Card surcharges: Are you paying too much?
Ever wondered why your cup of coffee costs an extra 15 cents at one café and not another? Or why the service station advises that you will have to pay another 1.5 percent to use Visa or Mastercard?
It’s called a card surcharge - the amount a business charges to cover the cost of an electronic transaction, typically between 0.5 and 1.5 percent. While two-thirds of merchants absorbed this fee about five years ago, the use of debit and credit cards increased, and so has the number of businesses passing on the cost.
Money matters: How a financial counsellor can help you
Struggling to juggle all your bills? Falling behind on your rent or mortgage payments? You may benefit from financial counselling.
We seek advice from the experts for all kinds of things in our lives – from health to education and everything in between, so you shouldn’t be embarrassed about asking for assistance in an area integral to your wellbeing.
Financial counsellors can help you navigate a very stressful time. But who exactly are these professionals? What role do they play in helping you regain control of your financial health? Let's delve deeper into understanding the invaluable support they can provide.
Debt disaster: How to ask for financial hardship help
Money – particularly the lack of it – is a sensitive topic for most of us. There's a level of embarrassment or shame that can come with the inability to meet financial obligations.
Finding solid ground: What can I do if my home builder collapses?
Home is where the heart is. It's also the most significant investment most of us will make in our lifetime.
So, when news breaks about the collapse of a prominent builder, it's only natural to feel anxious about the security of your own home builder or to be wary about starting a new build.
Paying the price: The cost of payday loans
Picture this: It's the end of the month, and you're anxiously waiting for your next paycheck. An unexpected expense throws your budget off balance, and you're desperate for a solution. Enter the payday loan, seemingly a saving grace in your time of need, promising immediate relief.
When we find ourselves in financial strife, it's tempting to look for a short-term fix – sometimes it’s payday loans; other times it’s through wage advance apps. But whichever you choose, it can cost you big time.
Picture-Perfect Pressure: Protect yourself from unfair contract sales tactics
Gap Studios, a photography studio based in Newstead, Queensland, has been accused of using unethical and manipulative business practices and unfair contract terms to deceive customers into spending thousands of dollars on photos.
The studio frequently promotes "free" photography sessions on social media, encouraging people to sign up with the promise of a chance to win the free photography experience. However, those who enter the competition are in for a nasty surprise.
Trolley folly: How to win the grocery game
Ever gone to the grocery store with a list of five or six things you need and walked out with double, if not triple that? You’re far from alone.
Of course, once you’re there you might remember something else you need. Or something you usually buy is half price, so you can't resist the deal and buy a couple. And then there’s the impulse buy so many of us are guilty of.
Mobile thinking: How to save money on your phone bill
If you’re with Optus, chances are you have bigger concerns about your mobile plan than how to slice dollars off the next bill.
The telco is under pressure after it revealed that hackers had stolen data, including names, birth dates, passport and Medicare details, from about 10 million past and present Optus customers, putting them at risk of identity theft and fraud.
Baby boom: Is private health insurance necessary if you’re planning for pregnancy?
Planning to have a baby? Pregnancy is an exciting time but also a nerve-wracking one. There is so much to think about, not the least of which is where to have your baby.
Australians are fortunate to have access to good health care. And most women will give birth in a public hospital, where the charges will be limited. But many opt for private hospitals because they believe it will be a better pregnancy experience, including the promise of a private room after the birth.
It’s one of the reasons women who are thinking about getting pregnant take a closer look at private health insurance. This might mean updating their existing policy to cover pregnancy and birth. Or taking it out for the first time specifically for that reason.
Dying to know: Is life insurance worth the premiums?
Did you know that if you have superannuation, it most likely includes life insurance?
In 2018, a federal parliamentary report found almost 64 percent of active life insurance policies were held through superannuation.
But when the Federal Government changed who is entitled to the default insurance, that number took a hit — KMPG estimates it dropped to 51 percent.
Are you one of the people no longer automatically insured through your superannuation? If so, you might be wondering whether or not to take out separate life insurance, especially given the events of the past few years.