You may be eligible for the new Child Care Rebate.

New Child Care Rebate – What is it and how does it work?

The new federal government Child Care Rebate allows you to recoup 50% of your, out of pocket child care expenses up to an annual cap of $7,500. (Be sure to check www.mychild.gov.au for current and full details of the Child Care Rebate.) Meaning if you work, train or study you could potentially receive a rebate of $3,750 if you use an approved child care worker with an annual charge of $7,500. See example below:

1. Sue works and takes her child to an approved child care provider. (There is no income test for the CCR. If you are eligible for CCB but your CCB entitlement is zero due to income, you are still eligible for the CCR.) source www.mychild.gov.au
2. Sue pays her child $5,000 per year for her government approved child care
3. Sue  has been eligible for the Child Care Benefit program
   
4. Sue has passed the CCB work, trainning or study test
5. Sue fills out a Child Care Rebate application form
6. Sue receives a rebate of $2,500. 50% of $5,000 paid quarterly into her bank account

What passes as a federal government child care facility

An approved child care centre must pass the Australian government criteria for suitable quality assured child care. In order to find out if your child care is government approved call the Child Care Access Hotline on 1800 670 305 or search here for a list of approved facilities.

How much can I get back from my Child Care Rebate
As stated above you can receive 50% of your out of pocket expenses of up to $7,500. Out of pocket expenses is money that you have paid, outside of any Child Care Benefit payments or any other type of child care assistance you may receive.

How to i get paid?
Once you have meet all the eligibility requirements with family assistance you will be paid quarterly into your selected bank account. The final payment will be withheld until you have lodged and processed your tax return.

Absent days

Your child is allowed up to 42 absent days, without reason before if affects your Child Care Rebate payment.

Summary

The federal government understands that regular Australians need help when it comes to child care. The new Child Care Rebate, along with the Child Care Benefit program are designed to suite the needs of working class families, allowing them to spend more time at the workplace.  If you believe that you are eligible for assistance you can call the Family Assistance Office  on 13 61 50.

More Rebates

Want to learn more about the Rainwater and Greywater Rebate or the New Solar Hotwater Rebate.

References

www.mychild.gov.au

Family Assistance

Centrelink

Australian Government

Fizone – We are Money!

Replacing your electrical hot water system with a solar power hot water system could land you a $1000 government rebate.

Household water heating, contributes to one of the biggest carbon footprints from your day to day living around the home. Along with harming the environment, electrical water heating systems hit you hard in the wallet, when it comes time to pay your energy Bill. The Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme – solar hot water rebate, was created by the Australian Federal Government in 2010 (Replacing the former Solar Hot Water Rebate.) This new government, “save the environment initiative” will reimburse you with $1000 for a solar hot water system and $600 for a heat pump water system, provided you meet the application criteria. However you can apply for this rebate if have have received the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative $500 rebate.

Read this before you go on – “The rebate is for solar and heat pump hot water systems that replace an existing electric storage hot water system. In order to be eligible for the rebate the solar or heat pump system must be a new and complete hot water system that is eligible for at least 20 RECs.” (Federal Government 2010.) This means that you can not apply for the Renewable Energy Bonus Scheme – Solar Hot Water Rebate if you are building a new home or replacing a current solar hot water system. Likewise you are not eligible for this rebate if you have previously received the Home Insulation Program or the Homeowner Insulation Program.

Why should I buy a new solar hot water system?
As mentioned above a standard electrical hot water system contributes to carbon emissions and a higher than expected energy bill. Solar hot water systems can reduce your carbon emissions and potentially save you hundreds of dollars per year on your electrical bill, helping  you can sleep a little better at night knowing that you are doing your little bit to save the environment.

Installation Requirements

1. The system has been installed in accordance with the relevant building standards and government requirements.
2. The system is a new and complete hot water system that replaces an existing electric storage hot water system previously operational at the dwelling.
3. The system is eligible for at least 20 RECs at the time and place of installation.
4. Installers are also required to provide other technical and installation details including the tank number of the new system and the installation date. Installers are aware of the process and have easy access to the information.

Reclaiming your money

1. To claim a rebate, you need to submit an application using the application form below.
2. You have up to two months (62 days) after an eligible system is installed to submit an application form.
3. Please attach a copy of your purchase receipts which clearly indicates that you have installed a solar or heat pump hot water system with the application. No other supporting documentation is required.
4. You are required to agree that, if requested, you will provide evidence to support claims made in the application as part of an audit process to ensure you meet the program guidelines. For example allowing an authorised inspector access to your system.
5. You should allow eight weeks for the application to be processed, payments are transferred electronically into your bank account.

The Australian government has introduced a wide range of schemes to help with energy costs, environmental damage and to help stimulate the economy. It is a good time to take advantage of these offers if you are considering making your home more eco friendly another example of this can be seen with the  rainwater tank rebate. To apply for the Solar Hot Water Rebate click here.

References

Australian Federal Government

Climate Change Government Program

FIZONE – We are money!

One option for funding a wedding is to apply for a personal loan.

Weddings can be expensive, we all know that. Not everyone is lucky enough to have their family pay for a wedding, making financing your special day a difficult task. One option to explore is getting a personal loan for your memorable moment.

Can you get a personal loan for a wedding?
Yes you can, some banks and credit providers will allow you to apply for a personal loan to fund your wedding. A personal loan is what it is, a loan for personal reasons, you can get a personal loan for a holiday, car, debt consolidation, home renovations and a wedding. To get a personal loan for a wedding you need to meet the following criteria

1. Have a good credit history
2. Be an Australian resident over 18 years old
3. Steady employment that meets the minimum income requirements

Check here to compare personal loans for a wedding.

How much can you  borrow for my wedding
This answer will depend on a few factors. Typically banks will have a minimum and maximum amount, that you can borrow. The time you can pay your loan back will vary average from, 2 to 7 years. Some factors the affect your borrowing amount can include:

1. Your annual income
2. Current debts and expenses
3. Credit history

How to get the right personal loan for your wedding
In order to get the best personal loan for you it is important to do your research. Like most purchases in life, the more time you spend researching and comparing the more likely you will get the best deal possible. There are many loans available on the market in Australia, that range in interest rates and fees and charges. Using online comparison websites, calling banks, reading newspapers and magazines will help you find the right personal loan for your wedding. When comparing personal loans the following may be helpful

1. Decide whether you want a variable or fixed interest rate
2. Compare as many interest rates as possible
3. Find out all the details on fees and charges. Including application fee, monthly fees and late payment fees.

How to apply and when can you access the funds?
Once you have decided on the right personal loan for your wedding, there are a few methods that you can use to apply for your loan:

1. Online applications – these are quick and easy, saving you time.
2. Apply in person – you can go directly into the bank and apply in person. Giving you the opportunity to ask more questions about the finer points of the loan.
3. Via telephone – you can call the bank or credit provider for details on how to apply

Most banks or credit providers will give you the money withing a couple of days. Providing you have meet their lending criteria.

Are there serious consequences for missing repayments?
Yes, you should never borrow money if you have concerns about meeting the repayment agreements. Missing repayments can have a negative effect on your credit history, making if extremely difficult to obtain credit in the future. FIZONE recommends that you seek the guidance of a professional financial adviser before making any decision on applying for credit.

References

Fido

FIZONE

Australian Government is giving a $500 rebate for installing a rainwater tank.

To help save water and more importantly your water bill, the federal government has introduced the National Rainwater and Greywater Initiative to give you a $500 rebate on the purchase of a new rain water tank. Apply before the 31st of March 2014.

Save on your monthly water bill
We all know that cost of water is getting out of hand, one way you can help save on your water bill is to store  your own water in a rainwater tank. Not only will you save money you can help save the environment by drinking one of the best sources of water going around, rainwater.

National rainwater and greywater initiative
The national rainwater and greywater initiative was created by the Federal Government to help ease the pressures of low water supply in Australia along with helping Australian’s through tough economic times.

In order to receive the grant you need meet to following criteria

1. Be the owner of the dwelling where the rainwater tank/s or greywater system has been installed;
2. Be the purchaser of the rainwater tank/s or greywater system; and
3. Submit the completed Application Form and a copy of the proof of purchase (please see examples of acceptable proofs of purchase listed in the definitions section) within six (6) months of the date of purchase of the rainwater tank/s or greywater system.
4. The dwelling where the rainwater tank/s or greywater system has been installed will only be eligible for one (1) rebate payment over the life of the program and must:
5. Be an existing dwelling at the time of installation (not under construction or significant renovation);
6. Not have had a rebate claimed through this program before;
7. Be a principal place of residence that is not owned by a government authority; and be connected to mains water supply (as defined in definitions section).

The rainwater tank/s or greywater system must:

1. Be installed by a licensed plumber;
2. Be brand new (i.e. not second hand) and purchased after 30 January 2009;
3. Be plumbed in;
4. Meet relevant standards and government requirements such as local building restrictions and regulations;
5. Be fully operational;
6. Greywater systems need to be a greywater treatment system; and
7. Rainwater tank/s must have a minimum capacity of 2,000 litres.

Advantages of installing a rainwater tank

1. Help save the environment by using your own water supply created by the rain clouds
2. Drink clean fresh rainwater, some may argue that it is the best source of drinking water in the world
3. Get satisfaction in knowing that you have created something the not only saves you money but saves the environment
4. Consumer revenge on your local water company, breathe a little easier the next time you open up your water bill
5. Recycle greywater for the washing or toilet.

In summary
Installing a rainwater or greywater tank will give you peace of mind,  knowing that are doing something to help the Australian environment, and ease the burden of a hefty water bill. We understand that a rainwater or greywater tank is not for every Australian, however if  you are one of those lucky Australians that owns their own property, why not give it a good old fashioned Australian go.

References

Ferederal Government of Australia

Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts

FIZONE – We Are Money

Is a balance transfer right for you?

A quick guide to help make a balance transfer credit card work for you

A balance transfer credit card allows you to transfer the debt from your old credit card to a new credit card offer. The new credit card gives you a grace period, where you can pay back the debt, ranging from little to no interest at all.

Jack’s credit card balance transfer story

Current owing on old credit cards – $3,000 at 19.99% p.a and $2000 at 17%p.a

New credit card offer -  0% for 6 months on balance transfers

The resulting transaction – the new credit card company pays the old credit card the outstanding amounts of $3,000 and $2,000

You end up with – a debt of $5000 owing to the new credit card company at 0% for 6 months.

Other perks – if you do your research the new credit card offer can come with a lower interest rate of around 12%p.a on future purchases you make on the card.

What to look out for – be sure to pay off the outstanding debt within the balance transfer time frame.  If you don’t then you will have to pay a cash advance interest rate on the outstanding amount. On average this is over 20% p.a

Choosing the best balance transfer deal for you

There are many balance transfer credit cards going around today, making the task of choosing the best card for you a difficult one. In Australia balance transfers can come with a grace period ranging from 6 to 12 months, some credit cards even offer a period of “life” to pay back the debt. Interest rates on the repayment options typically range from 0%p.a to 4.99%. Compare balance transfer rates and time periods here.

Get a Personal Loan for a Holiday

FIZONE help you to explore all your payment options, when planning to finance your dream holiday.

If you are thinking about that dream holiday and want to explore all payment options, then you may like to consider getting a personal loan for your travels. Banks and credit providers now give you the option of applying for a personal loan to cater for next big getaway.

How to Compare Travel Loans?

If you do your research you will discover that, many banks list travel as one of the options for applying for a personal loan.The  ANZ state the following with their travel loan option, “If you’re itching to take off on your dream holiday, an ANZ Personal Loan could get you moving sooner. Borrow from $5,000 towards airfares, accommodation and other travel expenses, and then pay it back over a fixed period. So what are you waiting for”. Many lenders are willing to give you a personal loan for travel, if you compare the market, ask questions and do your research you are sure to find the best travel loan available for your needs.

How Does a Travel Loan Work?

A travel loan works the same as any other type of personal loan, such as debt consolidation, car loan and home improvement loans. You can compare loans and apply online, and given you fit the banks lending criteria you can get your money within a couple of days.

Who Can Apply fro a Travel Loan?

In Australia, to get a personal loan for a holiday you need to fit the following criteria:

1. Be an Australia resident
2. Over 18 years old
3. Suitable employment
4. Sustain a good credit history

If you tick all these boxes, then your chances of getting a personal loan for travel purposes will be pretty good, however for full details of a banks lending criteria, interest rates, fees and charges you should always read the disclosure statement provided by the lending institution.

Compare personal loans for a holiday.

The New Apple iPhone 4g

The new Apple iPhone 4g is now available in Australia. For many Australians the wait is over for the new highly anticipated Apple iPhone 4g smart phone. The iPhone has been a world wide craze, with the first editions of the high tech phone revolutionizing the industry. Many people were wondering, What can Apple do to improve upon the iPhone 3g? Well here is there response:

1. Face to face video calls – the future is now with face to face video calls. Like Skye on your computer, the new iPhone has a stat of the art video call feature that is easy to use with a touch of a button.
2. Improved Graphics – the new Apple iPhone 4g has had a graphics upgrade allowing you to view your favorite website better that ever. Apply has installed a new 960 by 640 resolution in a 3.5inch screen.
3. Multitasking – You can now use multiple features and apps and the same time without hurting your mobile phone performance or battery life.
4. HD Video Recorder – forget about taking your digital camera on the road with you. The new iPhone has a powerful HD video recorder and digital camera that will make your iPhone a do it all of high tech gadgets.

The new Apple iPhone 4g is now available for you in Australia. Such providers as 3 and Vodafone are offering the iPhone 4g for $0 up front on a $79 per month plan. If you interested in purchasing an new iPhone 4g then you can compare the new mobile phone offer here.

You  must first decide on which Bank or credit lender you want apply, this is where comparison and research come into play. In the normal course of operations, the application forms are transmitted through to the bank’s server by way of an encrypted web page for security reasons. The loan applicant needs to carefully go through the application form and complete all requested personal and/or financial information.  Online car loan applications are a fast and easy option for getting a new or used car. Providing you have a good credit record you can be driving off in your new car in no time at all.

Virgin Wireless Mobile Broadband is such an option in Australia. Virgin operates as a subsidiary of Optus in Australia and has vast network coverage in Australia. They also enjoy a broad employee base to provide best services to its customers. Virgin in one the most trusted brands among the network providers.

Let us first see what offers are available with Virgin for wireless mobile broadband in Australia. Both prepaid and post-paid options are available for mobile broadband. Both options provide flexible offers which only charge you as you use the services and will not be heavy on your pockets.

In post-paid options, three plans are available according to the following specifications:

With both the options of post-paid and pre-aid options, you are allowed to use you own modem in case you already have it and there is no compulsion of buying a new modem. Accordingly, you will have cheaper options available in case you are using your own modem.

The network services of Virgin are provide by Optus 3G network in Australia.

Express Cards are smaller in size than normal PC cards and provide much faster speeds than their counterparts. Three provides various cheap options and plans for its netconnect home by broadband. This has definitely given a stiff competition two other mobile broadband options available in Australia. A lot of new notebooks that are being launched have the express card readers are barred from the standard PC card slots.

The Express Cards come in two size specifications. Both of these specifications come in a very slim structure, the first one being a 34mm version and the second one is 54mm size. Generally, notebooks and laptops provide slots for both sizes of ExpressCards. 3, apart from providing NetConnects Express Cards in these specifications, also provides a PC card adaptor so that the ExpressCard can also be easily used with other laptops and notebooks that do not have ExpressCard slots.

The NetConnect uses 3′s network which is extended over Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and the Gold Coast, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra. The network is being upgraded to HSDPA 3.6 and is quickly going to cover all the places under its cover with the upgraded version with data speeds claimed between 600 kbps to 1.5Mbps.