Welcome to the RaboDirect National Savings and Debt Barometer

Debt before dishonour:  Australians’ savings secrets

What are Aussies’ real attitudes towards savings? Which generation is the worst off financially? And are Gen Y and their Baby Boomer parents on the same page when it comes to who’s helping who buy a house?

RaboDirect, in association with research house TNS, recently took the financial pulse of Australians of all generations in a nationally representative survey and found the answers to all these questions and more.

We found out not only how people deal with the household finances but also how they feel about it. And the results range from the reassuring to simply startling!

What did we find?

Over the next few months we will be revealing the most eye-opening the results of the 2011 National Savings and Debt Barometer. Keep checking in to be kept up to date with the hottest stats and stories!

What can we share?

  • The reality behind generational misconceptions about what kids expect from their parents – and what parents are expecting or can afford to give
    Read the article
    See the footage of Greg on Switzer

  • Battle of the generations – who are the superior savers? Who are the new poor? And which generation is in so much strife we’re calling on the Government to help?
    Article coming soon...

Recent National Savings and Debt articles

27 September, 2011

Cash fears turn Boomers to gloomers

Baby Boomers are turning into into "Baby Gloomers" - a fifth of them face retirement with an unpaid mortgage.

While most say they have given it no thought, a quarter say they will have to dip into their super to clear their mortgage.

Boomers are more likely than most to stash cash at home rather than in low interest savings accounts.

Read more

19 September, 2011

Gen X living on the edge

Generation X is in danger of becoming generation debt, as many Australians aged 30 to 50 are our least financially secure and are struggling under a record high level of debt.

A new survey for bank RaboDirect found about 40 percent of Gen X say their financial situation has worsened during the past year, one-third don't have enough emergency money to last more than two months, and one-third regularly only just manage to make it through to their next pay day.

Read more

19 August, 2011

Switch and earn free interest

Australians are missing out on more than $4 billion in unpaid interest each year by keeping their money in low-interest bearing accounts.

According to RaboDirect research, this amount could even be somewhat conservative: the actual figure as high as $6 billion.

The issue is clear - too many people are using the wrong accounts to house the bulk of their money, either could be due to being unaware of the market or simple inertia.

Read more

11 August, 2011

Parents can't help"Kidults" with first homes

In the face of tumbling global markets,RaboDirect’smost recent National Savings and Debt Barometer highlights new concerns that are likely to hit many Australians where they live – literally.

Read more

1 August, 2011

There is no such thing as free money

Research commissioned by RaboDirect, the online savings and investments bank, has thrown into question the age-old saying ‘there is no such thing as free money’.

Read more

Featured Media Releases

27 September, 2011

Cash fears turn Boomers to gloomers

Baby Boomers are turning into into "Baby Gloomers" - a fifth of them face retirement with an unpaid mortgage.

While most say they have given it no thought, a quarter say they will have to dip into their super to clear their mortgage.

Boomers are more likely than most to stash cash at home rather than in low interest savings accounts.

Read more

19 September, 2011

Gen X living on the edge

Generation X is in danger of becoming generation debt, as many Australians aged 30 to 50 are our least financially secure and are struggling under a record high level of debt.

A new survey for bank RaboDirect found about 40 percent of Gen X say their financial situation has worsened during the past year, one-third don't have enough emergency money to last more than two months, and one-third regularly only just manage to make it through to their next pay day.

Read more