Are you struggling to pay off one or more credit cards? High interest rates, fees and penalties can sometimes make credit card debt seem never-ending, even if you stop using the card, but there are always options. Read these 7 tips to help you pay off your plastic and break the debt cycle sooner. 1. Create a budget Having a clear idea of where your money's going can help you to cut out the less n..... Read more

Going through divorce and separation can be a stressful experience, especially if you're worried about how your finances will be affected. Having some idea of what to expect can help you avoid common mistakes and nasty surprises. While everyone's situation is different, here are some of the basic steps to consider to protect your finances and improve the chance of a positive outcome. Revise your ..... Read more

The Bank of Mum and Dad became one of Australia's top 10 lenders last year, with more than half of young Aussies seeking financial help from their parents to buy their first home. If you want to help your kids take their first step on the property ladder, there are more ways to do it than just lending them money and hoping they'll get around to paying you back. Each of these options needs to be c..... Read more

With consumer debt continuing to rise, more Australians are relying on payday lenders as a quick fix when they need some extra cash. These lenders offer small amount loans to people who might be refused a traditional bank loan because of their circumstances. Of course, like everything that sounds too good to be true, there is a catch. Payday loans have high interest rates, typically in the double..... Read more

More than 1 in 3 people in Australia live from paycheck to paycheck, according to UBank research. If you feel like there's never any money left at the end of the month, the 50/20/30 budgeting rule could help you to take better control of your finances. This rule of thumb was popularised by Elizabeth Warren and Amelia Warren Tyagi in their best-selling book, All Your Worth: The Ultimate Lifetime M..... Read more

Having a baby is an exciting time, but it can also bring stress and worry if you haven't got your finances in check. On average, it's estimated that Australian parents spend around $10,000 in their baby's first year alone, but this can be reduced significantly with good planning. The earlier you prepare your baby budget, the less of a shock it will be once they arrive. Calculate your current inco..... Read more

If you've got a low credit score, or you haven't built any credit, this can limit your options if you need to borrow money. Improving your credit score will improve your prospects, but this takes time. If you need money more urgently, you can compare non-conforming loans to find the best deal. What is bad credit? Your credit score is a number that tells lenders how likely you are to repay money y..... Read more

Keeping a credit card active, even if you're not using it, can impact your credit score. But if you want to avoid annual fees, switch to a better deal, get out of debt or your card's been lost or stolen, it's important to make sure you cancel your card properly. Otherwise, you might still be charged fees and penalties. Follow these steps to close your credit card account and stop making more cred..... Read more

This is your blog post. Start with an: Attention grabbing headline and Engaging first paragraph to draw readers in. At least one nice image to make the post visually appealing. Connect with your audience to increase online visibility with an engaging blog post related to what you offer. If your focus is on SEO, make your blog post at least 500 words. Google loves content, so the longer the bette..... Read more

No one likes to think about their own death or that of a loved one, but taking steps to improve your financial situation today could prevent unnecessary stress for your family during a difficult time. Family members are not usually responsible for paying someone else's debt, unless they are co-borrowers or signed a guarantee. Dying with debt could also affect someone's estate and how much is left ..... Read more