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Timely coverage of the money, property and energy news that hits Australian household budgets, rate decisions, government schemes, and policy changes, explained in plain English.
Energy rebates, tax cuts and rent assistance all help at the margins, but the biggest savings usually come from your largest recurring bills. Here is what is available in 2026 and where to focus.
Government rebates help, but they come and go. The lasting energy bill relief comes from switching to a sharper plan, shifting usage off peak, and buying less from the grid. Here is how to do both.
When the RBA cuts the cash rate, your mortgage repayments can fall. The catch is that lenders do not always pass the full cut on, and not always quickly. Here is how to check and what to do.
Negative gearing changes resurface every few years, and 2026 is no different. Here is what reform might actually look like, from grandfathering to limiting deductions to new builds or trimming the CGT discount, who it would touch, and why existing investors are usually shielded.
The Cheaper Home Batteries Program still cuts about 30 per cent off an installed battery, but the subsidy shrinks every year. Here is the 2026 state of play and what to do about it.
Help to Buy is a federal shared-equity scheme that trims your deposit and loan in exchange for a government stake in your home. Here is the plain-English version, with the catches.
An RBA rate decision is the Reserve Bank board choosing whether to move, hold or cut the cash rate. Here is how those decisions are made and how they reach your repayments, savings and the dollar.
Electricity prices change every year and vary by state and network. Here is what moves your bill, why the reference price is only a benchmark, and the practical moves that actually cut what you pay.
The First Home Guarantee can get you into a home with a 5% deposit and no LMI, if you meet the income and price caps. Here is how it works in 2026.
The super guarantee reached 12% in 2025 after a staged rise. For most workers that means a bigger nest egg with no action needed, but it pays to understand how it works.