Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Woolies half-year earnings reveal shoppers changing habits The supermarket chain says consumers are swapping red meat for more “affordable luxuries” such as exclusive cheese brands and ice creams. It’s believed to be part of a trend where people eat more at home instead of going out to deal with… Read more
2023 is expensive. The cost of living is higher than ever, interest rates keep rising, and it keeps getting harder to stay afloat, let alone get ahead. As a result, carrying debt has become commonplace. But, with the challenges of the past few years, many of us have more debt than we’re comfortable with. How do you get ahead while you’re still trying to catch up? Here are some tips… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. What to do if you can no longer afford your mortgage As rates continue to rise, many Australians find themselves unable to make payments on their home. Learn what to do if your mortgage payment obligations are becoming impossible to meet. Woolworths expands controversial surveillance tool Woolworths is expanding… Read more
When you go into business as a tradie, your focus is often on performing your trade to the best of your ability – as it should be. With time, the quality of your work will speak for itself, which is the most valuable testimonial of all. However, any tradie accountant or bookkeeper will tell you there’s more to it these days. While your good reputation preceding you is undoubtedly essential,… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. RBA governor’s statement met with confusion Philip Lowe will appear before the senate this week to answer for the RBA’s rate hike strategy. Last week, he said that further interest rate hikes would be necessary to tame inflation, leaving observers confused as it seems to have already peaked. Faster… Read more
You’ve likely heard the phrase “in the black.” Your balance sheet is the tool that shows you whether your business is indeed “in the black.” Your balance sheet includes a section for your assets (things you own or will receive that have value), your liabilities (what you owe to others) and equity (retained earnings and funds from investors) at a specific time. The relationship between these three sections shows how… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Australian trade minister to meet Chinese counterpart next week as relationship thaws Australia and China’s top trade officials will meet to discuss their relationship. The meeting will take place online and will be the first between Australia’s trade minister and the Chinese counterpart in over three years. The hope… Read more
No matter what your financial goals are, consulting with a financial planner can help just about everybody. Not only will they help you refine your goals, they’ll guide you in creating strategies for your money, and keep you accountable to your plan. They’ll also help you navigate different saving and investment strategies, so you know your money is working for you. They’ll also make sure you have the information you… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Interest rates are expected to keep rising despite softening inflation Economists generally believe that the worst of inflation is behind us, but they also say that the Reserve Bank will continue to raise interest rates until prices come down. Changes to FBT and providing employees with electric cars Employers… Read more
You can’t get through the news these days without hearing about inflation and how rapidly it’s increasing. Rates were generally low for quite some time and we all got used to it. Suddenly, however, everyone is getting squeezed by inflationary pressure. But what exactly is inflation, and how does it affect the money you have in the bank? Read on to learn more about what it is and what it… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Some good news for energy prices After recent record-busting increases in electricity costs, some good news is on the horizon – energy prices will lower over 2023 and 2024 once an expected drop in wholesale prices reaches consumers. Rent is coming down in one region According to SQM Research,… Read more
Unfortunately, fraudsters are out there. They want your money, your identity, or both, and they’re getting more sophisticated all the time. There’s a wealth of opportunity for swindlers to take advantage of people because so much of what we do is now online. There are ways for you to protect yourself, both by taking action and being aware of what’s going on. Here are 8 ways to protect yourself from… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Jobs and retail sales more robust than expected New data from the ABS shows that consumer price inflation picked up in November, leading to higher-than-anticipated retail spending to finish the year. Rent in cities is higher than ever Rent has increased by nearly 15 percent over last year in… Read more
Inflation has ballooned worldwide in recent months, and there’s no question that small businesses are feeling the pinch. Supplies cost more, employees are hard to find, and your profits are shrinking. It’s undoubtedly challenging, but you can weather the storm with the following tips. 1. Study your data Your numbers are always helpful, but in times of rapid inflation, you’ll be especially thankful that you keep a nice, clean set… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. AussieSuper upgrade is still causing trouble AustralianSuper had been struggling with technology issues for two months, with the new member portal and mobile app going live in mid-November. China’s Covid woes could negatively affect Australia’s economy A senior economist warns that China’s surging Covid cases could cause trouble for… Read more
While it may seem like your working years last forever, retirement still has a way of sneaking up on you. As the years go by, what once seemed like a far off dream can suddenly feel incredibly close. Planning for your retirement might seem like something you can put off until tomorrow–or next year–but the earlier you do it the more time you’ll have to make sure your finances are… Read more
Businesses tend to progress more consistently if the owner sets financial goals and makes a plan to achieve them. The new year is a natural time to decide what you want to achieve and how. With that in mind, read on to learn the steps for setting financial goals for your business for 2023. 1. Review and evaluate your 2022 goals You’ve got to see where you’re coming from to… Read more
New Year’s resolutions are often top of mind this time of year; some will stick – but many won’t. Try not to beat yourself up about it. There’s always next year, after all. However, your personal budget is one area where you should keep your resolutions from slipping. While it’s true that there’s also next year when it comes to your financial goals, putting it off has real consequences that… Read more
When you think of payroll, you might still envision paperwork and envelopes given to employees by hand. Even with direct deposit being the norm for years, there is still a significant paper component to manage. As with most things, payroll is going digital – and for good reason. There are many benefits to digital payroll for employers and staff alike. Read on to learn why switching to paperless payroll could… Read more
Welcome back to our Weekly Digest. Read on for the latest updates and some ideas to help us all move forward. Kevin Rudd is the next ambassador to the US Kevin Rudd will serve as Australia’s next ambassador to the United States. Anthony Albanese said Rudd’s appointment would strengthen Australia’s diplomatic capability and prosecution of national interests around the globe. Twitter users believe Elon Musk should step down A Twitter… Read more