We're aways reading headlines about how Australia can pay higher wages than us but are also able to sell a cheaper cup of coffee. How do they keep the cost of living low while we struggle? What's Australia's secret sauce? Economist Mary-Jo Vergara says the answer is actually pretty simple.

Questions this week for Susan:

00.44 - How does Australia pay high wages but still keep the cost of living low?

3.03 - What are my options if my religion prevents me from earning interest on my KiwiSaver account?

4.00 - My Visa details were expired, but the payment still went through. How?

6.56 - Why am I being charged a new service fee on international transactions on my credit card?

9.09 - What your landlord is allowed to do - and what they're not.

11.03 Audience Q&A for the week.

Expert input this week came from Mary-Jo Vergara of Kiwibank, Barry Coates from Mindful Money and Massey University's Claire Matthews.

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details