Whose name is on the contract?

Whose name is on the contract?

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

Does it matter whose name is on all the contracts and assets, does it matter if they are in my partner's name? Yes! If your relationship ends, or worse if your partner dies, it is very difficult and costly to disentangle who owns what and how assets and contracts should be split. In the event ...
Umbrella protecting money from debt storm against grey room

Cost and requirements of home security

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

I’m upgrading my home security. Readers may remember that last May I wrote about home security and I’m having that ‘think’ again. I’ve come to accept that we need a security gate on our sliding doors. I’ve avoided doing this for many years, and while the expense has been a limitation, in truth the ‘ugliness ...
We all need a good financial advisor

We all need a good financial advisor

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

When I was 26 and got my first ‘real job’ I contacted a financial advisor who sold me an RA policy and another random 30-year policy. In hindsight, it turns out both were seriously poor investments! On the bright side, at least I have an RA, even if it turns out it is not going ...
Bank fee clean up

Bank fee clean-up

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

I often hear people saying how much we pay on bank charges, so I thought I would have a quick look at what I spend on bank fees every month – and wow, I am wasting a lot! It took me 10 minutes to review my bank statement and realize that I am spending nearly ...
Domestic workers and retirement

Domestic workers and retirement

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

Our domestic worker is 63 years old and has high blood pressure, so cleaning our house has become too much for her these days. She has shifted to semi-retirement and will stay on one day a week for as long as she can. As she and I started these discussions, I began to realise how ...
Seeking financial health

Seeking financial health

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

Many of us (including me) are consumed by our money, terrified by our debt, obsessed with calculating our debt or wealth, and fearful of our financial future. I was reflecting on this obsessive relationship that I have with my finances when I was reminded that what I really want to achieve is financial health and wellness. What’s ...
heads facing with different brain machinery

Being a conscious consumer

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

We want to become more conscious consumers, which includes the fact that we should consume less. What do I mean by being more conscious consumers, and why do we want to consume less? Here are a few thoughts from my children and me: We want to think more about what we buy and if we need to ...

Mid-year review of financial goals

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

It's mid-year and time to reflect on my ambitious financial goals. First, I need to remind myself what they were – oh dear surely my financial goals should be imprinted on my brain! So, let’s see what they were and how I’ve done. Save 15-20% of my income: yes, I did it – I’m feeling very ...
Birthday

Birthday parties on the cheap

Donna Willan Latest, Money cents

It's my daughter's seventh birthday party and I am struck by two competing panics. The first is that my baby is growing up - early panic about the impending empty nest (yup I can start panicking 12 years before the event!). The second panic is much more immediate – Yikes! How much will the birthday ...