puzzles page Joanne Madeline Moore
Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd
General knowledge crossword No. 511
your week in the stars – August 3-9, 2015
ARIES (Mar 21 – Apr 20)
Chartered Accountant
A teenager, friend or lover requires some guidance but avoid rushing in and messing up a sensitive situation. More patience is needed, if you want to help rather than hinder. Sometimes you just have to step back and let loved ones make their own mistakes in their own individual way. Mars (your ruling planet) moves into fiery Leo on the weekend (until September 25) so you’ll be keen to express yourself in increasingly creative and flamboyant ways.
Taking an interest in interest payments
TAURUS (Apr 21 – May 20)
Get set for a turbulent week as Venus (your ruling planet) hooks up with prosperity planet Jupiter, and then squares sombre Saturn. So a piece of good luck could fall into your lap, followed by the realisation that you’ll have to work very hard to maintain it. Extra cash could come your way – only to be gobbled up by overdue bills or unexpected expenses. Ce la vie! On the weekend, strive to be more proactive about a frustrating family problem.
GEMINI (May 21 – June 21)
You start the week well with a novel idea or an ingenious plan, but the planets also stir up your restless Gemini nature and shorten your (already limited) attention span. Superficial chit-chat won’t be appreciated on Thursday so don’t skim over the surface when communicating with others. Take the time to dig a lot deeper. And with Venus reversing through your social media zone (until September 6) be extra careful when posting messages or dealing with online daters.
CANCER (June 22 – July 22)
Many Cancers are (or were) creative entrepreneurs – like John D. Rockefeller, Richard Branson, Gisele Bundchen and Khloe Kardashian. This week, with so many planets in your money zone, all types of business projects are highlighted. Jupiter blesses financial forays, but retro Venus cautions you to resist the urge to overvalue things. Your motto for the moment is from birthday great Andy Warhol: “Making money is art, and working is art and good business is the best art.”
LEO (July 23 – Aug 22)
Lions love luxury and often charm their way out of doing menial chores. But with Venus reversing through Leo (until September 6) your Cat charisma may not work on others ATM – no matter how hard you try. So it would be better to just roll your sleeves up and do the routine jobs that need to be done – without complaining! Mighty Mars moves into your sign on the weekend (until September 25) so it’s the perfect time to get passionate about an ambitious new project.
VIRGO (Aug 23 – Sept 22)
You love to help others and feel useful – especially this week. A friend or family member may be drawn to you for emotional comfort and practical support and you’re in the mood to listen, as you offer Virgo advice that is sensible and sensitive. Mercury (your ruling planet) moves into your sign on Friday (until August 27) when you’ll be at your clear, careful, logical best as you multi-task with fabulous flair. But resist the urge to criticise others and sweat the small stuff.
LIBRA (Sept 23 – Oct 23)
With Venus in retro mode, life is difficult for many love-obsessed Librans ATM. Relationships are rocky and, if you’re single, your soul mate seems to be permanently delayed! So it’s important to have a goal or dream you’re aiming for – something that can transport you into a future that is bigger than just you. Be inspired by birthday great Barack Obama” “It’s only when you hitch your wagon to something larger than yourself that you realise your true potential.”
Solution next week
Across
Down
1 What relates to flowers? 7 Which former US prison site was known as The Rock? 8 What is a communication in writing? 9 Which immature varieties of cucumber are used in pickling? 10 To breathe in, is to do what? 11 Which soldiers are stationed at a place, to keep guard? 14 What are terms applied to persons to express attributes? 18 The Roman symbol XII stands for which number? 19 Name the casino attendant who collects and pays the money at a gambling table. 21 What, in meteorology, is a line drawn on a weather map? 22 Name another term for a knock-back. 23 To withdraw one’s services, is to go out on what?
1 What is the sac from which a hair grows? 2 The stems of which palm are used for wickerwork, canes, etc? 3 What is a generous bestowal of gifts? 4 Name a unit of land measurement, in the imperial system. 5 What do we call a person employed to tend a furnace? 6 Name a particular North American Indian. 12 What are the external openings of the nose? 13 Which NRL team won the grand final 11 times in a row from 1956 to 1966 inclusive (2,6)? 15 Name a politician who contributed much to Australian federation, Sir Henry ... 16 Which sign of the zodiac is represented by the Bull? 17 Name a fabric with a fine, raised finish. 20 What is a very small quantity of something?
Sudoku hard No. 155
SCORPIO (Oct 24 – Nov 21)
When it comes to professional matters, it’s a terrific time to broaden your knowledge base and update your skills. Contacts with work colleagues, clients or customers also prove beneficial, but make sure you do all the relevant checks before you commit to a new course of action. Strong feelings re-surface mid-week, as a loved one pushes your buttons and you over-react. Cool down Scorpio, otherwise you run the risk of turning a minor matter into a grand obsession.
SAGITTARIUS (Nov 22 – Dec 21)
With Jupiter (your ruling planet) squaring Saturn, it will be a stop/start kind of week as projects proceed one step forward, and then two steps back. Be patient! If you are in it for the long run, you’ll gradually make satisfying progress. The stars could also send a travel opportunity or business break your way, but it’s not a free ride. You must be focused enough to recognise good luck when it comes along – and disciplined enough to turn it into a productive project.
CAPRICORN (Dec 22 – Jan 19)
Hey Capricorn – can you be extra diplomatic and oh-so discreet? You’ve been told something in strict confidence, so make sure you keep it to yourself. If you’ve got to make an important decision about something that’s troubling you, follow your intuition. From Saturday onwards, the more proactive you are about money, the better you’ll feel. A positive attitude clears the financial cobwebs, as you look for long-term solutions to short-term cash flow problems.
If you need help with business and financial decisions contact the friendly team at Gail Freeman & Co Pty Ltd
AQUARIUS (Jan 20 – Feb 18)
Solution next week
Copyright Joanne Madeline Moore 2015 Daily astrology updates at twitter.com/JoMadelineMoore
Crossword No. 510
PISCES (Feb 19 – Mar 20)
Energy levels are fluctuating so pace yourself Pisces. With five planets in your wellbeing zone, focus on improving your health and fitness – but you must choose food options and exercise routines that are flexible and enjoyable. And do you wish there were more hours in the day so you can tackle the myriad of jobs that need to be done? From Saturday onwards, motivation planet Mars shakes you out of any complacency as you tackle the to-do list with renewed enthusiasm.
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Solutions from last edition
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Sudoku medium No.155
Dramas are likely at home or work, unless you are super adaptable and stay calm. A colleague or loved one is feeling emotionally unsettled, so don’t take negative comments too personally. If you are reckless with relationships, then you could find yourself with a fractious friend, or livid lover on your hands. When it comes to money matters, it’s a suitable time to increase your financial literacy via a course of study or the mentorship of someone with a good business brain.
Richard and Catherine needed to borrow $50,000 for a business machine and $10,000 for the changeover on a new car. Their bank had told them they could borrow against their mortgage and the interest would be tax deductible. They came to see me to make sure that was the case. “The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has made many statements on loans that are partly used for deductible purposes,” I told them. “They all state that it is the purpose of borrowing that determines the deductibility of interest. As you know mortgage interest is normally not deductible. “The interest on the $10,000 for the new car for Catherine would also be regarded as non-deductible. Whereas the interest on the $50,000 for the new machine would be deductible as it is being used for a tax-deductible purpose. “You will have to apportion the interest on the loan to arrive at the amount that can be claimed as a tax deduction. If you make additional draw downs then you need to establish the purpose for each one, which determines the deductibility of that interest. “The ATO also takes the view that any repayments you make on the loan also need to be apportioned. It is easier to have separate loans than to have one loan for multiple purposes, but it is not always possible.” Richard said my advice was very helpful, but he also wanted to know about the virtues of paying off their mortgage. “I am planning to retire in 10 years and I haven’t got much superannuation,” he said. “The mortgage balance is about $150,000. We can afford to pay $5000 a month, which should clear it in six years. Is that a good idea?” I replied that when interest rates were low, as they are at present, it’s generally better to increase your contributions to superannuation. “When you retire is the time to pay off the mortgage, particularly when you only have limited superannuation,” I advised them. “Especially, as you need to increase both your superannuation balance and pay off the mortgage. “Superannuation payments that you make up to $35,000 will be tax deductible so you will pay 15 per cent tax in the superannuation fund. This compares with the 39 per cent that you’ll pay on the money that you earn before you pay extra off the mortgage. “Also the interest on the mortgage is 4 per cent, but you should earn at least 6 per cent in superannuation. “So you are paying extra tax to have funds available to pay off the mortgage when you could be paying extra into superannuation. You are saving 4 per cent in mortgage interest, but you would not be earning 6 per cent plus in your superannuation fund. “You can afford to pay $5000 off your mortgage, which is equivalent to earning more than $8000 before tax. So you should pay $35,000 to superannuation and Catherine should salary sacrifice approximately $30,000. “If you both do this you’ll still have more disposable income that could be used to reduce the mortgage and you will also have more superannuation when you finally retire. If interest rates or anything else change we will need to review your strategy then.” Richard said: “Thanks, Gail, I had no idea that paying off the mortgage could be a bad decision!”
Listen to our tax tips on 2CA and 2CC (Chartered accountant, SMSF specialist advisor and Authorised Representative of Lifespan Financial Planning Pty Ltd AFS Lic No. 229892)
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