Here in Australia, the major banks have increased their mortgage rates, and the “average” borrower (whoever that is) will be paying another $50 a month. I think that most people will actually be paying more. And when you add that to increasing credit card debt, it’s time to think seriously about debt reduction. Vision, Mission, […]
Debt Reduction Holistic Spending Plan
Housework Survey Says: What You Really Think About It
A while back, I mentioned I was inspired to write a book about Housekeeping, and I asked if there was such a thing as minimally viable housework? Well, housework survey says maybe. As you read the results, you’ll guess that the survey was mostly completed by women, but interestingly, the mix of age groups was […]
Start a New Business Holistic Spending Plan
It’s tax time here in Australia, and when people see their numbers in black and white on their returns, many start wondering about going into business for themselves. That makes it a good time for a Start a New Business Holistic Spending Plan. The most important part of starting a new business is knowing why. […]
Your Role as a Purchasing Agent
Have you ever thought about your role as a Purchasing Agent? Or are you like most people who just buy stuff? You might find it interesting to know that you need formal qualifications to buy things for a living. In Australia, the Diploma of Purchasing “qualifies you to apply integrated technical and theoretical concepts in a […]
We Can’t All be Cats With Nine Lives
I recently had a transplant rejection scare. There are no words to describe how dismal waiting is when you’re having health investigations, and you feel like your life is running out of time. We can’t all be cats with nine lives. You’re waiting for appointments, waiting for procedures, waiting for permission to go home, waiting for results. Returning […]
How to Create a Savings Plan
While I’ve talked about Spending Plans, and how to rearrange them to accommodate your goals, I’ve not mentioned creating a Savings Plan. And when I say Savings Plan, I don’t mean buying things at a discount; I mean not buying things and putting the money aside to use later. Maybe to buy a house or a […]
The Sun Shines Brightly
I had my second cataract surgery not long ago. When the bandage came off, I was surprised (again) that the sun shines brightly. And that the brightness renders the ordinary suddenly glorious. Even the dented old blue rubbish skip with a scrape of red paint (presumably someone’s car) was beautiful in all its detail. It […]
The Happiness of Housekeeping Habits and Routines
Work on my new book Minimally Viable Housekeeping is steaming along – I’ve finished the first draft! There’s still work to go on the second draft, but I’m feeling a little smug. But as you might expect, the more involved I am in this project, the less I am in my actual housekeeping. And while DB […]
How to Recognise and Take Advantage of Opportunities
I went into town the other day for my transplant checkup, and I noticed a lot of homeless people. It occurred to me that in the same way that you’re only a few steps from losing everything, you’re only a few steps from having it all. You just need the ability to recognise and take […]
Life Is All Too Short
Life is a finite thing. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end. Sometimes life is all too short, and sometimes it’s way too long. Australian botanist Dr David Goodall felt his had taken too long. According to Charlotte Hamlyn, at 104, his declining physical condition and failing vision forced him to give up […]
How to Make Good Purchasing Decisions
Here in Australia, the Banking Royal Commission is well underway. And you may wonder what this has to do with good purchasing decisions, but at some point, we all chose to buy their services, and some of us chose to invest in them, and all of our superannuation funds invest and bank with them. The Commission was […]