![Akemi, a Melbourne street artist who lives with bipolar disorder, tends to spend excessively and run up debt during his ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/a/4/2/t/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gya3zg.png/1504660873567.jpg)
Planning
![Akemi, a Melbourne street artist who lives with bipolar disorder, tends to spend excessively and run up debt during his ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/a/4/2/t/image.related.wideLandscape.460x259.gya3zg.png/1504660873567.jpg)
'It's sad': After paying the bills every week, Marian has $30 left
![Marian Russell with her two children, Allegra, 2, and Bodie, 1, at Warriewood beach.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/8/c/f/c/image.related.landscape.120x80.gy9mjk.png/1504536291548.jpg)
Nearly one in three Australians is feeling financially stressed, with damaging effects on mental and physical health and social relationships.
'More women living in cars': unequal pay a super problem
![Unequal pay leads to unequal retirement.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/k/v/z/q/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gya3f8.png/1504622959198.jpg)
The fastest growing group of homeless Australians are women over 55.
'Unexpected gaps': Is private health insurance worth it?
![Insurers make a lot of profit from things like dental where only a small amount of the cost is actually covered, Ian ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/z/s/a/g/g/image.related.landscape.120x80.gy7uvq.png/1504536450176.jpg)
Given premiums having risen steadily, it's unsurprising that many consumers are lowering their coverage or opting out altogether.
The real reason retirees keep their big homes
![Big homes with pretty gardens are a great base for retirees to entertain friends and family.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/4/k/w/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.gy4kbp.png/1503836329398.jpg)
Despite efforts to encourage retirees to downsize, they overwhelmingly prefer to continue living in their big houses.
How super contributions can reduce capital gains tax
![Superannuation contributions can be used to reduce your capital gains tax liability.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/q/t/q/6/image.related.landscape.120x80.gy3bm2.png/1504601961931.jpg)
Making tax-deductible superannuation contributions to reduce capital gains tax is now a strategy available to more people.
How the age pension distorts the housing market
![The exemption of the family home from the age pension assets test makes retirees reluctant to downsize.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/3/5/8/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gy33ql.png/1504018905702.jpg)
When the decision was made to exempt the family home from the pension assets test, home ownership levels were higher and housing was more affordable.
Prepare for the risk of losing the breadwinner
![If the main breadwinner dies or is no longer able to work, how would the family survive?](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/y/7/r/8/image.related.landscape.120x80.gxy7q7.png/1503411104394.jpg)
If you follow the news about North Korea you might think we're living under imminent threat of catastrophe, but many Australians have a potential disaster in store closer to home.
How Kathryn started a Thermomix business without breaking the bank
![Kathryn Carmont founded Thermohub five months ago using a mortgage redraw as start-up capital.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/u/8/h/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gxt4xz.png/1503107849468.jpg)
Getting a business off the ground isn't just about finding start-up money. Behind the scenes you've got to be able to live and ensure your personal finances don't go backwards.
The two things most parents get wrong about childcare costs
![Childcare starts to look less expensive when you consider all the financial factors.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/y/3/6/q/v/image.related.landscape.120x80.gxm3l6.png/1503546145112.jpg)
Does it really make more financial sense for one partner to stay home?
The alternative to selling your home to fund aged care
![There are ways to tap into housing wealth for aged care, besides selling the property. Illustration: Andrew Dyson](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/8/7/u/5/image.related.landscape.120x80.gxanu7.png/1500386587826.jpg)
Selling your home to fund aged care might be the right decision, but sometimes borrowing against the home is necessary, or even a better choice.
You don't need to be affluent to retire
![It’s time to debunk the myth of zero housing costs in retirement if we want to understand why retirees resist downsizing.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/7/6/h/m/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx76ax.png/1501498643591.jpg)
You probably don't need as much money in retirement as you've been told.
Avoid these mistakes to 'retire right'
![Retiring from work doesn't mean retiring from life.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/x/6/4/3/z/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx60jc.png/1499377253385.jpg)
The way to a happy life is to have "someone to love, something to do and something to look forward to".
Five steps to avoid an aged care fiasco
![Get a clear idea of your family finances before anyone moves into care.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/m/d/5/o/image.related.landscape.120x80.gx5sev.png/1503368969081.jpg)
We all need a plan to help prepare for old age.
Busting the $1 million retirement myth
![Most Australians don't have anywhere near $1 million saved for retirement.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/u/2/8/o/h/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwzo7q.png/1498616721497.jpg)
Most Australian workers have nothing like $1 million in super, yet still report being satisfied and fulfilled in retirement.
How to make retirement savings last longer than you do
![Colin Campbell is reluctant to take on more risk.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/y/i/t/q/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwx2rk.png/1499187616645.jpg)
Well-diversified portfolios have a split of 70 per cent in "growth" investments and 30 per cent in income-producing "defensive" investments.
How to figure out compound growth in your head
![The Rule of 72 makes complex calculations easier to do in your head – without an abacus or calculator.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/w/9/t/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gww8l6.png/1498231038185.jpg)
You don't have to be a mathematician to use the Rule of 72. It's simple, but once you understand how to use it, you'll wonder how you got by without it.
We know less about money than we think
![Fraud against Australians using credit cards overseas has risen dramatically.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/r/0/o/d/k/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwqt1y.png/1498010373518.jpg)
Many people misunderstand key concepts in banking, but few recognise the limits of their knowledge, a new survey suggests.
Think all you need to retire is money? Think again
![Consider a transition into retirement before you sign up for 30 years of relaxation.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/4/v/q/6/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwtwbj.png/1498141106049.jpg)
It's possible your retirement fantasies involve beaches, drinks with tiny umbrellas and – ahh – spare time.
Money can buy happiness if you spend it on these three things
![Commuting makes you miserable.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/m/0/e/p/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwsxts.png/1497937687179.jpg)
How would you spend $20 for the biggest payoff in happiness? What did you actually spend your last $20 on?
Life change: Meet the Australians reinventing retirement
![Jeff and Judi Parry have downsized to a smaller apartment in a retirement village in Carlton. Photo: PENNY STEPHENS. The ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/s/j/d/6/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwsbht.png/1498141139165.jpg)
We talk to the downsizers, the sea-changers and the retirees who moved overseas.
Unlucky seniors in the pension card trap
![Illustration: Simon Letch](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/9/3/1/l/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwrmke.png/1497947434469.jpg)
Former pensioners lose thousands because they earned hundreds.
The side hustle: Five ways to monetise your skills outside of a nine-to-five
![If you love to knit, you could have a side hustle selling cute beanies.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/r/z/b/9/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwryfa.png/1497937437936.jpg)
The side hustle has exploded among Australian millennials and thanks to the internet there's more opportunity than ever to turn a skill or passion into a tidy income outside your nine-to-five.
Slower growth is good news for first-home buyers
![Owner-occupiers only realise the value of their home if they sell.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/8/5/v/b/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwng61.png/1497192081544.jpg)
There's a lot of the talk at the moment about the idea of a housing bubble that's set to burst.
How the funeral industry preys on grieving families
![The funeral industry uses bundle deals, which makes it hard to compare pricing.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/j/a/e/s/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwj9c1.png/1502849931742.jpg)
Death may be one of the great certainties of life, but there's nothing compulsory about a funeral.
Being rich makes you smarter
![Harvard researchers found the "cognitive deficit" caused by money worries can translate into a drop of as many as 10 IQ ...](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/h/5/o/s/a/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwi1q5.png/1496368351977.jpg)
Here are some ideas to relieve money worries and increase the quality of your financial decisions, and as a result, your general intelligence.
Downsizing provisions are a mixed bag
![The downsizing provisions will help some retirees, but the impact on the age pension is an issue.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/v/g/e/8/e/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwdpu2.png/1495765180205.jpg)
While far from ideal, the budget initiative to allow older Australians to deposit up to $300,000 each in superannuation when they downsize their home is welcome.
'My ex-boyfriend left me broke'
![A psychologist helped the writer understand that her partner's behaviour was financial abuse.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/a/o/3/1/image.related.landscape.120x80.gw7t65.png/1496136548150.jpg)
By the time I left him, my boyfriend had taken nearly all my money.
What Aussies get wrong about money (and schools don't help)
![Nicole Pedersen-McKinnon presenting to high school students.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/6/d/u/b/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwa4hm.png/1495552538095.jpg)
More than 27,000 readers jumped online and completed the basic money smarts test shared last week.
'What having my laptop stolen in Paris taught me about the housing crisis'
![Paris is full of delights, but it's hard to enjoy when your laptop is stolen.](http://web.archive.org./web/20170906033108im_/https://www.fairfaxstatic.com.au/content/dam/images/g/w/a/4/j/0/image.related.landscape.120x80.gwa41e.png/1495421676294.jpg)
Ultimately all my swearing and carrying on isn't going to change anything.