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Have you ever gone to get cash out of your wallet or purse and found that it’s jammed packed with receipts or perhaps you have a pile building up in your drawer? Alternatively you may have a bag where you throw ALL your receipts in together.

These locations may seem like a good place to store them and somewhat organised until you decide to look for a particular receipt and it takes you 30 minutes or you decide to do a clean out and throw them ALL out - even the ones you should be keeping.

A great way to keep your receipts organised is by using an accordion file. You can sort them by month or by category such as clothing, households, tax claims and so on. You also don’t have to keep every single receipt. Simply decide which ones you will keep at the time you receive it. For example, you may not keep a receipt for the purchase of a bottle of water or lunchtime sandwich but you may keep your receipt for the purchase of your new pair of heels.

As soon as you get home place the receipts in the accordion file. You will be able to keep track of all our major purchases and just in case something breaks down or you need to exchange or return a gift. Imagine the time you will save by keeping them all in one spot and in organized categories.

Make sure you clean out your recipts every six months. Keep all TAX related receipts together and file with your tax return according to the tax office regulations in your state.

We all know that home organisation can help with your sanity, but did you know that it can also contribute to your bank account? It’s true—getting organised can help you save both time and money, the two most valuable commodities in our lives. Not convinced? Read on to discover how getting your house in order can help you pinch your pennies as well.

Kitchen Clutter

The kitchen is often one of the busiest rooms in a home. Perhaps that’s why it tends to be the one that attracts the most clutter. Having a cluttered kitchen can not only cramp your cooking style, but it can also drain your bank account as well. If you can’t find things in your kitchen, whether it be ingredients or utensils, then you’re much more likely to just throw your hands up in frustration and resort to expensive takeout or delivery pizza. In addition, even if you have a meal plan for your family, if your kitchen isn’t organised, then you may be buying unnecessary items simply because you can’t find them amidst the randomly piled cans and bags of food in your pantry. 

It’s fair to say that nobody really enjoys budgets unless you do this for a living or you have a genuine likeness for number crunching. The fact that budgets involve numbers and admin, we often find it’s the last thing we want to do with our spare time. If you don’t keep one then the thought of knowing where your money goes can be scary for many.

Having a family budget will help you make better informed decisions, set goals and also you give the power to live the life you want without worrying about money.

One of the greatest joys in life in celebrating birthdays, especially our kid’s birthdays. Watching their faces as their friend’s stream in, the excitement when they blow out the candles and open their presents are all happy moments. The problem here is that when you mention the word PARTY the word EXPENSIVE soon follows.

Have you ever thought about the amount of money you spend on a party, do you guestimate the amount or do you plan for this expense?

1. Book your Appointment - if you know approximately when your employer is due to send out your group certificate then book your tax appointment now. You will be amazed at how quickly July and August appointments get booked out. Beware of tax lodgment deadlines to avoid any penalties.
 
2. Schedule some ‘Tax Organising’ time – allocate time in your diary to get your tax records organised. Some people only require 20 minutes while others may require a longer period of time over a few days to ensure all receipts and statements are in order.

Tonight is Federal Budget night - although very important and I highly recommend that you review how the outcomes will affect your family budget this blog is about your personal family budget. Let’s be honest, mention the word “budget” and many people instantly lose interest or develop a knot in their stomach. But sticking your head in the sand when it comes to the family budget is in no way a financial method that is going to do you any favours. A family budget is like a map that guides you towards your family financial goals and keeps money issues on track and under control.

Many people make the mistake of setting a family budget and then never looking at it again. A budget is a living document that needs to be constantly re-worked and amended according to the changing needs of the family. For this very reason, it is essential that you set aside some time each week to keep on top of things.

Make one night a week “budget night” where you and your partner take a look at the family budget - in our household Tuesday night is the night. On budget night we both micro-manage and macro-manage the finances by taking a look at what needs to be taken care of during the week as far as bills and payments and we also look at the bigger picture too in order to plan for financial outlays that are forthcoming – such as holidays or larger purchases.