7 ways to get more from your personal finances

Are your personal finances delivering the best return? Here are 7 top tips for getting the very best from your personal finances.

There’s plenty of advice available to help you manage your business finances. But what about the tips and hacks you need to get fully in control of your personal finances?

We’ve outlined seven essential tips for managing your personal finances and making the best of your investments and savings.

1. Create a budget and stick to it

Having a budget helps you keep track of your income, expenses and debts. It also ensures that you’re spending money in the right places. A sensible budget keeps your expenditure in check, but also gives you the cash you need for your day-to-day needs and purchases.

When creating a budget, think about all your regular outgoings and the major purchases you’ll need to make over the coming months. Be realistic about your expenses and make adjustments as needed. Remember to allocate money for savings and investments, too.

2. Pay off any debts and liabilities

Other than for major investments such as buying property, borrowing money should always be a short-term solution. High-interest debt, such as credit card debt, can eat away at your savings and hold you back from achieving your financial goals.

It’s a good idea to make paying off your debt a priority. Review your credit card debts, personal loans and overdrafts and focus on paying off the debt with the highest interest rate first. Consolidating all your legacy debts into one easily manageable debt can also make sense – lenders can help you consolidate these debts and bring down your overall repayment costs.

3. Save regularly and look for the best interest rates

We all know it’s good to have a ‘nest egg’ behind you for those times when cash gets tight. Building an emergency savings fund gives you a more solid financial foundation and protects you against unexpected expenses and unplanned purchases.

Whether it’s a sudden expensive car repair, or losing your job and salaried income, with savings in the bank you always have liquid cash available. Aim to save at least three to six months’ worth of living expenses and make sure you shop around for the savings accounts with the best interest rates. It’s also sensible to set up a standing order from your main bank account, so you automatically pay a set amount into your savings account each month.

4. Invest in your future to build solid foundations

It’s all very well to have money in the bank today – but what about further down the road? Make sure you’re making provision for the major life events such as marriage, starting a family, buying a house and (eventually) retiring and stepping back from employment.

Investing in stocks, bonds or a pension plan can help you grow your wealth over time. Consider working with an independent financial advisor to achieve your investment goals and help you create a diversified investment portfolio that aligns with your goals. They’ll also help you achieve the best risk tolerance with your investments.

5. Keep an eye on your personal credit score

Your credit score is an important factor in determining your financial health. A personal credit score measures your risk to a potential lender – the lower your risk, the more likely it is that a provider will lend you money, safe in the knowledge that you’ll make the repayments.

Many of the big credit agencies now offer personal credit reports. Make sure to check your credit report regularly to ensure that the information is accurate and to gauge the impact this score is having on your ability to borrow money. Simple steps, such as paying your bills on time and reducing credit card balances, can help to improve your credit score.

6. Stay informed about taxes and reliefs

Taxes are a necessary part of paying our way in society, but tax costs can also have a significant impact on your personal finances. It’s important to stay informed about changes to tax laws, especially those around income tax and capital gains tax, and to understand how they affect you. We don’t have an inheritance tax in Australia, however there is a need to consider future tax ramifications for your beneficiaries so having a properly-considered and professionally drafted will is essential.

It’s worth working with a tax professional who can review your tax situation and suggest all the available tax reliefs and incentives that may be open to you.

7. Review your finances regularly

Keeping a close eye on your finances is the best way to keep things in check. Most banks now offer apps that make it much easier to review your income and expenditure, and to see exactly where you’re spending your money. With so much financial information available, there’s no excuse for letting your money management get into a mess

Regularly reviewing your finances helps you stay on track and make adjustments as needed. You can even use one of the many personal finance software platforms to help you stay organised in the cloud and make well-informed financial decisions.

And just in case you wonder how we can assist, check out our list of services here.

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Is your current bookkeeping and finance
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We’ve Helped These Clients Focus Less On Their Finances, And More On Their Purpose

Here’s what they had to say:

We have had an enduring
relationship because Clare goes
beyond being just a “service
provider”.

The team at Purposely are always
invested in my clients and my own
organisations success. They partner
with their customers, accountants
and auditors to deliver tailored
solutions and they are always
proactive in their approach. If you are
looking for dedication and a long-
term partnership, these are the guys
for you.

Varis K.

VLK Accounting

We engaged with Clare and the
team to bring our organisation
into the cloud and we haven’t
looked back since.

It’s now 4 years down the track and
the Purposely team continue to
provide such an invaluable service to
our business. They understand the
complexities of working with remote
organisations and they handle
everything we need with the greatest
sensitivity. From bookkeeping, to
payroll to assisting us with all our
audit queries. They have changed the
way we operate for the better.

Anna and Steve H.

Noonkanbah Aboriginal Corporation

Purposely has looked after my
business for a long time now and
I am very happy with the service.

They are very professional and I know
things are always up to date. Clare
and her staff are great to deal with
and I trust them, that’s important. I
would not be in business today if I did
not find them.

Les R.

Quic Dig (WA) Pty Ltd

Nothing is too much trouble!

I have never felt so supported in
business… Since joining forces with
Purposely, I have become more
financially aware, have a much better
understanding of my own business
and my cash flow has improved
tenfold. [They] really have my
business’s best interests at heart.

Kellie G.

A* Star Cleanings

Purposely have been 
(and remain) invaluable to us in
making sure that this part of our
business is handled efficiently 
and with careful attention
to detail.

Paying our casual workers on time is
critical to the success of our business.
Mistakes and delays are not easy to
absorb in a small business and it’s a
great comfort to us that Purposely 
feel the same way. Timely, accurate
advice to help our business run
smoothly!

Dirima C.

Dortch & Cuthbert Trading Trust

The integrity of the Purposely
team is beyond question and we
know we can always rely on them
to prioritise the best interests of
our organisation.

Marrugeku engaged with Purposely in
2017 to handle all our bookkeeping
and payroll requirements. They
consistently show up, week in week
out with efficiency and good humour.
Even during the challenging times
faced by the entertainment industry
due to COVID-19, Purposely supported
us all the way. The Purposely team
work hard to manage the complexities 
of payroll for staff in Live
Performance. And each year they
strive to achieve a smooth audit, 
showing their dedication.

Guy B.

Marrugeku Inc.

The team at Purposely has been
a crucial resource to our
business. When we first started
working with them our books
needed dedicated attention.

Purposely did an amazing job at
bringing them up to date, making
things tidy and accurate. The team is
always reliable and consistently get
the work done. While their persistent
reminders may sometimes feel like
hounding, we recognise that it is
precisely what our business needs.
We highly recommend them for their
professionalism and commitment to
delivering results.

Holly G.

Cameron Herbert Constructions Pty Ltd

I have been working with
Purposely for a couple of years
now and in this time the team
has shown significant support to
me and my business.

Their technical expertise has helped me get my business in order leaving me to focus on what I do best. They communicate on a weekly basis so I know where things are at and what is yet to be done. Everything is completed and lodged on time and in full. I trust that they handle my data confidentially and would recommend them to anyone who is seeking the “next level” in terms of a bookkeeper.

Luke D.V.

Swat Suspension Wheel & Tyre Pty Ltd

I’m an exercise physiologist,
extremely busy and very
successful and wouldn’t be
where I am today without the
help of Purposely.

They have saved me a lot of time and
money helping my business to become
more streamlined and efficient, which
has saved me a lot of stress. I would
highly recommend Purposely as they
are very professional and very easy to
deal with.

Chris A.

Chris Anastasios Exercise Physiology

We have been working with Clare
and her team for the last 6 years.

Our initial contact with them came
from the difficulties we faced in
integrating our point of sale system
with our accounting software. We
required someone with technical
expertise to fix this issue, and Clare
immediately got on with the job. Since
then, Clare and her team have shown
commitment to adapt to our evolving
needs and implement effective
systems and processes, all of which
have contributed to enhancing our
overall operations.

Vanessa A.

Think Water Broome

We had no second thoughts on choosing Purposely.

My biggest pain point was not having clarity on the business financials from the previous bookkeepers. It was frustrating to try to communicate with them regarding anything. That’s when we found Purposely (Clare), our first impression was she was very professional and knowledgeable on what she does. We now have clarity, trust and good communication whether it comes to processing the payroll or bookkeeping or even sorting out the invoices. Clare and her team are always there to support and help and simplify things for us.

Bikram P.

Dragonfly Cafe

We have been dealing with Clare and Purposely for over 4 years because they handle the bookkeeping for one of our clients.

We can thoroughly recommend them to anyone that needs an efficient, accurate and easy to work with bookkeeper. We have always found their work to be of the highest quality.

Peter W.

Accounting on Tap Pty Ltd

I have nothing but praise for Clare & the team, they have always bent over backwards to help.

Myself & my business have been involved with Purposely for many years now after our internal Book-keeper decided to retire & suggested I look into what was/is Purposely. Purposely are Kimberley locals & understand how difficult it can be working remotely to run a business in this part of Australia. The team adapted to my requests & business style very quickly and I have to admit I haven’t always been the easiest person to work with due to the remote nature of our work & my lack of computer skills. GND will continue to use Purposely for the foreseeable future of our business.

Sam C.

Great Northern Demolition Pty Ltd

Since we started working with Purposely in 2018, we’ve witnessed their unique approach to bookkeeping which sets them apart.

Their commitment to due diligence and technical expertise exceeds the standards of traditional bookkeeping models. Their thoroughness extends beyond skilful application and experience, encompassing excellent communication with both clients and their accountants/auditors. With an experienced staff member always at hand, they provide a reliable asset to any organization fortunate enough to collaborate with them. Purposely offers an outstanding solution for organizations seeking outsourced financial management, whether it be for partial or comprehensive support.

Desiree M.

Male & Co

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