News Archive for August 2022

When it comes to wealth, some start the race ten metres ahead – others get tripped at the starting line. And unfortunately, the latter tend to be women.

It seems like business trips are back on the cards, with the Australian corporate travel industry tracking back at roughly 80% of pre-pandemic levels, according to the Flight Centre Travel Group.

When it comes to tackling climate change and other modern crises, a lot of the burden has been on individuals to change their behaviour. But while remembering to turn off your lights is great, it just doesn’t offset an electrical grid reliant on coal.

Australia’s most trusted brands right now continue their hot streak of popularity, with Woolworths at the top followed by Coles, Bunnings Warehouse, Aldi and Kmart, in the latest Roy Morgan trusted brands report.

Golf seems to be the sport that all dads love, so if yours is a golf lover, why not get him something golf related for Fathers Day?

Aussies are more satisfied by mutual banks than major banks, according to a new report from Roy Morgan.

Well, you’re in luck because we’ve just announced the winners of the 2023 Mozo Experts Choice Travel Money Awards. Each year, our team of Mozo Expert judges analyse prepaid travel cards to find which are the cream of the crop.

Getting ready for your annual spring clean? It turns out you can cash-in on your clearout. We’ve rounded up some clever tips and tricks to get a bit of a bonus while you refresh your space.

The popularity of delivery services have skyrocketed of late, especially in New South Wales and Victoria. New Research by Roy Morgan shows that over 7 million Australians aged over 14 (33.4%) now use a meal delivery service in an average three months. This number is up from 3.6 million in early 2020.

Australian property has had a bumpy year, with falling prices, rising interest rates, and slowing sales leading to an overall cooler market than we started with in 2022. Many buyers have sensed a promising window of opportunity, but is now really a good time to buy in?

The $800 million rebuild project for Allianz Stadium in Moore Park, Sydney, is officially complete, folks.

A recent report from Power Retail shows that customers are more likely to make a purchase - and more likely to buy big - at online stores offering Buy Now Pay Later payment options.

The game of thrones is back, baby! And Westeros looks better than ever. We’re talking dragons. We’re talking political machinations, mediaeval tourneys, and the horrors of the patriarchy. We’re talking George R.R. Martin’s rich and complex lore brought lovingly to life for the first time in years. Did we mention dragons?

Enticed by the idea of an electric vehicle (EV)? To show support for Australia’s climate change efforts, Bank Australia has stated its intent to phase out car loans for new petrol and diesel vehicles by 2025.

Looking for yet another streaming platform to dive headfirst into? Allow us to introduce you to Paramount+.

Airline and airport staff are going on strike across several major airports in Europe this month.

Refinancing to a lower rate, making extra repayments and opening an offset account are three of the best ways to reduce your home loan faster, and with interest rates on the rise it’s little wonder so many Aussie mortgage holders are looking to switch and save right now.

It’s been a rough couple of years for airlines with covid’s disruption, sky-high fuel prices, travellers with tighter budgets and a slow return to business, which is why Qantas is now offering discounts.

You read that headline right - for roughly half an hour on 19 August, 2022, solar power peaked as Australia’s top source of power.

Australians with a home loan are having a tough time adjusting to a rapidly changing interest rate environment, with research by Aussie showing that inflation and higher mortgage costs have caused increased stress in four of five households.

According to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), New Zealand is the most popular destination for Australians at the moment, with travellers crossing the ditch accounting for 14% of returned residents in July 2022.

Seriously, is there anything that Amazon doesn’t do? To add to Amazon's never-ending list of services is Amazon Prime Video, Amazon’s very own video streaming platform that comes free with any Amazon Prime subscription.

Plans to remove the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) and tariffs for electric vehicles could see some electric vehicles (EVs) getting cheaper under salary sacrifice arrangements.

Recent inquiry into the devastating floods across NSW and QLD has shown that the best option for the highest risk areas may, in fact, be relocation.

Online mortgage lenders have been taking on the banks in Australia for more than a decade, bringing low-cost loans, efficiency, and flexibility to an industry sorely in need of a shake-up. And as the popularity of online lenders over traditional banks surges, so too has the number of online options available to savvy borrowers.

With the property scene more subdued in recent months, it stands to reason that the volume of home loan dollars is also down.

Afterpay Day is back, kicking off at 8am on Thursday 18 August and running until Sunday 21 August. This massive sale features discounts of up to 70% off on a wide range of categories such as fashion, homewear, beauty, tech and travel from a large selection of brands and stores including The Iconic, Camilla, Sephora and more.

Keeping Australia’s major telcos on their toes, Kogan have come to victory in the 2022 Mozo’s Experts Choice Mobile Plan Awards^ as Mobile Plan Provider of the Year 4G.

In the 2022 Mozo’s Experts Choice Mobile Plan Awards^, Optus have scooped up the hotly contested category of this year’s most impressive 5G Mobile Plan Provider.

Coming off all-time property price highs and months of interest rate hikes from the Reserve Bank of Australia, it’s no surprise that talk of housing market cooldown has started to warm up.

Buy Now Pay Later has caught some heat lately, especially because it isn't labelled as a credit product. This means it currently escapes credit regulation, though the government is seeking to change this as soon as 2023.

While customer loyalty is often rewarded, recent trends in home loan rates suggest existing mortgage holders are being passed the buck, while lenders entice new customers with lower rates.

Father’s Day is fast approaching and let’s face it, fathers can be hard to shop for. That’s why we are here to help, with a list of gift suggestions from a range of stores such as Myer, David Jones, The Iconic, Rebel Sport and even Red Balloon and Adrenaline.

Dreading a lengthy layover on the way to your next destination? If you’ve got a few hours to spend between flights, there can actually be plenty to see and do during your layover (if you’re in the right place). So, if you’re lucky enough to find yourself in-transit through this international airport, you might be in for a treat!

Syfe launched in Australia this month, bringing to our shores the mission to “transform the way that everyday people manage and invest their money,” according to Samantha Horton, Syfe’s chief business officer.

Cosmetic surgery is a major decision that can totally change your life, but it comes with another life altering choice: how do you pay?

Working out the best way to send money overseas isn’t always easy.

Property auctions have been much quieter lately, amid higher mortgage interest rates, lower consumer confidence and rising inflation. In short, buyers have shied away this winter, most likely due to their financial worries but possibly because it’s also been pretty cold.

Saving money doesn’t have to be hard. By changing some daily habits you might find yourself with extra dollars in your pocket.

How long have you been using the same credit card?

With inflation causing financial stress in Australia and most other parts of the world, people are desperately trying to find ways to cut down on costs.

Working from home has brought us a new range of money matters to consider. What work expenses can we claim as tax deductions? Is it cheaper to commute or stay home? And now, a new riddle: will home and contents insurance still cover us?

This week the Reserve Bank of Australia said it will trial its own Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) as a part of a one-year collaborative research project with the Digital Finance Cooperative Research Centre (DFCRC) to evaluate the potential value to Aussie consumers and companies.

After last year’s record-shattering property boom, Australia’s red hot housing market has seemingly cooled off. Here’s a rundown of what’s happening right now and why.

Renters across Australia have seen everything increase in cost, including their rent.

Most young Australians are worried about the rising cost of living, new research from Advertising Week APAC (AWAPAC) shows.

Macquarie Bank broke headlines this week for becoming one of the first Australian banks to pounce on the 0.50% p.a. August RBA rate hike – beating out any of the Big Four.

Good news for American Express members - it’s August, which is AMEX Membership Month for 2022!

If you've noticed your car, home or pet insurance seems more expensive than it used to be, you're not alone. Floods, supply chain shortages and other woes are driving up the cost of our insurance policy premiums in much the same way as we're all paying more at the petrol pump and supermarket checkout.

Variable interest rates have surged thanks to months of aggressive decisions from the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA). But in a surprising twist, CommBank, Suncorp, and Macquarie have all announced cuts to their fixed interest offers this week, some by up to 1.60%.

Whenever you Google 'investing', you'll see the word diversification. Diversity is a popular term in all walks of life to be sure, and the share market is clearly no exception.

Just this week, marketing company Yard has revealed the worst celebrity offenders for CO2 emissions caused by private jet travel.

Not only is Disney+ (A.K.A the happiest streaming platform in the world) home to all the classic Disney movies we grew up watching, but it’s a one-stop shop for all your fave Marvel flicks, plus loads more. It’s even the exclusive platform for The Kardashians!

Looking for something new (or old) to watch in your downtime? Well, you’ve come to the right place!

Whenever we invest in a property, price and personal wishlists usually rank top of our considerations. But savvy buyers know there’s another rat in this race: capital growth.

You’d be forgiven for thinking the whole world was making the switch to electric vehicles with the recent announcement of plans in the EU (and our very own ACT) to phase out the sale of petrol and diesel cars by 2035. With Ferrari posting record quarterly profits, it seems like that’s not always the case.

The annual World Economic Forum Global Gender Gap Report is out for 2022 and the results might come as a surprise to some Aussies, with us ranking a meagre 43rd.

It’s August, folks! Which means it’s time for yet another jam-packed Financial Checklist to help get you through the month ahead!

(Information correct at time of writing).

Vodafone, one of the Big Three Telcos, has announced an extension to special promotions on some of their most popular postpaid mobile plans.

Last Updated: 10:00am 9 August

Heading overseas like growing numbers of Aussies? With the ABS showing massive growth month-on-month on overseas travel, it looks like the rising cost of living is no deterrent to our ever-growing wanderlust.

Mortgage holders will be bracing for their monthly repayments to push even higher, following the Reserve Bank of Australia’s decision to jack up interest rates by 50 basis points this month.

Ever bought something you didn’t really need because Buy Now Pay Later made it oh-so-easy?

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) increased the official cash rate for the third time last month and economists predict there’ll be another 0.50% increase in August.