Bank Accounts

Do you know that lipstick sales are considered a way to know if we’re in a recession? It’s called the lipstick effect, or the lipstick index, and it’s regarded by some as a helpful way to understand how consumers are responding to an economic downturn.

Eden Radford -

25 Mar, 2024 -

4 min read

Home Loans

Whether you’re buying a property or refinancing a mortgage, if you want to get a better interest rate, you may need to actively go hunting rather than waiting for a deal to fall into your lap. Comparing some of the top-rated home loans on RateCity’s database can help make your search a little simpler, as you can see which loans are offering more value and may better suit your needs.

Mark Bristow -

19 Mar, 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

While interest rates are important, Australia’s borrowers, first home buyers, investors and refinancers may also want to compare more than just rates when looking at home loans. When comparing home loan features and benefits, it’s important to consider which of these extras may offer you the most value in your financial situation, and help you to achieve your personal goals.

Mark Bristow -

10 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Savings Accounts

New data has revealed some of the spending and saving strategies that Australians are using to help manage cost of living pressures. But how could the way you manage these savings affect your household budget and financial goals?

Mark Bristow -

12 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Savings Accounts

How long will you be able to make the most of the interest on your savings account? With economists forecasting interest rate cuts later in the year, the days of making maximum interest returns on your wealth may be numbered. There are a few different savings strategies you could consider, which could better suit some household budgets than others.

Mark Bristow -

10 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Savings Accounts

The interest rate on your savings account can sometimes make the difference between you having a savings goal, and you achieving it.

Eden Radford -

28 Feb, 2024 -

3 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

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

Australians lost over $55 million to scams in the first two months of 2024 alone, according to data from ACCC ScamWatch, with investment scams accounting for the overwhelming majority of the money lost by victims.

Eden Radford -

13 Apr, 2024 -

5 min read

Personal Loans

Australians are reportedly moving away from personal loans, in a partial reversal of an earlier uptick in lending activity earlier in the year. While new data shows a decline in personal lending overall, there are still competitive personal loans available for borrowers who know where to look.

Mark Bristow -

09 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Personal Loans

With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, it’s the time of year when a lot of money gets spent on everything from grand romantic gestures to elaborate weddings. While a personal loan could offer the financial support you need to splurge on your loved ones when the cost of living is high, it’s important to consider your budget and your credit score, and to carefully compare personal loan options before you apply.

Mark Bristow -

08 Feb, 2024 -

3 min read

Car Loans

In every month of 2024 so far, Australians have broken a record for the number of vehicle purchases. A general swing towards electric vehicles (EVs) and other greener vehicles has also been recorded, with fuel-efficient technologies becoming more and more popular.

Mark Bristow -

09 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Records were made to be broken, at least when it comes to Australians buying cars. As car purchasing accelerates, it’s important for buyers to carefully consider their finance options before committing.

Mark Bristow -

13 Mar, 2024 -

3 min read

Car Loans

Australians bought record numbers of new vehicles in January 2024, with most being SUVs and Light Commercial vehicles. However, with new emissions standards potentially on the cards, how could this affect your choice of vehicle, and in turn your choice of car loan?

Mark Bristow -

07 Feb, 2024 -

3 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

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

With increased awareness of the threat of cyberattacks, it’s easy to feel concerned about the safety of your personal information. Criminals with access to your details could steal your identity, fraudulently run up debts in your name, and ruin your credit score, making accessing money and credit in the future much harder.

Mark Bristow -

21 Oct, 2023 -

5 min read

Term Deposits

When working out where to invest or deposit your money, should a term deposit get a look-in? While term deposit returns may not be the highest of all investment options, their relative reliability and security could make them worth considering.

Mark Bristow -

12 Apr, 2024 -

3 min read

Term Deposits

Has your term deposit been effectively losing you money in the past? With Australia’s inflation falling faster than expected, it may be getting easier to find term deposits that can keep your money from going backwards. But it’s important to compare the available options and choose a term deposit that will suit your needs and help you reach your savings goals.

Mark Bristow -

12 Feb, 2024 -

3 min read

Home Insurance

It may surprise no-one to learn that Australia’s cost of living has increased over the past quarter. However, it was higher insurance premiums across house, home contents and motor vehicles that contributed to some of the largest price rises. Which could mean now is as good a time as ever, to be looking carefully at your current policies and comparing some alternatives to see if you could be getting better deals.

Mark Bristow -

08 Feb, 2024 -

3 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

By making your home more energy efficient, save on energy bills while also doing your part to protect the environment.

Vidhu Bajaj -

07 Nov, 2023 -

5 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

Renting out a room in your home can be beneficial in a number of ways - it can help you earn extra income to put towards household bills or mortgage payments, and it can even be a way to make use of a space that’s sitting dormant. That said, if you are considering becoming a landlord, even on a small scale, then it’s important to understand the legal requirements and the workings of the rental market, as well as how renting out a room could potentially affect your home and contents insurance. 

Mark Bristow -

09 Feb, 2024 -

5 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

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

Credit Score

Australian credit reporting bureau Equifax has credit score system that could mean your credit behaviours are better reflected.

Eden Radford -

28 Jan, 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

Read three common reasons why car loans are generally rejected and what you can do to increase your chances of approval next time.

Vidhu Bajaj -

04 Oct, 2023 -

10 min read

Credit Cards

There are numerous ways Velocity frequent flyer members can earn Velocity Points. Find out how you can maximise your earning potential when spending and accruing points.

Peter Terlato -

08 May, 2023 -

6 min read

Energy

Whether you’re trying to be more environmentally conscious, or are sick of paying through the teeth for your utilities, Australian homeowners are increasingly seeking ways to trim down their electricity and gas expenses.  

Alex Ritchie -

17 Nov, 2023 -

4 min read

Car Loans

To find the most suitable car loan for your new Great Wall Motor vehicle, compare a wide variety of financing options for a GWM car loan on a database of over 90 lenders starting from 4.99%.

Alex Ritchie -

21 Jun, 2023 -

6 min read

Car Loans

MG stands for Morris Garages, which was the brand’s original name when it was founded in Britain in the 1920s. Once known for classic sports cars, today MG is a popular vehicle brand in Australia, with selected MG models being among the nation’s best-selling cars.

Mark Bristow -

23 Jun, 2023 -

4 min read

Car Loans

Haval specialises in SUVs and other family cars. As part of the Great Wall Motors group (known in Australia for its utes and work vehicles), Haval is one of the leading sellers in its native China. Haval has been operating in Australia since 2016, offering competition for other local and international SUV and 4WD manufacturers.

Mark Bristow -

20 Jun, 2023 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

Google Pay is a convenient way to pay for your shopping with just a wave of your smart device. Not all credit cards offer access to Google Pay, so it’s essential to compare the choices available to you before deciding.

Mark Bristow -

05 May, 2023 -

4 min read

Credit Cards

Apple Pay is a mobile payment technology and a digital wallet designed to allow Apple customers to use their devices to securely pay for goods. Not every card issuer in Australia supports this technology, so it's crucial you compare credit cards carefully. Find out which banks and issuers support Apple Pay here, plus how to use Apple Pay in Australia.

Alex Ritchie -

05 May, 2023 -

5 min read

Credit Cards

Find credit cards that offer Samsung Pay with RateCity. View all product details to find the account that suits your needs and allows you to make digital payments.

Peter Terlato -

04 May, 2023 -

5 min read

Car Insurance

The best car insurance policy will be different for every Australian. Depending on the car you’re driving, how you drive it, how much cover you want, and of course how much you’d like to pay, the best insurance policy could be very different from one household to the next.

Mark Bristow -

09 Nov, 2023 -

7 min read

Car Insurance

Comprehensive car insurance is an insurance policy that thoroughly covers a vehicle against loss or damage. When you have a comprehensive car insurance policy in place, you can be confident that most common accidents and misadventures should be covered, so your wallet shouldn’t be hit too hard if you run into car trouble.

Mark Bristow -

20 Oct, 2023 -

6 min read

Home Insurance

Landlord insurance offers specific coverage for homeowners against rental income loss, property damage, and for any personal contents within the property.

Peter Terlato -

17 Oct, 2023 -

10 min read