Play to win: Don’t get caught with dodgy video games this Christmas
It's no secret that video games are big business. In fact, the gaming industry is now worth more than $200 billion globally and is expected to reach almost $300 billion by 2024. In Australia, the gaming industry is also huge and growing.
Apply the brakes: Top car rental traps to avoid
Are you planning to travel interstate over the summer holidays? There’s a good chance you might also want to get car rental, at least for a few days.
And while there are plenty of great deals to be had, there are some car rental traps you should know about before handing over your deposit. Otherwise, that deal that seemed too good to be true most certainly will be.
Start early and stay out of the red this Black Friday
If you’re a Black Friday veteran, you’ll know that you don’t have to wait until the designated day to snap up a bargain.
Retailers have been dropping their prices all month, and your inbox and social media have probably been inundated with offers for Black Friday steals because of your past purchases.
Sick of scam text and calls? It’s time to take charge
We’ve all received one. Chances are, most of you have received more than you can count. Spam calls and texts are insidious. Many of us just find them irritating and delete them or refuse to answer phone numbers we don’t recognise.
But invariably, these spam calls and texts are also scams.
False advertising: Don’t fall for fake reviews
Wanting a night out with friends? Keen to try something new? Do a quick Google search and up comes a bunch of restaurants nearby, one with far more positive reviews than the rest. But are they real? Fake reviews for everything from bakeries to dental services are abundant on the internet, and separating them from the real deal can take time and effort.
It’s hard to know exactly how many aren’t genuine, with estimates varying from about 10 percent to a third of all online reviews. Google is home to six times as many reviews as any other portal, even it has trouble keeping up. Last year the search engine said it removed 95 million reviews that did not meet its guidelines.
Sharp practice: Don’t take short cuts with cosmetic surgery
All surgery comes with risks and cosmetic surgery is no different. But with even the national medical regulator acknowledging that the industry’s profit-driven culture puts patients in danger, just how risky is it to go under the knife?
Screen time: What you need to know about streaming
Australians love to stream. It's a love affair that grew while we were stuck at home during Covid. And one that shows no sign of abating, even if we’re spreading that love around a lot more.
Research firm Telsyte found that more than 75 percent of Australian households subscribe to at least one streaming video on demand (SVOD) service. There were 23.4 million subscriptions to June this year, one for almost every Australian, and rising. Telsyte predicts the figure to be more than 30 million within four years.
Removing road blocks to customer care
Saul Frank knows when he’s being given the run-around with customer care. And he would never do the same to his customers.
“I’ve been in business a long time and it’s just not the way you treat people,” he says.
Seven dining dates worth your dollars
Aussies love to dine out and with such a wonderful array of cuisines and venues to choose from, who can blame us?
But the rising cost of living is making many consumers think twice about how much we fork out for food and where.
Buying a car? Take the driver’s seat at the dealership
You've decided you want a new or near-new car. How exciting. So exciting, in fact, that it’s easy to get carried away and spend more than you intended. Especially when the smooth-talking salespeople at the car dealership know all the right things to say to help you do just that.
Don’t be tempted by all the extras they promise to throw in for a “great deal”. For most of us, a car is the second biggest investment we’ll make (after our house). It’s money you should be spending wisely. Chances are you don’t need those extras. Even if the dealer says they will take your driving experience to the next level.