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Making The Most Of A Big Move Overseas

February 22, 2020 Leave a Comment

Moving home is challenging for just about anyone, no matter where you’re moving to. It’s a big decision, and it gets even bigger when you decide to pack up and take everything to a new country. Here, we’re going to look at how you manage the overseas move without letting stress overtake the whole process.

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Visit ahead of time

Culture shock is a very real and surprisingly profound experience and it can completely destroy your experience of a place if you’re unprepared for it. The best way to get around culture shock is to visit and stay at a location for an extended period to really get to experience it. You will also want to network a little and make some friends who can help you transition to life over there more easily.

 

Spend plenty of time finding the right home

Much of your quality of life is going to be determined by where, exactly, you live. This might be determined in part by where you get a job or where a spouse might live. However, look at house listings and apartment sales to get a thorough idea of what kind of property prices you can expect.  Looking with a local estate agent is a good idea as well, as they can help you better navigate the market.

 

Get a good idea of the costs of living

Save, save, and save. Moving can be costly and moving overseas can be doubly so, so save as much money as you possibly can. However, you can plan a little by doing some research on the costs of living in the country that you’re moving to, as well, seeing how far you would be able to stretch your existing budget over there.

 

Get to know the health care system

Governments run things very differently in other countries, and the health care system of the country you’re moving to is likely to be drastically different. You may have to budget for a different kind of private insurance, or you might find yourself covered by the state, with optional insurance or even total coverage that’s taken out of your taxes instead. Just do your research because finding yourself suddenly without health care or paying more than you expected in taxes without knowing why can be quite the surprise.

 

Make some final touches

Once you’ve taken care of all of the essentials and know what you’re getting into, then it’s time to take a few final steps. For one, get in touch with your bank and phone provider. You may not want to get rid of your current account just yet as you may have some bills and outstanding loans to deal with. Make sure to make copies of essential documents like your passport, birth certificate, and driver’s license as you’re likely to need them.

 

Of course, the one thing that we’re not going into is what it takes to move overseas legally. Each country has its own approach to immigration law and getting a visa or permanent citizenship, so it’s important to do your research and know your way in. Otherwise, keep the tips above in mind.

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Convincing Reasons To Give Up Your Car

January 10, 2020 Leave a Comment

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Ask yourself this one important question.

 

Do you need a car?

 

It might be that you do, especially if you travel on a regular basis. But if you rarely use your car, and if you could manage quite well without one, then you might want to consider giving it up.

 

Here are just some of the reasons why.

 

#1: You will save money

 

When looking at your monthly bank statements, consider how much money you spend on your car. With fuel, tax, insurance, and possibly even maintenance costs to add up, consider where that money could have been better spent. So, rather than relying on a car to get you from A to B, consider other forms of transport instead, such as the bus, train, or even your bicycle. And for those times when you do need a car, consider borrowing one from a friend or family member, or consider the types of car you can book now at Burswood Car Rentals and similar places, and hire something instead.

 

#2: You will face less stress

 

Let’s face it; driving can be stressful. You will know this yourself if you have ever had to deal with road rage from yourself or another driver, if you have been stuck in rush hour traffic for an age, or if you have found yourself dealing with the aftermath of a car accident. If you didn’t have a car, you wouldn’t have to face such stresses, so if you don’t need to rely on your four wheels, get rid of it for the sake of your sanity!

 

#3: You will do your bit to save the world

 

Road transport is responsible for around a quarter of the world’s carbon emissions, and you become part of this equation every time you step foot into your car. Sorry for the guilt trip! To reduce your carbon footprint, you could use your car less, switch to an electric car, or give up your car entirely. With one less car on the roads, the world will become a slightly safer place, and you will have less need to feel guilty about the part you have had to play in damaging the environment. 

 

#4: You will experience the health benefits

 

The more we rely on our cars, the less exercise we do, and the unhealthier we become. So, if one of your goals has been to keep fit this year, you might consider giving up your car for either the short or the long-term to help you achieve your targets. By walking or cycling more, you will improve your physical health. And because of the fresh air you will be getting, as well as the added exercise, you will do much to improve your mental health too. So, think about yourself and your own health needs. Then think about the health needs of your family. By using your car less or by giving it up, you will all start to benefit from the exercise you will be receiving. 

 

So, what do you think? Could you give up your car? We have listed some very good reasons as to why you should, so consider the option, even if it’s only for a short time.

 

Thanks for reading!

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Growing Your Property Portfolio in the Best Possible Way

December 20, 2019 Leave a Comment

Property is one of the safest markets to invest in if you have the money to do so. This is why so many people every year are looking at the ways in which they can invest in property or real estate, and start making serious money. But, if you are new to this process, it can seem pretty daunting, especially with the sums of money that are being talked about. 

 

Make sure you think about the different ideas you’ll need to consider if you want to get involved in the world of real estate. Growing your property portfolio is one of the key things you are going to need to consider, and this is something you can work on right now. These are some of the best things you can do to achieve that, and you should use these ideas to help grow your portfolio. 

 

Diversify

 

One of the key things we would recommend would be to make sure you aim to diversify as much as possible with your portfolio. There are a lot of things that play a part in the process, and this is going to help you when it comes to making the most of your property portfolio. This means looking to invest in things like mobile homes as well as traditional apartments and houses. This is a great way of attracting more people and giving you a more unique edge to your portfolio. 

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Rent Out for a While

 

When you are getting involved in the world of property investment, you will generally have two choices; you buy a property, fix it up, and sell for a profit, or you buy and then rent for a while before selling. Renting is a good way to build up your portfolio because it is providing you with passive income on a monthly basis, and this is important. Make sure you do what you can to make the most of this and try to rent out several properties at the same time, so you increase your cash flow. 

 

Maintenance & Upgrades are Key

 

Maintaining and upgrading your properties is also really important when looking at how you can grow your portfolio. Just because you own a property doesn’t mean you can overlook basic improvements. Saving money on home improvements is important, but you definitely need to make sure you maintain and upgrade the properties as much as you can. This can make a massive difference to making your portfolio more appealing to prospective buyers and tenants. 

 

Cash Flow!

 

Cash flow is one of the most important things to consider here because, without money, you can’t purchase property. As we suggested earlier, renting is a good way of bringing in some cash flow, but you need to consider other ideas as well, such as buying positive cash flow property and coming up with side-gigs to help you supplement your income. 

 

As you might imagine, creating a strong and diverse property portfolio is a challenge, and this is something you need to make sure you consider as much as possible. There are a lot of factors that play a part in helping you achieve success in the property market, and these are some ideas that will help you to get started as much as possible.

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Money Matters: How To Make 2020 The Year Of Reduced Waste

December 17, 2019 Leave a Comment

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The start of a new decade is the perfect opportunity to reevaluate your lifestyle and adopt the changes needed to become a better person. Right now, the need to reduce our physical waste in a bid to save the planet is more prominent than ever. But what about saving your finances?

 

Living costs rise at a far faster rate than salaries. This is why your New Year’s Resolution should revolve on the concept of making your money work harder. Here are 15 ways to turn your 2020 vision into a reality.

 

#1. Quit Bad Habits

 

Let’s face it; quitting bad habits will always appear on the NYR lists. While you’ve previously given up within a few weeks, focusing on the financial elements could transform things for the better. Quitting cigarettes will save the average 20-a-day $50 per week. You could save half of the money while using the other half as a weekly reward for staying on track. It’s great news for the body, mind, and bank balance. This new approach will ensure that 2020 is the year you succeed.

 

#2. Analyze All Purchases

 

There’s nothing wrong with impulse buys that will actively enhance your life. However, wasting money on products that you will not use is a huge problem. It’s easy to be won over by fancy marketing gimmicks, but buying the latest tech gadget for the sake of joining the herd is often a bad move. Where possible, sleep on the decision. If you aren’t that fussed about having not bought the item when you wake up, it probably isn’t needed. You should see a decline in regrettable choices.

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#3. Lose The Need For Ownership

 

In addition to avoiding unnecessary purchases, 2020 can be the year where you embrace a healthier mindset. While society may suggest that you need to own everything, you don’t. There are many situations in which leasing a car may be better than buying one. Meanwhile, renting an outfit for an vent is often a smarter decision than wearing it once and letting it sit in the wardrobe collecting dust. The money saved by hiring goods can allow you to spend more money elsewhere.

 

#4. Trim The Fat On Bills

 

Overspending on monthly services is another very common problem. Here is a guide to cutting cellphone costs that can save hundreds of dollars each year. Similarly, energy bills, home insurance, and broadband packages can be trimmed down. Tailoring the package to your needs rather than what the company tries to sell you can make a big difference to monthly outgoings. Better still, you won’t see any difference to your daily life as the features you cut out aren’t being used anyway.

 

#5. Shop Around

 

We can all appreciate the benefits of browsing the market for a better deal. The introduction of price comparison sites made a huge impact on major purchases. However, you can now add tools to your browser that automatically search for vouchers and discounts on all purchases. Even if you save a few dollars during each online shopping session, the savings soon add up. They can be used to buy clothes, groceries, and gifts for loved ones during the festive season. The possibilities are endless.

 

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#6. Consider ‘Non-New’ Items

 

It seems madness to spend twice the price on an item that you could get cheaper simply because it has been used. There are plenty of items that you’ll want to buy brand new. Still, charity shops can be a great place to pick up furniture, clothing accessories, books, and more. Perhaps more tellingly, you can save thousands on kitchen remodels and big tasks by buying the ex-display models or end of the line stock. Not having the latest season’s trend isn’t a big issue unless you make it one.

 

#7. Change Work Habits

 

Your career is the primary source of revenue in your life. However, it can be a source of huge expense too. There are many ways to cut the costs. Working from home, even or one day per week can have a truly positive influence. Meanwhile, trading the morning trip to Starbuck for a homemade coffee could save over $1,000 per year. Those simple changes can actively aid your physical and mental health, as well as your career. Still, it’s the financial savings that stand out.

 

#8. Stop Trashing Perfectly Good Products

 

Most people are guilty of hoarding furniture, electronics, and collectibles. In most cases, they’ll eventually be thrown out during a clean spring. However, one person’s trash is another’s treasure. Thanks to local online selling platforms, the opportunity to generate money from old goods has never been easier. This additionally serves as the perfect way to declutter your life at the start of a new decade. The fact it actually reduces waste pollution by recycling old items is merely a bonus.

 

#9. Ensure That Assets Sell At Their Full Potential

 

When selling the small household goods, any cash injection is a step in the right direction. However, valuable assets need to sell at the right price. Preparing the home for a quick and agreeable sale is vital for anyone hoping to relocate in 2020 or beyond. Meanwhile, expensive antiques should be independently valued. After all, you do not want to become one of those people that sells a vase for $50 at a garage sale only to see it sell for $1,000 in three months time.

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#10. Hire An Accountant

 

The idea of paying an expert to handle your taxes and other financial obligations may seem counterproductive. On the contrary, though, a personal tax accountant can save you money in the long run. Whether it’s handling small business accounts or individual taxes, their advanced knowledge will serve you well. Besides, time is money, and you can use the extra time to earn more money. When added to the emotional reassurance of making the right moves, success is assured.

 

#11. Seek Entitlements

 

You work hard, and put money into the system. As such, you should feel no guilt about seeking the financial support that you are entitled to. Whether you’re a parent, a worker in the public sector, or have a disability doesn’t matter. Even an extra few hundred dollars per year, through credits or discounts, can seriously enhance your life. Life can get tough from time to time, but helping hands are often available. Take the support that is actually designed for you, and big results will show.

 

#12. Improve The Home’s Energy Efficiency

 

If you can reduce financial waste while also reducing waste pollution, that’s perfect. This guide to creating a greener home will allow you to master both. The investments into better lighting and water efficiency will reduce monthly bills. Meanwhile, solar panels and other eco-friendly upgrades often show a positive ROI. The financial value of your property and monthly cash flow will each see positive outcomes. Best of all, the rewards will continue throughout 2020 and beyond.

 

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#13. Share Facilities

 

The idea of combining financial savings with reduced energy waste needn’t be limited to the home. Carpools are a particularly smart move to save money and resources. Meanwhile, if you have a good relationship with the neighbors, it may be possible to share items like the lawnmower. It seems a little pointless to buy and store products separately if you can half the costs and efforts. Of course, it’s not an option that’s open to all homeowners or workers. Still, it’s worth investigating.

 

#14. Move Bank Accounts

 

If you are currently losing money to interest rates on credit cards, switching to new banks can work wonders. They are fighting for your custom and will often offer 0% on transfers as well as a few months of zero interest. This gives you a chance to reduce the debt without suffering from high interest rates. In turn, this can support your bid to create a better financial situation. After all, your overall debts will shrink during that period of breathing space.

 

#15. Repair Things

 

How often do you trash a top because the zip broke, or replace furniture because it suffered minor damage? Get into the habit of repairing and upcycling items, and you’ll save vast sums of money over the course of a year. You can turn crates into garden furniture, save old garments, and breathe new life into unloved items. It’s a great way to save time and money while also providing a sense of satisfaction. When dealing with clothes, it’s an ideal way to gain a fresh and unique appearance too.

 

The Final Word

 

We can all benefit from reducing our financial waste, and 2020 is the year to make it happen. While it’s true that the first few weeks may seem difficult, your efforts will soon be rewarded. Once you see how much of an impact your efforts can bring, the incentive to stay on track will be huge.

 

Last but not least, you must remember that a setback along the way needn’t stop you from achieving the end goals. This is a lifelong transformation rather than a quick fix. Do not forget it.

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20 Ways to Save Money on Everyday Items….

February 12, 2018 Leave a Comment

Growing up money was tight, I learned at a very young age you had to work hard for everything you want in life. This also taught me the importance of money. Saving it, making it and especially how to spend it.

After marriage and graduating college money issues were not as “tight”, but I still took those young values I learned with me and it has paid off!

Here are ways I like to save money!

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  1. Cell Phone bill – I had AT&T for years, I would call every so often and explain that I will have to cancel my account since the prices were constantly going up. It wasn’t until a blog conference that I recently found out Cricket is owned by AT&T. I did my research and found out they use the same towers and covered the same area. So I switched from a 160.00 for two lines to 100.00 for four lines.
  2.  Cable bill – I hated writing the 124.00 a month check to Directv every month so I did a little research and sure enough if you call them when they have promotions and ask for it, you can cut your bill to half of what it is. I now pay around 60.00 a month. The only reason we keep it is the husbands wants the SEC channel.
  3. Filters – Changing out your air conditioner/heater filters often will help save on the electricity bill. The more clogged they are the more the air conditioner/heater will have to run.
  4. Shop wisely – When I am browsing in a boutique, I usually take a picture of the tag of something I really, really, like 99% of the time I can find it online way cheaper than in the store!
  5. Dollar Tree – This place will save you 5.00 – 10.00 a week if you shop there first. I buy all my cards and gift bags from here and every now and then you will find something on your grocery list there for a dollar!!
  6. Wash your sheets – Keeping your bed clean will help you not to get sick as much. Besides the fact that clean bed is amazing!
  7. Coupons or Sales– Check for printable or app coupons before leaving to shop, plan meals around what is for sale that week. Regardless of how great the coupon is, only buy what you will use.
  8. Bulk – Take a calculator with you, if it is a lot cheaper to buy it in bulk then do it. I love when something in bulk is on sale and I have a coupon, I stock up!
  9. Budget – Make and stay on a budget regardless!! This is important to learn, I remember weeks when I would say we are going to have a “leftover” night or let’s find a meal at the “Dollar Store”. Really what I meant is that is all we could afford but wanted it to seem like a fun activity. Staying on the budget meant getting creative.
  10. Electricity – It is important to seal off any air leaks or making sure your home is insulated to reduce the electricity bill.
  11. Intrest Rate – Negotiate those as often as possible.  You will be amazed at how willing a company will be to work with you if you make payments timely.
  12. Pyramid payment – This took us several years to master but now I am happy to say we are debt free! You take your smallest bill rather if it is a 300.00 jewelry store account or 500.00 hospital account and you pay extra until it is paid and continue this until everything is paid off. We paid cash this year for my new Cadillac and it sure felt good!
  13. Savings – Regardless if you put 5.00 a week away, make sure you start and have a savings account. You need something to fall back on when you have an emergency!
  14. Education Degree – The more education you have or can receive the more you make in life, as a general rule. Try and get some type of degree even if you can only take one class a semester. There are so many grants and aids that can help you with this.
  15. Church – Most churches have a ton of really fun free activities you can do as a family. Church communities love to help out.
  16. Yard Sales – I can’t tell you how many times, my new wardrobe consisted of my latest yard sale finds. Most yard sales have clothes really reasonably priced. I clothed my children for years from yard sale finds.
  17. Garden – Plant a small garden of veggies your family likes. If you don’t have room for a garden put them in a pot, people love fresh veggies and it is a great way to give to others.
  18. Fix broken items – If there is an issue with something like a vacuum or dripping water faucet, fix it immediately. You will save money in the long run by taking care of it right away.
  19. Money saving sites – Shop sites like slickdeals.net before making online purchases to see if there are any great deal or prices. I recently found a 99.00 gift that I wanted to get my grandson for his birthday on there for 25.00 at a certain store. I was so excited!!
  20. Ebates – If you download Ebates to your dashboard every time you shop online it will pop up and tell you how much $$ you will make from the purchase not only that but it will find if there is any money saving coupons out there. I use it for every purchase and get a check in the mail!!

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These are a few of my favorite ways to save money! I am sure there are a ton more ideas and would love to hear yours!!

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Tips For A Budget-Friendly Summer

June 16, 2017 Leave a Comment

Summer has a way of making us feel carefree; we happily spend more money on treats, family outings, or activities for the kids, only to check our balance in September and realise that we might have taken too much out of the savings account. While it’s true that you can’t put a price on the memories you make with your family, you do still need to have enough put away to make more memories in the future. If you’d like to have your cake and eat it too, here are a few tips so you can have the best summer ever on the lowest budget possible.

Cheap vacations

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It’s tempting to opt for a staycation each summer because this is when flights are usually their most expensive, and you don’t often know if there’s enough in the budget to book in advance. Fortunately, you can still take the family somewhere exotic with a few money-saving hacks. Flights tend to be more expensive from Friday to Sunday because most people want to make the most of the weekend in a foreign country. Since you have the whole summer holiday to choose from, try to book a flight that leaves in the middle of the week to save a few dollars. You can also save if you aim to travel the week before the kids go back to school, as this is when prices might start to drop. Websites such as Skyscanner can help you compare flight prices across a whole month so you’ll know the cheapest days to fly, saving you a potential packet. Going all-inclusive can save you more money, especially if you take full advantage of the breakfast buffets and the hotel swimming pool. Spanish destinations such as Majorca and Tenerife, or Algarve in Portugal, are always a hit with families, so these are good places to start looking for an all-inclusive vacation.

Camping

The great outdoors can be just as engaging as a games console, and it’s usually free. Although some campsite will charge you to pitch your tent, there’s no cost for sleeping in the back garden with your younger kids, or out in the woods with more mature children. Brush up on some simple survival skills and teach them how to survive in the wild, introduce them to the simple thrill of climbing trees, see who can spot the most species of birds, and in the evening you can show them how to make perfect s’mores over the campfire. Not only does this experience get everyone out of their comfort zone and encourage the kids to work together to put up the tent and start a fire, but it will help them appreciate the things they take for granted at home; hot showers and indoor plumbing seems like a luxury after a weekend in the woods. Most importantly, however, spending time outdoors will teach children how to respect nature and the environment.

Rent out your house

You don’t need to have a second home or spare room to make money from a lodger. If you’re planning on spending a few weeks away, and you live in a popular area, you could make some extra money by renting out your house to other holidaymakers. You can sign up to be a host on Airbnb, put out feelers with friends, or by making a website advertising your house to people looking for nice accommodation for their vacation.

Packing for vacations

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Hard as it may be to admit, your little ones aren’t as little as they were last year, and all their clothes from the previous summer no longer fit. Before you start packing for your vacation, you need to make sure you have enough summer clothes that fit them comfortably, not to mention all the other summer essentials you need to buy like sunscreen, allergy medication, and travel sized toiletries. To make sure you still have enough left for vacation spending money, you can go to the stores armed with discounts from Coupon Sherpa and make substantial savings on clothes and other items. It might require you to do a little legwork and shopping at several different stores, but it’s worth it just to save a few dollars.

Active family

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If you’ve been trying to find a way to motivate yourself to do more exercise, there is no bigger encouragement than your children; not just because you want to be healthy, but because they will drive you crazy when they start climbing the walls with boredom and the only solution is to get everyone out of the house. If you have fairly young children, take them to the park and actually play with them; run around to catch them on the slide, push them on the swings, or try getting involved in their game of tag. With slightly older kids, you could get everyone on their bikes and ride down the coast, whip out the water pistols and having an all-out war, or check your local area and see if there are any events that will get them walking. If you show your children the value of getting out of the house and having a good time, they may never catch on that you’re doing this for the exercise.

Rainy day fun

Despite all your best efforts to get the kids away from the electronic devices and out into the fresh air, sometimes the weather will conspire against you. Fortunately, you can still find ways to keep the kids busy without the lure of technology. One way to keep the kids occupied is by teaching them how to cook. Your options are endless; you can have them help you make the family’s favourite dinner, you can choose a new recipe to try together, or you can teach them how to make a really easy dish so they can begin building their cooking skills. If you have them help you with dinner, be sure to compliment them on their contribution and watch their little faces light up with pride.

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