New to Australia - Superannuation simplified

Superannuation or Super (for short) is a retirement fund. It is similar to  CPF of Singapore or SSS/GSIS of Philippines. In Australia, employers are required to contribute 9.5% of your ordinary earnings as long as you are 18 years old or above and earns at least $450 per month. But unlike Singapore and Philippines, there is no one government agency to receive these funds. The employee may choose any of the super funds or may even manage their own super fund. Personally, I think they are all the same. An employee may not even choose one and just leave it to the employer's super choice. Super funds contributions can be tracked anyway as these are tagged with your TFN - Tax File Number. Although, it is advised that you consolidate all the contributions into one account.

So, the main issue faced by migrants, especially the older ones, is how to grow their super. Below is the table which compares three options in personally contributing to your retirement fund:

Super Contribution options

In the options above, let us assume that the annual salary is $85,000 and that option A is when you just leave everything to the employer which is their compulsary 9.5% contribution. Options B and C are when you, as the employee, decides to add more to the account in the amount of $5,200 annually or $100 weekly (amount may differ according to your capability). The difference between these two latter options is the tax incurred in how you added contributions to your funds. In scenario B, you ask your employer to deduct the amount of contribution from your salary, thereby decreasing your taxable income. This is called salary sacrifice or also Pre-tax contribution. While option C is when you decide to make the contribution after your have received your net pay. This is termed as after-tax contribution. Note that the total tax on the last column is only shown for illustration purpose. Tax on salary will be paid by your employer while tax on super is facilitated by your super fund.

These are actually just scenarios for your consideration. I would personally go for option B as I don't only save on tax, I would also be growing my retirement fund.


Disclaimer : Changes may have taken place after the writing of this blog.

New to Australia - first things first

First of all, Welcome to Straya!

I had imagined a lot of things I wanted done the moment I landed into the land down under. I thought to myself, having read about how laid back the life is here, I want to learn how to play the piano, how to drive and maybe how to cook and definitely start baking again. There's just so much you can think of when you reckon you will have a lot of free time. (Yes, I do have much leisure time now, thus this blog). But a couple topped the list which are Medicare and Tax File Number. To be able to register to these, you will need an Australian mobile no. It does not matter whether you get a temporary prepaid sim card as you can use the same no. when you eventually decide to move to postpaid.

And while at it, you may also want to register to the following:
1. Flybuys card - to earn rewards when buying at Coles, Target and Kmart
2. Woolworths Card - to earn rewards when buying at Woolsworth
3. Priceline Sister Club - to earn rewards when buying at Priceline
4. Oporto - to earn reward when buying at Oporto and receive 10 dollar meal on your birthday plus a                    $5 credit when you download the app.
5. Gloria Jeans - to earn reward when buying at Gloria Jeans and receive free coffee on your birthday
6. Velocity Frequent Flyer - to earn rewards when you fly via Virgin Airlines and redeem velocity points via flybuys card or when you have AMEX velocity card. Read about it here.
7. Messina app - pay using this app to earn rewards while buying Gelato Messina anywhere in Australia which you can use to redeem free scoops 😉


Do not worry about having to keep or carry these cards , there is an app called "Stocard" where you can store these card details. As my friend usually says, "It's better to have it and not need it than need it but not have it."

My birthday treat from Oporto

How to get the Messina app

Look of Love

We went to Opera House Vivid Sydney last Saturday and there were lots of people. I guess this contributed to the somewhat bad mood of Kane, the baby boy we brought along. Come dinner time, he was already throwing a slight tantrum. He did not seem to know what he wants until he saw this other lady on the next table. He would giggle every time the lady looks back at him.

This is how he looks like when he's not in the mood

                                                               Watch the video here.

Look at him now, mesmerize by the lady at the next table

Love Inspiration

The inspiration for the composition below is from Katy Perry's Teenage dream. I was listening to this song on my way to work and suddenly I felt in love :) I felt the urge to write down my feelings at that moment, typing through my phone while walking.

There's an inner joy 
and light-heartedness
that you know you're inlove!

It's an amazing feeling
and you can't help but smile..

There is no one in particular
but just the idea of love is
so spectacular..

that you can simply relate to songs
and the lyrics seem not be to be wrong.
they express exactly what you feel
and you just know it can be real

You're inlove and you know
this right man will just show
all you have to do is have faith
you'll soon have a date! :)

You're inlove and you know
all your worries will go
if  you keep on believing
the love will keep burning!

You might have read this from my other blogspot - catey007.blogspot.com but reading about it made me want to repost 😉

Credit Cards

There is nothing wrong with credit cards. In fact, there are lots of advantages so long as you use it carefully. You can earn points when you buy groceries, recharge your mobile sim or top-up your opal card with no additional charge or they call it "surcharge". And the points you earn can be used to redeem rewards - shopping vouchers, free flights, etc.

The key thing is to look for a credit card that has no annual fee. I know, in Philippines and Singapore, annual fees are usually waived when you pay on time or meet a minimum yearly spending but I was shocked to find out in Australia that they do not waive annual fees. At least that;s what I have experienced. So I searched for cards that do not charge annual fees and here are what I found -Coles Mastercard and Amex Velocity Card. 

I have applied for Amex Velocity Card and these are what I have gained so far:

1. Bonus points upon approved application

2. One - time $10 cash back when buying at Woolies. The offer comes and changes from time to time and it's up to you to take it or not. 

Current AMEX card offers

3. Claimed free flights from Sydney to Perth via Virgin Australia.

4. Earned referral points by referring my friends.

You can have all these benefits too when you apply now through this link -  Amex Velocity Card. 

Migrating to Australia

I was granted my independent permanent visa in February 2015 but I moved to Sydney in April 2016. As I write this blog, I am already living permanently in Australia for 13 months now.

The migration process was not easy. It requires a lot of  research, readings, discussions and contemplation. I have attended a few of migration agent's seminars, read some articles and forums and tried to search for a detailed process on how to apply but always turned out to nothing as the search always directed me to a migrating agent. Yes, I wanted to apply on my own for the very reason that using an agent will not guarantee my application approval (although, it may increase the probability). Aside from having to pay a hefty fee, I will still have to be the one to gather all the documents - employer's certificate of employments and university documents. I know, I know, I'm just being stingy but hey, I am proud to say I have achieved it on my own (with the help of forums and some friends) Plus I do know a couple who engaged the services of a migration agent but still ended up unsuccessful but by all means, take the path which is comfortable for you. Note, however, that whether you apply independently or through an agent, please read the steps and requirements carefully.

I did try to ask someone who is a PR (permanent resident) in Australia on how to apply only to be told to READ without having been given a link. Thus, having undergone the stressful process of research and getting lost, my friend and I have vowed to do our best to help the others who are interested. Believe me, the moment I moved to Sydney, a lot has asked me how.

The very first step is to check whether or not you occupation is eligible for migration to Australia through this link . Scroll down and you will see the list as per screenshot below.

Once you have identified your occupation, click the relevant Assessing Authority to know the requirements. Since I am an accountant, my Assessing Authorities are CPA / ICAA/ IPA. I chose CPA Australia. Once you are in their website, choose Migration assessment, and on the upper left hand side, read each subheadings carefully and yes! the IELTS to take is Academic.

Read through and you are on your way to Australia :)

Additional note - as much as possible, we want Independent Visa so choose 189. Read more about Visa 189 here.

Disclaimer: This is my personal experience which may be different to yours. Best to do more research or consult a legit registered migration agent.