Credit card news and advice

If you’re living in Australia on a student or working visa, getting your finances set up can be confusing. Credit cards can be overwhelming at the best of times, whether you were born here or abroad.

After a long period of COVID restrictions, Aussies are having to find a new normal in an economy hit by rising consumer prices, supply chain issues and inflation. So, it’s not surprising that many people are tightening their budgets and looking for new ways to save.

Coming to the close of the financial year, spending sure can be tempting and credit cards often get a workout. A 2021 Mozo study found that 81% of Aussie shoppers surveyed were prepared to shop big come tax time, ready to drop money on big ticket work expenses at EOFY discounted prices.

The first third of 2022 has been difficult, seeing unprecedented weather, a geopolitical crisis leading to global inflation and the residual impacts of the pandemic. Despite the real financial impacts of these troubles, Citi Australia’s debit and credit card spending data shows that Aussie consumers are looking to return to the pre-pandemic normal.

If you’ve built up a decent amount of credit card rewards points, you’ll want to make sure you get to use them. Each credit card offers a different rewards system - with some cards allowing you to automatically earn Qantas Points, while other companies have their own points systems where you can earn points and later convert them into rewards - such as frequent flyer points.

Klarna’s mobile shopping report finds that 6 in 10 Aussies make purchases via their mobile phone devices more often than they did two years ago, which is higher than the global average.

If you are a credit cardholder stuck with a deal that isn’t working for you anymore or the card is costing you too much, and you’re just not satisfied, then it could be time to make a stress free switch to a more worthy and valuable piece of plastic.

The Easter long weekend is fast approaching and if you’re anything like me, the idea of a four-day weekend might be the only thing keeping you sane during the hectic work week. A long weekend is the perfect opportunity to book a short holiday or splurge on a big Easter feast with your family.

New Data released by Commbank shows that Sydney and Melbourne residents are increasingly spending money on shopping in their CBD areas.

Credit cards are staging a come-back in 2022, with a wave of fresh new card offers hitting the market that at first glance seem almost too generous to be true. But there’s a bigger story driving this wave of apparent generosity, and it’s one that cardholders are set to benefit from.