The Savings Squad

The Savings Squad

By Adele MartinBusinessInvesting
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The Savings Squad episodes

  • TSS 14: Protecting yourself online

    Of all the interviews I have done this is the one I have learnt the most from.
    Massive thanks to Luke James from The IT Wellness Pro for this episode.
    Luke certainly scared me by sharing all the things that can go wrong in the digital age (things like identity theft OR loosing all our photos and memories)
    But luckily he also shares steps we can take to easily avoid disaster.

     
     
     
     
    In the episode we cover lots including:

    * The most common reason people are hacked online (you are probably doing this)
    * The 3 things a virus  (malware) can do to your computer (scariest one was it can lurk in background watching you type in your passwords !!) & what are some good virus software you can use to prevent this
    * Why you need to be careful using public WIFI & how you can safely use internet especially when travelling overseas
    * Easy ways we can back up our computer and phone so we can protect things like our photos and memories; &
    * Loads more

    Here are some of the programs Luke mentions:
    Password Manager

    * LastPass
    * https://1password.com/

    Popup Blocker

    * Ublock Origin

    * Chrome – https://chrome.google.com/webstore/detail/ublock-origin/cjpalhdlnbpafiamejdnhcphjbkeiagm?hl=en
    * Firefox –  https://addons.mozilla.org/en-US/firefox/addon/ublock-origin/



    Anti Virus

    * Bitdefender – https://www.bitdefender.com.au/
    * eset – https://www.eset.com/au/home/antivirus/

    VPN

    * https://nordvpn.com/

    Backup

    * Cloud – https://www.carbonite.com/
    * Windows Local – https://www.veeam.com/windows-endpoint-server-backup-free.html
    * Mac Local – Time Machine https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201250
    * Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Back and Sync.

    Reduce Spam Emails

    * Captchas on contact forms
    * 3rd party spam block MXGuarddog and Spam experts
    * Use GSuite or Office 365

    Want to connect with Luke further

    * https://www.thewellnesspro.com

    The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
    58 min
  • TSS 13: Fast 5 Savings Challenge Tip No. 1

    I asked you guys what you wanted to hear more about and overwhelming you said more savings tips.
    So I’ve put together the Fast 5 Savings Challenge. These are easy bit sized savings tips for you to action.
    They may seem easy but as you will hear they have saved my clients $1,000’s. 
    I have sprinkled these tips in-between our normal episodes as this way you will have time to take away and implement them.
    I have also created a workbook and other resources for each episode which you can access for free inside The Savings Squad Facebook group under the Learning section. If you aren’t already in the squad then join us on this link:
    www.adelemartin.com/savings-squad/
    Also I would love if you could share your results – this not only gives me warm fuzzies but it could inspire someone else to take action. Use #Fast5 and share your results on either:
    Instagram
    Facebook
    The Savings Squad
     
     
     
     
    The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
    15 min
  • TSS 12: Nail the Recruitment Process – Tips for Employees and Employers
    Today we are interviewing recruiter extraordinaire Sharon Vandermeer founder of On The Ball Personnel. 
    She has recently helped in our recruitment and not only did it save us time but it also meant we got an incredible new talent member that is fitting into our team beautifully.  
    Over Sharon’s 20 plus year career she has seen over 100,000 resumes and has lost count of how many people she has interviewed as there has been so many !!  
    Today we are going to tap into that wealth of experience and answer questions like:

    * Why employers should use a recruitment firm
    * How she find candidates 
    * What employers should have in their job ad
    * What you need to include (and not include) in your resume
    * How to write a killer cover letter 
    * How to answer some of the tricky questions employers ask like “what are your weaknesses”
    * The 1 or 2 great questions candidates can ask employers in an interview  (I loved these) 

    Heres are links to some of the resources we spoke about:

    * Use Grammarly to pick up on errors on your resume and cover letter:  https://app.grammarly.com/
    * Connect with Sharon further here: www.ontheballpersonnel.com.au
    * How to Nail an Interview  – Cheat Sheet for Employees
    * How to Prepare for the Interview Process – Cheat Sheet for Employers

    The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
    42 min
  • TSS 11: Why use a Mortgage Broker
    We have superstar mortgage broker Tim Boyle on the podcast today sharing: 

    * How you can get into a house without a 20% deposit 
    * What you need to start doing 6 months before you apply for a loan
    * How Afterpay can affect your ability to get a home loan ?
    * The 2 ways your parents can help you get into a house sooner ?
    * Why you should use a broker as opposed to going straight to bank 
    * How the loan process differs if you are self employed 

    Here are some of the links we spoke about today:

    * Check your credit score at Equifax (formerly Veda) https://www.equifax.com.au/
    * Connect with Tim more https://finfin.com.au/ 

    The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
    49 min
  • TSS 10: Retiring Early – The FIRE Movement
    Am I allowed to have a favourite episode … or is it like confessing who your favourite child is (Mum and Dad it’s ok, I know I’m the favourite) 
    This episode is all about the FIRE movement. No, we are not talking about arson or anything like that … we are talking about the acronym Financial Independence Retire Early. 
    In this episode, we interview Aussie FireBug (who wants to remain anonymous) about all things FIRE including:

    * What his definition of independence is
    * Why the fire movement is becoming more popular
    * How he managed to save an incredible 60% of his income
    * What his investment strategy is and why this has changed over the last few years
    * What is he going to do with all his time when he reaches independence and stops work 

    Heres a link to there resources we spoke about: 

    * Aussie Fire Bugv- https://www.aussiefirebug.com/
    * Mr Money Mustache – https://www.mrmoneymustache.com/
    * APRA announcement on interest only loans – https://www.apra.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases/apra-remove-interest-only-benchmark-residential-mortgage-lending
    * The Savings Squad Episode 2: What You Need to Know When Investing https://adelemartin.com/tss-02-what-you-need-to-know-when-investing/
    * The Savings Squad Episode 7: Living More Consciously https://adelemartin.com/tss-07-live-more-consciously/
    * My Money Buddy : https://adelemartin.com/mymoneybuddy/

    The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
    1 hr
  • TSS 09: Investment Property The Good and The Bad
    Very excited to have Todd Hearne on today 
    Todd is a partner of a WSC Group a national accounting firm
    Todd has nearly 2 decades worth of tax experience and will be talking today about investment properties. 
    One of my big bugbears is that people often assume they can just buy a property and that will solve their money problems and be all they need to do to build wealth. 
    As highlighted in this episode that’s not the case. 
    We talk about the fact you need a strategy and to know how it fits into your individual circumstances 
    We will chat about:

    * Some of the common terms used with investment property eg what does negative gearing actually mean, 
    * Potential tax benefits from owning property, 
    * Some of the risks in owning property & how to reduce these
    * Why it’s important to think about who will own property e.g joint names, one partner, trust etc

    Also here’s a list of the links we spoke about in this episode:

    * If you want to connect with Todd further – https://wscgroup.com.au/page/todd-hearne
    * If you want to learn more about Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF) then make sure you listen to episode 6 of The Savings Squad podcast – www.adelemartin.com/tss-06-self-managed-super-fund-smsf-yeah-or-nah/

     
    The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
    34 min
  • TSS 08: what you need to know when buying a house
    I remember years ago when I brought my first home it was quite a stressful experience as I felt like no one explained the process to me. As a result several things were left to the last minute and then a mad panic and rush pursued to get things done on time. 
    So in this episode I talk to Chad Penfold the founder of conveyancing firm LawRep about the steps involved when you are buying a house including:
     


    * What you should do BEFORE you buy a house ?

     

    * How to negotiate when you buy a property ? (Its not just money you can negotiate)

     

    * Some of the issues Chad has found when reviewing contracts 

     

    * What you need to be aware of when buying at an auction 

     

    * The best money advice Chad has ever received

    If you have any more questions for Todd or thinking of buying a house then be sure to connect him via their website or on Chad’s mobile 04 203 23 209 
    The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
    54 min
  • TSS 07: Live More Consciously

    Sometimes we get so busy with life we forget to check in on what actually makes us happy. With the new year upon us we often get some downtime and it's a great chance to reflect on what brings us joy and take steps to integrate into our lives. I've been thinking about what brings me joy now more than ever for a couple of reasons: So one way I'm ensuring I'm living my best life and living more consciously is to develop a list of 19 things I want to do in 2019 (inspired by one of my favorite podcasts Happier by Gretchen Rubin). But I wanted to take my time and put some thought into this list so I developed a process to live more consciously in 2019 which involves contemplating 3 areas: [thrive_2step id='3012'] [/thrive_2step] What are the things that add to my happiness and I need to do more of? This could include things: What drains my energy down and that I need to avoid or limit. This could include people or things that: Actively seeking new things to do is great for your creativity, energy levels, and critical thinking.  This could include: So with the above in mind I have come up with my 19 things I will achieve in 2019:      

    • In 2018 I lost my dear friend to cancer very quickly and suddenly. It made me understand that life is short and none of us know how long we might have on earth. I realised I was busy being busy and wasn't living consciously.
    • My husband Nathan is about the celebrate the big 40 (and I'm quietly having a mild freak out as it's not too far off for me either). Those round number birthdays tend to make us reflect on what's really important to us.
    • 2019 is also the year we will become parents with baby Martin due in April. As I contemplate becoming a mum I know I want to be more present and be the best version of myself.
      1. What fills my cup
      2. What drains my cup
      3. What new things could I do to fill my cup

        4. CREATE YOUR 19 FOR 2019 LIST BY CLICKING HERE

        HERE'S HOW I CAME UP WITH MY LIST FOR 2019
        Step 1: What are the things that fill my cup?
        • I enjoy
        • That relive stress/anxiety
        • I do purely for fun or entertainment
        • That help make me kinder
        • That makes me laugh
          • Step 2: What are the things that drain my cup?
          • Stress me out
          • Trigger me
          • Creates unhealthily consequences
          • Drains me
          • I think I have to do but don't want to
            • Step 3: What are the new things I can do that will fill my cup?
            • Bucket List Items
            • Self-care
            • New hobby
            • New social activity or social circle
            • Always something you wanted to do
              • MY 19 FOR 2019 LIST
              1. Monthly massage: self-care is so important if we want to be the best version of ourselves. A few months ago, I started having a massage once a month on a Friday afternoon and It's definitely a habit I want to continue in 2019.
              2. Monthly nature walk in the bush or on the beach: connecting with nature always helps to make me feel calmer and more centered. I'm very lucky that I only live 10 minutes from the best beaches in the world yet sadly I rarely go. So this year I'm going to make more of an effort to enjoy the beautiful outdoors.
              3. Keep doing Park Run: if you haven't tried Park Run I really encourage you to try it ( don't worry you don't need to run). I love Park Run not only for the fitness but we also have a developed a running group The Workout Wenches and it's a great chance to connect with friends regularly.
                4. 16 min
              4. TSS 06: Self Managed Super Fund (SMSF) – Yeah or Nah

                In this episode I chat to Troy Smith about Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF)
                Troy works as a manager in the Onepath Tech Team. He’s the guy I ring if I want to bounce a strategy idea or check the latest rule changes (he’s got a lot of patience to answer all my questions)
                He is of course very qualified with a Graduate Certificate in Financial planning, and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Tax Law, as well as a Bachelor of Commerce.
                Troy also has a keen interest in Self Managed Super Funds (SMSF) as he runs his own SMSF with his partner, mum and dad so I thought he would be a great guest for this episode where we deep dive into SMSF.
                In this episode we cover:

                * How a SMSF differs to a “normal” super fund
                * The set up and ongoing costs of running your own fund
                * How much you should have in super before your start a SMSF (Troy has some different thoughts on this to what the government suggests and I love his rationale)
                * The downsides to having a SMSF
                * Borrowing in SMSF
                * Who can you have a SMSF with & why Troy choose to start one with his mum and dad
                * Common mistakes people make when they run a SMSF
                * Who a SMSF is right for and importantly who its not right for

                The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
                37 min
              5. TSS 05: Glam Corner why renting clothes is a trend here to stay
                Glam Corner is the genius online clothing rental business that lets you have access to an unlimited designer wardrobe without breaking your budget.
                I first came across it when I was admiring a friends Instagram and her wardrobe. She always looked incredible and I thought she must spend a fortune on clothes. Then I saw she tagged Glam Corner and I got curious.
                I discovered Glam Corner was just like Spotify. Spotify you don’t need to own the music to enjoy it. Glam Corner does the same with clothes. Clothes just like your music choice change over time and you don’t want to be stuck paying a sunk cost for something you aren’t going touse or hold long term (like my Aqua Barbie Girl CD)
                I didn’t need to spend $800 or $900 on an outfit I would wear once or twice. I don’t mind making an investment in jeans or joggers something I wear all the time. But for formal clothes the cost per wear is expensive !
                What’s more I didn’t need to drag myself to a shopping centre on the weekend fighting the crowds and trying to find a carpark only to find they had nothing I liked or in my size anyway.
                Plus I’ve been giving this minimalism thing a go – I do feel better with less clutter. Since most women only wear a 1/3 of their wardrobe Glam Corner made perfect sense if it was trying to live a more minimalist lifestyle.
                In this episode we cover:

                * How an investment banker with an honors degree in finance starts a women’s clothing business
                * Some of their struggles early on in business
                * The changing shift in Australia and the world towards the sharing economy and not needing to own something to enjoy it
                * FAQ about renting clothes (like how to pick the right size or what if you don’t like the dress); &
                * The many benefits of renting clothes (it’s not just financial)

                I hope you enjoy listening to this episode as much as I did recording it. You can listen above or in your favourite podcast app.
                The information (including taxation) provided in this blog is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances or needs. Do not act until you seek professional advice and consider the Product Disclosure Statement. The author, Adele Martin, is a Certified Financial Planner at Firefly Wealth which is an Authorised Representative of RI Advice Group ABN 23 001 774 125 AFSL 238429. The views expressed in the blog are solely those of the author, they are not reflective or indicative of RI licensees’ position and are not attributed to RI Advice Group. They cannot be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the author.
                25 min

              About The Savings Squad

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              Adele Martin is the leading authority for money advice for those in their 20’s, 30’s and 40’s.