Australians are normally quite an intrepid bunch, but our wings have been clipped this year thanks to The Bat Kiss.

Not only has international travel been taken completely off the cards, but domestic travel has also been a challenge, with many states and territories closing their borders to each other and enforcing strict hotel quarantines. Sydney Airport, usually the country’s busiest, has seen flight traffic dwindle by 97% – terrible news for airlines, but great news for car fans, as last week’s ‘once in a lifetime’ Porsche event proved.

While many of us have found that we’ve spent the money we’d put aside for holidaying in 2020 on other things – toilet paper and the mortgage spring to mind – but there’s a case to be made that we should be investing what dosh we’ve got left in the piggybank on luxury goods. Not only because we deserve a treat (although that’s a major reason), but because it makes financial sense.

Not sold? Hear us out.

As The New York Times observed in the aftermath of the Japanese asset price bubble burst in the 90s, sales figures from brands like Hermès, Gucci and Chanel continued to remain strong despite the recession. It underscores a truth that the rich have known for years: buying luxury goods during a recession can be a valuable investment. It’s a tip that Asian luxury consumers have cottoned on to far quicker than Western ones.

RELATED: Research Busts Common Myth Australians Believe About China’s Luxury Goods Market

During a recession, conspicuous consumption and being flashy is no longer simply unfashionable, but a poor financial decision – for both consumers and brands alike, as The Fashion Law relates. Buying (or, if you’re a brand, emphasising in your product range) quality goods that will last a long time makes more sense, which is why luxury investors tend to eschew obvious branding and instead choose more minimalist styles, and hardy materials like leather or metals.

To use an example you might be more familiar with, it’s like how in the watch investing world, ‘stock’ Rolexes tend to appreciate in value better than ‘iced-out’ ones. Similarly, quality luxury goods that avoid trendy styles or patterns are a better investment than the alternative – both functionally and literally.

It’s also a pertinent consideration when you consider how you might apportion private and business use for, say, a satchel bag or briefcase when applying for a tax deduction. You want something that will last a long time in order to maximise your investment. You’re also more likely to get a tax reduction for something that’s un-flashy and functional instead of something ‘blingy’.

DMARGE spoke to Fernando Prieto, Directo of Solid Partners Accounting & Advisors, who related that record-keeping is crucial if that’s an avenue you want to go down.

“Just like any tax deduction, it [all] comes down to information,” he counsels – whether that’s a Louis Vuitton satchel or office supplies.

 

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A post shared by Louis Vuitton (@louisvuitton) on May 6, 2020 at 7:03am PDT

Now, it’s a bit late to be claiming bags and the like on your tax returns this year (unless you’re overdue, in which case you should stop reading this and go do your taxes, fool). But it is worth keeping in mind for next year’s tax returns, particularly as travel might not be an option for the foreseeable future.

Besides, if you’re hoping to treat a luxury purchase like an investment, keeping your receipts and having your paperwork in order is crucial if you want to resell in the future.

To use a previous example, let’s take Hermès and their famous Birkin bag, the design of which has barely changed since its introduction in 1984. Birkin bags are a famously good investment, thanks to their timeless appeal and high desirability. Indeed, handbags had an overall return of 13% last year according to the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index – outperforming art, watches, wine or diamonds as an investment – leading CNBC to declare that “handbags have officially become an asset class.”

RELATED: Why Luxury Goods May Be A Better Economic Indicator Than The Stock Market

The takeaway? If you’ve kept some money aside for travel that’s burning a hole in your pocket, why not consider spending it instead on some quality goods that you’ll either benefit from in your day to day or that you can keep in store as an appreciating asset. With the economy looking like it’s going to be in the toilet for a long time yet, plus both domestic and international travel still off the table for most of us, investing in luxury goods will not only bring you some joy in a year where we could all do with a little spoiling, but it could end up being quite a good money move in the long run.

Read Next

• Luxury Brands Shift Attention Closer To Home With International Travel ‘Death’
• Europe’s Runway Fashion ‘Shutdown’ Good News For The Rest Of Us

The post Why Australians Should Spend This Year’s Holiday Money On Luxury Goods appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

A recent auction photo sparked an age old complaint about Australia (particularly Sydney’s) property market – we go overboard bidding.

The argument was raised that compared to say, New York, where people (on average) earn more, we spend ridiculous sums (relative to what we earn) on property.

Though many argue this is all negative – part of a grasping Keep Up With The Jones complex – one Sydney jogger (who took the aforementioned photo) recently added more nuance to the discussion, explaining there could be a more ‘wholesome’ reason to consider.

“I learnt a lot about sales on that trip. My wife drove me up north a few suburbs and said ‘look! Only 6 minutes further from town!’ So I bought this nice place that was bigger and spent the next 2 years on a bus stuck in traffic getting home.”

“It would add 30 minutes to the commute, which was fine when I was studying (because I’d tear through notes on the bus), but not fine with 2 little ones at home and a wife who needed me there.”

RELATED: The Truth About Australia’s ‘Goldilocks’ Suburbs 

This in mind, and the property market having been predicted to crash (something by and large yet to happen) numerous times this year, DMARGE spoke to Edward Brown, Director at leading Australian real estate provider Belle Property, to ask: is now really a good time to buy?

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A post shared by Alsaker Private Buyers Agents (@alsakerprivatebuyersagents) on Jan 18, 2019 at 1:06pm PST

Brown told DMARGE getting a loan is relatively affordable right now – something savvy buyers are allegedly picking up on.

“Money now being as cheap as it is people are going to continue investing.”

As for whether you should, of course, will depend on your economic situation. But if everything is aligned on your end then Brown says the market is there for the taking.

“Why not? We’re in the midst of a pandemic, the rents have seen a decline for the first time in a number of years, [and it’s] still very cheap to go and buy money.”

Of course: Brown works in the industry. But before you cynics throw your keyboards at us: hear him out.

“If you’re looking to buy a home, you still need a roof over your head, you may as well be paying down principal and interest with the rates as it is.”

“Interest rates are sitting just over 2% at the moment – what a great time to borrow money [or] invest in your own home.”

If you do, you won’t be alone. Brown told DMARGE there is still “good demand in and around CBD” despite the “huge upswing in people looking to move to rural areas.”

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A post shared by Remy Gerega (@remygerega) on Jan 20, 2020 at 11:44pm PST

On top of that, as one of the Eastern Suburb’s top real estate agents Gavin Rubinstein told DMARGE earlier this year: “There is no question that individuals and families will be impacted by the economic fallout of this pandemic. There will be families who will liquidate property investments to help kids/grandkids.”

“I sense there will be a lot of transactional movement in the property market Sydney wide as people readjust to their financial realities. As a result, I think we’ll see a spike in supply in particular areas/postcodes and this where you’ll find better value as a buyer.”

This comes in a context where coastal areas “like The Central Coast and Illawarra,” as well inland places like The Southern Highlands are seeing interest, “no doubt,” Brown told DMARGE, but also where there is “still huge demand for people looking to buy their first, second, third or even fourth home in and around good [CBD] suburbs.”

Not to mention the mini-boom happening in Queensland thanks to the Victorian exodus.

Those who are still in a relatively “normal working environment,” early on in their careers, will likely be looking to buy in and around the city [think: the Eastern Suburbs, the Lower North Shore, the Inner West] Brown also told us, while those who are more shifting to working from home or retirement are often looking further afield.

A similar situation is likely playing out across other major cities.

Who knows – perhaps, as some experts have predicted with the ASX, Australia’s housing bubble will never pop?

Read Next

• Property Expert Reveals ‘Lowball’ Mistake Australian Buyers Often Make In A Falling Market
• NSW Stamp Duty Freeze Gives Sydney First Home Buyers New Hope

The post 'Money Is Cheap': Now Could Be Your Golden Chance To Buy Property appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

From films to fashion; technology to tipples, Australia lags behind America. One area in which we punch above our weight, however, is in ~adventure~.

Though we’re guilty of a few bad habits ourselves, Australian travellers have less of a ‘cringe-y’ stereotype than our compatriots across the pond.

To that end, we imagine ourselves vastly more adept tourists – trail blazers of the trail, first movers in the travel sphere, you (no: we) get the picture.

Imagine our horror then at reading the news that Rich Americans will be able to visit one of our favourite pacific island holiday destinations before us.

 

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A post shared by Laucala Island, Fiji (@laucalaisland) on Nov 30, 2016 at 8:00pm PST

That’s right: Fiji, a nation which has announced its borders will be closed to commercial aircraft until at least March 2021, is offering wealthy travellers the chance to sneak past the rules by signing up for a personalised travel bubble at a luxury resort.

The resort in question? Laucala Private Island Resort, which has partnered with Fiji Airways, to bring travellers a unique, lavish way to burn their cash.

CNN reports up to 20 guests can fly on a private chartered Fiji Airways jet from Los Angeles to Nadi, Fiji’s primary airport and main transit hub, and that from there, “they will be transferred to Laucala, where they will have the private island resort all to themselves.”

“The few travelers allowed into Fiji at present are subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine, but because of Laucala’s remoteness the Department of Health has permitted the program to go forward without guests having to isolate for two weeks.”

The process will require three negative Covid-19 tests – one two weeks before flying, one 72 hours before boarding (to be sent to the tourism authority in order to confirm travel permits) and another upon arrival in Fiji.

 

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A post shared by Laucala Island, Fiji (@laucalaisland) on Sep 29, 2015 at 6:03pm PDT

The experience will cost a casual US $490,000 (AU $698,573), which covers the plane, a minimum seven-night stay, on-island activities, food and drink and airport transfers for up to 20 people, CNN reports.

Yahoo News reports, “With Oprah as a past guest, the Fijian private-island playground of Red Bull’s co-founder is one of the world’s most sought-after stays.”

The 25 tropical villas include, according to Yahoo News, “Multiple massive stone bathtubs, countless sitting and lounging setups, and a constant flow of treats, both for sipping and nibbling,” as well as all sorts of adventurous activities (including deep-sea diving in a submarine).

This isn’t the first appeal Fiji, a nation which usually depends on tourism for almost half its GDP, has made to wealthy travellers this year.

Fiji’s Prime Minister Josaia “Frank” Voreqe Bainimarama has been talking about VIP channels since as early as June.

CNN reports a ‘blue lane’ was created earlier in the year to let travellers visit to Fiji via private yacht, with visitors doing their quarantine on board before walking on land.

 

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A post shared by Laucala Island, Fiji (@laucalaisland) on Jan 9, 2017 at 9:47pm PST

Alas, the “bula bubble” – an idea floated between Fiji, Australia and New Zealand has not yet come to fruition, and Australians are still prohibited from leaving the country without being granted an exemption from the government to travel for “essential” reasons.

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The post Rich Americans To Enjoy 'Travel Bubble' Australians Have Been Praying For appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Tyler, the Creator is one of the most fashionable men out there.

The rhyme spitter, fashion designer and agent provocateur has been shaping youth culture for the best part of a decade. As the leader of notorious hip-hop and skate collective Odd Future, Tyler popularised Los Angeles’ unique brand of streetwear style and almost singlehandedly propelled Supreme to global fame. His ‘fuck you’ attitude and music influenced an entire generation of disaffected teenagers.

His last two albums demonstrated a shift in musical and sartorial style – a more mature direction that blends his trademark irreverence with more adult themes. Starring in campaigns for Gucci, collaborating with Converse and finding success with his own clothing label Golf Wang, ‘Igor’ has blossomed from rap’s bad boy to its effortlessly stylish, emotional flagbearer.

The evolution of both his music and fashion has been fascinating, but one thing has stayed constant: his fierce love for fine automobiles.

Tyler’s a noted car lover, and regularly raps about performance vehicles. While McLarens and Teslas are often the focus of his rhymes, the marque he has the most affinity for is BMW: he’s even got a song called ‘Bimmer’. But his hands-down favourite is the E30. Indeed, he was spotted turning up for a spot of clothes shopping in Hollywood earlier in October in an incredibly beautiful E30 M3 – with the ‘creamiest’ paint job you’ve ever seen.

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A post shared by LUDVIC ORLANDO (@ludvic_orlando) on Oct 4, 2020 at 7:39pm PDT

For a man as flamboyant and outspoken as Tyler, it’s surprising that he hasn’t shown off his immaculate E30 M3 more often. He’s had the M3 for a few years now, but it’s only been fairly recently that he’s resprayed it from its original ‘Alpine White’ to its current cream look. It’s somewhat understated but luxurious and fits in perfectly with Golf Wang’s aesthetic: summery pastels and creams are a common motif in Tyler’s wardrobe.

RELATED: Effortless Ways To Develop Your Own Personal Style

Other than the paint job, the M3 otherwise appears stock; a testament to Tyler’s appreciation of the rare vintage vehicle. Another famous E30 M3 owner is fellow Odd Future alum Frank Ocean, who famously used a photo of an orange E30 M3 for the cover of his debut album Nostalgia, Ultra. The two hip-hop heavyweights’ cars have even been spotted sharing a parking lot together.

Unlike Tyler, Frank’s car is extensively modified, boasting a turbocharged E36 engine under the hood. The orange paint job is also decidedly not a standard BMW colour, unlike Tyler’s cream number, which more easily passes as factory-correct.

It’s a surprising contrast, as you’d think that the infamously reclusive Ocean would be the one with the more restrained car. Yet we’d say that’s entirely within Tyler’s character – he thrives on the unexpected. It also proves a valuable lesson: sometimes less is more when it comes to modifying cars.

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The post Tyler, The Creator’s e30 BMW Car Is Incredible appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

2020 has seen Lewis Hamilton and his Formula One team, Mercedes-AMG, clinch some truly amazing records.

Not only did Hamilton’s first place at the Portuguese Grand Prix on the 25th of October finally eclipse Michael Schumacher’s long-standing all-time race wins record – in the eyes of many unequivocally crowning Hamilton as the Greatest Of All Time – but his win at the Emilia Romagna Grand Prix over the weekend has also seen Mercedes take home the 2020 Formula One World Championship, marking seven consecutive champions for Mercedes – beating Ferrari’s six consecutive championship win records they recorded from 1999 to 2004.

Hamilton’s dominance of Formula One over the last few years has been legendary. While F1 fanatics would be quick to point out that much of his success has been due to the car he’s driving, the team that backs him, and the support (and healthy rivalry) he enjoys with teammate Valterri Bottas, it’s also got a lot to do with Hamilton’s adept, aggressive driving style.

This vivacity isn’t restrained to the track, either, as the 35-year-old Brit proved ahead of his win at Imola on the 1st of November. Hamilton shared a photo of him walking his beloved bulldog Roscoe in-between races, rocking a bright pink double denim outfit courtesy of Heron Preston.

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Rolling with my dawg

A post shared by Lewis Hamilton (@lewishamilton) on Oct 30, 2020 at 10:54am PDT

Unlike many other drivers on the current F1 grid, Hamilton’s known just as much for his sartorial chops as he is for his driving skills. He’s not afraid to take style risks – like this colourful twin set and bucket hat ensemble he wore at the Tuscan Grand Prix, or this frizzy haircut he experimented with recently (although it seems as if he’s ditched that look for his tried-and-true cornrows since then).

Heron Preston is an American creative and designer, an acolyte of Kanye West and Virgil Abloh who’s collaborated with the likes of Justin Timberlake, JJJJound, Nike and NASA among others. His namesake clothing brand has a similar deconstructed aesthetic as Abloh’s Off-White label – yet unlike Off-White, is somewhat more colourful and has a more tech-focused style.

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The post Lewis Hamilton Throws Caution To The Wind With Flamboyant Double Denim Look appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Many visit the Basque Country and never stray beyond San Sebastián.

The prevailing mindset? If you’ve got limited time, you may as well be where the action is.

The upshot? We content ourselves with a hike up to the Jesus statue, a tapas tour, a discotheque or two and – if there are any euros left over – a dabble at the Michelin star restaurants.

There’s more to the Basque Country though than its culinary capital. One recent post in Reddit’s r/travel community drives this home like a cider slamming on a table, with a user sharing an offbeat destination many tourists never see.

“Finally saw Gaztelugatxeko Doniene in the Basque Country! It was beautiful.”

The post was accompanied by the following image.

Gaztelugatxe is a little islet on the coast of Biscay, an hour and 45 minutes drive from San Sebastián.

Connected to the mainland by a man-made bridge, Gaztelugatxe is home to a hermitage dedicated to John the Baptist that dates from the 10th century.

 

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A post shared by Théo des Garets (@tetsodg) on Oct 31, 2020 at 6:03am PDT

Next to John’s retreat, there is a small shelter with sea views for picnicking.

The top of the crag is accessed by a narrow path, crossing the solid stone bridge, and going up 230 or so steps. Legend has it, after the climb to the top, one should ring the bell three times and make a wish.

RELATED: Iconic San Sebastian Photo Reveals The Secret To Spain’s Nightlife Success

HBO filmed Dragonstone scenes for season 7 of Game of Thrones at Gaztelugatxe.

 

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A post shared by David De La Iglesia (@divcreativo) on Nov 1, 2020 at 1:56am PST

This is just one of the Basque Country’s gems: this autonomous community in northern Spain has strong cultural traditions, a celebrated cuisine and a distinct language that is broadly agreed to be one of the oldest, if not the oldest, language in the world.

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The post Stunning Basque Country Photo Reveals Experience Most Tourists Miss Out On appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

Ben Affleck has been somewhat of a celebrity style anomaly, particularly during 2020.

Now pushing 50, the Justice League actor sometimes really leans into the 'stay-at-home dad' look, particularly with his predilection for Burt Reynolds-esque facial hair and 'sneans' (that's sneakers worn with uncuffed baggy jeans), an aesthetic driven home by his penchant for suburban delights like 'lazy lunching' and regular dog walking.

Yet just as he's got a surprising dramatic range, he's got a surprising knack at debuting outfits that turn back the clock 20 years – like this casual ensemble he was spotted sporting in LA last Friday. Can of Coca-Cola in hand and giving a nod to the paparazzi, Affleck looked like a teenager from the 90s, lowriding in cargo pants with low sneakers, and a t-shirt poking out from under a sweater. We're surprised he was getting into a Range Rover instead of jumping on a skateboard, frankly.

RELATED: Affordable Men’s Sneakers That Will Enhance Your Style For Any Look

[caption id="attachment_274996" align="alignnone" width="739"] Image: Getty[/caption]

Lowriding – that is, wearing your pants below your natural waistline – is a risky fashion choice. You can either look effortlessly retro-cool, like Affleck does here, or come off as a gangsta wannabe, like Justin Bieber's often guilty of looking. Maybe Affleck makes it work because he was actually of age in the 90s, or because he's got the sort of tough-guy personality that makes it feel like it's not an affectation.

Affleck's got two films in the works, currently in post-production: he's starring in Deep Water, alongside current girlfriend Ana de Armas (the two of which were spotted recently riding a motorbike together in a rather risky way) as well as appearing in The Last Duel, which he's also written and produced. Thankfully he hasn't gone 'full 90s' on the set of The Last Duel and decided to grow a filthy mullet, like his co-star Matt Damon has.

Clearly, restraint is key when pulling off a 90s-inspired look.

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The post Ben Affleck Spotted Strutting Around Los Angeles Like It’s The 90s appeared first on DMARGE.

What would you give to spend your days working from a home office, looking out on uninterrupted mountainous views? Or what if you’ve had a brainwave business idea but just need a little bit of financial help to get it off the ground? Now, it seems, one small Italian village will pay you for both.

According to CNN Travel, Santo Stefano di Sessanio, a tiny, walled-in medieval village in Abruzzo – a region east of Rome – is so starved for residents that it is now offering to pay people to set up a new life and, potentially, a new business.

The offer certainly lends itself to being snapped up by digital nomads, who could use the quaint little town as an alternative remote working location to their local coffee shop or a crowded beach in some tourist-heavy holiday destination.

It might sound too good to be true, and in some ways, it is. There are criteria you have to meet before the villagio will part with cash: you need to either already be an Italian resident, an EU citizen or have the legal right to remain in the EU for an indefinite amount of time.

 

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A post shared by (@jessica.dalessandro) on Oct 5, 2020 at 6:31am PDT

You also need to be under 40-years old (prime digital nomad territory) but you will need to be prepared to live in what is currently a glorified care home, with around half of the 115 population being of pensioner age.

So what do you get in return for substituting avocado toast and skinny soy milk flat whites for a town with a lower population than your university classes and a potentially dodgy internet connection?

CNN Travel says the council will “pay new residents a monthly fee for three years, up to a maximum of US$9,500/€8,000 per year”, and if you have the next big business idea, you can claim “up to $24,000/€20,000 to help get it off the ground.” Although, you’ll only get that money if your ‘next big thing’ falls under one of the approved activities set by the council, these being: “guides, staff for the information office, cleaners and maintenance workers, drugstore owners, or those who can work with, and sell, the area’s food.”

 

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A post shared by ROBERTO RINALDI (@_robertorinaldi_) on Aug 26, 2020 at 1:22am PDT

Better still, “residents will also get a property to live in for a ‘symbolic’ rent.” As for just how much you can expect to pay for rent is anyone’s guess right now. The perfect getaway for digital nomads? You bet.

The scheme was only launched on October 15th and is said to have received interest from more than 1,500 applicants. Unfortunately for the majority of them, Santo Stefano is only looking to take on around ten people – or five couples – to fill its humble abodes, initially at least.

“We want to ramp numbers up gradually, and we have to work with the housing that belongs to the authorities”, according to the town’s Mayor.

It’s not the first time we’ve seen towns and countries tempt outsiders with offers too good to pass up. The Nautilus resort in the idyllic Maldives islands is offering remote workers an – albeit expensive – desk with an ocean view unlike any other you’ll experience anywhere else and Bermuda is offering year-long residencies to anyone who is prepared to move there and use it as a remote working location.

 

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A post shared by Vale (@valegube) on Jul 15, 2020 at 9:14am PDT

If Santo Stefano’s offer sounds like the opportunity of a lifetime for you – and you believe you can stand out against the other 1,500 applicants – you can submit your application before November 15th. If you get the green light, you’ll have to be prepared to live in the town for at least five years. So as “to make sure people don’t come, take the money for a year, and leave.”

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The post 'Glorified Care Home' In Rural Italy Lures Young Travellers With Enticing Offer appeared first on DMARGE Australia.

You don't immediately associate the 70s and 80s as being eras of particularly good food, but one culinary artefact from the period that's worth a look in is the humble SodaStream. A humble invention that lets you carbonate your own water at home, the SodaStream – with its famous 'get busy with the fizzy' marketing campaign – is a bona fide cultural icon. It's also a pretty handy tool to have in one's kitchen.

SodaStream models available on the market today are slim, modern affairs, with a small gas cylinder that's good for about 8 to 9 weeks (that's if you make a full bottle of soda every day, which is some seriously dedicated drinking). Sure, that saves you from having to go out and buy cola or soda water whenever you want a little bit of ~effervescence~, but for some, it's not enough.

Which is perhaps what lead this crazy bastard living in Sydney's famous Bondi to retrofit his SodaStream with a huge CO2 tank apparatus.

While this looks like absolute overkill, there's some method to his madness. Under strict conditions of anonymity, this intrepid bon vivant shared with DMARGE why he decided to 'supercharge' his home carbonation device.

Firstly, the cost factor. It's "cheaper in bulk," he relates. According to SodaStream Australia, you can exchange an empty SodaStream cylinder for a full one at a Coles Express for $19, or you can purchase a new one for $35. Assuming you make a bottle every day, it could cost you upwards of $168 a year to keep up your habit with those prices – never mind the hassle of having to go out and exchange cylinders.

"You only need to change cylinders maybe twice a year," our carbonation champion explains.

"With the adaptor, you can [use] many sizes of cylinder too. Easier to change, and industrial-grade..."

That's the other big reason to modify your SodaStream: stronger carbonation. I have a SodaStream at home and in my experience, even on its highest fizz setting, it's still not quite enough to really satisfy. And the emptier the cylinder gets, the weaker the carbonation becomes.

It's a lot of effort to go to just to get more fizz, but if you're a dedicated soda drinker, a crazy setup like this might just be the solution for you. Just don't do what I did once and try carbonating white wine in order to make ersatz prosecco... The results can be quite explosive (and it tastes fucking awful).

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The post Crazy Australian Bastard Installs ‘Supercharged’ Sodastream In Kitchen appeared first on DMARGE.