We often hear about rising interest rates, skyrocketing housing prices, and inflation biting into household budgets, but there’s another more personal cost emerging from the current economic climate—our social circles are shrinking. A recent survey by Finder highlights that around 4 million Australians have cut back on their social interactions simply to save money. While…
Believe it or not…Australians are feeling confident about their financial future despite today’s challenging economic environment. This is the finding of the “No Place Like Home” report by Great Southern Bank, which sheds light on the evolving financial attitudes and behaviours of Australians. The findings are a mix of optimism, adaptability, and a clear recognition…
Do you feel richer? There is no doubt that many Australians are suffering from a cost-of-living crisis but overall, Australia’s household wealth has reached new heights, with the average household net worth climbing to an impressive $1.58 million. This milestone secures Australia’s position as one of the top five wealthiest nations globally in terms of…
Are you feeling the financial squeeze? If so, you’re not alone. Fewer than one-third of Australians (28%) feel optimistic about their financial situation heading into 2025, according to Canstar’s Consumer Pulse Report 2024. Rising mortgage repayments, rent increases, and the skyrocketing cost of living have stretched household budgets to breaking point. Let’s unpack the results…
Is Australia still in the midst of an investor boom? Well, investor loans are growing more than three times faster than owner-occupier loans, rising 19% annually, according to Money.com.au’s Mortgage Insights Report. In contrast, owner-occupier loans are growing at a much slower rate of just 5% annually. Let’s unpack the data from the report for…
The ABS monthly CPI indicator, released today for October, shows headline inflation has remained steady at an annual rate of 2.1%. While this is close to the bottom of the RBA’s target band, the data has been heavily skewed by the government’s temporary energy bill relief rebate and of course the RBA would be happy…
Western Australia (WA) continues to lead growth in owner-occupier loans, while Queensland (QLD) has become the second-largest market for investor loans, surpassing Victoria. Money.com.au’s latest Mortgage Insights report highlighted some interesting trends that reflect shifting buyer preferences, tax advantages, and affordability considerations across different states. National loan growth insights The average new loan size in…
It’s been a tumultuous week for global markets and geopolitics as the US election came to a head, and we had a very predictable outcome from the RBA in their November policy meeting. And there’s some good news ahead for Australia, according to David Robertson, Chief economist of Bendigo Bank, who, in his latest report,…
I’ve heard the phrase “If only I knew that back when I was younger”, time and time again over the years. While it’s too late for many of us, understanding the personal finance tips we all wish we knew at age 18 might help the younger generations who are just starting out on their financial…
As we increasingly embrace digital transactions, the convenience of tapping, swiping, and entering our card details online also brings significant risks. A recent report from Finder has uncovered a worrying statistic: 1 in 6 Australians have had their credit or debit card skimmed in the past year. This is a stark reminder that, despite the…
