Borrowing

Geared for deductions: The tax equation is skewed.

TOP GEAR

Get in before the back pedalling

Richard Livingston Negative gearing is a ticket for many to jump aboard the property investing train.

ASSET CHECK

Find strategies to cut loan risks

Daryl Dixon Borrowers need to be aware of the risks they are taking on and develop strategies to reduce their possible impact.

BOURIS ON MONEY

Why wait to get a better home loan?

Mark Bouris It's outrageous that people are still paying high interest when the opportunity to pay less is right under their noses.

CARD SHARPS

Travel cards not all created equal

John Collett A little bit of homework on which card to use when travelling overseas can really pay off.

WELL-HEELED

Forget a good job – if you want a home, get yourself a plan

Melissa Browne If you can't get a foot on the property ladder there are some alternatives.

INSIGHT

Don't fall victim to credit card gouging

Clancy Yeates There are quicker ways to cope with credit card debt than waiting for a government inquiry.

FINANCIAL LITERACY

Too many know too little about loans

John Collett Low levels of financial literacy are leaving consumers without the knowledge to get the best deals on home loans.

Making the most of the current economy

Mark Bouris I've been fielding questions lately about interest rates and the economy.

CREDIT CARDS

Take it to the limit

Christine Long If you've maxed out your credit card recently, an invitation to increase your limit can seem particularly seductive.

GETTING STARTED

Recycling can turn your bad debt good

David Potts The secret is stepping up your loan repayments and then borrowing whatever the extra was to invest.

Investing with family

Should you buy property with family?

Sue Williams Happy families can indeed make ideal investment partners, say the experts. But it's always a matter of 'buyer beware'.

INSIGHT

Is fear driving us to edge of property cliff?

Clancy Yeates Key measures of valuation suggest rapid house price growth cannot continue at this pace.

Renovate smart to boost property value

Mark Bouris With such low interest rates, if you have been considering a renovation now is a good time to get it done.

BOURIS ON MONEY

Low rates drive hunt for cheaper loans

Mark Bouris What should you look for if you're shopping around for a better-value mortgage?

ASSET CHECK

Gearing won't be unwound, but risks won't go away

Daryl Dixon The clever strategy for all investment gearing is to reduce all outstanding personal debts before paying down any investment loan.

ON THE MONEY

Reserve Bank adds fire-water to the punch bowl

John Collett After wrong-footing most market watchers in March and April, the Reserve Bank had little choice but to cut rates this time around.

ON THE MONEY

RBA adds fire-water to property punch bowl

John Collett After wrong-footing most market watchers in March and April, the Reserve Bank had little choice but to cut rates this time around.

CARD TRICKS

Partners kept in dark over cards

John Collett Many of us are unaware of our other halves’ secret credit cards.

TIP OF THE WEEK

The secrets to managing debt

Alex Berlee Before attempting to build up your assets, you need to be clear about what you owe.

Consumers shy away from credit

Clancy Yeates Expensive forms of personal credit are on the nose, recent figures suggest.

BOURIS ON MONEY

Parents want to help – here's how they can

Mark Bouris Research shows they're keen to help their children get a foot on the property ladder, but they don't want to put the family home on the line.

FLEXIBLE FRIENDS

Pick a card - but not just any card

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Here are the top picks from the new breed of circumstance-specific credit cards – and how to use them so that you, not your provider, win.

INSIGHT

Locking in a fixed rate loan might be a smart move

Clancy Yeates Even though the Reserve Bank hasn't cut official interest rates since February, the cost of borrowing with fixed-rate home loans continues to fall.

ASSET CHECKJ

Helping younger Australians

Daryl Dixon Allowing families to save for retirement while enabling their children to buy a home would be a double victory for many.

BOURIS ON MONEY

Flexibility can keep first home buyer's dream alive

Mark Bouris You're better to do what you can, rather than worrying about what you can't.

INSIGHT

Pump up a mortgage cushion by overpaying

Clancy Yeates Low interest rates are giving borrowers the chance to get on top of their debts.

Keep it in the family for a win-win

Daryl Dixon With interest rates low and likely to fall further, assisting the family to achieve home ownership is an increasingly attractive option.

CARD SHARPS

Credit card rate rort nets $14m a month

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon Rather than pass on the last rate cut, credit card lenders have made the lucrative move to lift interest charges, making $28m in the process.