Bad numbers: What’s behind the record complaints against financial firms?
Are you unhappy with your bank? Still disputing a transaction on your account that you didn’t make? Or have your dealings with the buy now, pay later (BNPL) sector left you more than a little hot under the collar? You’re not
Hot property: Do you own some hidden treasure? Part 2
If you haven't read our previous article on collectibles, start there. It gives a solid introduction to what we'll discuss next: what makes certain items so special and potentially valuable. With that foundation set, you might now ask: Is diving into
Identity crisis: Will a new national ID be better for you?
We have all endured the tedious task of paperwork to prove our identity, whether it is opening a new bank account, applying for a passport, or simply registering a child's birth.
Even the rise of online forms doesn’t seem to have reduced the number of times we have to fill out details to show we are who say we are.
Oversubscribed? Breaking the subscription trap
How many subscriptions do you have? Is it just Netflix and one other streaming service? Or do you subscribe to myriad apps on your phone or online? Do you even know how many subscriptions you have anymore?
Drive a bargain: Should I buy or lease my next car?
Need a new car? Is the thought of paying such a large amount of money for a new set of wheels making you sweat? It might be worth considering a car lease rather than buying your next vehicle.
But leasing isn't for everyone. Before jumping into the driver’s seat, it’s important to ask some key questions to determine if leasing best fits you and your circumstances. Let's give a rundown to find out if leasing a car will work for you.
Facebook Marketplace: Beware of online scams
We’re always on the hunt for a good deal, whether buying or selling, so it’s hardly surprising that online marketplaces such as Facebook and Gumtree have proved so popular.
But wherever there are bargain hunters, there are scammers. There have even been instances of criminals using marketplaces as a way into homes. Police in Brisbane warned of an alarming increase in offences targeting online sellers.
Losing ground: Qantas sued over ‘ghost flights’
Are you one of the thousands of Australians affected by Qantas flight cancellations? Forced into a long layover at an international airport? Or hundreds of extra dollars out of pocket after your flight was rescheduled at the last minute?
You would be furious to learn that the national carrier had cancelled those flights well before you booked. Or that even if you had booked a real flight, rather than a ‘ghost’ one, Qantas delayed telling you that it had cancelled your flight for an average of 18 days.
Grocery gripe: Why does food cost so much more?
With everything from fuel, utility, to grocery bills rising constantly, Australians are watching their pennies – cutting back on luxuries, leaving heaters off, adding more blankets in winter, and catching the bus instead of driving.
But food isn't just another bill—it's a necessity. We have to eat, ideally healthily - shunning fast food and snacks in favour of fruit and vegetables, lean meat and seafood. But with food prices increasing an average of eight percent a year (many items have risen a lot more), the grocery bill is taking a bigger and bigger slice out of household budgets each week.
Hot property: Do you own some hidden treasure? Part 1
If you’re a serious collector, chances are you’re not prepared to part with anything in your possession without good reason.
But what if you found out something that’s been gathering dust on top of a shelf or hidden in boxes under the stairs was highly collectible and therefore valuable? Perhaps it’s the coin or stamp collection you started when you were a kid and abandoned when you discovered the Xbox?
Broken promises: Are you eligible for an insurance refund?
Did you know that you could be in line for an insurance refund of up to $290? The Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC) has discovered that over 5.6 million consumers have been overcharged by insurers, amounting to a total of $815 million.