![Monique Kinerson with her partner and child, outside the house they bought with cash.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/m/i/7/6/image.related.wideLandscape.940x529.gvk6cb.12uqus.png/1492595133014.jpg)
Money features
![Make sure your offset account isn't really a redraw facility in disguise.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/f/q/l/n/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvogxg.png/1492660671117.jpg)
The fake offset accounts that could make your savings vanish
Money in an offset account may not be protected by the deposit guarantee.
![Leverage magnifies both losses and gains.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/h/k/u/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvppku.png/1492751651408.jpg)
Margin loans are bad for your financial health
Borrowing to invest. The idea is almost as old as investing itself.
![Equal pay](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/p/h/4/8/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvog5x.png/1492656539865.jpg)
Why fixing the pay gap is easy if you try
How can something as seemingly intractable, stubborn, complex and multifaceted as the pay gap be fixed?
![The continued presence of millionaires who escape the Medicare levy while spending more than $1 million each on their ...](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/0/9/d/i/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvnkxh.png/1492670930994.jpg)
Meet the 48 millionaires who pay no income tax
A million dollars' worth of tax advice can cut your tax bill to zero.
![Dividends play a huge role in the returns of shareholders.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/1/e/n/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvm01x.png/1492647856305.jpg)
More to a share investment than just juicy dividends
It's difficult to overstate the importance of dividends for Australian investors.
![Illustration: Simon Bosch](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/n/2/h/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvn0sq.png/1492528404204.jpg)
A universal age pension is a win for younger generations too
Millennials and Baby Boomers are often cast as natural foes fighting in some kind of economic Hunger Games. But what if I told you that economic and social policy doesn't have to be zero-sum?
![A few months ago the smartest people in finance were waxing lyrical on whether the Chinese landing would be "hard" or ...](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/j/a/x/m/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvm0if.png/1492391284698.jpg)
Motley Fool: What China collapse?
What's the greatest threat to the world economy and our economic prosperity?
![Children might be happier with a few signature toys.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/l/9/k/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvl8wu.png/1492529596758.jpg)
The app for reducing the tsunami of kids' stuff
Three out of four Australians believe they are overspending on their kids by hundreds of dollars each month. And then there's the gifts.
![More than 1 million Australians received aged care in their home.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/b/d/f/y/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvk4nr.png/1492124186694.jpg)
The reason for the focus on home care for the elderly
Have you noticed that all the talk about aged care at the moment is focused on home care?
![Illustration: Michael Mucci](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/g/5/g/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvk4su.png/1492505231939.jpg)
The benefits of capital gains tax
Understanding the fine details of capital gains tax can improve investment returns.
![Afterpay, which lets retailers offer consumers a buy-now-pay-later service, was one of the best stocks in the Shares ...](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/y/y/2/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvkp5s.png/1492484495444.jpg)
Reshuffle of the racer ranks in volatile market
The Shares Race is still anyone's game.
![More of us are favouring personal loans over high-fee credit cards.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/7/z/u/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvk7oq.png/1492251175437.jpg)
Personal loan applications surge as credit cards wane
Australians are shunning high-interest credit cards and turning to personal loans for large purchases.
![Peter Cakarnis, 60, has seen the value of his credit card rewards diminish over time.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/j/q/x/8/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvk3e1.png/1492249754472.jpg)
Credit card rewards worthless for all but very high spenders
Anyone with a rewards card should think hard about the value they are getting.
![Save money by shopping your pantry first, and avoiding pre-packaged food.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/k/k/a/m/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvk4q3.png/1492125578845.jpg)
Financial freedom through frugality
How to get rich, happy and save the world.
![A DHA Housing home in Townsville.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/y/a/t/2/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvklx1.png/1492121622239.jpg)
Defence housing offers a defensive yield in low-interest times
The low-interest rate environment is driving rising numbers of private investors to put some of their money into housing for Australian Defence Force members.
![Costco has grabbed a 1 per cent share of the grocery business.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/t/4/x/8/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvk5es.png/1492045420185.jpg)
The real foe for Coles, Woolies
The big box retailer has big ambitions… and runs on the board.
![There are some fund managers with a track record of outperforming the market.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/h/f/m/i/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvd6sa.png/1491953010731.jpg)
Top Australian share funds named
It was not all that long ago that some fund managers had star status with investors.
![Larger super funds tend to outperform smaller funds.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/1/1/9/4/k/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvhfpt.png/1491803831216.jpg)
Most super funds with less than $2b not viable
Size does matter when it comes to super funds.
![It pays to shop around for petrol before the Easter road trip.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/l/c/l/f/j/image.related.landscape.120x80.gviaeu.png/1491904237406.jpg)
Where to fill up the car before Easter road trip
Filling up the car at the right time and place slashes dollars from the long weekend road trip.
![Despite public concerns, Nant kept advertising its scheme of selling barrels of whisky and cattle.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/n/v/b/h/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvhbpp.png/1491866365647.jpg)
Who's to blame when bad investments hit the wall?
Everyone has the right to be stupid and blow their savings – and then to complain bitterly about it afterwards.
![In money management, as in rugby league, practising basic moves can leave you free to think about what makes you exceptional.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/a/3/b/u/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvhe2m.png/1491773480781.jpg)
How to become exceptional
I see many people who tell me how unlucky they are when it comes to their finances.
![There are lots of tricks to help you buy your first home.](/web/20170421233434im_/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/content/dam/images/g/t/u/m/4/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.gvhht5.png/1491863436596.jpg)
My blueprint for buying your first property – safely
My answers to the 'Hey Nicole' questions.