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My friend Lorna doesn’t have a car. Two kids, four bikes, no car. They moved out to Australia at the start of the year and wanted to see how long they’d last without one. Almost six months in, they’re going strong, not to mention saving a bomb.

Our annual car insurance report is yet another reminder costs are only going one way with another rise in comprehensive premiums in 2026, this time by a national average of 5 per cent. And while not having a car isn’t practical for many households (if we ditched even one of our two cars, you would not want to be a fly on the wall in our house), what if you could turn that 5 per cent rise on your insurance into a 20 per cent or more drop? That’s right. Our report found that if someone moved from the average priced comprehensive car insurance policy to one of our 5-star rated ones, they could potentially lob $651 off their annual premium. Yes – $651 off one car.

EOFY year is calling and it’s the perfect checkpoint to do a stocktake, not of the sales, but of your super contributions, both your employer’s and your own, if you’ve made any. From 1 July, your boss has to put your super in at the exact same time as you get paid, so it’s going to be easier from then on to keep an eye on it. It’s worth downloading your super fund’s app and keeping it next to your banking one to check on that nest egg more regularly.

Term deposit rates are sitting near their highest level in almost three years, putting savers in a stronger position. Here’s what to consider before you commit.

In a survey of more than 4,700 Australians, one rewards program came out on top for value, rewards, ease of redemption and overall satisfaction.

If you know me, you’ll know my calendar is a work in progress. After all, life moves fast, and plans need to move faster. But my spontaneity can weigh on my wallet.

That’s why, when I was booking tickets to a comedy gig a while back, I happily coughed up an extra $10 or so for ‘refund protection’. Better safe than sorry, right? Turns out, the joke was on me when I realised I couldn't make it to the gig.

To get that refund, I needed an ‘approved’ excuse, and a simple calendar clash didn't cut it. I briefly considered feigning illness (cough cough), but the ticket retailer demanded ironclad proof. I couldn't exactly get a doctor's note for a case of buyer's remorse (but how good would that be?!).

The lesson? If you’re making a booking on a whim, don't buy into add-on refund insurance without checking the fine print. Turns out, those safety nets can have more holes than a bad comedy routine.

Brooke Cooper
Finance Editor

If your taxable income has crept over $101k as an individual and you don’t have hospital insurance, you’re staring down the barrel of the Medicare Levy Surcharge when you next file your tax return. This extra tax might be applied annually, but it’s calculated daily, so the damage is already done. It is still worth taking action, mind you – noting the income threshold jumps to $105k next financial year. For someone earning the average full-time wage of $107k, the surcharge is $1,070 – that money gets you absolutely nothing. Compare this to basic hospital policies, which start at an average of $993 and it's a no brainer. Before you buy, check out Bronze cover too; for just $20 or $30 more a month, you might secure better cover.

The ATO is handing drivers a welcome win just in time for the new financial year. Starting July 1, the cents-per-kilometre claim rate climbs from 88 cents to a shinier 91 cents. This bump means millions of Aussies can now pocket up to $4,550 for work-related travel without touching a logbook. While you still need to show how you calculated your trips up to that 5,000-kilometre annual cap, the small amount of extra cash will be welcome when so many car expenses, such as insurance, are on the rise.

Depop might be the coolest recycled word in town, but it has a challenger. Vinnies has worked out if you do some of the hard work for your customers, that is, sort through the noise on the racks, you’re more likely to make a perfect match with its highly curated ‘Vinnies Finds’. The business model is win-win. The charity can charge a higher price than its regular items, but fashionista bargain hunters can still find premium items at much lower prices. Best of all, your money directly funds essential community services like cost-of-living relief, homelessness support and domestic violence programs.