Blog: Money & Meaning
Real stories, hard truths, and thoughtful reflections on money, independence, identity, and what it means to find your own version of “enough.”
Includes insights, tools, and practical breakdowns for navigating money, pensions, property in Australia and more - helping you obtain financial clarity.
Coming Home: Why Housing Will Always Matter to Me
What does “home” mean to you? For me, returning to the UK after seven years brought powerful reminders of why a stable home is essential for joy, safety, and dignity. This is why I care so deeply about housing—for myself, for others, and for the future.
Wait, What? Taxing Me for Living in My Own Home? The Economist Fantasy That Would Punish Ordinary Australians — Why It’s a Terrible Idea
Some economists want to tax you for the “benefit” of living in your own home. It’s called imputed rent — and it could mean paying income tax on the rental value of your house, even while struggling with mortgage repayments. In Switzerland and the Netherlands, homeowners get mortgage interest deductions to offset this. In Australia, we don’t — which means ordinary families, single parents, and pensioners would be hit with a double blow. Here’s why this proposal is unfair, unrealistic, and the wrong way to fix our housing system.
July 2025 Market Wrap: Property Prices Are Still Rising — And Supply’s Still Not Coming
Housing prices are still rising — and Australia’s construction pipeline isn’t keeping up. This July 2025 market update breaks down the latest Cotality (formerly CoreLogic) data on prices, rents, and construction activity. With interest rates easing and housing starts lagging, affordability relief may be further off than we think — unless major structural changes take place. Find out what this means for buyers, renters, and owners in plain language, with real Quantity Surveyor insights.
Can You Afford to Work Less After Buying a Home?
What happens when you buy a home — and then realise you want to work less? For many single homeowners, the dream of ownership brings new questions about lifestyle, income, and freedom. In this post, I explore the unexpected pressure of refinancing, the power of an offset account, and how I’m learning to create security without relying solely on a high salary.
Climate Change and Sydney’s Property Market: The Hidden Factor Driving Prices Up
Climate change is quietly reshaping Sydney’s property market in ways few people discuss. From rising insurance costs in flood-prone areas to shifting demand for climate-resilient suburbs, extreme weather events are influencing where people buy and how much they pay. While traditional factors like supply and demand drive housing prices, environmental risks are becoming an increasingly important consideration for buyers and investors. In this blog, we explore how climate change is impacting Sydney’s housing landscape and what it means for the future of property values.
How to Protect Yourself When Buying Property With Someone Else: 7 Lessons I Learned the Hard Way
Many people buy property with loved ones, assuming everything will go smoothly. But what if things go wrong? Learn how to protect yourself legally and financially with these 7 key lessons from my own real-life experience