Saving
TRAVEL
Bargain airfares - if you get the timing right
John Collett Booking flights at particular times before departure can yield big savings. The busy Sydney/Melbourne route has the biggest variation in ticket prices among the mainland capitals.
EXTREME BUDGETING
The Aussie family that saves $60,000 a year
Kate Jones 12:00 AM Consumerism is the norm for many Australians but not for Jasmine and Aaron Boothey who save two-thirds of their take-home pay.
MIND OVER MONEY
Why the winter sales will be better this year
Caitlin Fitzsimmons If you feel that the winter sales are earlier and better every year, you're right. And this year the bargains will be more plentiful than usual.
INNOVATION
Apps and tools to manage your money
Adam Courtenay Our mobile devices are becoming the go-to instruments of convenient commerce, offering something that consumers are only just beginning to come to terms with – a world of instantaneous self-wealth management.
Save on winter heating
John Collett Winter officially arrives this week and many households will be worried about the cost of keeping warm.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Safer shopping on your mobile phone
Angus Kidman Shopping on your mobile device is obviously convenient, but it also can create potential security risks.
MIND OVER MONEY
Is an au pair right for your family?
Caitlin Fitzsimmons Greens leader Richard Di Natale copped flak for having an au pair, but for those of us outside politics it might be worth considering.
Sisters are doin' it for themselves
Christine Long Women are tackling budgeting and finance head-on with help from VicSuper's online financial fitness course.
Why learning money smarts is like fitness training
Annika Bradley Taking control of your finances is a bit like moving to a healthier lifestyle.
INSIGHT
How to supercharge your savings with honeymoon rate hopping
Kate Cowling With interest rates at record lows, switching between high interest savings accounts could make you four times what you would otherwise earn in interest. But beware the catch.
MIND OVER MONEY
Set stage to keep fun in your life
Caitlin Fitzsimmons I found myself sharing a stage last week with a hip hop artist, a jewellery designer and entrepreneur, a medical doctor and a singer-songwriter.
TIP OF THE WEEK
How to get a 4G mobile service for less
Angus Kidman Only Telstra, Optus and Vodafone operate mobile networks in Australia, but you don't have to buy your service through them.
MONEY BRAIN
Financial lessons from the Third World
Catherine Robson The requirements microfinance lender Grameen Australia places on poor borrowers in the developing world read like a play book for good financial management in any country, even Australia.
INSIGHT
Savings at seven-year low and may dip further
Clancy Yeates For years, we've been told "the cautious consumer" is making life harder for retailers and other businesses that rely on household spending.
TIP OF THE WEEK
The hidden childcare subsidy for grandparents
Barbara Drury Tip: Grandparents and other informal carers can be paid for babysitting through the Registered Care Provider scheme.
MIND OVER MONEY
Can appliances be both smart and durable?
Caitlin Fitzsimmons Would you expect an oven that cost $2999 to conk out after seven years?
CHILDCARE
Informal childcare makes family life work
Barbara Drury They say it takes a village to raise a child and that certainly holds true for mother of three Freny Kalapesi.
LOYALTY
A $7000 Valentine's gift from me
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon When it comes to money, loyalty comes at a price.
EDUCATION
Back to school, but at a price
John Collett Education costs are rising faster than inflation, so if you want choices about schools for your children, you need to plan ahead.
WELL HEELED
What are you prepared to suffer for?
Melissa Browne Are we destined not to change or can we salvage our goals made for 2016? The short answer is yes and no.
'We were scammed': Debt management firms leaving clients worse off
Esther Han Debt vultures promise to sort out your money problems, but sometimes, they can make matters worse.
How to shop like an investor and save money
Andrew Legget Four tips to ensure you never pay more than you need to when grocery shopping.
Beating the curse of problem gambling
Leo D'Angelo Fisher Matt Torcasio is proof that there is hope for the millions of Australians affected by problem gambling.
TIP OF THE WEEK
A plan-free way to save
Erin Turner There's one instance where no plan is the best plan of all: when it comes to your mobile phone.
DIRECT DEBITS
How to protect yourself from direct debit risk
Paul Wallbank As online subscription services take off, direct debits on credit and debit cards are becoming more common.
THE HONEST BROKER
The rules of a midlife crisis
Marcus Padley The definition of financial happiness in a relationship is understanding the boundaries and not crossing them, and understanding each other's expectations and meeting them.
TIP OF THE WEEK
Master reverse Feng Shui to nab a bargain
Luke Metcalfe Reverse Feng Shui is about harnessing negative energy to get more home for your money.
SAVINGS TIPS
10 ways to save money right now
Bessie Hassan Altering a couple of old habits and developing new ones could see you save significantly.
Kickstart 2016 with a financial health check
Kate Jones The new year is an opportunity to reset your money management and build prosperity - like electrician Paul Buhagiar who paid down $26,000 of his home loan last year.
MIND OVER MONEY
Are you paying the Vague Tax?
Caitlin Fitzsimmons My budget requires a certain allowance for costs incurred while my mind was absent.
