Home Loans

Choosing your mortgage provider can sometimes involve as much research as locating your ideal property. After all, you wouldn’t purchase the first property you saw without looking inside, so why would you treat your mortgage this way?

Alex Ritchie -

05 Mar, 2024 -

6 min read

Home Loans

Getting your first home loan doesn’t have to be as intimidating as it sounds. With just a little preparation, you can confidently calculate how much you can afford to borrow, what support you may be able to get, and how to make an application that’s more likely to be approved by the bank.

Mark Bristow -

29 Feb, 2024 -

11 min read

Home Loans

According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), the average home loan amount in Australia for owner-occupier dwellings as of May 2023 is about $584,836, which may seem like a lot. But you must remember that the state and capital city you reside in is an important factor that determines the property values, which in turn influences the average Australian home loan.

Mark Bristow -

17 Jul, 2023 -

2 min read

Credit Score

Shoppers find the buy now, pay later services quite attractive but before you jump in, you should know how these services work and if they impact your credit score.

Vidhu Bajaj -

15 Mar, 2024 -

5 min read

Credit Score

Is there such a thing as 'good debt' and what could it mean for your financial future?

Mark Bristow -

16 Feb, 2024 -

4 min read

Credit Score

The frequency at which your credit score changes will depend on how often a bank, lender or service provider offers this information to credit bureaus, and how often a credit bureau assesses your individual credit history and payment behaviour. 

Eden Radford -

30 Jan, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Insurance

Many apartments are already covered by strata insurance, so you may not need to apply for a traditional home insurance policy to cover damage to the property. However, strata insurance may not always offer the cover you need. If you’re one of the 10% of Australians who live in apartments, it could be worth comparing contents insurance policies and other options.

Mark Bristow -

26 Apr, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Insurance

Whether you're the owner of a luxury watch or a collection of prized timepieces, you may want the peace of mind that comes with knowing you’re covered in the event of loss or damage. Knowing some key facts about watch insurance, and being aware of some important limitations, can help make sure you’re not left high and dry.

Mark Bristow -

20 Feb, 2024 -

3 min read

Home Insurance

Leaving your home unoccupied beyond a certain length of time can have consequences for your home and contents insurance coverage. If you are planning on spending an extended period away from home, or know in advance that your house will be empty, then unoccupied home insurance may be worth considering.

Mark Bristow -

09 Feb, 2024 -

4 min read

Car Loans

If you want to keep your car running smoothly and avoid costly mechanic bills, then choosing the right fuel is important. In Australia, regular unleaded petrol (91), premium unleaded (95 and 98) and E10 are among the most common petrol choices for motorists. If you’ve seen these names on the petrol bowser without fully understanding what they mean, here are the basics to help you make a more informed choice the next time you fill up your car.

Mark Bristow -

20 Feb, 2024 -

5 min read

Car Loans

Whether you're a first-time buyer or looking to upgrade your current vehicle, financing or buying outright, this guide covers everything you need to know about buying a car in Australia.

Peter Terlato -

01 Nov, 2023 -

13 min read

Car Loans

Before you buy a new set of wheels, it helps to explore your financing options and choose the right type of car loan to get the maximum value out of the deal. Unfortunately, there's no formula to decide which car loan is the best for you, but learning more about the available options can help you make an informed choice. 

Vidhu Bajaj -

12 May, 2023 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

Here is everything you need to know about how credit card points can be limited and even removed by your card provider.

Alex Ritchie -

01 Sep, 2023 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

Was your credit card application declined? Here are some reasons why that may have happened and what you can do about it.

Vidhu Bajaj -

22 Aug, 2023 -

7 min read

Credit Cards

Curious about two of the more popular BNPL platforms, Afterpay and Zip Pay? Let's explore their benefits, as well as how they differ from each other.

Vidhu Bajaj -

06 Jul, 2023 -

9 min read

Bank Accounts

If you’ve ever opened more than one bank account in the past, could you have forgotten about some money that you’ve left behind, which is still waiting to be claimed? And if you think you might have, or if you’re not quite sure, how can you go about finding these outstanding accounts and claiming this unclaimed money?

Mark Bristow -

29 Jun, 2023 -

4 min read

Bank Accounts

Not sure what to do with your loose change and spare cash? Most banks will let you deposit change or cash into your bank account by visiting a branch and doing so in person or using a deposit ATM.

Alex Ritchie -

27 Jun, 2023 -

3 min read

Bank Accounts

Transferring funds from your PayPal account to your bank account is generally quick and simple. There are six simple steps to follow to complete a successful withdrawal.

Peter Terlato -

20 Jul, 2023 -

4 min read

Car Insurance

No matter which car insurance policy you buy, you may be able to control the cost of the policy by agreeing to pay a higher excess.

Alex Ritchie -

16 Aug, 2023 -

3 min read

Car Insurance

For Australian seniors, car insurance usually costs more with age, and no insurer offers a specific policy. But they may be able to get some discounts.

Alex Ritchie -

22 Aug, 2023 -

5 min read

Car Insurance

Electric Vehicles (EVs) generally cost more to purchase than their petrol-powered equivalents, and may also often cost more to insure. However, the fuel cost savings may be able to help offset some of these higher expenses.

Mark Bristow -

14 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

bnpl

Thinking about making a pricey purchase but don’t want to splash all your cash at once? Buy now pay later (BNPL) and personal loans are two alternatives to choose from.

Vidhu Bajaj -

13 Jun, 2023 -

6 min read

bnpl

Both Afterpay and LatitudePay are popular buy now, pay later (BNPL) services, but they have different terms and conditions you should learn about before choosing either.

Vidhu Bajaj -

20 Jun, 2023 -

9 min read

Personal Loans

Personal loans are available from retail banks and mutual banks, but also from specialised online-only lenders. Because these lenders often have lower ongoing costs, they may be able to offer more competitive personal loans than their big bank rivals. It’s still essential to compare personal loans before you apply, to make sure you’re making the best choice to suit your needs.

Mark Bristow -

14 Sep, 2023 -

4 min read

Personal Loans

A personal loan is a simple way to borrow money to pay for a major purchase, or to cover the costs of a personal project. When you apply for a personal loan, you may be able to choose between a secured loan and an unsecured loan. A secured personal loan uses an asset, such as a car, as security. In contrast, an unsecured personal loan doesn’t require any collateral or assets to secure it.

Mark Bristow -

02 Nov, 2023 -

4 min read

Savings Accounts

Savings can provide a safety net for individuals and households during periods of financial difficulty or stress. But how much does the average Australian actually have stashed away in their savings account?

Peter Terlato -

15 Nov, 2023 -

3 min read

Energy

Whether your focus is the environment or your budget, you may be thinking of installing solar panels on your roof to generate your own electricity. Household solar can contribute to a better environment by reducing your reliance on fossil fuels, leading to a cleaner grid. It can also help you save money by buying less electricity and selling your excess power back to the grid. 

Mark Bristow -

17 Oct, 2023 -

6 min read

Superannuation

Last month, the ABS released new stats about the retirement intentions of Aussies and the results spoke volumes about the way Australian's perceive superannuation.

Term Deposits

It’s usually possible to withdraw your money from a term deposit early if you need the cash back in your pocket. But doing so may require providing advance notice to the bank, and you may miss out on earning interest on your savings.

Alex Ritchie -

01 Sep, 2023 -

4 min read

Term Deposits

A term deposit falls under the category of a financial asset, specifically a cash and cash equivalent asset. It's a form of investment that you own, and it holds monetary value.

Peter Terlato -

02 Nov, 2023 -

4 min read