array(1) { [0]=> &object(stdClass)#4880 (52) { ["id"]=> string(5) "15670" ["title"]=> string(37) "Capitalising on the COVID-19 pandemic" ["alias"]=> string(37) "capitalising-on-the-covid-19-pandemic" ["introtext"]=> string(208) "

More time at home means many Australians now have the opportunity to re-assess their lifestyle and spending habits and set some serious saving goals. So how can you actually go about it?

" ["fulltext"]=> string(1236) "

In this episode of The nestegg Podcast, host Grace Ormsby is joined by Melbourne-based Reventon’s Billie Christofi to talk all things finance and the impact of isolation on our hip pockets.

In stage 4 lockdown, Billie shares the importance of going back to basics when it comes to budgeting, methods to re-assess spending habits, and some of the less conventional ways people can boost their wealth at this time.

Thanks Billie, for sharing your insights with the nestegg podcast team!

Have an investment story to share? Get in touch at [email protected] and you might get featured on an upcoming episode!

" ["checked_out"]=> string(1) "0" ["checked_out_time"]=> string(19) "0000-00-00 00:00:00" ["catid"]=> string(3) "302" ["created"]=> string(19) "2020-09-01 07:00:26" ["created_by"]=> string(4) "2386" ["created_by_alias"]=> string(0) "" ["state"]=> string(1) "1" ["modified"]=> string(19) "2020-09-02 02:50:12" ["modified_by"]=> string(4) "2386" ["modified_by_name"]=> string(12) "Grace Ormsby" ["publish_up"]=> string(19) "2020-09-02 02:50:12" ["publish_down"]=> string(19) "0000-00-00 00:00:00" ["images"]=> string(218) "{"image_intro":"images\/podcasts\/Billie_Christofi_WEB_ne.jpg","float_intro":"","image_intro_alt":"","image_intro_caption":"","image_fulltext":"","float_fulltext":"","image_fulltext_alt":"","image_fulltext_caption":""}" ["urls"]=> string(121) "{"urla":false,"urlatext":"","targeta":"","urlb":false,"urlbtext":"","targetb":"","urlc":false,"urlctext":"","targetc":""}" ["attribs"]=> string(782) "{"article_layout":"","show_title":"","link_titles":"","show_tags":"","show_intro":"","info_block_position":"","info_block_show_title":"","show_category":"","link_category":"","show_parent_category":"","link_parent_category":"","show_associations":"","show_author":"","link_author":"","show_create_date":"","show_modify_date":"","show_publish_date":"","show_item_navigation":"","show_icons":"","show_print_icon":"","show_email_icon":"","show_vote":"","show_hits":"","show_noauth":"","urls_position":"","alternative_readmore":"","article_page_title":"","video_url":"","channel_id":"UCLBR-2LtTtui_WiRuEfW3qA","show_publishing_options":"","show_article_options":"","show_urls_images_backend":"","show_urls_images_frontend":"","send":"0","test":"0","readingDiff":"3","canonical_link":""}" ["metadata"]=> string(68) "{"robots":"","author":"","rights":"","xreference":"","metatitle":""}" ["metakey"]=> string(105) "podcast, savings, financial goals, financial freedom, lockdown, pandemic, wealth, wealth creation, saving" ["metadesc"]=> string(186) "More time at home means many Australians now have the opportunity to re-assess their lifestyle and spending habits and set some serious saving goals. So how can you actually go about it?" ["access"]=> string(1) "1" ["hits"]=> string(3) "511" ["xreference"]=> string(0) "" ["featured"]=> string(1) "0" ["language"]=> string(1) "*" ["readmore"]=> string(4) "1236" ["ordering"]=> string(1) "0" ["category_title"]=> string(7) "Podcast" ["category_route"]=> string(17) "resources/podcast" ["category_access"]=> string(1) "1" ["category_alias"]=> string(7) "podcast" ["published"]=> string(1) "1" ["parents_published"]=> string(1) "1" ["lft"]=> string(2) "82" ["author"]=> string(12) "Grace Ormsby" ["author_email"]=> string(33) "[email protected]" ["parent_title"]=> string(9) "Resources" ["parent_id"]=> string(3) "300" ["parent_route"]=> string(9) "resources" ["parent_alias"]=> string(9) "resources" ["alternative_readmore"]=> NULL ["layout"]=> NULL ["params"]=> object(Joomla\Registry\Registry)#4884 (3) { ["data":protected]=> object(stdClass)#4750 (95) { ["article_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_titles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_intro"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["info_block_show_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_category"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["link_parent_category"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_associations"]=> string(1) "0" ["flags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["link_author"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_create_date"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_modify_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_publish_date"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_item_navigation"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_vote"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_readmore_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["readmore_limit"]=> string(3) "100" ["show_tags"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_icons"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_print_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_email_icon"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["record_hits"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_noauth"]=> string(1) "0" ["urls_position"]=> string(1) "0" ["captcha"]=> string(0) "" ["show_publishing_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_article_options"]=> string(1) "1" ["save_history"]=> string(1) "1" ["history_limit"]=> int(10) ["show_urls_images_frontend"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_urls_images_backend"]=> string(1) "1" ["targeta"]=> int(0) ["targetb"]=> int(0) ["targetc"]=> int(0) ["float_intro"]=> string(4) "left" ["float_fulltext"]=> string(5) "right" ["category_layout"]=> string(14) "momentum:newne" ["show_category_heading_title_text"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_category_title"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_description"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_description_image"]=> string(1) "0" ["maxLevel"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_no_articles"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_subcat_desc"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_cat_tags"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_base_description"]=> string(1) "1" ["maxLevelcat"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_empty_categories_cat"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcat_desc_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_cat_num_articles_cat"]=> string(1) "1" ["num_leading_articles"]=> string(2) "14" ["num_intro_articles"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_columns"]=> string(1) "0" ["num_links"]=> string(1) "0" ["multi_column_order"]=> string(1) "0" ["show_subcategory_content"]=> string(2) "-1" ["show_pagination_limit"]=> string(1) "0" ["filter_field"]=> string(4) "hide" ["show_headings"]=> string(1) "1" ["list_show_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["date_format"]=> string(0) "" ["list_show_hits"]=> string(1) "0" ["list_show_author"]=> string(1) "1" ["orderby_pri"]=> string(4) "none" ["orderby_sec"]=> string(5) "rdate" ["order_date"]=> string(9) "published" ["show_pagination"]=> string(1) "2" ["show_pagination_results"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_featured"]=> string(4) "show" ["show_feed_link"]=> string(1) "1" ["feed_summary"]=> string(1) "0" ["feed_show_readmore"]=> string(1) "0" ["sef_advanced"]=> int(1) ["sef_ids"]=> int(1) ["custom_fields_enable"]=> string(1) "1" ["show_page_heading"]=> NULL ["layout_type"]=> string(4) "blog" ["menu_text"]=> int(1) ["menu_show"]=> int(1) ["page_title"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["menu-meta_description"]=> string(180) "Let us help you decide how you want to invest your money on. Learn the best strategies in investing and options like cryptocurrency, bonds, mutual funds, property and stock market." ["secure"]=> int(0) ["page_description"]=> string(7) "nestegg" ["page_rights"]=> NULL ["robots"]=> NULL ["page_heading"]=> string(71) "Invest Money - Strategies and Tools for your Investment Goals | nestegg" ["access-view"]=> bool(true) } ["initialized":protected]=> bool(true) ["separator"]=> string(1) "." } ["displayDate"]=> string(19) "2020-09-02 02:50:12" ["slug"]=> string(43) "15670:capitalising-on-the-covid-19-pandemic" ["catslug"]=> string(11) "302:podcast" ["link"]=> string(56) "/resources/podcast/capitalising-on-the-covid-19-pandemic" ["image"]=> string(43) "images/podcasts/Billie_Christofi_WEB_ne.jpg" ["image_alt"]=> string(0) "" } }

Latest Podcast

Capitalising on the COVID-19 pandemic...

Resources

There is $17.5 billion in lost and unclaimed super across ...

Invest

State backing of blockchain sees bitcoin price jump

By Cameron Micallef

November 01 2019
Share

Invest

State backing of blockchain sees bitcoin price jump

By Cameron Micallef
November 01 2019

Confirmation from the Chinese government that bitcoin’s underlying technology, blockchain, is a necessary investment for the future has seen the price of bitcoin surge over the past week.

State backing of blockchain sees bitcoin price jump

By Cameron Micallef

November 01 2019
Share

Confirmation from the Chinese government that bitcoin’s underlying technology, blockchain, is a necessary investment for the future has seen the price of bitcoin surge over the past week.

In conversation with nestegg, Monash University associate professor Joseph Liu has explained the real-world implications for blockchain technology and why China is launching its own currency.

“The market is very sensitive to all kinds of news. Although [China] is not focusing on [bitcoin], they have confirmed the blockchain technology,” Mr Lui said.

The people invested in cryptocurrency see the benefits of the technology as reaffirming their belief in the coin, which led to the greatest one-day jump since 2011.

Mr Lui explained why the Chinese government wants to align itself with blockchain technology.

“The Chinese government has publicly announced it will use blockchain technology to improve the finance sector, health care sector, education, charity and various other areas in the Chinese community,” he outlined.

The technology allows the government to create secure, irreplaceable data that can improve communications between the government and authorised personnel, according to the academic.

Using education as an example, he said graduates applying for jobs would not be able to fake qualifications due to employers being able to access education information from the government.

The main benefits in all of these areas are due to a system that cannot be hacked, unlike traditional systems.

“The security is not maintained by one central party, which is different from the traditional cloud service model, so it is not subject to attack or single failure,” the scholar outlined.

China planning to launch own currency

China is now preparing to launch its own-state backed cryptocurrency, after previously posting online that blockchain technology was a scam.

China’s central bank began exploring the idea in 2014, however, bitcoin and other alt coins were effectively banned by the state.

The government has effectively overturned its ban on the currency starting from 1 January 2020, with new laws around cryptograhy, which is a method of protecting information.

The new laws will facilitate “the development of cryptography business and ensuring the security of cyber space and information”, according to state media agency Xinhua.

Analysts believe that the global power is laying the groundwork for its own new currency using blockchain.

“The means they will use blockchain technology but it is different to bitcoin,” Mr Liu has clarified.

He believes the currency could cause competition for existing Chinese fund providers.

“In China now, many people use mobile payment services such as Alipay. They are not using blockchain technology. By replacing this with Chinese cryptocurrency they can enjoy a more secure and potentially more control on the currency,” Mr Liu said.

While not bitcoin, the academic considers the new cryptocurrency as more closely aligned with Facebook’s ‘libra’.

“One discount of new cryptocurrency is equal to one renminbi (the Chinese currency). They will sell one token to the people if they pay one renminbi, so its one to one trading,” he continued.

The associate professor believes the Chinese move towards cryptocurrency could spread to other nations, including Australia, due to the security of such technologies, while also allowing governments to maintain control over national finances.

nestegg has previously reported on the effect China has had on bitcoin.

Forward this article to a friend. Follow us on Linkedin. Join us on Facebook. Find us on Twitter for the latest updates

Rate the article

About the author

Cameron Micallef

Cameron is a journalist for Momentum Media's nestegg and Smart Property Investment. He enjoys giving Aussies practical financial tips and tricks to help grow their wealth and achieve financial independence. As a self-confessed finance nerd, Cameron enjoys chatting with industry experts and commentators to leverage their insights to grow your portfolio.

About the author

Cameron Micallef

Bitcoin

How to pick a winner in the crypto market

Investors looking to gain exposure to crypto assets are being advised to look at the asset class like they do companies with some coins likely to win while others may fail. ...Read more

Bitcoin

Will bitcoin’s halving see its next rally?

The supply of bitcoin is set to halve today as central banks around the world increase its monetary support to stabilise world economies. ...Read more

Bitcoin

ATO cracks down on crypto tax dodgers

The ATO is warning the one million taxpayers who have engaged in buying, selling or transferring cryptocurrency to pay up or face the music. ...Read more

Bitcoin

Should you invest in bitcoin or gold?

Bitcoin is often known as digital gold, with both asset classes sharing similar characteristics, including being uncorrelated to market risks and being a natural hedge to systematic risk. ...Read more

Bitcoin

Bitcoin and the China effect

Despite being designed as an open currency that is separate of state, a speech made in China and a United States inquiry have seen the price of bitcoin surge over the weekend. ...Read more

Bitcoin

The basics of Bitcoin

While everyone’s heard of Bitcoin, not everyone knows how it works. So, here’s a technical yet accessible explanation to ensure you are up to speed. ...Read more

Bitcoin

Bitcoin makes fool’s gold out of altcoins, CEO says

Bitcoin will one day take over the world, while other alternate digital currencies will trend “towards zero” as the world continues to move towards digital currency, a chief executive officer has ...Read more