Professional Documents
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Know Your Worth
Know Your Worth
KNOW YOUR
WORTH
YOUR COMPLETE FINANCIAL GUIDE
1
01 I N T RO D UC TI O N
W HY YOU ’RE HERE
08 OUR C O N N EC TI O N W I T H MONEY
M ONEY vs. HAPPINESS
12 F I N A N C I A L I N D EP EN D ENCE
AN D FINANCIAL CONFIDEN CE
15 H O W TO BUD GE T
S AVING S G U IDES & TIPS
24 H O W TO S P EN D MO NEY
K EY WORD: WISELY
26 L AN D I N G A JO B
H O W TO SELL YOU RSELF
32 TA X ES , TA XES , TA XES
TAX ES 101
38 R E L ATI O N S HI PS A ND FINANCES
JO I NT ACCOU NTS AND BR E AKU PS
40 H O W TO SAVE FO R A HOUSE
AN D HOW MU CH YOU NEE D
44 B U YI NG A HO US E 101
STE PS TO BU Y ING YOU R DR E AM H OU S E
46 RE NTI NG vs BUYI N G
T H E COSTS COMPARED
48 H O W TO A P P LY FO R A LOAN
STEP BY STEP
50
DEC I S I O N MA KI NG
TH E CHECKLIST
54 H O W TO I N VEST
IN VESTING MADE EASY
58 K NO W YO UR W O RTH
YO U'RE IN CONTROL
CONTENTS
FINANCIAL
INDEPENDENCE
=
EMPOWERMENT,
CONFIDENCE,
POWER
3
HEY GIRL
Hello and welcome to your very own
financial guide!
Within the pages of this book you will find everything you need to
know when it comes to financial empowerment and what it means to
be confident, self-viable and in power of your finances.
It doesn’t matter what stage of life you’re in or what your bank account
looks like – the aim here is to boost your financial empowerment and
help you feel in charge and in control of your universe.
According to an online source 61% of women would rather talk about
their own death than money and 87% of women wish that basic
financial education was taught in high school. It’s time to break this
stigma and actually talk about money. This guide aims to educate you
about your own finances, and act as a go-to for any big financial
decisions you may face in the future.
INTRO D UC TIO N 5
T I M E TO B E
HONEST
LET’S SET SOME
GOALS
DECIDE WHAT IT IS THAT YOU WANT.
1. 1. 1.
2. 2. 2.
3. 3. 3.
W H E N D O I WA N T W H E N D O I WA N T W H E N D O I WA N T
TO AC HIEVE THIS? TO AC HIEVE THIS? TO AC HIEVE THIS?
INTRO D UC TIO N 7
connection
OUR
WITH MONEY
9
happiness?
DOES MONEY BUY
YES / NO
C A N M O N E Y T R U LY
BUY HAPPINESS?
What do you think? This is a debate that has always When understanding basic human needs in reference to Maslow’s
split the room. Despite popular belief research has Hierarchy - in order to reach our full potential we must have certain
actually shown that to a certain extent money really levels of needs met. Many of these are dependent on money.
can buy happiness. Money does have a connection with each and every stage of
basic human needs – making it a direct influence on our
Not only does money have a connection to our mental state of mind,
happiness and survival.
but it also massively affects our body and physical health too. When
we talk about financial freedom it’s not just the feeling of doing If you had to create your own hierarchy what would you include?
whatever you want. Financial freedom relieves you of stress and the What basic needs do you need to survive? What matters to you on
unrelenting hold that money can have over our physical self too. a holistic level and what would help you reach your own version of
self-actualization?
EXAMPLE:
This is a hierarchy of basic human needs, theorised
by Abraham Maslow. Every level of needs must be Try it out here... what matters to you?
met in order to continue to the next.
M O N E Y v s H E A LT H
Believe it or not, health isn’t just about eating right and exercising. It Income can cause severe problems in the community, nation-wide and
is so much deeper than that. So much so, that I’m betting you never on a personal level. It has the potential to harm relationships, cause
thought about how money affects your health? violence and encourage self-harming thoughts.
Whilst money is a direct link to material items, it can also affect But it doesn’t need to be this way. Money can be empowering in the
our confidence, independence and feelings of self-worth. A study right ways without it causing damage or conflict – you just have to
surrounding money and mental Health discovered that half of all know how to use it.
adults with financial problems also have mental health problems. Do
When you think about money try not to do it in a negative space –
you see the connection? How does money make you feel? Listen to
think about all it can do and how amazing it is being able to support
this feeling and work on bettering it every single day.
yourself. Acknowledging that your finances have a hold over you is a
Thanks to Maslow’s theory we already know that money buys great first step into becoming aware of how it affects your health and
essential needs to our physical survival including rent, clothes and wellbeing – and how to overcome it.
food however it affects us in so many other ways, too.
WAY S M O N E Y C A N A F F E C T YO U :
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
ALLOWS FREEEDOM CAUSES STRESS
BOOSTS CONFIDENCE ANXIETY & DEPRESSION
ABLE TO MAKE CHOICES BASICS NEEDS CAN’T BE MET
BASIC NEEDS ARE MET PUTS TENSION ON RELATIONSHIPS
FEELS SAFE AND COMFORTABLE AFFECTS SLEEP AND WORKING LIFE
POSITIVE NEGATIVE
13
HOW TO
SAVE
BUDGET
SURVIVE
HOW TO BUDGET
Budgeting is one of the most important factors in money saving there WHY YOU SHOULD BUDGET?
is. If you’re like me then you’re probably wondering why the heck
wasn’t this taught in school? 1. You can achieve your money goals
There are a number of positive reasons why you should create a 2. It controls your spendings and highlights bad habits
budget. Not only will this make you actually think about what you’re
spending your money on but it will also help skyrocket your savings 3. It allows you to remain on top of your bills
and help you achieve any goals you have set out for. 4. It can help you pay off old debt quicker
There are many effective budgeting tools out there but you essentially
5. It allows you to form an emergency fund
want to look at your income after tax, and take away the costs of
any bills, food, savings or utilities. The sum you are left with is your 6. It will keep you from feeling overwhelmed
spendings allowance or extra money you can put away for savings.
7. Keeps you organized, prepared and in routine
EXAMPLE: I got paid $600 this week, but I owe $100 in rent, $100 8. Small Bonus - keeps your mental state and mind clear
goes into my savings and $150 is spent on bills and food.
I am left with $250 to spend as I like! YAY!
TIPS TO MAKING
BUDGETING EASIER
START WITH THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS FIRST eg. DEBT, BILLS, RENT, FOOD.
H O W TO BUD G E T 15
BANK ACCOUNTS
YO U S H O U L D H AV E :
THE BIG SAVER THE BILLS AND MAINTENANCE
This type of bank account empowers you and allows you This is the account no one wants to think about - but it has
to feel as if you are engaging in personal growth. its perks and let’s you allocate money towards bills.
Having a savings account specifically for saving money towards a Having an account allocated to bills and maintenance is not fun, but
larger goal or financial achievement is a great idea. This savings necessary. This money goes towards rent, electricity, water, insurance
account can help you work towards putting a deposit on your dream and any other adulty things. By adding a small amount of money to
house, travelling the world, starting up a business or even buying that this account you are ensuring that you are thinking ahead – knowing
really nice car you like. Not only does this account help you save that life doesn’t always go to plan and that you don’t want to fall short
towards something bigger it also empowers you knowing you are and have to dip into your savings or spend your well earnt pay from
planning for the future and can visually see growth happening. this week.
How to create a savings account: How to create a bills account:
1. Set up a high interest savings account. 1. Set up an account.
2. Give it a powerful name (eg Dream House). 2. Work out your weekly/monthly bills.
3. Set up re-occurring payments. 3. Set up re-occurring payments for that amount.
4. DON’T TOUCH IT. 4. Make sure you pay your bills on time.
H O W TO BUD G E T
SET
GOALS.
STAY
FOCUSED.
MAKE
MONEY.
17
HEY SIS, HEY SIS,
LET’S BUDGET. LET’S BUDGET.
TOTAL INCOME TOTAL INCOME
TOTAL INCOME TOTAL INCOME
SAVINGS SAVINGS
SAVINGS ACCOUNT SAVINGS ACCOUNT
EMERGENCY FUND EMERGENCY FUND
OTHER SAVINGS OTHER SAVINGS
FUN FUN
DINING OUT DINING OUT
WEEKEND PLANS WEEKEND PLANS
CLOTHES CLOTHES
OTHER TREATS OTHER TREATS
SAVINGS SAVINGS
SAVINGS ACCOUNT SAVINGS ACCOUNT
EMERGENCY FUND EMERGENCY FUND
OTHER SAVINGS OTHER SAVINGS
FUN FUN
DINING OUT DINING OUT
WEEKEND PLANS WEEKEND PLANS
CLOTHES CLOTHES
OTHER TREATS OTHER TREATS
Stick this on your fridge and cross out each payment as you make
it! You're on your way to $5,000!! You got this.
21
SAVE $10,000
IN A YEAR
WEEK AMOUNT WEEK AMOUNT WEEK AMOUNT
1 $125 18 $150 35 $175
2 $150 19 $175 36 $300
3 $175 20 $300 37 $125
4 $300 21 $125 38 $150
5 $150 22 $150 39 $175
6 $150 23 $175 40 $300
7 $175 24 $300 41 $125
8 $300 25 $125 42 $150
9 $125 26 $150 43 $175
10 $150 27 $225 44 $300
11 $175 28 $300 45 $125
12 $300 29 $125 46 $150
13 $125 30 $150 47 $175
14 $150 31 $175 48 $300
15 $175 32 $300 49 $200
16 $300 33 $125 50 $250
17 $125 34 $300 51 $325
Stick this on your fridge and cross out each payment as you make
it! You're on your way to $10,000!! Hang in there.
23
$$$$$
HOW TO
SPEND MONEY
Remember...
Let’s be honest, the second your pay hits your bank
account you’re ready to spend it aren’t you? Sometimes
it’s impossible to resist spending that nice amount of cash
sitting in your account and it feels nice being able to splurge
on yourself.
It's not your salary
However, if you’re a shopaholic like majority of us here
then there are some key things you can do to try and spend
that makes you rich, it's
your money a little more knowledgeable, a tad more
responsibly and a little wiser.
your spending habits...
SPEND WISER
TRY TO BE LESS MATERIALISTIC TRY NOT TO EAT OUT AS MUCH
It’s sometimes a little easier said than done when everyone around Sometimes hard but very achievable. Eating out is great – it helps you
you has the next best thing but it’s humbling to realise that life isn’t get out of the house, takes the hassle of cooking away and lets meals
about the things we own, it’s the experiences we have. become an experience. However, limit these experiences! The less
you eat out the more special the experience will be and the more your
bank account will thank you. Plus – why spend more money on food
DON’T SPEND TO IMPRESS PEOPLE when you already have food you bought at home in the fridge?
It’s easy to fall into the trap of buying something to impress your group
of friends or the person you like but don’t feel like you need to.
BE A SAVVY SHOPPER
Repeat after me: I don’t need to buy everyone a round of shots. I don’t
need to buy those airpods, my earphones work great. I don’t need the A savvy shopper means you’re being a picky shopper. Try on clothes
latest and greatest and I don’t need to spend my heard earned money before you buy them, test the quality of items and try to look for sales.
to impress people. Shopping at an op shop is a really great way to shop cheaply and
sustainably. Keep your best interests in mind always!
HO W TO S P END M O NEY 25
WORK IT GF
Landing a job can be tricky. TYPICAL INTERVIEW Q'S:
There’s no right or wrong way 1. Tell me about yourself.
to do it as it will always come
down to compatibility. 2. What makes you qualified for
this job?
Do you understand the work itself?
Do you resonate with the company 3. What do you think are your best
and will you fit in with the other staff? strengths and weakenesses?
While this is completely up to chance, 4. Where do you see yourself in 5
there are some things you can do to years time?
prepare yourself and make the best
first impression. The main thing is to 5. Why do you want to leave your
do your research, act confident, dress current job?
appropriately and be prepared. 6. How do you handle complaints /
YOU GOT THIS! tricky situations?
3.
SELL YOURSELF
Include a cover letter – introduce and sell yourself! Talk about why
you think you are qualified to make an excellent addition to their team.
Convince the reader that you are the person for the job. This is where you
can really sell yourself.
4. DO YOUR RESEARCH
Find out what the job actually is, what the company believes in and their
values. If you would eventually want to progress in the industry – mention
it. This shows employers that you know your stuff and want to succeed.
6. BE PREPARED
Sometimes you will be asked questions that you don’t know how to
answer. Don’t panic! Read up on some responses before your interview
and be ready to dance around the question without sounding confused.
7.
HAVE FUN WITH IT
Having a fun and open attitude to the experience helps the employer see
you for your true self. Even if you don’t have the experience for the job
you may have just the attitude they are looking for.
L AND ING A J O B
“if you don’t try there’s
no opportunity to succeed”
27
COVER LETTER TEMPLATE
_________
TIPS:
• CHECK YOUR SPELLING & GRAMMAR
• SELL YOURSELF
•HIGHLIGHT YOUR SKILLS
•MENTION YOUR EXPERIENCE
•RESEARCH THE COMPANY
RESUME TEMPLATE
29
WORK
UNTIL YOU
NO LONGER
NEED TO
INTRODUCE
YOURSELF.
STARTING
STARTING
A BUSINESS
A BUSINESS
If you’re planning on starting a business then
congratulations you boss ass bitch! Here are some CREATE SOME BUSINESS TOUCH POINTS
things to ensure your absolute success.
A touchpoint is anything the customer will see or hear surrounding
your business. The more touchpoints you create – the more customers
you will bring in.
Some must have touchpoints include:
SET SOME GOALS
• A Logo
With your business in mind, think about what you want it to be, how • A slogan or catchy phrase
you want your customers to see it and the overall feel for everything. • A website / Phone App
Think about specifics and highlight what you’re offering, who you’re • Social media pages eg. Facebook and Instagram
selling to and how you’re going to achieve this. Set some goals that • Business cards / Flyers
motivate you to see this venture to success. • Advertisements – TV, radio, facebook ect.
• Merchandise – essentially free marketing ;)
• Staff uniforms
DO SOME MARKET RESEARCH • Product packaging
• Hosted events
Conduct some market research surrounding your idea, your target • Thank you letters
market and other businesses you would consider as competitors. Take • Word of Mouth
notes on what you like, what you don’t like and what works with your
niche. Circulate your entire business around these findings. Whilst not every touchpoint is necessary and depends wholeheartedly
on your businesses purpose these are some great starting points
to engage with new customers and spread awareness about your
business. It’s a good idea to have these ready to go before launching
DEFINE YOUR BUSINESS
your business to avoid looking unprofessional or unorganised.
Choose a business name, define your target market, define your
products and give your business a personality. Select some solid
branding that will help shape your business and allow customers to TEST AND PERFECT YOUR PRODUCT OR SERVICE
become familiar with your work. Think about the values you want your
business to hold and allow your branding to communicate this to It’s a good idea to do testing of your product or service in order to
your market. gain insight and feedback surrounding the wants and needs of your
customer. The more testing you can conduct the more you can perfect
what you’re selling.
REGISTER YOUR BUSINESS
An ABN is an Australian Business Number and is a unique 11 digit LAUNCH YOUR BUSINESS
identification number that registers your business with government
departments and agencies. By applying for an ABN you are choosing This is a big deal! Get excited about it and advertise for this. Get the
and registering a name to work under for taxation purposes. word out and show teasers in order to gain the interest of potential
customers and have them eagerly waiting for your launch date. This
To apply for an ABN you must have a form of identification, identify will ensure a successful first day and the potential for word of
your business structure and have details of your businesses purpose. mouth to spread.
You can apply for an ABN for free through the government here:
Give yourself a pat on the back. It won’t be easy but you have the
https://register.business.gov.au potential within yourself to make your business thrive with successful.
In addition to an ABN it is a good idea to register for other taxes such
as PAYG and GST.
PAYG – deducts tax from your business and your employers’ earnings.
GST – must be paid if your business turnover is more than
$75,000 annually.
F*CK YES.
31
TAXES,
TAXES,
TAXES.
What is a Tax File Number (TFN) and how do I get one? YOUR INCOME TAX YOU PAY
A tax file number is a personal number assigned to you by the
0 - $18,200 NOTHING - $0
Australian Taxation Office for tax and superannuation purposes. It is
an extremely important number that you must have if you are working $18,201 - $37,000 19c FOR EACH
within Australia. Once you have a TFN it's yours forever and you will $1 OVER $37,000.
take it with you to each job you have over your lifetime.
$37,001 - $90,000 $3572 + 32.5c FOR
You must keep your TFN safe and secure as it can be used against you EACH $1 OVER $37,000.
in identity fraud or other illegal activities.
$90,001 - $180,000 $20,797 + 37c FOR EACH
It's free to apply for a Tax File Number however you do need to $1 OVER $90,000.
supply important information such as your date of birth and documents
to prove your identity.
You can apply for a TFN through your local Australian Post Office,
This is the current tax threshold as of September 2020. Your income on
online through the ATO website or through the Australian Services
the left determines how much you pay in taxes annually as shown on
(Centrelink or Medicare).
the right.
For more information or to apply for a TFN online visit:
https://www.ato.gov.au/individuals/tax-file-number/apply-for-a- To see more or to check for updated tax rates visit:
https://www.ato.gov.au/rates/individual-income-tax-rates/
tfn/australian-residents---tfn-application/
What is tax and why do we pay it? In the event that your business expands the ATO may request you to
set us the PAYG system within your business. This makes tax payments
Tax is a small percentage of our income that is deducted and paid to throughout the year, rather than one large lump sum once a year.
the government in order to provide services such as health, education,
defence, road, railways and social security. Businesses earning over $75,000 are required to pay GST – also
know as a Goods and Services Tax. The GST Tax is 10% of your
We are lucky in Australia to have free access to schools and education earnings that is paid to the ATO in addition to your income tax.
systems as well as health and other community facilities. Australian tax
is what pays and supports these systems.
TAX ES 101 33
TA X E S 101
How do I lodge a tax return? Should I get an accountant?
The financial year runs from 1 July – 30 June the following year. It really comes down to the individual. Doing your own tax return
Your taxable income is the annual income you made within those can often be tedious, time consuming and frustrating – or it can be
dates and must be lodged with the ATO by October 31. straight
forward and simple. If you are troubled for time and feel that you
There are a number of ways to lodge your tax return – including
need help with your tax return then sourcing a professional is a
by yourself through the ATO with myTax, with a registered tax
great idea! There is no need to question it or overthink the decision
person or through an third party online accountant.
– just do what works for you.
In order to lodge your tax return you’ll need some information
such as: What can I claim on my tax return?
• Bank Details Work related expenses:
• Income Statment • Clothing, Uniforms, Shoes, Laundry
• Receipts from Work Related Expenses • Vehicle and Travel Expenses
• Private Health Details (if necessary) • Home Office Expenses - if you work from home
• Your Partnet’s Income (if you have one) • Tools and Equipment
If you do opt to use a registered tax person or a third party Gifts and donations:
accountant your fee to them can be paid through your tax return • Paid to any organisation or fund that can receive
and claimed the following year. This removes the stress of paying tax deductible donations
an outright fee. Other:
Where to lodge your tax return: https://www.ato.gov.au/ • Interest
Individuals/Lodging-your-tax-return/Lodge-online/ • Personal Super Contributions
OR: https://www.etax.com.au • Investment Income Deductions
TAX ES 101
KNOW YOUR
WORTH.
TAX.
THEN ADD
35
HECS
DEBT &
STUDENT
LOANS
WHAT IS HECS?
Australia our higher education isn’t free. This means that WHAT IS THE THRESHOLD?
in order to attend university or TAFE we must pay for it.
HECS-HELP is an Australian Government initiative that As of 2020 the threshold for compulsory HECS-HELP
basically pays for you to attend university – but you have repayment is $46,620. This means that if you are earning an
to pay it back. The loan doesn’t cover any university costs annual income above this number you must begin repaying
like textbooks or laptops – just the course itself. While this is your HECS debt. Much like the tax income threshold, the
a great scheme that allows millions of Australians receive a HECS threshold determines how much of your HECS you pay
higher education – it can place a financial burden on you back based on your annual income.
later in life.
YOUR INCOME % OF HECS REPAYMENT
HOW DO I GET A HECS LOAN? Below $46,620 NOTHING - $0
In order to be approved for HECS-HELP you must provide $46,620 - $53,826 1.0%
information surrounding your income, your university $53,827 - $57,055 2.0%
campus and your course. You must be studying within a
Commonwealth Supported Institution, be an Australian or $57,056 - $60,479 2.5%
New Zealand citizen OR hold a permanent visa. $60,480 - $64,108 3.0%
$64,109 - $67,954 3.5%
HOW DO I PAY IT BACK? $67,955 - $72,031 4.0%
Once you have reached a HECS threshold, much like the NOTE: THIS CONTINUES ON UP TO 10%
PAYG tax deduction- your job will automatically deduct a
percentage of your wage towards your HECS.
BEFORE APPLYING TO STUDY ASK YOURSELF:
In addition to this you can also volunteer to make larger
contributions towards your HECS debt in order to pay it off •Is this really what I want to be doing for the next 10 years?
faster through the ATO. This can be done at any time and is •Will I be able to pay off my HECS-HELP Loan?
accessible through the Australian Taxation Office website or •Can I see myself finding a job in this field when I finish
through your MyGov account. my studies?
39
HOW TO SAVE
FOR A HOUSE
41
S AV I N G F O R A H O U S E
When saving for a house you ideally want to have as much money The LMI is charged through a one-off fee and is expected to be paid
saved as possible, however banks will approve your for loan with a through the loan or at the time of settlement.
deposit from anywhere between 5% and 20% of the overall cost
Saving for a house isn’t impossible – it just takes a strict savings plan
of the house.
and time. According to the moneysmart government website – it takes
Smaller deposits tend to mean a larger loan that you will have to a couple on average 4.6 years to save for a 20% house deposit.
repay – also meaning more interest and a longer time frame that you
If you are looking to buy for the first time – you may be in luck.
will be paying your mortgage off for. Typically if you’re applying for
The Australian Government has some initiatives in place in order to
a loan with a deposit less than 20% then you may face the costs of
encourage adults into buying a house or land – the main one is called
Lenders Mortgage Insurance. Whilst this is achievable it is a much
The First Homeowner’s Grant. This grant is eligible to first time home
smarter option to just save that little bit longer and come to the table
owners and can assist in paying for your home for up to $20,000.
with a higher deposit percentage.
The Lenders Mortgage Insurance (LMI) is insurance that protects the
lender (the bank) in the case that you can’t keep up with your loan
repayments. The LMI doesn’t protect you – just the company providing
you with the loan.
TAKE BIGGER STEPS - MOVE SOMEWHERE CHEAPER, QUIT SUBSCRIPTIONS, CUT BACK ON PLANS.
H O W TO SAV E FO R A H O US E 43
BUYING
THE HOUSE.
OK HOW DO I BUY
A HOUSE THOUGH?
45
the costs of
RENTING
vs. BUYING
RENTING BUYING
Rent Rates
A weekly or fortnightly payment made to your real estate and Rates are a quarterly, bi-annually or annually issued bill sent out to
landlord for allowing you to live on the property. homeowners from the council of your home location. This fee covers
council costs in the area and aims to raise revenue for any waste
management (bin runs), roadworks and outdoor environments (parks).
Utilities Insurance
These bills include gas, water and electricity. Typically, the water bill Home and contents insurance is an insurance that protects your property
will be sent to you by your real estate quarterly. Before moving into and your belongings from damage, loss or theft. For a homeowner this
the property, you must select a company to supply, manage and insurance provides a great sense of security when it comes to weather
connect your electricity and gas. This bill will also be sent to you damage, floods, fires or break-ins.
quarterly – however it will come via App, Email or physically sent from
your selected supplier.
R ENTING VS BUYING 47
HOW TO
APPLY
FOR A LOAN
Applying for a loan can be a lengthy and frustrating
process and it’s important to get it right each time as it does
go towards your credit score. There are different types of
loans available for you to apply for depending on your
need for the loan and its purpose.
In order to be eligible for a loan you must be over 18 years
of age and have evidence that you have a regular source
of income, as well forms of identification. Your credit rating
may also be checked in order for the lender to deem you as
creditworthy or a risk.
STEP 1:
DECIDE ON WHAT KIND OF LOAN YOU NEED
STEP 2:
COMPARE INTEREST RATES AND OPTIONS BETWEEN BANKS
STEP 3:
CHECK YOUR ELIGIBILITY – SELECT THE LOAN AND THE AMOUNT
STEP 4:
PROVIDE YOUR PERSONAL AND EMPLOYMENT DETAILS
STEP 5:
WAIT FOR APPROVAL AND RECEIVE THE MONEY - YAY!
49
DON'T
LET YOUR
EMOTIONS
MAKE YOUR
DECISIONS.
THE
BIG DECISIONS
CHECK LIST
I can afford it
T H E B IG D EC IS IO NS C H EC K LIST 51
CREDIT RATINGS
& CREDIT CARDS
What is a credit rating? How do I get a credit card?
A credit rating or a credit score is a number given to you based on In order to apply for a credit card you must be over 18 years of age
your eligibility for a credit card or loan. This number represents your and ensure that you have adequate credit history and that your credit
creditworthiness – showing potential lenders or banks that you are rating is good enough for you to be accepted.
reputable for a loan.
You can apply for a credit card through many banks, insurance
Your credit score is based on your past abilities to pay off loans or companies or outlets. Do your research surrounding fees and interest
debt, as well as any rejected loans. Not only does your credit score rates and go with the lowest option. In order to be considered
determine whether or not you will be approved for a loan but it can creditworthy you may need to provide personal details surrounding
also alter your interest rates for repayments. your identity and employment.
You can find out your credit score for free and it is calculated through When you pay for anything with your credit card it is essentially your
amounts of money you have previously borrowed, the number of loans provider paying the outright cost and you are expected to pay off
you have applied for and if you repaid your debt on time. A credit your credit card debt before a set date or in small payments.
rating can be from anywhere between 0 and 1,200. In Australia, any
If you feel as if you can’t control yourself with your credit card, it may
credit score above 670 is considered good – anything below that and
be a wise decision to set the limit of your spendings to a lower amount
you may be rejected for a loan.
- such as $2,000 instead of $10,000.
There are a number of postitive and negative effects that a credit card
How do I improve my credit rating? can have on your life. Before choosing a credit card do your research,
ensure you can make the correct repayments needed and try not to
Improving your credit worthiness may be the deciding factor between spend recklessly.
a loan approval or rejection. In order to improve your credit score
you must show the banks that you can take out a loan and pay it off
successfully and on time. You must appear reputable and stable –
having a secure job and home life. But first:
Some easy ways to bump up your own credit score can be paying Ask yourself if you really need to take this route of credit. Can it wait
your phone and Internet bills on time and keeping your credit card until you can save money or is this necessary?
balances low.
spend wisely!
Stocks – also known as shares, are an investment that you make into
a company that represent a percentage of ownership. This means that
you are entitled to a small percentage of any earnings and assets the
company acquires.
Companies can issue these shares in order to raise revenue and
attempt to enhance the profit and success of the company. When
you buy stocks within a company this makes you a shareholder –
sometimes giving you rights to vote within the company surrounding
the ways that it is run.
Stocks, shares, securities and equities are all the same thing.
So how do I do it?
An easy way to buy and sell shares is through online services or a
broker service. You can manage this yourself or “pool” your money
through a collective investment called a managed fund – which pools
your money with other people.
What are the risks?
Shares can be risky, as you won’t always get a return. It’s possible that
you could lose your entire investment – however you can fight this by
doing your research and only investing in companies you trust and
truly believe have a chance in profit growth.
H O W TO INV EST
WELL BEHAVED
WOMEN BARELY
MAKE HISTORY.
TAKE RISKS.
55
SUPERANNUATION
AND RETIREMENT
SUPERANNUATION
Your superannuation is basically a secure bank account dedicated to Under special circumstances you may be allowed to withdraw from
your retirement. Your employer must legally pay a percentage of your your super account earlier – however try not to touch it until you retire
wage to your super account. If you are self-employed you must make as the more money you have in your super account, the more money
your own contributions to your super to ensure that when it comes time you will have when you’re older.
to retire you have money there.
If you change jobs and your new employer opens a new super
There are many of businesses that manage superannuation out there – account for you, it is important to combine both of your accounts. Aim
you can choose your own, or your employer can allocate one for you. to stick to one and give your employers the correct details in order to
keep everything together.
RETIREMENT
There is no magic age to retire – you can do this However, your employers’ contributions and your own contributions to
whenever you like! However, it’s important to know if your superannuation must not exceed $25,000 each financial year.
you can afford to first. Whilst you can retire anytime – the Australian government pension
There is no magic number to retire with however a good guideline is to is only eligible to retirees over the age of 67. The Age pension is
have saved at least 80% of your pre-retirement salary. This means that a senior’s allowance paid to retired individuals and couples who
if you earn an annual working salary of $100,000, then you ideally are eligible after income and asset tests. You must apply for the
should have $80,00 per year of retirement. Some suggest saving pension through Centrelink and supply all supporting documents
within the millions, whilst others fall comfortably under that line. and information to be approved. Once approved you will recieve
concession cards for discounts and cheaper health care, and a weekly
I know - saving millions for retirement seems a little unachievable – or fortnightly allowance.
however you can make extra contributions to your superannuation
to get you on track and your employers will continuously be making Retirement is nothing to be afraid of. Your hard work over the years
contributions throughout your career - the bonus is that you don’t even will pay off and allow you to relax and enjoy your retirement however
need to think about. you see fit. Many people find it hard to sit still once they have retired
and use the time to travel, start up a business idea, move cities, take up
Making extra contributions to your superannuation can actually a hobby, volunteer, learn new things or remodel.
be more beneficial for you when it comes to tax purposes as the
contribution’s lower your annual salary – lowering your tax threshold It’s up to you! Thats the best part about it.
and meaning you have more to retire with and are paying less tax. It’s
actually a win-win situation and it’s heavily encouraged.
59
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