Making Money Easy

What's going on with the economy right now because of COVID-19 can be a little overwhelming.Better the devil you know, than the devil you don't so 10 News First Finance Reporter Gillian Bowen has picked the brains of two economists to explain how the pandemic's tentacles are impacting your hip pocket.Su-Lin Ong, Chief Economist at RBC Capital Markets and Stephen Halmarick, Chief Economist at the Commonwealth Bank join Gillian to unpack the state of play.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join 10 News First Finance Reporter Gillian Bowen as she tries to make the world of finance and the economy, easier to understand. On Episode 1 Gillian is joined by EY Oceania Chief Economist Jo Masters and Commonwealth Bank Senior Economist Belinda Allen. Topics include: COVID lockdowns, why is the Australian economy growing, and how inflation can impact your pay and mortgage.To get in contact with Making Money Easy send emails to makingmoneyeasy2021@outlook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Join 10 News First Finance Reporter Gillian Bowen as she tries to make the world of finance and the economy, easier to understand. She's joined by Stephen Koukoulas, Market Economics Managing Director and Simon Cowan, Research Director at the Centre for Independent Studies.Topics include: Surging job vacancies and how it could help you get a pay rise!What's behind more Australians working a second job, and the risky loans that have caught the eye of the Banking Watchdog.To get in contact with Making Money Easy send emails to makingmoneyeasy2021@outlook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Episode 3 Gillian is joined by Su-Lin Ong, Chief Economist at RBC Capital Markets and Stephen Halmarick, Chief Economist at The Commonwealth Bank. Topics include: Jobs numbers, the Australian housing market and favourite biscuits.To get in contact with Making Money Easy send emails to makingmoneyeasy2021@outlook.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finance Reporter Gillian Bowen is joined by ATO Assistant Commissioner Tim Loh and Tax Accountant Helen Francis to talk all things tax.What you can/can’t claim after a year of working from home.We reveal what the ATO is cracking down on this year …and the worst attempts at a rort.Plus, have you heard of an ATO ‘nudge’?The number Tim mentioned for reporting scams: 1800 008 540If you are fired up for more tax talk after listening to this pod, you can check out the ATO's own podcast, Tax inVoice, wherever you listen to podcasts or here:https://www.ato.gov.au/media-centre/video-and-audio-files/ato-podcast---tax-invoiceYou can check out Helen's firm here: https://www.tyfrancis.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A lot of Australia is in lockdown again, so how will it affect business?Also, what is the Intergenerational Report? Why is it important? What does our economic future really look like?Julie Toth , Australian Industry Group Chief Economist and Peter Martin, a Visiting Fellow at the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University (also a former Commonwealth Treasury Official) join Gillian to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The RBA has revealed its plans to keep supporting the Australian economy through the pandemic and even took questions about it! So how will it support YOU and what does it mean for your interest rate.Plus, why can’t I find a builder?Felicity Emmett, ANZ Senior Economist and Peter Tulip, Chief Economist at Centre for Independent Studies join Gillian to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Did you know the amount of annual leave Australian workers now have due is at record high? (A combined 174.9 million days!!)There's actually a real economic benefit from having a break.Plus, what's economic 'scarring'? And do the latest unemployment figures show any signs of it?Jo Masters, Ernst & Young Oceania Chief Economist and Gareth Spence, NAB Senior Economist join Gillian to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When was the last time you checked your superannuation balance?How do you tell a decent fund from a bad one?When it comes to retirement, do you know how to pay out your funds to live a good life?Plus ...the 4 tips to ensure your super works for YOU.We answer all that AND MORE.Ian Fryer, Chant West General Manager and Paul Versteege, Combined Pensioners and Superannuants Association Policy Manager join Gillian to discuss.Their websites:chantwest.com.aucpsa.org.auSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our economists and politicians have never spent so much time re-crunching already crunched numbers.Has the rule book on how economics works been thrown out the window?We dive into the latest cost of living data, what the Reserve Bank is re-thinking ahead of the August board meeting and is there a way to use your fruit and veggie bill to get a pay rise?Belinda Allen, Senior Economist at the Commonwealth Bank and Phin Ziebell from the Economics team at National Australia Bank, join Gillian to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our political leaders have agreed to COVID-19 vaccine targets to end lockdowns and start to reopen.So what about the data this 'roadmap' is based on. Do the numbers stack up?Plus, why it's so hard being a first-home buyer at the moment...and which loan holders are breaking records.Looking at this and more with Gillian is Besa Deda, Chief Economist at Westpac Business Bank and Adelaide Timbrell, an economist at ANZ Bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cryptocurrency - everyone seems to be talking about it these days - particularly when Telsa CEO Elon Musk decides to TWEET about it.Bitcoin, blockchain technology, digital assets... What are all those things, how do they work and can you use your digital currency to buy your groceries?Plus, what in the world is a CryptoKitty?!Joni Pirovich, Founder of Blockchain and Digital Assets and Ben Nash, Advisor and Founder of Pivot Wealth join Gillian to expand her brain, and yours.Joni's company Blockchain and Digital Assets can be found here: https://blockchainanddigitalassets.com/Ben's company Pivot Wealth can be found here: www.pivotwealth.com.auBen has a podcast called "How to be Successful with Money" and he also has spoken to Joni on there. You can find that episode on the links below:AppleSpotifyStitcherPodbeanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pre-loved couches, old dining sets, clothes, tools...Online marketplaces are full of people de-cluttering their homes.And new research shows the average Australian household has approximately $5,300 worth of items they could sell for extra cash.But trading in the Circular Economy delivers more than a financial benefit - it's helping the planet too.To explain HOW, Mark Kehoe, Gumtree Australia Managing Director and Nicole Garofano, Planet Ark Head of Circular Economy Development join Gillian to expand her brain, and yours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Australians are setting a rapid pace to get the jab but how will our economy go when 80 per cent of us are protected? And what happens if we don't get there? Plus - how on earth could house prices be STILL RISING? And the benefits of a construction pipeline.Kristina Clifton, Senior Economist at the Commonwealth Bank and Peter Munckton, Chief Economist at BOQ join Gillian to expand her brain, and yours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest economic growth figures are out and they show the economy expanded in the second quarter BUT there's a caveat - they only take in a TINY bit of the latest lockdowns. In this episode we dive into how the data works, what to expect from the data next time around, and what IS a 'technical recession' and why we should throw the description in the bin.Su-Lin Ong, Chief Economist at RBC Capital Markets and Stephen Halmarick, Chief Economist at the Commonwealth Bank, join Gillian to expand her brain, and yours.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As lockdown drags on, plenty were wondering if the current performance of the economy was enough to make the RBA do more to help us cope … so did they?Yes and no … our economists explain.Plus, how stopping violence against women also makes sense for the economy.And where would you go with your vaccine passport.Angela Jackson, Lead Economist at Equity Economics and Matthew Bunny, Economist at St.George Bank join Gillian to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If there's one thing we can rely on during a pandemic, it's its ability to through a spanner in the works when it comes to data. The jobs figures for August tell a big story - but you've got to look under the bonnet. Almost 150,000 people lost work ...while heaps chose to stop looking at all ...and those that still 'have' jobs saw their hours plummet.Plus - how important is the pension, and is the GST about to rise?Leonora Risse, RMIT University Senior Economics Lecturer and Stephen Koukoulas, Market Economics Managing Director, join Gillian to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We've never done so much online shopping or had access to such low mortgage rates while others have lost jobs for the first time in their lives and are now receiving government benefits.So how are people paying the bills and what happens when they can't.Plus, the push to protect vulnerable consumers from getting too many Buy Now, Pay Later accounts.Deb Shroot, a Financial Counsellor at the National Debt Helpline and Sally Tindall, RateCity Research Director, join Gillian to explain.If you're experiencing mortgage stress, seek support now - call 1800 007 007 or visit http://ndh.org.au for free financial counselling.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

APRA - the banking regulator is considering what actions it can take to address the medium-term risk created as a result of surging loan sizes compared to what people earn.The changes are likely to cool property prices.So how will this all work and who might be impacted?ANZ Senior Economist Adelaide Timbrell and NAB'S Agribusiness Economist Phin Ziebell join Gillian to discuss.And Phin's audio gets much better in the second half - we promise, so stick with us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As risky debt increases and house prices soar, banks have been told to apply a slightly tougher test on a person's ability to afford their mortgage.But what does it mean DOLLAR-wise and WHO will be impacted the most?And will it actually take some HEAT out of the booming Australian property market.Peter Tulip - Chief Economist at Centre for Independent Studies and Felicity Emmett - Senior Economist at ANZ join Gillian to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.