What Steven Cousley Does

A home line line of credit offers you an easy credit facility using the equity in your home as collateral. You can use your line of credit just like a regular credit card but without the higher rates of credit card interest. The interest you pay is at the same rate as your home mortgage.

You can also save interest on your home loan at the same time by paying extra cash into your account. If you need it, you can easily redraw the cash at any time, up to your credit limit. However while you aren’t using it, any extra payments are saving you interest on the daily balance of your home loan.

If your bank or finance company has the facility, you can even combine your line of credit with your home loan into what is called a home accelerator loan. With this type of loan package, your entire paycheck is deposited into your home loan. You can draw funds as you need them but while your idle cash is sitting in your account, it is saving you interest.

Discuss these options with your bank or broker and find out what will work best for you. It’s your money, make it work for you.

Mortgage accelerator loans are relatively new to the USA but have been common in other countries for several years. In Australia over one third of all home mortgages are actually mortgage accelerator programs. As long as you have a positive cash flow, you too can benefit from this new type of home mortgage.

Simply by changing the way you use your cash, you can save thousands of dollars in interest payments which results in you owning your home much earlier. Rather than having your pay check just sitting in a check or savings account, you can have every dollar of your earnings working to save you interest. Your money is still available to spend as you need it, but until you use it, it is saving you interest every single day.

Most savings or check accounts pay very little interest. By using your idle funds against your daily mortgage balance, you are actually putting these funds to work. Instead earning almost no interest, they are actually saving you you the 5-7% percent rate of your mortgae. Your money is now working for you and will help you to own your home sooner.

Take a look at the video for more information.

Albert Namtjira was the first Australian Aboriginal to be recognised nationally and internationally as an artist. He is best known for his landscape paintings which he painted using watercolours in a western style. He painted the country that he lived in, that he was part of, the land of the Arrernte (Aranda) people in the Western Macdonell Ranges area of the Northern Territory.

Albert lived from 1902-1959. He was born near the site of the Herrmansburg Lutheran Mission near Alice Springs. He was named Elea by his parents but while he was still a young boy his family moved to the mission where he was baptised and given the Christian name Albert. After receiving a western style upbringing on the mission, he returned to the bush at the age of 13 where he was initiated and learnt the traditional ways of his people. This exposure to his culture inspired the love and respect for his country that he would later show to the world through his art. At the age of 18 he married Ilkalita, a girl from a neighbouring tribe. He spent several years supporting his growing family by doing odd jobs and spent some time as a camel driver which allowed him to see more of central Australia. After returning to the mission, his wife was baptised as Rubena.

In 1934 Albert was introduced to western painting by two artists who exhibited at the mission. When one of these artists returned two years later to paint, Albert acted as his guide in return for lessons in watercolour painting. These two months were the only art tuition he was to receive. He excelled and quickly developed his own painting style. His landscape paintings were rich in the colours of the native bush and illustrated the rugged terrain of his home lands.

His first exhibition in Melbourne in 1938 consisted of 41 paintings and was quickly sold out. Subsequent exhibitions in Adelaide and Sydney were equally successful. Albert was soon to become a celebrity, even noting Queen Elizabeth II among his fans. Even though he appeared to enjoy the fame, Albert was not comfortable with big city life, and always enjoyed returning home to his land and family.

Despite his success, Albert preferred the simple life. Sharing what he earned with all of his family in the traditional way. When he wanted to lease a cattle farm for his family, he was prevented by the laws that existed at the time because he was an Aborigine. He tried to build a house in Alice Springs but again he was prevented by the law. It was a ridiculous situation for Albert. He was famous, but because he was an Aborigine he was not recognised as a citizen and was prevented from owning land.

Public outcry over Albert’s situation forced the government to grant him citizenship in 1957. It was 10 years later before the rest of Australia’s Aboriginal population would be granted the same rights.This meant that Albert would now be able to own land, would be able to vote, would be able to enter a hotel and be allowed to buy alcohol.

Unfortunately the restrictions that remained for other Aboriginal people resulted in Albert’s demise. Because of his traditional family values, Albert shared all he had with his family. This resulted in him breaking the white man’s law. He was found guilty of supplying alcohol to Aboriginals. In 1958 he was convicted and served 2 months imprisonment. His conviction and time in jail broke his spirit. He lost his interest in painting and in life. Albert died as a result of heart disease in 1959.

Why do people and businesses turn to appliance rental stores for major appliances? The most obvious reasons are the advantage of keeping cash in hand for other purchases, or avoiding the hassle of financing a major purchase.

Most major appliances and even furniture can be found in a rental store. Televisions and home theater equipment are the most sought after items for home rentals. You will also find kitchen and laundry major appliances, such as refrigerators/freezers, dishwashers, washing machines and dryers. Computer equipment is also popular, not just for home users but also businesses who will find tax advantages in renting.

At the end of a rental term, you will usually be made an offer to purchase your equipment. You can choose to continue renting, buy out the item, or choose a new appliance and a new contract. Sometimes the offer to buy the item can be for as little as one dollar.

Rental stores will generally not send you through hoops the way a finance company would. As long as you can demonstrate you have a regular income you should be able to rent the appliances or furniture you need without difficulty. You can walk into the store and in most cases will be able to take home your item the same day.

Another advantage is that for major appliances, the store will usually deliver, install and setup your equipment for no extra charge. If something goes wrong, you don’t pay for the cost of the repairs, the store takes care of that as well.

Before making a major purchase, consider your options. Shop around and find out if the item you want can be rented. You might be able to take home your new computer or home theater system today for just the cost of the first month’s rent, and not have to deal with a bank or finance company. You may even find an offer for the first month free.

Performance of Rare Australian Coins

It’s well known that rare collectible coins have great investment potential and Australian rare coins are no exception. In fact some examples, such as the famous 1930 penny, are among the rarest and most valuable collectible coins to be found. In times of economic instability, investors look towards precious metals and coins for security. Coins can be volatile in the market but are often regularly seen to outperform precious metals.

While uncirculated coins will naturally have the highest value, there is plenty of value to be found in coins of lower quality. For example, a coin that is fairly common in the marketplace, such as an 1889 gold sovereign of average condition, will probably attract a price around 10% higher than the gold it contains. The value will certainly increase with the quality of the coin. Find the same coin in near mint condition and you can expect a return four or more times higher than the intrinsic gold value. In the market for Australian sovereigns, there are around 250 known different date and mint mark combinations, 150 of these are considered common, the rest are scarce to rare.

Gold coins are not the only ones of value to astute collectors. If you can manage to come across an average 1930 penny, expect a return in excess of $20,000. Only around 2000 of these coins made it into circulation and are now very rare. Even more so the proof edition of this coin, only six were produced. Three of these are now in private collections and are valued at over $1,000,000.

It’s not age that has the greatest influence on the value of coins, but rarity and demand in the marketplace. Australian half sovereigns can be more valuable than ancient coins. In the last 5 years some uncirculated half sovereigns have more than doubled in value. In the same period, uncirculated type 2 Adelaide pounds (not as rare as the type 1), have increased from $28,000, to $120,000.

The table below lists some examples of the investment performance of some Australian coins in recent years. For more up-to-date information on coin values, please visit the Australian Rare Coin Ready Reckoner.