Money Saver HQ

How to beat the back-to-school spend

SCHOOL costs are through the roof these days, but there are some measures savvy parents can take to ease the pain to the hip pocket.

Five credit card traps to avoid

MANY Aussies enter the New Year buried in credit card debt. But before the situation escalates, there are five plastic traps that could be catching you out.

How to ace your finances in 2017

THE aggressive baseliner. The serve and volleyer. A new guide that likens the spending habits of Aussies to tennis styles has some surprising insights.

How to get a better broadband deal

AS we continue to gobble up masses of data at home each month, Aussie telcos are battling it out to offer more competitive deals we often miss.

How to live like rich people

MONEY can’t buy you happiness, but it can certainly improve your way of life. David Koch explains how wealthy people get rich.

Free beer, but there’s a catch

THE phrase “free beer” sounds too good to be true. But in this case, the company is prepared to give customers their money back under one condition.

The hidden ways to save money

YOU don’t have to give up your morning coffee if you want to save money. There are other ways you can save without sacrificing the little luxuries.

Divorce more costly the later it hits

ONE in three marriages end in divorce, and the financial outcomes can be bad for both parties. Here’s how to avoid making a bad situation worse.

Grab your gift cards and buy now

GIFT cards were a popular Christmas present last month, and anyone yet to use theirs is being urged to think about spending up soon.

Simple tricks to save a packet

COULD you do with an extra $1000, $5000 or even $10,000 without making overly drastic changes this year? Here’s some simple steps to fine tune your finances in 2017.

How millennials would spend $100k

MILLENNIALS are often accused of being frivolous as they scoff down smashed avocado. But a recent study revealed young Aussies have matured financially.

Turning your finances around in 2017

AUSSIES don’t need to be tight with their money, they need to be smarter, experts say. Taking control of your spending might not be as hard as you think.

Rush to wipe Christmas card debt

CARDHOLDERS looking to wipe post-Christmas debts at a fast pace will be rushing to sign up to balance-transfer interest free deals in the coming months.

Kochie’s 2017 financial predictions

ARE we headed for financial disaster or prosperity? David and Libby Koch take a look at the year ahead in finance — a moment of ‘truth and dare’.

Should super be used to buy property?

BREAKING into superannuation savings early is the answer for many younger Australians hoping to make the home ownership dream come true, new findings have revealed.

How the face of fitness is changing

GYM memberships have deterred many from getting fit in the new year, but competition and more free facilities are changing how we exercise.

Aussies to send $3bn overseas in 2017

ROUGHLY 10 per cent of Australians send money overseas every year — and it adds up to $3.1bn. So which countries will recieve the lion’s share?

‘Debt lag’ leaves Aussies financially sluggish

AUSSIES are up to $7.5 billion in the red, thanks to holiday credit card debt, which could mean big trouble for those unable to pay off the plastic in the short term.

Avoid doubling up on insurance

BUYING insurance for that rental car? You may not need it. Consumers are being warned not to fork out for policies for which they are already covered.

Aussies choose holidays over homes

THE Christmas break will not be enough for holiday hungry Australians, with travel plans trumping home ownership as a chief financial goal for many of us.

Kochie’s top Christmas savings tips

DAVID Koch shares 12 expert tips with Aussies on how to avoid fiscal follies and get off to a flying start in the New Year.

Big change coming to Boxing Day sales

SHOPPING centres can resemble a war zone on Boxing Day as bargain hunters collide, but record numbers are expected to score deals from home this year.

Card limits hit hard at Christmas

INCREASING your credit limit or signing up for new plastic are tempting at this time of year — but experts warn shoppers to think twice before doing either.

Why it’s time to lock home loan rates

FLUCTUATIONS in both the fixed and variable home loan markets have prompted a spike in borrowers looking to lock in their interest rate.

Charities call for help as donations plunge

IT’S the season of giving, and a growing number of charities are seeking your help after a year in which donations to the needy fell.

Millennials supercharged for future

YOUNG Australians are rushing to take charge of their superannuation funds, with new, user friendly platforms seeing membership numbers double in just one year.

Get the longest interest-free card

A MAJORITY of credit cards have an interest-free period but they can vary far and wide which means consumers can get stung hard if they don’t pay attention.

When life insurers don’t pay up

LIFE insurance is vital for protecting a family’s finances, but if you are not careful, your insurers may not pay. Here are the reasons why.

Gift overload makes us present tense

AUSTRALIAN kids are bored because they get given too many Christmas presents and, according to one expert, grandparents may be to blame.

The most expensive Christmas items

A MAJORITY of Australians admit they have a problem with overspending, particularly at Christmas. But these are the things we burn the most cash on.

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Money matters Kids miss out on dollars and sense

ALMOST one quarter of Aussie children don’t have savings accounts, robbing them of a chance to learn valuable financial lessons at an early age.

‘A little wonky’ Keen for a quick sale: South Rd bridge goes on eBay

AS motorists faced another day of traffic delays caused by the defective South Rd overpass, a South Australian business owner has finally had enough and is trying to “sell” the bridge on eBay.

Petrol pain Why petrol is so expensive right now

IF YOU’RE planning on filling up this week, you may be in for a shock. Petrol prices are at their highest point in 18 months.

Email offer Coles warns $500 gift card comp is a scam

SCAMMERS are circulating a bogus $500 Coles gift card competition email, with shoppers urged to ignore the sham message amid fears their personal details will be compromised.

Trump inauguration ‘Nobody wants them’: Trump scalper

THIS guy spent $937 on tickets to Donald Trump’s inauguration, with the hope of making a profit. Then reality set in.

Bold move Free beer, but there’s a catch

THE phrase “free beer” sounds too good to be true. But in this case, the company is prepared to give customers their money back under one condition.

Permanent mark Bogus debt you’re stuck with forever

CENTRELINK told a man it can’t remove an inaccurate debt from his account, as the Government insists the system is not flawed.

Money advice Divorce more costly the later it hits

ONE in three marriages end in divorce, and the financial outcomes can be bad for both parties. Here’s how to avoid making a bad situation worse.

Pet bureaucracy Woman fined $311 for late pet registration

A PET owner says she would rather go to jail than pay a “ludicrous” $311 fine for late pet registration issued by her local council.

Rating dip Centrelink hits Turnbull in polls

THE Government’s popularity has taken a dive after the scandals over Centrelink’s debt recovery system and MPs’ entitlements.

Consumer campaign Households save $600 on insurance

A CAMPAIGN built on the combined buying might of tens of thousands of consumers has delivered savings of as much as $600 a year to families.

Money Man’s genius, epic revenge

‘IF THEY were going to inconvenience me then I was going to inconvenience them,’ said Nick Stafford.

Tracing technology The taxman is coming for sneaky Aussies

ENTERPRISING Aussies making money on the side from Uber, Airbnb, eBay and other sharing economy services could find themselves in hot water at tax time.

Currency crisis This pile of cash is worth just $21

IT LOOKS like enough cash to bankroll a high-flying lifestyle, but this stack of currency is worth a measly $21.