Effie Zahos is editor-at-large at Canstar and a financial commentator. She is the author of A Real Girl's Guide to Money: From Converse to Louboutins, and a regular money commentator on TV and radio across Australia. In 1999, a background in banking Effie helped kickstart Money, which she edited until 2019. Effie holds a Bachelor's degree in economics.
Getting a loan could soon get harder
Units are cheaper but getting a loan can be harder, warns Effie Zahos.
What you need to know about credit card balance transfers
The savings on credit card balance transfers may not be as great as you would hope, writes Effie Zahos.
Why ‘buy now, pay later’ deals are costly
What's the catch with buy now, pay later deals? Don't pay them off on time and the cost of the paint job, Vergola roof or swimming pool will blow out.
Big four banks hold out on interest rate cut
Until deposit rates fall and the lag of cheaper funding replaces the more expensive funding, an interest rate cut outside official rate cuts is unlikely.
The hidden costs of home loans
Borrowers should be wary of the inducements offered with home loans, advises Effie Zahos.
Introducing the Visa V.me digital wallet
Online shoppers lovers have a new payment method - the V.me digital wallet from Visa.
Five tips for ditching your debt
Aussies love their credit cards and some feel their card balance will never go away. Now is the time to slash your debt.
Rating the non-banks
Budding home owners are not confident when it comes to non-banks: lenders who act as suppliers of loans but cannot take deposits. So how do they measure up?
New options for foreign currency
A soaring dollar often sees travellers stocking up on travellers' cheques, but now Aussies have another way to stash their foreign cash.
Banking outlook: year of the rate gap
Interest rate gaps and exit fees got everyone excited in 2010. So what will 2011 bring?
