- Kids on the Coast

Transcription

- Kids on the Coast

- on the coast
- in the city
JULY 2015
Published by Mother Goose Media
www.mothergoosemedia.com.au
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Our Family Finances guide is all about being money savvy. You’ll find plenty of valuable
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to meal planning and having fun on a budget. Follow our step-by-step guide to create a
functional budget that will work for your family and teach your kids to be financially aware
and in control of spending and saving with our useful insights.
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DISCLAIMER: The information provided in this guide is intended to be general in nature and does not constitute personal financial advice. It is not specific to any
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6 the family budget
24 raising money savvy kids
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5
THE FAMILY BUDGET
THE FAMILY
BUDGET
by Sandra Smith
WHATEVER OUR FINANCIAL SITUATION, THERE’S NO TIME LIKE THE
PRESENT TO SET UP A BUDGET AND CUT BACK ON HOUSEHOLD SPENDING.
THIS WILL PREPARE US FOR ANY CHANGES THAT MAY LIE AHEAD ON A
NATIONAL OR A PERSONAL LEVEL.
SETTING UP A FAMILY BUDGET
Creating a budget for the first time and realising just how
much money is needed to cover even the basic bills can
be a shock. Is our spending greater than our income? If it
is, then we’re headed for a financial crisis.
Uniting Care Community financial counsellor Mark Bates
says the more realistic the budget, the better. While the
family budget doesn’t have to be carved in stone, Mark
advises that even if it’s basic, it gets us thinking about
our spending and our priorities.
Maintain a spending diary to keep track of expenditure.
Be honest and write down every expense, including
the small purchases. Those cappuccinos and takeaway
meals could be costing more than you think. “Spending
diaries are good because they make your budget
accurate and they also give you time to reflect on what
you’re actually buying,” Mark says.
The Raising Children Network website provides links to
budget planners and money guides.
SPENDING PRIORITIES
Mark says the most important priority for families is always
housing, followed by medication and keeping the electricity
and telephone connected. He says food is way down the
line, because there are charities that can help with that.
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“Once you’ve paid those four things, what you choose
to spend your money on is your choice, but you’ve got
to cover those four,” he says. “The first one, a roof over
your head, is the single most important thing. Go without
food if you have to, but pay your rent.”
People are much more savvy than they were three or
four years ago, says Mark. They have already switched
off the extra fridge or turned the air conditioning down a
notch, but the cost of living is still rising.
“If you look at the national figure, electricity usage is
declining; people are using less. Consumption is down
and prices are still up, and that’s what people are finding
frustrating,” Mark says. “Whatever they do doesn’t make
any difference; the bills are going up and up.”
Mark advises that the old-fashioned values that we were
brought up with actually still work, and he says that family
and friends are more important than the latest iPhone.
“Focus on the things that you need,” he says.
If we take a look at where our money is going and make
a few simple adjustments, we can spend less and still
live well. By changing our spending habits, we’re able to
get the bills paid on time and have the benefit of extra
cash, less stress and stronger family relationships.
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THE FAMILY BUDGET
THE FAMILY BUDGET
1. C HANGES TO CHILDCARE
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SUBSIDIES
From July 1, 2017, a new Jobs for Families childcare
package is expected to replace the Child Care Benefit
and Child Care Rebate with a single child care subsidy.
This subsidy will be paid directly to child care providers,
reducing upfront fees.
THINGS YOU
NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT THE
2015 FEDERAL
BUDGET
AND ITS IMPACT ON
YOUR FAMILY
by Shelley Marsh
THE 2015 BUDGET WAS A REAL MIXED BAG FOR
FAMILIES. HERE ARE THE FIVE MAIN AREAS
OF THE BUDGET YOU REALLY NEED TO KNOW
ABOUT – IF ALL OF THESE PROPOSED MEASURES
PASS THE SENATE, SOME FAMILIES WILL BE
BETTER OFF BUT OTHERS WON’T BE AS LUCKY.
The government estimates that the changes will save
working families $30 per week on average. Families with
an income of under $65,000 per year are guaranteed a
minimum of 12 hours subsidised child care per week with
85% of their child care costs covered, up to an hourly
fee cap. The subsidy gradually tapers to 50% for families
earning around $170,000 or more. There will be no
annual cap on the total amount of assistance provided
per child per year for families earning less than around
$185,000. Families earning around $185,000 or more will
have a $10,000 annual cap. This is $2,500 more than the
current Child Care Rebate annual cap per child.
However, the amount of subsidy that each family
receives is going to be subject to an activity test that is
tied to the amount of paid work, study or volunteering
that the primary carer does. The primary carer must work
or study for a minimum of eight hours per fortnight to
receive any child care support. The more hours worked,
the higher the subsidy will be.
Given the above activity test the big losers from this
reform are families with a stay at home parent. If their
family income is between $65,000 and $170,000 per
year they will lose the Child Care Benefit that they are
currently entitled to, with no compensation under the
new system. These families will have to pay the full cost
of child care without any government subsidy.
2. U SE OF SUBSIDIES ON
IN-HOME NANNIES
If you have a combined income of less than $250,000
and find it difficult to access mainstream childcare
services – because you do shift work, live in a rural
or remote area or have a child with special needs, for
example – you will be eligible to use your childcare
subsidies on in-home nannies. Payments will be paid
directly to the childcare provider. This is a pilot scheme,
commencing on January 1, 2016, and running until the
end of 2017, when it will be evaluated.
3. CHANGES TO FAMILY TAX
BENEFIT PAYMENTS
As of July 1, families where one parent earns more than
$100,000 will no longer be eligible for Family Tax Benefit
B. To fund the new childcare measures, the government
is looking to make some other changes including:
•Restricting Family Tax Benefit B to families with
children under six years. To help single-parent
families who receive Family Tax Benefit A and are no
longer eligible for Family Tax Benefit B, there will be
an additional annual payment of $750 for each child
aged between 6 and 12 years.
•Freezing the indexation on both Family Tax Benefit
A and B for two years (meaning the benefits won’t
increase with inflation).
•Abolishing the large family supplement which is paid
to those with four or more children.
4. PAID PARENTAL LEAVE
If you receive paid parental leave through your employer
you will no longer be eligible to receive payment
through the government funded scheme which is worth
a maximum of $11,538.90.
5. S MALL BUSINESS ASSET
WRITE-OFF
The government has announced an increase to $20,000
(up from just $1,000) to the limit for immediate asset writeoffs for small businesses with an annual turnover of less
than $2 million. This became effective on budget night
(May 12, 2015) and will run to June 30, 2017. This measure
came into immediate effect as Labor had already said it
would wave it though the senate without opposition.
However, it is expected that most of the other measures
will have a much tougher ride through the senate. As
we now know, many things that were announced in last
year’s budget did not make it through at all or certainly
not in the same form as initially announced. So, only time
will tell what the budget actually means for families.
A big thank you to Shelley Marsh from Money Mummy for permission to republish her post of May 21, 2015. Shelley is a mother of one and ex-stockbroker,
now helping families to make sense of their money with easy, practical, everyday money tips. You can visit her blog at www.moneymummy.com.au
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9
THE FAMILY BUDGET
THE FAMILY BUDGET
TIPS FOR SAVING
MONEY
by Sandra Smith
Australian families spend up to $1,900 per week on
general living expenses, according to the MoneySmart
website (www.moneysmart.gov.au) of the Australian
Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). The
biggest household expense for Australians is housing,
followed by transport and recreation. Some of our costs
are fixed, but we can look at saving money on variable
household expenses.
LOWER ENERGY COSTS - Reduce power bills by
turning appliances off at the wall when not in use,
switching off lights when you leave the room and
using the clothes dryer sparingly. Invest in insulation
to minimise cooling and heating costs for your home.
Install a water-efficient shower head, have two-minute
showers and wash clothes with cold water.
REVIEW LEISURE COSTS - Precious resources can
trickle away unnoticed on poor choices. You don’t
have to quit all the fun stuff, just reduce spending on
extras like alcohol, takeaway coffee and magazines.
Plan a picnic in the park, invite friends and family to
play cricket on the beach or sit down with the kids for
a game of Monopoly.
LIMIT SPENDING ON GIFTS - Set an affordable limit
for Christmas and birthday gifts and stick to it. Don’t
get caught up in a credit card spending frenzy; the
extra debt often takes months to pay off.
CUT GROCERY BILLS - Plan ahead and take a
shopping list to the supermarket to avoid impulse
buys. Buy generic brands and shop fortnightly to
pick up bulk-buy bargains. Support local growers by
buying fresh produce at a farmers’ market.
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COOK MEALS AT HOME - Take your lunch to work
and send the kids to school with packed lunches.
Look for recipes that use cheaper ingredients like
beans, vegetables and pasta, and try baking your
own biscuits and cakes if you have time. As well as
being economical, home-cooked meals are more
nourishing and tasty.
USE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORT - Cars are costly,
with insurance, registration and petrol on top of
financing costs. Combine shopping and business
errands into one trip or leave the car at home. Try
car pooling, walking, riding a bicycle or using public
transport instead.
GENERATE INCOME FROM YOUR HOME - Think
outside the square and look creatively for ways to save
some money at home. Plant vegetables in your backyard,
rent out that spare room, turn a home-based hobby into a
small business or start a weekend market stall.
RECYCLE - Declutter your home with a garage sale
and turn unwanted items into cash. Look for good
quality second-hand goods and make big savings.
Have a ‘fashion swap party’ with friends, where
clothes, shoes and jewellery can be exchanged and
shared with friends.
CHOOSE THE RIGHT MORTGAGE - Review your
mortgage every three to five years to capitalise on
the best rates.
REVIEW SERVICE PROVIDERS - Revisit your energy,
mobile phone and internet plans regularly to ensure
you get the best deal.
TOP TIPS TO
SAVE MONEY
› Turn appliances off at the wall
› Switch off lights when not in use
› Install a water-efficient shower head
› Wash clothes with cold water
› Plan your errands and save on petrol
› W
here possible leave the car at home: walk
or ride a bike
› Cut down on alcohol and coffee
› Have a garage sale
› Rent out a spare room
› Cook meals at home
› Take a packed lunch to work and school
› Buy generic brand groceries
› Go grocery shopping once a fortnight
› Support your local farmers’ market
› Limit spending on Christmas and birthday gifts
› Review your mortgage every 3-5 years
› Revisit your mobile, internet and energy plans
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MORTGAGE
MONEY SAVERS
Looking to save a few dollars or a few hundred each month? A good place to start is usually
with the typical family’s biggest expense – the mortgage.
CHECK OUT THESE TIPS:
Tip #1 – Improve your loan structure
This is probably more powerful than getting a lower rate. Depositing wages directly into the
mortgage or an offset account can massively reduce the amount of interest paid over the life
of the loan.
Using a 55 day interest-free credit card properly (ie. the way the bank does NOT want it to be
used) can compound those savings even further. Big warning – this needs to be done with a
high level of care. Getting this wrong can set someone back years.
Tip #2 – Consolidate all debts into one
Car loans, personal loans and credit cards usually have higher rates than the mortgage, so
consolidating them all into the home loan can save hundreds of dollars in interest every month.
Keep up the old payment amount so the debts are cleared as soon as possible.
Beware: Consolidating debts into the home loan and then making the minimum repayments
turns a 5-year car loan into a 25-year car loan.
Tip #3 – Get a better rate
Jumping ship or negotiating a lower rate with the current bank can make a massive difference
over a long loan term.
Tip #4 – Review your Good Debt vs. Bad Debt position
Negative gearing is a very generous perk available to investors, and buying an investment
property can sometimes help an investor pay off their owner-occupied home even faster.
It seems counter-intuitive that going into more debt could allow someone to be debt free sooner,
so knowing the ins and outs and making sure the accountant is on-board is an absolute must.
Tip #5 – Hate budgeting? Try accounting
Instead of projecting how much is going to be spent on different items in the coming month,
a better way of doing things may be to track what was purchased in the previous month to
see where the money actually went. Many banks now have free automatic expense tracking
software that makes this a breeze. Sorry…no more excuses!
Tip #6 – Get advice that benefits you
No one goes to a burger joint for dieting advice, but for some reason plenty of people go to
banks for financial advice. A good mortgage broker will help you set up your finances in YOUR
favour, not the bank’s.
Dave Hirst is a mortgage broker with a passion for education and debt reduction.
Contact Dave and his team on 07 5448 3880 for help with your finances.
www.pandanusfinance.com.au
12
What can Pandanus Finance do for you?
For starters, we make finance a breeze.
EDUCATE
• How does an offset account work?
• How can a credit card work for you?
• How quickly can I be debt free?
• How can I build a property portfolio?
• Good debt vs. bad debt
• Grants and concessions
COMPARE
• Hundreds of loans
• Over 30 different lenders
• Best deal with your current lender
MANAGE
• Application process from beginning to end
• Budgets
• Construction project management
• Debt Reduction
• Property reports
• Property investment analysis reports
No fees. Seriously, no hidden fees.
No sales tactics, no obligation, just great advice
that could save you thousands of dollars.
Dave Hirst Finance Specialist | P: 07 5448 3880 | E: [email protected]
www.pandanusfinance.com.au
Credit Licence: 391237
Representative Number: 400237
13
HOW TO CREATE
A FUNCTIONAL
FAMILY BUDGET
by Lara Cain Gray
NO MATTER HOW MUCH MONEY YOU HAVE IN THE BANK, JUGGLING THE
MANY COMPETING DEMANDS OF A FAMILY BUDGET CAN MAKE YOUR HEAD
SPIN. THE MORTGAGE OR RENT AND FOOD BILLS ARE JUST THE START!
YOU’VE GOT HEALTH, EDUCATION AND RECREATION TO CONSIDER, NOT
TO MENTION PUTTING A BIT AWAY FOR THAT PROVERBIAL ‘RAINY DAY’.
Luckily there are plenty of tips, tricks and online
resources available to help you finetune your finances
and take better control of your family budget. With a
few basic tools in place and some good financial habits,
you’ll be well on your way to understanding exactly
where your money is going – and where you’d really like
it to go in future.
WHY PREPARE A FAMILY BUDGET?
Preparing and sticking to a budget benefits your family in
several ways.
A good family budget provides an annual, monthly or
weekly snapshot of exactly where your money goes. It
can be as simple or as detailed as you like, but the more
effort you put in at the beginning, the easier it will be to
stay on track as your family grows and changes over time.
If you’ve never created a formal family budget, now’s the
time! If you have, be sure to revise it regularly as interest rate
changes, annual insurance premium increases and even
your family’s changing lifestyle will all impact your budget.
•It ensures you have enough money put aside to pay
your bills on time. This means you’ll avoid any late
fees or service interruptions and pay less interest on
credit cards.
STEP 1: TAKE STOCK
•It helps prevent accidental overspending. When you
have a clear idea of how much you require each
month for essential bills, you know how much you
have left over for little luxuries.
Include the following:
•It enables you to plan for emergencies. Consider
what would happen in the case of sudden illness
or unemployment? A good budget can help build a
savings ‘buffer’ for unexpected changes.
•It helps you work towards your big dreams. House
deposits, new cars and overseas holidays don’t just
happen! Use your budget to create a savings plan.
•It puts you in control. There is nothing more stressful
than feeling like money is just trickling through your
fingers and you have no power to stop it.
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STEP–BY-STEP BUDGETING
Think of managing your household in the same way as
managing a business. Any successful enterprise will do a
regular stocktake of income and expenditure.
• How much money is coming in?
• How much money is going out on essentials?
• How much is left over for added extras?
• What savings goals would you like to put in place?
To get your personal ‘stocktake’ started, just grab a
pen and paper and start brainstorming. Make a list
of all the things you ever spend money on, from the
big-ticket items, like your mortgage, down
to incidentals like birthday presents or
takeaway meals.
THE FAMILY BUDGET
STEP 2: DO YOUR RESEARCH
Once you have your quick list on paper, it’s time to back
it up with research.
We all have a figure in mind of how much we earn
annually, but when it comes to budgeting, it pays to know
exactly how much after-tax income actually hits your
bank account each month. Check your payslips, group
certificates or last year’s tax return for specific figures.
Similarly, go back through your essential bills and note
the exact amounts required. Consider your mortgage
or rent, utilities, transport, phone and internet plan,
insurances, school fees and any other payment that must
be made regularly.
Next, estimate how much you spend on groceries.
Check your bank account to get an idea of recent
purchases.
Finally, make a list of those added extras that may not
be ‘essential’, but which you’re not willing to go without.
Gym membership? A weekly meal out? Kids’ swimming
lessons? New shoes? If it’s a regular expenditure that
matters to you, it should be listed in your budget.
STEP 3: GET TO GRIPS WITH
TIME FRAMES
One of the most confusing aspects of creating a family
budget is working with time frames. Some of your bills
may be paid annually, whilst groceries may be a weekly
expense. Many people find it works well to base your
budget on your pay cycle.
For example, if you get paid fortnightly, plan your family
budget on a fortnightly basis. To do this, you may need to:
•break down monthly or annual bills into their
fortnightly amounts to get an accurate picture of your
overall expenditure
WITH A FEW BASIC
TOOLS IN PLACE
AND SOME GOOD
FINANCIAL HABITS,
YOU’LL BE WELL
ON YOUR WAY TO
UNDERSTANDING
EXACTLY WHERE
YOUR MONEY IS
GOING – AND WHERE
YOU’D REALLY LIKE IT
TO GO IN FUTURE.
•set fortnightly spending limits on groceries and
incidentals to avoid over-spending
•decide on an amount that you can comfortably
transfer fortnightly into a savings account to work
towards your long-term plans.
Luckily there are some great tools available to simplify
the maths!
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THE FAMILY BUDGET
STEP 4: CHOOSE YOUR TOOLS
Now that you have accurate data at your disposal, it’s
time to map your family budget.
There are several ways that you can create the actual
working document you’ll be using to assess and
maintain your financial plan.
Paper plans
An old-fashioned exercise or ledger book might be
all you need. If you’re happy to record your budget
manually and do the maths yourself, a paper-based
record system is a great place to start. Be sure to keep
all your work books carefully dated and securely stored.
An Excel spreadsheet
Many people already use Excel for work, and it’s usually
a free inclusion in the Microsoft Office package for
home computers. It allows you to create tables of data
that can be sorted by date, by labels or alphabetically.
Importantly, it can be set to automatically handle
calculations. There are plenty of free online ‘how to’
tutorials available for Excel if you’re new to it.
See support.office.com
Online planners
The Australian government offers an interactive
budgeting tool via the Australian Securities &
Investments Commission (ASIC) called MoneySmart. It
lets you enter expenditure details by category – food,
health, transport, etc – and calculates how much of
your income is left after bills. It can be sorted according
to a time frame that suits you – for example, annually,
monthly or fortnightly. See www.moneysmart.gov.au
Several of the leading banks and building societies also
provide online budget planning tools.
NAB: www.nab.com.au
Colonial First State: www3.colonialfirststate.com.au
Commonwealth Bank: www.commbank.com.au
TAP
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Making it mobile
Like every other avenue of our lives now – there’s an
app for this! Budgeting apps have the advantage of
being with you wherever your phone goes, which means
you can enter that coffee you bought on the way to work
or the exact amount of petrol you put in the car straight
into your budget tool for tracking.
TrackMySPEND is the award-winning, Australian
government authorised, personal budgeting app. This
handy tool includes a range of ways to create spending
limits and savings plans, and sends reminder text
messages to ensure you pay bills on time.
www.moneysmart.gov.au
Going pro
If you want to take your household budgeting to the
next level, there are sophisticated software packages
available that offer more comprehensive tools for
financial management. Small business software
like MYOB can work for home budgeting. Quicken
Personal, Microsoft Money and You Need a Budget
(YNAB) are other popular choices. Some banks allow
you to download your monthly transactions in a format
compatible with these software packages. Ask your
bank if they have a preferred program so you can take
advantage of any shortcuts.
STEP 5: SCHEDULE
REGULAR REVIEWS
If there’s one sure thing about life in a family, it’s that nothing
stays the same for long! As your children grow, your career
develops and unexpected expenses arise, be sure to keep
your budget up to date. Make a note in your diary or use
alert tools to schedule regular reviews of your budget.
It may seem like hard work at first, but maintaining a
family budget buys you more than just groceries! It
actually buys you the freedom to pay bills on time, save
towards long-term goals and avoid debt stress, which
can only mean a brighter future for your family.
TO VISIT
WEBLINKS
17
THE FAMILY BUDGET
THE FAMILY BUDGET
FINANCIAL
PLANNING
FOR FAMILIES
Contributed by Infocus Sunshine Coast
DO YOU NEED HELP IN SORTING OUT YOUR
FAMILY’S FINANCES? HAVE YOU EVER
WONDERED EXACTLY HOW A FINANCIAL
ADVISER CAN HELP YOU AND YOUR FAMILY?
WHY WOULD YOU TALK TO A
FINANCIAL ADVISER?
Your financial adviser should focus on your goals, what’s
important to you, and the services and strategies they
can offer you to meet your requirements and keep you
on track, rather than the products they can sell you.
The first appointment is usually at no cost and involves
you and the adviser working out if and how you can
work together. You may choose to get one-off advice
for a particular transaction or ongoing access to advice,
which may include regular information, implementation
of the advice, management and changes, regular review
and access to your adviser’s knowledge and expertise.
A financial adviser is required by law to issue you with a
Statement of Financial Advice (SOA). Consider reviewing
this document once a year to make sure it is still relevant
and your circumstances have not changed. It’s important to
stay actively involved with your plan and make adjustments
regularly to keep it working and relevant for you.
18
If you need financial advice because you’re having trouble
paying your bills or need to sort out your debts, a cash
flow plan can help. Financial counsellors and tools are also
available on the ASIC website www.moneysmart.gov.au
WHEN IS A GOOD TIME TO
START A RELATIONSHIP WITH A
FINANCIAL ADVISER?
When you are ready to take an active interest in your
financial wellbeing and willing to value the advice of a
professional to help you make changes is the perfect
time to consult a financial adviser.
A financial adviser can make a real difference in how you
handle your financial situation during any time of change,
whether it is a new baby, new job, new house, parents
retiring, making a will, new relationship, new business,
new partnership, pay increase, redundancy, child starting
school or child leaving home. It’s also a good idea to
consult an adviser before or soon after completing your
tax return so you are prepared for the year ahead.
SOME OF THE THINGS
YOU MIGHT DISCUSS
WITH A FINANCIAL
ADVISER INCLUDE:
› h
ow to structure your personal super within your current
fund, in order to meet your retirement or pension needs
› h
ow to protect your family income in case you get an
illness, have an accident or can’t work
› a ssisting with Centrelink, solicitors, accountants and
preparation of wills
› b
udgeting and investing options to grow wealth
› k eeping you accountable to yourself about your money
choices
› a ssistance with self-managed superannuation
› p
reparation for family changes like parents transitioning
to aged care or retirement
› b
usiness insurance for partnerships and individuals
› s avings plans for children’s education and future needs.
19
THE FAMILY BUDGET
The lump sum paid to Ashlee’s family from a trauma
policy covered part of the overall financial plan, paid
bills, covered mortgage repayments and provided cash
flow to hire a contractor to work in the business while
her dad had treatment, securing the family’s income to
concentrate on treatment and returning to work.
The impact of injury or illness, and how that can
disrupt our family’s lives and our entire future, is not a
conversation topic we usually identify with. With so many
families without adequate cover, unexpected financial
pressures on top of a serious health event can cause
significant strain at a very difficult time.
You may not want to think about what may happen to you
or your loved ones if you could no longer work, but you
should. You don’t want your family to suffer financially, but
by having the right protection in place you can prevent
your family from finding themselves in this predicament.
PROTECTING YOUR MOST
PRECIOUS ASSETS
It’s second nature to any parent to protect their family at
any cost. Despite our best efforts, we are all vulnerable
to illness or injury. It’s not an easy question to ask
yourself, but what would happen if your child suffered
a serious illness or accident? What impact would this
have on the family? Who would care for your child? What
about work? What about the bills? What about caring for
your other children?
Ashlee’s story highlights the valuable assistance a
financial adviser provides for families.
(Note: Names and circumstances have been changed to
protect the privacy of the family.)
Hi, my name is Ashlee. I’m 11 and I have a brother
William, 5, and a little sister, Natalie, 3. My Dad’s 42
and I don’t really know how old my Mum is because
she has been the same age for a long time.
Dad taught me how to ride a bike, how to swim,
how to do my times tables and read books. I love
to read and I love to listen to my Dad’s stories. I
think he’s smart because he runs his own business
which means Mum can take us to school and do
other things, and Dad can pick us up.
I love going to my Dad’s business because everyone
there is so friendly. The lady at the front desk always
20
smiles at me and sneaks me lollies, which I have
to share with my brother and sister. Dad said his
business was doing well so he bought a house and
saved money for us to go to school and on holidays.
To take the first steps to having a plan in place to protect
your family talk to a financial adviser – the benefits will
provide peace of mind.
The things that Steve did mean that we don’t
have to move out of our house and Mum doesn’t
have to go back to work while Dad is sick. Dad’s
business is still there too so we still get lollies. He
had special insurance and Steve looked after all
the things to get us money while we are with Dad
in hospital. Mum said it is just one part of Dad’s
plan and there are lots of other things in there too.
What’s important to you is important to us.
Infocus Sunshine Coast have been providing financial advice to
families and clients since 2001. The friendly team take the time to
listen and understand people’s needs, goals and dreams, and they
will tailor a plan to protect your family and look at options available
to achieve your goals. They will talk to you about where you are now,
where you wish to be, and agree on a plan to help you get there. If you
are ready to take that next important step in achieving your financial
goals and protecting your family’s future, contact Infocus Sunshine
Coast on 07 5443 4311 or email [email protected]
Infocus Sunshine Coast. Level 2, Cnr Maroochydore Road & Evans
Street, Maroochydore QLD 4558. Telephone: 07 5443 4311.
Email: [email protected]. Web: www.infocus.com.au
This information is of general nature only and neither represents nor intended
to be specific advice on any particular matter. Infocus securities Australia Pty
Ltd strongly suggests that no person should act specifically on the basis of the
information contained herein but should seek appropriate professional advice
based upon their own personal circumstances. Sunshine Coast Financial planning
ABN 34 133 955 is a corporate Authorised Representative of Infocus Securities
Australia Pty Ltd ABN 47 097 797 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 236523
trading as Infocus Money Management.
Your personal invitation to talk about you
My grandma made Dad go see her financial
adviser Steve when I was very little. My grandma
tells me now that Steve is a guy who helps people
and families how to plan stuff. Steve told me a few
years ago that he helped people to save money,
make money and protect money. I didn’t really
understand it at the time, but he said that I would
get it one day. Now I do.
My dad got cancer this year. It happened really
quickly and we spend a lot of time at the hospital
now. It was really sad, and we all cried lots and
we still do. My dad was so fit and never smoked or
anything. Grandma says that these things happen
sometimes, but we are lucky because we had
Steve to help us with the money we needed.
MORE INFORMATION INCLUDING A REGISTER
OF LICENSED FINANCIAL ADVISERS AND
THEIR QUALIFICATIONS IS AVAILABLE AT
www.moneysmart.gov.au
We understand how important it is for
you to protect your family’s future.
We would love to offer you a no obligation initial appointment
to discuss your current strategy, position, aspirations and any
opportunities that might be available to you!
Call 5443 4311 today.
www.infocus.com.au /sunshine-coast
Sunshine Coast Financial planning ABN 34 133 955 is a corporate Authorised Representative of Infocus Securities
Australia Pty Ltd ABN 47 097 797 AFSL and Australian Credit Licence No. 236523 trading as Infocus Money Management.
THE FAMILY BUDGET
21
THE FAMILY BUDGET
THE FAMILY BUDGET
SUPERANNUATION
FOR MUMS
by Eva Lewis
Did you know that the average woman’s super
retirement payout is 43% less than that for men? The
reasons are pretty obvious – women earn approximately
17.5% less due to pay inequality, women stop work to
start a family, some women work part time and women
live almost five years longer than men and therefore
have less money to look forward to. So superannuation
looks pretty dismal for mums, doesn’t it?1
The good thing is there are things mums can do to make
it hurt less and give their super balance a bit of a boost.
MAKE SMALL CONTRIBUTIONS
after-tax contributions to your super fund and in doing
this, may be eligible to claim a tax offset on their tax return.2
Note: A spouse can be married or a de facto partner of
the same or opposite sex. It does not include people
living away from each other permanently.
SUPER CO-CONTRIBUTIONS
As a low- to middle-income earner, mums could be
eligible for the government co-contribution scheme. If
you are eligible, the government will match your super
contributions up to a maximum amount. To be eligible,
you must meet the eligibility criteria.3
It’s all about going back to the drawing board, revising
the family budget and finding some extra dollars that
you can contribute to your superannuation. It’s a long
term thing, but small, regular contributions will go a
long way. In fact, CareSuper has a new calculator which
shows how making small changes today can make a
big difference to your retirement income. Alternatively,
MoneySmart also has a retirement calculator which helps
you determine the actions you can take to boost your
super and retirement income.
REASSESS YOUR SUPER
SPOUSE CONTRIBUTIONS
Mums definitely make sacrifices to raise children, one of
them being retirement savings, but the best thing you
can do is continue to be smart about your finances and
come out on top. Happy budgeting!
According to the Australian Taxation Office, if you
earn less than your spouse (an assessable income of
between $0 and $13,800), your spouse can make
How is your super fund looking? Where is the money
invested? Can you afford a more aggressive approach
or would you be better off selecting more conservative
investments while you are contributing less?
CONSOLIDATE YOUR FUNDS
It’s likely that you have more than one super fund. If that’s
the case, it means you’re paying multiple fees and could
be losing money. Consolidate your super funds into one
and channel the money into investments instead of fees.
This article was published first on The Multitasking Mummy and was sponsored by Care Super.
Eva is not only the digital editor at Kids in the City and Kids on the Coast magazines; she also writes a successful lifestyle
and parenting blog – The Multitasking Mummy. It’s here she writes about her busy world and motherhood, shares what she’s
learned and what she’s still learning. It’s a place of honesty and being real where she admits to being no super mum – just Eva.
The information provided is available from CareSuper and the Australian Taxation Office.
[1] Australian Taxation Office [2] Australian Taxation Office [3] Australian Taxation Office
22
23
RAISING MONEY SAVVY KIDS
RAISING A FINANCIALLY
SAVVY CHILD
by Jessica Jane Sammut
ADULTHOOD COMES WITH MANY CHALLENGES, WITH FISCAL ONES RIGHT
THERE AT THE TOP OF THE LIST. SO HOW DO WE ENSURE OUR KIDS ARE
FINANCIALLY SAVVY AND READY FOR THE BIG WIDE WORLD?
Parents of young children hear it all the time. ‘Can I have
this?’ It’s the catchcry of many a young child, and one that
sometimes works and sometimes doesn’t depending
on the suitability of the item in question, energy level
of hit-up parent and COST of the chosen toy/food/
random implement. There it is. The dreaded ‘C’ word.
And, whereas in the innocent world of our little cherished
bambinos, the word does not exist (or if it does, does not
have meaning), it totally does in the big wide scary grownup world. In fact, it not only exists, it pretty much goes to
the heart of every household decision made, and while
we all know that money doesn’t make you happy, a lack of
it can certainly make you hapless.
So, when is the moment that we pull our kids aside to
lecture them on the value of material things and how to
save/spend/invest wisely? And why is it so crucial to our
kids’ chances of adult success that we do?
WHY FINANCIAL SKILLS ARE
IMPORTANT
“Financial literacy is the foundation to a successful
and prosperous life,” explains Darren Eising, senior
financial planner at Elemental Wealth Management
(elementalwealth.com.au). “Just as with reading and
writing, kids need to acquire a solid understanding of the
fundamentals of finance, economics and investment in
order to do well in life.”
“From earning money, to spending money, to borrowing
to investing, and even to leaving a legacy, financial
understanding is crucial,” adds ‘Australia’s Money
24
Guru’, Michelle House. “It is important kids understand
the difference between NEEDS and WANTS, and the
consequences of poor money management.”
WHY LEARNING YOUNG IS
BENEFICIAL
“Children that learn about sound money management
when they’re young have the opportunity to build habits
– like saving and investing – that will stand them in good
stead throughout their lives,” explains Lacey Filipich,
founder and director of Money School, a financial
education program for families (moneyschool.org.au).
“These habits, if learned early, become second nature.
As children move into adulthood, they then don’t stress
about money as much because they are comfortable
with it and have a solid plan about how to manage it.”
“Financial awareness teaches kids about concepts such
as delayed gratification, fair exchange (the opposite of
‘entitlement’, a common complaint of today’s parents),
value of hard work, and planning ahead,” concurs Dr
Ash Nayate, clinical paediatric neuropsychologist. “The
earlier a child can learn such concepts, the better.
Ultimately, they become automatic.”
WHAT CHILDREN CAN
UNDERSTAND
So, what can kids cerebrally understand about the
fiscal opportunities of their world? Should we be talking
NASDAQ to them, or simply keeping the chat restricted
to pocket money terms and conditions?
25
“From about the ages of three to five, kids start to develop
an understanding of the transactional nature of money
(that money is exchanged for goods and services),”
reveals Dr Ash. “The understanding of the actual value
of money however, starts to develop at around the age
of seven or so, when kids begin to appreciate abstract
concepts (and money is a very abstract concept!). It is
then that children can work out the difference in money
magnitude, e.g. what can be purchased for $1 versus $2
versus $10. From the age of seven onwards, kids are then
able to grasp such notions as delayed gratification and
fair exchange, and so have a better appreciation for things
like earning money through chores, or putting money in
the bank where it can gain interest (i.e. spend now versus
save and spend more later).”
THE MAIN FINANCIAL CONCEPTS
CHILDREN SHOULD KNOW
Okay, we get it! Financial acumen is somewhat of a BIG
deal for our growing babies. But, what are the main
areas that children should be encouraged to grasp in
order to get ahead? Lacey reveals her top five Money
School concepts:
3. Active Earning
What it is: Trading time and effort for income, whether
it’s a wage, a commission or dividends from an
enterprise.
Why it’s important: This teaches delayed gratification
and the difference between wants and needs.
What age: From mid to late primary school.
How to teach it: Start with pocket money as an
illustrative example. Encourage your child to undertake
chores and activities for money. Set a good example by
actively earning yourself.
4. Investing (for passive earning)
What it is: Buying assets – things that increase in value
and provide extra income.
Why it’s important: Assets generate wealth. This
passive income supplements active income and is a
valuable revenue stream. Savings becomes worth less
every year (due to inflation) without investment, and the
1. Saving
What it is: Putting aside a part of a sum of money
earned/received, and not spending it.
Why it’s important: Savings are the seed of the
metaphorical money tree. Without savings, investment
cannot occur, and if a setback is experienced (e.g. an
accident, loss of job), there is no buffer.
What age: All ages. This can be done with any gifts your
child receives, even as an infant. Show them what you
do to save, then encourage them to do the same with
their pocket money and any income they receive.
How to teach it: Use a bank account or a piggy bank to
demonstrate how to save in real terms.
2. Planning
What it is: Mapping out income and spending.
Essentially, this is about understanding cash flow.
sooner kids understand the quicker they can start to
develop a wealth mindset.
What age: From late primary school.
How to teach it: The best way to teach this is by doing
it and including children in the process. Paper trading
for shares and playing Monopoly are great ways to
demonstrate such skills with low risk. Earning interest on
savings is the bare minimum, so get your child to monitor
their interest-bearing savings account at the very least.
5. Borrowing
What it is: Leveraging other people’s money (usually the
bank’s) to buy bigger assets.
Why it’s important: Debt can be risky, and too many
people get their first introduction to debt via a credit
card, which they then use to buy consumer goods (this is
bad debt). Applied wisely however, debt can be used to
generate more growth and passive income than can be
achieved with savings alone.
How to teach it: Include your child in setting and
monitoring the family budget.
26
How to teach it: Give children a loan from the ‘Bank
of Mum and Dad’. Ask them to present their case for
their loan (as they would have for a bank), charge them
interest, and repossess items if payments aren’t made.
Once the concepts have been grasped, the next step is
implementing practical approaches on a regular basis that
will help create a financially savvy child in the long run.
CHECK OUT OUR
SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER EDITION
OF KIDS ON THE COAST AND
KIDS IN THE CITY MAGAZINES
FOR AN EXTENDED LOOK AT THIS
TOPIC, INCLUDING PLENTY OF
PRACTICAL APPROACHES YOU
CAN IMPLEMENT WITH YOUR KIDS.
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they have with money - SAVE, SPEND, DONATE and INVEST
building money management techniques to last a lifetime.
family finances special
$19.95
PINK MONEY SAVVY PIGS
Why it’s important: To have control over one’s finances
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What age: From early primary school.
What age: From late primary school.
Also available in Red Green and Blue.
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Prices as marked. Promotion ends 31st August 2015. www.moneysavvykids.com.au
27
SAVING ON UTILITIES
SAVING ON UTILITIES
12
TRIED & TESTED
ENERGY SAVING TIPS
TO REDUCE YOUR
ELECTRICITY BILL
by Eva Lewis
THE UTILITY BILL THAT CAN OFTEN CAUSE THE MOST PAIN
(AND SURPRISE) WOULD HAVE TO BE THE ELECTRICITY BILL.
IT’S SO EASY FOR THE ELECTRICITY BILL TO SKYROCKET WHEN
ENERGY SAVING PRACTICES LAG IN THE HOME.
The good news is that your electricity bill doesn’t always have to be huge. You just have to follow some (or all) of
these tips and you are guaranteed to see a difference.
1.
Where possible, swap your light bulbs over to LED energy saving bulbs.
2.
Always turn the lights off when you’re not in a room.
3.
Use low wattage lamps in lounge rooms and bedrooms instead of higher wattage ceiling lights.
4.Turn everything off at the wall such as televisions, DVD players, radios and lamps. Avoid leaving anything
on standby.
5.Open up your house and let the breeze flow through during the warmer months instead of turning on the
air-conditioning system.
6.
Use ceiling or pedestal fans instead of air-conditioning.
7.When you do use the air-conditioning system, make sure curtains and blinds are drawn and every door
and window is closed including doors to bedrooms and bathrooms. Closing up ensures the cool air stays
in the main areas and the air-conditioner doesn’t have to work twice as hard to cool more space.
8.
Limit the use of the clothes dryer and use your washing line or clothes racks.
9.
Use your dishwasher during non-peak periods. Check with your electricity provider to find out when this is.
10. Sign up to the One Big Switch where you can potentially find a provider offering you a better deal.
11. Check the tariff on things like your pool pump or hot water system and ensure they are off peak tariffs.
12. Reconsider the second bar fridge – they can chew up a lot of electricity.
Eva is not only the digital editor at Kids in the City and Kids on the Coast magazines; she also writes a successful lifestyle
and parenting blog – The Multitasking Mummy. It’s here she writes about her busy world and motherhood, shares what she’s
learned and what she’s still learning. It’s a place of honesty and being real where she admits to being no super mum – just Eva.
28
29
SAVING ON UTILITIES
SAVING ON UTILITIES
SAVING WATER
REDUCING YOUR WATER CONSUMPTION IS GREAT FOR THE ENVIRONMENT AS
WELL AS FOR YOUR WALLET. THERE ARE MANY WAYS TO SAVE A LITTLE WATER
AROUND THE HOME – SOME QUICK AND EASY, OTHERS REQUIRING MORE
EXPENSE AND EFFORT. START WITH THE SIMPLE ONES AND GO FROM THERE!
IN THE BATHROOM
IN THE KITCHEN
•Use water efficient products including water efficient
showerheads and dual-flush toilets.
•Scrape off dishes before putting them in the
dishwasher, rather than rinsing them with water.
•Turn off the tap when you’re brushing your teeth or
shaving.
•If you like to rinse dishes after they’ve been washed
to remove any suds, then fill a second sink with
water to rinse them rather than rinsing under a
running tap.
•Use a shower timer to keep to four minutes or less.
If you love long showers and this seems too
extreme, start with five minutes and work your way
down from there.
•Keep a bucket in the bottom of the shower to catch
water and use it on your plants. Try to avoid catching
too much soapy water.
•And in the toilet… “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s
brown, flush it down!”
IN THE LAUNDRY
•Use a water efficient washing machine. This can
make a huge difference to the quantity of water used
for just one cycle.
•Use cold wash programs on your washing machine
as much as possible.
•Run the washing machine only when you have a full load.
•Collect grey water from the washing machine to use
on the lawn. There are different professional and
DIY systems available so do some research to see
what suits you best. Whatever system you use, make
sure you only use biodegradable laundry detergent
suitable for grey water use and ensure the grey
water is contained on your own property.
•Use a water efficient dishwasher and only run it
when it is full.
IN THE GARDEN
•Install a rainwater tank. There are many affordable
options available in a range of sizes, even to suit the
tiniest of yards.
•Divert run off spots in the yard into garden beds. This
works a treat capturing water that would usually end
up in your neighbour’s yard.
• Plant plants that require little watering.
•Only water plants when you need to, using laundry grey
water, tank water or water you’ve caught in the shower.
•Wash the car less often and use a quality pressure
washer when you do.
AROUND THE HOME
•Fix any drips or leaks straight away. Call a plumber if
you need help.
•One of our favourites… Having kids usually means
lots of half-empty water bottles. Create a new rule
at home to empty out water bottles onto indoor or
outdoor plants rather than down the plughole!
Do you have other water saving tips that you’d like to share
with other families? We’d love to hear from you via our
website or email at [email protected]
30
31
IS
IS YOUR
YOUR FAMILY’S
FAMILY’S
POWER
POWER BILL
BILL TOO
TOO HIGH?
HIGH?
WANT
WANT TO
TO KNOW
KNOW WHAT’S
WHAT’S
WASTING
WASTING YOUR
YOUR WATTS?
WATTS?
Looking to save a few dollars or a few hundred each month? A good place to start is usually Electricity prices
Looking
a few dollars
ormaking
a few hundred
each
month? bills
A good
placefor
to families.
start is usually
Electricity
seem to to
besave
continuously
rising,
increasing
electricity
an issue
The rising
cost ofprices
living can
seem
to be
continuously
increasing
bills an utilities
issue forand
families.
The to
rising
living can
be even
more
challengingrising,
whenmaking
juggling
rent, childelectricity
care expenses,
other day
day cost
livingofcosts.
be even more challenging when juggling rent, child care expenses, utilities and other day to day living costs.
We can all be guilty of having a million gadgets on all at once, but what’s really using all your juice and running
We
can all
be guilty
of having
up your
family’s
power
bills? a million gadgets on all at once, but what’s really using all your juice and running
up your family’s power bills?
To help reduce the sting of energy bills for low income households in Brisbane, the Reduce Your Juice
To
help reduce
theits
sting
energy
bills for low 2015.
income households in Brisbane, the Reduce Your Juice
program
launches
finalofround
in September
program launches its final round in September 2015.
What is Reduce Your Juice?
What
is by
Reduce
Your Juice?
Funded
the Australian
Government, Reduce Your Juice is an exciting pilot program designed to help low
Funded
by the Australian
Government,
Reduce
Juiceenergy
is an exciting
income families
use less power
and save
moneyYour
on their
bills. pilot program designed to help low
income families use less power and save money on their energy bills.
The fun, eight week digital program involves playing three juice-busting mini games, using ‘Powerhacks’ to
The
eight week
digital program
involves
playing
juice-busting mini games, using ‘Powerhacks’ to
savefun,
electricity
and completing
surveys
to earn
greatthree
rewards.
save electricity and completing surveys to earn great rewards.
Upon successfully completing the program, participants will randomly receive either a new barbeque or a
Upon
successfully
program, participants will randomly receive either a new barbeque or a
replacement
fridgecompleting
or washingthe
machine.
replacement fridge or washing machine.
It’s a great opportunity to get the whole family involved in saving energy and earning big rewards while you
It’s
a great
to get
the whole
familykids
involved
in saving
energy
and and
earning
rewards
while
you
reduce
theopportunity
burden of your
energy
bills. (The
will love
the mobile
games
evenbig
learn
a thing
or two!)
reduce the burden of your energy bills. (The kids will love the mobile games and even learn a thing or two!)
Testimonials from previous participants
Testimonials
previous
participants
I am incrediblyfrom
grateful
and thankful
and want to let you know what a great difference the wonderful rewards
Ihave
am incredibly
grateful
and thankful
and want
to let where
you know
whatbefore.
a greatThank
difference
the wonderful rewards
made in my
life, helping
me to save
electricity
I hadn't
you! SP
have made in my life, helping me to save electricity where I hadn't before. Thank you! SP
You have made my day, week, month and year! Thank you so much to all involved in such a great initiative. JM
You have made my day, week, month and year! Thank you so much to all involved in such a great initiative. JM
Loving this and excited with the awesome rewards! Great work Reduce Your Juice. KN
Loving this and excited with the awesome rewards! Great work Reduce Your Juice. KN
Who is eligible for Reduce Your Juice?
Who
eligibletofor
Reduce
Juice?
To beiseligible
take
part in Your
Reduce
Your Juice, participants need to:
To be eligible to take part in Reduce Your Juice, participants need to:
• be 18 to 35 years old
•• be
35 yearsLogan,
old Moreton Bay or Redland council areas
rent18intoBrisbane,
•• rent
Brisbane,
Logan,per
Moreton
Bay or Redland
earninless
than $41,500
year personal
income council areas
•• earn
than $41,500
per year
personal income
have less
a smartphone
or tablet
device.
• have a smartphone or tablet device.
When does the program start?
When
does
theofprogram
The final
round
Reduce start?
Your Juice kicks off at the end of September. Participation is limited with 650 places
The
final
round
of
Reduce
Your
kicks off
at the
ofquick
September.
Participation
is limited with 650 places
available. Registrations
close
21Juice
September
2015,
so end
get in
to secure
your place.
available. Registrations close 21 September 2015, so get in quick to secure your place.
How do I register?
How
do Imore
register?
Find out
and register now at www.reduceyourjuice.com.au
Find out more and register now at www.reduceyourjuice.com.au
Registrations close 21 September 2015. Places are limited, so sign up now to avoid missing out!
Registrations close 21 September 2015. Places are limited, so sign up now to avoid missing out!
32
33
SAVING ON FOOD
SAVING ON FOOD
14
WAYS TO SAVE
MONEY ON
GROCERIES
by Eva Lewis
1.Make a meal plan. You’ll know exactly what you need from the store before you go and there will be less
wastage.
MAKE A MEAL PLAN.
YOU’LL KNOW
EXACTLY WHAT YOU
NEED FROM THE
STORE BEFORE YOU
GO AND THERE WILL
BE LESS WASTAGE.
2.
Watch for specials in store brochures, and plan your meals around them.
3.
Make a list and stick to it. If it’s not on the list, don’t buy it.
4.Don’t shop when you’re hungry. That way you won’t be tempted to buy things that you don’t need (like
chocolate, ice cream…you know the things).
5.
6.Only buy things you know you’ll use. For example, if your family doesn’t like broccoli, don’t buy broccoli in
the hope that they’ll eat healthier this week.
7.
>> PRINT OUT
OUR MEAL PLANNER.
SEE PAGE 43.
Shop alone. Count on your bill being higher when you bring your spouse or children.
Keep your eyes on the items on the bottom shelf where the prices are lower.
8.Buy store brands when the quality is the same. Most of the time, it actually is the same product in a
different package.
9.Shop online! When you get to the checkout, you can review how much you’ve spent and delete any items
you think you can do without. You can’t do that at the checkout in store!
10.If you see a product on special but there are none left on the shelf, go to the service desk and ask for a
raincheck so the next time they get the product in you can purchase it at the same sale price.
11. Get your bake on! Instead of buying special treats like cake or biscuits, bake them yourself.
12.Instead of buying expensive yoghurt pouches for your kids, buy large tubs of yoghurt and put them into
reusable pouches.
13. Make your own baby food purees instead of buying pre-packed ones.
14. Buy meat and even particular fruit and vegetables when they’re on special and freeze them.
IT’S PRETTY EASY TO BE FRUGAL ONCE YOU REALIZE HOW MUCH
MONEY YOU’RE ACTUALLY SAVING WITH THESE SIMPLE STEPS.
KEEP A LOG OF YOUR GROCERY BILLS, SO YOU CAN SEE HOW
MUCH OF A DIFFERENCE YOU ARE MAKING.
34
35
SAVING ON FOOD
FORM A
SAVING ON FOOD
COOKING CLUB
TO SAVE MONEY (AND YOUR SANITY)
by Eva Lewis
WHEN A NEW LITTLE BABY ENTERS THE HOME OR WHEN LIFE SIMPLY GETS BUSY, THE
SHEER WEIGHT OF DOMESTIC WORK CAN BECOME QUITE HEAVY. IT’S ESPECIALLY HARD
WHEN THERE ARE NO FAMILY OR CLOSE FRIENDS TO CALL ON FOR A BIT OF HELP.
But even if we do have family or friends close by, it’s
never easy to ask for help. From the outside looking in,
it’s easy to assume that a family is coping and doing fine
when in actual fact, they’re just hanging on by tenterhooks
keeping everything running in the household.
The best way to overcome this? Put together a group of
mothers, perhaps your friends from school or playgroup,
to form a cooking club with the main goal being to help
each other ease the domestic load.
HERE IS HOW A COOKING CLUB
CAN WORK:
1.Get together in one mum’s home and cook one big
batch meal.
2.At the end of the cook, each meal is shared out
between each mum.
3.The result is each mum goes home with a range of
freshly made dinners for the week ahead.
WHAT TO BRING:
• All ingredients to cook your meal
• All kitchen utensils needed to cook your meal
• Takeaway containers for your booty!
GENERAL TIPS:
•Don’t overthink how much the meals will cost
because it all works out fine in the end. If you are
concerned, come up with a list of possible meals that
all cost about the same each week which each of
you can cook for that session.
•Talk about food values right at the outset, eg.
vegetarian, mainly organic, on a budget.
•You need only one other mum in the cooking club to
feel the full benefits of the concept.
•Keep the size of the group relatively small – four is a
great number.
•Don’t worry if you have small kids – everyone pitches
in to look after each other’s children.
•Only have a small kitchen? Simply organise for some
mums to bring their big batch meal already prepared and
cooked. Also, some mums might not need the stovetop
at the exact same time so alternate. One might use the
oven while one uses the stovetop. Maybe you don’t
need the stove top at all – consider meals that don’t
need cooking such as Vietnamese spring rolls.
•Working outside of the home? Invite a couple of
mums over in the evening with a big batch meal each
already prepped and cooked. Have a glass of wine
and divide the batches later in the evening.
WHY COOKING CLUB WORKS:
• Mums get some time off making dinner every single
night to do other things – at a time of day when she
is absolutely cream-crackered!
•
Mums form a tight-knit community and deep,
meaningful friendships through cooking together.
The groups can often morph into other forms of
working bees, eg. when a family is moving house.
There is nothing that breaks the ice more than rolling
up your sleeves together and getting up to your neck in flour and eggs!
• Children get to try out other people’s cooking and
see the power of community in action. They become
involved in food preparation and learn new skills.
This idea was originally shared by MamaBake.com on The Multitasking Mummy
36
37
SAVING ON FOOD
QUESTION POSED BY KIDS ON THE COAST & KIDS IN THE CITY
HOW DO YOU GET YOUR
GROCERY BILL UNDER CONTROL?
OUR READERS HAVE THEIR SAY ON OUR FACEBOOK PAGE…
KIDS ON THE COAST/KIDS IN THE CITY: I’d have to say that
cutting down the cost of my grocery spend is one of my toughest
challenges. For two adults plus a child and dog, each shop is a
lot more than it should be...probably around $350 a fortnight
including meat, fruit & veg, toiletries, etc.
CHRISTINE:
As a family with six
kids, we only buy
generic brands for
everything!! Saves us
a lot of money!!
ROSE: Learn to cook from scratch
and practise good knife skills to limit
waste. Make sure everything in your
trolley has a nutritious value...cut
down on junk to cut down on bills!
Buy bulk, batch cook and freeze in
individual portions then once every
couple of weeks have a freezer
potluck where kids can pick any of
those meals for their dinner.
38
NICHOLE: We have
to shop monthly so this
saves as a lot. We also
do a fortnightly shop to
markets for fruit
and veg.
KELLY: We do a menu
for the week (lunches and dinners)
and make a shopping list of what we
need before we shop and then only buy what’s
on the list. We also try to buy any of the items we
need in the brands that are on special. We spend
about $200 (average) per week for two adults, two
young kids and one dog. This shop also includes things
like wash detergents, toiletries and sometimes treats.
We do all our shop at Coles (except nappies, which we
buy from Aldi). I have set out a full monthly budget
for our household (up to six months budget in
advance) that covers every bill and expense
we have from the small ones like Myki
and fuel through to the big ones like
electricity, rent and even
rego.
NANCY: MEAL PLANNING!!!
And roll-over meals. It really isn’t that
hard, you just need to put a little time into the
planning phase. A roll-over meal is, for example, a
roast chicken on a Sunday, that then becomes fresh stock
that night, then the leftover chicken meat is rolled over to
risotto the next night. I make a two-week rotating menu. No
waste either, so if the week’s menu has a cauliflower, I make sure
across the seven meals it is all used. I keep a spreadsheet of all the
menus, which then forms my shopping lists. I buy EXACTLY what
I need. I don’t get sucked into buying other things in the shop
just because they want you to. It does take a little time to sit
and plan out, but once you have it sussed its easy. Also make
sure your busy evenings are easy meals. So I might use a
slow cooker meal for a night I am busy. That meal is
prepped (meat browned, onions reduced) the
night before or that morning so it can all
be slow cooked ready for when
we get home.
LUCY:
My husband
does body building so
just his food bill a week is
on average $400!! Then there
is food for our two children and
myself + formula + nappies +
wet wipes + everything else
so if this can help to save
some $$, I’M IN!!!!
HAVE YOUR SAY.
VISIT OUR
FACEBOOK PAGE.
CHRISTINE:
I don’t even try
… it all just seems
too hard!
TANYA: Cooking meals
from scratch and not using packets
is the way to go and it also tastes
better. My trolley each week looks
very different to many trolleys at the
checkout as mine is filled with fruit,
vegies, meat, and the basics like eggs,
cheese, milk, butter, flour, etc. not preprepared and processed packaged
foods – if you make the change
you won’t look back.
MARTHA: Our bill is about
$420 a fortnight with the same
number of people. I buy only
healthy food and can’t seem to
get the bill down no matter how
hard I try. I do my shop at Coles
so am going to try a mix of Aldi
and Coles to see if it brings the
price down.
CHRISTY: I was told once to
“shop around the edges” of the
supermarket. That’s where the
meat, vegies, dairy sections are. All
the packaged stuff is in the centre.
Obviously you do need to venture
into the centre but try to stick to
the outside.
MISCHA: Online
shopping. I spend
about $50 a week
less because I am
not browsing the
aisles!
39
SAVING ON FOOD
MEAL
PLANNING
FOR FAMILIES
by Nancy Cotton
WHY MEAL PLAN?
HOW TO MEAL PLAN
It saves time. Shopping just once a week prevents
the quick stops to grab dinner on the way home.
Knowing exactly what to cook every night also saves
time in the kitchen.
Like most great things in life, meal plans need a little
work. First and foremost is the desire to do it and belief
that it will work. Get the family involved, and explain
that things are going to be a little more structured in the
kitchen and shopping department from now on.
It saves money. Shopping with a list and buying exactly
what is needed prevents the unnecessary visits for one
or two items, which usually result in half the weekly shop.
It gets the family involved. While planning the meals,
other members of the family can pick out favourites to
add to the planner.
It helps keeps a balanced diet. Planned correctly,
having an overview of the week mapped out can help
ensure there is good balance and nutritious meals.
It helps with family organisation. On evenings that
are notoriously busy due to family commitments, meal
planning allows for ‘quick & easy’ meals on those nights.
THE PLANNING PHASE
BUILDING THE MEAL PLANNER
•Write the days of the week across the top of the meal
planner, starting with the shopping day. This is day
one of the meal plan.
•The meal ideas should be starting to take good
form now.
•Add any family commitments under the days,
allowing for ‘quick & easy’ meals if needed on
evenings when rushing from children’s activities adds
extra pressure.
•Start with a one-week plan. As confidence builds add
new and different menus each week.
•For families where partners work away, there might be a
completely different meal plan for the weeks where the
family are together. This is the beauty of meal planning
– being able to pick a menu that suits that week.
CREATING THE MEALS
•On a spare piece of paper begin to jot down family
favourites that must go on the menu.
•Look out for where ingredients can be used with
other meals, leaving no waste. For example, the
cauliflower from Sunday’s roast could be made into a
cauliflower cheese with another meal.
•Once the meals are established, write them all under
the days of the week.
•Be mindful of buying produce such as fish, as it might
need to be eaten soon after purchase, so factor such
details into the meal plan.
•The ‘quick & easy’ meals or meals that involve the
slow cooker are best placed on the nights where
family commitments play a part.
BUILDING THE SHOPPING LIST
First time meal planners might need about an hour to
write a comprehensive meal plan and shopping list.
However, like anything, with a bit of practice it will be
much quicker (about 20 minutes) to write them down the
track, plus you’ll be creating a great collection of meal
plans for any given week in the future.
•It’s a great opportunity to get extra input from older
children now.
•Check over all the ingredients needed for the meals,
and start to list them on a shopping list next to the
meal planner.
•Start to identify where one meal can become two,
such as buying a large tray of mince for bolognese,
which can then be split and used for beef patties,
meatballs or a mince and vegetable pie.
•Prevent under-buying or over-buying by carefully
working out ingredients that fall across multiple
meals. If three onions are required for various meals,
write onions x 3.
If creating recipes comes easy, then great. If not, then there
are plenty of recipe books and websites out there to help.
•As a meal is decided, start to write down EVERY
ingredient needed under it.
To get started it’s a case of grabbing some cookbooks or
websites, a couple of sheets of paper and a pen.
•Identify ‘roll-over’ meals – a fancy term for ‘leftovers’.
For example, if Sunday’s dinner is a roast chicken, buy a
chicken and pumpkin large enough to roll-over. Roast it
all, then save any leftover meat and some pumpkin. Boil
up the chicken carcass for stock, and now Monday’s
dinner can be a beautiful chicken and pumpkin risotto
with homemade stock. Two meals from one!
•Part of the shopping list will build pantry staples such
as herbs, seasonings, etc. These keep and will not
be required each week.
It builds skills in the kitchen. There may be a need to
start getting creative and think of more than one way to
cook an item, so coming up with new recipes builds a
cooking repertoire.
40
SHOPPING JUST ONCE A WEEK PREVENTS THE
QUICK STOPS TO GRAB DINNER ON THE WAY
HOME. KNOWING EXACTLY WHAT TO COOK
EVERY NIGHT ALSO SAVES TIME IN THE KITCHEN.
•After the items needed for the meals are listed, start
to add the other items normally purchased such as
nappies, milk and bread.
•The idea is this one piece of paper is the complete
‘Meal Planner’ and ‘Shopping List’ and can be kept
on the fridge, ready for shopping day.
41
42
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
SUNDAY
DAIRY
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
MEAT
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
GENERAL
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________ ____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
DOMESTIC
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
KIDS / ANIMALS
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
____________________
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR
WAYS TO SAVE ON YOUR
GROCERY BILL
Nancy Cotton lives on the Sunshine Coast and like so many of us has a busy life. Nancy works four days a week as an office manager
for a Sunshine Coast mortgage broker and in her ‘other job’ she is a mother of two to 4 year old Joseph and 2.5 year old Annecy.
She spends her spare time studying and is currently working towards a communications degree. Her newfound loves are her chickens
and the vegie patch. Often she is flying solo as her husband is a FIFO worker, so meal planning is without a doubt her saviour.
TIP
Buy online – Most supermarkets charge a delivery fee
– roughly $11. However if the cost of petrol getting there
and back, or saving your sanity by not taking the children
to the supermarket offsets this cost then it’s worth it.
MEALS
Buy in bulk – It doesn’t need to be on the scale of
planning for a zombie apocalypse, but if there is a
special on an item which is a regular purchase, then buy
the extra item to get the discount. If it is meat, separate it
and freeze it. If it’s non-perishable, then just store it.
Shop late – Often supermarkets sell items at a reduced
price that need to be sold that day, usually it’s a ‘fill a
bag of veg for $3’ scenario. Find out what time the local
supermarkets do this (usually around 4pm), and take
advantage of it if possible.
(e.g. swimming, soccer)
Online search engines – If recipe inspiration is an issue,
the internet is an excellent place to work out how to use
excessive random tins in the pantry. If you have a tin of
chickpeas, type in ‘recipe ideas using chick peas’ for
some great ideas.
Home grown – If space isn’t an issue then growing fruit
and vegetables is a great way to reduce food bills. If
space is a problem, then growing a few herbs in patio
pots is an alternative. Fresh herbs add great flavour and
a small packet can cost a lot in the shops, so work out
the regular ‘go to’ herbs and try growing them.
COMMITMENTS
Bananas – Kids can be so fussy when it comes to
bananas: too green – no good, too many spots – no
good. So peel them, bag them and freeze them. They
are excellent for baking with once defrosted.
Eat seasonal – If it isn’t brussels sprout season, then
don’t have them on the menu. Eat only what is in season.
Adjust meal plans accordingly to deal with out of season
price hikes.
WEDNESDAY
Bread – Again, buy extra and freeze it. Sometimes
frozen bread isn’t as nice for the sandwiches for school,
so think of alternatives for when the bread has run out.
Wraps last longer in the fridge and pantry and can add
great variety.
Slow cookers – These are brilliant for busy families.
However often a little bit of work is needed to prep the
meal. So make the effort, brown off the meat, reduce the
vegetables and throw all the ingredients in. The prep
may take five or so minutes, which can be done the night
before or that morning, but is well worth it.
TUESDAY
Milk – Probably the one thing that has people popping
to the shops, which results in extra purchases. The
answer is to buy extra and freeze it. The 2- & 3-litre
containers freeze nicely and can be taken out the day
before to defrost.
MONDAY
OTHER HELPFUL HINTS FOR
SAVING MONEY IN THE KITCHEN
Shop around – If shopping around isn’t a problem then
there are deals to be had. Using the local farmers market
for fruit and vegetables is a great way to shop and the
quality speaks for itself, so set routines and shopping
around this if possible.
WEEK DAYS
•Where there is a special on an item that could be
used the following week, such as a ‘buy one, get
one half price’ offer, it may be more economical to
purchase extra and freeze or store until needed.
MEAL PLANNER
•Buy what is on the list and ONLY on the list (except
where the point below is valid).
- in the city
• The number one rule – TAKE THE LIST.
Do the maths – Often there are specials that may look
like a special but aren’t, such as one packet of 24 toilet
rolls on special for $12 compared to three packets of
eight rolls for $11. Sometimes you have to work out the
best deal; it may only be a dollar, but it’s a saving.
- on the coast
TIME TO SHOP
FILL OUT AND
TAKE THIS LIST!
SHOPPING LIST
SAVING ON FOOD
HAVING FUN ON A BUDGET
FUN ON A
FREE
ENTRY
BUDGET
by Christine Humphreys
Sticking to a budget doesn’t mean that all the fun has
to stop. By looking for deals and taking the time to do
some research you will find activities for the whole family
to enjoy. You’ll find your local area offers plenty of things
to do for free or at a low cost, and the major attractions
usually offer generous value for money deals.
Creating a great low-cost day out is rewarding in itself.
Here are some ideas to get you started.
CHEAP AND CHEERFUL!
We live in such a beautiful part of the world that we are
spoilt for choice when it comes to natural attractions
such as our beaches, rivers and bushland. Here are a
few other local activities that will get you out exploring
and having fun in no time:
•Get onto your council website and investigate the
resources and events at your local library, botanical
garden, museum or gallery. Each of these places will
offer free or low cost workshops and sessions for
children and families.
•Charity stores are a treasure trove of wonders for
parents and kids! Set a budget – $2 should cover it –
or create a treasure hunt list of items to spot.
•Go fishing. Many seaside towns offer a hire service
for all the gear you will need or borrow the basics
from a friend.
• Wander through your local farmers markets.
•Go strawberry picking. With no admission fees, you
can choose to buy a punnet or pick your own.
•Find out where the local wildlife spends their
time. Feeding dolphins at Tin Can Bay or spotting
kangaroos at the University of the Sunshine Coast
are activities kids will love.
44
•Take a scenic drive, pack a picnic and spend the day
exploring.
•Visit a working farm like Maleny Dairies, and if the
budget stretches take in a tour.
•Go on a modern day treasure hunt and try your hand
at geocaching. You can download an App or create
an account online at www.geocaching.com.
•Bunnings offer free Kids D.I.Y workshops each
weekend. There is a different theme each week
from garden and woodworking to paint, mosaics and
recycled wall art.
DO THE LOT!
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•Find out where your local BMX track is for an off-road
adventure the whole family can enjoy.
•For the aviation enthusiast find a safe spot to park at
your local airport and spend a few hours plane spotting.
If you are taking photos remember to turn off the flash!
•Go to your council’s website and look for your local
community garden. You can spend some quiet time
with the kids investigating the plants, and you may
even find yourself a new hobby.
•Jump aboard a train, bus or ferry for a short trip to a
new town and wander its streets.
•Type Brisbane Public Harvest into your search
engine. This map provides a list and the location of
fruit trees on public land. Then go foraging with the
kids in search of edible treasure!
•Make a list of playgrounds in your area and go ‘park
hopping’. There are some hidden gems within new
housing developments.
MORE ON
NEXT PAGE
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Bookings 5491 0800
45
VALUE FOR MONEY
Theme parks and zoos have some great value offers on their yearlong memberships plus specials for midweek visits. Be
sure to check the minimum age required to buy a ticket as some places offer free entry for children under a certain age.
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SUNSHINE COAST
The Ginger Factory
With free admission you are onto a winner already.
The VIP pass is just $35 and covers unlimited rides on
Overboard and the Ginger Train and other exclusive
offers. The Ginger Factory also offers free kids
entertainment each school holiday.
Aussie World
Check out Tiny Tots Tuesday which runs during the
school term weekdays from 9am to 12pm. Adults and
children under 5 years will pay just $10 each with a free
coffee included for adults.
Australia Zoo
If you visit the zoo just twice in twelve months you will
save money with their annual pass. Pack a picnic if the
budget is tight. Enjoy the ultimate wildlife adventure all
year round, with adult membership for $99 and child
membership for $59.
46
Sea Life Mooloolaba
Become an annual pass holder to receive unlimited
entry to Sea Life Mooloolaba. This pass is on sale for
$49.50 for the kids and $72 for adults. Another great
offer is their weekday special for $20 which covers one
adult entry, one child entry for 3 years and under, and
one hot drink from their café.
Queensland Zoo
Wander through the rainforest parks, discover Australian
native animals and enjoy the complimentary BBQ facilities.
Queensland Zoo offers a family annual pass for $239 or
individual adult pass for $79 and child pass for $49.
MORE ON
NEXT PAGE
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BRISBANE - SUNSHINE COAST - GOLD COAST
kidsinthecity
magazine.com.au
www.kidsinthecity
GOLD COAST
BRISBANE
Dreamworld
Dreamworld’s Unlimited World Pass includes entry
to Dreamworld, WhiteWater World and Skypoint
observation deck. Adults are $109.99 and kids $89.99.
Sea World, Movie World and Wet‘n’Wild
With three great membership options to choose from, each
featuring different levels of access, you’ll find the perfect
membership to meet your family’s needs. Purchase a
membership with low monthly instalments starting at just $9
a month or prepay to get one month free!
Paradise Country
Life on the farm is great fun for kids of all ages, and just
two visits will more than cover the cost of your annual
pass at $49.99 for adults and $29.99 for children.
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary
Currumbin Wildlife Sanctuary is voted one of
Queensland’s most popular tourist destinations, allowing
amazing up close and personal interactions with native
Australian wildlife. They offer both 6-month and 12-month
passes from $69 for adults and $53 for children.
Lone Pine Sanctuary
Cuddle a koala, hand feed kangaroos and encounter a
large variety of Aussie wildlife. Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
offers an annual adult pass for $56 and a child pass for
$36 which also includes some great discount offers.
Sir Thomas Brisbane Planetarium
The planetarium offers free entry and multi-ticket
discounts with their three show pass, costing $35 for
adults and $21 for children.
Sciencentre
Become a MyMuseum member and enjoy a year of
fantastic benefits to help you create your very own
museum experience. At $120 per family, $39 per adult or
$30 per child, the membership includes unlimited entry
to the Sciencentre, 10% discount on food and purchases
plus 10% discount on entry to other museums in the
Queensland Museum Network.
The Workshops Rail Museum
This annual pass offers museum entry for 12 months
including all events and exhibitions, 10% discount at
the shop and café plus 10% discount on entry to other
museums in the Queensland Museum Network. Choose
a family pass for $126 or individual passes at $42 for
adults and $24 for kids.
Images courtesy: Tourism and Events Queensland
48
E
pril 2015 BRISBAN
ISSUE 10 March/A
TAKING
A STAND
r
Battle of the bystande
Reclaiming the lost
years of girlhood
GOLD COAST
ISSUE 57 July/August 2015
m.au
www.kidsonthecoast.co
www.kidsontheco
ast.com.au
» take me home
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e 2015 SUNSHINE
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Tackling teen truancy
Raising an entrepre
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Talking about the news
Inspiring creativit
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Creative classroo
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How to grow a
A spark for science
When mind & body don't
match
Trusting your teen
green kid
Entertaining and informative, packed full
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- on the coast
- in the city
www.kidsinthecitymagazine.com.au
Published by Mother Goose Media - www.mothergoosemedia.com.au

- Kids on the Coast

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