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The Middle East conflict has us all on edge.

For those travelling soon, check in with both your insurer and your airline. When the Australian Government issues a Level 4 "do not travel" warning, most insurance policies are void, even for an airport stopover, while no travel insurance covers claims arising from war. And if you’re thinking of cancelling a flight, talk to your airline and read our article. Jumping the gun could mean forfeiting consumer rights that you might have if they’re the ones that cancel.

Here in Australia, the disruption to supply chains and the predicted rise to petrol prices has some predicting the RBA will act when it next meets in less than two weeks time. I disagree.

For starters, which way would it move? A hike to the cash rate could dampen an economy it may soon need to resuscitate. A cut is off the table because inflation is running too hot. The Board is more likely to opt to revert back to a ‘wait-and-see’ strategy to get a better understanding of how long the conflict might last and how wide the impact extends.

For now, focus on what’s within your control. In a world of rising costs, small savings can add up. Whether it’s negotiating a sharper mortgage rate or simply shopping around for cheaper petrol – every win counts.

And in a brief reprieve from the heavy headlines, check out the winner of Australia’s best supermarket roast chicken – it may surprise you. If you haven’t yet tried the famous ‘chicken in a bag’ recipe, now might be the perfect time to give it a shake.

Canstar has just crowned the winner of the 2026 Most Satisfied Customer Award for Rotisserie Chicken. Is your local supermarket taking home the gold?

Want to save more on energy costs? The secret to savings is actually located on the front page of your bill.

The Australian Council of Trade Unions is pushing to increase minimum annual leave to five weeks, arguing people need greater relief from work pressures. While this is a long way from becoming law (if it will at all!), focus turns to ANZAC Day, which falls on a Saturday this year. New South Wales, WA and the ACT will get the day off on Monday 27 April, in addition to the Saturday memorial, while Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Tassie and the NT won’t. If your company works across state lines, it’s worth asking what their policy is. Here at Canstar, we’ve extended it to all staff regardless of where they live.

Bunnings stores might seemingly breed like rabbits but the hardware giant has pulled another one out of its hat – a partnership with Uber Eats, promising to deliver to your door in under 60 minutes (although sadly Bunnings’ iconic sausage sizzle isn’t on the delivery menu, yet). Is it a wallet win? For tradies or serious renovators, probably. Paying a delivery fee to stay on-site and keep working often costs less than losing an hour to a warehouse run. Plus, items are listed at in-store prices. For casual shoppers, it’s a wallet drain. Once service and delivery fees are added to a single bag of mulch, the convenience tax will probably hit hard.

With shipping routes under threat, now is the time to reinstall those fuel-checking apps because petrol prices can vary by as much as 30 or 40 cents. In Sydney’s north-west, one pump is selling E10 petrol at a hefty $2.18, while just 450 metres down the road, it’s $1.91. Not exactly cheap, but on a 60L tank, that’s a saving of over $16. Other options worth considering? Even the smallest of steps, such as checking your tyre pressure can make a difference to both fuel efficiency and safety, while for some, it might be about looking at the big picture by considering an EV. If you’ve got a petrol saving hack, big or small, send it my way.