![Kirti Mahraj, 23 and Adil Mohiuddin, 25 bought a house in Sydney without family money.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/d/9/v/d/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gt9lej.png/1482381020706.jpg)
Saving
![Kirti Mahraj, 23 and Adil Mohiuddin, 25 bought a house in Sydney without family money.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/d/9/v/d/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gt9lej.png/1482381020706.jpg)
Six tricks retailers use to make you spend too much money
![Shopping centres play Christmas carols because it's proven that it makes customers spend more money.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/9/c/x/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gt9ckd.png/1481744845876.jpg)
Hanging onto your hard-earned cash can be a matter of spotting – and sidestepping – the most common pitfalls.
Seven ways to have a champagne Christmas on a beer budget
![Christmas should be a time of fun not stress.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/4/3/3/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gt43l8.png/1481323778907.jpg)
The shopping centre crowds are thronging, your present ideas are thinning – you're hungry too – and you start panic purchasing.
Professional organiser finds $280k in a hoarder's house
![Former hoarder Lee Shuer co-founded Buried in Treasures workshops in the US and regularly gives advice to Australian ...](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/1/h/l/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gt1hdc.png/1480892732862.jpg)
Hoarders face many personal problems, not least of them financial.
Enjoy Christmas without the financial hangover
![Santa Claus approves of less financial pain for Christmas.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/0/n/c/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.gt0qrg.png/1481008878347.jpg)
Go big with giving, but not with big gifts.
The mistake people make when choosing a mobile plan
![A few hours of Netflix a month could push up your data usage if you're not careful.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/z/7/y/f/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsz7qi.png/1480396160636.jpg)
Many of us think in terms of how much data we're using now without thinking about the fact that many mobile plans cover two year terms.
Celebrate milestones but understand the true cost
![A spa treatment won't set you back as much as buying a Prada handbag.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/y/y/w/4/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsyyso.png/1480385429070.jpg)
Perhaps you're considering buying yourself a gift to reward yourself for seeing through a tough year.
Love your leftovers
![Stephanie Alexander looks forward to leftovers.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/b/6/t/f/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsy1l6.png/1480408175286.jpg)
Join our club. We can call it the Leftovers Lovers League.
The difference between financial winners and losers
![Many miners earn high incomes but spend it all on things like nice cars.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/r/g/c/f/image.related.landscape.120x80.gswglc.png/1479964885677.jpg)
Aussies are great at paying their bills but hopeless at saving voluntarily.
What are the best-value options to replace Presto?
![Netflix's original series The Crown is one show available for download.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/u/z/r/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsuzj2.png/1480545643179.jpg)
There's plenty of choice on the market.
Wardrobe lessons from a reformed shopaholic
![Rachel White is a reformed shopaholic and she uses techniques she learnt from a wardrobe consultant.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/s/s/a/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsssfu.png/1479596954067.jpg)
Shopping addiction is the female equivalent to gambling, a psychologist says.
Home buyers forking out fees to unqualified building inspectors
![Houng Lau bought the fourth property on which she had a building report.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/i/o/m/w/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsom7q.png/1480912591303.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/7/5/e/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gsmxpt.png/1479770651758.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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
![Choose not to go out for breakfast and instead save your money.](/web/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/8/5/u/x/image.related.landscape.120x80.gs7ti7.png/1479826681006.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/k/f/1/image.related.landscape.120x80.grtkcu.png/1480112030358.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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/20161224144306im_/http://www.brisbanetimes.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.