Tax time tips for EOFY 2020 - #213

If you earn a wage in Australia, there is a good chance that you are being paid superannuation. Currently, employers have to contribute a percentage of your pay into a nominated super account. Superannuation as we know it in Australia is now 29 years old, and some are calling for another review of the scheme in some radical ways.  This year has seen the controversial early release of superannuation for some Australians due to coronavirus just for starters while others believe superannuation could be accessed earlier so more Australians can use that money to buy a home. We had the opportunity to chat with the Senator Andrew Bragg about his ideas for the future of super, including the idea that Australian's should be able to access their super in order to buy a home and other changes he calls "radical surgery". Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/ Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010

Right now many of us are experiencing a lot of change, whole industries are on ice right now, while others have had to pivot fast. We are fast on track to record unemployment and with a recession nipping at our heels, plenty of career plans and dreams might be feeling a little crushed right now. But are there opportunities in the ashes of the first half of 2020? And what might "work" look like in the future? Kate Richardson was a high flying marketing executive who has worked in high profile organisations including the Sydney Opera House, Network TEN, NAKED communications before hitting her very own career crisis a few years ago. Kate then pulled the plug on both her career trajectory and her home town when she decided to move cities and pursue a completely different career as an executive career coach and career mentor. Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/ Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010

Getting married isn't just a huge commitment between you and your partner, it's one of the biggest financial decisions you'll make in your life. While some couples budget and save to pay for their wedding, others go into debt to say 'I do'.  There are ways that you can plan your perfect day without blowing your budget. To find out how, we chatted with Genevieve Lehunt-Alderman of the 'I'm Getting Married' podcast. Gen breaks down how to plan a realistic wedding budget, what you should splurge on and what you can DIY as well as the common money mistakes that newlyweds make. Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/ Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010

With job losses, underemployment and job uncertainty many of us are trying to figure out some ways to make extra cash, set up an emergency savings fund or even look to changing careers altogether In this episode, we talk to four people who are using the power of the side hustle to make extra cash by selling items online, selling their skills, upskilling, and a few other tricks to help bolster their bottom line. We chat with Kylie Travers, better known online as The Thrify Issue who shares her range of tips and tricks that have seen her build a portfolio of side hustles.  Jake Falkinder of The Freedom Chaser tells us how he has taken his passion for writing and marketing and turned it into income by blogging for money Stef Yip is Finder's travel editor by day but in her spare time, she is an experienced eBay seller of over 15 years, with a 100% positive feedback rating across 1,400+ reviews. Finally, Em-Rose Hills tells us how she took her dual love of dogs and social media and combined them to not only make some pocket money but also used the skills she learned marketing her business on social media to upskill in her career. Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast   Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast   Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/   Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010 

There’s no doubt 2020 has been a wild ride for stock investors. Thanks to coronavirus, the oil price war, and growing tensions between global powers, we’ve never seen a more volatile stock market.  In a single day in February, we saw share prices on the ASX drop by 7%, only to rise by 14% within a couple of hours. It was enough to leave the experts scratching their heads.  Fund manager Roger Montgomery of Montgomery Investment Management shares his insights about why the stock market is behaving so erratically and whether there might be another big crash on its way. Plus, his tips for beginner investors.  Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/ Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010

2020 has simultaneously moved at lightning speed and also dragged on for what feels like forever. Alas, June is upon us and the end of the financial year is almost here. That means it's time to start thinking about taxes, take stock of your finances, and scout out the best EOFY deals. While tax time is always a bit confusing, the impacts of coronavirus have changed what and how we can claim this EOFY. In this episode of the Pocket Money podcast, we're joined by five of Finder's finance experts to answer all of your tax-time and EOFY questions. We cover everything from claiming work from home expenses and superannuation to investing in property and stocks, the Medicare Levy Surcharge, and what we can expect from the EOFY sales. Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/ Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010

In normal times we suspect most of us would prefer to put off thinking about what happens to our money after we die. But these are not normal times. In fact, it turns out in between our searches for toilet paper and hand sanitiser, "how to create a will" has been high on our Google search list in our new lockdown. To help shed some light on how to write a will we spoke to National Manager, Estate Planning, Australian Unity Trustees Legal Services Anna Hacker. She explains why so many Australians are interested in estate planning right now, why wills aren't just for people with families and large assets, and what actually happens if you die and you don't have one. Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast  Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast  Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/  Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010

Comedian and journalist Emma Markezic was young, single, freelancing, renting, and partying hard when she was diagnosed with a potentially terminal cancer. Despite that, Emma says she found that she coped better than some people might cope with a paper cut. The journalist in Emma meant she wanted to do a deep dive into why some people are more resilient than others. She wrote her book Curveballs, after speaking to experts all over the world on how we can all develop skills to help deal with life's curly bits. Whether it's from life in lockdown, living with financial uncertainty, or just prepping for a future curveball, this episode will help arm you with the right tools and attitude to cope financially and emotionally.  Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast   Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast  Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/ Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010 

Australians give a total of $9.9 billion to charities each year according to the most recent ACNC Australian Charities Report and we can only imagine that number will skyrocket in 2020 following this year's catastrophic bushfire season and COVID-19. When you make a donation, you trust that the money is going where it's needed most, right? Well, it's not always that simple. As we saw with the bushfire effort, surges in donations often present challenges for charity organisations that have the responsibility to distribute the funds. It can take months for the money to get where it's needed and it often gets tied up in necessary costs such as administration. This question of "where is my money going?" has made headlines this year, but it's a valid and important question to ask every time you make a donation - whether it's to a well-known charity, Go Fund Me or a donation box at the supermarket. We chatted to the Commissioner for the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profits Commission. Dr Gary Johns talks about where our donations go, what the responsibilities of registered charities are and what to look out for before you donate your time and money so you know it's going somewhere legit. Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/ Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010  

A recession or any type of economic downturn can be an incredibly challenging and stressful time. As unemployment rises, incomes fall, stock markets crash and bills continue rolling in, it is natural to be worried about your money. But there are things that you can do to prepare.  On today’s episode of the Pocket Money podcast, Sally and Kate welcome a slate of experts to get the tips and strategies you can use to protect your finances. From savings and budgeting to superannuation, home loans and earning more with side hustles, this podcast will help you better understand what’s in your control, and how to be proactive. Thanks to our guests Taylor Blackburn, Alison Banney, Kylie Purcell and Richard Whitten, Maurice Thach for joining us on this episode. Given that economists are predicting a recession or financial depression following the tidal wave of disaster caused by COVID-19, arming yourself with knowledge about your financial secirty is as important as ever. Full show notes at https://www.finder.com.au/podcast  Find us on Insta at https://www.instagram.com/pocketmoneypodcast   Join our Facebook group https://www.facebook.com/groups/pocketmoneypodcast/  Listen and subscribe https://pod.link/1448147010