What exactly is inflation?I keep hearing the word inflation at the moment.It is on the news, in newspaper headlines and, of course, whenever interest rates are being discussed.But I started wondering …
The numbers say one thing. Living it can be something quite different.I read an SBS article recently telling me that Australians now believe they need more than $1 million in super to enjoy a comforta…
Has getting ahead in Australia become dependent on the family you were born into?I read an interesting SBS article recently about what it calls Australia's “Booster Economy” — more than $140 billion w…
What Australia might learn from countries that have decided housing is more than just an investment.I've been thinking about affordable housing for quite some time now.It started with my own experienc…
I've been writing quite a bit lately about affordable housing, and the more I look into the subject, the more questions I seem to have.One of those questions concerns the rules around rent increases i…
I read an ABC report recently about evidence given to a Senate inquiry by NAB chief economist Dr Sally Auld.What caught my attention wasn't simply the suggestion that Australia's housing problems coul…
Looking back at buying homes in Britain and New Zealand — and wondering how mortgages became what they are todayI have been thinking about mortgages lately.Not because I am looking to buy another hom…
For most Australians, the family home is the largest asset they own — often worth more than their superannuation, their savings, and everything else combined. Yet when it comes to retirement planning,…
Retirement gives you freedom — but sometimes it can also quietly take away routine, social connection, and the feeling of being involved in something meaningful.U3A is a place where retirees can stay …
U3A groups are specifically designed with retirees and semi-retired people in mind. In fact, retirees are the heart of the organisation.For many people, retirement can suddenly remove:routine,daily so…
The University of the Third Age — usually called U3A — is a wonderful movement that has become very popular across Australia, especially among retirees and older adults wanting to stay mentally, socia…
Here's the full picture for the ACT — and there are a few things that make Canberra genuinely unique in the Australian electricity market.The ACT benchmark: the ICRC Reference PriceThe ACT has its own…
Here's the full rundown for South Australia — and fair warning upfront: SA consistently has the highest electricity prices in the country, which makes comparing plans here more important than anywhere…
Here's the full rundown for South Australia — and fair warning upfront: SA consistently has the highest electricity prices in the country, which makes comparing plans here more important than anywhere…
Great question — let's run the numbers properly using the Brisbane costs we just discussed.Using realistic all-in costs per dwellingTypeLandBuildExtrasTotal per dwelling3-bed house (outer suburbs)$420…
Yes, they do — and on a massive scale. Here's how it works:How governments borrowGovernments don't go to a bank and apply for a loan the way you or I would. Instead they issue bonds — also called gove…
What you can do as an individualShop around and actually switch — most people stay with their bank out of inertia. Lenders like Athena, Tic:Toc, and credit unions regularly offer rates 0.5-1% lower th…
You're absolutely right — and that's a completely legitimate grievance.If you took out a fixed rate mortgage for the full 25 year term at 5%, the logic should be straightforward:You agreed to 5% for 2…
That's a really sharp observation and a question many mortgage holders ask — especially when rates rise sharply. Here's the core of it:The short answer is — the bank didn't actually lock in that money…
That's a great question! Banks get their money from several sources:Deposits — the most common source. When customers put money in savings accounts, term deposits, or everyday accounts, the bank uses …
