Hypothetical situation: 29, single, no debt, renting, about $50k sitting in a HISA and another $10k emergency buffer. No plans to buy a house in the next couple of years. Would you leave most of it in cash or start putting some into ETFs?
Woke up with a fever and sinus infection today. Texted my manager to say I’m taking a sick day, and the immediate reply was: "No worries, can you just jump on the 10am client call quickly and answer a few emails?" Why is there still an expectation to WFH while sick instead of actually taking proper personal leave? Do you completely disconnect when taking a sick day, or do you feel obligated to monitor Slack?
The recent reports about getting a MyCard bonus and then being able to get another MyCard product without a formal exclusion period seem almost too good compared with the 18 - 24 month waits elsewhere. Has anyone run into problems doing this in practice, particularly with approval rather than bonus eligibility?
If I get pre-approved for, say, $700k and then spend 4 - 6 months looking, how much should I realistically worry about my borrowing capacity changing? Assuming my income, debts and expenses stay exactly the same. Is it mainly interest rate changes that can move the number, or are there other things that can cause the bank to reassess it?
The bonus interest conditions that most Australian digital banks attach to their headline savings rate vary enough in what they actually require that the comparison between accounts based on the advertised rate doesn't always reflect the rate most customers actually receive. Would love to know how people here who use ubank as their primary savings vehicle think about whether the conditions are genuinely easy to meet consistently or whether there are months where the requirements create friction that affects the effective return they're actually getting on their money.
Love the app to bits, but sometimes I really wish Up had a proper companion web interface for desktop. Doing a deep dive into your spending or looking back over a whole year's transactions can feel a bit cramped on a phone. I know you can export transactions, but having the actual Up experience on a bigger screen would be so handy. Anyone else feel the same?
Quick question for the churners out there. If I add my partner as a supplementary cardholder on my account, does that mess with any future sign-up bonuses if they decide to apply for their own card later down the track? Want to make sure we play by the book so we don't get shut out of future promos.
I am opening a boutique retail shop next month and looking at getting a CommBank Smart Pay EFTPOS terminal setup. The integration with accounting software looks smooth on paper, but I have heard mixed reviews about transaction processing speeds during peak weekend trade. If you run a business with CommBank terminals, have you had many connectivity issues or unexpected terminal fees?
My company recently announced a strict mandate requiring everyone back in the office four days a week after three years of highly successful hybrid work. My commute takes over an hour each way, and once I get to my desk, I spend most of my day on Microsoft Teams calls with colleagues based in other cities anyway. I feel like these mandates are purely about micro-management and commercial lease justification rather than actual team collaboration
In my opinion the electric vehicle tax discount is actually pushing secondhand values down because huge salary packaging savings make brand new models much cheaper to lease than buying used.
At the same time, sellers of late model electric cars hold out for high prices because those specific used vehicles still qualify for pre tax packaging.
Personally I think as three year leases end and flood the market with ex lease cars, used resale values are going to fall significantly over the coming year.
Outside of EOFY or busy periods, is unpaid overtime still common where you work, or has work-life balance improved?
I am thirty two years old and currently working in corporate finance. I am feeling unfulfilled in my current role and considering applying for a Master of Teaching Secondary to teach senior mathematics.
To anyone who transitioned from corporate careers into Australian high schools, how was the reality shock regarding student behavior and administrative demands?
I am reading through the Help to Buy voluntary repayment rules regarding buying back government equity shares in minimum five percent increments. The scheme rules state that voluntary equity repayments are calculated based on the market valuation of the property at the time of the buyback request rather than the original purchase price. If house values drop by five percent over a two year period, does that mean buying back a five percent government share becomes cheaper than it was at settlement?
We are planning to replace our old gas cooktop with an eight kilowatt induction unit. Our electrician mentioned we will need a dedicated thirty two amp circuit run directly from the main switchboard. Since our board is on the opposite side of the single story house, the cable route goes through the ceiling cavity. Is a dedicated circuit mandatory under Australian wiring rules for high wattage induction tops?
In my opinion, Supercharged sauce is the best option because it adds actual heat to the chicken. I buy two extra tubs of Supercharged sauce every time I order a box of tenders so I can dip my chips in it too. I find the standard BBQ and Sweet and Sour sauces too sweet
Looking at Petro, Aaron and Vinnie going into finals week, I honestly can't pick a runaway favourite. Usually by this stage there's someone who feels completely untouchable, but all three have such distinct strengths. Aaron seems calm in pressure tests, Vinnie gets energized by chaotic service challenges, and Petro has had an incredible run with immunity. It's refreshing not knowing who's taking it out.
Been running some numbers on moving closer to the inner city to cut down on travel time, and the rent difference is genuinely staggering. You're easily looking at an extra hundred bucks a week minimum just to drop a 45 train ride down to a 10min tram or cycle. Where do people land on this? Is paying a premium for location actually worth it for your sanity?
My partner and I are starting to merge our finances, and it’s.. interesting. We have very different spending habits, and it’s causing a few low-key arguments. How do you guys manage this? Do you keep everything separate, go for a shared account for bills, or do you have a full transparency approach?