![Rachel White is a reformed shopaholic and she uses techniques she learnt from a wardrobe consultant.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/s/s/a/u/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gsssfu.png/1479596954067.jpg)
Saving
![Rachel White is a reformed shopaholic and she uses techniques she learnt from a wardrobe consultant.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/s/s/a/u/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gsssfu.png/1479596954067.jpg)
Home buyers forking out fees to unqualified building inspectors
![Houng Lau bought the fourth property on which she had a building report.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/i/o/m/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsom7q.png/1479091517617.jpg)
House hunters seeking to avoid nasty surprises should know that not all building inspections are equal.
Nicole helps… get your kids learning and earning
![Pocket money can help teach children about how to handle money, but only if you set clear rules.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/7/5/e/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsmxpt.png/1479428998785.jpg)
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon reveals the best bank accounts for kids.
The things we should really haggle over
![Would you rather work, or have a retail therapy day?](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/w/2/m/3/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsirsh.png/1478651101619.jpg)
Some shoppers can't be bothered haggling, others want to but don't have the time. Here's a study that shows how likely you are to get a discount and save a lot of money.
12 reasons to buy a real Christmas tree
![Real Christmas trees have a special charm.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/h/v/t/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gshvhe.png/1478580427692.jpg)
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me ... happiness in a real tree.
Nicole helps… expose leaky house insurance policies
![Many home insurance policies exclude leaky plumbing because it's a maintenance issue.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/c/1/h/b/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsc1iz.png/1477985752522.jpg)
Financial expert Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon has a new column tackling consumer finance problems.
How to shop for ethical fashion on a budget
![Dressing up for the Melbourne Cup is an Australian tradition.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/9/0/v/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs90ck.png/1478170852059.jpg)
It may pay to think before you buy.
Avocado economics for first-home buyers
![Avocado or housing? You choose.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/8/5/u/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs7ti7.png/1477255633277.jpg)
We seemed to spend the week obsessed with avocado brunches and property prices. This was Peak Australia.
Are you smarter than a third grader when it comes to money?
![Catherine Robson with her nine-year-old daughter Elizabeth. Catherine gave a financial talk to her daughter's Grade 3 ...](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/6/n/q/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs6nl1.png/1476931914525.jpg)
There are really only three things you need to do to become financially independent.
The 13 biggest rip-offs money can buy
![Movie popcorn is overpriced.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/y/r/7/b/image.related.landscape.120x80.gryqm4.png/1476355258736.jpg)
Don't be lured into buying stuff that's stupidly expensive and well, just stupid.
New ways to save on travel with summer just around the corner
![Dreaming of boating in the Whitsundays?](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/x/n/s/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.grxnlm.png/1476159159547.jpg)
It's the time of year when I start daydreaming about my summer holiday.
Savings hit by record-low interest rates
![George Ray, 85, has small amounts of money in super and in savings accounts.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/x/5/u/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.grw1vx.png/1476171013286.jpg)
George Ray reckons the banks could easily afford to increase the interest they pay on their cash deposits given the amount of money they are making.
Plan ahead for the festive season to avoid a financial hangover
![A little pain now in terms of planning can mean you avoid a financial hangover later on.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/k/f/1/image.related.landscape.120x80.grtkcu.png/1475629164248.jpg)
A little pain now in terms of planning can mean you avoid a whole lot of pain later on.
Solar households to earn up to 200 times more in Urth Energy offer
![The NSW Solar Bonus Scheme ends in December.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/s/c/r/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.grschi.png/1475217892553.jpg)
A company offers people the chance to be active players in the energy market.
Commbank slashing its term deposit rates in another sting for savers
![Many Australians, especially seniors, rely on the security of term deposit rates.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/o/l/g/j/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.grryxh.png/1475557008573.jpg)
The Commonwealth Bank numbed the sting of its decision to partially hold back the RBA's cash rate cut by increasing term deposit rates. Now it has unwound them.
How families can cut their mobile data bills
![Jane and Morgan Cook, with sons Jonathan (left) and Benjaman, save about $1000 a year by pooling data.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/m/q/z/r/image.related.landscape.120x80.grmm1n.png/1474936475620.jpg)
During holidays, watch that your phone costs don't grow exponentially.
How to save money on a beautiful wedding in the social media age
![Caitlin Fitzsimmons wore a Cymbeline gown she bought on sale for her wedding in 2009.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/n/c/x/f/image.related.landscape.120x80.grnczx.png/1474758273393.jpg)
The key to saving money on your wedding is creative thinking and a lot of research.
Keep your teen's mobile data under control in the school holidays
![Teenagers' phone bills can soar in the school holidays if you're not careful.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/l/w/z/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.grlx3o.png/1474510313684.jpg)
More free time may mean more mobile usage and bigger phone bills.
Making six figures? Chances are you've saved nothing
![There may be different income levels, but the piggy banks are often equally empty.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/k/x/f/b/image.related.landscape.120x80.grkwd7.png/1474420324926.jpg)
It's hard to feel sorry for someone making six figures, but a new survey attempts to drum up some sympathy for the deflated bank accounts of these high rollers. See, the more you earn, the more you spend.
Households hoarding $40b of unwanted items as secondhand economy booms
![Hannah Richardson is preparing to sell unwanted children's toys ahead of the influx of Christmas gifts.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/i/y/z/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.grivrh.png/1474227932633.jpg)
Hannah Richardson is one of the more than one in two Australians who regularly sell secondhand items.
Rivals sink teeth into new Medibank carrot
![Dentists in demand: Medibank to provide free annual dental checkup to "extras" policyholders.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/d/d/8/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.griytz.png/1474202169334.jpg)
Australia's biggest private health insurer Medibank Private has joined many of its peers in offering free annual dental checkups for its 2.7 million 'extras' policyholders.
What do Australians really spend on their weddings?
![You can cut the costs of a wedding without cutting corners.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/i/d/t/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.grhroc.png/1474260753171.jpg)
Whenever you read a story on the cost of weddings, it comes with an alarmingly large number. You should take that with a grain of salt.
How to find more comfort, by having less stuff
![Decluttering and consuming less can make you happier and wealthier.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/h/7/v/p/image.related.landscape.120x80.grh6bx.png/1473936955151.jpg)
When we feel out of control or uncertain about the future we feel anxious.
The most common scams and how to avoid them
![Once a scammer steals credit card details online, they can launder the money on eBay before too many red flags go off.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/q/3/j/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.grdyk9.png/1473631628049.jpg)
Call it an occupational hazard, but I've become so nervous of scammers and fraudsters that I now delete even legitimate emails from my providers.
How to score a free smartphone
![If you're fiscally constrained or simply not hung up on having the trendiest gadget, there are decent smartphone options ...](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/c/k/h/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.grck51.png/1474850952682.jpg)
If you're nonplussed by the latest smartphone with a selfie mode that autocorrects blemishes, there is a decent range of phones on offer that are basically free.
Money-saving secrets of the commuters who drive 1000 kilometres a week
![Chez Tonelli works for a financial company in Parramatta and commutes from the Central Coast.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/6/w/c/i/image.related.landscape.120x80.gr6wac.png/1473219227192.jpg)
A fitness tracker for your car is one way to keep costs down, writes Adam Courtenay.
The financial spring clean that will save you $7500
![Spring cleaning time.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/5/n/6/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gr5mhp.png/1472714982345.jpg)
How to turn messy money into tidy profit without lifting more than a few fingers.
Coalition's childcare reforms duds city families in fine print
!["It takes a whole village to have me work," says Sydney's Betina Naiman with husband Clarence and two daughters Libby, ...](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/y/0/k/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gqwwfo.png/1472343785900.jpg)
This is the formula to figure out if you'll be worse off under the Coalition's childcare changes.
Dogs v cats? We'll pay vets almost double to treat one
![Gen Xers are the biggest cat lovers.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/0/x/a/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gqz1og.png/1472343039693.jpg)
The average dog owner is prepared to spend up to $4128 in one hit at the vet.
Three ways to make your tax refund last longer
![It's easy to spend a tax return and not even notice it, just like you feel hungry after eating white bread.](/web/20161120085301im_/http://www.smh.com.au/content/dam/images/g/q/w/q/j/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gqwqh5.png/1471586035722.jpg)
The average tax return is just more than $3000 but it's often frittered away.