spending

Christmas is just 99 days away. Let that sink in. As we grapple with the onslaught of a global pandemic and a faltering economy, the idea of sitting around a table for Christmas lunch seems about as distant as an international holiday. But despite the ... More

Ever since my son was little, we've loved playing chess together. Chess is a great game to learn how to win at life. Look at the whole board and don't let immediate threats blind you to other opportunities. Think four moves ahead, but be present ... More

The second I sent an email in bright red, capital letters screaming that a five year credit default was about to stain the recipient's flawless record, I felt relieved. That fleeting respite was payback for the constant barrage of abuse I would ... More

Creating new habits is hard. Our human nature loves to maintain the status quo, and sees small change as energy sapping and frustrating. Plus, when we attempt to build good financial habits, such as cutting back on discretionary spending, we face a ... More

The end-of-financial-year sales means this is one of the busiest shopping periods on the calendar as retailers slash prices across a huge range of products to clear old stock. Aussies usually jump at the chance to buy big-ticket items on the cheap (after ... More

During the pandemic, one of my sons had the good fortune of having a job at a local supermarket. This gave him front-row tickets to the Covid-19 human behaviour experiment. At the height of the toilet paper panic, he was given the task of rolling a ... More

COVID-19 has rewritten life in immeasurable ways, including the way we view and use cash. The use of digital payments has skyrocketed in the past months, driven by fear of virus transmission via cash. Analysis from Commonwealth Bank has found that digital ... More

Consumer sentiment has posted the biggest fall in 47 years. It's the latest data point reflecting the economic devastation wrought by COVID-19, but there's better signs ahead. The Westpac-Melbourne Institute Consumer Sentiment Index fell 17.7% ... More

We're in unchartered waters. Coronavirus has knees shaking about everything from health to investments and travel plans. While watching the Dow can give an indication of the panic sweeping financial markets, here are some unconventional indices ... More

We've all been there. You're hard up for cash, but don't want to go to a bank or payday lender. In times like these, a loan from a friend or family member can seem like an easy fix. But it's a route fraught with danger. When you get ... More