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

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

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

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

Home Loans

Early repayment fees may be a thing of the past for variable rate home loan customers, but that doesn’t mean your lender still can’t sting you with other ongoing costs. It's crucial to be aware of the terms and conditions, as well as any ongoing fees, associated with your home loan. 

Alex Ritchie -

16 Aug, 2023 -

4 min read

Home Loans

The Reserve Bank of Australia has hiked the cash rate again, so what can homeowners do right now to help give their budget some breathing room and better afford higher mortgage repayments?

Alex Ritchie -

09 Nov, 2023 -

4 min read

Personal Loans

Your personal loan repayments will drop with a new, lower interest rate. However, you will typically need to negotiate or refinance for a lower interest rate, as a personal loan rate may not fluctuate with the RBA's cash rate. 

Alex Ritchie -

18 Sep, 2023 -

5 min read

Personal Loans

It is possible to refinance a personal loan, provided you can afford the repayments. Refinancing a personal loan is a lot like initially applying for a personal loan, with a few key differences.

Mark Bristow -

23 Nov, 2023 -

3 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

Credit Cards

Racking up a large sum of debt on your credit card is easily done but paying it off with the minimum repayments is not.

Vidhu Bajaj -

20 Jul, 2023 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

In Australia, applying for a credit card always involves a mandatory credit check. This is an essential part of testing your ability to responsibly service your repayments and is done in your best interest.

Vidhu Bajaj -

19 Jul, 2023 -

9 min read

Credit Cards

Learn how to make a successful credit card balance transfer to save on interest and streamline debt repayment effectively.

Vidhu Bajaj -

24 Nov, 2023 -

7 min read

bnpl

Zip Money, one of two Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services offered by Zip Co, can be used for purchases over $1,000. Check the repayment conditions.

Vidhu Bajaj -

06 Jul, 2023 -

5 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

Beforepay is an app that allows salaried employees to borrow money and repay it from their next four pay cycles. Some may consider it to be a salary advance but it’s ultimately a loan that you’ll need to repay.

Vidhu Bajaj -

05 Jul, 2023 -

8 min read

Car Loans

A car loan may positively or negatively affect your mortgage application. Successfully managing your car loan repayments could help improve your credit score, which may make a better impression on mortgage lenders. But if your car loan would push your debt-to-income ratio too high, a lender may be less likely to approve your mortgage application.

Mark Bristow -

07 Nov, 2023 -

7 min read

Car Loans

There may come a time when even the most cautious of borrowers experience an unavoidable blow to their finances, making it difficult to meet their previously manageable repayments.

Georgia Brown -

25 Sep, 2020 -

4 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

Superannuation

It is possible to use the money in your superannuation fund to help cover the cost of your mortgage in certain circumstances, such as if you’re retiring or are in financial hardship. However, accessing your super fund early can make a big difference to your retirement lifestyle. 

Mark Bristow -

21 Jul, 2023 -

4 min read