Straight Answers

Money Guides for Australians

Short, honest answers to the questions people actually ask about their money. No jargon, no lectures — just where you stand and what to do about it.

How do I know if I'm spending too much?

There's no single number that means you're overspending. Here's the honest way to tell whether your spending is running ahead of your income — in plain Australian English.

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How do I know if my super is on track for my age?

What Australians actually have in super by age (ATO median balances) versus the ASFA comfortable-retirement target, plus how to check your own balance in five minutes.

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What is an emergency fund and how much do I need?

An emergency fund is the buffer that stops one bad week becoming a year of debt. How much you need, how to work out your own number, and how to start from nothing.

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How do I stop living paycheque to paycheque?

Living pay to pay is the everyday reality for about half of Australian workers. The one change that breaks the cycle, with a worked example, in plain Australian English.

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Financial fitness check — what is it?

A financial fitness check is a quick, honest look at where you stand with your money across five areas. What it covers, what you do with the result, and where to take one free.

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Not sure where you stand?

The free Financial Fitness Check is 9 quick questions and about 5 minutes. No sign-up. You get a score across five areas and your three next steps.

Take the free Financial Fitness Check