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Budgeting Financial Planning

Budgeting For Loan Repayments – Techniques & Tips

Budgeting For Loan Repayments
Learn key tools and techniques to improve and develop your techniques when budgeting for loan repayments.

The aim of this article is to give you all the tools and techniques to improve and develop techniques for budgeting for loan repayments.

Do you have the resources to pay off your loan after taking one out?

A budgeting plan will allow you to do the following:

  • Be more in control of your finances
  • Avoid falling into a neverending debt cycle
  • Help to reduce stress
  • Enable you to better plan out your future.

Budgeting for loan repayments takes some organisation. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to do it.

Understand the real meaning of budget

A good budget should record the following:

  • Actual income
  • Projected income
  • Expenditures over a period of time

There are many resources out there to help you to budget, from apps to budgeting experts, to websites. We recommend Just Budget’s free online budget calculator because you receive a clear tangible solution at the end.

When budgeting for loan repayments, you should consider the following before making a decision about spending.

What is important to me?

Are you willing to trade off a comfortable retirement for a holiday in the Caribbean? Do you want to eat at nice restaurants and charge them on credit cards, copping interest in the process? Would you prefer to pay for your children’s education instead of purchasing an extravagant model of car?

Each of us have our own priorities. Someone else’s priorities may seem to be trivial to you. A simple event can be other person’s bucket list experience. Your choices depend upon what is significant for you. Sadly, a lot of people get into debt for things that do not really matter to them in the grand scheme of things.

How do I want to live?

Nobody wants to live below the poverty line and not everyone is comfortable with debt. But, when a crisis occurs, such as family breakdown, health issues or unexpected changes, you may be forced to go into debt — which may be too great for you to handle.

Thinking about creating a debt management strategy, could help you handle debts and free up a little income to meet your daily expenditure.

How can I accomplish my financial goals?

Visualise your future

By smartly utilising your income, you could live comfortably even if you have debts. The challenge is to bridge the gap between your present situation and your vision.

You can ask yourself, ‘If I want to be that person, what can I do right now to get there?” The answer may be uncomfortable for you at first, but when you see that you are getting through with it with flying colours, you will be encouraged to continue until you succeed.

Set realistic and achievable financial goals

What are your long-term and short-term goals?

Do you wish to save $50,000 for a down payment to your dream house or do you want to be totally free from debt in 5 years’ time? Your goals should be specific. Put a deadline for each of them and review or adjust those goals until you accomplish them.

For example, if you want to have a comfortable retirement, define ‘comfortable’. When do you want to retire? How much money do you want to receive each month? Where do you want to live?

Set short-term goals or those that you can accomplish in less than a year. Perhaps you want to pay off your $1,000 credit card debt in 6 months or save $2000 for a nice pair of shoes for Christmas.

Budgeting to pay off debts 1

Make a plan on how to accomplish your goals

When budgeting for loan repayments, there are three factors to consider when creating a strategy:

  • Income: How much money do you make? Do you have 1 income stream or do you have a side hustle? Could you find other ways to increase your income?
  • Outgoings: Consider your fixed (wifi, rent) and variable expenses (groceries, electricity), and your debt repayments. Also consider how much spending money you typically spend.
  • The result: If your monthly income is greater than your average monthly expenses + minimum debt repayments then you can decide what to do with the suplus. Will you put it towards paying off debts faster? Will you use it to treat yourself to material goods, holidays or dining out? Or will you put it aside for future savings or an emergency fund?

Do you feel like there’s no way out of your current situation?

If you feel as though you are drowning in debt then things can get complicated.

You may choose that debt consolidation is the right solution for you. This entails taking out a loan whereby your current debt are combined into 1 repayment with fixed or no interest and lower total fees with a clear repayment structure.

If you are making less than the total of your expenses and debts then debt you may want to consider debt relief where your repayments are stretched out into lower amounts over a longer period of time, so you can afford them and stop being overwhelmed by debt repayments.

Some final notes when budgeting for loan repayments

If you are not already too deep in debt, then budgeting for loan repayments can be fairly straightforward. It just takes a clear vision, some careful planning and discipline to find your way out.

Sometimes, you have to make tough decisions to escape the debt cycle. If you need a hand with budgeting then Australian Lending Centre are only a phone call away.

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Debt Consolidation Business Consolidation Loans Debt Management Financial Planning Short Term Loans

Coronavirus: Financial Security in a Pandemic

Coronavirus: Financial Security in a Pandemic
Coronavirus: Financial Security in a Pandemic

Financial security and pandemic. The two don’t really go hand-in-hand, do they? As if facing a global health crisis wasn’t terrifying enough, the world’s economic nosedive is hitting Australian families and individuals hard. Really hard. But as with most things in life, rest assured there will be light at the end of the tunnel. As cheesy as it sounds, we really are all in this together. Out of this strange and unwelcome period will come a brighter future for Australia and the rest of the world. So while we work on our self-isolation best practices, what are the steps we can take to achieve a sense of financial security in a pandemic?

Find out what government support applies to you

The Australian Government is currently providing financial assistance to Australians during this uncertain time. The assistance includes income support, household support and temporary early releases of superannuation. All the important details can be found here.

Be sure to also look at your state government and find out what packages and recovery efforts apply to you.

South Australia: The SA government has unveiled a $1 billion jobs stimulus package. Keep an eye on media releases and updates here.

Tasmania: The Tasmanian Liberal Government has prepared a $420 million stimulus package to support Tasmania. Keep an eye on media releases and updates here.

ACT: The ACT Government has prepared an economic support package of $137 million. Keep an eye on media releases and updates here.

Northern Territory: The Territory Labor Government’s $65 million Jobs Rescue & Recovery Plan has been introduced to keep shops open, cash flowing and Territorians working. Keep an eye on media releases and updates here.

Western Australia: The WA State Government announced a $607 million stimulus package to support WA households, pensioners and small businesses in the wake of COVID-19. Keep an eye on updates here.

Queensland: The Queensland Government has announced a $4 billion COVID-19 package to support Queenslanders’ health, jobs and businesses. Keep an eye on updates here.

Victoria: The Victorian Government has announced a $1.7 billion economic survival and jobs package to support small and medium sized businesses in Victoria. Keep an eye on updates here.

Write up a budget plan

If ever there were a time to start being conservative with your funds, now would be it. You’ll feel an alleviating sense of financial security in a pandemic if you can stick to a well-curated budget. Remember, the ever-changing economic climate brings all kinds of financial stress, so you’ll want to keep updated on what’s happening and budget around that.

Accept the current state of affairs and do what you can to work around it. Try to avoid spending as if everything is normal in the world. Evolve and adapt your spending to suit the current climate. That being said, please don’t panic buy.

Panic buying goes against the idea of budgeting for a pandemic. You might find yourself buying excess of what is necessary, being left with little funds to support other areas in need. Excessive stockpiling can also lead to price gouging, which is when the prices of certain supermarket items double or triple in price. None of us want to pay $20 for toilet roll.

Pay attention to budgetary changes

Now that you are in self-isolation, you will notice certain expenses disappearing and others rising. As you won’t be leaving the house, you will no longer be paying for petrol or for drinks or a night out. You will, however, be using electricity and water at home a lot more. Consider these variables and tailor your spending habits around them. You will need to pay close attention to what money goes where as it will be different to your routine money management system.

Carefully consider a loan

Australian Lending Centre is a leading provider of bad credit loans and consolidation loans Australia-wide. We strive to assist people who have multiple credit cards and personal loans. With the introduction of the coronavirus, we understand finances are tighter than ever. ALC can lend a helping hand. We offer a wide range of financial services and can provide a product to match your individual needs. From debt consolidation and debt management, to credit repair and low doc loans, ALC can help. Get started on your loan application here.

Look after your mental health and well-being

It may be the last on our list, but it is indisputably the most important. A healthy mental state is vital to feeling a sense of financial security in a pandemic. If you feel mentally on top of things, the finances will follow.

Avoid Fake News and Sensationalised Media

One of our top tips would be to avoid fear-inducing media if you find yourself inclined to anxiety. Although we have addressed keeping up to date with the latest pandemic news, this doesn’t mean delving deep into conspiracy theories and reading about all the tragedies. Have an understanding and be aware. Just don’t spend all your time consumed by COVID-19 news.

Stay Busy and Engaged

Try to keep yourself occupied with hobbies. Read a book. Go for a jog. Clean the house or learn a new recipe. Being homebound doesn’t have to mean being bored out of your brain. It certainly doesn’t mean sink into the couch and rotate through Netflix series’ all day.

Seek Support

Finally, seek support if you’re feeling helpless. Beyond Blue has a dedicated page on its forums to help those who are experiencing mental health depreciation due to the current global crisis. You can contact the Australian Government Department of Health on their national helpline (1800 020 080) for information on the pandemic. There will always be people you can speak to and people who can help.

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Financial Planning Debt Management

Budgeting Tips – Learn How to Manage Your Finances

Budgeting Tips to manage finances||Budgeting Tips||Budgeting Tips
Budgeting Tips to manage finances||Budgeting Tips Budgeting Tips

There are many benefits that come with budgeting. Creating a budget is something that everyone can do. It doesn’t matter how much you earn, what expenses you have, or which stage you are at in life. They can be created specifically for your needs. In this blog, we share budgeting tips to help you to manage your finances, but first, here are some reasons you might be considering a budget:

Set and meet a savings goal

Have a big trip on the horizon? Looking into high schools for your kids? There are plenty of expenses in life that add up fast, and creating a budget is a great way to work towards them. You may even have a bigger goal in mind, such as buying your first home. Every little bit counts and budgeting will help get you closer.

Overview of your finances

You may think you are spending wisely, but often on closer inspection of where your money is going, you may discover otherwise. Often we spend blindly, thinking we are keeping track, but when we add up the numbers, it can be a shock. Creating a budget lets you see exactly where your money is going and what you are spending it on.

Improve your spending

Finally, with a budget, you can improve your spending. You don’t have to cut out the luxuries, but rather just look at cutting down in places to help you add more money to savings instead.

No matter which reason applies to you, creating a budget is a practical solution. It puts you in charge of your finances. Here are some great budgeting tips to help.

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Budgeting Tips – Manage Your Finances

Start with the Past

This may sound draining, but it really is the best way to do it. It’s best to go back about a year, so you get a full overview of all your expenses. This might include insurance and other bills that come at different stages throughout the year.

Print out your statements and run through them with different coloured highlighters. For example, use yellow for household expenses, green for car expenses and orange for entertainment. Just being able to see this at a glance will give you a good indication of where your money is going each year. And remember, a budget isn’t about cutting out bad spending. It is about being aware of where you money is going and cutting down on areas. Maybe you didn’t realise you went out so much?

Set Achievable Goals

Look at where you are and where you want to be. There is no point cutting out all entertainment expenses, just to buckle down and save. This just isn’t realistic and you will end up slipping up, which will put you back at square one. Instead, set goals you can achieve, and always allow for ‘anonymous’ expenses, such as a couple of dollars for the cake stand at school. You need a bit of leeway for these small expenses that can add up.

Open a Savings Account

Now you have a goal in mind, make sure you have a savings account set up. The most important thing when it comes to your savings account is to ensure you are earning interest on the money. Opt for an account that has a good interest return, after all this is easy money in your pocket that will give your savings a good boost.

Use cash

By using cash instead of your credit card or bank card, you will become much more aware of your spending and less likely to overspend. This is one of the best budgeting tips out there. Take out a certain amount each week and watch where it is going – don’t let yourself spend beyond this. It is so easy to tap away on a card and not even consider where your money is disappearing too.

Ring all your providers

Another one of those golden budgeting tips. This one can be time-consuming, but it is so worth it. Ring around all your providers, mobile phone, internet, insurances, etc., and look for a better deal. Often all you have to do is ask, especially if you have been with them for a while.

Stick to It

Don’t let yourself go, as bad habits will come back really quickly if you find yourself giving up. If you have the odd slip-up, that’s fine, get back on track and go again. And if you are finding it is just too hard, this may mean you need to take a look at your goals and readjust them to make them more achievable. It’s all too easy to feel like a failure if you can’t meet your goals. However, if this is the case, it is more likely that your initial goals just weren’t achievable. Budgeting apps can be useful if you are struggling to budget yourself. Money Brilliant is one of the budgeting apps available in Australia.shutterstock 1120539272 Budgeting takes hard work and perseverance, but the results speak for themselves. Use these budgeting tips to help you to manage your finances and soon you’ll be in a good position to reach your savings goals. If you need a bit of extra help managing your money, get in contact.

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Debt Consolidation Credit Card Consolidation Personal Loans

Saving Money On a Lower Income

saving money on a lower income

There is a range of strategies you can employ to make saving money o. One of the major areas that can save you a lot in the long term is debt consolidation. There are also some other lifestyle choices you can make to improve your financial situation.

Many people think it is all too hard, but everything you do will help, even small changes can make a huge difference. We can all employ a range of measures that will prevent budget blowouts without sacrificing all the things you like doing.

If you are finding yourself on the roller coaster of no savings, bad debt management, poor (or no) budgeting and everything is a bit chaotic, Australian Lending Centre has some tips and tricks to get you out of bad debt employing activities such as debt consolidation, saving and feeling in control again.

First things first – Where Does Your Money Currently Go?

If you don’t yet have a budget, keep a financial diary for your pay period and track how you are spending your money. The Money Smart website offers a great money tracking app to make this easier. This will give you valuable insight into your habits and areas you can save.

  • What are you spending your money on?
  • How much is left over at the end of the pay period?
  • What money needs to go out on payments and bills?
  • Are there any areas of waste or unnecessary spending?
  • Are there areas where you are going backwards and getting into arrears?

Planning and Budgeting  – Where Will Your Money Go?

Once you have a record of what your current spending entails, get online to the Money Smart website and complete the budget tool. Be sure to include all your debts, payments, bills, and income. Mark payments and amounts in your calendar. Most bank online apps have the ability to schedule payments, so they come out when they are due, but if these are also in your calendar you won’t get any unexpected payments coming out. These regular payments can including things like:

  • Mortgage or rent
  • Car payments, car registration and insurance
  • Household/health insurance
  • Credit card payments
  • Loan repayments
  • Store card payments
  • Afterpay/ZipPay (remember that defaulting on these can effect your credit score)
  • Utilities such as gas and electricity (you may want to discuss bill smoothing with your provider – this is a regular payment over time rather than a massive and shocking bill each quarter)
  • Internet and phone

Bad Debts? Talk to the Credit Provider

The bottom line is that companies want to be paid. They are always receptive if you explain your situation, especially if you have, or are, experiencing financial hardship. You may be able to negotiate with them to reduce or put a hold on payments until you get back on top of things. Of course, you still have the pay the money back, but a hiatus on payments can help in the short term. Some credit providers will allow you to reduce the final figure if you can pay the debt outright. If they offer this, it may be time for debt consolidation. If you are too overwhelmed by the phone calls and letters, then talk to us about negotiating on your behalf.

Next Steps – Take Control With Debt Consolidation

When loans and credit cards get beyond what you can cope with in terms of interest and late payments, it might be time to call in help from the experts. Companies like Australian Lending Centre can offer a solution for a bad credit debt consolidation loan. This is where you negotiate with lenders for a reduced payout figure and then apply for a single loan that will cover all your bills in one payment with a lower interest than general credit cards and late payment fees. Having one simple debt consolidation loan payment to go out eat pay period is going to be a lot easier than trying to remember everything. The sooner you simplify your payments, the sooner you will be in an easier financial situation.

Money-Saving Tips

Turn off the TV

Are services like Netflix, Foxtel, Stan, Hayu and the iTunes store getting beyond ridiculous? Try cutting out all but the most popular one, to cut back. Turning off the TV will also help cut back on power and expose you to less spend-inducing ads. You might also have app subscriptions that you don’t need. Although these are small they can add up in a month.

Stop Hoarding and Start Selling

If you have closets full of unwanted clothes, try selling them online. A good clean out also helps you to see what your wearable wardrobe looks like so you can plan your clothes shopping to maximise your shopping budget. Also if you buy anything make sure it goes with the other items in your wardrobe. Take advantage of sales, why pay retail when most clothes will go on sale towards the middle of the season.

Look for those habits that add up

You can cut back on your habits, such as drinking alcohol during the week, smoking (probably goes without saying but your health and budget will thank you), buying coffees, can all save a surprising amount as well as having general health benefits. Limiting your drinking to the weekend can save hundreds a month, depending on your drink of choice. That bottle of wine after work at $15 a night can really add up over the week. Similarly, a $4 coffee each day is $20 a week. Make coffee at home in a keep cup and save money and the environment.

Stop using your credit card

By switching to using your debit card or cash for purchases, you will be more aware of your spending habits. It will also prevent the slide into bad credit debt.

Be frugal at the supermarket

Most of the time, buying in bulk or larger sizes are cheaper over time, so check on the prices for the larger sizes. Don’t shop with kids. Pester power is a thing and can increase your spend at the checkout. Never shop when you are hungry. Buy less meat, which is expensive, and opt for more meat-free alternatives, such as tofu, beans, and pulses.

Eat Smarter

With a busy life, planning meals can be a real chore, but while using services like Uber Eats seems like a good alternative, you are actually paying $5 on top of takeaway prices and it really can add up at the end of the pay period. By shopping in bulk, cooking healthy meals and taking the leftovers to work for lunch, you can save quite a lot each day.

Are You Missing Out On Government Payments You Are Entitled To?

Lastly, make sure you check all your entitlements with regards to government payments. As a low-income earner, you may be eligible for some form of financial support if you aren’t already receiving a government benefit. When every dollar counts it’s worthwhile claiming all you can. To check on payments and entitlements, check out the Department of Human Services. Even a small additional payment may ease your financial burden. Living on a low income is hard, but these payments are designed to help.

Small Changes with Big Returns

Once you have a clearer picture about where your money goes, you make changes to your lifestyle and start on the path to greater financial control, the happier, healthier and less stressed overall you will be.If you need help with debt consolidation, please get in touch. We’d love to hear from you.

Note: This information is general, and doesn’t take into account your specific personal and financial circumstances.