How cashback websites workMy favourite way to save money is by using cashback websites. It is how I saved £200 ordering takeaway and booking holidays. I even saved a nice amount of money buying a drone. (more…)
What is TransferWise? TransferWise is an international money transfer service that was founded in 2011. It is backed by high profile investors including PayPal’s co-founder Max Levchin and Sir Richard Branson. TransferWise provides services across borders through online and mobile platforms where customers can easily send and receive money while saving considerably against bank charges and exchange rates. It is the quickest, cheapest and easiest way I have ever transferred money. Also, if you are still based in the UK you can order a borderless debit card(a great international money withdrawal card). Transferwise borderless accounts allows you to send and receive money through borderless bank accounts. Why TransferWise? Fast transfers – The way their system works is by you depositing money into one of their local bank accounts, say…
Now that you've signed up to TransferWise and have a fantastic international debit Mastercard as a backup, it's time to get an official Australian bank account.Why do you need an Australian bank account?If you want to work in Australia, most employers will only pay into an Australian bank account. I highly recommend you set one up before you leave so all you need to do when you land is a quick identity check.Here are seven other important reasons:It’s a great way to keep a record of your pay while you’re working towards your second-year Working Holiday Visa.Makes your tax refund easier because you need to track the interest you get on your income.It will save you money using TransferWise to send a large amount of money over rather than small…
Here is my proven three-stack process to getting all your mail on the go:The most important detail you need to know about applying for any Work Essential yourself is that you need a postal address. You will need to use a mixture of your accommodation and a mail forwarding service and/or visa company. With mail forwarding services and visa companies, you use their address to open all your accounts and you can just update your details when you are ready. However, most mail forwarding services and visa companies don’t forward your mail directly. They scan and email it to you wherever you are based. Therefore you need an address for everything physical once you land - most people use their hostel address.Tip: The best advice I can give you is…
A tax file number (TFN) is your unique identifier. It is issued by the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) to any individual, company, Superannuation fund, partnership or trust who pays tax.Your employer will give you a tax declaration form to fill out when you start work. Make sure you include your TFN and so they pay tax to the ATO on your behalf.Tip: You should apply for a Tax File Number within the first two weeks of landing in Australia or you won’t be able to do it online. (more…)
The first step in starting your Australian Working Holiday right is understanding the visa you’re about to apply for. Here are the three most important details to know before applying:It’s digital:The visa does not get stamped into your passport. It’s electronically linked to your passport number. So, there is no need to post your passport anywhere. Just make sure you keep note of all the information you provide when applying for the visa because it is up to you to keep it up-to-date.Activate within 12 months:From the date your Working Holiday Visa is granted, you have 12 months to set foot in Australia. You activate the visa by landing in Australia and passing through customs.Tip: This is a great way to commit to saving for a year! So take the leap, apply…
Get in the right mindset for Australia with tips to help you set a goal, make small deadlines, figure out when and where to land and how to simplify, save and pack. With your visa approved and 12 months to activate it. It’s time to change the way you think, push yourself out of your comfort zone and achieve the most out of your year away. Follow the steps below to uncover the best way to make the most of your Australian Working Holiday Visa. But if you haven’t already I strongly suggest you follow my Travel Hacking Baby Steps before moving forward. This way you know you are saving the most amount of money every time you book anything to do with your travels. STEP 1: Your Australian goal: Find your…
The Spirit of Adventure is the aircraft Charles Muntz flies in the Pixar movie UP!. Likewise, after setting up and understanding your visa and work essentials, the next step is to find your spirit of adventure, your aircraft of hope and exploration. Find an aim for your adventure that drives you. Don’t sit around waiting for that money jar to fill up, find ways to fill it. (more…)
Imagine you have just landed in Australia, what’s the first thing you want to do? Write it down right now!Now, imagine your on that long-haul flight home, what is the one thing you would seriously regret not doing? Now write that down.And, hey presto! You now have yourself an Australian life or death bucket list. Things you would like to accomplish in Australia that give you the feeling you can’t live without or you would die trying. (more…)
By now you should have a visa, a plan for your work essentials, set your spirit of adventure on the right track and started your life or death bucket list. Now it is time to take the final leap and book your flights. From the day your working holiday visa is approved you have one year to land in Australia and activate it. (more…)
Now that you have a goal, a small life or death bucket list, booked your flights and a few weeks accommodation, you need to start thinking about some rough deadlines. So that you can structure your year properly and not waste any time. (more…)
Now that you have set your goal, set a few small deadlines and engraved your life and death bucket list. It’s time to simplify, cut all ties throw off the bowlines, sail away, explore! Dream and discover! Follow my steps below to find out the easiest way to simplify, save and pack for Australia. (more…)
When packing for Australia you need to try and be as simple as possible. With your goal in mind, be tough on yourself. Try and minimise as much as possible. Start by writing down a list of what you think you need, then cut it in half. Ask yourself, can you buy it if you are really, really desperate for it? (more…)
_The following steps can help you save on your everyday spending, the booking of your trip, saving while you travel and even help you pull together a small savings pot for when you get home. It is as easy as adding a few small steps to your process to get money back when you order Dominos Pizza online.My baby steps are simple ways to start experimenting with travel hacking today. Become a master travel hacker – one baby step at a time!To me, travel hacking baby steps are my creative ways to start saving money and time today. Without having to sign up for credit cards or spend a fortune online.I don’t see travel hacking as just collecting points.The best thing about them is that you can use them as an…
Here is a step-by-step outline of how to start saving with Quidco, outlining how it works, ways to join, ways to earn free cash back and how I use it to save money.Quidco is one of the top cashback sites in the UK, with over 3500 retailers to choose from. I have been a happy member for years now, saving on my usual spending habits, travel bookings, and takeaway. It is my favourite travel hacking baby step because it is so easy to use.How Quidco makes money:Quidco is paid a commission for directing you to a retailer’s site. The commission is usually based on how much you spend. You still receive your item/booking directly from the retailer as usual, but you also get some money from Quidco for clicking through…
