Telstra buys Boost Mobile for $140 million

Telstra buys Boost Mobile, Harry Potter star can't magic away $3.55 million tax bill, and how to ham up a bargain this Christmas. Here are five things you may have missed this week.

Telco buys Boost Mobile for $140 million

Telco giant Telstra has acquired Boost Mobile in a deal reported to be worth around $140 million.

Boost Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), meaning it is one of the many small telcos that don't own a mobile network (only Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom can claim this).

Instead, Boost sells pre-paid mobile services that use the Telstra network, with a focus on the youth market.

Peter Adderton, founder of Boost, says the sale will let him focus his energies on the US-based Mobile X brand, which allows customers to get a credit for unused data.

The Telstra purchase is expected to boost the fortunes of former prime minister Paul Keating, who helped Adderton get Boost Mobile off the ground over 20 years ago, and who still retains a stake in the business.

Not everyone is happy though.

As one observer noted on Adderton's Facebook page, "So now you're leaving us to be screwed by Telstra".

Harry Potter star stung with $3.55 million tax bill

It's a fair bet Rupert Grint, better known for his role as Ron Weasley in the Harry Potter series of films, could magic his tax woes away.

Grint, now aged 36 (yes, really), has been slapped with a £1.8 million ($3.55 million) tax bill following a lengthy battle with the UK's Revenue and Customs office.

According to the BBC, the debt relates to a payment received by Grint in 2011/12 from a company that managed his business.

Grint argued it was a capital investment and the payment should only be taxed at the capital gains tax rate of 10%.

Tax authorities took a different view, saying the payment was income and therefore taxable at a whopping 52%.

While no one enjoys copping a tax bill, Grint may be reasonably well-placed to pay the debt.

While exact figures are unavailable, some estimates suggest he earned as much as $US70 million ($109 million) for his involvement in the entire Harry Potter series.

The number one home feature buyers look for

They're expensive to install, cost a motza to maintain and can only be used for a few months each year.

That hasn't stopped backyard swimming pools being the number one feature home buyers looked for in 2024.

Domain's end-of-year wrap report confirms 'pool' topped the list of keyword searches among buyers this year.

Hobart was the only state capital where 'views' rather than a swimming pool were the chief drawcard.

A pool can cost as little as $3,500 for an above-ground variety or upwards of $35,000 for an inground pool.

However, the outlay doesn't end there.

Finder estimates pool maintenance can cost between $65 and $165 each month.

Will a pool add value? According to real estate group Ray White, swimming pools generally increase the value of a home by at least the cost of installing the pool.

Seniors turn to share housing amid rental crisis

The joys of share house living - like being fifth in line for the shower or finding last night's leftovers have mysteriously disappeared, are something we tend to associate with our youth.

But that's all changing.

Faced with low vacancy rates and high rents, seniors are increasingly opting for share house living.

The annual National Share Accommodation Survey by Flatmates.com.au shows the number of people aged over 55 who've entered share housing arrangements is up 7% over the past year, with the 75+ age group being the fastest growing demographic.

Of those who are over 55, approximately one in two (51.6%) say the cost of living and being unable to afford to live alone are the key drivers for opting for a share house.

One in 10 choose share homes for companionship.

Flatmates.com.au product manager Claudia Conley says, "Ongoing cost of living pressures over the past 12 months have reshaped how Australians approach housing."

Ham it up for a bargain this Christmas

Christmas means a leg of ham on the table, and this year we can waive away porkies about expensive hams having the best taste.

Consumer group CHOICE has found some of the cheapest hams available are also the most flavoursome.

In a blind taste test of supermarket hams, CHOICE says the top scorer was IGA's Seven Mile ham priced at $12 per kilo.

Woolworths half leg hams costing $8 per kilo, the same price as last year, ranked equally for taste with Aldi's Specially Selected Premium Triple Smoked Half Leg Ham priced at $13.49 per kilo.

The wooden spoon went to Coles Finest Free-Range Triple Smoked Leg Ham Portion, which despite being one of the pricier supermarket hams at $17 a kilo, scored lowest for taste.

The Heart Foundation is warning consumers not to pig out on ham over the festive season as deli meats can be high in salt.

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