May 2019 Financial Checklist

Phew! The Easter antics are over, and the kids are back at school, so let out a sigh of relief because the April whirlwind has finally passed!

A big round of applause to all you parents who ran around like headless chooks to keep your kids entertained all school holidays. We’re starting to see it’s no coincidence that Mother’s Day comes right after Easter. Dads, don’t fret! Your time will come.

Grab a chair and put your feet up, cause it’s time for your favourite monthly read. Here’s your May 2019 Financial Checklist:

Sydney Royal pain in the-

Ah, the Sydney Royal Easter Show. Pluto pups, showbags and rides, oh my! It’s the stuff kids dreams (and parents nightmares) are made of. And don’t feel bad if you crumbled when your 10-year-old begged for “just one more” showbag. After all, who’s immune to puppy-dog eyes?

But, surprise-surprise, that "one" showbag turned into ten! And now you're clenching your teeth as you read your April credit card statement. If a day at the show landed you a pile of credit card debt, then this month start paying it off and swear off the plastic for a while, so you don't rack up any more debt while you're at it.

If that 'pile' of debt has become Mount debt-erest, then you might want to consider putting the balance on a balance transfer card, so you can gradually pay it off without paying interest. Just be sure to pay it off within the balance transfer period, or else you’ll cop the high revert rate, which could potentially send you back to square one.

DIY this Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day is coming up on May 12th, which means the clock’s ticking on finding the perfect gift to show Mum just how much you love her. That’s a lot of pressure - on you and your wallet. 

But the good news is, you don’t have to break the bank to show your love for Mum. We’re not saying to boycott gift-giving this Mother’s Day. We’re merely challenging you to think outside the (gift)box and, dig a little deeper!

Thinking of spoiling mum to a luxury spa retreat? Save your money and have a DIY mother-daughter spa day at home. You don’t need to drop megabucks on a day at the Ritz. Trust us, she’ll appreciate the effort more than any overpriced beauty buys and will love the quality time together.

Take it from Taurus

In light of Taurus season, we thought we’d check in to see just how ‘on the ball’ our Mozo magic 8-ball’s predictions were about Taurus finding some mystery-money in 2019. So, Taurus, win any scratchies? Find some loose change? …Well, only a matter of time!

But, what we really want to know Taurus, is whether you held up your end of the bargain and got that new savings-account we talked about to stash your surprise cash in?

And to all the other signs, you don’t need to be a Taurus to get serious about your savings! When was the last time you looked for a better deal? Here, do yourself a favour and check out these high-interest savings accounts so you can get a little more bang for your buck in interest.

Tick off your EOFY to-do list

Gosh, where has the year gone? With May here already, time’s ticking to get things ready for the end of the financial year. Now’s the time to tie up any loose ends before tax time rolls around.

First, use Mozo’s income tax calculator to figure out how much money you’ll be handing to the taxman this time around. The next thing you should do is go to whichever nook or cranny you’ve stuffed all your receipts in and work out if there’s anything you can claim.

Once you’ve ticked everything off your EOFY to-do list, why not set a few new (financial) year’s resolutions? Whether that’s sticking to a tighter budget, or better organising your finances to avoid any last-minute stress next EOFY, there’s always room for improvement.

For more fab finance tips, head over to our life & money hub. We look forward to seeing you back here in June for your Financial Checklist fix!