The Savings Tip Jar

Savings Scribe Bernadette Lunas joins to talk about Aussie homeownership rates. Is the Australian Dream still alive? Listen to find out!If you have questions, comments, or feedback, email us at enquires@savings.com.au.

RBA expectations are heating up ahead of the central bank's Tuesday rate decision, with two of the big four banks now putting their money on a March rate hike.But where should you - or shouldn’t you - be putting your money? Australia’s #1 bill buster and consumer finance expert at Zyft, Joel Gibson, joins Brooke and Dom to unpack the latest cost-of-living pressures.With Aussies set to feel around $2,000 more in back-pocket pain in 2026, now is the time to put the brakes on unnecessary spending - and Joel shares exactly where households can cut back.If you have questions, comments, or feedback, email us at enquires@savings.com.au.

RBA expectations are heating up ahead of the central bank's Tuesday rate decision, with two of the big four banks now putting their money on a March rate hike.But where should you - or shouldn’t you - be putting your money? Australia’s #1 bill buster and consumer finance expert at Zyft, Joel Gibson, joins Brooke and Dom to unpack the latest cost-of-living pressures.With Aussies set to feel around $2,000 more in back-pocket pain in 2026, now is the time to put the brakes on unnecessary spending - and Joel shares exactly where households can cut back.Plus, Savings Scribe Bernadette Lunas joins to talk about Aussie homeownership rates. Is the Australian Dream still alive? Listen to find out! And of course, Brooke and Dom break down the week in news - and what a week it has been! If you have questions, comments, or feedback, email us at enquires@savings.com.au.

International Women’s Day is on 8 March, and with this year’s theme being 'Give To Gain', it’s the perfect time to tackle the financial literacy gap and its impact on other inequities: the wage gap, wealth gap, super gap, and retirement gap.Joining Dom and Brooke is UniSuper Head of Advice Strategy, Annika Bradley, who shares practical ways women (and men) can use financial knowledge and advice to take control of their financial futures.Plus, Savings Scribe Denise Raward breaks down the rumoured changes to negative gearing and the capital gains tax discount. And of course, there’s plenty of news on the RBA, the housing market, and the broader financial landscape.

What would you do if you unexpectedly received a chunk of cash? Your first instinct might not be the best cause of action. That’s according to Bridges Financial Services financial planner Pete Brewster, who joined the Savings Tip Jar podcast the week to talk about what Aussies should do if they suddenly find themselves with a lump sum. Hint: Paying off your mortgage or dumping it into superannuation might not be the best course of action. Plus, Savings scribe Harry O’Sullivan joins to reminisce on his years as a Savings.com.au finance journalist as he prepares to jet off into a new chapter in life. And of course, Dom and Brooke run through all the latest financial news, including this week’s shock inflation read and the market’s new leading savings account.

Australian Banking Association CEO Simon Birmingham joins the Savings Tip Jar to break down a ripper year for home loan refinancing. What drove mortgage-holders to refinance in droves in 2025? He also covers the latest in the banking world - bonus savings rates, brokers vs. direct-to-bank lending, and investor lending trends.Plus: Savings Scribe Bea Garcia unpacks the key steps for transitioning your owner-occupier home into an investment property.And of course, Dom and Brooke run through the must-know finance news for Aussies to stay ahead of the game. On the agenda: Coles vs. the ACCC, the latest wage price index data, and a look at February's major bank reporting season.If you have questions, comments, or feedback, email us at enquires@savings.com.au.

Cool housing solutions, financially hot dates, and a swathe of financial news: It’s a dual-expert episode of the Savings Tip Jar podcast.This week, Custodian managing director James Fitzgerald joins us to unpack the rise of modular homes, a low-cost housing solution now stocked by retail giant Bunnings.Then, ahead of Valentine’s Day, new research reveals 1.5 million Aussies have ghosted a potential partner over misaligned financial values. ING head of consumer and market insights Matt Bowen explains what’s behind the trend, and what it says about modern relationships.Plus: shocking rental growth, record first home buyer borrowing, and the continuing fallout from the latest RBA rate hike.If you have questions, comments, or feedback, email us at enquires@savings.com.au.

It’s official: the Reserve Bank of Australia has hiked the cash rate for the first time since 2023, bringing the 2025 cutting cycle to an abrupt end.Dom and Brooke are joined by Savings.com.au 'chief economist' Harry O’Sullivan, who breaks down all punters need to know about the decision and what to expect next.Plus, house prices and the Aussie dollar are both on the up.And finally, Raiz CEO Brendan Malone joins the podcast to unpack new data showing Gen Z is packing a serious financial punch in 2026.All that, and plenty of savings tips. If you have questions, comments, or feedback, please email us at enquires@savings.com.au.

Inflation is out, unemployment is down, and an RBA rate hike looks more likely - and that's just the first 10 minutes!This week Dom and Brooke break down a financial news cycle that's been pedalling at lightspeed.Then, savings scribe Bernadette Lunas joins the show to unpack Australia’s most consistent suburbs for property investing.Finally, CommBank senior economist Ashwin Clarke drops into Dollar Dialog to break down one of Australia’s most overlooked - yet integral - data points: the Household Savings Ratio.And as always, we've peppered plenty of expert savings tips to help you manage your money with confidence.If you have questions, comments, or feedback, email us at enquires@savings.com.au.

This week on the pod we spoke with Justin Dowd from Australian Family Lawyers on the huge $350 billion wealth transfer (NAB figures) that's set to happen over the next couple decades. Baby Boomers are set to pass on their inheritances to their offspring, so Justin talked us through the importance of getting this right, as well as if this is fair and what this means for the Australian economy.

Summer Series rolls on. 2026 is set to be a big year for property with many research houses forecasting big gains in values. So, what's a first home buyer to do? Darragh Heard, founder and director of sales and marketing property at Tallpopie, explains to Brooke Cooper the challenges FHBs face now, including construction bottlenecks and actually having a series of good dwellings to choose from! Reach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au 00:39 - Savings tip - buy humbly03:59 - FHBs in 202606:12 - Supply side struggles11:21 - Demand side13:19 - Taxes on developers16:03 - Developers changing tack20:18 - Repurposed sites for housing

Summer Series: In depth chats to keep you entertained and informed over the December-January lull where you don't know what day it is. Melbourne remains an enigma in terms of property price performance. Prices are still flat in a lot of areas. Despite interest rate cuts, demand hasn't picked up too much and it remains a balanced market. Victoria is one of the only states broadly on track fulfilling its housing supply goals, and there are some ambitious densification projects going on.Haz and savings scribe Harry sit down to digest the top suburb picks that real estate agents and property experts have identified for us. Read Harry's article here https://www.savings.com.au/news/melbourne-suburbs-to-watch-in-202602:00 - Sunshine04:21 - Footscray07:11 - Point Cook10:10 - Corio11:59 - Thomastown 14:14 - Coburg 16:23 - Box HillReach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au

Summer series rolls on. In this episode we're talking about Darwin property. Property in the Top End has been a curious success story over the past year or so, neatly coinciding with the introduction of a $50k homeowners grant. On to discuss this and the suburbs to watch in 2026 is Belinda Tennant, the founder of Thrive Property NT. The article about Darwin property herehttps://www.savings.com.au/news/darwin-suburbs-to-watch-2026Reach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au 00:54 - Darwin CBD02:15 - Lyons and Muirhead03:30 - Fannie Bay04:54 - Stuart Park, Parap, Larrakeyah, The Gardens06:18 - Local bant08:30 - Influence of $50k homebuyers grant10:14 - Investors driving demand?

Summer Series continues on. Let Denise Raward's dulcet tones take you through some of the Gold Coast suburbs to watch in 2026, as marked by property experts. There's a central theme among most: Northern growth corridors. With Denise as a GC local herself, and with Haz growing up there, it's an entertaining one. Read Denise's article with expert picks:https://www.savings.com.au/news/gold-coast-suburbs-to-watch-2026Reach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au01:08 - Overview03:27 - Southport07:18 - Labrador09:37 - Pimpama12:49 - Helensvale16:30 - Biggera Waters18:17 - Ashmore, Parkwood & Molendinar 22:20 - Miami25:46 - Why no southern suburbs?

The first summer series kicks off! These episodes are designed to be more casual in nature over the quiet period. In this episode Brooke and Haz sat down casually to talk about some of the biggest themes and stories of the year. From the RBA cuts to a continued pause, to the ongoing property price rebound, savings account conditions, mortgage rates under 5% - 2025 had a bit of everything. Reach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au Experts' top savings tips wrap:https://www.savings.com.au/news/how-can-i-financially-get-ahead-in-202602:15 - Best savings tips of the year07:00 - Most impactful money habits13:00 - New TD rates from ANZ, Macquarie, Heartland16:55 - Domain housing affordability report22:30 - Fixed home loan rate hikes from Macquarie, others25:15 - RBA 2025 review27:30 - Trump Tariffs Review31:56 - Election and budget review40:17 - Mid-year RBA and inflation review41:10 - Changes to savings accounts in 202546:05 - Changes to home loans in 202551:41 - Property prices in 202555:55 - RBA forecasts for 202658:20 - Property forecasts for 2026

Ever seen some dodgy financial advice floating around on socials, namely TikTok and Instagram? Ever thought they make it seem like it's too easy to buy 50 investment properties and leverage yourself to the hilt? Here to discuss the problem of finfluencers and the dangers of overleverage is Deline Jacovides, financial adviser and founder of Mazi Wealth. She's been busy herself busting those finfluencer myths on social media and she joins the podcast to discuss this more in-depth.Of course, this in itself is not to be considered financial advice.Reach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au 01:34 - Savings tip03:05 - Crackdown on properties bought through trusts04:38 - The dangers of overleverage08:22 - The rise of finfluencers11:11 - Why APRA is cracking down on high leverage12:57 - Are the finfluencers sweating

Ever seen some dodgy financial advice floating around on socials, namely TikTok and Instagram? Ever thought they make it seem like it's too easy to buy 50 investment properties and leverage yourself to the hilt? Here to discuss the problem of finfluencers and the dangers of overleverage is Deline Jacovides, financial adviser and founder of Mazi Wealth. She's been busy herself busting those finfluencer myths on social media and she joins the podcast to discuss this more in-depth.Of course, this in itself is not to be considered financial advice.Plus we speak to savings scribe Harry O'Sullivan on the latest GDP figures and what it all means for the economy and the RBA's rate setting agenda next week.And all the latest news and savings tips of course.Reach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au02:30 - Savings tips06:05 - Listener feedback07:23 - APRA lending restriction news10:45 - Westpac savings news12:46 - Help to Buy launches 5 Dec18:45 - Harry on GDP28:44 - Deline Jacovides on dodgy financial advice

We had an extended discussion with co-host Brooke Cooper about the recent rule changes in Victoria about agents having to disclose the reserve price a week out from auction, and what that means for the market.Brooke's piece on Victoria's auction news:https://www.savings.com.au/news/victoria-forces-disclosure-of-auction-reserve-prices-in-crackdown-on-underquotingReach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au 01:28 - Deals of the auction rules03:20 - What the critics are saying06:35 - What is underquoting08:38 - Price transparency10:32 - A free market?11:26 - Personal anecdotes

On this week's podcast we're talking about selling your property and the traps to avoid. We've talked about buying properties ad nauseum but not really ever about selling - until now. We've got David Kaity on - property marketing strategist, the founder of Revolutionary Real Estate and author of the book Real Estate Agents Don’t Sell Homes - to discuss how to save on costs when selling! Great chatPlus we also had an extended discussion with co-host Brooke Cooper about the recent rule changes in Victoria about agents having to disclose the reserve price a week out from auction, and what that means for the market.David's book:https://www.amazon.com/Real-Estate-Agents-Dont-Homes/dp/1925447898Reach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au 00:57 - David's savings tip01:40 - Reining in those selling costs04:01 - Why sellers don't negotiate commissions 06:06 - Why auctions are a bad idea09:56 - Who actually sells homes11:23 - Who should buy the book?

On this week's podcast we're talking about selling your property and the traps to avoid. We've talked about buying properties ad nauseum but not really ever about selling - until now. We've got David Kaity on - property marketing strategist, the founder of Revolutionary Real Estate and author of the book Real Estate Agents Don’t Sell Homes - to discuss how to save on costs when selling! Great chatPlus we also had an extended discussion with co-host Brooke Cooper about the recent rule changes in Victoria about agents having to disclose the reserve price a week out from auction, and what that means for the market.And all the latest news and savings tips of course.David's book:https://www.amazon.com/Real-Estate-Agents-Dont-Homes/dp/1925447898Brooke's piece on Victoria's auction news:https://www.savings.com.au/news/victoria-forces-disclosure-of-auction-reserve-prices-in-crackdown-on-underquotingReach out to us at enquiries@savings.com.au 01:46 - Listener feedback03:44 - Savings tips07:00 - Inflation roaring back10:15 - Housing affordability at an all time low12:52 - CBA withdraws sub-5% home loan16:40 - Brooke on auction rule changes in Vic33:14 - David on why auctions are a bad idea