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It was a Spotify notification that made me see red: “You are out of audio listening time.”

Excuse me?! It came midway through an audio book that was getting us through the school holiday struggle. To upgrade? Another $16.99 on top of our $27.99-a-month plan.

Subscription creep is real, and it’s time for an audit.

Consider this: ditching just one $20/month subscription saves $240 a year. Put that into a typical $600k mortgage and you might be looking at a total saving of more than $13,000 if you keep it up for the next 25 or so years.

You don't have to stare at the walls that whole time. Why not cap your TV streaming services at two at a time and rotate them as new shows drop? You’ll enjoy the novelty when you switch back.

🔒 Energy check

Origin Energy customers are on high alert following news of a potential data breach. While Origin believes customers’ credit card and bank details remain secure, it’s a good reminder to do a review of your digital security:

✅ Ditch weak passwords for a passphrase e.g. BlueCoffeeTree!42 (just don’t all switch over to that one 🫣 )

✅ Stop recycling. If you're using the same password across multiple accounts, break that habit today.

✅ Turn on Multi-Factor Authentication and enable banking notifications on your phone. That way if any unauthorised money goes out of your bank account, you’ll know about it the very next time you pick up your mobile.

If you’ve fallen victim to a scam, there are ways to get your money back, but it’s best to act quickly.

It’s important to assess your home’s internet needs before shopping around for an internet plan — you don’t want to end up underpaying or overpaying for a plan that’s slower or faster than you really need.

The ‘best’ share trading platform for you will depend on your needs and financial situation. No matter what type of investor you are, it’s important to consider the services offered and associated fees. 

When buying and renovating my first home years ago, my dad’s help was a blessing. There’s nothing like a parent to help you not only build an Ikea kitchen, but to throw in financial support as well. As times today get tougher, new research from the University of Newcastle has put the good old ‘bank of mum and dad’ in the spotlight. 

If you’re planning on helping kids out, it pays to be wary of whether the money is a gift or a loan. Why does that matter? 

⚠️ The Australian Government cautions pensioners that gifting more than $10k in a financial year (or $30k in a rolling five-year period) can affect your payments. 

⚠️ If your child and their partner happen to split up, a cash gift can be treated as a joint asset in a divorce, opening the door to major familial dramas.

⚠️ If you do want to be paid back, it’s good to be clear and set your expectations right up front by firming up the arrangement as a loan.   

The bottom line? The research cautions that if you’re planning to offer a helping hand to get a loved one into the housing market, it’s wise to obtain formal legal and financial advice beforehand, to avoid financial and personal heartache down the line.

Alasdair Duncan

Deputy Finance Editor

Small switches could save you $11,340, our cost of living comparison found.

Disclaimer: *Canstar’s cost of living comparison, July 2026 

After a five-year wait for a license, Global fintech giant Revolut has opened up shop as Australia’s newest bank. Alongside its existing currency exchange tools, Revolut now offers credit cards, personal loans, and savings accounts with no minimum deposit requirements and interest paid daily. Rates are up to 5.05% p.a. The catch? That’s only for subscribers of Revolut’s $99.99-per-month ‘Ultra’ tier. Free accounts earn just 3.00% p.a. Even so, the additional perks on offer on Revolut’s Ultra tier may be appealing to big spenders willing to shell out almost $1,200 a year in fees.  

Samsung has dropped its luxe new Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Galaxy Z Flip 8 phones, but with prices starting at just under $2,000, they’re definitely a high-end buy. However, the launch of a new phone series often signals serious discounts on last year’s models, and retailers are cutting costs on a range of Galaxy phones right now. If you’re happy to buy on a plan from Telstra, Optus or Vodafone, you can save up to 50% on some of Samsung’s most popular devices. Just check the terms and conditions at the checkout, and keep in mind that cancelling your plan early might mean you lose that cheaper phone price. 

If rising grocery prices have you rethinking your roast chicken run, Red Rooster has introduced a tasty win for the wallet. The national chicken chain has introduced $10 whole roast chickens with no minimum spend, available Monday to Wednesday until 18 August (max of two in one purchase). The deal follows supermarket roast chicken prices rising this year to $13 at Coles and Woolworths, while Coles also removed its ‘Hot roast chicken promise’ vouchers for times when stores sell out. One to keep in mind for a midweek dinner or meal prep staple that could help to keep costs down.