Darren Titmus

When the media starts reporting higher interest rates and spiralling price rises, their next story will almost certainly scream the impending doom of a possible economic recession. But what exactly is a recession and is it all bad news for local share market investors? Why all the talk Most commentators believe a ‘technical recession’ occurs when there have been two consecutive quarters of negative growth in real gross domestic production or economic output, but there really is no strict definition.…

We all know that having a Will to protect our life’s assets is crucial, but what about our virtual life? Is our online presence classed as an asset? It most definitely can be! Known as “digital assets”, what you store online can take many forms, and often have no expiry date. So, what happens to your digital property when you die? There actually is a thing called “digital estate planning”. Just like a Will, a digital estate plan can help…

There’s an old joke about scientists discovering something that could do the work of two men. One woman.  The implication was that women are better at doing two or more things at once than men, now referred to as ‘multitasking’, and there is some science to back this up. Even so, and regardless of gender, there’s also plenty of evidence that multitasking isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.  The downside We don’t need to look too far to see…

Arranging aged care can be stressful, but when it involves someone who is a farmer, unique circumstances apply. If your loved one is a farmer on his or her own land, would you know how best to help?  Farmers – often a husband and wife team – may continue working well past retirement age because farming isn’t just a business – it’s a life. As a family business, the farm might be passed down to the next generation so when…

Cleaner air, less traffic, open spaces, lower cost of living…did we mention less traffic? There are any number of reasons to consider a tree change, but if you’re serious about leaving the bright lights behind, better do your homework first. Housing affordability Buying a home is more affordable in the country, and that goes for renting too.  In Wodonga on the Victoria-NSW border, you can rent a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom, modern family home for around $390 per week. You’d…

If you’ve ever laid awake at night thinking about your finances you’ll know: financial stress can be debilitating. What you may not be aware of is the strong link between financial stress and mental health. According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 4.2 million Australians received mental health related prescriptions from their doctors over the 2017-2018 period. Though governments annually spend over $9 billion on mental health, there’s a continuous need for more resources, funding, and understanding around…

FIRE… Financial Independence, Retire Early. Sounds nice, doesn’t it?  It’s easy to see why the FIRE movement is burning hot across the younger generations. The notions of financial independence and early retirement are surely appealing to the majority.  But as with most good things, it comes at a price, and it’s important to weigh up the pros and cons to decide what is right for you. What is ‘FIRE’? ‘A movement of people devoted to a program of extreme savings…

Before heading off on an overseas holiday, Sam decided to buy an expensive new camera to document his travels. The camera store offered a ‘buy now, pay later’ option, and attracted by the ‘no interest’ promise of the credit provider, Sam signed up.  All was well to begin with. Sam had a great time on his trip – in fact, maybe a bit too much of a good time. On returning home he’d maxed out his regular credit card and,…

Tasty food is a luxury everyone enjoys. However, in uncertain financial times, to save money, there is a tendency to rein in spending and sacrifice pleasure. So how can we continue to enjoy our culinary treats without skimping on portions or breaking the bank? Australians waste around 20% of all food they purchase. In other words, for every five bags of groceries we buy, one bag is tossed in the garbage. This equates to the average Australian household throwing away…