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.
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.
Tech update: From faster connections to more financial help
The world moves fast, but the internet often doesn’t. If you’re one of the two million Australians whose internet speed is slower than a wet weekend, you’ll no doubt be pleased to hear this big tech update: you can now upgrade to full-fibre. But there’s a catch.
And it’s not the only news you should be across in the tech world. Let’s take a look at some of the changes worth wrapping our heads around.
Not so super: How to avoid delays in superannuation claims
Superannuation is our retirement safety net, a nest egg no one wants to access too early. But there are many reasons why you might need to do so, not the least of which is financial distress.
The Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA) says the number of complaints involving delays in the handling of superannuation claims has jumped in the past year, from 18 percent of all complaints in 2022 to 24 percent in May 2023.
Raising hell: Why does childcare cost so much?
More than one million Australian families used childcare last year. If you were one of them, you know how expensive it has become.
After a six-month investigation, the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC) handed down its interim report into the sector earlier this month.
The ACCC found that childcare fees were rising faster than inflation and wage growth, and government subsidies have failed to keep pace.
Taxing time: Wise up to end of financial year scammers
The only people who love this time of year are accountants - and scammers.
While you’re busy trying to get your finances for the end-of-financial year tax submission, scammers are also busy trying to persuade you to part with money.
Pet insurance: What does ASIC’s crackdown mean for you?
Have you received a large veterinary bill for your pet even though you had what you thought was the right insurance? You’re far from alone.