We all have a decent understanding that weddings can be an expensive exercise, but do you actually know just how much the average wedding costs in Australia? Slightly over $36,000, based on Australia’s Money Smart website. And that was in 2012! At present, it’s quite likely somewhere around the $50,000 mark. I suppose if you have wealthy parents it wouldn’t be a concern, but unfortunately many of us don’t.

Let’s admit it, $50,000 is a huge amount of money! You could purchase a business, place a deposit on a property, pay off your student loans, or perhaps travel the world! The truth is though, weddings are a celebration of two individuals who commit to devoting the rest of their lives with each other. Sure, we ‘d all like to have the wedding of our dreams, but we shouldn’t lose sight of what’s really important.

Whilst I’ve never walked down the aisle personally, I have a close group of friends, and two of them managed to pull off the most splendid weddings on a shoestring. Of course, it didn’t consist of extravagant bridesmaid parties and catering for 400 guests, but it was intimate, unique, and everybody who came had the time of their lives. If you’re planning a wedding on a budget and looking at ways to save money, then here’s how.

Location
There’s numerous ways to save thousands of dollars on your wedding venue. One of the most stylish weddings I attended was in the garden of a friend’s house. Other choices you could look into is hiring a local park for the day, or even the beach. The ambience is magnificent, you can customise your wedding to precisely how you want it, and the costs are extremely low. If you choose to have your wedding in a public location, just don’t forget to consult the local council and make reservations well ahead of time.

Wedding Date
While many people prefer their weddings on a Saturday, the prices of venues are far more pricey on Saturday than any other day of the week. Look into having your wedding on a Friday or Sunday where Monday is a public holiday. The time of year will similarly have a considerable influence on the price of your venue. If you’re dead-set on having your wedding reception in an indoor area, then organise your wedding date in winter and you’ll save close to a third of the costs for venue hire itself.

Photography
The price of a professional photographer will usually cost close to $4,000 for the entire day. With the remarkable specs of smartphone cameras nowadays, consider hiring a professional photographer only for the formalities and ask your buddies to take pictures over the course of your wedding. You can create a hashtag on Twitter and ask your friends to post their photos, ensuring that there’ll be an abundance of natural photos that mirror the true spirit of your special day.

Food & Drinks
If you really want to save money, then catering businesses are your prime target! They charge enormous prices and aren’t all that necessary. Think about organising your own food and drinks and don’t be afraid to go against the grain here.

You could hire a wood fire pizza truck that serves gourmet pizza, or look into hiring a friend to roast a whole pig in the ground and make the sides yourself. For me, there’s nothing better than a pulled pork burger with delicious sauce and cheesy smashed potatoes! Remember that most of the time, being unique is much more memorable than being traditional. Similarly, try to find a venue that permits you to bring your own alcohol. You’ll save a heap of money this way, and you’ll be able to arrange a significant discount when buying in bulk.

Don’t Borrow Money
It’s not uncommon for newlyweds to borrow money to finance their weddings, not realising how hard it can be to repay. Not only will you be paying for the wedding itself, but also interest on top of that, which can often times take years to pay off. If you’ve had a lavish wedding and found yourself in financial trouble, always seek financial advice sooner rather than later. The sooner you act, the more possibilities will be available. For any financial advice regarding your personal circumstances, talk to Bankruptcy Albury on 1300 818 575, or visit our website for additional info: http://www.bankruptcy-albury.com.au/

There’s no doubt that reaching your 30’s is a considerable milestone for everybody. Although some of us may have started a family, a new career, or perhaps bought their first home, this decade of our lives has a serious financial impact for your future years. For most individuals, our financial obligations have certainly grown and juggling costs and responsibilities with saving money for the future is tougher than ever.

The majority of us have dusted off the mistakes of our 20’s and discovered a thing or two, however this decade of our lives is the time when we really should mature and seriously consider our financial circumstances. We need to prioritise commitments, such as our children’s education and retirement savings, and take the most suitable steps to achieve a prosperous financial future for you and your loved ones. Life can undeniably get more complex in your 30’s, however by targeting a few crucial aspects of your finances, your money doesn’t have to be nearly as complicated.

By making modest lifestyle changes, you can considerably strengthen your financial circumstance now and in the years to follow, so here are some personal financial goals that everybody in their 30’s should think about.

Strengthen your emergency fund
Ideally you set up an emergency fund in 20’s, saving enough cash for a few months’ worth of expenses. This is a wonderful goal to obtain in your 20’s, but making more money and having increased financial duties in your 30’s signifies that your emergency fund becomes significantly more important. Finance specialists stongly advise that people in their 30’s should have at least 6 to 12 months of living expenditures saved in their emergency fund. Remember, moving back in with your parents is far more complicated in your 30’s, especially if you’re a parent yourself.

Assess your insurance plans
Usually, people’s circumstances change dramatically in their 30’s. You may have purchased your first house, a new vehicle, or have started a family, so it’s critical that you examine your insurance policies so they’re up-to-date. It’s also a wise idea to have a look at income protection and life insurance combined with your current insurance plans. Even if your personal circumstances haven’t changed in your 30’s, you should nonetheless evaluate your insurance plans a few times a year to be sure you’re receiving the best rates and premiums.

Boost your retirement savings.
Now is the time where you should start building your retirement contributions, specifically if your employer features a salary sacrifice plan. Making voluntary super contributions is an effective way to grow your nest egg, so if you receive a pay increase, look at using the extra income towards your retirement savings. Alongside this, if you begin a new job or career, always ensure that use the same super account which will significantly reduce costs and maximise your retirement growth.

Live well below your means.
When you find yourself having more financial responsibilities, you should inspect your budget and make sure you’re living well below your means. The key to boosting your wealth is to expand the gap between what you earn and what you spend. You’ll probably need to cut down some expenses like eating in restaurants or cable television subscriptions, but the more money you save, the faster you’ll reach your financial objectives. It’s also advisable to look at percentage of income saved as opposed to dollar amounts, as this makes it a lot easier to identify which expenses can be reduced to ensure you’re always saving more than you earn.

Seek financial help sooner rather than later.
If you’re finding it difficult to make mortgage repayments on time or you’re plunging deeper into debt, seek financial assistance as soon as possible. Frequently, the sooner you do something about it, the more options will be available to you. Lots of folks suffer financially for several years before seeking help, and not only are they in a far worse position, but it is also completely unnecessary! There are many options available for those in financial trouble, so if you require any financial aid, speak with Bankruptcy Albury on 1300 818 575, or visit our website for more information: http://www.bankruptcy-albury.com.au/

There’s no doubt that your 20’s is a very cherished period of your life. There’s a timid but exhilarating feeling about becoming an adult, leaving home, and being financially self-reliant. Regardless if you launched a career, a university degree, or spent time traveling the globe and gaining life experience, your 20’s is a vital decade from both a personal and financial context. No matter what path you decide upon, the one constant that will constantly remain in your life is money.

The fact of the matter is, the sooner you start saving money and generating wealth, the better your financial prospects will be in the future. Regardless of whether you intend to get married, start a family, or secure a property, there are particular financial goals that every individual in their 20’s should endeavour to reach in order to secure a better a future. In this article, we’ll be taking a closer look at these targets and how you can begin establishing healthy financial habits.

Create a budget
Building healthy financial habits begins with understanding how to budget. Being able to spend less money than you earn is the key to saving money, so start taking control of your finances by forming a budget and following it! With a pen and paper, write down your monthly income and expenses. Investigate your expenditures to see which can be reduced, or which can be removed entirely. Some ways to reduce your expenses are opting to eat at home rather than eating out and transferring your Cable subscription to streaming services like Netflix instead.

Remove your debts
Regardless of whether you’ve travelled the globe or have student loan debts, the quicker you repay these debts, the better. Interest compounds as time passes, so repaying your debts by reducing expenses or working a 2nd job could save you thousands of dollars in only a couple of years. These savings can then be invested in a high-interest term deposit for instance, which will put you in a much better financial position than merely making the minimum monthly repayments on your debts.

Start an emergency fund
Life almost never works out the way you planned, so it is essential to be prepared for any unanticipated changes that might be required. You may end up unemployed, or in an accident that prevents you from working, so having an emergency fund will be able to give you a bit of breathing space when you need it the most. Financial experts advise that all folks should have a dedicated emergency fund that can support their living expenses for 3 to 6 months.

Be insured
Insurance protects you financially from any undesirable consequences, for example income insurance in the event you lose your job, health insurance for unpredictable medical expenses, and vehicle insurance in the event your car is stolen. Even though it’s not necessarily sensible to get every type of insurance available, it’s definitely a smart idea to assess your individual situation to see which is best suited to you. For instance, medical insurance is recommended for everybody due to the high costs of uninsured medical treatment. Without insurance, an unexpected incident may cause serious damage to your financial situation.

Invest in a diversified portfolio
If you’ve been able to save a particular amount of money that is otherwise sitting idle in the bank, look into investing this money in a high-interest term deposit. Once you’ve got more money saved, contemplate buying some property, or investing in gold. The key to a well-founded investment portfolio is ‘diversification’, meaning that you deal with the risks of investment by putting your eggs in different baskets, so to say.

Seek financial assistance immediately
If, for whatever reason, you’ve found yourself in financial trouble, the best advice is to seek financial assistance as soon as possible. Too many individuals wrestle with financial troubles for many years before seeking help, which puts them in a worse position as their debts will only compound with time. The sooner you seek financial guidance, the more options are available to you, so if you need any guidance with your financial situation, get in contact with the professionals at Bankruptcy Albury on 1300 818 575, or visit our website for further information: http://www.bankruptcy-albury.com.au/

All of us suffer through phases in life where money is tight. Thankfully for us, there are several expenses that we can quickly do away with, for instance cable TV, gym memberships, and eating out at restaurants. Despite this, there are other expenditures that we simply can’t avoid. Rent, debt repayments and school tuition are just a number of the necessary expenses that are fixed and there’s very little we can do about it. Having said that, there is one necessary expense where we can all save a great deal of money; and that expense is food.

Having completed some research, I’ve found there are a range of ways in which we can all save on food expenses. Of course, dining out at restaurants is far more costly than eating at home, but I’m referring to saving money on your weekly food bills. You’ll be delighted at just how much money you can save by sticking to some general guidelines, so here are some useful tips that can save you thousands of dollars each year on your grocery bills.

Plan your meals and create a shopping list
Have you ever needed to throw away food simply because it’s past its expiry date? I know I have! By planning each meal of the week, you can be sure that you only spend money on food that is really needed. Take a look in your kitchen to find what ingredients you presently have, which ingredients you need to buy, and create a list of all the ingredients you’ll need for the next week.

Most of us are guilty of impulse buying at the grocery store, so planning your meals and purchasing only the ingredients on your list will greatly diminish any impulse buying. Remember to always keep stationary in the kitchen, so when you run out of a specific ingredient, you can write it down quickly and perhaps avoid a 2nd trip to the grocery store. And always shop for food on a full stomach!

Don’t bring your children to the supermarket
Often it can be tricky to organise, but if you go grocery shopping when your kids are at school or in the evening when there’s somebody to watch them, you’ll save a great deal of money. Not only can you shop quicker, but you don’t have to drain your energy by saying ‘NO’ to your children every aisle. Commonly this can become over-bearing, so a lot of people will give in occasionally, and these excessive items will build up throughout the year much more than you’d imagine.

Go shopping in the evening
Speaking of shopping in the evening, you’re likely to find the best prices at this time of day. Large supermarkets will commonly discount products when they’re overstocked, and perishable goods like bread, fruit and veggies will also likely to be discounted. Even though it may sound a bit harsh after a long day, you can bag a lot of bargains by shopping in the evening.

Buy in bulk
It should come as no surprise that buying in bulk will save you money, particularly on discounted items. Be careful though, you don’t want to purchase excessively and throw away food, but always keep in mind that you can cook meals and freeze them for later in the week (or month). Bread, cheese, and butter will keep up to three months in the freezer, and meat will generally last up to six months. Just ensure you have enough room in your freezer first!

Have a go at discounted supermarkets
Discounted supermarkets like Aldi will always have goods that are much cheaper than the supermarket giants like Coles and Woolworths. However, some goods will be more expensive, so try finding bargains at discounted grocery stores before heading to your regular grocery store. Even though you may not recognise some of the brands, the quality of the food is almost the same. The structure is also different, so it may take a bit of getting used to, but if you wish to save money on food then this is a fantastic idea.

If you’re going through financial difficulties, always remember that there are practical ways to save a great deal of money on one of your biggest costs. By making some modest adjustments in conjunction with a dash of self-discipline, you could potentially save thousands of dollars annually on your grocery bills.

If you discover that your financial circumstance is still worsening, it’s always better to seek financial advice sooner rather than later. Talk to the professionals at Bankruptcy Albury on 1300 818 575, or visit our website for more financial advice: http://www.bankruptcy-albury.com.au/

In today times, saving money is a quest that everybody wishes to achieve, but commonly it can be a challenging task for many families. Rental payments, bills, food, and everyday needs accumulate rapidly, leaving most households with little to no savings. Managing to save money and improve your life appears to be a paradox, as we normally associate a better life with spending more money! Irrespective of this, small lifestyle modifications can have an impressive effect on your savings balance with time, and investing these savings effectively will definitely improve your life in the long-run. All it takes is some self-discipline, commitment, and knowledge.

With the new year upon us, now is an appropriate time to analyse your financial position and plan to keep track of your spending patterns and cut down on needless expenses. After all, saving money means earning more than you spend, so here are the best ways you can save money in the new year to ensure a better future for you and your family.

Assess your financial situation
If you don’t understand your financial scenario, then there’s virtually no way that you can strengthen it! Being able to make sound financial decisions starts with knowledge and understanding where your money is being spent. A lot of the time, it’s challenging to keep track of our expenses, so it’s a smart idea to start keeping your receipts and reviewing your expenses each week to obtain a better understanding of your spending habits. This is the most beneficial step in being able to save money. Now, let’s unveil some specific money saving methods.

Groceries
Saving money on groceries is a lot easier than you would believe. The trick is to plan your meals a week in advance before you visit the supermarket. Once you’ve planned your meals and the associated ingredients, produce a list and stick to it! Don’t go grocery shopping famished either, that’s a sure way to spend unwarranted money impulsively. It’s also a great idea to have a paper and pen in the kitchen, so when you run out of a particular ingredient, you won’t need to make a second trip to the grocery store in case you overlook it.

Electricity
Electricity is another useful way in which you can slash expenses by making some trivial adjustments. The most practical way to save electricity is by turning off home appliances at the power point when they’re not being used. Despite the fact that the appliances aren’t being utilised, an active electricity socket nevertheless uses electricity, and these costs can really accumulate as time passes. Other ways to save on electricity is to use fans rather than air conditioners, switching off lights that aren’t being used, using hot water bottles as an alternative to electric blankets, and using a clothes line instead of a dryer.

Entertainment
All of us have to let off some steam after a hard day’s work, so a glass of wine and some cable TV suffices for the majority of people. The fact is, cable TV is a considerable expense that is seldom used to its full capacity. Look at switching to streaming services like Netflix or Hulu which cost around $10 a month in contrast to the typical $70 a month for cable TV. That’s a saving of over $700 a year alone. Additionally, instead of dining in restaurants with friends once a month, consider hosting a dinner night where each person brings a dish and their beverage of choice. You can rotate hosts, save heaps of money, and never have to worry about being too loud!

Invest your savings
While these recommendations are far from extensive, saving money by making minor changes gives you more financial choices to enhance your life. You could use these savings to indulge in a family holiday once a year, or you may plan to invest your savings in a diversified investment portfolio. Whatever you chose, the fact of the matter is that we can all make small sacrifices to save money which can be used to improve our lives.

Having problem with Debt?
If you’ve found yourself in a position where you’re continually dealing with debt and can’t see any way out, there are a handful of options available for you. You don’t need to live your life in fear and stress, and the faster you act to rectify your situation, the more options will be available for you. If you need professional advice on any financial problems that you’re currently facing, don’t wait any longer. Talk to the specialists at Bankruptcy Albury on 1300 818 575, or visit our website for further information: http://www.bankruptcy-albury.com.au/

The New Year is undoubtedly an optimal time to reflect on the previous year and make some resolutions to improve ourselves. Lots of people’s resolutions concentrate on being healthier, improving their career, or improving their financial position. Now most of us realise how tough it can be to keep our New Year’s resolutions, so it is necessary that you make sensible, obtainable goals that can be accomplished with a specific degree of persistence and discipline.

If you’ve determined that you wish to improve your financial health in 2018, there’s a fair amount of preparation and planning needed. To enjoy considerable financial improvements in your life, it’s critical that you concentrate on the things you can control and to assess your progress routinely. To give you some ideas on how to do this, the following outlines some suggestions that you should follow if you want to enhance your financial well-being in the forthcoming year.

Set clear financial goals
Research reveal that simply writing down goals significantly increases the chances of you accomplishing them. In a monetary sense, writing down individual goals with an expected timeline not only increases the likelihood of you achieving these goals, but you’ll additionally understand what is most important to you.

A number of financial goals, for instance retirement, may require the help of a financial planner, but there are many basic, plausible goals that you can arrange on your own, such as purchasing a vehicle, saving for a home deposit, or creating an emergency fund for a rainy day. It is vital that you take small steps to reach these goals, and examining your progression regularly is the key to success.

Increase your savings
Most people have no idea how much money they save every year, so it is vital that you specify an actual dollar amount that you want to save for the forthcoming year. Regardless of whether you achieve this goal or not isn’t the point, the fact that you’re specifying specific goals and planning ways to achieve these goals is the most important aspect.

Simple ways to increase your savings account is to increase your superannuation contributions (and possibly Government payments), or set up an automatic deposit into an emergency fund or high interest savings account each week. Regardless of how you do this, increasing your savings will bolster your net worth and general financial health.

Track your spending
Understanding how much you spend every month is critical in being able to increase your financial health. Keeping every bill and receipt and manually developing a spreadsheet is one way to do it, but there are a couple of excellent apps that track your spending on the go, providing you with an accurate indication of how much you’re spending with little effort required.

ASIC’s TrackMySPEND app (https://www.moneysmart.gov.au) is a credible and dependable tool that helps you realise your typical monthly and annual spending, so you can better plan and reach your financial goals. If this doesn’t satisfy you, there are a number of other apps on the market, so don’t hesitate to test a couple to see which is best for you.

Review your mortgage and insurance policies
Evaluating your home loan and insurance policies is a reliable way to increase your savings. For instance, you should be reviewing how your current mortgage and insurance policies measure up to other providers on an annual basis. Banks and financial institutions adjust their policy structures all the time, so chances are you can obtain a better deal if you do a bit of research.

Even small decreases in interest rates can save you thousands of dollars annually, so it’s undoubtedly worth the time and effort! If you find a better offer somewhere else, don’t hesitate to ask your current provider to match it, and equally, don’t be afraid to switch providers if they don’t. There’s loads of online resources which can effectively guide you through this process.

Seek advice as soon as possible if you’re experiencing financial trouble
Improving your financial health doesn’t always translate to increasing your savings and emergency funds. Lots of people suffer through years of stress from financial problems without realising that there are a number of options available to them to enrich their financial wellbeing.

If you’re experiencing any financial anguish, the sooner you seek professional advice, the better your recovery options will be. For any advice relating to your financial circumstances, don’t hesitate to speak with Bankruptcy Albury on 1300 818 575, or visit our website for more information: http://www.bankruptcy-albury.com.au/

Congratulations! You’ve successfully served your three year period of bankruptcy and have been discharged, so now what? You’ve obviously taken the right steps to address your financial difficulties by filing for bankruptcy, and all your debts are well behind you now. However, there’s still a lot of work involved to get your finances back on track. The biggest issue that discharged bankrupts confront is their opportunity to borrow money, and the main reason for this is their poor credit rating.

For the previous 3 years, you’ve had no debts to pay back so your credit history has nothing to show except for a bankruptcy mark against your name. There’s been no movement on your credit report, so an empty page will make lenders hesitant in lending money to you purely because they can’t analyse your repayment habits. Rebuilding your credit history is the best way to get your finances back on the right track, and make your recovery process as smooth as possible.

How to rebuild your credit report after discharge?
Considering that lenders haven’t been able to examine your financial management skills for the previous three years, you need to start exhibiting healthy financial habits. Here’s a list of ways in which you can do this

1. Steady employment
Obtaining stable and ongoing employment is a great way to improve your financial security and show banks and financial institutions that you have a regular source of income. Regular employment will enable you to increase your savings and bolster your overall financial circumstances, leading to a better credit rating.

2. Increase your savings balance
Your savings account is an asset, so increasing your savings balance over time will show loan providers that you are financially sensible and are capable of making loan repayments. By putting money into a specialised savings account each month, even a small amount, will improve your credit rating.

3. Limit your credit applications
Each time you make an application for a line of credit, it is marked on your credit history, so too many credit applications can negatively affect your credit history. After being discharged, it’s vital that you are realistic and cautious about the types of credit you apply for to increase your chances of approval. It’s best to make an application for only one line of credit at once, and remember that secured loans and options with a guarantor or joint accounts will increase the likelihood of approval.

4. Contemplate a term deposit
If you’ve managed to save money during your bankruptcy period, think about investing some of it into a term deposit account. Not only will you accrue interest and improve your overall financial circumstances, it will likewise show lenders that you are financially reliable. Therefore, the likelihood of securing a loan will be increased which leads to an improved credit rating.

5. Always make repayments on time
One of the most important things you can do as a discharged bankrupt is to make any kind of repayment on time. Regardless if it’s your electricity, rent, or even a secured loan in your name, making these repayments on time will unquestionably improve your credit report and increase the confidence that financial institutions have in your financial management skills.

6. Don’t hesitate to speak with loan providers
If you intend to apply for a line of credit after your bankruptcy period, or identify what types of options are available to you, don’t hesitate to talk to lenders or other financial institutions to discuss your situation. They are in the best position to advise of your eligibility, and offer insight on what options would work best for your personal circumstances.

Beware of credit repair firms
There are lots of credit repair firms that will make all kinds of promises to improve your credit record. Even though many of them are effective in challenging any incorrect listings on your credit record, they may not be able to do anything else to improve your credit report. The Government’s MoneySmart website (https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/) advises discharged bankrupts to be “very careful” of these firms because they “may not always be able to do what they claim they can”.

If you’re in need of any expertise in rebuilding your credit history, or have any concerns about your recovery process after bankruptcy, it’s always best to seek advice from qualified professionals. Get in contact with Bankruptcy Albury on 1300 818 575, or alternatively you can visit our website for further information: http://www.bankruptcy-albury.com.au/

Christmas can be a wonderful time of year. Spending quality time with your extended family and friends, enjoying holidays, giving presents to loved ones, and certainly the noble Christmas dinner! It’s undoubtedly a time for giving, and with this comes expenses. It’s very easy to go overboard with family holidays, presents, and extravagant foods; to let your hair down and indulge in the spirit of Christmas. The fact is, though, that the silly season eventually passes and many of us are left with the stress of big credit card balances. Some families spend months trying to pay off their Christmas debts, while others find themselves in much deeper water.

While some folks have the financial capacity to shower their families with extravagant gifts and lavish festivities, most of us should be mindful to spend within our means so our Christmas joy can smoothly sail into the New Year. So with this being said, I want to share with you some practical ways of celebrating Christmas, without breaking the bank.

1. Set a Budget

Although it may sound cliché, it’s essential that you create a budget and follow it. Develop a list of all the gifts you’ll be giving and calculate the total amount. Most of the time, it will be a lot more than you believed. Use this as encouragement to think outside the box (pardon the pun!) and make some alterations so you can stick to your budget. You could have a garage sale and sell items that aren’t being used anymore, talk with family and friends about a setting price limit for presents, or perhaps consider making gifts yourself! ASIC has launched a wonderful app to control your Christmas spending called TrackMySPEND (https://www.moneysmart.gov.au/) which I’m certain many of you would find useful.

2. Shop Online

Even though lots of people find pleasure in strolling through department stores and basking in the elegant Christmas displays, almost all the same goods are available on the internet at more affordable prices. Utilise comparative shopping websites such as Google Shopping, Nextag, or PriceGrabber to find what you’re searching for. These websites are highly competitive and will almost always have discounts that can save you a bundle. While shopping online will save you money, you should take extra precaution to ensure you get what you paid for.

3. Rethink your Christmas Cards

If you’re one of the many families who send Christmas cards to all your friends and family, you’ll understand that the costs of this exercise can be rather expensive. It’s no surprise that only few of your friends and family will in fact keep these cards so it’s ultimately just money down the drain. As a substitute, why not send a family Christmas video message online? There are loads of apps on smart phones and tablets that enable you to send quirky and amusing Christmas videos that can be sent out electronically at no cost whatsoever. Then again, you can always make your own Christmas cards with personalised messages and have your children draw pictures to make them super special!

4. Wrapping Paper

An artistically wrapped gift can make a significant difference, even with the cheapest of presents. Christmas paper can be fairly costly, so look at purchasing plain brown paper and adding a festive ribbon from a craft shop which will look a lot better than Christmas paper. You can even re-use brown paper bags that are normally given at clothing stores. In contrast, consider purchasing plain green, gold or red paper which can also be used as birthday gifts throughout the year. Remember, a number of department stores will wrap your presents for free, so don’t be afraid to ask!

As you can see, Christmas celebrations doesn’t have to break the bank. Regrettably, however, lots of folks spend beyond their means and find themselves in financial turmoil in the New Year. If you end up in this position, it’s better to seek professional advice sooner rather than later. There are many options available to you; all you need is the right advice. For any advice on financial problems, get in touch with the specialists at Bankruptcy Albury by calling 1300 818 575, or alternatively visit our website for further information: http://www.bankruptcy-albury.com.au/