How To Keep Active And Incorporate Kids

Keeping active with young kids is difficult. Difficult but not impossible!

We hear every day that it is important to stay healthy, keep active and look after your health but for some families it is not as easy as just going off and doing it. Sometimes parents need to get creative with the ways they incorporate fitness into their daily regime.

Get the kids involved and stay fit as a family

Keeping fit as a family is a great way to encourage and instill a healthy lifestyle for your children now and in the future. Try these easy to achieve activities to stay active and include your kids.

Sport

Whether you are big sport fans or not, by going down to your local sporting oval and kicking the football or soccer ball around is a way to burn off extra energy. Throwing the Frisbee is another great choice because it is also a lot of fun and requires bursts of running, leaping and stretching.

Explore

Get out of the house and explore your surroundings. If you are lucky enough to have National Parks  or walking tracks nearby (click the link for information in your state or territory), these are a great way to introduce fitness with the great outdoors to your children. They can learn about nature while embarking on adventures in different terrains and be able to enjoy amazing views once they arrive!

Swim

Swimming is not only a crucial life skill, it is also a great option for fitness. The water allows you to feel lighter but also provides resistance when swimming laps or having races with the kids.
Also playing games like Marco Polo, Water Volleyball, Gladiator shoulder rides, mermaid races and diving comps are a great way to have fun while working those muscles.

Backyard fun

These activities don’t cost a sent because you already have the gear.
• Trampolining – the jumping and bouncing provides your body a full workout while having fun.
• Cricket – If your backyard isn’t large enough the local sports oval will be just fine.
• Totem tennis – It encourages hand eye coordination and works your arm muscles.
• Skipping – Having skipping challenges with the kids a great way to get them involved.
• Weights – I’m not talking about gym weights, use the kids. Lift them up, hold them and then lower. Repeat. Repeat and repeat. Workout for you and fun for them!

Dance

Who doesn’t love to dance? Dancing not only relieves stress but it also gets your blood pumping and works up a sweat. Add in some well-known exercise moves like lunges and burpees and you have yourself a 3 minute workout!

Fitness at the park

These days it isn’t uncommon to see workout stations at a children’s playground. This is because parents want to be able to keep fit while they have young children and these stations make it possible. The benefit to these are that parents can watch and talk to their children while they are moving and exercising. It is the best of both worlds for mums/dads and kids.

Yoga and Pilates

While this is not everyone’s cup of tea, for some it is the perfect start to the day. As a result, there are becoming an increasing amount of family sessions where both parents and children can enjoy the benefits for these classes. There are several health insurance providers that offer these types of classes as an extras option on certain policies. Click here to find out more!

Your health is crucial and while it can be difficult to work out or be as active as you would like, it isn’t impossible. By implementing the suggestions above, you can encourage your children to get active with you and promote a healthy way of life.

How do you keep active and incorporate the kids?

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Ok bloggers, now it is time for you to link up your blog posts with Mummy Mondays!

Please read the linky guidelines –

• Link up ONE of your favourite blog posts for the last week and don’t forget to share the comment love on at least a few other blogs that have linked up.
• Your post doesn’t have to be parenting related, pretty much any post goes.
• Feel free to share my Mummy Mondays button to put the word out there about the linky party… the more the merrier.

The post How To Keep Active And Incorporate Kids appeared first on All Mum Said.

Today I witnessed a small child’s heart break. Their innocence and ability to believe in the unseen came crashing down around them.

I was out taking a walk with my children when I heard a mother yell with frustration. Naturally I looked around expecting to find a child not listening, running onto the road or worse; but what I saw was something quite different. The mother was kneeling down in front of her daughter on the footpath near what I assume is their home; if you hadn’t heard the previous commotion this would not look unusual for any parent. Unfortunately what followed next was just heartbreaking.

“The Easter Bunny is not real so don’t expect any Easter eggs tomorrow!” The child who appeared to be about 5 years old, looked confused, upset and naturally started crying.

My mothering instincts wanted me to rush over and give the little girl a cuddle and tell her that the Easter Bunny is in fact real and if she believes that he is, he will come.
But, another part of me said this is not your place, stay out of it. While I know that both sides of my emotions were right to feel they did, the nurturing side died a little knowing that a small child was denied the magic of Easter.

Children grow up far too quick these days and I cannot speak anyone except myself, but I want to prolong my child’s ability to believe in the magic of holiday characters for as long as I can. The Easter Bunny, Tooth Fairy, Santa and of course his elves.

Kids will only believe in them for so long before you can never get that innocence back. I know they will hear from children at school that these fictional magical characters aren’t real but until my children ask me and want an honest answer, they have the right to believe. I will not take that away from them!

A child is full of wonder, trust and unwavering belief in magic. Why would any parent want to destroy that? 

**Edited to add: I do not know the circumstances of this family or their religious status which very well may have played a part in what I saw today. I also did not have the intent to judge the mother when writing this post, I was more trying to discuss that I feel children should be allowed to believe in these magical characters for as long as possible in a generation where children ‘grow up’ too fast.

The post Destroying A Child’s Belief In The Easter Bunny appeared first on All Mum Said.

It’s time to put your health first, improve your wellbeing and get back on track!

We all lead busy lives and often put our health on the back burner. Unfortunately after a while this just becomes a way of life and it needs to change. NOW! Improve your health with these easy steps.

Health, wellbeing, you!

There is not any one way to improve your body’s health and fitness, there are thousands, millions even. Here are five easy steps to implement this change:

Exercise

We all know exercise is good for us but many think they are too time poor to do it. A simple walk in the sunshine will do amazing things for your health. The fresh air, the endorphins and being active have benefits that exceed just physical health, it assists with keeping mentally strong as well. This is a common choice of exercise for many however others prefer faster paced workouts like the gym, boot camp or alternative exercise programs.

Sleep

Going to sleep at the same time each night and getting a decent number of hours rest allows your body to recharge and start the day on the right foot. When your sleep patterns are irregular, your body doesn’t fully relax and get the respite it requires to be at its best. When you and your body are tired, it doesn’t function to its full potential. Concentration is down, moodiness sets in and you lack the energy to get motivated.

Eat Well

Eating well is crucial for your health. I’m not saying cut out all the treats you love because I am a firm believer in eating what you enjoy, but everything has to be in moderation. Ideally you should be eating small meals frequently throughout the day to assist your digestive system in doing its job efficiently. When your digestion isn’t functioning correctly, your body doesn’t absorb all the nutrients required to give you the energy boosts to easily get through the day.
It is also important to not skip meals! For more information on healthy eating click the link.

Laugh

As silly as it may sound, laughing boosts your body’s health. It relaxes you and relieves your muscles from built up stress and tension. Laughing improves your mood, boosts your energy and reduces risk of heart disease.

Relax

Relaxing can be achieved in so many different ways. It can be as simple as getting a good book and sitting under a shady tree in the fresh air, going for a run or reclining in your chair and enjoying a movie. Other options include getting a massage, acupuncture or even yoga.

Australians are becoming increasingly stressed about the rising cost of living in addition to many other situations and circumstances. Click here to see what the main causes of stress in Australia are. Financial strains have puts luxuries like massages and gym memberships on hold.

What people don’t realise is that with private health insurance you get a large chunk of that money back in your pocket. Yes I realise private health cover costs you money, sometimes it can cost ridiculous amounts. But it doesn’t have to. By comparing health funds to get the best possible deal for you and your family, you may even be surprised that you can afford it without having to sacrifice a lot.

Get the cover you need to improve your health at the best available price right here!

Share below how you stay healthy or what are you plans to improve your wellbeing?

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Ok bloggers, now it is time for you to link up your blog posts with Mummy Mondays!

Please read the linky guidelines –

• Link up ONE of your favourite blog posts for the last week and don’t forget to share the comment love on at least a few other blogs that have linked up.
• Your post doesn’t have to be parenting related, pretty much any post goes.
• Feel free to share my Mummy Mondays button to put the word out there about the linky party…the more the merrier.
• To follow on from Eva, I will pick two of my favourite posts to feature in Mummy Mondays next week!

The post How To Improve Your Health In 5 Easy Steps appeared first on All Mum Said.

Life is full of new beginnings. People often don’t realise that these changes do not have to be a huge life changing experience because regularly it is the little things that surprise you.

These new beginnings are a fresh start on a new venture, a new chapter in your story and most importantly, something you can learn from. With each step taken, you are discovering more about yourself and those around you. You have a baby and get married, this is a huge step for you and your family. You navigate your way through the cloudy waters until you find your groove and what works. Perhaps you go from working full time to being a stay at home mum, again a huge change!

The new beginning could be something huge like mentioned above or as small as making more time for yourself. Rediscovering who you are. Many people aren’t aware of this but a big part of why I started this blog was because I wanted to escape and find myself. Just like any relationship, my blog and I have had our up’s and down’s. Sometimes I question why I put so much effort into it and then other moments I’m so glad I have it because it is mine. It is my space. It is where I can come to vent and feel connected to other people, other adults. Oh how I crave adult conversation sometimes!

As I was saying, new beginnings don’t have to be big. You can make a difference in your life by simply eating better, looking after your health, living your life, embracing your partner more and anything else you can think of. Remember it is the little things make a difference!

Get out of your comfort zone and make a change. It could be the best thing you ever did!

Speaking of change and new beginnings, as of today All Mum Said will be the new home of Mummy Mondays linky party. Thank you Eva for trusting me to take the reigns. If you haven’t already, you should click over and check out her blog The Multitasking Woman.

What was your latest challenge or new beginning?

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Ok bloggers, now it is time for you to link up your blog posts with Mummy Mondays!

Please read the linky guidelines –

• Link up ONE of your favourite blog posts for the last week and don’t forget to share the comment love on at least a few other blogs that have linked up.
• Your post doesn’t have to be parenting related, pretty much any post goes.
• Feel free to share my Mummy Mondays button to put the word out there about the linky party…the more the merrier.

The post A New Challenge, A New Beginning – Mummy Mondays appeared first on All Mum Said.

Want to work from home? Here’s a warts and all reality check!

This is a contribution by Dana Flannery, who successfully established a work from home career in 2009. Her work from home venture grew into Talk About Creative a successful digital agency, with over thirty contractors, most of whom work from home.

I work from home. I have our spare room set up as an office and I spend my days in there, pounding away on my computer. Living the dream right? A cousin was looking for a work from home job and called me to pick my brain. This is what she was after:
“I want to find a job where I’m paid the industry standard to work part time out of my house so I can spend quality time with my young kids and still make enough to cover the mortgage.”

Sounds realistic right? Could be. Could be that everything falls lovingly into place and everyone lives happily ever after. In my experience (and I’m playing devil’s advocate and being a bit pessimistic here) this isn’t a realistic expectation. This is a warts and all view of why this is unrealistic. Warts. I am including ALL the warts.

Problem 1: I want a job

This woman wanted a job. She didn’t want to be a contractor. She didn’t want to freelance. She wanted a job. Job security. Paid holidays. Sick leave. While the world is slowly heading in the direction of remote workforces, it’s not there yet. Finding an employer who will hire a stranger to work from home is near impossible.

For one, it’s a pain in the butt having work from home employees. It’s inconvenient. For 99% of businesses, that means that there’s nothing in it for them having you at home. If you were already employed, you might be able to negotiate flexible working for return to work but otherwise why would they give this high trust, high demand option to “the new girl”? Just about every woman in their office wants this option. Don’t you think they’d get “first dibs”?

Problem 2: Paid the industry standard

Not too much to ask is it? Generally, if an employer is actively seeking a work at home employee, it’s because they’re a start-up, or they are expanding into a new territory. If it’s the first, they probably won’t have much money. If it’s the second, your first work at home job will likely be to find office space to go work from! So say you do find a well-paid job you’d love through a site like Lifestyle Careers or School Hours, you can bet thousands of other people will be applying for that sucker too! You’ll need a kickass resume.

Problem 3: Spend quality time with my young kids

When you work from home, young kids see you as “being home”. They want you to play with playdough and do finger painting and have a Frozen concert in the lounge room. They don’t understand that you’re “working from home”. “Not now, mummy’s working” is a hard thing for a kid to accept and you’ll say it, a lot. Your boss will want to know that this work from home arrangement still gets him/her access to your time and that you’re not slacking off.

“Not now, Mummy’s working” becomes the sentence you say most to your little one. Suddenly your mummy guilt goes through the roof. If you’re out in the office all day, your young kids don’t lay the guilt on, you get the privilege of doing that to yourself. It’s not right. It’s not simple. It just is. Working from home doesn’t mean an end to mummy guilt. Not one little bit. If you work from home, you need childcare.

Problem 4: Still make enough to cover the mortgage

So you’re in a lucky situation. You have a partner who earns some cash. The bills are mostly covered, you just need a bit extra to live happily ever after. Contribute to the mortgage and pay for enough day care to get the job done. About $600 a week? That’s not much to ask is it?

Let’s say you’re going to do admin from home. The award rate, pro rata for permanent part time will be between $25 and $30 per hour depending on your experience. Let’s call it $30. So that’s 20 hours per week. But, that’s $600 in hand, so you’ll have to factor in about $3600 tax a year. Another 3 hours give or take a week for tax. So you’re doing 23 hours per week. Easy right, that’s like three days. You can totally do it! Those three days will be three days of childcare expenditure. That’s about $240 in most capital cities and the more you earn, the less you get back from the government on that. So, of your 23 hours a week, 8 will go straight to the childcare centre. Eek. Maybe you could work nights and weekends to save on childcare? That quality of life you were seeking isn’t looking so high quality is it?

When kids get sick (and lordy, how often these little blighters are sick!) you’re going to be the one that it falls on to care for them. You work from home – to everyone else, that means you have oodles of time on your hands. To you, a sick kid means paying for childcare you can’t use, while working your heart out to stay on top of workload. If you can’t manage all the balls you have in the air, you could find yourself unemployed and unable to make that mortgage.

Yes, I know, I’m a big old pessimist

Maybe I’m just jealous of women who get dream jobs that don’t have the stress I have! That’s entirely possible! Back to my cousin, I explained some of the challenges she would face and she seemed a bit annoyed that I wouldn’t just hire her and be done with it. I told her that most women in her situation set themselves up as a contractor/freelancer/consultant and go from there. I suggested that she get herself an ABN (that sounds hard) and register a business (oh, really, I wouldn’t even know where to start) to get some contract work.

She was right of course. If it sounds too hard to get an ABN (literally one form) then running a freelance business isn’t right for her. Working from home in your own business is hard. It’s lots of unbillable hours, and learning TONS of new skills (some are painful to learn too – hello GST) and making sales. It’s not everyone’s cup of tea but it is a viable way to work from home, make good money and live happily (but tired) ever after.

Some of the same problems apply, childcare is still a necessary evil, but if you can choose your own hours, you can plan your week to fit to childcare – and therefore do it all more efficiently. You might be able to squeeze your working week into two days of childcare instead of three if you commit to doing emails and admin in the evenings. Your work week will be as long or longer as it would with an employer but your time can be managed to best suit you, not the boss.

The biggest benefit to running your own work at home business is one that you might not expect. Working with young children is HARD – for full time working mothers, full time working fathers, part time working single mums, parents who study – young kids are just hard in general! When you run a work from home business though, the hard work hurts less because it pays off directly into your bank account. It’s not working your heart out to make your boss rich. It’s working your heart out to make your family comfortable.
That’s worth its weight in gold.

The post Want To Work From Home? Here’s A Warts And All Reality Check! appeared first on All Mum Said.

How To Leave A Domestic Violence Relationship

Escaping an abusive relationship is hard, particularly if children are involved. It is however essential for both you and your children!

Deciding to leave a violent relationship is difficult and not a decision that is easy to make. You want to leave but there are many obstacles that make this choice seem near impossible.
The most common hurdle is fear, for you and your child’s safety! You are scared about taking the next steps and the ramifications that may follow; this is completely understandable given your current situation. This is why knowing how to leave a domestic violence relationship safely is crucial.

Must do’s for a safe escape

You have reached the point where you cannot take the abuse anymore but don’t know what to do next. This step by step guide will help you take the first of many steps to your reclaiming independence.

1. Seek legal advice

Before you do anything, seek legal advice. They will be able to tell you exactly what you need to do in order to protect yourself. This is particularly important if children are involved. It isn’t uncommon for the abuser to use your children as leverage to get you to return. If you take the advised steps from your legal team and/or local police, you will not have this concern. They will also be able to put you in touch with emergency accommodation and DV groups. For Legal Aid advice click here for further information.

2. DVO

Get a Domestic Violence Order (commonly known as DVO). While this may aggravate the situation, it is essential. This allows police to keep an eye out and it will also help you should you be required to go to court. For more information on how to obtain a DVO click here.

3. Where will you go?

This is the question that scares most victims into staying. You may have been alienated from your family and friends and feel you have no one to lean on. This is a time of need and you don’t have to do it alone. If you have a good friend or family close by; stay with them until you can sort out alternative accommodation.

If you are living away from relatives; contact your local Salvation Army or other emergency accommodation provider. The Salvos help more than 2000 women escape violent relationships each year by providing them with refuge accommodation and on-going support. The Salvation Army details can be found here: http://www.salvationarmy.org.au/find-help/domestic-violence/.

4. Have a plan

Victims of domestic violence do not always have the luxury of having time to plan when and how they will leave. If you can, make a plan of where you will go and how you will respond to your partner’s calls and persistence.
If you feel your life is in imminent danger, get out now! Don’t leave it until it is too late.

5. Money

• If possible, start saving little bits of money when you can. This is easier said than done as most abusers know where every dollar is being spent. This is another way they maintain control and make it difficult for you to leave. For those fleeing and saving isn’t possible, the government offers crisis payments to those who are planning to or have left violent relationships. See more information here.

• Open up a bank account in your name only, with another bank you don’t use together. This eliminates any chance of your partner getting your personal details, including address or money.

• Call your bank and put a hold on all home loan redraws. While this is not something you would think of doing in the moment of leaving, it is smart for long term.

6. Privacy and safety

• Cancel your childcare and change schools if possible. This is to ensure your partner does not come and take the children out of school as a way to regain control.

• Change passwords and privacy settings on everything!

Far too many people suffer from domestic violence and the number of sufferers is only rising. The stats shown below from the Australian Bureau of Statistics are just terrifying.

Fleeing a domestic violence relationship takes strength, bravery and patience. This is why good support is essential. Please remember that regardless what you are told; it is not your fault and you are not to blame!

For support and domestic violence helplines see the numbers below.

If your life in immediate danger call – 000

National Domestic Violence (24 hours): 1800 737 732
Lifeline: 131 114
• QLD – Domestic Violence Telephone Service – 1800 811 811
• NSW – Domestic Violence Line – 1800 65 64 63
• VIC – safe steps Family Violence Response Centre – 1800 015 188
• ACT – Domestic Violence Crisis Service – 02 6280 0900
• SA – Domestic Violence Helpline – 1300 782 200
• WA – Women’s Domestic Violence Helpline – 1800007 339 & Crisis Care – 1800 199 00808
• NT – Domestic Violence Crisis Line – 1800 019 116
• TAS – Family Violence Counselling and Support Service – 1800 608 122 or Family Violence Response & Referral – 1800 633 937

For more helplines visit http://www.whiteribbon.org.au/finding-help.

*Disclaimer: I am not qualified to advise you on what to do or give legal assistance in your situation, I can only comment on my own personal experience and those close to me. Please call one of the helplines or seek legal advice before taking action.

The post How To Leave A Domestic Violence Relationship In Six (Not So) Easy Steps appeared first on All Mum Said.

Save Money On Furniture And Homewares

It is time to get organised. Clean up, clear out and start fresh this festive season.

The holidays have rolled around again and guests are spending the weekend. You don’t want to be embarrassed by your old worn out homewares, so it is the perfect time to change your décor. Get that outdated and shabby furniture off your property and spruce it up with something new or new to you.

One man’s trash is another man’s treasure

You know the old saying. This is absolutely true when it comes to furniture and homewares. Unlike 10 years ago, today there are so many options to find a bargain and you are crazy to not try. Consider the following before you go out and pay full price:

Christmas and Boxing Day sales

Stores and warehouses around Australia have fantastic Christmas and Boxing Day sales. Sometimes you may have to hunt a little to find them but they are definitely there. You can save up to 50% on some items, which is nothing to be laughed at for brand new pieces of furniture!

Gumtree or Ebay

These websites are full of fantastic bargains. On Gumtree you will even find free homewares, electricals and outdoor furniture. A lot of the time there is absolutely nothing wrong with the items; people just upgrade and want to pass them onto someone else. Keep your eyes peeled for these bargains because they don’t last long!

TIP: For even better deals, check after Christmas when people replace their furniture or are selling their unwanted gifts!

Buy, Swap & Sell sites on Facebook

Similar to Gumtree, you can find mountains of free and cheap household goods and furniture in your local area. Social media has opened up opportunities for sellers to get rid of their unwanted goods and buyers to score themselves a bargain. Sometimes all the furniture needs is a little TLC to bring it back to its former glory.

Get creative with DIY

Look around your local garage sales, businesses, the above mentioned avenues and even friends places for scraps that can be turned into fun items. Wooden pallets are fantastic for creating practical but unique outdoor lounges and garden beds. Create feature pieces by turning old doors and cable reels into tables. For the festive season, extra esky’s and ice buckets are required which is where old bath tubs make the perfect addition to an outdoor area.

For more ideas on how you can create your own home decor with a little DIY, CLICK THE LINK!

Style and comfort doesn’t have to be expensive. You can stay well within your budget by doing a little bit of research and bartering to get a better price.

Everyone wants something new but new isn’t always better. Sometimes older products are built to a higher standard and will last longer than many new pieces. Consider your needs, wants and budget before making your purchases.

How do you save money on your furniture, homewares and gardening items?

This is an S1 POST.

The post How To Save Money On Furniture And Homewares appeared first on All Mum Said.

What To Check Before Buying A House

Don’t rush in and make an offer on the first house you view. There are potential perils that you need to be aware of!

You have saved your hard-earned money and it is finally time to break into the property market. Don’t let excitement cloud your judgement, take your time and get to know the house well before taking the next step. Here are some things you should know before buying a new house:

What you need to know BEFORE making an offer

It isn’t uncommon for your heart to rule over your head when making this emotional purchase. That is a rookie error that could have catastrophic effects, resulting in the purchase of a lemon aka money pit. This can be easily avoided by considering the following:

Environment and area

The surrounding environment and area can have the potential to turn your dream home into a nightmare. Do your research into the neighbourhood and see how the crime rate compares to surrounding areas. You don’t want your family home to be vandalised or broken into, not to mention the higher cost of insurances.

Contact the local council to see the flood maps and get information on past floods in the area. For a quick guide of the risk in Brisbane areas, CLICK HERE. Flooding can cause more costs and damage than you realise.

Building and pest inspections

Building and pest inspections are essential prior to buying a house. The qualified inspectors know exactly what to look for. They will see hidden concerns that you will not know about without an inspection. They will notice cracked beams, water damage and much more.

If the real estate agent offers to arrange the pre-purchase inspections for you, get your own evaluation done as well, the team at Action Property Inspections are reliable and trustworthy. The possibility of the agents report being biased is a risk that should not be taken when making this purchase, as they do not want anything to hinder the potential sale.

Exterior

Before you step foot into the house take a look at the exterior. There are potential issues that can be seen before the pre-purchase inspection is done that could give you an indication on how well the property has been looked after.
• Fences – do fences look to be in good condition? These are quite expensive to replace and you don’t want to have this additional cost shortly after purchasing a house.
• Roof tiles – can you see any broken or cracked tiles? If you answered yes, this could be a sign that there is water damage in the roof.
• Gutters – are the gutters in good condition? Rust means they will require replacing before too long. Also check to make sure they are attached correctly and not hanging loosely.
• Drainage – does the yard contain drains? If it doesn’t, will it need drainage installed? Check the slope of the block and check for obvious signs of water build up throughout the yard.

Interior

A new coat of paint will spruce up the house but look beyond the crisp, clean walls and fancy décor. Open the cupboards in the kitchen and bathrooms so you can check for obvious signs of mould, mildew and water damage.

Take notice of cracks in the walls, if the cracks are large this is cause for concern however fine cracks are often acceptable. Your building inspector will pick up on this if it is a problem. Check the condition of power points and appliances, if they appear to be in poor form, it could mean the electricals need replacing and this is not cheap.

While most issues and damage can be repaired, they could also be the reason you struggle to sell your house down the track or contribute to unforeseen maintenance costs.

By checking the above before signing anything, you could save yourself a lot of heartache and money.

What is on your ‘must check’ checklist before buying a house? Have you experienced a house from hell?

This is an S1 POST.

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Protecting Your Family’s Financial Future

You probably already look to insure your car, home and maybe your health but what about your family’s financial future? Many people overlook the idea of having life insurance or are not fully aware of the benefits but it can give all-important peace of mind if the main earner in the household dies or cannot work. Here are some of the reasons why you should think about having life insurance.

The Benefits of Life Insurance

How would you cope financially if you lost the income of the main earner in the household? For most people, this would be a devastating scenario, especially if you have little or no savings to help you.

There are several different options when it comes to buying life insurance and a lot will depend on the type(s) of scenario that you want to cover yourself for. Most people are at least vaguely aware of general life insurance (also known as Death insurance), which provides a lump sum payment for beneficiaries if the policyholder dies or becomes terminally ill.

Besides this, there is also the option to buy Total and Permanent Disability (TPD) insurance, Trauma insurance (also known as Critical Illness insurance) and Income Protection insurance. These life insurance products can protect against being unable to work due to permanent disability, certain medical traumas and illness, injury or an accident.

Do You Already Have Any Life Insurance?

If you have a superannuation fund, you may already have at least some degree of life insurance attached to this. This has the benefit of being cost effective as premiums are deducted from your super balance but it does have some drawbacks.

Many people are content to rely solely on this (especially if they would struggle to find room in their budget for premiums) but the default minimum cover will rarely be enough to provide an adequate level of protection unless you choose to upgrade from this. Not all types of life insurance are available through your super fund; Trauma/Critical Illness insurance cannot be bought in this way, for example.

You can choose to buy more life insurance cover through your super fund or shop around for additional cover through an insurer.

How Much Life Insurance to Buy?

Underinsurance is a big problem in Australia, especially for life insurance. This means that many people do not have enough life insurance in place to provide adequate protection if the worst happens. This is largely to do with an over reliance on life insurance offered through superannuation but is also due to not recognising how much life insurance is needed to give genuine financial peace of mind.

Firstly, you’ll need to think about your anticipated current and future expenses, including bills, rent or mortgage payment and debts over the next few decades. As a general rule of thumb, most families will benefit from having something in the region of $500 000 or more of Death insurance but a lot depends on your outgoings and how long you may need the payment to last for.

This is an S2 POST.

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Tips To Find The Right Investment Property

It’s time to put your future first. Don’t retire with nothing to back you up financially, get ahead now!

Investing in your prospective years can make all the difference to how you live when you give up work. By setting yourself up financially in your younger years, you can get a head start on achieving your goals. Find the right investment property and you will be well on your way!

Why is investing in property important?

Property investment is not for everyone. Some people prefer to invest their hard earned dollars in shares and stocks. But for those interested in investment property; it is typically considered one of the safer options to invest in.

If this is a route you are considering, you must first be aware of the pros and cons that are associated with investing in property.

Pros and cons of investing in property

There are so many factors to consider but the main ones consist of:
PROS

• Insurance – You can insure your investment against a wide variety of risks; natural disasters, fires, tenant damage/tenants leaving, etc.

• Capital growth – If you have chosen your investment well, you will see a rise in property value over the years to come in addition to regular rental returns.

• Tax benefits – If your property is negatively geared it could provide potential tax benefits. This is not always the case and should not be a deciding factor but is often a benefit to investing in property.

CONS

• Problematic tenants – While this doesn’t happen regularly, you could end up with the tenants from hell. They could damage your property, refuse to leave, not pay rent and cause several other headaches that could take months to resolve.

• No tenants – There is occasional periods where you will have no tenant occupying your property and you will be required to pay the mortgage repayments.

• Ongoing costs – In addition to the initial cost of the property, you will also find that there are ongoing costs associated with property investment. These include: rates, body corporate (if applicable), repairs, insurances, water, maintenance and more.

Property must haves

Similarly to when you are purchasing or renting a house for yourself and your family, the property must consist of certain features to make it an enjoyable and desirable place to live. Investments are no different.

• Location – You have heard it before and you will hear it again. A good location is important for attracting the right tenants. A good location is safe, offers peace of mind and is close to public transport, schools, shops, etc.

• Storage – From ample linen space to bedroom closets; storage is a crucial decision-making factor.

• Parking – Surprising to some, not every property comes with parking. By adding the option of a garage, carport, undercover or off street parking; you will increase tenant interest dramatically.

• Maintenance – It is in your best interest to find a property that requires minimal yard maintenance. Tenants don’t want to pay for upkeep of pools, gardens, etc. so unless you are willing to pay a professional to maintain the grounds, stick with simple!

Research the property you want

Buying property can be an emotional experience; however when making the decision, use your head and not your heart!
Research must be done into not just the property but also the area before taking the plunge.

• Infrastructure – What is happening in the area? Are future buildings, businesses or projects planned? This can have both devastating and beneficial effects on the value of your property, so ensure you know what is going on.

• Return potential – The expected return of a property is one of the most important things to consider when purchasing property. Do research and compare the property with those similar in the area on rental sites.

• Investment strategy – Do you plan on negatively gearing the property or receiving a positive cash follow? What is the loan rate? Suburb growth? Do you want a unit, house, etc? By comparing your answers to the above questions on the Homesales.com.au Investment Property Search, you will be shown options around Australia that are expected to produce the results you want.

Don’t just jump in and buy a property. Make sure you take the appropriate steps to ensure it is what is best for you financially and that your purchase will indeed be an investment. Don’t risk buying a bottomless money pit. For more information on property investment, click the link.

Investing in your future doesn’t have to be stressful. By considering the above points and doing your research, you will find the right investment property for you!

What tips would you offer someone trying to find the right investment property?

Disclaimer: I am not a financial advisor and this article should not be used as such. For financial advice, consult your financial advisor.
This is an S1 POST.

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