Saving

Don't let bills crush your spirits.

BASIC TRAINING

How to negotiate on your bills

Larissa Ham   You can't stop bills coming, but you can control how much you choose to fork out.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Giving it away can make you richer

Give a little: it's good for you.

Catherine Robson   We all want to be wealthy but there's plenty of evidence that more money does not make us any happier

STUDY BREAK

Why arts students can now be taken seriously

Arts graduates are the new success story when it comes to finding jobs.

Michelle Hutchison   The Australian arts sector is the fastest-growing industry in the land. What does that say about us?

Comments 12

Non-banks give best deals on international money transfers

John Brown, from Dulwich in Sydney and his sister each inherited the same amount from Britain but after the transfers he received $5000 less.

John Collett   Consumers transferring money in and out of Australia could be doing themselves out of hundreds, or even thousands, of dollars using their big bank to make the transfers.

KIDS AND MONEY

The great pocket money rip-off

The piggy bank is filling up as Australian kids reap the rewards of generous - or guilty - parents.

Most parents give pocket money to their children, but very few of the kids do anything at all to earn it.

BOURIS ON MONEY

Compounding the solution

MON00-Bouris Mark Bouris.

Mark Bouris   It's important to teach kids about money. And one aspect in particular.

BASIC TRAINING

How to drum up some extra cash

It's easier than ever to drum up some extra cash thanks to the growing number of new websites and online marketplaces.

Larissa Ham   Money's ripe for the picking for anyone with a smartphone, some spare time and a little bit of savvy.

CASH TRAP

Six reasons you're missing out on money

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon.

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon   No one would ignore $100 lying on the pavement Yet most people obliviously pass over more than this every month. It's time to shape up.

PUTTING THE SQUEEZE ON

Households cut spending as costs rise and income growth weakens

A new survey says more people are feeling financially squeezed.

John Collett   A flurry of surveys is showing a marked increase in the financial pressure consumers are feeling.

PENNY PINCHING

A cashless economy? Where’s the catch?

An empty purse may not mean an empty stomach for those who can make lifestyle adjustments around having no cash.

David Wilson   Some enterprising Australians are opting out of the relentless grind of working and spending.

STORE WARS

Winners and losers in trolley wars

Shop in the evenings and you're more likely to pick up specials in perishables.

David Potts   Competition is making life tough for the big players but it’s a boon for shoppers.

RATINGS

Credit scores poor in the heart of the city

People living in the inner cities have poor credit ratings.

John Collett   Inner Sydney and inner Melbourne are among the worst regions in Australia for poor credit records.

SAVING

Curbing the urge to splurge

Shoppers need discipline to forgo buying at sales when others are spending up large.

Christine Long   It might be a bit late to start No Buy July – but the lessons learnt can help everyone spend more mindfully.

OFFSHORING

Nice day at the office?

Owner Luke McAllister joins his colleagues by the pool of his co-working space Salty Volt in the Balinese surfing town of Canggu.

Larissa Ham   Many of us can now do our work from wherever we choose. So why not do it from somewhere with warm temperatures and a low cost of living?

HAMMER TIME

Grab yourself a wheel bargain

Sal Bua, of Sydney, and his partner, Susana Montero, (with Bix the dog) replaced their Toyota RAV4 with a later model of the same make bought at auction.

Sylvia Pennington   Motorists prepared to buy a second-hand vehicle under the hammer can score serious savings – or find themselves behind the wheel of a lemon, with no recourse.

RISE AND SHINE

Smart larks make a dawn start

Those who rise early tend to feel more ready to tackle tasks head on.

David Wilson   Research suggests early risers earn more. What's their secret?

THE MOTLEY FOOL

Motley Fool: Use a points plan for new year health check

Your finances need regular health checks as much as your body does.

Scott Phillips   The start of the new financial year is a good time to see how your finances are faring.

CHANGE UP

How to change your life in a month

Make one change a day and you could reap big rewards.

Christine Long   If you really put your mind to it, there's a lot you can achieve with your finances in a few weeks.

INSIGHT

Ensure fees don’t come at a premium

There are ways you can have all your cake without your insurance adviser taking a slice in commission.

Nerida Cole   Insurance without commission sounds too good to be true - but you just need to know how to get it.

FAMILY PLANNING

Parents are to blame for Sponge Society

Teach children good habits while they are young.

Michelle Hutchison   They have fled the nest but are still being spoon-fed. And it's not helping them.

INSIGHT

Savers say deposit accounts are best option

Perceived as super-safe: bank deposits topped a recent survey on wise investing.

Clancy Yeates   Interest rates on bank deposits are miserable, but apparently the humble savings account is as popular as ever.

TIP OF THE WEEK

Born to spend? Here's how to save

If you put money aside into a special account each pay day it makes saving for what you want a lot easier.

Alex Berlee   There is hope for those who like to splurge if they choose to whip their cashflow into shape.

Making the most of the current economy

MON00-Bouris Mark Bouris.

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

CASHLESS ECONOMY

Denmark plans change to moneyless shops

Denmark is planning to call time on cash in shops.

Alexander Tange   The Danish government is looking into getting rid of cash payments in shops, moving the country closer to a "cashless" economy.

BUDGET NIGHT

What we can lose on Budget night - and what must stay

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon

Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon   They've said the Budget will be 'dull'. That doesn't mean there won't be changes. Here's what might happen.

HOLIDAY MONEY

Tourists told to take hard cash to Greece

Don't rely on it.

Dan Hyde   Travellers heading to Greece are being advised to take their euros in notes and coins in case the escalating debt crisis prompts the country's banks to switch off their cash machines.

WELL-HEELED

Go the hacks to save funds

Small changes can make a big difference.

Melissa Browne   Smart or seemingly silly - these tips can help improve your finances.

HOLD TIGHT

Need a helping hand? Don't get sucked in

 

Christine Long   Some financial products that claim to ease your cares can send you even deeper into debt.

LOVE AND MONEY

Financial fix for wedded bliss

Newlyweds Kate and Josh Williams.

Kate Jones   Money differences are responsible for more break-ups than cheating, especially in the first year of a marriage. So what are the financial hurdles - and how do you clear them?

YOUR QUESTIONS

Can parents profit from property pass-the-parcel?

Passing a property back and forth? You'll still have to pay capital gains tax.

George Cochrane   Will splitting and resplitting property ownership work for their tax purposes?