Oh, the frustrations of being a renter looking on as the capital city property market jumps from one success to another. We've got buyers splashing money around like they just don't know what to do with it - $1.4 mil for an uninhabitable Sydney cottage, anyone? And there probably weren't many renters jumping for joy [...]
You might have heard about a survey that came out a couple of weeks back ranking the world’s most “liveable” cities. The survey from the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) has ranked Melbourne as the most liveable city in the world for the sixth year in a row, which is why you may well have heard [...]
If you've been out shopping in the past few days you've probably noticed a change in your change, with the first release of Australia's next generation of bank notes made last week. This is the third time our bank notes have received a major overhaul: The decimal currency was introduced using paper notes in 1966 [...]
Sydney is currently experiencing rapid house price growth and properties are being snapped up at auction faster than you can say ‘sold’. But some economists say that it's all happening too fast, fuelled by national interest rates that are too low for the city's booming economy. Terry Rawnsley, head of economic analysis at consultancy SGS [...]
We've all got that one friend who meticulously plans their daily meals (including snacks), brings homemade smoothies into work, and only shops at local organic markets. You look on in awe every lunchtime as they tuck into a perfectly balanced meal while you rush to grab whatever is quickest/cheapest/closest. You promise yourself that next week [...]
Good news if you tend to make a lot of purchases with large companies by credit card – you should notice that from Thursday you're not being charged such hefty fees for using this payment method. This is a result of legislation passed by the Turnbull government in February which bans large businesses from charging [...]
Once upon a time, every Australian dreamed of owning a spacious family home with plenty of outdoor space and a big swimming pool. Everyone wanted a big property with all the latest amenities to show off to their friends. It was all about having two stories, four bedrooms, a BBQ area, a well-equipped kitchen, and [...]
We've seen some dramatic changes to the job market over the past few years as the digital age and technological advancements have transformed the kinds of skills that workplaces require. Look around your office and you'll probably be able to spot a few people whose jobs have only existed for a few years. We're talking [...]
The amount of bank-bashing that's been going on recently makes you feel almost (but not quite) sorry for our big four. In particular there have been complaints about banks not passing on the full benefits of recent interest rate cuts to customers. How dare they try and make a profit for themselves? The thing is, [...]
You might think landlords are only in it to get their hands on as much cash as possible, but it turns out money isn't always their top priority, according to a new report. Finding a good tenant is now a higher priority than rental income for over 75% of landlords, and 82% are happy to [...]
It was announced last week that ride-sharing services such as Uber will be legal in Queensland as of September 5. Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed the controversial move on Facebook, saying the reforms will create a level playing field for both taxis and ride-sharing services. “We had to find the balance between Queenslanders who make millions [...]
You've probably heard that the RBA cut the official interest rate AGAIN, meaning we're now at a new all-time low of 1.5%. The rates affect pretty much everyone, especially when it comes to mortgage repayments, monthly rental and savings, but what does it mean for the wider economy? Treasurer Scott Morrison says the continued cuts [...]
With house prices still on the rise, first home buyers are having to re-assess their priorities. New research has found that lifestyle preferences have taken a back seat to potential for growth. Affordability tops the list of priorities for new buyers, followed by potential price growth. Things like proximity to work, having nearby shops, and [...]
Your cleaning cupboard might look the part, bursting with all the latest contraptions and potions to keep your home sparkling with minimal effort, but if you're not using them properly you could be doing more harm than good. Have a quick check of this list to make sure you're not wasting your money and efforts [...]
Gaining millionaire status might seem like an impossible dream, but it could be more achievable than you realise if you're willing to make the most of your superannuation fund. There are some new rule changes planned which will add flexibility for some savers but will, at the same time, be limiting to others (you know [...]
