Money Saver HQ

How to find the best super fund

AN alarmingly high number of people are apathetic about switching super funds — but an expert is urging Aussies to look a little closer at their investment goals.

Keeping a financial eye on politics

IT’S a small world after all, which is why economists say thrifty Australians should keep an eye on politics when making financial decisions.

The ups and downs of airline deals

AIRFARES are experiencing some heavy turbulence, new figures show, but these smart market tips can help you land some jumbo savings.

Proof that growth stocks are overrated

THEY call them ‘growth stocks’ — companies with the potential for higher future returns than they give today — but they may not be all they’re cracked up to be.

Dangers of merging finances

COUPLES are losing that loving feeling when it comes to pooling their cash with their other half.

Final countdown to avoid a tax hit

TAX returns must be lodged a week from today — but fear not, procrastinators; changes to the MyTax tool mean many people can complete their forms within 15 minutes.

Battlers still chasing the Aussie dream

THE containing growth in the nation’s property prices hasn’t deterred potential investors with two in three Australians aspiring to own an investment property.

Borrowers missing out on savings

MORTGAGE customers are missing out on a golden opportunity to scale ahead on their debt by keeping their repayments at the lowest amount possible.

Cool your summer energy bills

ENERGY bills are fat enough during the winter months but as we move closer to summer many households will see a spike in their monthly costs.

How to ease Christmas travel costs

CHRISTMAS travel can leave a big fat hole in your pocket if you’re unprepared so with just 11 weeks to go it’s time to get organised.

Tricks to cull multiple card debts

SKY-high interest rates and revolving debts have put many credit card users into a financial blackhole they can see no way out of.

Mobile shopping trends: what’s hot

SHOPPING on smartphones and tablet computers is surging as these devices saturate the Australian consumer marketplace. This is what we’re buying.

The cheap way to lose weight

SUMMER is coming. It’s also that time when Aussies get hooked on expensive fad diets. Michelle Bridges reveals how to lose weight without breaking the bank.

Why solar energy keeps getting cheaper

PRODUCING your own power is getting much cheaper for households as the price of solar energy storage systems drops quickly.

Be smart with your phone cover

THAT sinking feeling of dropping your smartphone into a pool of water, smashing its screen or losing it is known all too well by phone users.

How to be queen of your cash flow

ONLY one quarter of Australians have a strategy for achieving their financial goals, and women tend to face added difficulties in this area, money experts warn.

Can you afford a baby?

YOUNG Aussie couples are feeling excluded from the joys of raising a family because of cost but careful planning and changing priorities can achieve the best of both worlds.

Card trouble goes beyond interest rates

CREDIT card interest rates remain at stubbornly high levels but this isn’t the only cost that may be doing damage to your hip pocket.

What footy can teach us about money

DAVID Koch moves away from everyday finance to look at the investing lessons to learn from successful football coaches.

Why you are probably underinsured

AS we load up on more and more gadgets, the cost of replacing our household’s contents has risen to its highest level in seven years.

Housing market an impossible dream

DESPITE interest rates at record low levels, more and more Australians feel disheartened about ever being able to get a foot on the property ladder.

The cheapest way to get credit

CREDIT card interest rates continue to sting customers as many remain unclear on how to optimise their interest-free periods.

Gen Y missing out on super benefits

STARTING early is the best way to build wealth for the future but many young Aussies ignore superannuation and prefer property.

Never pay ATM fees again

BANK customers waste hundreds of millions of dollars every year to access their own money despite there being many ways to get your cash for free.

Why you should buy second hand undies

HAVING all the latest mod-cons is certainly not on Tamara DiMattina’s mind — instead she focuses on buying virtually everything second-hand.

Kochie’s six warning signs for property

RATHER than speculate about property, understand the major signals which could point to a change in the market.

Driving a good rental insurance deal

JETSETTERS hiring cars can often be left bamboozled about insurance cover and need to take extra care on what their policy does entail before driving away.

Super fund fees affect your future

HOW much is too much when it comes to paying superannuation fund fees? If you don’t know, you may not enjoy the retirement you imagine.

Credit card rewards get crunched

SHOPPERS are being forced to spend more on their credit cards to reap any benefit from rewards programs.

The truth about dog and pet costs

WE dote on our pets and spend a small fortune on them every year but there’s no reason to break the bank to have happy, healthy pets.

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Tax refund Australia’s most bizarre tax returns

THERE’S a clever way to maximise your tax refund, but these claims are just bizarre.

Old fashioned Is this the end of the ‘$10 minimum’?

AUSSIE shoppers are being ripped off and businesses are shooting themselves in the foot with the dreaded minimum spend. That could be about to change.

Deadline coming Final countdown to avoid a tax hit

TAX returns must be lodged a week from today. But fear not— lodging is now easier than ever.

Summer season New warning for festival fans

BIG Day Out, Soundwave, Stereosonic. As summer season approaches, here’s how to make sure you don’t get burned if the festival falls through.

Changing times Money really doesn’t buy happiness

HAPPINESS, not money, is now viewed as the greatest measure of success by Australians, new research has revealed.

Dangerous spiral Teens at risk of credit card trap

YOUNG Australians are relying on credit cards to finance overseas trips, rental payments and study. But experts warn it could be the start of a dangerous debt spiral.

Exclusive Aussies no longer driven by money

BEING cashed up, owning property and having a well-paid job is no longer the criteria Australians use to define whether they are successful.

Exclusive Why talking sex is easier than money

PARENTS would rather talk about sex than money. And their children are paying the price when it comes to their savings, says a top government adviser.

Powerball fight ‘He didn’t say that to you’

WHO told who what — and when — is forming a big part in the Powerball battle being played out in a Sydney court.

Hefty slap $180 fine for parking across own driveway

A MAN who parked his car across his driveway to stop other drivers doing the same has been slapped with a $180 fine.

Powerball saga $40m Powerball winner under fire

THE leader of a syndicate that won $40 million lottery has denied “making things up” to prevent a co-worker from getting a slice of the fortune.

Legal drama ‘Booted’ from $40m Powerball win

FOR years Brendan King was part of a syndicate for Powerball draws. But when co-workers won the $40 million jackpot, he found out he had been excluded.

Home loans Borrowers demand better rates: research

HOME loan hagglers are scoring huge savings off their interest rates ... just by asking a question that puts pressure on their lender for a better deal.

Credit pain What the Joneses don’t want you to know

MEET the Joneses: permanently tanned, always on holiday, constantly posting on social media ... and more likely than not, up to their eyeballs in credit card debt.