal financial year

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-16977271786320188572009-06-24T21:44:00.004+10:002009-07-01T20:38:42.039+10:00

Last month the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided to leave the official cash rate unchanged at 3% - which represents a reduction of 4.25% since September 2008.Some economists are suggesting that this represents the bottom of the rate cycle and any further reductions are unlikely. Conversely, some economists are suggesting the RBA still has some room to move and there is potential for the

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-79231038492781718162009-05-30T20:41:00.005+10:002009-07-01T20:44:47.037+10:00

Every day brings mixed signals about the economy: - Housing prices have crashed, house prices steady, house prices on the rise- World economy worst since great depression, world economy on the mend, world economy on the rise- World share markets rally for two days adding 2% - 4% on the back of renewed confidence, then lose 2% in the next two days on the back on poor economic data- USA in deep

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-68310636756405012462009-02-26T16:41:00.004+11:002009-07-01T20:51:24.418+10:00

Bad news seems to be everywhere. Is it the Global Economic Crisis (GEC) or the Global Financial Crisis (GFC) or the Global Economic Downturn....it started as the Sub Prime Crisis, then turned into the Global Credit Crunch? Whatever it is, it's everywhere and everyone's talking about it. It's on the news, it's on the radio, your colleagues are talking about, the politicians are doing everything

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-44174013705990353652009-01-30T15:28:00.007+11:002009-07-01T20:53:25.969+10:00

Long time since my last post as I've been busy raising my two girls, enjoying a small break over Christmas and training for triathlons. Sorry for not posting regularly but sometimes, that's the way it goes.With all the negative sentiment going around at the moment due to the GEC (Global Economic Crisis), I've also been busy trying to find ways to avoid all the negative comments in the papers and

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-15178445491439459402009-01-22T15:35:00.000+11:002011-07-29T22:55:55.287+10:00

We talk about the concept of not doing something with the term ?opportunity cost.? In other words, if you choose one course of action over the other, you should factor in what you missed in not taking the alternative course as the total cost of the path you chose. Bill paying is an exercise in opportunity costs in several ways. Go play a game of golf instead of sitting with bills and paying them,

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-48175700218942815352008-11-21T08:07:00.006+11:002009-10-26T13:21:35.556+11:00

Here are 5 reasons why you should start budgeting today...1. Take control of your finances - Money experts will tell you, the first step towards taking control of your finances and saving money is regular budgeting. Budgeting allows you to plan and monitor your spending to identify and adjust for instances where expenses exceed your income. 2. Stop living payday to payday - Are stuck in the

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-11741909883403425922008-11-20T13:30:00.003+11:002008-11-21T08:09:39.463+11:00

I was sitting their thinking about how I can make money online. I don't want to work forever, I want something that will work for me.My thinking is to make money online, you have to provide people with something they want. OK, so what do people want? Google can provide me the answer...So I found this site which list Top 10 Things People Want:Number 1 - "to make more money from your business or

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-91398201113469386542008-11-17T13:56:00.001+11:002008-11-17T13:57:44.418+11:00

With Christmas just around the corner, you may want to plan ahead this year to avoid not only mad last minute rush for presents but to also be prepared and save money. Here's a few quick tips to help reduce the cost of presents this year:- plan your trip before you go to avoid impulse buying- set a budget and most important, stick to it!- check out sites like Lasoo and What's on sale before you

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-80749515708011009702008-10-30T22:22:00.002+11:002008-10-30T22:34:26.116+11:00

Below, I've included five quick video clips which highlights the functionality of EasyBudgeting's Personal Budget Planner:Video 1 highlights the how the budget planner can be prepared by completing just three steps:Video 2 highlights the budget summary page: Video 3 highlights the graphs that are included in the model: Video 4 illustrates the Monthly Budget Tracker: Video

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-33507147822868980942008-10-16T10:20:00.002+11:002008-10-16T10:36:30.936+11:00

With the recent financial turmoil spreading across the globe, I though I'd share with you an extract from a post by by Paul Clitheroe, an money expert in Australia:"...the mere mention of the word “budget” makes many people wince. Drawing up a budget has a way of confronting us with how much we have earned, and often how little we have to show for it. But that's one of the purposes of budgeting –

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-16767601599277437212008-09-25T19:14:00.003+10:002008-09-25T19:27:49.674+10:00

To try and save off the effects of Aldi, Coles and Safeway have improved and increased their home brands range of products.A story on a current affairs programs tonight showed how purchasing home brands can save you some decent money. They reviewed 10 regularly purchased items, home brand versus branded and it showed a saving of up to 45%.Sure, you won't want to buy everything home brand but

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-72701089458228767722008-09-16T15:04:00.004+10:002008-09-16T16:11:54.110+10:00

The Australia share market has followed Wall Street today and at 3pm was approx. 2.5% down on previous close - a loss of approx. $30 billion. Yesterday, Wall Street recorded its biggest one day loss since 9/11.The markets are reacting to the bankruptcy of Lehman Brothers and the purchase of Merrill Lynch by Bank of America for $50 billion USD. There's also speculation that insurance giant AIG

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-28785842377060036802008-09-15T13:47:00.002+10:002008-09-15T14:03:32.338+10:00

World oil prices have fallen through the $100 USD a barrel mark and there are signs that the downward trend will continue going forward. Now that Texas has seen the worst of hurrican Ike, 20% of USA oil production can not come back online relieving any supply pressures being felt in world markets.Ok, so if the price of oil is decreasing so much, why hasn't there been a corresponding decrease in

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-89429851679944729562008-09-12T21:58:00.005+10:002008-09-12T22:45:28.233+10:00

RBA announced a 0.25% last week and the major banks have passed on the savings to its customers. If you want to make the most of these cuts, don't reduce your minimum monthly payment and you'll pay off your mortgage sooner and pay less interest over the life of the mortgage.A 0.25% interest rate cut will save $17 a month for every $100,000 borrowed over a 25 year term. The average mortgage is

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-89519297935304928552008-09-12T19:19:00.008+10:002008-09-12T20:03:04.863+10:00

Earlier I wrote about a great site for credit card reviews. Here's another site in the finance field that helps individuals not only with choosing a credit card from credit card companies like Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover, it also provides some great information on your credit worthiness.Credit score can be an important factor when considering what type of credit card or type

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-9790438742888645452008-09-12T14:39:00.011+10:002008-09-12T16:46:23.339+10:00

If you live in the US and you're thinking about getting a new credit card or even wondering whether you current credit card(s) are serving their purpose, I've found the site for you. Credit Card Analyzer is website created to help people find the best cards available in the market. The website is well presented, very eary to navigate and contains a wealth of useful information about all thinks

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-47034249975603299162008-09-08T12:49:00.005+10:002008-09-09T11:07:53.348+10:00

Home buyers and mortgage holders are excited. The official cash rate was cut by 0.25% last week and economists are predicting that interest rates will continue to fall. Consumer spending has slowed, confidence is at a low point and other key economic data tends to supports further interest rate cuts i.e. reduced inflation, less jobs on offer and increase in unemployed. Reduced interest rates,

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-17232522367723698752008-09-04T14:07:00.005+10:002008-09-04T14:28:02.215+10:00

Interest rates cut 0.25% and economists predict further cuts this year (possibly two) and more cuts next year. Stock market is a gamble, one day up, one day down. Have we seen the last of the global credit crisis fall outs or are there more skeletons in the closets of the major finance institutions.Oil prices are finally back down to earth but the price we pay at the fuel station hasn't

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-19151132465500905272008-07-28T08:25:00.001+10:002008-07-28T08:28:06.221+10:00

This is so priceless, and so, so easy to see happening, customer service being what it is today. A lady died this past January, and Bank billed her for February and March for their annual service charges on her credit card, and added late fees and interest on the monthly charge. The balance had been $0.00 when she died, but now somewhere around $60.00. A family member placed a call to Bank. Here

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-73195150749676678072008-07-03T21:16:00.001+10:002008-09-12T14:57:11.495+10:00

The rising price of food has made going out to eat even more of a luxury than it was ever before. The allure of dining out hasn’t diminished as there isn’t anyone who doesn’t enjoy getting dressed up and leaving the cooking to the professionals for once. Unfortunately, the expensive menu items have made it more important that we make sound decisions when we do go out. We’re not saying don’t go

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-85596208215630058212008-05-02T21:09:00.000+10:002008-05-02T21:12:13.607+10:00

Choosing the right credit card can be confusing and difficult. Different lenders advertise different benefits: interest free period, low introductory interest rate, zero interest on balance transfers, reward / membership programs etc. When you’re searching for the best credit card deals, make sure you do the appropriate research so you have all the information you need to choose a credit card

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-43706062255682096262008-04-29T08:35:00.001+10:002008-04-29T08:37:27.003+10:00

Entrepreneurs are the brave souls who make our economy go, or at least they were when our economy was actually going anywhere. Especially in this currently questionable financial climate, starting your own business is undeniably a dicey proposition. Start-ups go out of business all the time, often before they even have a chance to even really star up at all. The main culprit in the savage

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-77609061610233437012008-04-28T16:41:00.003+10:002008-04-28T16:45:48.106+10:00

Take a stroll down the aisle of a health food store and you’ll be longing for the dollar menu at the fast food joint down the street. It seems that the exotic fruits and organic foods cost too much to let you take advantage of the healthy choice when it comes to your diet. But don’t fear you can still eat healthily while on a budget. Ditch the soda and bag of chips and follow these steps to

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-10123432543223828972008-04-22T21:19:00.003+10:002008-04-28T16:46:06.296+10:00

Home mortgage loans are anything but standard and are designed to meet the evolving, consumer driven, home loan market.The rigid home loan with standard mortgage interest rates has slowly been joined by a range of loan options that recognise the increasingly diverse way we live and earn our daily stipend. Home loans can take on almost any shape and size, and the majority of borrowers are turning

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-316091021563666012008-03-25T16:13:00.004+11:002008-03-25T16:18:09.292+11:00

A like minded individual has included a really interesting post on their blog and I thought it would be worthwhile sharing.Click on the following link to read the post:Ten Traits of Underearners CheersVisit EasyBudgeting to download your own personal budget planner and start the New Year by creating a budget for the next 12 months.

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-55115205959852494882008-02-28T16:57:00.001+11:002008-02-28T16:59:09.136+11:00

This is not a finance related post but sometimes being financially secure will not always bring the happiness you expect in your life. I read an article in the Sunday Herald Sun and thought I’d share some of the author’s comments as well as a few of my own thoughts.The author, Dr Timothy Sharp states that happiness is not that elusive. It’s all about the choices we make. He breaks down the

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-30701033515991411102008-02-25T19:50:00.006+11:002008-03-25T16:18:22.475+11:00

In the past, I published a couple of posts on savings tips. I thought I'd spend a few minutes to think of a few more good ideas to assist in savings those extra funds required to meet increasing mortgage repayments due to increasing interest rates:- budget regulary and stick to it- review your budget to assess under & overs and make adjustments accordingly- use shop-a-docket vouchers when buying

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-87840628131367373992008-02-07T12:42:00.000+11:002008-02-07T12:43:19.284+11:00

I don’t think there are many people who enjoy budgeting. As a matter of fact, for some people, budgeting is probably as much fun as doing your taxes. The good news is that budgeting, whilst not much fun is definitely worthwhile, leading to more savings, less debt and best of all less stress about your finances.People often do not budget because they find it to be an easy process. Where do you

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-6302308354968019452008-02-07T12:37:00.000+11:002008-02-07T12:41:30.031+11:00

Sorry I haven't posted any new material lately, busy with work and expecting our second child in less than a week has meant less time for blogging!! Given the RBA interest rate rise on Tuesday, I thought I'd publish an old post again as it may be useful/relevant for some people out there:Managing mortgage repayments during time of increasing interest can be very difficult, especially considering

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-75334799395770833022008-01-21T11:23:00.000+11:002008-01-21T11:30:53.496+11:00

There has been a significant amount of talk recently about household debt, house prices, the ability to make mortgage repayments, the ever increasing ability of Australian consumers to keep spending.Increasing interest rates, higher petrol prices and a fall in housing prices has lead to a doubling of households struggling to meet mortgage payments. This further indicates the importance of

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-3994178681815766982008-01-02T11:43:00.000+11:002008-01-02T14:21:56.570+11:00

A survey by Wizard Home Loans indicates that 40% of us consider getting our personal finances in shape in 2008 are our main priority.With potential RBA rates rises likely in the first half of 2008 and banks indicating their rates will increase irrespective of what the RBA does because of the global credit squeeze, now is a great time to review your personal finances.Why not perform a personal

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-21207323629180859402007-12-31T09:26:00.000+11:002007-12-31T09:49:49.829+11:00

Place managing your personal finances near the top of New Year's resolutions!Managing money and personal finances has become harder than ever and if you don't commit yourself to making an extra effort, chances are nothing will change.One of my favourite sayings is:the definition of insanity is to keep doing the same thing over and over again but expect a different resultThis motto can be applied

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-994463567083283342007-12-29T09:37:00.000+11:002007-12-31T09:41:20.351+11:00

Firstly, hope you all had a great Christmas and looking forward to a festive New Year's celebration with friends and family.Secondly, I hope you have managed to keep the spending under control during the build up to Christmas and have not been tempted to go overboard at the annual post Christmas sales. Experts are predicting that Australians will spend an amazing $6.2 billion during the post

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-15023563736251308482007-12-19T20:20:00.000+11:002008-12-10T01:01:59.608+11:00

Since the release of the ACCC report into petrol prices in Australia I thought it would be good to post this story again. I recommended buying petrol on a Tuesday based on historical pricing trends provided by the ACCC. The latest reports and data suggests Wednesday is actually the cheapest day of the week now. Nevertheless, the messgae is the same: get informed, work out which day is cheapest

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-23111597687171511222007-12-13T13:06:00.000+11:002007-12-19T20:31:19.793+11:00

With only 12 days to Christmas, you can imagine the number of people out and about this and next weekend looking for those last minute presents. My advice, avoid the urge to splurge.Banks must be enjoying every minute of their numerous Christmas parties this month, sure in the knowledge that next month's credit card statements are likely to contain some very juicy interest bearing debts that may

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-18015669472346074952007-12-07T13:26:00.000+11:002007-12-07T13:57:22.911+11:00

Done your Christmas shopping yet? Here's a couple of web sites which help you.Launched this month, What's on sale is a site that allows you to check out the current sales before you go shopping. It claims to be updated daily, show casing Melbourne's best retail sales as well as vouchers and unique offerings.Also, a story recently on A Current Affair promoted Lasoo which is a very similar site

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-27516228200675576882007-12-05T13:28:00.000+11:002007-12-05T13:47:44.901+11:00

Personally, I find organising health insurance cover confusing, complicated and annoying. What level of cover do we need, do we need hospital, what about extras, what type of extras etc etc.If you're going to spend a lot time and effort choosing your health cover, you should try and get the best available cover at the best price. Check out www.iselect.com.au to compare the various health

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-86121390081751646412007-12-05T13:11:00.000+11:002007-12-05T13:16:55.453+11:00

No real surprise, the Reserve Bank of Australia met yesterday and agreed to leave the official cash rate at 6.75%.Next RBA meeting will be held in February 08 and with the ecomony still bubbling quite nicely, experts are tipping a 0.25% increase.CheersVisit EasyBudgeting to download your own personal budget planner and get back in control of your finances.

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-67293668670123489852007-12-04T12:49:00.000+11:002007-12-04T13:57:11.972+11:00

3. Be conservativeWhen you’re completing your budget, be conservative. What do I mean by this? If you’re doing your expense budget and you’re not sure exactly how much you’ll spend or incur, budget on the high side. For example, if you think you spend around $50 per month of electricity but you're not sure, budget for $60 or $65 until you get a good feel for the regular amount. It’s better to

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-51176392139292105782007-11-24T16:07:00.001+11:002007-11-24T16:36:34.994+11:00

Start planning your holidays well in advance and you're bound to save on the cost of flights. Today Tiger Airways entered the Australian domestic market and they will shake things up a bit.Tiger Airways are 49% owned by Singapore Airlines and 16% owned by the Ryan family (the people behind the European budget airline, RyanAir), which means they've got good, solid financial backing which is sure

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-88386404450986299972007-11-23T22:17:00.000+11:002007-11-23T22:31:31.168+11:00

House affordability in Australia - every month it seems to get worse.Media reports issued today indicate that 36.6% of household income is applied to paying mortgage repayments. This is almost 4% higher than the mark of 33% considered to be the point at which families experience "mortgage stress". The reports indicates that people living in NSW apply 38.3% of their income to their mortgage

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-58136875086016460372007-11-22T19:09:00.000+11:002007-11-22T20:16:33.290+11:00

Just back from holidays and a lot has happened over the last three weeks. RBA increased interest rates as expected - I hope people picked the winner of Cup day to offset the increase in their mortgage repayments! Media and economists are predicting another rise early next year. Make sure your budget factors in a rate rise starting Jan 08 so you're ahead of the game - if they don't rise until

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-9753024204096377652007-10-30T16:08:00.000+11:002007-10-30T16:13:18.429+11:00

Some people use credits cards wisely, some people seem to manage OK paying a little bit of interest per month and other have credit cards that are out of control and accrue large amounts of interest per month. If use effectively, credit cards can actually be a real asset.The credit card market is a very competitive market, with lending institutions offering genuine benefits to attract and/or

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-36817324166925161562007-10-25T12:56:00.000+10:002008-12-10T01:01:59.861+11:00

Lots of talk about an interest rate rise when the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) meeting on the first Tuesday of November, the day when a horse race stops a nation.Inflation data suggests the economy is running hot with the key indicators used by the RBA reaching the top end of acceptable levels.Article in The Age states that "prices for consumer goods such as food, clothes and rent jumped at

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-74708470957382457252007-10-22T14:00:00.000+10:002007-10-22T14:11:36.256+10:00

I was at a BBQ on Saturday with my friend Greg and a couple of his mates. After a few beers, he told he had a savings tip for me: don't make stupid bets.Greg was referring to our yearly standing bet: if Carlton finishes below Hawthorn on the AFL ladder - I lose. If Carlton finishes above Hawthorn on the AFL ladder, I win. The loser is required to pay a carton of beer to the winner. This bet has

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-68671164487091968042007-10-19T13:28:00.000+10:002007-10-19T13:56:15.067+10:00

Article of interest on www.news.com.au yesterday: survey of 1,200 people indicated that 46% of people were managing to save money compared with 54% a year ago and the number of people running into debt rose from 4% to 7%. The research was conducted by ING Direct and the Melbourne Institute. As usual, the culprits for the decrease in savings and increase in debt were higher interest rates, bigger

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-66052350492805490402007-10-16T14:02:00.000+10:002007-10-16T14:06:25.447+10:00

2. Know your budgeting levelWhen it comes to budgeting, there are different levels. It’s important that you understand and that you are comfortable with the budgeting level that is right for you. If you try and budget at a level that doesn’t work for you, you won’t be as effective as you could be or worse still, you’ll give up on budgeting because you’re not getting the desired results and it’s

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-32247106331520997582007-10-09T21:00:00.000+10:002007-10-09T21:09:07.302+10:00

1. Don't be too hard on yourselfIf you’re just starting out with budgeting, be patient and don’t be too hard on yourself if you don’t get it exact right. Budgeting is not an exact science and it takes time to get in tune with your finances and to develop a good understanding of your regular expenditure. Sometimes it takes a few months or even a full year of budgeting before you get a good

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-89804227356488048612007-09-24T13:10:00.000+10:002007-09-24T13:13:00.667+10:00

Are your credit cards out of control? Do you have multiple credit cards with excess balances incurring annual fees? Do you know what interest rate you’re paying on each credit card?You know what, you’d probably be better off if you consolidated your credit card debts onto one card. Most lenders offer new customers the ability to transfer existing debts at lower than normal interest for a set

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-17912959267008736002007-09-20T12:54:00.000+10:002007-09-24T08:28:32.727+10:00

If you've been thinking about or you're about to head overseas, I suggest you buy some US dollars now.The exchange rate between the Australian dollar and the US dollar is around 0.85. That means for every $1,000 Australia dollar you cash in, you'll get $850 US dollars give or take an allowance for commission and charges etc.The exchange rate has moved in favour of the Australian dollar due to the

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-25223228044639553082007-09-17T09:38:00.000+10:002007-09-17T14:52:31.566+10:00

Do you get phone calls from Telstra or Optus looking to secure your business? What about Electricity and Gas providers such as TRU Energy or Origin? Don’t get annoyed and hang up, you could get yourself a good deal if you listen, compare and negotiate?We consolidated our Gas and Electricity a couple of years ago and saved. Then we got a call from a competitor offering a better deal. We didn’t

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-16930823587469673012007-09-13T08:19:00.001+10:002007-09-13T08:21:08.588+10:00

Check out the specials online before you shop for your groceries. When you know what you’re going to buy, you invariably spend less. Try doing one big shop a week as opposed to several throughout the week….you will spend less. All supermarket chains have promotion days – keep an eye on the commercials or check out the “junk mail” for this week’s specials.Where possible, see if a no name or

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-87343066912065282182007-09-10T13:05:00.000+10:002007-09-10T13:34:44.770+10:00

I was interested to read an article in The Australian on the 7th of September, which published the results of a survey of 7,500 people ranging from the age of 12 to 75, the biggest survey of its kind undertaken in Australia.The article stated that half of all the adults surveyed do not budget for their day to day finances and find dealing with money stressful and overwhelming. In addition, 40% of

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-40923287326808792152007-09-05T12:45:00.000+10:002007-09-05T13:00:43.542+10:00

As widely expected, the RBA has announced that the base lending rate will remain at 6.5%. There is still significant talk about a potential rate rise either by late this calendar year or early next year, depending on the results of key economic data due out next month.Many experts believe the RBA will wait a few months to assess the impact of the 0.25% increase passed on last month and the

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-29377156411193802592007-09-04T14:50:00.000+10:002007-09-04T14:53:34.831+10:00

Find restaurants that have a BYO policy and you can save big time. Say you go out to eat twice a month and with every meal you enjoy a pleasant bottle of wine. Let us assume that a pleasant bottle of wine sets you back $15 at your local bottle shop. That same pleasant bottle of wine would probably cost about $30 - $40 is a non-BYO restaurant.That’s right, you can save $15 and $25 every time you

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-43612491538838538422007-08-30T13:10:00.000+10:002007-08-30T13:35:41.350+10:00

The Age on Saturday ran an article discuss the latest buzz words when talking about the current state of housing affordability in Australia...."mortgage stress" and "rental stress". It seems that a week doesn't go by when the media doesn't talk about the state of housing affordability in Australia. The articles states that an ABS Census indicates that approx. 140,000 Victorians are experiencing

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-55296573616828218062007-08-29T13:03:00.000+10:002007-08-29T13:26:15.995+10:00

Irrespective of whether or not the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increase the cash lending rate, borrowers may face interest rate rises from their lenders. This is the word from the head of National Australia Bank.The impact of the US sub-prime mortgage crisis has meant that lenders with exposures in that market may be forced to increase their lending rates to their customers to to try and

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-59736041962764587872007-08-28T17:11:00.000+10:002007-09-17T09:38:27.047+10:00

Interest free terms - you see it on TV advertisements, the sales attendant tells you about when they're trying to convince you to make the purchase, everyone’s doing it and it’s making major purchases so much more affordable....but is it good or bad?When I was growing up, I remember my parents saying “if you can’t afford it, don’t buy it”....how things have changed. We now live in a society

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-12948778577769966902007-08-13T17:07:00.000+10:002007-08-13T21:37:48.103+10:00

Interest rates have increased 0.25% and now there's talk of possibly another rate rise before the end of this year or early next year. Today, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) issued their Statement on Monetary Policy which suggests that the RBA has a "strong tightening bias". They have estimated inflation to be around 3% by the end of 2007 and to stay at that level until mid 2008, which means

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-20156609488711582372007-08-09T13:04:00.000+10:002008-12-10T01:02:00.183+11:00

The RBA increased interest rate yesterday to a cash rate of 6.50%. This caused significantly discussion in the media and prompted the question as to how working class families will be able to meet the additional repayments.The 0.25% increase means for every $200,000 you have borrowed, your monthly repayments will increase by $33 a month. That may not sound much but consider the following:A

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-73189207216158111722007-08-08T11:20:00.000+10:002007-08-08T11:22:03.077+10:00

Its official, the Reserve Bank of Australia has increased the cash rate to 6.50% - the highest it has been for 11 years (December 1996). This rate increase is the 4th increase in the last 15 months. The higher than expected inflation rate of 1.2% for the June quarter, the strong retail sales performance, an increase of 1.4% and the overall housing affordability crisis, meant the RBA was bound

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-67449633861973950212007-08-06T21:36:00.001+10:002007-08-07T13:07:15.406+10:00

Will the RBA's August get together bring the rate rise everybody's expecting? The RBA will meet to decide on whether or not they should increase the cash lending rate by 0.25% to 6.50%.Economists were almost unanimous late last week that interest rates would be increased but yesterday there was some talk that rate would stay where they are. The stock market shakedown has created some uncertainty

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-19368680468109396922007-08-06T21:05:00.000+10:002007-08-06T21:34:54.848+10:00

There are a number of small changes you can make to your everyday life. These may seems fairly minor savings but added together and applied regularly, they can make a difference.Using ATM’sIf you’re lucky enough to be with a bank that doesn't charge for using ATM’s then good luck to you. For everyone else, there are varying ranges of fees attached to excess ATM usage - you could save a little bit

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-68649057539643870132007-07-31T19:54:00.000+10:002007-07-31T20:29:02.804+10:00

With all the talk about housing affordability, managing mortgage repayments and the possibility of interest rate rises, it's worthwhile understanding the options when it comes to fixed and variable interest rates.Banks offer borrowers the opportunity to choose between fixed or variable interest rates.A fixed interest rate allows borrowers to "lock in" a fixed rate for a period of time, for

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-44991629591482076662007-07-09T20:41:00.000+10:002007-07-09T21:26:20.926+10:00

ebay can be a real source of bargain priced goods. You can buy just about anything on ebay from clothes to car, from computer games to jewellery, from digital cameras to sports memorabilia....if you want to buy something you'll probably find it available on ebay.ebay works on the principle of selling goods via auction, with some items are available to be purchased immediately at a set price. A

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-6293165509228038442007-07-05T13:03:00.001+10:002008-12-10T01:02:00.288+11:00

BUY PETROL ON A TUESDAY!!!The graphs below has been taken from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website (http://www.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/280309) and tracks the average petrol prices for Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth for unleaded petrol for the last month:With exception of Perth all the data indicates that motorists, based on the trend over the

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-9267533904913325652007-07-04T13:08:00.000+10:002007-07-09T21:29:28.178+10:00

Not only is it getting harder and harder for first home buyers to enter the market, rents are also on the increase making inner city living, even for the average renters, harder and harder.The Age today published an article suggesting that rent is increasing at fastest since 1998 http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/rent-rising-at-its-fastest-since-1998/2007/07/03/1183351212483.html.The article

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-41265158868780273632007-07-04T13:01:00.000+10:002007-07-09T21:29:40.867+10:00

Yesterday I published a post regarding the potential pain an interest rate rise would have on the average Australian household. Well, we call all breath easily for at least another month, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) today announcing that rates would remain at 6.25%. Having said that, economists are still predicting an increase by the end of the year and possibly additional increases in

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-35515378659477534792007-07-03T20:29:00.000+10:002007-07-09T21:30:02.492+10:00

Today http://www.news.com.au/ published an article discussing the impact of a rate rise on Australians.Tomorrow, the Reserve Bank of Australia meet to decided on whether they will increase the cash rate beyond the current mark of 6.25%. Most economists believe it is high unlikely that a rate rise will occur tomorrow but they do predict an increase later this calendar year. Although the economy

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-38181081558221728322007-07-02T13:08:00.000+10:002007-07-09T21:30:16.477+10:00

Two days into the New Financial Year - here's a couple of things we can expect.For the next financial year (1 July 2007 - 30 June 2008) most workers will have more in their hands each pay period. Personal income tax rates have been revised by the government which takes effect from 1 July.Income tax rates have been adjusted so the 30c-in-a-dollar tax bracket will increase from a maximum of $25,000

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-15550857625160425412007-06-29T20:17:00.000+10:002007-07-09T21:30:33.480+10:00

Saturday is 30 June, which means the end of the financial year has rolled around again and your tax return will need to be complete before you know it!Getting on top of the paperwork can make the tax return process easier and if you're using a professional to lodge your return, it can go some way to reducing the amount you may have to pay to your tax advisor. The better prepared you are with

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-37776904146134533962007-05-14T12:46:00.000+10:002007-07-09T21:31:25.348+10:00

I don’t think there are many people who enjoy budgeting. As a matter of fact, for some people, budgeting is probably as much fun as doing your taxes. The good news is that budgeting, whilst not much fun is definitely worthwhile, leading to more savings, less debt and best of all less stress about your finances.People often do not budget because they find it to be an easy process. Where do you

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-25721532286453807022007-04-19T13:58:00.000+10:002007-07-09T21:31:38.472+10:00

On Wednesday April 4, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) decided leave the official cash rate on hold at 6.25%, saving homeowners the much anticipated 0.25% increase in variable mortgage rates. Many analysts are tipping the RBA is waiting on official March inflation rates before deciding on any increase and believe an increase is likely in May.www.news.com.au stated that "Higher rates are

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8817172849701295528.post-59166007315132562742007-04-19T13:51:00.000+10:002008-01-21T11:23:43.389+11:00

There has been a significant amount of talk recently about household debt, house prices, the ability to make mortgage repayments, the ever increasing ability of Australian consumers to keep spending.Increasing interest rates, higher petrol prices and a fall in housing prices has lead to a doubling of households struggling to meet mortgage payments. This further indicates the importance of

Rhys Campbellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11568353705530978787noreply@blogger.com0