Money Saver HQ

australia currency on graphs, financial planning and expense report background

Confusing power bills put us in the dark

HAVE you ever wondered what those weird figures and words mean on your energy bill? You’re not alone.

Why home internet is about to die

Delighted woman using smartphone and laptop in bed

FIRST there was dial-up, then there was broadband and fixed-line internet. But big changes to data plans are about to change the way we surf the web forever.

Young Aussies’ money saving problems

ALMOST every millennial is saving for something, but many do not know what for, even though their chance of success depends on how goal-oriented they are.

Trump helps Aussie shoppers get discounts

EVENTS overseas are having a flow-on effect to prices for Australian shoppers and investors, but Kochie wonders if this is a good or bad thing.

First-home buyers seek urgent help

ASPIRING first-home buyers are desperately trying to find ways to save a deposit, and the old saying of don’t mix friendship and money isn’t stopping them.

Airfares can be too good to be true

Peter Williams, chief executive officer of Phil Hoffmann travel.

BUYING a cheap flight is much easier than it once was, although many travellers risk having their wings clipped by offers that have a hidden catch.

Quick ways to beat utility bill pain

ENERGY prices continue to soar, but there are some simple tricks Aussie households can employ to get a cheaper deal.

Age a roadblock for pet insurance

PROTECTING pets with insurance is proving popular among households and the number of providers is expanding rapidly.

‘I ditched my car and saved $6k’

SICK of paying big money to keep his car on the road in a capital city, a father of two came up with an alternative that saved him thousands.

How sunshine affects your money

BRIGHT sunshine can have an unusual effect on our financial decisions and the risks we take, new university research has found.

Holiday nightmare after bank mistake

TRAVEL debit cards are marketed as a great, safe way to take spending money overseas, but one bank forgot to read its own brochures.

Should you buy property in super?

WINDS of change are blowing through super but fortunately for real estate lovers, they haven’t slammed the door shut on some good strategies.

Sneaky bank move can sting credit card customers

Beautiful young girl paying by credit card for shopping with a laptop and packages against gray background. Getty IMages.

BANKS are changing the way they offer credit cards, which could lead to big interest bills if customers are not on their game.

Aussie job jumpers all about cash

AUSTRALIANS would switch jobs, even to a role they don’t like, for the right price, new research reveals.

How to get a bit on the side

Artwork for David and Libby Koch column moneysaver HQ August 8, 2017 - on taking a second job. Illustration by Terry Pontikos

THE share or ‘gig’ economy has made it easier to earn a second income stream. Kochie explains what you need to know before getting started.

The supermarket trick to save cash

Sam Lee from Trolley Saver at supermarket

WEEKLY grocery shopping adds up — but there is a way Australian households can save some serious money at our major supermarkets.

The insurance that can make you money

IT’S is a dirty term in the minds of many would-be home buyers in Australia, but research shows it can actually be used to a borrower’s advantage.

Aussies to cut up 1.5 million credit cards

INTEREST rates are at record lows for everything except credit cards. Frustrated shoppers are ready to ditch the plastic once and for all.

Fight fears and ask for more money

Author and social commentator Jamila Rizvi in city

WOMEN are worse than men at asking for a higher salary and it could be costing them thousands of dollars each year.

Money talk is a taboo topic

ALMOST one-third of Australians never talk about money — with anyone — and more than half have given up on a personal dream for financial reasons.

Ninja warrior skills needed for super

Australian Ninja Warrior, Season 1, Episode 1, Jack Morris. Picture: Supplied

YOUNG workers today have plenty of financial obstacles popping up in front of them, and another big one is approaching quickly on the horizon.

How to turn $20 a week into $435,000

Australian 20 dollar note on white background

YOU’RE probably sick of being told to give up a coffee each day to save money, but what if it meant you could turn it into nearly half a million?

Customers slam out of touch banks

GONE are the days of your trusted local bank manager helping you get a home loan. Now, customers feel like numbers as the computer says “no”.

Borrowers rush to lock in rates

02/04/2012 BUSINESS: Old padlock on a wooden door, house, fixed interest rates, mortgage. Pic. Thinkstock Supplied

INTEREST rates are still on hold but not for long, according to nervous borrowers who have pushed fixed rate demand to a three-year high.

The cruel twist in the RBA’s rates

Portrait of a young couple holding a sold signboard. For sale.

BANKS have been booking billions of dollars of profits from out-of-cycle rate rises, and not just from under-fire investors and interest only borrowers.

Aussies hit with ambulance bill shock

AUSSIES who call ambulances looking for a free ride or to skip emergency waiting queues may be paying money for nothing, new research shows.

‘Lazy tax’ reward for loyal customers

LOYAL Australians are being cheated on by their insurers and financial institutions by getting slugged with a “lazy tax” for sticking with their providers.

Investors stung by complacency

INVESTORS who have a ‘set and forget’ approach to the properties they own — causing hassles for tenants — may also be costing themselves money in the long run.

The money mistakes couples make

MORE than half of Australians argue with their partner over who is a spender and a saver in their relationship — but it can be avoided.

Save on health cover

MANY Australians will be taking action and making changes to their private health insurance premiums before next month’s hike to cover costs.

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Money madness $600k error — not in her favour

Chermside resident Rebecca Rosvall is frustrated that large sums of money are being deposited into her bank account. Picture: Darren Cartwight

SEEING an extra $600,000 in your bank account might be cause to celebrate. But it’s brought nothing but stress to a Brisbane woman.

Telco costs Why home internet is about to die

FIRST there was dial-up, then there was broadband and fixed-line internet. But big changes to data plans are about to change the way we surf the web forever.

Fair system ATO warns of ‘nuclear bomb’

Australian currency rolled up on a currency background

CERTAIN deductions are costing Australia $22 billion every year, but according to the ATO, there’s an even bigger “nuclear bomb”.

Debt recovery ‘Monstered by their own government’

CENTRELINK’S threatening letters have ramped up a level, using the AFP logo to chase debts — and Australians are not happy about it.

Medibank nightmare ‘Almost catastrophic’ health bungle

Cameron had his health cover cancelled by Medibank

CAMERON Shekleton was doing his tax when he asked his health insurer Medibank to send him a statement. Their response stunned him.

New money Woolies releases new $2 coins

The three $2 coins with Possum Magic illustrations. Picture: Supplied

AUSTRALIANS are getting three limited edition $2 coins with designs from one of Australia’s most popular children’s books.

Rich kids Rich kids of Canada flaunt their cash

Rich kids flaunt their cash in Toronto, Canada

THESE over-the-top images prove Canadian “rich kids” are just as flashy as their overseas counterparts, flaunting wads of cash, private jets and supercars.

Holiday costs Airfares can be too good to be true

BUYING a cheap flight is much easier than it once was, although many travellers risk having their wings clipped by offers that have a hidden catch.

Utility bills Quick ways to beat utility bill pain

ENERGY prices continue to soar, but there are some simple tricks Aussie households can employ to get a cheaper deal.

Financial sector Commonwealth Bank CEO to quit

Commonwealth Bank CEO Ian Narev listens to a question following an announcement on the bank's full-year results in Sydney on August 9, 2017. Australia's biggest bank, the Commonwealth, posted record annual profits on August 9, as its chief executive faces calls to resign in the wake of allegations the lender breached money laundering and terrorism financing laws. / AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHAN

COMMONWEALTH Bank chief executive Ian Narev will resign in 2018 and take an effective 55 per cent pay cut in his final year.

Cost of protection Age a roadblock for pet insurance

PROTECTING pets with insurance is proving popular among households and the number of providers is expanding rapidly.

Financial research How sunshine affects your money

BRIGHT sunshine can have an unusual effect on our financial decisions and the risks we take, new university research has found.

Special investigation Are you investing with this bank robber?

Fraudster and attempted bank robber Ian Clifford Smith of Cleveland, Queensland. He now works for the Property Club. Picture: MEDIA MODE

YOUR intimate financial details may have fallen into the hands of this man, who defrauded the bank he worked for and tried to rob another with fake dynamite.

Consumer power Proof Aussies are being ripped off

lifestyle suppllied shots showing the Samsung Galaxy S5 , the Samsung Galaxy Gear 2 and the Samsung Galaxy Fit - new devices launched at Mobile World Congress 2014. generic smartphone fitness activity tracker

THE US enjoys unlimited mobile data and can cancel phone, TV or gym contracts without penalty. So why do Aussies get such a raw deal?