Renovated your Home? It may be time to review your sum insured

5 August

A new kitchen, an additional bedroom or a major home upgrade can transform the way you live. Renovations can create more space, improve comfort and add considerable value to your property.    However, once the builders have packed up and you are...[Read More]

‘Softer than we thought’: RBA’s admission on inflation

5 August

Surprise inflation data, which came in lower than expected and below the central bank’s own forecasts, was due to softer fuel prices, according to the RBA’s chief economist. Figures released on Wednesday revealed headline inflation for June fell...[Read More]

Push for nationwide ban on dumping old solar panels

5 August

Used solar panels should be banned from all Australian landfill sites while the government develops a scheme to reuse and recycle the technology, an inquiry has been told. With the right scheme in place, Australia could recover billions of dollars...[Read More]

Surprise inflation drop eases chance of RBA rate hikes

29 July

Falling inflation levels have defied Reserve Bank predictions, alleviating fears another interest-rate hike is imminent. The latest Australian Bureau of Statistics data showed headline annual inflation falling to 3.8 per cent in June, down from four...[Read More]

Red tape strangling efforts to tackle housing crisis

29 July

Allowing three-storey townhouses to be built on most residential land is one of the key recommendations of a major report outlining what Australia needs to do to fix its housing crisis. Governments have gotten in the way of new housing supply by...[Read More]

Renovate, move or build? Choosing the right way to change your home

30 July

As life changes, your home may no longer suit your needs as well as it once did. Perhaps your family is growing, you need a home office, the kitchen feels outdated, or you simply want more space and comfort. When this happens, homeowners usually...[Read More]

Getting your home ready for spring: Five ways to fall in love with it again

23 July

Spring has a way of making us look at our homes differently. The days become longer, the garden starts to come alive and natural light begins to reveal all the areas we may have overlooked during winter.   It is also the season when many homeowners...[Read More]

How trust in the RBA could help keep interest rates low

22 July

As people lose faith in institutions across the globe, a report shows maintaining trust in the Reserve Bank can help keep inflation under control. A survey released by the central bank on Wednesday showed people who have higher trust in the RBA are...[Read More]

How to save money around the home amidst the rising interest rates

9 July

With interest rates rising almost everywhere, including Australia, people have begun tightening their purse strings as best they can.   However, decreasing spending to ensure your expenses match your reduced budget could mean barely any savings or...[Read More]

The best and worst ways to live alongside your neighbours

16 July

A good home is about more than the building, the backyard or the location. The people living around you can have a major influence on how comfortable, secure and enjoyable your neighbourhood feels.   When neighbours communicate, show consideration...[Read More]

Trump threatens to shoot down signs of economic rebound

15 July

Just as businesses and consumers were beginning to grow more confident, a return to arms in the Middle East risks sending sentiment back to the doldrums. Business confidence climbed nine points in June, despite warnings the federal budget would...[Read More]

How first-time homebuyers can save $8,500 in taxes

15 July

First-time homebuyers are missing out on thousands of dollars by not using a little-known scheme that helps save them money for the deposit. The First Home Super Saver Scheme lets them take advantage of their superannuation account’s favourable...[Read More]

Energy rollercoaster: Australian bills to fall and rise

15 July

Solar panels, wind farms and cheaper batteries will help to cut Australian electricity bills in the coming years, even as the artificial intelligence boom pushes up the price of gas technology. But energy prices will rise after 2030, a study has...[Read More]

Retrofit rewards to usher in new era of fire-safe homes

15 July

Fire-resistant home upgrades have rocketed to the top of the to-do list for Jem Gay. Summer bushfires that tore through more than 4000 hectares and destroyed 50 buildings in Harcourt in central Victoria were too-close-for-comfort for the residents...[Read More]

Inflation-fuelling supply shocks under RBA microscope

8 July

Expect to hear more from the Reserve Bank as it grapples with how to navigate a world punctuated by more frequent supply shocks due to heightened geopolitical tensions and climate change. With shocks like the Middle East oil crisis and Donald...[Read More]