News Archive for April 2023

Ahh, the Met Gala. The Met Gala is a night when Hollywood’s crème de la crème gather at the Met in New York City for an exclusive invite-only red carpet event broadcast to the whole world. It’s arguably one of the biggest nights in fashion of our time.

As the consumer price index eases down to 7%, banks are increasingly looking at cutting their fixed interest rate loans with the expectation that the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) will continue to halt the cash rate.

Getting a fix on the Aussie property market has been challenging lately. While prices spiked generally during the pandemic, ongoing interest rate hikes saw a normalisation of sorts.

Travel is well and truly back, with Aussies visiting a variety of locations this year, including trending destinations like Italy, Greece, Asia and other parts of Australia.

Are you a super streamer? If so, you might be looking for a new home internet plan.

Most Australians say they will prioritise travel this year, despite inflation and rising interest rates affecting the cost of living.

When a lender looks at your home loan application, one of the main things they look at is your borrowing power.

After ten consecutive rate rises, the Reserve Bank of Australia astonished home loan borrowers with a dovish pivot in April, voting to leave the cash rate on hold at 3.60%.

Apple recently continued its dive into the financial world in the US with a new savings account with investment bank Goldman Sachs. The announcement shook up the American financial sphere as the new product offers an appealing 4.15% annual interest rate - more competitive than some of the leading banks in America.

If you’ve ever been researching credit cards, you might have come across something called a charge card. So what exactly is the difference, and why would you choose a charge card?

Property and living costs have skyrocketed in the last few years, while wages have stagnated, and so all added up homebuying has become quite a challenge.

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) received a spectacular dressing down this week with the release of a comprehensive review made by the Australian Treasury.

Finding yourself tempted to add another credit card to your wallet? Before you do, there are a few important pros and cons to consider to decide whether it is worth your extra time – and the potential impact to your bank account.

Paying off a home loan ain’t what it used to be. Now that average variable interest rates have cleared the 6.00% mark in the Mozo database, many borrowers have scrambled to jump ship from mortgage repayments that have risen by hundreds of dollars a month.

For many people, the best part of a birthday is the free drink they can score or the $10 voucher to spend at their favourite shop.

Last year was financially challenging for many Australians. Between the cash rate hikes, the cost of living crisis and rising house and rental prices, it’s been hard to take a breath.

The Google Pixel 7 mobile phone, Pixel Buds A-Series, and Pixel Watch are all available at a discount through the Australian Google Store this April.

With housing affordability feeling more out of reach for first home buyers, many wonder how they can actually get into the housing market.

Mother’s Day is fast approaching, meaning it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to celebrate your mum.

Rain, leaves, and mushrooms: Autumn in Australia is certainly a mood. But cooler weather also means new hazards for our homes and valuables.

Despite the April RBA pause, Westpac and CBA have raised interest rates on several home loan offerings. While the increases are relatively small compared to the 0.25% and 0.50% hikes that have become the norm in the last 11 months, they still indicate the banks expect rates will stay higher, or go higher, in the next few months.

It’s not too late to book your dream holiday. In fact, you could be jetting off somewhere exciting in only a matter of months!

Listen, we're all tired of people telling us to give up our daily cup of joe to save money. Well, we’re here to tell you it doesn’t have to be that way! You can save money and buy your daily caffeine guilt free.

Nintendo has dropped the final trailer for Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and it was spectacular, convincing this writer that now is the time to order!

Term deposits are a great way to invest money safely, but not everyone has a massive lump sum to put away. Typically, term deposits require a few thousand dollars upfront for you to take advantage of the high-interest rates.

It comes as no surprise that the usage of credit cards has surged amidst the rising cost of living.

The REA Group’s latest PropTrack Report reveals a 10.5% lift in new property listings on realestate.com.au, making March 2023 the most active month since May 2022.

House inspections are a necessary part of the home buying process—after all, you want to know what you’re buying. However, there’s more to inspections than taking in the looks of the new place you’re thinking of purchasing.

Are you looking for some cheap, stay-at-home family fun? Maybe board games are precisely what you need.

The Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) decision to hold the cash rate at 3.60% in April presents Australian homeowners with the chance to refinance their home loan and find a cheaper rate.

South Korea looks to boost tourism as part of its post-pandemic recovery using the global popularity of Korean culture and the easing of visa rules for travellers from certain countries, including Australia.

When you’re planning a trip, there’s a lot to get organised. But one of the more overlooked parts of planning your travels is what to do about your home and contents insurance.

Want to know how to look for a rental in a capital city without feeling like you’re living in an alternate universe? It’s do-able but not easy.

When it comes to how you holiday, cruising can be a controversial option. Those who love it are hardcore fans, and those who hate it will dismiss it as nothing more than a floating RSL club. What we want to know is the answer to a long-held question - are cruises good value?

Tax cuts introduced in the 2018-2019 financial year are being axed, with the biggest impact to be felt by middle-income earners. Those earning less than $126,000 per year are set to cop the majority of this.

With school holidays upon us, you might be worried about how you’re going to keep the kids occupied for two weeks!

It’s no secret that Aussies are nervous about the current housing market after nearly a year of consecutive cash rate hikes.

Homeowners might finally have a chance to catch their breath. Not only did cash rate hikes momentarily halt this month, but several lenders have slashed their fixed rate home loans.

As someone with a life-threatening peanut allergy, Easter can be more bitter than sweet. Let’s just say playing the ‘Easter bunny’ ain’t so simple when you've got a child with a food allergy.

If you've tracked Aussie property over the years, you'll know that even after price dips it tends to bounce back.

If you haven't caught Greta Gerwig's Barbie movie yet, you're in for a real treat.

Tangerine’s Egg-citing Easter Offer runs throughout April, offering customers the chance to basket a 4G or 5G mobile phone plan for free for the first two months.

Rebel Sport’s mid season sale has just started and will run until 16 April.

In an announcement made to the cheers of mortgage-stressed homeowners, the Reserve Bank of Australia has, at last, paused its crusade against inflation, leaving the cash rate at 3.60%.

Today Amaysim launched a range of international roaming packs that can be added to existing or new Amaysim mobile phone plans.

There are two key things every person wants in their home loan: a low rate and a lender they can trust. That’s why it’s no surprise to see Bendigo Bank absolutely sweeping in our annual home loan awards.

Ever think about which major shops you spend the most time at?

The cost of living crisis has been hard on everyday Aussies, and students—both domestic and international—are being hit particularly hard by rising expenses. However, there are things you can do to improve the situation.

National home prices rose for a third consecutive month in March, as limited supply and strong demand continue to hold up the property market, according to the PropTrack Home Price Index.

The 2023 AFL season has officially begun folks. And talk about a flying start! The first game of the year (on Thursday, the 16th of March) saw the Richmond Tigers tie with the Carlton Blues. But there’ll be more where that came from!

The Reserve Bank’s relentless rate hike campaign — which commenced in May last year and has brought the cash rate to its highest level since 2012 — may finally be coming to a close.

A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month – April has arrived! With school holidays, Easter, ANZAC Day and more – it’ll be a busy month, that’s for sure!