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

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