Life moment
Having a baby
Parental leave, budgets and cover. Here's what to read and work out, in the order that helps most.
Your reading list
Super and big life events
How parental leave, separation, buying a first home and tough times can affect your super, and the rules for early access.
2Estate planning: wills, powers of attorney and super
Why everyone needs a will, how powers of attorney work, and how to make sure your super goes where you want it to.
3Insurance inside your super
What insurance your super fund may give you, who misses out on automatic cover, and how to check, keep, change or cancel it.
4Health insurance basics: hospital, extras and tax
Hospital vs extras cover, the Gold to Basic tiers, waiting periods, the Medicare Levy Surcharge and Lifetime Health Cover loading explained.
5Home loans explained
The key home loan choices in plain English, from repayment types and rate types to offset accounts, LMI and the government's 5% Deposit Scheme.
6Make a budget that actually works
A simple way to track what comes in, what goes out and where you can make room, without spreadsheets taking over your life.
7Saving money and building an emergency fund
How to set savings goals, build a safety buffer for life's surprises, and make saving happen automatically.
8Cutting your bills and the cost of living
Practical ways to lower your power, phone, insurance and grocery costs, plus where to find concessions and help if bills get on top of you.
9Set money goals and make a plan
Turn vague money wishes into clear goals with a deadline, a dollar amount and a simple plan you can stick to.
10Insurance basics: what cover do you need?
A plain-English overview of the main types of insurance, how to decide what you need, and what to do if a claim goes wrong.
11Life, TPD and trauma cover
How life, total and permanent disability (TPD) and trauma insurance work, and a simple way to estimate how much cover your family might need.
12Income protection insurance
How income protection pays you a regular income if illness or injury stops you working, plus waiting periods, benefit periods and tax.
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