Did anyone else need a stint in the room of mirrors to have a good hard look at themselves post festive season silliness?

I certainly did.

I realised I’d spent all my savings, stacked on some Christmas kilos and had a large David Jones bill waiting to be paid on my kitchen table. Not the start to 2018 I’d hoped for.

So on my last weekend before heading back to work, I put down the Apple TV remote, binned the last of my Christmas leftovers and fired up the laptop to assess the damage of the year that was.

And I’ve realised there’s one word that pretty much sums up my 2017 – convenience. But at what cost?

I’m 34, ‘time poor’ and an active member of the Uber generation. I love the convenience of having everything at my fingertips. I don’t have to talk to people, I don’t have to provide cash or pull out my bank card – it’s just a matter of pressing a button on your phone and hey presto!

And it’s cheaper, right? Well maybe not . . .

A quick review of my expenses for the year showed that I’ve thrown a whole heap of cash at things that made my life easier; things that were convenient and clever but not necessarily cheaper.

Thanks to Xero, a cashflow and budgeting program that my colleague Rachel Williams, our Director of Accounting, set me up on, I was able to see where I was hemorrhaging money. And it was all about convenience . . . or what I now can identify as laziness.

And the biggest culprit? Uber.

You know the drill: you’re getting ready for dinner with the girls and wearing a killer pair of heels – there’s no way you can totter down to the tram stop in those bad boys. So Uber it is!

Or, you get home from the gym and you’re wrecked after spin class so can’t be bothered cooking. Let’s get UberEats!

Or, you go for a walk and end up in the supermarket buying supplies for the week and can’t carry them home. Book an Uber!

Or, your mate’s coming over for dinner to watch The Wrong Girl and the fridge is empty, it’s raining outside and you can’t be bothered battling the elements. All hail UberEats!

Get the picture?

Going through my expenses, I could see I’d spent $622.24 across 43 trips on Uber for the year. They ranged in price from $6.97 to a whopping $50.85 per journey. Now, I live in Richmond which is probably the most well provisioned public transport hub in Melbourne so there’s no excuse for not using it – no, not even nights out in those killer high heels (you can pack flats in your bag, Kate!).

A one way tram or train fare within Zones 1 and 2 is $4.30 so I’ve calculated that for those same 43 trips, it would’ve only cost me $184.90.

That’s a difference of $437.34.

Sure sure, there were times when PTV wasn’t appropriate – like 2am on a Sunday morning or heading out to the airport (Melbourne, when will we get a train!?) – and a simple swap can’t always be made, but more often than not, I could be organised and train or tram – or even walk – into the city or Fitzroy or South Yarra and save myself a few bucks each time – or as it turns out, a few hundred bucks over the course of a year.

So can I be as ruthless and real and take the slasher to UberEats? Yes!

For starters, I’ve deleted the app from my phone. I live around the corner from some of the best dining strips in Melbourne (have you been down Swan Street lately!?) yet I still dialed up orders on my phone to have it home delivered at $5 a pop. This ‘cost of convenience’ cost me $95 across 19 orders last year – was it worth it? Nope, not when I live 112 steps from Fonda.

The biggest thing for me though, is the convenient access to some of my favourite meals from my favourite restaurants. Hello Meatball and Wine Bar on the couch. How I love thee, Spudbar in front of the telly.

But I love cooking, and I’m a capable cook, so why not take pleasure in recreating them myself – at a fraction of the cost!

I’ve started googling some of my favourite restaurants’ recipes to bring the magic into my home kitchen and you know what? It works! My usual go-to is George Calombaris’s ancient grain salad from Jimmy Grants with the gorgeous slow cooked lamb and tzatziki. Well thanks to the powers of the interweb, I’ve tracked down the recipes (or variations of such) and can now produce a feast fit for a king at home – at a fraction of the cost.

And do you know what I’ve found is even more convenient than UberEats? A fully stocked pantry and a fridge packed with leftovers! Winning!

Of course, the success of my efforts will depend on:

• How organised I am with my weekly shop to ensure the fridge is stocked and meals are planned, and
• How organised I am in the lead up to a night out to factor in the time of catching PTV.

But having now seen the costs in my Xero tracking, I can put a price on convenience and make a conscious decision about whether it’s worth it each time – and ask myself, am I just being lazy?

See you on the 70 tram down Swan Street, friends.

Recreate a delicious Greek feast yourself with these easy recipes!

Slow cooked lamb

Ancient grain salad

Tzatziki

They say Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year; but it can also be one of the most expensive.  Without careful preparation and planning, the festive season can quickly turn into a burden of mounding expenses, debt and stress.

With only five days until the main event now, many of us are at the peak of our Christmas pressures. With this in mind, you may be thinking it’s too late to be planning to ease the anxieties caused by the time of year.

Well you’re wrong.

While it’s probably true it’s too late to plan for this year’s Christmas, there’s something to be said for learning from past and present mistakes to plan for the future; Christmas is an annual event after all!

So, how can we prepare things ahead of time for next Christmas and reduce this financial anxiety? To answer this, let’s first look at how much we’re actually spending during the silly season.

How much are Australians spending on Christmas?

Research conducted by MoneySmart has found that on average we spend the following amounts per state on Christmas gifts for our loved ones;

(Infographic via MoneySmart. (1) Commonwealth Bank, Xmas Spending Survey – November 2016. Note: due to low sample sizes in ACT, NT and TAS, figures for spending in these areas are not included. (2) Finder.com.au, Festive season in full swing: How the nation will cope with financial pressures – December 2016)

But it’s not just Christmas that has us spending; with New Year celebrations, more often than not we are still catching up on the additional expenses rolling into the first few months of the new year.

If this all sounds familiar (and hits a little close to home), remember it’s never too early to start thinking about next year’s Christmas. By thinking ahead and putting a strategy in place for the future, you can try to avoid the stress you may be feeling now.

How can we learn from our Christmas past?

We’re right in the thick of the Christmas season at the moment. Shopping centre car-parks are like hell on earth and debts may be piling up like presents under the tree. As our stress levels peak, now is the time to take stock of what’s going wrong in the mad rush.

Just like Santa, it’s time to make a list (or two, or three…)

• Write down everyone you need to buy gifts for
• Place a dollar figure next to everyone on that list – at this point, it should be how much you’ve spent on that person
• Write down how much you are spending on festivities (decorations, incidental gifts, food, drink)

Now you’ve got your lists, check them twice, three times even four times. Identify where changes can be made. For example, do you really need to buy gifts for all those people – or can the dollar figure next to their name come down for next year?

Having multiple lists can help you organise all the essentials for any occasion as well as prepare you for the outlay in which it will all cost.

How can we stay sane in Christmas present?

Take a breath. There are 168 hours in a week, so think about how you can use that time wisely.

In these days leading up to Christmas, try and find ways that you can make things easier for yourself. It may be as simple as freezing your leftovers from your Christmas feast, so you have ready-made meals into the new year, saving you time and money.

If you have regular bills that come in at this time of year, consider putting the money for these aside now so you’re prepared.

You could even organise to have your groceries home delivered, helping you avoid the supermarket during this hectic period and saving you time at the checkout – time you could spend doing other things to keep you sane!

How can we prepare for our Christmas future?

As the festive season winds down, we can start thinking about the year ahead, rebuild our savings and pay off debts from the year before. Once your Christmas present moves into the past, it’s time to start putting together a strategy so your Christmas future is a breeze.

Start off by creating a budget, consulting the lists compiled as you reflected on your Christmases past, to identify spending patterns and how much you need to save.

But before you set yourself a savings target, you will need to identify how much you earn and what expenses are set, so you can work out how much you can allocate to your Christmas savings goals. Be realistic with your targets, and remember there’s more to life than Christmas – you likely want to allocate savings to other things as well.

Think about separating your savings into different accounts – one can be dedicated to Christmas. Start putting money in this straight away.

When it gets closer to Christmas, look at your savings and try to spend only what you’ve put aside, and not just for the sake of it. But don’t worry, you don’t have to be a scrooge with your money; with early preparation and simple cash flow management strategies, there are still ways to have finances available for most of life’s little luxuries within the means of your budget.

To help you budget, consider taking advantage of cash flow management software, like Xero, which allows you to clearly see all your accounts, where your expenses are going and how much you are saving. This can be a very useful tool if you are juggling a few different budgets, saving for a range of different items/events or if you wish to have more control over your finances in general.

It can also map your progress with a series of graphs and visual prompts – a great resource to help you stay on track.

The beauty of Xero is that it allows you to quickly reconcile your transactions in an efficient manner, holding you accountable for where your money is going. For more information on Xero and how it can help you budget, please speak with one of our advisers.

Any other tips?

When it comes to gift giving, think of ways you can minimise your expenditure. Getting ideas from the table below is a great place to start.

Hopefully, by employing some of the tips in this guide, you can start your new year with a Christmas cracker bang and set yourself up not to break the bank next festive season.

If you would like more information on how you can budget for the festive season, or how to overcome debt, please do not hesitate to contact our office on 1300 726 082 and speak with one of our financial advisers today.

Deciding where to send your child to school can be a daunting task, especially for first time parents. Your child is entirely affected by your decision, the pressure is on – you’ve got to make the right choice!

Out of all the things to consider, the most important is whether you think your child will be happy at that school. Let’s face it – an unhappy child is the last thing you want, and they aren’t going to thrive in any kind of learning environment feeling that way.

As well as your child’s wellbeing, finances are a massive factor to consider. We all want the best for our children, but how much will it cost?

School fees

There’s more than meets the eye when you’re considering the price of sending your child off into the big, scary world of education. The first thing to get your head around? School fees. Fees can vary from a few hundred to several thousand dollars per year, but there are additional factors to consider on top of just the annual fee:

• Is there an added enrolment fee to be paid up front?
• Do the fees stay the same throughout primary school (allowing for CPI increases), or do they scale up each year as your child progresses through their school years?
• Is there a discounted fee per child – when more than one of your children attends the school?
• Are there any compulsory fees or levies – such as IT levies, building or maintenance levies?

Stationery

Getting your hands on a list of items your child will need in the classroom is a very wise move. You’ll know exactly what you need to buy, allowing you to budget and prevent any unwanted surprises. Some schools have very specific stationery requirements; you might need to buy specific pencils or maybe you’ll be required to purchase a schoolbag branded with the school emblem.

On top of the stationery is technology. Are you obliged to purchase an iPad or tablet for your child? Or are they provided by the school? Sometimes you’re required to supply your child with an iPad as early as prep – including some public schools! If you’re in this position, check to see if the school offers any kind of bulk buying arrangement as that’ll save you some cash.

Uniform

Many school policies dictate the entire uniform be purchased through their own uniform shop – right down to your child’s socks! If you’re able to purchase the basics from retail stores such as Kmart or Big W, this will save you a considerable amount of money. Grab a copy of their uniform pricing list as it is well worth calculating the cost of fitting your child out for school. Most schools will require their students to have a summer, winter and sports uniform. By the time you add in a hat, jacket and school shoes, it’s pricey!

Also remember that your child is growing and the uniform will need replacing as they get older. It’s an ongoing expense and certainly one not to overlook. To help save some money, ask if the school or parents association operates a swap and sell – second hand uniforms can get you through the early years while your child is still growing.

Transport

Choosing a school nearby that you and your child could walk or bike to will obviously save you money in terms of transport costs. But if your only options are public transport, driving or a school bus run by a private company, you’ll need to figure out the cost and add that to your consideration.

Co-curricular

Excursions and camps are another factor to add to the pile. Most schools consider these an additional expense on a pay-as-you-go basis. Every so often there are schools that include these as part of their curriculum and therefore part of their annual fees. But don’t forget hidden costs such as music lessons, dance classes and after school care – if they’re not included in your school fees, you could be slugged with some hefty bills.

As you can see, it’s worthwhile adding up ALL the costs of sending your child to school, not just the annual fee. A school that has higher upfront fees may seem like the more expensive option, but if they offer cheaper uniforms, provide the technology and you live close by, it’ll end up being cheaper in the long-run.

These days, a lot of schools are happy to offer a weekly or fortnightly direct debit scheme to make it easier for you to pay the bills throughout the course of the year. However, some schools still request payment upfront at the beginning of the year, semester or term.

With all things considered, you may need to start saving now and think about speaking to a financial adviser who can put you on the path to improved budgeting and cash flow management. With the right planning and structures in place, you can be prepared for any surprises thrown your way as your child embraces every opportunity presented to them over their thirteen years at school.

Call us on 1300 726 082 or send us a message to find out how you can make plans to help you afford the best education for your children.

Minimalism. When most people hear that word, they immediately think of hippies who sell all their possessions and live out of a suitcase. But in actual fact, minimalism can mean something different for everyone and in this day and age, most of us can benefit from minimising aspects of our ever so busy lives.

The Minimalists – a duo who run a popular minimalism blog – sum it up perfectly: Minimalism is a tool to rid yourself of life’s excess in favor of focusing on what’s important—so you can find happiness, fulfillment, and freedom.
Sounds pretty good doesn’t it? Unfortunately for a lot of us, our financial life is far from minimalistic. We are a generation that is obsessed with credit cards, Afterpay and spending money we don’t have. However, there are definitely ways we can streamline it all, to keep it simple so we can spend more time focusing on the things that actually matter.
1. Find your Super!
Remember your first job where you had to sign up for a super fund and you had absolutely no idea what you were doing? And then you did the same at your next job? Sounding familiar? A lot of us have multiple super funds in which we have money just sitting there, not knowing what we are invested in and how well our fund is doing. The problem with this is that you’re most likely paying administration fees for each of those funds, for no reason at all!
Nowadays, you can simply roll the funds into one single fund via myGov. However it is always beneficial to seek professional advice, as you do not want to close a fund that has a great insurance policy within it, or end up in a super fund that isn’t generating good returns.2. Go paperless
It’s 2017, get with the times! You can go without those paper statements that you always throw into the back of your drawer and never look at again. Most things nowadays are digital, so spend a couple of hours going through all your statements and bills and switch to paperless where possible. Trust me, it will be worth it – for you and the environment. And anything that needs to be sent via post, you can just take a photo of it and save it. This is also great for your receipts come tax time.
3. Say bye to buying
How often do you buy something just because it’s on sale? “There’s 30% off, I’ll just have a quick look…” you say. All of a sudden, you’ve maxed out your credit card again and have to live on tuna for the rest of the week. Minimalism is not about never buying new clothes and rotating between three t-shirts; it is about calculated purchases, quality not quantity, needs not wants. With that being said, no one needs that pair of Louboutins but it’s about finding that balance – taking a step back and asking yourself “will I actually use/wear these?” and “am I just buying it because it’s on sale?”You will find that by making more mindful purchases, you will spend less on things that just sit collecting dust. Beside from having less clutter, you will have more dollars to spend on things that will enrich your life . . . such as those highly coveted red soles.
4. Cut the card
One of the things that weighs us down mentally is debt, and it doesn’t help that we now have all the options available when it comes to spending money we don’t have: credit cards, Afterpay, personal loans… you know what I’m talking about. If you’ve managed to rack up an impressive amount of debt over the years, consider limiting yourself to just one card with a sensible and manageable limit so that you’re not paying multiple annual card fees and having to remember when eight different monthly bills are due.Simplifying your financial life and taking a few steps into the world of minimalism can help you on your way to achieving your financial goals. By applying a few of the points mentioned above, you can help relieve some anxiety that goes along with managing your money and sooner or later you’ll be able to bask in the glory of your stress-free financial life.

To jump start your journey to a life of minimalism, speak to a financial adviser on 1300 726 082 who can help map out ways to reduce your spending and declutter your finances.

General Advice Warning: This advice may not be suitable to you because it contains general advice that has not been tailored to your personal circumstances. Please seek personal financial advice prior to acting on this information.

Have you ever eaten lunch at your desk? If so, you’re not alone. I know I’m guilty of it; at work, I’m a regular desk-bound diner.

It’s not because I want to show my boss that I’m a hard worker – I just want to be as productive as possible during my work day.  For most of us with busy days and hectic schedules, eating lunch at our desks seems like the easiest solution. But we should really change that mind set!

As it turns out, eating your lunch at your desk isn’t all that good for you; and there are a few good reasons backing that up, including hidden health dangers. Let’s find out what these are.

Your desk is gross

Be warned, you may not even want to touch your keyboard – let alone eat near it – once you read this fact.

Dr Charles Gerba, PhD, a professor of environmental microbiology at Arizona discovered that “desk top surfaces, computer keyboards, mouse and telephone receivers are more contaminated than a restroom toilet seats”. The research found that the keyboard alone is 20,000 times dirtier than a toilet bowl!

With this in mind, it’s best to keep your food well away from your desk, so you’re less likely to transfer germs from the keyboard to your lunch.  It also helps to keep your workspace clean.

You’ll be more productive and better at your job

When you’ve got a lot to do, a quick sandwich at your desk may seem like a good idea. But if you’re considering multitasking, think again!

There’s only so much you can do in a day. Taking a break is a great opportunity to let your mind wander, which can lead to new ideas, spark inspiration and potentially provide solutions to problems that were bothering you while your mind was active.

As the Fast Company writes, “even if we think we’re awesome at multitasking, we’re actually terrible at it.  Because quality work is deep work, and deep work is free of distraction. Sandwich included”.

Stress, sore joints and long term health risks

It’s important to move around every now and then to get your blood pumping and oxygen flowing.

When you eat lunch at your desk you’ll stay seated longer, and sitting for a long period of time can lead to problems like:

• tension in your muscles and sore joints, leading to leg disorders
• weakness in your hip and core muscles, leading to back pain
• increased risk of heart disease
• high blood pressure and high cholesterol, and
• increased stress levels.

Distracted eating leads to sneaky weight gain

In order to enjoy your food, you need to pay attention to what you are eating. Otherwise, your body and brain don’t properly process the amount of food you are consuming; as a result you take in more calories than you need.  A sure-fire way to stack on the kilos!

Furthermore, don’t expect peace when you’re eating at your desk; unless you have a “go away” or “do not disturb” sign on your desk, your colleagues will assume that you’re working and may pepper your lunch with questions, help and problems to deal with. Hardly an enjoyable experience, is it?

You’ll build better work relationships with colleagues

Relationships at work are important.  You should learn how to build and maintain a healthy connection with those around you in order to enhance your job satisfaction.

That doesn’t mean that you have to eat lunch with your colleagues every day, know everything about them, or make them your best friends. But it doesn’t hurt to make the effort every now and then!

If you go out to lunch with your work colleagues occasionally, you might improve your rapport with them, which may lead to a more enjoyable work environment.

You can catch up and accomplish personal tasks

If you’re the type to eat lunch at your desk to save time, you’re probably looking for more hours in your week to get through your life admin as well. So why not use your lunch break to catch up on those personal tasks that you usually don’t get a chance to do because you’re so busy with work and family obligations? These tasks could be things like:

• Catching up with friends that work nearby
• Scheduling a meeting with an adviser from The Hopkins Group to take care of your financial future (and maybe even free up some more time by getting them to take care of things like your tax return, find the best home loan rate, manage your investment property, or just generally help you sort out a strategy to manage your overall financial wellbeing)

By now, you should be convinced that stepping away from your desk at lunch break is definitely worth it. It is full of benefits not only for your health, but your quality of work too; so we should all take full advantage of having a break.

Do you have any suggestions for how to spend your lunch break, or reasons why taking a break is important? Let us know over on our Facebook page.