I am trying to find an active Women’s Investment Club in Brisbane but so far my search has resulted in none. The only references to clubs I can find are obviously closed clubs for a select group of women. Investing in shares and property is something I am very interested in but it does not appear to be of common interest to my immediate circle of friends. Investing is not about how much money you earn in your day job or how many degrees you have. It is about been financially independent so you can give up that day job to do what ever you really want and with this theme is a little story of my foray into shares.

I inherited a modest portfolio of shares from my parents. In 2007 I transferred the portfolio into a margin lending facility and commenced building up the portfolio by gearing. I researched the market on the Internet, learnt how to read basic graphs and fundamentals, tried to keep abreast of the news by newspapers and magazines and subscribed to a few good newsletters. I soon became quite passionate about my share portfolio as the dividends came in and the portfolio grew.  But I borrowed money a year before the GFC and the market bottomed out in a matter of days. Like most, I was over geared and my portfolio had too many risky companies.

Even though I tried to transfer my savings into the account, sell some of the shares and was even embarrassingly bailed out by my generous parents, my portfolio was mostly liquidated from about 15 companies down to five lonely companies. What a lesson I learnt. Over the next year my interest in shares dwindled, as I did not think I could recover. I read about what happened in the GFC and why and accepted I too had made mistakes but fortunately I had no debt but to my parents (which I promise to pay back). Then things started to rise again.

Extract Resources, a uranium company saved me. I bought 5000 EXT shares when they were $0.96. These shares by some fortune were not liquidated and I kept them. Today they are $9.40 (High: $11.45) a share and if I had not sold them while they were on the way up I would have made a nice $40,000 profit today. However I did sell them in three equal tranches while it was going up and diversified the portfolio into my less risky blue chip companies as my tolerance to risk has waned. Likewise I have started using my margin facility again but more conservative than I did a few years back. So here we go again.

The rise of Extract Resources

I was recently asked for my opinion of the benefits of Private Healthcare in planning to have a baby. You see if you do not have private healthcare and would like to when planning children you need to have cover for at least 12 months to qualify. Birth is such an unpredictable event my recommendation was better to be covered.

I have had friends who have had babies in the public health system but babies are so unpredictable and lots of things can happen (or nothing hopefully) so the best healthcare is what you want. One of the major benefits of private health is choosing your Obstetrician and Private Hospital. When you confirm your pregnancy with the GP they give you a referral to a OB of your choice. At 12 weeks you have your first appointment and then a scan. You meet with the OB every month until the last trimester then it is fortnightly and then weekly. For a single birth, medicare only pays for two scans 12 week (to get the nuchal fold scanning to test for downs syndrome) and then a growth scan at 20 weeks. Because twins are considered high risk pregnancy I had of course more appointments and scans so I am happy I went private health. Plus in the end I was very sick with pre-eclampsia and HELLP Syndrome. We had our 36 week appointment with the OB at 4pm and after checking my blood pressure we were admitted into the hospital. It all happened really crazy fast and scary but the twins were born at 8pm by c-section. I was hoping for a natural birth but babies what can happen can be so unpredictable. I spend the night in ICU and the girls were in NICU (special care) for a week.

In regards to money:

• Each appointment with the OB cost us about $65 (Although the initial appointment was probably over a $100). Make sure you are covered by the Medicare safety net because as soon as you reach the threshold (I think it is $500??) you get about 85% of that back. Download the medicare safety net information here.
• Around your 20 week appointment the OB will request a payment of about $2000 for the management of your pregnancy. I just put this on my credit card as we had met the medicare threshold and got the money back fairly quickly.
• The two scans are also covered by medicare but it depends where you go as well. If you go to a fancy imaging place you might have more out of pocket expenses compared to the standard x-ray place where it is cheap and you don’t get all the fancy photos. I went there for a scan at 9 weeks to diagnose twins but the rest of the scans were at a private clinic so there was a little more money there.
• The Private Hospital was 100% covered by private health. However we had to pay a $500 excess (it depends on you excess you have on your private health) only because we had twins – two babies. The first baby was 100% covered but we had to pay an excess to take the second baby home. If you don’t have multiples don’t worry. All special care was also covered as part of our private health.
• During my stay in hospital I had lots of blood tests and we did get a bill from QML for a few hundred but all the other tests during the pregnancy was bulk billed.
• During the birth a Paediatrician attended and assessed the girls before admitting them into special care. He oversaw the girls for the week but I never got a separate bill. However in “normal births” I have heard they do send a bill.
• After you leave the hospital you have wonderful access to the QLD health children community health. I had several appointments for weighing and breastfeeding etc. All free.
• At six weeks post baby you see your OB for the a final check up.

Also during the pregnancy I did baby yoga as some exercise programs are covered in private health but you need to check what is covered.

Another little tip is you you can track all your Medicare out of pocket statements online. Just register on the Medicare Australia website.

We were covered by MBF and you can also track the hospital expenses on their website as well.

All up I think we were out of pocket with private health by about $2000 but that was because we had twins and had to pay an Excess and I was a high risk pregnancy and needed more tests and interventions compared to a normal pregnancy. Saying that you never know what might happen. Babies come early, you might get sick, or you might conceive multiples, or there might be other complications but overall it was a positive outcome as we have two healthy happy little girls. Plus we received the $10,000 Baby bonus so all good.

On the other hand a friend of mine did not know she was pregnant until late in the first trimester. She did not have private health and her GP managed the whole pregnancy. She had no out of pocket expenses and only stayed in the hospital for a few days.

I stayed for a week. When you have a look at different private hospital, take a tour, ask what is offered and how long the standard stay is. But in the end it is the midwives and doctors who make up the stay. I chose a smallish suburban hospital compared to the city one who churns out babies by the minute. Although the facilities were not as fancy the staff was fantastic. Once the birth is over – and you have been discharge the hardest part is then looking after the little thing.

Adelaide (L) Moana (R) NICU

Its Day one of the annual Summer Holiday and if you want the weather report we can expect a wet Christmas and never ending Summer showers. No, not the good showers after a hot day at the beach only to settle back on the veranda with a beer to watch a Summer storm but the cold, wet, rain, rain flooding type. Bugger.

The last few weeks have been a little up and down. N had another accident at work, falling in a boat he was working and injuring his back. He has been off work now for three weeks on workers compensation.  A sick and injured man is not a happy one – quite grumpy, irratible understandably. Today he went off to get to get a spinal block to relieve the pain. I tried to reassure him that I am sure an epidural would be worse (that was killer! From memory) but it did hurt and apparently won’t kick in for another week. Next appointment is on the 4^th of Jan with the doctor to assess if he needs surgery. Then we can stress about finances and workers compensation or if he can work in his current trade anymore as a mechanic. I checked his insurances and I am so annoyed I did not have a closer look at it a year ago. I went through the exercise of getting quotes for death, permanent disability and income protection but I was adequately covered in my Superannuation. I asked N numerous times to check with his Superannuation and he assured me he was also covered adequately. Well I should have taken more notice as it really is not adequate. I just hope he get better and can work again as even though a lump sum payment might look good on paper, the amount will quickly disappear as the bills will still have to be paid plus the extra stress of retraining in a new career after working as a mechanic for 15 odd years.  

But let’s look on the positive side. We are all together for the holidays. In a few weeks we are heading down to Port Macquarie for a week. A nice little road trip which I am looking forward too but please stop the rain. Next year 2011 will be another busy but better year for health I hope. Onwards and upwards.

Part two of Market to Market.

Saturday @ The Mathilda Markets

It was bright and early Saturday and I needed to drop the girls off at my parents before breakfast to be at the market to set up by 7am. N needed the day to dig up the yard and my parents had offered to dress the girls in My Island Baby designer wear as little models later in the day. The Mathilda markets are only held about five times a year in each capital city and showcases the most gorgeous baby and kids goods. Stall holders are chosen to deliver divine and original clothing, accessories, homewares and toys.

We had our three trolleys of clothes, a banner proudly displayed at the back and a table showcasing signature items such as baby bloomers and singlet dresses.

The three of us worked for the full two hours setting up before the first round of shopping mums and dads arrived. Women and children, prams and babies soon filled the aisles. Quickly pointing out the benefits of each item, “The dresses will become skirts or which dresses will be tops” highlighting the multiple uses of different items to maximise the value. We did well and it was fun. My little girls were a highlight – wonderfully dressed and sold the products just as well. My mother later said I should pay the girls in an account for each modelling assignment.

Adelaide our little model.

Ok it might just be a downer of a week but the following kept on coming up in conversations starting with the sentence “If I could do it again I would have”:

• Have a gap year and travel the world as a university exchange student
• I would have kids and get paid to do a PhD combing creativity and flexibly with crèche
• I would have bought that house ten years earlier
• I wouldn’t have hang around so long in old relationships
• I would spend more time on learning to love me and be happy and not worry about what others thought
• I wouldn’t have worked so many part-time jobs
• I would have done more road trips

If I had to live my life again I’d make all the same mistakes–only sooner.
TALLULAH BANKHEAD, quoted in Evelyn Steinberg’s The Little Book of Wrinkles

Some comfort is knowing that every decision I have made was right with the information I had in hand at the time.

So this year I start the momentous 30s and we are making more decisions and making more changes. However the desicions are not just soley about me anymore. They are about me, my partner and our children. They might not be perfect and hindsight can be such a wonderful thing but as I keep reassuring myself, “I am making the best decisions with the information I have on hand today.” Wish me luck.

New Zealand New Years Day 2009

I recently posted on Twitter this statement, “The 2007 Lisa hiked the Kokoda track. The 2010 Lisa struggles pushing a double pram uphill. How ironic.” I have been thinking about this statement and its not quite true. The Kokoda track was hard really really hard but what did I learn that I am unconsciously putting into action today? Did the challenge to complete the Kokoda track somehow get me through the physical challenge of a multiple birth, recovery and now the responsibility to parenting twins? Excerpts from my diary are below:

My Kokoda Track Diary

Friday

I heard today that you are supposed to leave something behind on the track; something spiritual, something inside. Like my reason to go on this journey I’m not quite sure I know what it is. I’m here alone. It is a journey and challenge I must make on my own. I want to do it and I can do it. I want to be proud of me. I am so happy and I can’t wait to do more travel and get married and have a family and earn lots of money. Ha! Ha! Lol

Sunday

Not quite sure what to write – been thinking about it for the past few days. I was told the trek was not a pretty trek but they are wrong. It is beautiful. The villages are clean and so well kept. The families take so much pride. I didn’t like Port Moresby. Saturday was a slow start. We spent hours waiting for out charter flight to go to Kokoda but when it happened it was fantastic. The tour group is so well organised. I have a porter called James. Today was our first full day or trekking. It started off quite hard. My backpack was not sitting very well and heavy and my feet were squished. I gave more of weight to James and took the soles out of my shoes. My body aches. We went thought four villages today. John goes through the war history almost at every stop. The group is good. I am getting along with everyone. The tents are great, comfy but 6:15 am leaving campsite is a bit early! I am not all that organised in the dark to pack everything. Fortunately we get to the campsite relatively early today at 3pm. The view is beautiful. I wish I had Milo. I am feeling good though. The muscles in my legs – I am very impressed. I miss N. Miss him lots. Love L

Monday

I miss N. My knee gave way today. I am really trying to perserve but it hurts so much. I have taken anti-inflammatories and pain killers (endone!) and anti-nausea. This track is hard. I think we are at Eora Creek village tonight. It is raining again. I felt so bad because my porter James had to carry my stuff. He is so helpful through the track. Please god make my knee better. Its only two days in. We did ten hours trekking today. We leave at 6:15am and usually get to campsite by 4pm. I’m tired. I have been thinking lots about my life while on the track. Not sure yet what to let go. I wish I had a watch because I wake up at night and don’t know what time it is. I am having chocolate withdrawals. I should have bought Milo and coffee bags. My tummy has been ok. The group has been great. I think it is because you have to be a certain person to decide to go on a trek like this, motivated etc. Everyone has been genuine concerned but I don’t want any attention on myself. Love L

Tuesday

Not the best day today. My wallet and all my money was stolen in the middle of the night and my leg kills. I am feeling depressed.

<Diary ends. One trecker in our group was flown out due to illness. I was told a year later that they had a helicopter on stand-by ready to take me out as well. I think if I had known that at the time I might have given up. Thankfully I made it.>

Monday

Back at home. I am not sure how I am feeling. My brain feels like scrambled eggs. Combined with the intense experience of the Kokoda track, I didn’t quite expect the mental and emotional challenge that came with it.

It was hard, bloody hard. I had been training for about six months for the cardio but the (ITP) iliotibial band decided to play up causing sever pain in my left knee and hip.

I am not quite sure what I am supposed to be doing now. When you focus on something for so long and then it is over it is hard to adjust back to ‘normal’ life. The monotonous sound of the track alone in your thoughts as you concentrate on every step. The words I had playing included trust – trust my boots, trust my walking stick for balance, and trust my porters hand.

My Lessons Learnt

When everything feels overwhelming and too hard just look down at your feet and trust. Trust your feet to take you there.