Laine Gordon

How car insurance can turn friends into frenemies

Brothers, sisters, partners, friends, cousins, coworkers - these are just some of the people who might have a huge impact on the cost of your comprehensive car insurance this year, depending on who you allow to get behind your wheel.

Don't settle for average save $36,000 on your home loan

Despite the lure of an ever-enticing $7000 First Home Owner Grant coupled with up to $19,500 worth of other grants on offer, the number of new Australian owner-occupier mortgages hit a 10-year low in 2010.

Aussies consider locking home loans before rate hikes

After a year filled with consecutive rate hikes, many Australians are turning to the old staple of fixed home loans to bring them relief in 2011. With the floods staving off more aggressive rate rises in the near future, many are predicting more hikes later on. So is this the perfect time to lock yourself in?

Is your bank too greedy? Get the right advice

If you thought your home loan repayments stung you harder last year than previously, then you were right. Research by RateCity revealed Australians paid a whopping $3.86 billion in higher interest charges in 2010 for home loans, credit cards, car loans and savings.

Australians scramble to insure their cars after flood disaster

Flooding across Queensland has destroyed hundreds of homes and affected the lives of thousands. With the worst of the disaster receding, the question many car owners are asking is whether their car insurance policy covers them for flood damage, and how they can protect their vehicles in the future.

Don't let your credit card sting you after your Christmas spend

In the aftermath of Christmas spending, credit card holders should brace themselves for sneaky interest rate hikes, gracing the pages of statements due out this month. The silly season could leave many credit card holders stung after it was revealed by RateCity that 23 institutions upped their rates on 113 cards by an average of 25 basis points in December 2010.

Free money for first home buyers in 2011

If you're looking to buy your first home and take out a mortgage in 2011, you're in luck. Not only is the $7000 First Home Owners Grant (FHOG) still kicking around, but in some states around Australia, you'll be eligible for up to $26,500 in grants.

If you drive less does your car insurance cost less?

On average it is estimated that a typical car travels 15,000km each year. However if you drive less than this how does the price of your comprehensive car insurance compare to someone who drives more?

It's official, Sydney pays more for car insurance

With the vast number of car insurance providers in the market fighting for your business each year, how does this affect how much we pay for comprehensive car insurance?

Save more money post Christmas with a term deposit

Savings can easily diminish at this time of the year, so any savings you have need to be carefully nurtured. Term deposits can be very useful during the silly season so you don't get too carried away and damage you nest egg.