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Category: Your Money Gen X

Online shopping is booming, but what are the risks of buying financial products online?

Little known fact: I was the first ever victim of internet credit card fraud in Australia! Okay, not the first. But it was last century, which made it pretty early in the history of cyber crime. And it scared me off online purchasing for years. It was 1998 and I’d never bought anything over the […]

Insurance: Most of us need some, but what and how much? Where do you start?

MOST of us need? Seriously. All Gen Xers need it! Like we need air. And Sunnyboy iceblocks on 40 deg day. Ask yourselves the following. Have you got a mortgage, kids, partner, debt or a job? Still breathing? The more of those you said “uh-huh” to, the more insurance you need. Unless you won lotto […]

Strategy is vital for investors. What are your top three strategy tips for 2013?

WHOA, dudes! It’s January! Anyone for beach cricket, downing a few frothy ones and cheering congestion-free roads? Can’t we just bask in the glow of that gnarly second half of 2012, where Australian shares did 16 per cent? No? You’re right. It’ll be June 30 before we know it. Okay, the first strategy involves noting […]

This useless fluff is unlikely to deliver the goods

I feel like Homer Simpson at this time of year. Um, actually, maybe “I look like” Homer Simpson. After 25 Christmas parties in 25 days, I can’t see my belly button. I’ll tackle that in January. What I need help with is … what is that thing in my navel? Is it just useless fluff? […]

What are the most important financial lessons you have learnt this year?

Little DebtBoy starts school next year. He’s more excited about it than Christmas. More than anything, I’m desperate for him to love learning. If I can instil in him a passion for knowledge, my most important job as a dad will be done. Constant learning deepens your understanding of everything – even outside the area […]

Not everyone is cheering about interest rate cuts

Newton’s Third Law of Interest Rates: “For every cheer, someone sheds a tear.” I know, there’s no such thing. Sir Isaac was no economist (the dismal science). He was a physicist (something that deals in relative certainty). But you could convert all three of his laws of motion into equally accurate money rules. Most notably […]

What are the biggest Christmas hidden costs and money traps when buying presents?

Hey, I’m no Grinch. Well, maybe a little. I love Christmas, but I do believe we’ve fallen Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels for this whole present giving thing. Seriously, it’s like we’ve got a gun at our heads at the cash register! Since hearing an “alternate” story about the fat red-suited dude at age […]

How do you plan to keep a lid on your Christmas and holiday spending this year?

By selling my children. And maybe also a kidney. That will both keep a lid on spending, and raise some bucks at this most expensive time of year. Sure, saying farewell will be sad. Maybe I can arrange visitation rights. Will the guy who buys my kidney want to catch up for coffee? Kids add […]

School’s almost out. What can your generation teach school leavers about money?

Demographer Bernard Salt says Generation X changed the concept of growing up. Xers believed age 18, even 21, was too early to become an adult. “Can we delay the whole responsibility thing for a while …” Maybe not as long as Charlie Sheen’s character in Two and a Half Men (and hey, with Charlie in […]