The festive season can leave more than just happy memories behind, with Christmas spending sometimes creating a financial hangover that stretches well into the New Year. This article explores the risks of using credit to cover post-Christmas expenses and the importance of understanding your financial position before a short-term solution becomes a long-term problem.

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Christmas is over, the decorations are coming down, and the credit card bill has arrived.
Sound familiar?

After weeks of presents, parties, travel and entertaining, January can be a bit of a financial shock. The money that seemed to stretch a little further in December suddenly has to cover the usual bills – plus all those Christmas expenses that haven't disappeared just because the holidays have.

For some households, the temptation is to reach for the credit card or a personal loan to get through the month.

But before you borrow your way out of a short-term problem, take a moment to think about where that borrowing could lead.

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Retirement might be decades away or just around the corner, but it’s never too early or too late to start thinking about your financial future. This article explores the key questions to consider, from the lifestyle you want and how much you may need, to where your retirement income could come from and how long your money may need to last.

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Retirement planning is important for all of us. But it’s not always an easy subject to think about.

If you’re in your 20s, retirement can seem so far away that there’s little point worrying about it. In your 40s, plenty of other things are probably competing for your attention. And if you’re approaching retirement, you might be wondering whether it’s too late to do anything useful.

The good news? It’s never too early or too late to start planning.

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Different attitudes to money can create tension in any relationship, particularly when one partner is a saver and the other is a spender. This article explores how couples can understand their differences, set shared financial goals and work together towards a stronger financial future.

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Money can be one of the biggest sources of tension in a relationship. One person might want to save every dollar, while the other believes you work hard to enjoy your money.

Neither approach is necessarily right or wrong. But when two people share a life, understanding how each other thinks about money can make managing the household finances a whole lot easier.

What does money mean to you?

We all have different attitudes towards money.

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Higher interest rates can put pressure on mortgage repayments and household budgets, but they can also create opportunities for savers. This article explores the impact of rising rates and ways to manage money in a higher-rate environment.

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Another interest rate rise. If you have a mortgage, that probably isn't the news you wanted.

On 30 September, the Reserve Bank increased the cash rate by 0.25 percentage points to 4.60%. It is the highest cash rate since 2011, with the RBA pointing to inflation that remains too high and recent economic data that has been stronger than expected.

For many households, the immediate question is simple: what does this mean for my mortgage and my household budget?
But higher interest rates aren't necessarily all bad news.

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The best financial lessons are often the ones we learn early in life. This article discusses three money concepts worth teaching your children, to help give them a stronger financial foundation for the future.

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Have you ever wondered why some families seem to build wealth from one generation to the next?

It’s tempting to think that it’s simply because wealthy families have more money to start with. But there may be another reason. They teach their children about money from an early age.

Understanding how money works, how to use debt, how investments can grow and why it’s important to take responsibility for your own finances are lessons that can last a lifetime.

So, what are some of the money lessons worth passing on to your children?

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Planning for tertiary education doesn’t have to mean taking on significant debt or putting financial pressure on the family. This article explores government support, budgeting strategies and ways parents can start saving early to help make further education more affordable.

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According to the government’s Study Assist website, a three-year commerce or law degree could be around $50,000 – and that’s just the start.

Many Australians believe they can’t afford a tertiary education, but the cost of university, TAFE or other higher education doesn’t have to be prohibitive.

While parents often help fund their child’s further education – sometimes even mortgaging the family home! – students seek part-time jobs, juggling work commitments with study.

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An easy-to-understand guide to building wealth through regular saving and investing, including how dollar cost averaging can help investors navigate market fluctuations when investing regularly in managed funds.

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Building wealth isn’t about how much you earn or even how much you can afford to save. Building wealth is a process embodying one basic principle: developing long-term investment habits.

Investing doesn’t diminish the importance of saving, after all, you can’t invest money if you haven’t saved it first!

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Lower investment returns can be particularly concerning as retirement approaches, but this shouldn’t mean you need to completely abandon growth investments. Discover practical ways to protect your retirement income, manage market risk and make your savings and super last longer.

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A period of low investment returns can happen when you least expect it, and at a time when it is most difficult to deal with. One of the more challenging times is when you are approaching retirement, when you have less time to recover from a market downturn, and may soon be drawing money from your investments rather than adding to them.

However, with a combination of investment strategy, spending flexibility and retirement planning, you can reduce the impact of disappointing returns.

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This article uses easily relatable concepts to reinforce the importance of having a financial plan, and encourages the reader to ask an adviser for guidance.

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Most of us account for our money weeks or months in advance. Whether we use a spreadsheet, or simply mark dates on a calendar, we know that planning ahead makes sense.

Why then, do many of us consider a financial plan for 30, 20 or even 10 years ahead, unnecessary?

Maybe people think that they must have money before seeking advice. Perhaps they believe financial advisors only work with people approaching retirement.

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Property investment can build long-term wealth, but the risks aren't always as obvious as the possibility of a property market downturn. From tax and interest rate changes to unexpected costs, cash flow shortfalls and over-reliance on capital growth, discover the risks property investors often overlook – and how to build a more resilient investment strategy.

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The possibility that property prices may fall is often the biggest risk for property investors. But the truth is that the greatest risks are the less obvious ones.

Here are some property investment hazards to consider before you take the plunge, or before you expand your existing property portfolio.

Today’s tax rules are not guaranteed to be tomorrow’s rules

Property investors may be making decisions that cover long time horizons, possibly stretching into decades. But the regulatory and tax environment may undergo significant changes in the years following a property purchase.

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Starting a new job can be an exciting time and an opportunity to review your financial arrangements. This article provides a financial checklist of areas to consider, including superannuation, insurance, salary sacrifice and savings.

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Depending on how you look at it, changing jobs can either be an exciting time or a stressful one. With so much happening, you can be forgiven for focusing on the new role rather than your financial arrangements. However, a new job is also a good opportunity to review your superannuation, insurance, savings and overall financial position. Here are some things to consider when making a career move.

1. Review your superannuation

Changing jobs doesn't necessarily mean you need to change super funds. You can generally keep your existing super account or choose a different fund.

Before making a decision, compare the features of your existing fund with an alternative. Consider fees, investment options, long-term performance, insurance cover and any other features or benefits that may be important to you.

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Working from home offers flexibility, but it can also create unexpected financial, tax and career consequences. This article explores the hidden risks of remote work and the steps you can take to protect your long-term financial wellbeing.

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Working From Home (WFH) has been around for years. Since the COVID Pandemic, though, Australian organisations have embraced it to reduce expenses and offer employees a true work-life balance.

For workers, there are costs associated with WFH, like increased utilities usage and internet upgrades, often outweighed by the benefits.

But what about the not-so-obvious consequences? Those quiet, often intangible impacts?

Here are a number of hidden WFH traps that could potentially shape your career or long-term financial position.

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Your borrowing capacity isn't determined by your income alone. Find out why interest rates, lender policies, existing debts and living expenses can change how much you may be able to borrow.

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It’s been a while since you last had a salary increase, so the amount you could borrow as a home loan is the same as last time you checked, right?
Wrong.

Your salary is only one of the factors that can affect your borrowing capacity. There are many others, relating to changes in the economic and regulatory environment, adjustments in lenders’ loan assessment criteria, and changes in your personal financial circumstances unconnected to your earnings.

Here are some of the main reasons your borrowing power can change.

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Being your own boss offers flexibility, but it can also mean dealing with uneven income. Learn how contractors and freelancers can budget more effectively, prepare for tax obligations and super contributions, and build financial buffers to help smooth out the ups and downs of self-employment.

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Budgeting can be hard enough for those in regular employment, who need to cover today’s bills as well as, hopefully, tomorrow’s emergency savings and investment in their future. But if you’re a self-employed sole trader, you have three more financial headaches to add to the list: setting aside correct amounts to pay the ATO, covering your own super contributions, and dealing with periods when there is no income flowing in. It can seem like a formidable task, but with the right advice, you can create a budget that will help you to navigate this potential minefield.

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Our latest quarterly economic update includes commentary on the Iran–US peace deal and its impact on oil prices and share markets, the RBA's latest interest rate decisions, sweeping tax changes for property investors, the falling gold price and the resurgent US dollar.

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It was a quarter of two halves. Overseas, the US and Iran agreed to end their war, sending oil prices tumbling and sharemarkets rallying. At home, households copped another rate rise before the RBA hit pause, and the Federal Budget rewrote the rules for property investors.

Peace in the Middle East — Oil Falls and Markets Rally

After more than three months of conflict, the US and Iran agreed on 14 June to end the fighting and reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about one-fifth of the world's oil. Prices had already been easing as hopes of a deal grew — Brent crude fell to around US$83 a barrel, down from its March peak of US$126, and by late June US crude was below US$70 as ships began moving again. A big relief for motorists, and for inflation.

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Small monthly subscription fees can quietly add up, costing your household hundreds or even thousands of dollars each year. This article explains how to conduct a simple subscription audit, eliminate unnecessary expenses, and put the savings towards achieving your financial goals.
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How many subscriptions does your household currently have?

Most of us, when we consider subscriptions, think Netflix, Prime, perhaps an online newspaper or magazine. But if you pause for a moment, there are probably more than you realise, and they’re not cheap!

Subscription creep is a real thing. It’s that quietly increasing number of services we sign up to without even noticing.

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Lower mortgage repayments can be tempting, but resetting your home loan back to 30 years could cost you far more in the long run. Discover the

hidden disadvantages of extending your mortgage, from extra interest and slower equity growth to the risk of carrying debt into retirement.
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The federal government has tried (via 2009 legislation and later instructions to banks from APRA, the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority) to ensure that mortgage borrowers will be able to service their loan and cope with any future interest rate rises. Despite this, many Australian homeowners are struggling financially as a result of inflation’s impact on the cost of living, geopolitical influences on fuel costs, and the Reserve Bank’s interest rate increases.

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Many Australian households are feeling the pressure of the “middle-class squeeze,” where rising living costs are making once-comfortable incomes feel increasingly stretched. This article explores the impact of lifestyle inflation and cost-of-living pressures, while highlighting practical budgeting strategies and the value of professional financial advice to regain control and build long-term financial security.

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Not so long ago, a six-figure salary was considered a solid income. But you didn’t suddenly become extravagant, so why are you now feeling like you need to tighten your belt?

You’re not imagining that growing sense of financial unease, nor are you alone. Chances are you’re experiencing what’s become known as the “middle-class squeeze.”

Middle-class squeeze is a concept that describes households on respectable incomes that are considered too well-off to qualify for government welfare or meaningful rebates, but are experiencing cost-of-living strain.

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A consideration of what ‘fair’ means in blended family asset distribution, and a guide to the associated risks of contested wills and how best to avoid them.
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About one in 10 families in Australia is a blended or step family, according to census data, and this trend has increased in recent years. Blended families can work well, but it’s best to aim to avoid any potential problems with the division of money and other assets. These may occur when there are children from previous relationships, a new spouse, shared assets and sometimes former partners in the background, making the question of what is ‘fair’ quite complex.

Here are the most important principles for protecting assets fairly in a blended family.

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Do you have too many bank accounts, or too few? This article will help you to set up a bank account structure tailored to your own needs, allowing you to take control of your bills, beat stress and invest for your future.
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There’s no such thing as a perfect number of bank accounts that will suit everyone. But there are good reasons for avoiding the extremes of having only one account struggling to cover all your needs and goals, or on the other hand, having a large and confusing mix of accounts with different banks, some of which you’ve simply forgotten to close.

There is a smarter way to structure your money so that it feels organised, controlled, and easier to manage. It’s especially important when you’re not just handling day-to-day spending, but also aiming to build wealth through investment.

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