Create a budget - ensure that you are in a positive cash flow position with more money coming in than going out. If not, cut back on unnecessary items and start curbing your spending habits. If your mobile phone bill is excessive, change to a pre-paid plan, move in with your parents or reduce the amount of money spent on eating out and entertainment.

Writing down your spending behaviour – Remember that budgets usually reflect 20% less than your actual spending. By writing down what you actually spend your budget will be more realistic and and you will be able to analyse where you are spending more than you should or where you are shortchanging yourself in regards to necessary items like food or transport.

Get rid of credit card debt – The high interest rates on your credit cards mean that you should pay these off first before you start to save. It may delay the process but just as credit card debt snowballs in the wrong direction, when it is moving in the right direction it goes just as fast.

Pay your investment first- Saving for a house deposit also includes dedicating an affordable amount into your budget to go towards your house loan savings. Pay this first, bills second and only spend what is left over. Getting into a regular habit of putting money aside will put you in good stead when you do get a mortgage.

Make the most of your savings – Chose a premium savings account and preferably one that has a high level of interest and low fees. You may find separating your accounts into spending, expenses and savings makes it easier to save and get together a house deposit.

Understand how much you need to save – there are always unexpected costs that creep in at settlement so it is a good idea to find out what these are and have an extra $5000 up your sleeve to prevent the deal from going unexpectedly pear shaped.

Keep an eye on the market – This is vital. Start to investigate the trends in the market so that you understand what you should be paying when you are ready to make your purchase. Go to open house inspections and start looking at real estate websites to get a feel for the market.

Getting together a home loan deposit can be tough, especially for first time buyers but by following these tips and being patient, you will be able to save for a home deposit and develop good financial management skills in the process. Whatever your circumstance, putting aside money each week and being realistic about the property market and what area you can afford to buy in will get you into the property market a lot sooner than you think.

Scratching your head over what to get your loveable gadget geek or technologically forward parents or best friend this Christmas? Here are five of the best electronic gadget gifts.

64GB iPod touch

The iPod touch is a multi-media player that allows you to listen to music, watch videos, play games on a generous 3.5 inch display. The 64 GB of memory allows you to download 14,000 songs, store 80 hours of video and add 90,000 photos. New and exciting features include the clever ‘Voice Control’ feature where you can ask the iPod touch to play songs from a specific artist or playlist and use commands such as ‘stop’, ‘shuffle’ or ‘pause’ to control the iPod, peer-to-peer gaming so you can challenge your friends to games and the ‘Genius’ feature which allows you to mix songs together.

3GS iPhone

The 3GS iPhone has been released with even greater capabilities and a faster response time. With the 3GS iPhone, you shoot a high quality video; edit the video right on your phone and share videos via MMS or post on YouTube. With the iDisk functionality, it makes it easy to store and share files online so you can access them any time from any computer or even from your iPhone. The handy MobileMe feature stores your mail, contacts and calendar information to keep everything in sync across your iPhone, Mac, PC and the web.

Nikon COOLPIX S570 Digital Camera

The Nikon COOLPIX S570 is a 12.0 megapixel digital camera with approximately 47 MB of internal memory and fits nicely in your pocket without breaking the Christmas budget. You’ll be able to take great photos at the family Christmas party with the face-priority AF feature which automatically detects up to 12 faces in the shot and adjusts the focus and exposure while the Blink Proof function automatically shoots two sequential frames and saves the one in which the subject’s eyes are wide open. The in-built In-Camera Red-Eye Fix automatically corrects any perceived red-eye effect before saving the image to memory so bad family photos will be a thing of the past. With the Hi-Speed USB connectivity, you will be able to email the Christmas party photos around the world to overseas relatives in just a matter of minutes.

Sony VAIO X Series

The Sony VAIO will be the talk of the Christmas party. With its impossibly thin and extremely light body, it will soon become your most valuable accessory without being high maintenance. It has a long battery life, 11.1 inch screen and only weighs 745 grams. There are a lot of different VAIO models on the market that even come in bright gold, silver and hot pink so make sure you choose the laptop with the right specifications for your gift recipient’s needs so it remains functional as well as fashionable.

amazon kindle

The amazon kindle which features ebooks is starting a new chapter in electronic publishing. More than 360,000 books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available available, including more than 101 of 112 current New York Times best sellers but not everything is available for each international market so make sure you check before downloading. At only 10.3 ounces, it is lighter and thinner than a paperback and holds over 200 titles. With in-built wireless connection, you can purchase ebooks directly from your Kindle—whether you’re in the back of a taxi, at the airport or in bed.

When buying electronic gadgets as gifts as a rule, make sure you enquire about what the warranties will cover, whether you can download additional software or purchase upgrades to increase functionality and what accessories come with the electronic gadget.

So you have bought your first apartment or you’ve purchased your second family home and you’re ready for the big move? Moving house can be very daunting but here are ten tips to make your move go smoother.

Put together a checklist

Put together a checklist for things you need to do a month, two weeks, a week before or the night you move. By following a strict checklist, this will help avoid procrastination and last minute packing and help you remember things like defrosting the fridge or removing the light fittings or curtains that you may forget in a last minute rush to get everything done.

Declutter your life

Moving house is a good opportunity to declutter your life and get rid of all those things that you have been planning to sell or give away but have never quite got around to it. Have a garage sale to get rid of unwanted furniture, books and clothing or give it away to family friends or charity. You may have to hire a skip to take away your rubbish or check with your local council to see if they have a service where they remove rubbish.

Hire a mover

Ask friends or family if they can refer a removalist who is reliable and will give your possession the ‘white gloves’ treatment but also affordable. Other options may be to hire a truck and do the packing yourself with the help of family or friends. Make sure whatever option you choose includes insurance to protect your family heirlooms, treasured photo albums and worldly goods.

Utility check

Disconnect your phone and inform your internet service provider, gas, electricity or water company in a timely manner that you are moving and make sure utilities are connected in your new home. The last thing you want to happen is to have no water after a long day of packing to have a hot shower or even a cup of tea.

Check your rental agreement

If you are renting, make sure you give your landlord advanced notice that you are moving out. Check your individual rental agreement to see how many weeks’ notice you may need to give. You also need to allocate time to clean the apartment, arrange for an inspection and give the keys back to the real estate agent.

Redirect your mail

Contact your local post office and ask them to redirect all your mail to your new address. You will also contact your insurance company, bank and superannuation company, heathcare providers and other relevant organisations to let them know you have changed your address. Your address on your driver’s licence also needs to be changed and notify your newsagency that you are moving if you have a newspaper subscription.

Packing wisely

Make sure you label all boxes so you know where to find all your items. Pack essential items that you will require for your first night in the house such as cutlery, plates, cookware, towels, toilet paper and other essential items in a separate box. You should also pack away important documents and papers and take both boxes with you in case there is some kind of unforseen delay or accident with the removalist van.

Advance planning

With a floorplan and a little pre-planning, you can decide exactly where you want your larger furniture items to go such as lounges, wall units and cupboards. This will save you time and energy later moving large furniture around the house and up stairs.

Let everyone know you’re moving

Advise family and friends that you are moving via group emails or social networks such as Facebook to let them know your new address and telephone details.

Pick up the new set of keys

Arrange a time with your real estate agent to pick the keys to your new home and make a spare set of keys. The last thing you want is to be locked out of your new home with an expensive removalist in tow.

Moving can be a very stressing process but with a little bit of pre-planning and organisation and following a checklist; the whole day can go exactly to plan.

In major cities like Sydney, the demand for houses and apartments is currently higher than supply which is resulting in a scarcity of properties, driving prices up and greater competition for affordable houses in desired locations. Without the right strategy, it can take you months or even years to find the perfect family home. Here are seven creative ways to look outside the classifieds, find your dream home and start building towards your future.

Use a buyers’ agent

Using a buyers’ agent can save you emotional stress, time and money when buying a family home. Buyers’ agents can inspect properties first and make sure they fit your criteria and can show you properties not yet listed on the market via their network of contacts. Using a buyer’s agent can take the stress out of buying a family home and their knowledge of the home buyer’s market coupled with their negotiation skills can potentially save you a lot of time, money and stress.

Door knocking campaign

If you have your heart set on a chosen street or suburb, a door knocking campaign or leaflet drop could help you secure the family home of your dreams. Stick leaflets into letterboxes, tuck them beneath windscreen wipers of parked cars or distribute the flyers at auctions held in the area. Some people may be thinking about putting their house on the market but sitting on their white picket fence and undecided about whether to sell. Selling a home directly to a buyer may be an attractive proposition to a would be house seller and motivate them into selling their home.

Contact local real estate agents

Contact the local real estate agents in your preferred area, give them a wish list, let them know you are a committed buyer and that you have all your finances in place. It is important to build a good relationship with real estate agents. Make sure you follow up with real estate agents so you are on their radar, they are aware that you are still looking for a property and can contact you when there is a property coming up for sale that fits your criteria and budget.

Sign up to Internet alerts

Make sure you sign up to real estate websites such as www.domain.com.au and www.realestate.com.au so you can be alerted when new properties come onto the market. With the email alerts, you can specify your budget, your desired area or location, number of bedrooms, parking spots required and other essential criteria. However, don’t rely solely on these alerts. Make sure you are checking the website daily as only selected real estate listings will be emailed to you.

Networking

Tell everyone you know that you are looking for a family home and this includes utilising social networks such as Facebook or Twitter. Through seven degrees of separation, they may know someone who is selling their home in your ideal area or they may be driving down the road and may happen to see a ‘For Sale’ sign on a property within your desired location. The more people you speak to at your workplace, your gym, local pub or even your local train station, the more likely you are to find your dream home and narrow down your search.

Drive around the area

By simply driving around your desired location preferably on a Saturday morning, you may see homes listed for sale by various real estate agents, a house may be open for an inspection or you may find local real estate agencies that you can speak to you about your search for a family home. Drop into the local pub, restaurant or cafe and speak to the owners about your desire to buy a property in the area and leave your details. These people are often the ‘eyes and ears’ of the community and may know someone who wants to sell their house.

Broaden your search

If you have been looking for a property in a certain area for over six months, it may simply mean that the property with your desired criteria simply does not exist for your price range. At the start of your search, make sure you do research and find out whether the location you wish to purchase in is affordable. This alone can save you months of frustration. You may need to broaden your search and look further afield for properties in surrounding areas or other regions or allocate additional funds to purchase a property.

The search for the ‘Great Australian Dream’ does not need to turn into a nightmare by being proactive about your house search. Follow these tips and you may be saying ‘home sweet home’ sooner than you think and coming home every night to your ideal property.

Buying a house is one of the biggest purchases that a person will make in their lifetime but using a buyers’ agent can save you emotional stress, time and money whether you’re buying a family home or purchasing an investment property.

Exclusivity

A buyers’ agent has an exclusive relationship with you and is acting for you and you alone. A real estate agent on the other hand is acting on behalf of the seller and the buyer but ultimately has the seller’s best interests at heart.

The buyers’ agent will be working hard to get you the best price for the property and there will be no behind the scenes collusion with the real estate agent or the seller. Buyers’ agents work independently of the seller and they receive no commissions or kickbacks from sellers or their agents.

Time-effective

A buyers’ agent will sit down with you and find out what your budget is, your preferred location and other essential criteria such as having a view or being close to the beach. If your search criteria is unrealistic for your price range, the buyers’ agent will tell you straight away and save you months of frustration looking for a property that simply doesn’t exist in your budget.

The buyers’ agent will view the properties first and only show you properties that fit your search criteria and you have access to a wider choice of properties through their contacts and networks that may not even be advertised.

You don’t have to spend your Saturday mornings trying to race from one property to another. A buyers’ agent will arrange appointments to inspect properties at your convenience.

Cost-effective

A buyers’ agent knows the property market inside and out. They have research on the hotspots, the locations that are accruing the highest capital gains or have low vacancy rates. They are watching the market, aware of any trends and have access to resources which tells them what similar properties have sold for in a particular area, what the true value of a property is and how much they should offer for a property to secure a sale.

The fee for a buyers’ agent is negotiated before the sale of the property and it will either be a flat fee or a percentage of the cost of the property depending on the buyers’ agent’s sale structure. For investors, buyers’ agent’s fees are tax deductible.

More negotiation power

A buyers’ agent is a skilled negotiator. A buyers’ agent may offer different services such as finding a dream property that fits your search criteria, negotiating the price of a property that you have found through your own means or acting on your behalf in an auction.

When you use a buyers’ agent to buy a property, you can be confident that it has been bought at the best possible price (as determined by market conditions). You can also sell the property with confidence knowing that you have not paid over the market value.

Peace of mind

Buying a house can be very nerve wracking with a lot of emotions on the line. With a buyers’ agent, you can have the peace of mind that a buyers’ agent is acting on your behalf. The buyers’ agent can guide you through the transaction, lead you through any legalities and hold your hand throughout the whole process.

Buying a house regardless of whether it’s an investment property or family home should not be an emotional investment. Using a professional who is independent of the sale takes the stress, worry and emotions out of buying a property.

People believe that using a buyers’ agent is expensive but it can potentially save you thousands of dollars. A buyers’ agent save you time, they can draw upon their networks to find properties that are just listed on the market, use their expertise and knowledge to buy a property that is a sound investment and negotiate the best possible price for the property.