budget planner Archives - Sort My Money

When is the time to start planning for Christmas? Now!

on February 16, 2018

It’s that time of year when the kids are back at school, the summer holidays are already starting to become a distant memory and Christmas is starting to blur into Christmases of years gone by. In theory at least, life is getting back to normal. If, though, your Christmas was paid for on plastic, there’s probably nothing normal about the credit card bill or bills you are receiving about now. They can make for a stressful start to the year and have you wondering whether you will ever manage to break out of a relentless cycle of high-interest debt. By taking […]

Who’s Who in the Financial Zoo? | Budgeting Advice

on June 19, 2017

If there is something you don’t understand about your finances, or something you wish to change, you might well turn to an accountant or a Financial Planner (aka a Financial Advisor), as these are seen as our society’s financial oracles. The only problem with this approach is that the solutions they give you will have a narrow focus – reflecting their respective areas of expertise. Accountants are tax minimisers. Financial Planners are product specialists in the areas of investments (including superannuation) and insurance. So the solutions you get from them will be based on tax, investments or insurance. Which is […]

“I don’t earn enough to afford personal budgeting” | Seeking budget help

on May 4, 2017

As experts in both personal and business budgeting, we understand that’s it’s easy to establish and maintain some negative beliefs regarding money. One of the most common concepts we hear is, “I don’t have enough money to be able to save”, “I don’t earn enough to seek budgeting help” or “I don’t make enough money to be able to save any” – we hear these comments all too often from potential clients. When you’re not earning a large amount of money, or you have a lot of outgoings and expenses, it’s easy to feel like you’ll never save or reach your financial […]

Personal Budgeting is Not About Scarcity

on February 16, 2017

Many people associate a budget with scarcity, and that’s where they come unstuck. Once you understand that personal budgeting is all about abundance – and having an allowance for everything – that’s when it becomes fun. And, when it becomes fun, it becomes sustainable! An effective budget includes financial goals and aligns spending to those goals. For most individuals, general living expenses are the largest part of their budget and smaller amounts are set aside for long-term goals such as buying a home, starting a family, travelling or starting a business. Without a budget, it can be difficult to save […]

Budgeting for an Investment Property | The Hidden Costs | Personal Budgeting

on February 2, 2017

Anyone that owns an investment property knows that is comes with expenses. Whilst in the long term, investment properties can be a fantastic asset thanks to equity appreciation, it’s important to factor in – and budget for – those extra costs that people often forget about. Often people only consider interest and mortgage repayments when they consider purchasing an investment property, but in reality, there are other costs involved… So before committing to a long-term investment, ensure that you can cater for the following expenses so that your investment property does not cause you unnecessary stress! Insurance: Whilst you […]

Renovating and Budgets | Personal Budgeting

on January 19, 2017

Your reno wish list might be limitless, but remember that your bank account isn’t! Home renovations can soak up your spare cash like nothing else, therefore renovation budgets are imperative if you want to avoid unnecessary costs. Treat renos like a project. It’s up to you to ensure they come in on budget – because not doing so can be quite a costly lesson. You want your home to look fantastic and be practical for the whole family. But remember you should also consider which renovations will increase your property’s value. Renovation budgets assist people in deciding where best […]