Warning about new 'buy now, pay later' system in festive frenzy
There are four frantic days until Christmas and it's possible you're panicking.
Why so few of us fix interest rates at the right time
In the past month or so, the window to lock in ultra-cheap mortgage interest rates for the next few years may well have closed, as more banks have jacked up fixed rates.
Our early Christmas present: refinancing our home loan
Knocking a few basis points off your mortgage rate can save you tens of thousands of dollars over the life of the loan.
The best way to borrow money and pay off debt
Here is how one woman smashed her debt and became a home owner.
Is this as low as interest rates go?
Changes in an obscure corner of the financial markets that could ultimately have implications for millions of households.
Three dumb ways you could double your Christmas spend
Think ahead for Christmas and limit how much you spend.
How banks cash in with parallel deals
How consumer finance companies cash in with parallel deals.
Millions at risk of default in next 12 months but don't know it
A leading credit agency says almost 3 million Australians are at risk of credit default or other adverse credit event in the next 12 months.
How I paid off my home by 36
​Money Columnist Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon confides the way she worked the system, leveraged lucky breaks and, yes, economised to get debt-free in seven years.
Mortgage pre-approval is a smart move but avoid these traps
Pre-approval can be your best friend, or your worst enemy.
Low rates are a chance for mortgagors to get ahead
Many economists think we're in for another interest rate cut by the Reserve Bank in 2017.
The 'bank of mum and dad' has risks too
Buying a home has become so tough for many young people in the past few years that more and more are relying on the "bank of mum and dad".
NAB credit card customers risk bad credit record
NAB credit card customers who do not update their direct debit arrangements when they are issued their new Visa credit card risk damaging their credit records.
Nicole helps… beat a $20,000 credit card debt
How to avoid bankruptcy with smart credit repair and a good 0 per cent balance transfer credit card.
More parents helping children onto property ladder
Sarah Hopkins and her husband did not have to think too long before agreeing to go guarantor for their son’s mortgage.
Nicole helps ... with a mortgage masterclass
Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon has a new column tackling consumer finance issues.
Beware the $61,282 remortgage mistake everyone makes
Money educator Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon tackles readers' consumer finance problems in a new column.
Be a power user of credit card rewards programs
Anthony Bianco maximises the rewards points for his credit card but diligently pays off the balance every month.
How to choose your first credit card
Choosing your first credit card is equal parts daunting and exciting.
Why using a mortgage broker gives borrowers more power
At a time when the finance industry has become too complex for most Australians, there is also a low awareness of what finance or mortgage brokers do, and how they can help the borrower.
Forget unstable super, attack your mortgage while it's dirt cheap
Superannuation offers tax advantages but it can't beat the security of a fully paid off home and the time to tackle the debt mountain is while rates are cheap.
The push to reward good borrowers with cheaper loans
Should you be rewarded for always paying your bills and loans on time with lower interest rates on loans?
Big-bank mortgage holders can easily do better
Why big-bank customers should pick up the phone and ask for a bigger interest-rate cut.
The cheaper debt product Aussies forgot. Hint: it's not plastic
We're in love with credit cards, but that costs us more than it needs to.
Why the best home loan may not be the cheapest
Many homeowners are shopping around for a cheaper mortgage but features such as offset accounts are worth holding on to.
Should you move or renovate?
As a person who has both moved and renovated, let me assure you that both create major disruptions in your lifestyle.
Mortgages for older Australians
Young first-home buyers have been big news lately, but people in their 50s or 60s also face trouble getting into the property market.
Odds of a rate cut on Tuesday?
Most - but not all - economists expect the Reserve Bank to keep interest rates on hold despite Britain's referendum to leave the European Union.
How to repair a broken credit record
Now is a good time to get financial priorities right.
Cheap debt drives refinancing boom
The rush to refinance is on but don't fall prey to common mistakes.