Many Australians face challenges with managing their finances and repaying debt due to the ongoing high cost of living. Forced into using credit cards or high-interest loans to pay for essential purchases or unexpected medical expenses, they struggle to maintain a clean credit file. As a good credit score is essential when it comes to accessing favourable credit, here are 5 essential tips to help you clean up your credit file.

Whether you’re buying a first home, upsizing or downsizing, or growing a property portfolio, setting a budget is an essential first step to working out how much you can afford and how much you may be able to borrow. From setting SMART goals to dodging “lazy tax” and sticking to the 50/25/25 rule, these three essential budgeting tips for Australian home buyers will help you make savvy financial decisions and turn home ownership dreams into reality.

Choosing between renting and buying usually comes down to finances. If you’re unable to save a deposit or afford the cost of a mortgage, it makes sense to continue renting. While there may be fewer up-front costs to renting, in the long-term, paying off a mortgage generally puts you in a better financial position. Here are three reasons why buying a home can be a financially savvy move, as well as valuable tips for first home buyers taking the leap from renting to owning.