Rather than New Year’s Resolutions, which are bound for failure, here are a few nudges to help 2021 and beyond be more fun, fruitful and fulfilling. They’re entirely idiosyncratic, in no particular order and shamelessly drawn from others’ experience and wisdom. They also work and are mostly achievable. Above all, they are simple and short in number and shouldn’t be too challenging to star... read more>

If you fear some of the intricacies of navigating private health insurance, like being stung financially, here's a straightforward fix which could save you hundreds. When the doctor or specialist's office sends you a letter with the operation's item numbers, so you can check with your fund that you are covered, try just one thing. Don't be shy, don't wait to be asked and don't hesitate: m... read more>

It may be hard to believe, but the banks stand accused of not only making it difficult to compare home loans but also ensuring switching to cheaper mortgages is trickier than it could be. Incredible, isn’t it?  Perhaps not, given their track record of erecting hurdles in front of those of us merely seeking a better deal for what can be our most costly outlay. What is incredible is despite... read more>

Older generations have long called out the young for being wasteful with their limited resources. For example, what about the furore over their alleged preference for high-priced smashed avocado? But now the boot is on the other foot. Retirees are being egged on to spend their money in savings, super and even the family home before it’s all too late and their children are the beneficiaries o... read more>

It hardly needs saying that it pays to avoid high-interest borrowing, be that credit cards or payday lenders, especially at Christmas. Those who pay top dollar over the festive season to finance their purchases, even the necessities, presumably feel they have no other choices. Few would sample the delights of the payday lender, whether online or in the shopping strip, if they thought th... read more>