Couple's Guide to Money, The: How to Make the Most of Your Financial Power as a Couple

Title page......Page 3
Contents......Page 5
Acknowledgments......Page 10
Foreword by John Eales......Page 11
1 The power of two......Page 13
When love is new......Page 14
Quarrels about money......Page 15
The bottom line......Page 17
2 Goals to get started......Page 18
What is your financial personality profile?......Page 19
What is your combined financial profile?......Page 20
Your dreams......Page 25
Your attitudes......Page 26
Achieving your aims......Page 27
How many goals at one time?......Page 30
3 Get help to build wealth......Page 32
Finding the right adviser......Page 33
How to interview an adviser......Page 35
What do you take with you?......Page 36
Be demanding......Page 38
When to change advisers......Page 39
4 Taking control of debt......Page 44
Debt can ruin your health......Page 45
Are we really in serious debt?......Page 46
Sexually transmitted debt......Page 47
Impulse buying......Page 50
Credit cards......Page 52
Store cards......Page 53
Living beyond your means......Page 54
Addiction problems......Page 56
A partner's debts......Page 57
Christmas - keep it jolly......Page 58
Bankruptcy dilemma......Page 60
5 The blueprint for budgeting......Page 61
Where does our money go?......Page 62
Spend one income, save the other......Page 63
How to draw up a budget......Page 64
How to save an extra $300 a month......Page 66
Ultimate budgeting tips......Page 68
Mobile phone checklist......Page 70
The cost of credit......Page 72
Your children's education......Page 74
6 Be winners on one wage......Page 77
Practice living on one income......Page 78
Paying the mortgage......Page 80
Honey, can we afford the kids?......Page 82
Your child care options......Page 84
Income protection insurance......Page 88
7 Dealing with baggage......Page 89
Who pays for what?......Page 90
Pre-nuptial agreements......Page 91
Seperate versus joint accounts......Page 93
Children come first......Page 95
Maintenance matters......Page 96
Demands for more......Page 98
The costs keep coming......Page 99
8 Get rich with bricks......Page 101
Can you afford it?......Page 102
Your home loan choices......Page 103
Get help to get the right loan......Page 106
Pay off your mortgage faster......Page 107
Your dream home......Page 109
Research, research, research......Page 110
Before the auction......Page 111
Make an offer......Page 112
Legal affairs......Page 113
Investment property......Page 114
Deposit bonds......Page 116
Renting versus buying......Page 117
Buying versus renovating......Page 119
Listed property trusts......Page 121
9 How to make loads from a little......Page 125
What are our choices for investing?......Page 126
Managed funds......Page 129
Ethical funds......Page 131
Master trusts......Page 132
Wrap accounts......Page 133
Ten tips for smart investing......Page 134
10 All about shares......Page 142
Should we buy shares in the name of the lower earner?......Page 143
How do we select which shares to buy?......Page 144
When do we buy and selll shares?......Page 145
What are discount brokers?......Page 146
What is a buy-back offer and when should you accept it?......Page 147
Some super share tips......Page 148
What is a margin call?......Page 152
11 Get the max from tax......Page 154
Six ways to trim your tax......Page 155
Seek help......Page 161
Use an accountant......Page 162
Salary sacrificing for same-sex couples......Page 163
End-of-year tax schemes......Page 164
Family tax benefits......Page 165
The claim game......Page 166
Capital gains tax......Page 168
Family trusts......Page 169
12 Take the super highway......Page 171
What's so great about super?......Page 172
How much super do we need?......Page 173
A tale of two incomes......Page 174
Your super choices......Page 175
Seven super strategies......Page 179
Put family first......Page 189
Safeguard your income......Page 191
Don't neglect your health......Page 193
Ease the trauma......Page 195
Contents count......Page 196
The little extras......Page 197
14 Where there's a will.........Page 200
How to make a will......Page 201
How to choose an executor......Page 202
The cost of a will......Page 203
The tax benefits of trusts......Page 205
De facto and same-sex couples......Page 206
The final word......Page 207
15 When love goes wrong......Page 209
Seek advice......Page 210
Honesty is the best policy......Page 211
Change your priorities......Page 213
Divorce alternatives......Page 214
Property settlements......Page 215
The cost of going to court......Page 217
Settle out of court......Page 218
The de facto factor......Page 219
Be savvy about super......Page 222
Legal aid......Page 223
Same-sex couples......Page 224
Conclusion......Page 226
Appendix 1: Personal Money PLan......Page 228
Index......Page 231