Credit Simple
Let’s have a quick talk about the meaning of life. Well, maybe not the whole nine yards, but do you have moments in your cubicle when you wonder if the way you’ve got your life planned is the smartest way to go at it. What are your plans for financial security, and where do you hope to be when you retire? And how soon do you want it to happen? Here’s an unnerving thought: is it possible your plans for…
read more
Once upon a time I used to head to the nearest bakery or fruit shop for cheap lunch. A 50c bread roll or banana was sustenance enough to keep me going until I got home to have a decent balanced meal. Bit by bit over the years my bun and fruit habit evolved into buying $10 packs of sushi when I’m caught short without a packed lunch. Why? Because like virtually every person alive I can fall into ‘lifestyle inflation’.…
read more
Debt’s bad, right? No, it’s good. Okay, okay. It depends on the situation. Debt’s good if it has a positive effect on your financial future. It’s bad if you’re buying unnecessary stuff and falling behind financially. Good debt Debt can be an investment. But before you tell your mates you’ve ‘invested’ in a new surfboard or the best winter coat ever, read on. Good debt is something that you will make money from. Here’s how: 1. Home loans Homes go…
read more
You’re young, single and on a budget. It’s hard being a ‘yadult’ sometimes. But life’s a lot more fun if you’re not stressing about the power being cut off. Take some tips from others’ mistakes and skip the ‘shoulda known better’ stage of your financial future. Here’s how: Have a spending plan. That’s a budget, but if you think of it as spending plan it doesn’t feel like a torture device. The idea is that you get a pen and…
read more
Vitaliy is our Systems Developer and he’s a total dev ninja. Vitaliy enjoys DIY, reading, and top-notch snacks, but draws the line at eating one of his team members. (Thanks, Vitaliy.) What does a day in the life of you at Credit Simple look like? Wake up at 6.15am. Catch a train at 7.05am. Arrive at 8am, have a coffee and a biscuit. Programme until lunch, have a lunch and a bit of walk. Programme till finish work at 5pm. What do…
read more
It can be a dry old topic, personal finance, and it can sometimes inspire feelings of sadness due to one’s lack of savings, which is why I used to imagine it might be more fun to work in in banking pocketing ludicrous bonuses for throwing around other people’s money while sustaining a truly ludicrous social life possibly due to illicit substances. Unfortunately, I have since worked for a bank and I didn’t once get to roll around in piles of dosh…
read more
The concept of ‘monkey see, monkey do’ is alive and well in Aussie families, and that includes when it comes to our parents’ habits with money. When parents behave badly with money, guess what their children do? As a parent, your role modelling is one of the most powerful indicators of how well your children will survive financially. Whether your children are two or 20 you can set them a better example. Don’t see money and spend it Do you see money…
read more
You’ll often hear people say that you shouldn’t go to university unless you know what you want to study and how you’ll use it in a job later on. I disagree; I think all university study is useful in one way or another. It’s not just a degree – it’s a formative experience – and I personally don’t think it’s ever a waste of money, time or effort. But I’m speaking from the point of view of having got my…
read more
Before we had the Kardashians to keep up with (yes, there was life before the Kardashians), we kept up with the Joneses. The Joneses were more figurative than literal and didn’t have their own TV show; they represented the people next door who owned more (and better) gadgets than you. The Joneses and the Kardashians – along with social media, celebrity culture and reality TV – are responsible for creating the #YOLO attitude: You Only Live Once. It’s a lifestyle…
read more
Getting a zero credit score can be a bit of a shock. If they were emojis, it would be a bit like this guy. But don’t worry, you can turn your emoji frown upside down with a few fixes. But first, a bit about why you got a zero score. For 85% of people with zero scores, they’ll have a default or a bankruptcy on their file. This is the major problem: not paying your bills. Lenders want to know…
read more