RateCity
Where are the credit card rate cuts?
Credit card rates rarely make the headlines; a look at the figures shows just how little they’ve changed.
Most Australians get no value from credit card rewards
From merchandise and cash, to frequent flyer points and ‘exclusive offers’, the rewards just for swiping the credit card are extensive. But, are they worth it?
Only one in five aware of cyber security breach
Only one-in-five organisations are aware they have experienced a “cyber incident” in the past 12 months.
Credit cardholders could be paying 2013 debts in 2037
RateCity found it would take 24 years and five months to repay the average credit card bill of $3282 if making only the minimum repayment each month.
The $842 million credit card rort
RateCity research shows that the average credit card interest rate is now 17.21 percent – almost six times the RBA’s official cash rate.
The percentage of Aussies planning to take on debt in the next couple of months is at three-year lows, according to a Dun & Bradstreet Survey.
More stars file for bankruptcy
What do Mike Tyson and Dennis Rodman have in common? How about Perez Hilton and Donald Trump? Despite their fame a fortune these A-list celebrities have all graced the ‘B’ list at one point in their lives, famously filing for bankruptcy.
How to protect against financial scams
We’re among the world’s keenest online shoppers, but Australians are still losing millions of dollars every year to dodgy online sellers and scammers.
Expert tips to trim your credit card bills
Australians owe about $50 billion on credit cards so it’s little surprise that many users are being hit with hefty interest charges.
Debt linked to depression, study shows
Credit reporting and debt collection agency Dun and Bradstreet says the worst thing anyone suffering a debt hangover can do is ignore the problem.
Starting a family is an emotional milestone many young couples dream of. Most of us know what to expect when we embark on this life-changing journey – happiness, fulfillment, sleepless nights and crying babies. But little, if anything, is said about the challenges of transitioning from two incomes to one.
Australians are expected to spend about $8.5 billion on Christmas presents this festive season, and almost a third have admitted feeling pressured to spend more than they can afford, research shows.
You can buy a pair of jeans, a designer watch, and even a flat-screen TV on lay-by. In fact, there are not many large purchases you can't put on a payment plan these days.
Be careful with your credit card this Christmas
Using the wrong credit card to shop online and overseas is set to cost Australians an estimated $200 million this year, reports suggest.
Fraudsters target victims using social media
Social media users are inadvertently giving fraudsters all the information they need to steal their identities and take credit out in their names, new research has revealed.
Survive Christmas without going into debt
If you want to avoid the Christmas credit hangover, you've got two months to save up for your expenses. If you can put aside $50 per week, your 2012 holiday budget is $400.
Why it's time to leave mum and dad's pad
A few years ago, people were talking about an "empty nest syndrome", as middle-aged parents were left in big houses they'd bought to accommodate themselves and their kids. But now those houses are filling up again.
Could a smartphone replace your wallet?
If you believe the pundits, your mobile phone will soon become an electronic wallet, as we take the next step towards a cashless society.
Online shopping just got easier for fraudsters
Shoppers are expected to spend $16 billion online this year, despite more than one million incidences of credit card fraud reported in Australia last year.
Using the wrong card overseas could cost you
Australia is renowned as a nation of travellers; more than 600,000 people a month have hopped on a plane or boat so far this year. But while we undoubtedly love exploring other countries, a downside to overseas travel can be the unexpected costs, particularly in the form of credit card fees.
How long would you survive out of work?
Two thirds of Australians are concerned about their current financial situation and one in three would be unable to survive for up to one month without a steady income, research suggests.
If you believe the pundits, mobile phones and cards could make all those notes in your wallet obsolete within a few years.
Australians are spending less on fine dining and more time eating at home, cooking at least five nights a week, research suggests.
Five great freebies for the family
We all feel like we're winning if we land a free airfare or a bit of merchandise in return for swiping our credit cards. But recent Reserve Bank research reveals that you have to spend an average $18,400 on your credit card to get a $100 shopping voucher from your credit card rewards program.
Millions struggle to repay debt, yet seek more
More than 2.7 million Australians are struggling to pay their current credit commitments, research suggests. Despite this, 25 percent also admitted they would seek to overcome difficulty by increasing their credit card limit, mortgage or loan.
