Staying loyal to your bank is a $2,880-a-year decision.
The Smart Borrower’s Playbook is ten chapters of the maths banks, dealers and lenders hope you never run: the loyalty tax, the fixed-rate cliff, the 2.9 per cent car finance trick, every first-home scheme stacked, and the 90-day credit cleanup. Current at July 2026. No card, no catch.
- 60-second form, instant download
- Every worked example states its assumptions
- Nobody calls you unless you ask
What are you financing, or thinking about?
Your answers only shape which chapters we point you to first. Every question except your email is skippable.
What the right moves are worth
What the 48-basis-point loyalty tax costs on a $600,000 loan, and the 15-minute retention call script that claws most of it back.
Buying a $650,000 first home with 5 per cent down under the First Home Guarantee instead of saving 20, with no LMI, cutting years off the wait.
The real extra cost of the dealer’s 2.9 per cent finance offer on a $48,000 ute once the price, fees and balloon are counted, worked line by line.
Consolidating $20,000 of card debt at the same monthly repayment, done the right way, versus the mortgage roll-in that quietly costs more than the debt itself.
They shape which chapters we point you to first. All skippable except your email.
The PDF lands on the thank-you page and in your inbox, so it is on whichever device you want it on.
If you want a licensed broker to compare your options, you ask. Nobody cold-calls a reader.
Ten chapters, no filler
Cash rate 4.35 per cent, the two price lists every bank runs, and the single idea that explains why most borrowers overpay.
The 48-basis-point gap by loan size, the five-step retention script, and the point where you stop calling and refinance.
Two-minute break-even maths, four situations where refinancing is a mistake, and the 60-day plan for a fixed rate about to expire.
First Home Guarantee, Help to Buy, grants and stamp duty concessions combined on one purchase, with the deposit maths worked.
Why the 2.9 per cent offer costs more than the 8 per cent loan: the price, the balloon, the fees, and dealer vs broker vs bank.
The EV FBT exemption is worth $4,800 to $7,400 a year to exactly the right buyer. The three gates that decide if that is you.
The three conditions that make consolidation save money, and the open-card pattern that buries people in twice the debt.
Chattel mortgages, the permanent $20,000 per-asset write-off, and why the calendar matters more than the EOFY banner.
The 24-month repayment grid, the unused card costing you $45,000 of borrowing power, and the 90-day cleanup that moves your tier.
Broker vs direct honestly compared, the 3 per cent serviceability buffer in dollars, the document list, and the final checklist.
Fair questions
Is it really free?
Yes. No card, no trial, no paywall halfway through. Your Finance Guide makes money when a reader chooses to request a quote and a loan later settles through our licensed broker partner, who receives a commission from the lender. The guide costs you nothing and you are never required to request anything.
Will a broker call me if I download this?
No. Downloading the guide gets you the PDF by email, nothing else. A broker conversation only happens if you explicitly request a quote or a callback. Nobody cold-calls you for reading a PDF.
Why do you ask a couple of questions before the download?
So we can point you at the right chapters first: someone facing a fixed-rate expiry needs chapter 3, a first home buyer needs chapter 4. Every question except your email address is skippable.
Is this financial advice?
No. The guide is educational and general in nature only. It does not take into account your personal objectives, financial situation or needs, and you should consider whether the information is appropriate for you before acting. Every worked example states its assumptions so you can test them against your own numbers.
What happens to my email address?
It is used to send you the guide and, if you stay subscribed, The Weekly Brief, which you can leave with one click at any time. We do not sell your details. Your information is only shared with our broker partner if and when you request a quote, and our privacy policy spells out exactly how that works.
Who is behind this?
Your Finance Guide is a finance education publisher operated by AM Marketing Group Pty Ltd (ABN 37 613 053 286), publishing 180+ plain-English guides, calculators and explainers on Australian borrowing. We are not a lender or broker. Credit assistance referred from the site is provided by ALG Australian Lending Group, Australian Credit Licence 505575. That relationship is disclosed on the imprint page of the guide and everywhere we might earn a fee.
Your Finance Guide is a finance education publisher, not a lender or credit assistance provider. The playbook is general information only and does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Consider whether it is appropriate for you. If you request a broker match, your enquiry is referred to ALG Australian Lending Group (ACL 505575), who pay us a referral fee on settled loans. Details in our Credit Guide.