I truly believe that achieving success in your career comes down to being passionate about what you do, and having confidence in yourself. This often develops through time and experience. We need to recognise our skills and strengths and let people know about them so it can lead to more opportunities. (more…)

Can you believe it’s Christmas again?  This year has flown by!  Christmas in my house is full of ritual and tradition. Some old and some new, but it’s the familiarity and comfort these customs generate that make the season unique.  (more…)

There are many questions to be answered before taking the plunge.  Antonia talks about how investing can be made easy with the ANZ Online Investment Account.

One of the great joys in life is travelling. For Australians it’s virtually a rite-of-passage. In my late teens I spent a year aboard and loved every moment of it.  Twenty years later I still experience a thrill every time (more…)

Antonia speaks about proactive money management and achieving your financial goals.

Most afternoons I walk up to the local shops to meet my kids at the bus stop. We then stop in at the local café for a coffee and milkshake. Depending on how many children I have in tow the cost can vary but usually it’s around the $10 mark. Often I walk my son to school in the morning as well and I’m inclined to grab a coffee for the walk home. (more…)

Divorce is a difficult time. No matter what the circumstances, coming to terms with the breakdown of a long-standing relationship can be traumatic. For many separating couples, the added pressure of issues like child custody and property settlement can cause an already fragile relationship to shatter. And yet keeping a level head can be critical when you are trying to negotiate a positive financial outcome for yourself. And yet for some reason, women seem to end up worse off after divorce on this score. (more…)

Discovering you are pregnant is one of the most exciting moments in life.  A new baby triggers feelings of elation, excitement and possibly surprise.  But once the emotions settle and reality sets in, there are other more practical issues to consider.  (more…)

Recently I was walking through Sydney’s CBD at lunchtime.  I’m not there that often so I found the vibrancy and congestion of the place quite intense.  It’s certainly a different world from the day-to-day of getting 4 kids ready for the school run!  I confess I felt out of place among all the impeccably dressed business men and women rushing around. Walking past the gorgeous shop window displays only fuelled the insecurity I felt about my own, let’s call it, “relaxed” appearance. (more…)

Gardening is one of my passions. I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a green thumb, but it’s definitely something that inspires me. One part of my garden that I’m particularly proud of, is my vegetable patch. There are a couple of reasons I find it so appealing. (more…)