We all know that we shouldn’t care too much for money … money won’t buy us love! In that spirit, here are some Valentine’s Day gift ideas that make a whole lot of love, but don’t cost too much money. The only things you need to bring for every single activity is the sense that your partner is an amazing, special person and a valuable part of your life … and the will to have some fun!

$0: Servant for a day

It costs absolutely nothing to pledge to do everything for your partner for a day, and is a Valentine’s Day gift idea that will be remembered for much longer than flowers or chocolates. Go above and beyond by trying to anticipate your partner’s wants. Usually this sort of good deed doesn’t go unrewarded for long … you’ll usually find that your partner will be thinking of and getting things for you in the week following Valentine’s Day, as well!

$10: DVD Night In

Each of you should pick a DVD that you think your partner will like, with absolutely no regard to whether you want to see it. You may well be surprised at what your partner turns up! Order home delivery for dinner, and grab a bottle of whatever tickles your fancy and enjoy a romantic night in.

From $40 to $100: Pamper Packs

If you’re creative and have a few massaging and personal care skills, you can set a pamper pack up at home for your partner as a Valentine’s Day gift idea … guys love these as much as girls. Include items like:

• a relaxing bath with oils or salts
• hair and skin masques or treatments
• massage – body, head and face and
• body scrub.

Alternatively, you can book yourself and your partner into a day spa for massaging, scrubbing and masque-ing! It will cost a little more, but you should have some great ideas to replicate at home.

From $30 to $200: Jewellery, Perfume, Lingerie etc

This very personal sort of Valentine’s Day gift is always a hit. Jewellery is worn close to your body, as is perfume … and lingerie might only be worn by one of you, but is certainly a gift for both! Ladies should remember that guys can be just as enthralled by jewellery and cologne as those of the fairer sex. Valentine’s Day Flowers never disappoint and you can easily spoil her rotten for under $200 with red long stemmed roses and a bottle of bubbly.

Up to $250: Romantic Getaway

Depending on where you stay, you and your partner could have a blissful one or two nights away for this Valentine’s Day gift price tag, with no work or cleaning to concentrate on. Your only task will be remembering how much fun it is to be around each other. Check out accommodation deals on www.wotif.com, www.quickbeds.com and www.lastminute.com.au for an area nearby.

Whoever said that it is the thought that counts was right when it comes to true love, so with two weeks to go until Valentine’s Day, make sure you choose a gift that is close to your partner’s heart and brings you even closer as a couple.

It’s important to follow a budget and have long term financial goals but here are five additional money New Year Resolutions that will help you take control of your finances and don’t let them control you.

Pay off your HECS debt

HECS or now replaced by HELP (Higher Education Loans Programme) debts are an interest free way to pay off university loans but they are adjusted each year with the rate of inflation on July 1 of every year. As an extra incentive there is a 10% discount for voluntary payments of $500 or more. Of course not everyone has a HECS debt. If you choose to pay your fees upfront, you can enjoy a 20% discount. However, The majority of students do defer paying their university fees simply because they do not have available funds or need to use their income on other priorities.

Open a term deposit

A term deposit where you put your money into an account for a set period such as three months, six months or longer will give you a higher interest rate for your savings. There are also banks with competitive interest rates but also allow you to withdraw money without any penalties. Check websites like Canstar Cannex or RateCity.com.au to compare rates and conditions for term deposits and savings accounts.

Make voluntary super payments

While retirement may seem a like a distant dream for some, it’s never too early to start saving for your future. If your total annual income is $30,342 or less and you are in full time, part time or casual employment, for every dollar of voluntary super contributions you make, the Australian Government will match it by $1.50 – up to a limit of $1,500 a year, tax free. If you earn more than $30,342, government co-contributions reduce by 5 cents per dollar of income and phase out altogether when your income reaches $60,342 p.a.

Stop spending more than you make

Keep those credit cards under control by consolidating your credit cards into the one with the lowest interest and try and pay off the full amount each month or at least make sure you pay the minimum amount to avoid paying unnecessary fees and charges. If necessary, take another job to try and pay off your credit card debt, get a flatmate or move back with your parents or live in a cheaper area to try and save money and bring your credit card debt down.

Make sure you’re covered by your insurance

The start of the year is always a good time to look at your insurance policies and make sure you’re adequately covered and the policies are up to date. This includes health insurance, home and content’s insurance, car insurance and so forth. If your circumstances are changing such as moving cities, planning to start a family or starting your own business and so forth, you may want to adjust your insurance policies accordingly.

Take charge of your finances in the new year to set you on the path to financial freedom in the New Year.

Set a strict budget

Christmas may be a time for giving but it’s also a time when there are a lot of sales and it may be tempting to spend your Christmas cash on a designer dress you have had your eye on or a new video game. It will be easier to keep a firm hold on your Christmas spending if you set aside an allocated amount of money for your partner, family members and friends and don’t go over that set amount. Make sure you set aside a small amount for last minute contingencies.

Pay by cash

Withdraw the exact amount of money that you have set aside for your Christmas budget and only pay for items by cash. In this way, you’ll be able to monitor how much money you have spent and be less tempted to buy anything that is not on your Christmas list. Even if you pay by EFTPOS, you may spend over your limit so cash is a much better option.

Use layby

If the store gives you the option, layby more expensive items by placing a small deposit, paying off the purchase in agreed instalments over a certain period and paying the balance when you pick up the item. You will be able to pay the purchase off in agreed instalments. Check the conditions of the layby as some stores may have a hefty cancelation fee if you decide not to go ahead with the transaction.

Don’t go over your credit card limit

It may hard to reconcile your spending if you are using a bank credit card, store credit cards and so on. If you’re planning to use your credit card, consolidate your spending on one card and stick to your credit card limit. Credit cards may be a convenient way to pay for presents but make sure you pay the amount back within the interest free period to avoid any charges.

Set limits

To avoid ‘keeping up with the Joneses’, set aside a limit for family gifts in accordance to everyone’s budget or alternatively have a family ‘Kris Kringle’ where you buy one gift for a family member at a set budget. This can reduce the stress of trying to think of a gift for each family member and reduce your money woes. When you’re buying presents for relatives and their children, it can add up to be a very expensive time of the year.

So follow these tips and have a financially happier Christmas this year that you won’t be paying for in the New Year.

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.

For some shopaholics, the financial crisis has put the brakes on their spending habits but for others, the crisis has resulted in increased spending in the form of retail therapy. This may give you a temporary high but the reality ‘cheque’ may come in the form of spiralling debt or a five page credit card bill. But don’t fear, help is at hand … here are ways to survive a shopping detox and rehabilitate your money habits.

Set financial goals

Research shows that setting goals and committing these goals to paper helps spendaholics to achieve their financial goals. The first thing you need to do is write a budget that is realistic and achievable. This is an important tool that will help you keep track of your monetary goals, help you pay off your outstanding debts and cut back on impulse spending. Write down your long term goals such as paying off your credit card debt or saving for a holiday away or house deposit. Goal setting should follow the SMART system of being specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.

Consolidate your debts

Before you begin addressing your financial woes, you need to know exactly how much you are in debt. This means adding up your credit card bills, university debts and any outstanding loans. Consolidate your credit card debt into onto a low or no interest credit card, making substantial savings for the period of the lower interest rate or take out a personal loan to pay off your debt at a lower interest rate. If you’re falling behind in your bills, speak to the companies concerned who may be able to work out a payment plan for you. The sooner you face your debt and take control, the more empowered and happier you will be.

Exercise the two week rule

Try to stop impulse shopping, delay instant gratification and focus on your long-term goals and the bigger picture. If you have the urge to spend your savings on a new pair of designer shoes or a luxury handbag, employ the two week rule. If you still think they are a good investment after two weeks, then go ahead and purchase the shoes or bag but don’t make any impulse decisions and undo all your hard work on a gut reaction that you may regret a day later on a no-return purchase. It could be just a fleeting moment that passes.

Know your emotional trigger points

Take time to reflect on what triggers you to overspend. Keep a diary or a blog and write down patterns of behaviour over a period of a few months that will help you identify when you are most likely to falter or sabotage your savings goals. It could be due to depression, premenstrual tension or a toxic workplace or boyfriend. As the weeks go by, you will start to recognise these trigger points and instead of indulging in retail therapy, go for a work out at the gym, ring up a trusted friend to speak to or look elsewhere for comfort.

Surround yourself with people who will support your goals

While it’s fun to be with a party girl who is always shopping or a mate who is always out bar hopping and spending huge wads of cash on drinks, you need to pull back and find other forms of entertainment that is line with your savings goals or spend time with friends who will support you in saving money. Don’t let toxic friends or family who don’t have your best interests at heart stand in the way of your savings.

The devil may wear Prada and you may think better the devil you know but sometimes you have to live a Prada life on a Portman’s budget. This guide will lead you on the path to financial freedom and fund the lifestyle you currently pay for on credit.