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SmartyPig Blog

31 January 2010 • Posted by Sarah Robotham: Beating the back to school blues; Finally, the kids have returned to school...and not before time! Keeping your kids entertained and amused for what seems like an eternity can be challenging but you've made it through another summer holiday. Bravo. And now that the fees are sorted, uniforms purchased and text books acquired, surely all the big school expenses are ticked off for another year. Surely? Hate to be the bearer of bad tidings, but best you think again. This, as they say in the classics, could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Now's the time to start thinking about those unexpected expenses that will almost definitely creep up on you during the year. The ones that make your mouth go dry as you stare in disbelief at yet another request that, inevitably, has a cost attached. Like the school excursion. If you're lucky, the class will just be heading down the street to check out some icon of historical significance. Perhaps it's the school ski trip to another state. Or heaven forbid, the French class is jetting of to Paris for an intensive few weeks embedded within the French culture. Mon Dieu! How about the school formal? If you've been keeping up with the Jones', you'll be well aware of the expectations of all those lovely young things who've got their hearts set on the perfect dress, shoes and hair. And don't forget the transportation....(did someone mention a stretch Hummer)? Then there's every parent's nightmare, Schoolies Week. Yes, before you know it, November will be here and you'll be desperately seeking funds for airfares, accommodation and, well, let's not think too much about it. And who could forget the bond you may have to put up before Junior takes up residence in high-rise luxury on the Gold Coast for that must have, cannot miss week of partying. And what about the costs of all those extra-curricular activities? Whether it's the maths tutor, swim squad, piano lessons or acting classes, it all adds up. And up. And up.

You've got to admit, having kids is an expensive exercise! But there is a way to avoid some of those unexpected surprises throughout the school year by taking a little pre-emptive action now. Do some research about what's likely to crop up during school term and start planning now. Search online or ask other parents and teachers for their experiences so you can get the big picture of what you might be up for and when. Then draw up a budget and see what you can feasibly put aside on a regular basis, just to help lessen the financial blow when the time comes.

Finally, don't think it's all up to you. This is a great chance to get the kids thinking about all things financial, what it takes to set a goal and start saving for it. So whether it's a new pair of footy boots in time for the season, a pair of designer shoes at Formal time or a trip to Schoolies Week, give your kids the opportunity to make a contribution. They'll get the satisfaction of knowing they saved hard for something they really wanted...and you won't have to chip in as much! See, everyone wins.

Until next time
Team SmartyPig.; Tags: back to school • smarty pig • school expenses • children expenses • kids expenses
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19 January 2010 • Posted by Sarah Robotham

January. So many good intentions, so little time. Question is, where do you begin? By the time you've joined the gym, signed up for the latest and greatest diet program, scored a few bargains at the sales and re-vamped your wardrobe, it really doesn't bode well for clearing your credit card or kick-starting your saving program. Oh, and don't forget those little unexpected new year contingencies that can spring up right out of the blue and deliver a knock-out blow to the financial solar plexus (did someone mention new tyres for the car?) Anyway, it's times like this that you've just got to bite the bullet and do what you've got to do. Which means that maybe it's time to prioritise your spending, but this time, really mean it.

First let's face the facts. According to an article in The Age, collectively we now owe more than the economy earns in a year. Yep, that's right, we're effectively spending more than we earn as a nation or to put it bluntly, we've accumulated $1.2 trillion of debt, or about $56,000 for every Australian man, woman and child. How? Well it's a combination of mortgage, personal loan and credit card debt that's been fuelled by a "consumption at any cost" mentality. And if you needed proof, how's this for starters? Last year alone we apparently spent around $3 billion (yes, that is billion) on big screen televisions. Getting the picture yet (well, at least it will be crystal clear on your state-of-the-art 52-inch plasma that's effectively consumed your loungeroom!). Talk about keeping up with the Jones'.

So back to the task at hand. How to make all those new year's resolutions come to fruition while keeping your finances - and your debt - in check.

Prioritise your goals - personal, professional, social and financial - and work out a plan of attack for how you're going to achieve them.
Be realistic with your timeframes - you know what they say, it may not happen overnight, but with a little commitment and perseverance, it will happen.
Assess your options - there might be a few ways to achieve your end goal, so explore the alternatives and assess what's best for you. So, let's say you want to get healthy. Do you really need to join an expensive gym when you can exercise for free anywhere and anytime just by investing in a good pair of runners (or walkers as the case may be).
Resist temptation - despite what the glossy advertising might promise, if you can't afford it and it's not a matter of life or death, do you really need it?
Always keep one eye on the bigger picture. Your goal - whatever it might be - is what will keep you focused. Never lose sight of it.

Ah the new year, so full of hope and opportunity. So what are you waiting for? Get out there and go for it!

Until next time

Team SmartyPig.

Tags: new year

• australian economy

• new year resolution

• saving

• saving money

• save money

• budget

• goals

• smarty pig

• smartypig

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20 December 2009 • Posted by Samantha Robinson

Upsize Your Life

You've got to love a contest, especially when we Aussies emerge victorious. We may not be the biggest country, with the largest population but we can still pull our weight when required. Granted, we may not win the most medals in the Olympics (what was that about an Olympic cash funding crisis?), and we came oh so close to pulling off our first Rugby Grand Slam in 25 years (yet missed it... by that much). But don't despair, there is still reason to celebrate. We, fellow Australians, are now the proud owners of a very prestigious record indeed. Yes, grab your glass of bubbles and raise it to your mortgaged-through-the-roof because Australians officially have the world's largest houses. So we say thank you to everyone who's ever built a McMansion - because of your determination to "supersize", collectively as a nation, we're all wearing the crown. Brilliant.

So what's it all mean? Well we're outdoing our British cousins by the tune of three to one. Yes, they may have the Ashes, but when it comes to the size of our properties, Australian houses win hands down, and we've got three times the space to prove it. We must also send our sincere apologies to all those disappointed folk in the good old US of A. Despite the fact that you are, without doubt, the traditional owners (and origin) of everything big (well, apart from the Pineapple, Banana, Prawn and so on), this mantle is now ours.

Of course, the research does go onto to say that with our propensity to supersize, we're also accommodating more people. It's apparently got something to do with the fact that kids just aren't leaving home anymore (well, who can afford to rent?) and our desire to share accommodation. So for the first time in 100 years, the number of people in each household has also risen, from 2.51 to 2.56. Maybe there is a down-side to the up-size.

Which leads us to the all important question: if we've got our hearts set on owning our very own 214 square metre 'castle', how are we going to get there, especially with interest rates on the rise again? Well unless you're planning to win Tattslotto or inherit a small fortune, there's really only one way: determine your goal, set yourself a budget and be absolutely dedicated to the cause. It won't be easy, especially with all the financial temptations and outlays of Christmas and those luscious Boxing Day sales already on the doorstep, but hey, sometimes you really have to work hard to get what you want and deserve.

'Til next time

Team SmartyPig

Tags: house

• home

• saving for a house

• saving for a home deposit

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18 December 2009 • Posted by Samantha Robinson

Christmas Giftcard Giveaway - The Results Are In!

*Phew* - who can believe it's been a year since we launched in Australia? Anyway, with Christmas and our first (Australian) birthday, we thought it a good time to give away a bonus to all our giftcard giveaway players, so this month the first person drawn has won a whopping $500 giftcard. The two "runners up" have won a $100 giftcard each.

This month, Daredevil Rob is BACK by popular demand! So, without further ado, here's the video for this month's draw:

Are you a winner? If so - please send us your name and mailing address via DM or using the comments below (we won't publish them, obviously) so we can get your card in the post. We mail them via express post, so you should have them in your hot little hands before the big day next week!

'Til next time, have a terrific Christmas and an even spectacular new year. Good luck with those new year's resolutions!

Team SmartyPig

Tags: giftcard giveaway

• xmas

• christmas

• december

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16 December 2009 • Posted by Samantha Robinson

Solving The Last-Minute-Gift Dilemmas

How's the shopping going? Run out of ideas, patience or money yet? (Oh, all three? Perhaps it's time for a cup of tea and a lie down...). If you're about to step into the parallel universe of last minute Christmas shopping be warned - it's a nightmare out there! So, in the interests of saving your sanity and avoiding the inevitable Christmas melt-down, we've put our thinking caps on and done a little research for you. Just call it our path to Christmas salvation and it's designed to help you navigate your way through the festive season and provide some tips to help solve some of your last minute gift dilemmas. Best part is you don't have to actually get out of your chair to do it.

Ok, so there are less than two weeks 'til the big day. Got your list? Excellent. A budget? Splendid. An overwhelming desire to get this over and done with as quickly and painlessly as possible? But of course. So here goes:

Give an experience that will last a lifetime. Check out www.freemanx.com.au or www.redballoon.com.au for a great range of ideas (at any budget) from cooking classes to V8 racing, skydiving, parachuting or swimming with the sharks. Whatever takes you (and your loved one's) fancy. Choose to receive your voucher via email for printing and voila! You have an instant gift. (Didn't even have to raise a sweat for that one or wear your comfy shoes!)
What about a magazine subscription? Now this is a gift that keeps giving for 12 months! Just visit www.isubscribe.com.au, search for the magazine title you want, subscribe and let the Postie do the rest.
Interested in changing a life instead? (and we're not talking about clothes, shoes or the latest gadgets here!). World Vision offers an entire catalogue of smiles, each designed to share the love and bring a smile to you, your gift recipient and to someone, somewhere in an undeveloped country.
Naturally, we've saved the best until last. What about a gift that will kick-start someone else's goal or dream or life-long wish? We like to call it the Gift of Savings and all you need to do is purchase a SmartyPig Gift Card. If only everything in life was so easy. (And don't forget, our monthly Twitter (www.twitter.com/smartypigau) giftcard giveaway is on at 3pm AEDST tomorrow - the 18^th of December and we have a Christmas bonus to give away!).

You know, you don't have to run yourself ragged doing the December Dash this Christmas. There is an alternative... just let your fingers take care of it for you.

Until next time

Team SmartyPig.

Tags: smartypig

• christmas

• last minute

• saving

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