Why can’t Australia have Unemployment as low as America?
I must admit last weekend I became really annoyed at the release of US job figures where 260,000 jobs were created in November and unemployment dropped to 3.5 per cent… the lowest since 1969. I was annoyed because I wondered why Australia can’t get its unemployment rate down to that level… we seem to be…
Moving in before marriage: What it means for your money
Around 80 per cent of Australian couples will live together before they get married. Back in our courting days the quaintly termed “living in sin” had a stigma about it. Not today, where it’s seen as the sensible thing to do. A sort of test drive strategy. Yes it’s practical but it also comes with…
Kochie’s Christmas Quiz: Have you been financially ‘naughty’ or ‘nice’?
‘Tis the season where children around the world are judged on whether they are “naughty” or “nice”… and their reward from Santa is based on the result. The threat of Santa’s retribution is always a great stick for parents in the months leading up to Christmas to demand better behaviour from their children. But are you…
12 fantastic rural businesses to buy from this Christmas
As the bushfire crisis continues and the drought rages on, many of Australia’s regional and rural small businesses are doing it tough. So instead of heading to your nearest department store to fulfil your holiday shopping list, why not expand your horizons and #buyfromthebush? Thanks to the #buyfromthebush campaign we’re more aware than ever of…
The suburbs in Sydney and Melbourne where it’s hardest to buy a house
An investigation into the places in Sydney and Melbourne where people hold onto their properties for a long time has given new meaning to the meaning “exclusive suburb”. RiskWise Property Research has found the five suburbs in both capitals where people hang onto their homes for at least 20 years and whether upmarket or The…
5 financial mistakes you didn’t know you were making
I’m sure you’ve heard how important it is to budget, spend less than you earn and steer clear of bad debts like credit cards. But there are also some lesser know financial blunders to watch out for which, left unnoticed, could cause you significant problems down the track. Here are the five financial mistakes you didn’t know you…
Kochie’s Weekly Market Update: Interest rates, the economy’s miracle run and property prices
Hey gang, get up to speed on this week’s financial trends with my market updates. My head is spinning from the amount of information that has come out this week. But it is giving us a great snapshot of where we’re at… and leaves a few question marks as well. So let me give you…
How to talk to your parents about their will (without sounding like a gold digger)
Be honest. Who’s feeling a bit of financial strain at the moment and who dreams of a big inheritance to not only solve those financial problems but also fund a better lifestyle? A mate of mine is married with three kids, two at private schools, a successful sales executive. But no matter how much he…
Busy but broke: why don’t I have any money?
So you’re completely flat out yet have cash flow problems and never seem to have money in the bank. Where are you going wrong? Kelly Exeter has a few ideas (from experience). Seven years ago my graphic and web design business was growing at a mad rate. My three staff and I were all ‘head…
Australian property prices are starting to soar again, especially in Sydney and Melbourne
Surging property values in Sydney and Melbourne during November, along with a housing rebound in Perth, has delivered the biggest increase in national house prices in 16 years. Sydney and Melbourne property prices rose 2.7% and 2.2% respectively in November Those increases, along with Perth rebounding, led to the biggest monthly jump in national house…
The perils of going guarantor
I met a bloke this week who is in an ongoing dispute with one of the big banks over guarantees against a series of property investments he did with a business partner. Basically he and the business partner borrowed millions to build a property investment portfolio. The business partner then skipped out and the bank…
