How to Find the Cheapest Books and DVD’s in Australia

If you have ever tried finding the best prices for books and DVD’s in Australia, then you’ll be glad to know of BookO.

BookO is not a retail site. All it does is calculate the cost of buying books and DVD’s from the cheapest source, even if the source is Amazon.com. And it also calculates all the shipping cost involved.

So, try out BookO today.

Risky but Ambitious Method of Owning 3 Houses within 10 Years

Here’s a risky but ambitious way of owning 3 houses within 10 years.

Use this method with great care.

Assuming you want to buy a house worth $400,000. Assuming further that the downpayment is 10% plus additional cost, so you cough up $50,000. Once you buy this house in a location where the property value appreciates, wait for the end of the third year. By then, the property value would have appreciated. Refinance the house and use the additional money as downpayment for your second home. Repeat this after 3 years and in 10 years, you’ll end up with 3 houses.

But dont forget the monthly installments. You must be able to afford the monthly installments. Which means unless your monthly salary can absorb the 3 monthly payments, you will need to ensure that your house have tenants and their rent pays off your monthly repayment with any extra being kept aside for property maintenance.

And remember, if you’re in Australia, the interest portion of your loan is tax deductible for investment properties only, not applicable for your dwelling residence.

Salary Packaging

Check and see if your country allows salary packaging. I know Australia allows for it while Malaysia doesnt.

Salary packaging is buying or leasing an asset with pre-tax dollars. That is when your salary arrives at the end of the money, you can use it to buy certain things or make certain payments before the balance gets taxed by the government.

For example, in Australia, it used to be laptops, cars, mobile phones and education. But laptops were removed from it because rich individuals manipulated a loop hole in the system to get their laptops for free. What this means is that you pay your monthly mobile charges, your car loan repayment from your gross salary (before tax). Only the balance amount is then taxed.

Depending on the country you’re in, some allow additional superannuation, novated leases, airline lounge membership, computer software and home office equipment, development travel, professional memberships, newspaper and periodicals subscriptions, and salary packaging advice.

Consider using salary packaging if you’re in the high tax bracket. Every dollar saved is worth it.