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Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Day 15 Frocktober: A corporate day

This is a sponsored post

This dress thing is getting easier, it has taken some extra thought, there has been a need for a tiny bit of shopping but I am really getting into the frocky vibe. 

Yesterday I headed up to Sydney for a work gig at Macquarie, I had just the outfit. I am a conservative dresser at the best of times and corporate conservative navy and red are my favourite colours. 

I opted for this dress and jacket because Melbourne was cold and I knew Sydney would be warmer, I needed something comfortable for flying in and something that wouldn't crease too much as I jumped in and out of taxi's. 




I know it might sound awfully dull to many of you, but while I was at Macquarie we were discussing home loans and I found it fascinating. I really enjoy any type of consumer or market research and this was no different - except I was the consumer, not the marketing team, which is also really fun for me. Perhaps that sounds odd. I like thinking about what makes people do stuff, what makes a person decide to spend their money where they do. By learning about a persons decision making processes, you learn so much about the person. 

Macquarie have a new home loan out that connects with Qantas Frequent Flyers which they started off discussing, we then heard from Clifford. Clifford is the owner of Australian Frequent Flyers - a totally independent group that are PASSIONATE about frequent flyer points. Clifford has a million stories to tell about frequent flyers, I think he and his ilk actually use FF points like the share market. They know the value of points, the best way to get them and how to spend them. They study frequent flyer programs and buy and sell points like the commodity that they are. I never knew people were so addicted to FF points.

Anyway, as we got into the conversation the questions in my mind kept coming along. 
What makes an Australian consumer decide on a home loan provider? Do people switch very often? What makes us switch? Will people choose a home loan to get FF points? How many people collect all their points when they possibly can (Clearly not me, I suggested that Qantas owes me ten years of points for all the Optus bills I have paid and not collected points for).  If FF points are not your thing, what might sway you to a home loan - especially if the interest rates were the same as the competitors? Some in the room suggested home or life insurance or Will preparation, dull but essential things. 

I think I would like my home loan to be more crazy and creative. Perhaps they should send me random gifts, with a card, handwritten, that says "Woo hooo, we're excited, you have paid all your minimum repayments for six months, we are so proud of you, here is a bunch of flowers." Or, better still, here is the latest collection of elk necklaces for you to wear. 

Or maybe more shoes. 

I wore these to Sydney, I love a wedgie (in a shoe)...wouldn't it be nice if my home loan provider sent me shoes.







What about you, what would you like to receive from your home loan? 



Wearing:
Trent Nathan Dress, Jag Jacket, Nu Shoes

14 comments:

  1. Replies
    1. Now that would be nice - but I think the idea is that you have to pay the bank...as annoying as that really is each fortnight!

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  2. I'd LOVE ff points! We did our European Honeymoon on points, flew business class to New York for a Babymoon on points (that was a bit of a waste as I couldn't drink the French Champagne!) and flew the whole family to Hong Kong to visit mother's group friends on points and we are now planning my 40th birthday trip to Paris on points....would LOVE to get some more...travel more...

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    1. You are an excellent saver of points! You should certainly take a look at this if you happen to need a homeloan. 150,000 points in a few years would be put to good use! As for me, I think I would still like shoes, champers and chocolates.

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  3. FF points normally mean you fly lots (nope), have a credit card (nope), shop at a large supermarket (nope)..... so we have none. Points wouldnt sway me to a home loan. A person on the end on the end of the phone - yes.

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    1. Wow Alli - you mean like a real person who fully understands the entire project and can help you with all the paperwork? That sounds like a novel idea! Like you we don't fly much at all but I wouldn't mind changing that.

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  4. We are BIG frequent flyers here. My husband is a lifetime Qantas Club member and he has more points than we will ever use. That being said, we also accumulate them on our credit card and I've got lots of them too. BUT ff points won't sway me to do any switcheroonies. But if my bank started ff points on the loan we already had, I might say yes. What an interesting day you've had. I'd love to be a fly on that wall! And love your outfit. I love red and navy. Rocks!

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    1. WOW, you are major FF collectors, that is a lot of points, I don't think I would be able to collect so many, I would have us on a flight somewhere just for the weekend!

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  5. Maybe they could send us on one of those all expense paid trips where the only obligation you have whilst you are there is attend a one hour presentation... kind of like they do with condos in Florida ... or so I am led to believe in TV sitcoms ;) x

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    1. Clearly, we should be living in Florida - or in a TV Sitcom perhaps!

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  6. Oooh I love your dress, shoes, jacket and belt. Any chance the bank would give those?!

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    1. Yes, I think we are on to something - forget FF = frequent flyer, we need FF = Frequent Fashion.

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  7. Gorgeous outfit Claire. You rock the corporate look.

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  8. Love your outfit Claire...I would love my home loan to give me a money bonus each tax year for paying my mortgage on time. Too much to ask?

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