Personal finance is full of rules of thumb about saving, spending, paying off debt, and budgeting. These well-known financial guidelines help us apply proven methods for saving, investing, buying a home and even planning for retirement. They can be useful shortcuts for making quick calculations and decisions about finance. In this article, we’ll look at 3 financial rules of thumb that we believe are worth incorporating into personal finance decisions.

Living through a pandemic has changed our view on many things. From wanting a better work life balance and more focus on health, wellness and exercise, to a greater desire to learn more and the need to connect online.

But it also changed how we live, with flexible working arrangements helping turn long-term dreams of escaping to the country into reality. Holiday rental giant, Airbnb, has responded by changing the way it works, while real estate agents across Australia are already reporting significant spikes in demand for properties in rural areas.

Here’s a closer look at how COVID-19 has changed the way we live.

Over the past year and a bit, our lives have changed irrevocably. Dealing with a pandemic – and the resulting economic and social fallout – has dominated much of our energy and attention. But importantly, the lessons we’ve learnt over the time spent in lockdown and during the pandemic could pay off for years to come. We asked three Mortgage Express brokers to share some of their learnings. Here’s what they said.

In late March 2021, parts of New South Wales experienced the worst flooding in over 50 years, with record levels of rainfall. A number of communities were evacuated, displacing families from several towns and suburbs across the state. In response, lenders and government have rolled out financial support measures for businesses and households affected by flooding. Here’s a brief snapshot of flood relief packages and how to access them.

To help more Australians into their own home, the Victorian government recently announced investment that will fund a stamp duty concession of up to 50 per cent for residential property contracts from 25 November 2020 until 30 June 2021. In New South Wales, a proposal to change stamp duty was included in the budget, designed to help stimulate the economy after the COVID-19 recession. Read on to find out what these changes are and how they could impact home buyers in these regions.

Despite a lengthy lockdown in Victoria and the ongoing battle against COVID, all signs are pointing towards a more positive economic outcome than previously anticipated. Mortgage deferrals are down as more homeowners return to repaying their mortgage, unemployment in certain regions appears to be recovering to pre-COVID levels, and a new report has highlighted opportunities that some industries could capitalise on in the years to come.

Most people don’t like to think about making a Will or what will happen when they pass. But an effective Will is an important legal document that needs serious consideration. Without a Will, your assets will be distributed according to state law, which may not be in line with your wishes. So that you understand the importance of a Will and how to write one, take a look at these 5 things to consider when preparing a Will.

Earlier this month, the Federal Government handed down the 2020/2021 budget, which outlined a range of measures designed to get the economy moving again post-COVID-19. Amongst those measures announced were new write-offs for businesses and an additional 10,000 places in the First Home Loan Deposit Scheme, good news for many Australians. Below are some of the key measures of the 20-21 budget and what these might mean for you.

A surge in cyber-attacks, particularly in the financial sector, has been attributed to the recent shift to remote working and digital banking in response to the COVID-19 crisis. While most financial institutions have developed “good cyber risk awareness and mitigation measures”, it’s a timely reminder for anyone accessing online services just how important it is to be aware of cyber-safety. Here’s how you can protect yourself from cyber-attacks.

Living through a pandemic has changed most of us. From the way we work, to the way we communicate with those around us, to the things we used to do but can no longer do. Following on from last month’s article, which drew inspiration from Gilbert Enoka, this month Vicky Devine caught up with Christine Penford, top 10 Mortgage Express Finance Consultant for 2020. Christine shared her learnings from lockdown and we recorded an account of Vicky’s questions and Christine’s responses.