Budgeting guides for Australians

Straight answers to the money questions Australians actually ask — fortnightly pay, bills accounts, rental properties, tax time and debt.

• How do you budget when you're paid fortnightly but bills are monthly?Convert everything to the same cycle. Monthly bills × 12 ÷ 26 gives the per-fortnight amount. Worked Australian example and a free method.
• How much should I put in my bills account each pay?Add up every bill for a year and divide by the number of paydays (26 for fortnightly). Includes quarterly and yearly bills like rego and insurance.
• Can you budget without linking your bank account?Yes. Download a CSV from internet banking and use a spreadsheet. No bank login is shared with anyone. How it compares with budgeting apps.
• What rental property expenses can I claim in Australia?A plain-English checklist of the rental expenses the ATO lets you claim now, claim over time, or not at all — plus how to track them.
• How long do you need to keep receipts for tax in Australia?Generally 5 years from the date you lodge your tax return. Depreciating assets: 5 years from your last decline-in-value claim. Photos are OK.
• Should you include super in your net worth?Yes for your total net worth, but track 'accessible' net worth separately because super is locked until preservation age. With HECS and loans.
• Should you pay off Afterpay or your credit card first?Usually the credit card, because it charges interest. Moneysmart says to put extra money toward the debt with the highest fees and interest — but never miss a BNPL instalment.
• What budget categories should Australians use?A ready-made list of budget categories for Australian households — where rego, CTP, private health, Myki/Opal, school fees and BNPL go.
• What's a good alternative to Pocketbook?Pocketbook closed in 2022. Options: a bank's built-in insights, an app like Frollo or WeMoney, or a spreadsheet that auto-sorts your bank CSV.
• What does the 70 cents per hour work from home rate cover?The ATO fixed rate of 70c per work hour (2024–25 and 2025–26) covers energy, phone, internet, stationery and computer consumables. You need a record of actual hours.
• How much did HECS go up in 2026?HELP debts were indexed by 2.8% on 1 June 2026. How indexation works, how to work out your increase, and how it fits in your net worth.
• Should you pay off HECS early?Compare HECS indexation (2.8% in 2026) with what your money earns elsewhere and your other debts. When paying early helps, and when it doesn't.
• How much should you budget for groceries per fortnight?Work it out from your own last 8 weeks of supermarket spending, then set a fortnightly target. Method, example and tips for Woolies, Coles and Aldi shoppers.
• How much do you need to save each fortnight for a house deposit?Deposit target minus what you have, divided by the fortnights left. Worked Australian example plus how to include costs like stamp duty.
• Rental property: is it a repair or an improvement?Repairs restore something to its original condition and are generally deductible now. Improvements go beyond that and are claimed over time. Examples and record tips.
• What can I use instead of MoneyBrilliant?Westpac closed MoneyBrilliant in December 2022. Options: your bank's app insights, apps like Frollo or WeMoney, or a spreadsheet that sorts bank CSVs.
• How do you budget on a casual or irregular income?Budget from your lowest normal month, smooth bills by paying them fortnightly, and keep a buffer. Step-by-step for Australian casual workers.
• How big should your emergency fund be in Australia?Moneysmart suggests enough to cover three months of expenses as a good target. How to work out your number and where to keep it.
• Does the 50/30/20 budget work in Australia?50% needs, 30% wants, 20% savings. Why high rents often push needs above 50%, and how to adapt the rule for Australian costs.