News Archive for December 2023

Rollin’ car insurance recently launched their Safe ‘n Save mobile app, which rewards safer driving with car insurance discounts of up to 15% off their monthly premium.

According to CoreLogic, property prices have risen by +8.3% in the last year – more than completely recovering their -7.5% fall in 2022. Now, between interest rate rises and prices, home loan affordability is top of mind for Aussie home buyers.

Kogan’s latest car and home insurance deals won’t only bring down your first year’s premium, but will also top up your Kogan.com credit by $10 each month you hold your policy.

With one week left to go before Christmas, Australians are being urged to check their car insurance policies before they hit the road to make sure they’re fully covered.

In an era of lenders raising rates, any cuts are always worth a look. Today online bank Up slashed interest rates on its fixed home loan terms by up to 65 basis points.

A new report released today by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) shows that many savers may be sticking with savings accounts that aren’t in their best interest.

As the 2023 holiday season approaches and the roads get busier, it's important for drivers to be aware of the driving offences they should steer clear of to ensure a safe and enjoyable break that won’t cost more than the fuel in your tank.

The latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows the value of new home loan commitments was up 5.4% in October 2023. That’s a lot of new mortgages to pay off, despite an expensive housing market and a hefty ton of RBA rate hikes.

New ING research shows that most Aussie beachgoers (86%) say the rising cost of living has made them more likely to seek out free activities this summer, with more than half admitting that their main reason for spending time at the beach is because it's free.

A new report by CreditSmart shows that despite the persistent high cost of living, Aussies have been actively looking for better deals, refinancing loans and renegotiating utility expenses over the past six months.

The December Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) rate hold last week was the ointment to last month’s 25 basis-point sting in the wallets of homeowners around the country.

When it comes to getting a better deal, it can sometimes pay to be a loyal customer (not always, but sometimes). Many brands and retailers nowadays offer customer loyalty and rewards programs that Aussie shoppers can join to receive exclusive deals, discounts and other cool perks.

The property market has been hard to get a fix on in 2023. Despite the higher cost of living and slumping consumer sentiment, property prices in popular areas have continued to climb.

With the new year fast approaching, you’ve probably been thinking about what financial resolutions to adopt. While a lot of goals make sense, there’s one that you should consider as the foundational element—budgeting.

Santa Claus had one thing right when it came to doing things smarter, if you make a list of everything you want to achieve and check it twice, you’re more likely to achieve your goals, whether they are financial or simply life goals.

The next wave of retirees may face challenges in retirement without improved access to financial education in super.

Interest rates who? According to property watchdog PropTrack – the research arm of realestate.com.au – Australian housing values grew 5.5% throughout 2023, despite housing affordability plummeting to “its lowest level in decades.”

Property market predictions for 2024 tip the new year as a winner for existing homeowners, as affordability grows worse for have-nots, according to Domain.

There are a lot of costs associated with the Christmas period. From presents, food, drinks and Christmas events, it can all really add up and put a strain on your wallet.

With the silly season well and truly here, summer BBQs and drinks on the patio could be the perfect reason to finish your backyard renos.

Key Points

The Australian government is planning big changes to the superannuation system and has issued a consultation paper asking for everyone's ideas on how to improve the system’s ‘retirement’ phase.

With the end of the year almost here, you may be hanging up your Christmas decorations and looking ahead to your New Year’s resolutions.

After breaking the rate hold with a hike in November, the “data dependent” Reserve Bank of Australia has decided to leave the official cash rate on hold at 4.35% for December. For homeowners, this means there is no official rate hike for the holiday season.

Mortgage lenders have wasted little time in passing along the November Reserve Bank rate hike – a hike that broke a five-month dry spell for home loans.

“In the summertime, baby, in the summertime – that is where I’ll be!” It’s officially summer, folks! Which means that office Christmas parties, family events, and other end-of-year festivities are well underway.

As the year comes to a close and we reflect, some of us might be thinking about how we might better go about achieving our savings goals. You might not realise it but savings accounts aren’t the only tool in our financial belt.

MOVE Bank is offering savers an impressive 5.70% p.a. bonus rate on their Growth Saver Account as of today.

The Australian government is calling for public input on the 2019 moratorium related to genetic testing in life insurance. This policy specifically prohibits insurers from requiring applicants to undergo genetic testing. Additionally, it restricts insurers from demanding you disclose the results of existing genetic test results for policies under specific coverage limits.