Loans, Credit & Debt
Borrowing can help you buy a home, a car or get through a tight spot. But the cost of credit adds up, and debt can become stressful fast. These guides explain credit reports and scores, credit cards, personal and car loans, home loans and refinancing. They also show you where to get free help if repayments become a struggle.
Start here
Read in this order, or jump to what you need
How credit scores and credit reports work
What's on your credit report, how your credit score is worked out, how to get your report for free, and how to fix mistakes.
2Credit cards and the minimum repayment trap
How credit card interest works, why paying only the minimum can keep you in debt for decades, and simple ways to take back control.
3Personal loans and car loans
How personal and car loans work, why the comparison rate matters, which fees to check, and the traps to avoid at the car yard.
4Home 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.
5Refinancing your loan
How refinancing works, when it can save you money, the costs to check, and how to work out whether switching is worth it.
6Getting out of debt and getting hardship help
A step-by-step plan for tackling debt, how to ask lenders for hardship help, where to get free advice, and the paid "debt help" traps to avoid.
Fin Road Masterclass
Prefer to watch? Loans, Credit & Debt on video
Short animated lessons that walk you through it step by step. Watch at your own pace, on any device.