Credit Cards

Household credit card debt rose by more than a quarter of a billion dollars in the month of January as shoppers struggled to clear their debts following a bumper spendathon in November.

Eden Radford -

07 Mar, 2024 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

Navigating a tough financial situation can be tricky - so to help provide some guidance, RateCity spoke to Joanne Edwards, Chief Operating Officer of Wisr, a neo-lender and fintech that is focused on improving the financial wellness of all Australians and helping them make smart decisions.

Eden Radford -

24 Apr, 2024 -

6 min read

Credit Cards

Having credit card debt may not be out of the ordinary, but if you’re struggling to pay that debt off, it’s worth taking a moment to figure out a game plan, and fast.

Eden Radford -

11 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Home Loans

For anyone looking to secure a home loan, the stage 3 tax cuts - and the subsequent increase to your take home pay - could mean your borrowing capacity, gets a bump too.

Eden Radford -

22 Apr, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Bendigo Bank has just announced their digital home loan, BEN Express, now offers pre-approvals. The feature, which was delivered in partnership with Tiimely, could see some house hunters receive pre-approval within minutes.

Eden Radford -

25 Mar, 2024 -

3 min read

Home Loans

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) kept the national cash rate on hold at its March 2024 meeting. The number of cashbacks available to refinancers and first home buyers to compare also remained relatively steady this month.

Mark Bristow -

20 Mar, 2024 -

5 min read

Credit Score

Having bad credit may make applying for loans and credit cards feel impossible. But it is possible to recover from a bad credit score, though the length of time it will take may vary. Checking your credit report is often a good start, as is demonstrating your financial responsibility.

Mark Bristow -

28 Feb, 2024 -

4 min read

Credit Score

In Australia, only a very specific list of businesses and lenders can access your credit report - and they must only do so for specific reasons.

Eden Radford -

15 Mar, 2024 -

2 min read

Credit Score

While it’s not that common, it is possible for your credit report to contain mistakes. If you think there’s a mistake on your credit report, there are steps you can take to make sure it is corrected.

Eden Radford -

12 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Personal Loans

If you’re aiming to clear your debts in the short-to-medium term, it might be worth considering consolidating your debts into one personal loan.

Alison Cheung -

27 Jul, 2020 -

2 min read

Savings Accounts

While Australians traditionally go all-out splurging on gifts for Mum each Mother’s Day, this year we’ve had to tighten our belts, according to data from one of Australia’s Buy Now Pay Later (BNPL) providers.

Mark Bristow -

16 May, 2023 -

3 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

Being mindful of your financial habits can make a big difference to how easy or hard it is to keep your credit score at the top end of the band. Here are four of the top ways to maintain or grow a good credit score:

Mark Bristow -

15 Feb, 2024 -

4 min read

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

When applying for a home loan, all your current debts are taken into consideration. So, what’s the impact of your Afterpay account on your home loan application?

Vidhu Bajaj -

19 Jul, 2023 -

6 min read

Home Loans

Some lenders allow you to make extra repayments on top of your minimum home loan repayments, and a redraw facility allows you to access these funds when you need them for other purposes.

Vidhu Bajaj -

23 May, 2023 -

3 min read

Credit Cards

If you’re wondering which of your debts to pay off first, there are two popular schools of thought: pay the debt with the highest interest rate first or pay the smallest debt first.

Alex Ritchie -

08 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

It may be worthwhile paying off your credit card debt before buying a house, as this may make your mortgage application look better to a lender, and potentially improve your credit score.

Alex Ritchie -

12 Jul, 2023 -

5 min read

Credit Cards

A balance transfer is the process of transferring the debt from one credit card onto a new credit card.

Vidhu Bajaj -

14 Jul, 2023 -

6 min read

Personal Loans

Choosing between a personal loan and a credit card can be a tough financial decision. Let’s explore whether a credit card or a personal loan may be better for your specific financial goals. 

Alex Ritchie -

13 Dec, 2023 -

4 min read

Personal Loans

Many banks won’t allow borrowers to use a personal loan to pay tax debts. However, it may be possible to get a loan to help cover your other expenses while you concentrate on repaying what you owe to the Australian Taxation Office (ATO).

Mark Bristow -

21 Dec, 2023 -

3 min read

Personal Loans

Debt detox - How to clear your debt. Shake your spending habit with the following guidelines: Consolidate your debt with a personal loan, make a debt diary, check in to debt rehab, eradicate binge buying.

Laine Gordon -

17 Jan, 2008 -

3 min read

Car Loans

You can obtain a legal report, providing essential information, indicating whether the vehicle is stolen, declared as a write-off, or has any outstanding finance owing, among other details.

Peter Terlato -

20 Oct, 2023 -

5 min read

bnpl

Bundll is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) service that lets you shop for up to $1,000 at any retailer (whether online or in-store) that accepts Mastercard. However, unlike other BNPL services, bundll is designed to pay for your everyday purchases by clubbing your weekly spends into a single bundll that can be paid off in 14 days, without any interest.

Jodie Humphries -

29 Jun, 2023 -

6 min read

bnpl

Zip Co, which offers Zip Money, and Afterpay are two of the more popular Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) service providers but their fees, lending criteria, and repayment terms vary.

Vidhu Bajaj -

19 Jul, 2023 -

5 min read

bnpl

Deferit is a buy now, pay later (BNPL) platform with a difference. Instead of facilitating retail purchases, it pays your bills on time while allowing you to pay them off in four equal fortnightly instalments without any interest. The service is available for a monthly subscription fee for months when there is an active bill.

Vidhu Bajaj -

03 Jul, 2023 -

6 min read

Infographic

Are you a reckless spender or do you always pay your debts?

Savings Accounts

RateCity spoke to EC Credit Control debt collector, Chris Loveridge, about his experience chasing consumer and commercial debt, and what he wishes more people knew about his industry.

Alex Ritchie -

18 Sep, 2017 -

5 min read

Bank Accounts

If you find yourself struggling with an outstanding debt, at some stage you could be contacted by a debt collector. In this situation, remember that both debtors and debt collectors have rights and obligations. For example, a debt collector cannot take money directly from your bank account or salary without a court order.

Mark Bristow -

06 Dec, 2022 -

2 min read

Personal Loans

Looking to consolidate your debts? Compare some of the best personal loan rates for debt consolidation from a range of Aussie lenders to find one that's right for you.

Georgia Brown -

20 Dec, 2016 -

13 min read