Interest rates are in the news once again following the first Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) meeting earlier this month.
In landmark decision, ANZ and Westpac announced that they would determine interest rate movements independently of the RBA’s cash rate, declaring the cash rate only forms a part of their funding costs.
When the decision came, it was not good news for borrowers as the ANZ announced a 0.06% increase to their standard Variable rate. Before a potential consumer and media backlash could be felt Westpac soon chimed in with their own increase of 0.10%. This was followed this week by CBA (0.10%) and NAB (0.90%) to complete an across the board increase by the 4 major banks. At the time of writing Adelaide Bank and the Bendigo Bank also took the opportunity to increase their variable rates.
So where does this leave your bank?
While an interest rate drop was predicted for this month, the Reserve Bank of Australia decided to leave the cash rates unchanged, claiming that the Australian economy is in a stable place. However, financial commentators are predicting we will see more drops this year. Is this really the case?
Some vendors spend over one thousand dollars on their sale photography. In other instances, an agent will load up a couple of blurry photos they took themselves onto an internet listing. More and more agents are stressing the importance of photos in a sale campaign. So just how big an impact do photos have on the sale of a home, and just what is involved in creating perfect pictures?
Finding time to fit in your weekly food shop can be a hassle. After organising kids, work commitments and whatever else your busy life may throw at you, spending an hour or so in a busy shopping centre is probably the last thing you want to do. If you're sick of pushing a squeaky trolley up and down aisles every week, you may like to try online grocery shopping as an alternative.
Even with the possibility of a global economic meltdown, it seems there is always a market for the ultra-rich. Whether you are talking about cars, clothing, or food, all products are definitely not created equal. The most expensive foods in the world include rare luxury items like caviar and truffles and gourmet dishes crafted at some of the most exclusive restaurants on the planet.