Financial Planning

Self-professed "over-achiever" Olivia Franklin shares what she has learnt after being forced to move on from her failed dream, and the more than $100,000 worth of debt that has come with it.

Budgeting is not just about restricting your spending. It's a tool to help you better manage your money and achieve your financial goals, writes Nataasha Torzsa.

When my relationship ended, I knew I wanted to keep the place. But borrowing more money to take over the mortgage was a terrifying prospect.

When I recently saw feminist Clementine Ford discussing the superannuation gender gap, I realised I'd grossly overlooked the one in my own relationship.

We asked two experts how you'd ideally have in your super account at your stage of life — and how you can boost it if your current balance isn't measuring up.

Interest rates, credit card fees, utility deals — yawn, right? It might be boring, but having a chat with your providers could put thousands back into your pocket each year.

For Melanie, owning her own home — and getting a loan in her own name — was a hard four-year journey.

Earning less? You don't have to cut joy out of the budget.

The rolling impacts of drought, bushfires and the pandemic have left a lot of people in difficult situations. Where to get help depends on how dire things are.

If you're looking to refinance your home loan, should you use a mortgage broker? We look at the pros and cons to help you make an informed decision.

As the economic shock from COVID-19 reverberates around Australia, what happens if you can't pay your rent?

If you haven't come across them, money diaries are an extremely online — and divisive — phenomenon. But writing them off dismisses their benefit to readers, Meg Watson writes.

Host: Julia Baird Panel: Bo Seo, Nareen Young, Amanda Vanstone, Shane Wright Guests: Jamie Lowe, Dr. Ginny Mansberg

People often spend more time planning a holiday than they do buying a house — and if you don't borrow the right amount it can lead to trouble.

By spending a few hours looking at your super account, you could end up saving yourself tens of thousands of dollars.

Now she's a grown-up financial literacy educator, Kate Crowhurst has some words of wisdom for her younger self.

If you've managed to scrape together some savings, keeping it in the bank doesn't look too crash hot. We ask investment experts for their tips on investing $5,000.

Some people regard a flashy "platinum" or high-limit card as status symbol. But today, with all the payment systems around, alternatives are nearly always available.

Research shows that being uncomfortable talking about money is something we need to get over if we want to improve financial literacy, especially among young people.

If you've recently got your first job, or jobs, and are trying to hang on to your creative dreams, Natasha Hertanto has some advice for you.

As a parent, you probably have many lessons you hope to teach your kids. But let's focus on money: how can you effectively teach your teen about smart spending habits?

Budgeting and building good money habits is a bit like making a habit of exercise: it's rewarding, but isn't easy.

When we're trying to budget or save, we can't always rely on our willpower. We need to set our lives up to encourage the behaviours we're trying to cultivate and discourage the ones we want to cut out.

"Getting better with money" starts with changing habits. And as any ex-smoker will tell you, that's not easy but here's where to start.