Category: Finances
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First Home Buyer’s Guide to Increasing Borrowing Capacity
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You ask your bank how much you can borrow. The number comes back smaller than you expected. This happens to a lot of first home buyers, and it is rarely about how much you earn. It is about how lenders read your everyday spending, your existing debts and your savings habits. Borrowing capacity is the maximum amount a lender…
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Why banks are competing for first home buyers right now
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And to make the most of it If you’ve been putting off calling your bank or mortgage broker, now might be the time. Fewer people are applying for home loans right now, and banks want your business more than usual. For first home buyers, that’s good news. Lower demand, banks competing harder on price, and…
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Borrowing from parents to buy a home: the simple guide
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Thinking about asking your parents for help with a deposit? It’s more common than you think. 60% of first home buyers are getting some kind of financial help from family, with the average amount being around $74,000. The so-called Bank of Mum and Dad is now one of the biggest sources of home loan funding in the country. Some estimates put its total contribution at between $22 billion and $71 billion a year, and…
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The hidden cost of sitting on cash: what women saving for a home need to know
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Many of us grew up hearing the same message about money. Save what you earn. Be careful. Avoid risk. For women especially, saving was often the only financial lesson we were taught. Saving feels safe. Your balance grows. You can see it. You can touch it. It is there when you need it. But if…
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Why owning your own home matters more than ever
Searches for “financial independence for women Australia”, “how to buy a first home alone”, and “how to leave a controlling relationship financially” have been rising steadily. And it is not hard to understand why. Recent cultural conversations, including Louis Theroux’s documentary Inside the Manosphere, have brought renewed attention to online spaces where misogynistic ideas about…
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Buying your first home after 40 in Australia: Why more women are entering the property market later
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Buying your first home used to feel like something most Australians would achieve in their twenties or early thirties. Today, that is no longer the reality for many people. At Penny, we’re speaking with more women buying their first home after 40, not because they have “failed financially”, but because the path to home ownership…
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Let them: redefining what it really means to “have it all” as a woman in today’s world
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This week, an article in The Sydney Morning Herald stopped us in our tracks: “Women fought for equality. Instead, we’re exhausted.” It hit a nerve, not because it said anything new, but because it said what so many women already feel. The conversation around “having it all” keeps coming back, and almost always, it’s directed…
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It’s not about free food. It’s about financial security
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A survey making headlines recently claimed that nearly 1 in 3 Gen Z singles have gone on a date just for the free meal. At first glance, it’s an easy headline to scoff at or judge. But beneath the clickbait is a story about money, gender, and power that deserves a much closer look. According…
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Why buying your first home feels so overwhelming (and it’s not because you’re bad with money)
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Ever feel like you’ve lived a whole day before 9am? You’ve chosen your outfit, packed lunches, checked your bank balance, replied to texts, skimmed the news, and debated whether to buy oat milk or almond. That’s decision fatigue. And it’s frying your brain before your coffee’s even cooled. If the idea of also sorting your…
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Why Australian women are redefining the rules of money and property
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financial confidence, financial independence women Australia 2026, Financial literacy, financial stereotypes women money, Financial wellbeing, first home buyer, gender wealth gap Australia, how to prepare to buy a home Australia, Money Mindset, Money Myths, women buying property Australia, women first home buyers AustraliaFor too long, women have been framed as financially irrational. Pop culture jokes about “girl math” or labels us as emotional spenders who need help managing money, while men are celebrated as savvy investors, confident savers, and natural wealth-builders. But these stereotypes don’t just misrepresent reality, they hold women back. The truth is, women are…
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Financial red flags in relationships: how to spot them early and have the conversations that matter
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Money and love are more connected than we often admit. Not just in a transactional sense, but in how we build trust, share power, and create futures together. Whether it’s splitting dinner bills or planning to buy your first home, the way money is handled in a relationship can reveal a lot about emotional safety…
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From kiss cam to wake-up call
What every woman should know about protecting herself financially You’ve probably seen that Coldplay concert clip, the one where a couple was caught kissing on the big screen. At first, it seemed like a sweet moment. Then the internet erupted when viewers realised the camera-shy lovers had something to hide. The memes came quickly. So…
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Talking money with confidence
Ways to navigate joint finances & protect your future Money conversations aren’t always easy, but they’re essential – especially in relationships. Whether you’re merging finances, managing joint expenses, or preparing for major financial decisions, clear communication and smart planning can help protect both your financial well-being and your future security. Why financial transparency matters in…
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A woman’s financial independence is not optional
Nobody wants their partner to hate their job, but there’s more at stake than that! When a popular podcast host recently said he doesn’t want his partner to work “if she doesn’t want to” because he wants her eyes to “light up” at the end of the day, and added that a man with a…
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Election commitments for first-home buyers
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What the Major Parties’ First-Home Buyer Policies mean for women – and how falling rates could help With the federal election on May 3, and speculation the Reserve Bank will cut interest rates on May 20, the home buying landscape in Australia is shifting. For women, particularly those buying property on a single income, returning…
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Thriving, not just surviving
When stability feels out of reach When rents and groceries keep climbing and the dream of owning a home feels further out of reach, how do you maintain a sense of stability and hope? For many Australian women, it’s a question that demands answers. The soaring cost of living is reshaping women’s life choices, pushing…
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Take control of your home buying journey with Penny
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Buying a home is exciting—but let’s be real, it can also feel overwhelming. How much can you borrow? What will it actually cost? Can you afford it on your own, or should you buy with someone else? Too many women feel stuck, unsure where to start or who to trust. That’s where Penny comes in. …
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Big Changes in HECS-HELP and Interest Rates
What It Means for Women Buying Their First Home It’s been a big few weeks for aspiring homeowners in Australia. First, the government and major banks announced a review into how HECS-HELP debts affect young graduates’ ability to secure a home loan. Then, the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) cut interest rates by 0.25%. But…
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Successful home ownership
Turning financial stress into home ownership success At Penny, we know the journey to owning a home can feel overwhelming. Whether you’re just starting to save, navigating the market with a partner, or re-entering after a relationship ends, the road to homeownership isn’t always straightforward. But here’s the good news: you don’t have to do…
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Financial Wellbeing Month
Maintaining your financial wellbeing while saving for a home.
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Empower Your Financial Future
Financial literacy isn’t a joke—it’s the foundation of security, independence, and achieving dreams like owning a home.
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Building financial independence, one woman at a time
Ready to take charge and OWN your money? Our mission is to empower you on your journey to financial independence.