For the first time in the nine year history of the Christmas Spending Index, more Australians are looking to their debit and EFTPOS cards instead of their credit cards to pay for their Christmas gift shopping. Cash payments are also on the decline, with only 20% of shoppers relying on this traditional payment method for their Christmas spending. As part of the annual Christmas Spending In... read more>

Whilst driving with my 17 year old red p-plater the other day, he put my automatic car into neutral whilst cruising down the road at 70kmh. When I asked him why he did that, he said “to save money on petrol”. When I explained that the fuel he would be saving would be absolutely minimal, it got me thinking about our petrol-price obsessed culture. Nightly news bulletins now feature a “fuel-wat... read more>

Santa is 5 weeks off sliding down the chimney so it might be time to start thinking about the shopping. To say my children have had the best year ever is an understatement. I’ve forked out plenty of money on them so it will be a lean Christmas at my house. I’m not feeling guilty at all as they will still pick up plenty of things at their father’s house from his family. At my place it will... read more>

  The term frugal has a special meaning for older Australians because they tend to be more prudent, economical and averse to waste that our younger counterparts. But what if that frugality is somehow counterproductive and you could, to use that great English phrase, be ‘penny wise but pound foolish’? Two separate surveys out this week suggest some people’s efforts to be frugal are misp... read more>

The NSW Government this week released a discussion paper for feedback aimed at reining in excessive insurer profits and creating a fairer and more affordable scheme for NSW motorists and injured road users. Currently only 45 cents in every Green Slip dollar goes to injured road users, with the rest going to scheme costs including insurer profits and legal fees. Minister for Innovation and... read more>