New Parents Wonder Where To Go Now
Money Magazine Australia|June 2017

We are just wondering what our next best move would be at this stage.

Paul Clitheroe
New Parents Wonder Where To Go Now

I’m 34 and earn $100,000 a year. We currently have a one-year-old baby and my wife (30) is a full-time mum. We have combined super of $160,000 and currently owe $440,000 on our mortgage (two years into repayments) with the house being valued at around $700,000, leaving us $260,000 equity with minimal savings (and no other debt). My wife is looking to go back to work, where she would earn about $70,000pa.

We are just wondering what our next best move would be at this stage. We are looking at the options: buying shares, or should we prioritise the mortgage, or place cash aside for the baby’s future expenses? Would a self-managed super fund be a sensible option? David

Congratulations on the birth of your first child. Enjoy every moment. One of the best pieces of advice I have ever received is that time with the kids goes in a flash. When I was given this advice, Vicki and I had a new baby, a four-year-old and a six-year-old and I thought it was nonsense. But as I recently went to my youngest daughter's graduation from a four-year degree and we look forward to our 30-year-old son's marriage at the end of the year, I realise that the advice I was given was spot on.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM MONEY MAGAZINE AUSTRALIAView all
An outrageous, beautiful monopoly
Money Magazine Australia

An outrageous, beautiful monopoly

Telstra's mobile business is a cash machine with few competitors, giving it the highest returns in the world.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
Drop the anchor to judge value
Money Magazine Australia

Drop the anchor to judge value

Buying and selling decisions should be based on where a stock price is going, not where it has been.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
Powering the AI boom
Money Magazine Australia

Powering the AI boom

Beyond the software and chipmakers, where will the energy come from?

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
Get into life
Money Magazine Australia

Get into life

Tucked inside super are products that can protect you from life's inevitable uncertainties.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024
Paths to home ownership
Money Magazine Australia

Paths to home ownership

Taking the road less travelled can sometimes deliver unexpected benefits.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024
Sold! Quick ways to add value
Money Magazine Australia

Sold! Quick ways to add value

Small, strategic changes can have a big impact on the look and feel of your home. And get you a better price on auction day.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024
Money lessons the kids need to know
Money Magazine Australia

Money lessons the kids need to know

Your children can learn a lot from your past money mishaps. Here are eight financial conversations I have had with mine.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
Property-investing rules: are they likely to change?
Money Magazine Australia

Property-investing rules: are they likely to change?

The pressure for the government to curb the tax benefits of tax concessions, such as negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount, is unrelenting. Most recently, independent senators David Pocock and Jacqui Lambie proposed five options for paring back investment property tax concessions, with savings to the Federal budget of up to $60 billion over the next decade.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
What's love got to do with it?
Money Magazine Australia

What's love got to do with it?

A rollercoaster of emotions could be driving poor crypto behaviour.

time-read
3 mins  |
July 2024
Are we ready to be cash-free?
Money Magazine Australia

Are we ready to be cash-free?

Saying goodbye to our piggy banks too soon could leave small businesses in the dark when problems arise.

time-read
2 mins  |
July 2024