This week Dom and Haz were joined by Kevin James from Equifax to talk about how more Aussies are using credit cards and personal loans to smooth over the cost of living crunch, while also falling behind on their mortgage. Some sobering stuff, but there's solutions to the problem - consumers need to get on the front foot!

Plus we chat to Brooke Cooper, Savings.com.au finance journalist, on the nuance behind the headline: This week, the so called 300k income needed for 'housing affordability'.

All that and the latest news

There was a report released the other day about how Aussies need to earn $300k on average for our housing market to be considered 'affordable'. How on earth did the research arrive at this figure? Well, let Brooke take us through it.

These week Dom and Haz were joined by Kevin James from Equifax to talk about how more Aussies are using credit cards and personal loans to smooth over the cost of living crunch, while also falling behind on their mortgage. Some sobering stuff, but there's solutions to the problem - consumers need to get on the front foot!

In this week's guest interview, a little pertinent advice and tips for Dom, as Ana Kresina discusses her new book. Yes, kids ain't cheap, but there's more to it than that! Ana is also host of the podcast Get Rich Slow Club.

We also chatted to our friend of the pod Harry O'Sullivan on what's happening in Queensland with its doubled first home owner grant - now $30k. Not everyone's happy!

Plus all the latest news!

In a major piece of news coming from the Sunshine State this week, the Queensland Government announced it would DOUBLE the first home owner grant (FHOG) to $30,000. This is for new builds/off the plan, rather than established homes. However not everyone's happy, as Harry will discuss.

In this week's guest interview, a little pertinent advice and tips for Dom, as Ana Kresina discusses her new book. Yes, kids ain't cheap, but there's more to it than that!

While Dom is away, Haz, Em, and Brooke will play. After discussing the news, we have a special 'Brooke-Squared' super-set! I'm seeing double here! Four Brookes?!

First up we have Brooke Cooper, Savings.com.au finance journalist to talk us through what 'shrinkflation' means. Looked at your Oreos, chips or Tim Tams lately and felt they're a bit light on? Yeah, now that phenomena has a name.

Then we're joined by Brooke Roberts, the co-founder and co-CEO of Sharesies. Ms Roberts is our very first international guest, dialling in from New Zealand. She's here to talk us through what the platform offers, and how and where its users are investing right now. You might be feeling inspired from the film Dumb Money, but that strategy is generally fraught with risk.

As always, shop around, compare your fees and consult the PDS.

Where and how do you invest in this economic climate? This week, Brooke Roberts joined us from the land of the long white cloud - Aotearoa, New Zealand - to talk us through what Sharesies offers, what type of users join the platform, what they start with it, and more.

Of course, compare the fees and read the PDS before jumping in!

We've all seen it - your grocery shop becomes more skint but you're paying the same... or more! Fewer biscuits or chips in the bag is how food manufacturers are skirting price rises. It might be good for the waistline but not good for the hip pocket or your morale. Do you fight it like the French or deal with one less Oreo in the pack? Brooke Cooper takes us through.

In the wake of the RBA's decision to lift the cash rate to a 12-year high of 4.35%, Dom and Haz spoke with John Quiggin, who said the RBA is political and sensitive to PR despite being independent from the government!