News Archive for March 2016

Stamp duty “punishes” first home buyers and should be replaced with a “fairer” version of land tax in New South Wales, a new report by the McKell Institute has stated.

Australians are beginning to put more money into extensive home renovations, prompting a fragile recovery for the market, the Housing Industry Association’s latest Renovations Roundup revealed.

The latest energy pricing decision in NSW and ACT faces yet another legal challenge, which could take several months to resolve and lead to further delay in power privatisation, reported the SMH.

Victoria is Australia’s fastest growing state at 1.7%, as well as being the most popular place to be for Aussies undergoing an interstate move, according to recent statistics released by the ABS.

If you’re after a last minute holiday destination for the Easter break, check out these top 8 budget friendly travel options from guest blogger and avid traveller Dr Niall Campbell.

With Easter hitting the calendar this Sunday, supermarkets are stuffed with chocolate selections of bunnies, eggs and bilby varieties. But watch out for egg-orbitant mark-ups.

New research from Southern Cross Travel Insurance has shown that while 7% of Aussie travellers suffered an injury, and 22% fell ill while overseas, many still jetted off without adequate travel insurance cover, proving that Aussies have no fear of hazards like gastro, gravel rash, or gravity.

Border Protection is urging Australians travelling internationally over the Easter break to arrive at the airport early and stay tuned for updates over an industrial workers’ strike.

High income and lower than average rent prices saw Perth named as the best Australian city to save for a home loan deposit in recent research conducted by Mozo.

As Australians get set to show the world their commitment towards positive climate action this Saturday for the annual Earth Hour event, Earth Hour organisers are still urging Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, to extend his support to the cause.

Women spent $300 million dollars more than men on tickets for things like movies and shows in 2015, according to research by Roy Morgan.

With so much to see and do, it’s no surprise that many people visiting Europe want to try and fit as much as possible into their trip. Exhilarating as it might be to see the Eiffel Tower one day and Big Ben the next, or to travel between 2 or 3 countries in the space of a week, the costs of this high-intensity travel do add up.

Consumer habits have taken a positive turn this year, with Mortgage Choice reporting that Aussies are managing mortgage repayments better than last. ABS data also showed that credit card balances dropped by 2.4% in January.

Guinness may be famous for quenching the thirst of many a million on Saint Patrick’s Day, but research shows Australians prefer to drink the humble Baileys Irish Cream Whiskey instead.

Racking up credit card rewards points is relatively easy, but working out how to redeem them for the most value is the tricky part. Should you cash in on a free flight overseas or is that new iPhone a better redemption choice?

Australian holiday-goers are being warned against the traps of financing their upcoming trip with expensive credit options like payday loans, cash advances and even holiday loans.

It’s Global Money Week, a worldwide celebration of money awareness that’s held on the second week of March every year (14th-20th March in 2016). The aim of the week is to instill good money habits and this year ASIC is honing in on Aussie children.

Australians looking to take out a car loan to purchase a new car are being warned to check car warranties carefully after a survey by consumer advocacy group CHOICE found 66% of respondents discovered faults in their vehicles within five years of buying them.

A new report has predicted that in 2017 Australia will have an oversupply of housing for the first time in over a decade - with the notable exception of Sydney, Domain revealed.

The Aussie dollar rose to US75 cents overnight as part of a series of exchange rate movements that have been favourable since last week. This comes as the exchange rate for the AU dollar was at a low point in January at only US68 cents.

It’s that time of year - students everywhere are heading back to uni, or for some, entering those hallowed halls for the very first time, bright-eyed, bushy-tailed and with no clue what they’re in for.

Transferring money overseas can be a costly process, so Mozo’s experts have been working hard to crunch the numbers and identify the very best foreign exchange transfer options available to Aussies.

It’s International Women’s Day today, and the gender pay gap is still as relevant a topic as when the date of recognition for females first began in the early 1900s.

Planning a trip for your Easter weekend? There’s no better way to shake off the humdrum of working life, but travel can get expensive very quickly. So, whether you’re taking a mini-trip to Fiji or going on an all out expedition across Europe, we’ve got some top tips to help you travel smart and make the most of your holiday budget.

Have you noticed the increasing visibility and popularity of UnionPay in Australia?

In a new report a think tank has criticised the Australian pension system where taxpayers pay a significant portion of their income to support pensioners whilst still paying their own superannuation.

Sydney based company Insured By Us has announced it will introduce a new online travel insurance brand aimed specifically at Australian women.

Home insurance providers have been working with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission to tackle the high rate of underinsurance in Australia.

The Reserve Bank of Australia has announced the cash rate will remain at 2% in March, for the tenth month in a row, although many economists are predicting that the streak won't last.