Money Saver HQ

How to score cheap flight deals

JETSETTERS planning their overseas jaunts can save hundreds of dollars on airfares by carefully choosing their first travel destination.

Why spending to save makes sense

BREAD machines and coffee machines are sometimes derided as the worst kind of ‘junk’ gifts, but they can be your ticket to saving a fortune in day-to-day costs.

Thousands join insurance campaign

MORE than 15,000 Australian households have signed up to chase a better deal on their home and car insurance.

Should you reveal your finances?

REVEALING our financial situation to family and friends has become the new norm — but there is still one bit of information few of us feel comfortable sharing.

Smarter smartphone options

SMARTPHONE customers getting slugged by the high-cost of running premium devices on expensive plans are getting more choice than ever to help cull their costs.

Own a little slice of Westfield

SKY-HIGH housing prices are prompting Australians to invest their money in lots of other types of property.

What boomers can learn from milennials

THE generation gap can be huge but when it comes to learning about money there is a lot that youngsters can teach older people, say David and Libby Koch.

Will you have enough super?

SUPER fund balances need significant fattening to catch up to the amount required to deliver a comfortable lifestyle come retirement.

Skip feeling that credit card pain

CREDIT card customers are continuing to get gouged by exorbitant rates despite a small dip to the average card rate in the past year.

When it’s best to buy in bulk

BUYING in bulk brings big discounts for grocery shoppers, and people prepared to look beyond the supermarket can also pocket significant savings.

Secret weapon against school costs

PARENTS’ budgets are being squeezed by the rising costs of education, forcing many to employ a strategy that one finance expert described as a ‘dirty little secret’.

Friend cover shakes up insurance

A NEW lending scheme that has taken the banking industry by a storm is about to sweep through the Australian insurance sector.

Taking control of family finances

MONEY woes can end up splitting families apart once parents grow old, writes David and Libby Koch, who explain when you should take charge of parental finances.

Why funeral bonds are suddenly popular

THERE’S been a huge spike in the number of people investing in funeral bonds, and the trend is set to increase in the next couple of months. Here’s why.

Too lazy to look at the market

CONSUMERS are potentially costing themselves hundreds if not thousands of dollars a year by failing to get a decent credit card interest rate.

Hold off on fixing home loans

HOME loan interest rates could be leaving many borrowers paying too much. But there are reasons why it’s not working locking in a fixed rate.

How to bet $20 on the Cup

MELBOURNE Cup betting swallows hundreds of millions of dollars from Aussies every year. If you’ve set aside $20 to punt, here are some options.

How to find a better car insurance deal

CAR insurance customers could be paying up to nearly 80 per cent more by blindly renewing their policies without shopping around.

Beware of these scary money moves

BAD money decisions can give you a bigger financial fright than the scariest Halloween horror movie.

Is your partner a financial cheat?

IT’S that feeling in your gut, that intuition that something isn’t right financially. David and Libby Koch show you what do to next.

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.

More Money...

Sky blue diamond Rare blue diamond sells for $17 million

YOU’D be too scared to wear it down the street, but a seriously rich buyer has snapped up this rare blue diamond ring for $17 million.

Financial lies Financially cheating on your spouse

IF you’re financially cheating on a loved one you’re not alone. Alarming new stats show a majority of Aussies are lying to their partners, family and friends about money.

Tax crackdown Taxman’s $10bn Facebook raid

THE flashy lifestyles of Australians who report modest incomes, but live it up on social media, are being investigated by the Australian Taxation Office.

Consumer campaign The Nick 10-cent plan

THE cost of Nick Xenophon’s plan to create genuine competition in the home and car insurance market can be revealed — and it’s just 10 cents.

Exclusive Millions miss credit card repayments

ONE-THIRD of Australians are missing repayments on their credit cards, putting themselves at risk of hefty penalties and black marks on financial records.

Big win Trump just made this guy $100k

BRISBANE man Matthew Klan is $100,000 richer thanks to Donald Trump. He’s going to buy his girlfriend a ring.

Gen Y life Young Aussies’ huge debt problem

WHATEVER you think about smashed avocado, there’s a scary dilemma facing Gen Ys who want to own their own homes.

Lazy tax? Being tight won’t help you save $3000

AUSTRALIANS are a nation of “misguided” savers who pinch pennies in all the wrong places, a new study has found.

Happiness bought Lotto winner reveals how life will change

A WOMAN who is the latest winner of Lotto’s Set for Life knew instantly what chore she would axe, now she could look forward to $20,000 a month over 20 years.

Home loans Borrowers being pushed to the limit

FINANCIALLY-stretched home loan customers have admitted it’s a struggle to meet their mortgage repayments and many are sacrificing to do so.

Shop around Motorists rise up to fight price rises

GEN-Xers face big car-insurance premium increases — but under-25s are being spared — as 15,000 people band together to say enough is enough.

Exclusive Investors on the trail of missing $150m

INVESTORS who lost a fortune through Steve Navra, who claimed he had a computer program to beat the stockmarket, believe some of their money still exists — and they will find it.

Taboo topics How to discuss money with friends

IT’S still a taboo topic for many, but there are smart ways to broach money matters in conversation with friends.

Election impact ‘Trumponomics’ could hit us hard

A FINANCE expert has warned that if Donald Trump wins the US Presidency, share markets around the world could tumble between 5 and 10 per cent.