Reading Time: 2 Minutes What’s up guys! So yesterday, MrsFrugalSamurai and I went out to celebrate a birthday lunch with some old friends. It was great to get outdoors, and see their everyone’s faces again – albeit with the smoke haze from the bushfires still lingering. A short aside – but for our international friends who are unaware, Sydney has been shrouded in smog for the last few weeks as our brave firefighters battle the raging fires… spare a thought for those who are in the thick of it. Anyhow, smoke or no smoke, life still goes on. So it came that we found ourselves sitting in a venue which…
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Home Prices to Hit $7 million by 2030 in Some Sydney Regions? Fact or Fiction?
Reading Time: 4 Minutes What’s up guys! Now look, normally here at The Frugal Samurai, I try and sit on the fence as much as I can when it comes to opinions. I mean, who doesn’t love a good fence sit? The fine poise, the delicacy, the balance – a skill I tells ya. But when yours truly read the following article, I really felt I had to say something, ANYTHING. Because I felt it was misleading at best and downright dangerous at worst. What article? The one here: https://www.realestate.com.au/news/average-home-prices-will-hit-7-million-by-2030-in-some-sydney-regions-if-growth-trends-continue/ What’s it about? In essence: “Economic modelling has revealed home buyers could be paying prices of up to $7.5 million, on…
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How Much Super Do I Need To Retire?
Reading Time: 3 Minutes What is going ON people! Apologies for being slightly AWOL as I was pre-bloody-occupied. With what? Being busy, busy, BUSY OK??!! Ahem. Sorry, sorry. Calm TheFrugalSamurai, calm. “Takes deep breath”. So guys, today I wanted to discuss that pivotal question on every man, woman and child’s mind… How much do I need to retire? The answer is… it depends on the type of tyre, its current wear and tear and whether it can be rety… ohhhhh. Wait. How much? This much. “Spreads arms wide open”. No really, it’s this much: I got this from The Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia (link here). ASFA as they…
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Financial Lessons From “Crazy Rich Asians”
Reading Time: 3 Minutes Howdy all! Earlier, I finally managed to properly sit and watch “Crazy Rich Asians” for the second time seeing as I missed half of it initially. If you haven’t watched the movie – it’s boy (Nick) meets girl (Rachel), girl meets boy’s family, boy’s family (mother) rejects girl, girl plays out game theory with boy’s mother. Or something like that. Of course, as the name suggests, this is set in the background of Crazy. Rich. Asians. Like me, you may have been puzzled by many of the questions which were left unanswered. Why is cousin Astrid so sad all the time? How come Tan Huas only…
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Case Study – $1.1m to Invest, Now What? Part 2
Reading Time: 4 Minutes Welcome back folks! Are you ready for part 2 of the case study? In which we answer a question MrsFrugalSamurai sent me: “Have $AU 1.1m to invest (recent inheritance) + $150k savings Current situation: Late 20’s income $100k, partner earns $100k No kids, no assets, no debt Aim is to be a homeowner and financially independent at some stage. How would others split it between: PPOR (principal place of residence, i.e. primary residence) buy outright or deposit + mortgage Investment property Low cost index/ETF/Super Others?” If you missed part 1, or want a refresher – don’t fret, have a quick read of it here. Actually… you…