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8 spots to declutter on a daily basis

<p>Many people who are naturally tidy will say that orderliness is merely a habit.</p> <p>So get into the groove of doing a little bit of decluttering every day, and you're sure to live a (somewhat) more streamlined life.</p> <p>Here are eight areas in your home that could do with a tidy on-the-daily.</p> <p><strong>1. The mailbox </strong></p> <p>Start setting your home life in order before you even walk in the door by making sure to clear your mailbox.</p> <p>Any junk mail can go straight in the recycling bin outside and you can deal with mail and bills immediately.</p> <p><strong>2. Your handbag</strong></p> <p>The busier a woman is, the more likely she is to accumulate fodder in her handbag. Receipts, toiletries, charger cables, hair clips, mail, snacks, and more will get lumped into the bag.</p> <p>Take a couple of minutes at the end of each day to clear what's arrived there into the relevant places, and make sure you have what you need for tomorrow.</p> <p><strong>3. The kitchen sink</strong></p> <p>Does anyone really enjoy doing the dishes? </p> <p>Washing dirty pots and pans is an activity that only becomes less attractive the longer you leave it.</p> <p>Do yourself a favour and the air in your home a favour - don't leave unwashed dishes in the sink overnight.</p> <p><strong>4. Your clothes pile </strong></p> <p>Let's be real - we all have one of these. Whether it's your chair, a corner of your bed or in a hamper, unworn clothes just seem to gather.</p> <p>Make it your practice to return clothes to the wardrobe before bed for a more relaxing bedroom (and maybe even a better night's sleep).</p> <p><strong>5. The car</strong></p> <p>Don't treat your car like an open-plan filing system, a trash can or a laundry basket.</p> <p>Make a rule - when you get out of the car, all new additions - like coffee cups or the drycleaning you just retrieved - come out with you.</p> <p><strong>6. The kitchen bench</strong></p> <p>The counter in your kitchen is a waypoint in the home where clutter easily accumulates.</p> <p>It might be tempting to decorate this space with a tray for odds and ends, but by doing this, you're simply allowing yourself to procrastinate. </p> <p>Instead, create a pinboard somewhere in your kitchen. Reminders and important documents can be pinned, everything else can go back where it belongs.</p> <p><strong>7. Your desk </strong></p> <p>Maintaining a tidy home office is important for morale and productivity. Plus, you deserve to work in well ordered environment.</p> <p>It's easy to bring things from around the house onto your desk (e.g. scissors, charging cables) and then be frantically wondering where they are later.</p> <p>When you finish your work for the day, make a ritual of putting everything away. </p> <p><strong>8. Your wallet </strong></p> <p>File receipts, remove excess coins, keep an eye on your loyalty cards (you might have a nice surprise) and make sure you have all your cards.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p> <p><em>Written by Anabela Rea. Republished with permission on <a href="http://www.stuff.co.nz/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><strong><span style="text-decoration: underline;">Stuff.co.nz.</span></strong></a></em></p>

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ACCI urges government to provide Aged Pension on a loan basis

<p>The nation’s peak business chamber, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has urged the government to use the May budget to curb what it calls “runaway spending” on aged pensions, family tax benefits and childcare, to avoid a Greek-style debt crisis.</p> <p>The Australian reports there are “new calls for the government to find extra spending cuts, including by tightening the means tests on several social-welfare programs that cost billions of dollars a year.”</p> <p>The ACCI’s pre-budget submission says unless public spending “is brought under control, the Australian economy will gradually be crippled by increasing taxes and growing public debt, both of which are unsustainable”.</p> <p>“If Australia waits until the system­ breaks, we will consign the next generation to painful re­adjustments similar to those taking place in southern Europe,” the submission says.</p> <p>One of the key parts of the ACCI submission is to review the Aged Pension and to turn into a loan. The ACCI wants the government to force retirees who own homes to transform the pension into a loan which would then be repaid when the home is sold.</p> <p>"It seems irrational really for a family home not to be counted when you look at pensioners' capacity to fund themselves," chamber's chief executive Kate Carnell told ABC.</p> <p>"For people in multi-million dollar homes that really are keeping those homes for the purpose of I suppose giving them to their children when they die."</p> <p>Ms Carnell argued that Australia is in no place to afford middle class welfare such as Family Tax Benefit Part B and the Child Care Rebate.</p> <p>"With Family Benefit Part B, now that was brought in when Australia had a surplus, when we could afford to pay for it," Ms Carnell said.</p> <p>"We don't have a surplus now, we have a deficit and quite a significant one, so why don't we look at situations where people who currently get Family Benefit Part B keep it but new people can't go onto it.</p> <p>"I think we've got to accept that we can't afford in Australia now what it's costing us to run government."</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/01/app-shows-you-where-the-rich-invest/">New app reveals where rich people invest</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/01/differences-in-how-we-use-credit-cards-and-cash/">Surprising differences in how we use credit cards and cash</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/01/benefits-of-living-in-a-granny-flat/%20%20%20">Hidden benefits of living in a granny flat</a></em> </strong></span></p>

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ACCI urges government to provide Aged Pension on a loan basis

<p>The nation’s peak business chamber, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, has urged the government to use the May budget to curb what it calls “runaway spending” on aged pensions, family tax benefits and childcare, to avoid a Greek-style debt crisis.</p> <p>The Australian reports there are “new calls for the government to find extra spending cuts, including by tightening the means tests on several social-welfare programs that cost billions of dollars a year.”</p> <p>The ACCI’s pre-budget submission says unless public spending “is brought under control, the Australian economy will gradually be crippled by increasing taxes and growing public debt, both of which are unsustainable”.</p> <p>“If Australia waits until the system­ breaks, we will consign the next generation to painful re­adjustments similar to those taking place in southern Europe,” the submission says.</p> <p>One of the key parts of the ACCI submission is to review the Aged Pension and to turn into a loan. The ACCI wants the government to force retirees who own homes to transform the pension into a loan which would then be repaid when the home is sold.</p> <p>"It seems irrational really for a family home not to be counted when you look at pensioners' capacity to fund themselves," chamber's chief executive Kate Carnell told ABC.</p> <p>"For people in multi-million dollar homes that really are keeping those homes for the purpose of I suppose giving them to their children when they die."</p> <p>Ms Carnell argued that Australia is in no place to afford middle class welfare such as Family Tax Benefit Part B and the Child Care Rebate.</p> <p>"With Family Benefit Part B, now that was brought in when Australia had a surplus, when we could afford to pay for it," Ms Carnell said.</p> <p>"We don't have a surplus now, we have a deficit and quite a significant one, so why don't we look at situations where people who currently get Family Benefit Part B keep it but new people can't go onto it.</p> <p>"I think we've got to accept that we can't afford in Australia now what it's costing us to run government."</p> <p><strong>Related links: </strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/01/app-shows-you-where-the-rich-invest/">New app reveals where rich people invest</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/01/differences-in-how-we-use-credit-cards-and-cash/">Surprising differences in how we use credit cards and cash</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/finance/money-banking/2016/01/benefits-of-living-in-a-granny-flat/%20%20%20">Hidden benefits of living in a granny flat</a></em> </strong></span></p>

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