Unpacking the Property "Crash": What's Really Happening

Six straight months of falling home values. Four interest rate rises this year. New rules for negative gearing and capital gains tax. No wonder so many Australians are asking whether the property market is crashing. In this episode of Unpacking Money, Scott Malcolm and Ara Jansen take a calm, prac…

Unpacking the 100 Day Money Sprint!

With fewer than 100 days left in the year, money starts moving fast. Christmas, school holidays, travel, end-of-year catch-ups and January bills can all land at once. Scott and Ara share a practical way to finish the year with more intention and less financial stress. In this episode: Why the en…

Unpacking Money Stories: Where They Start, How They Change

In this episode of Money Mechanics, Scott and Ara explore the beliefs, memories, emotions and family messages that shape the way we earn, spend, save, invest and talk about money. From childhood phrases like “money doesn’t grow on trees” to adult patterns around guilt, fear, security, success and e…

Unpacking Tax: the system and why we pay it

Tax can feel deeply personal, especially when it comes out of your pay, shows up in the price of what you buy, or applies when an investment makes a gain. In this episode of Money Mechanics, Scott and Ara unpack why tax exists, what it helps fund, and how it fits into a functioning civil society. …

Unpacking the Human Side of Retirement: Why connection matters

Today, we’re talking about something retirement plans often miss: the people, purpose and sense of belonging that make life after work feel rich in every sense of the word.   Joining us are two wonderful guests bringing this human side of retirement into sharp focus: Phil McAuliffe from Humans:Co…

Unpacking Age Pension: What it can mean for your retirement

In this episode of Unpacking Money, Scott Malcolm and co-host Ara Jansen unpack one of the most misunderstood parts of retirement planning in Australia: the Age Pension. Rather than treating it as an all-or-nothing entitlement, they explore how the Age Pension can fit as one layer within a broader …

Unpacking Winter Spending: have your spending habits changed?

In this episode of Unpacking Money, Scott Malcolm and Ara Jansen explore how winter can quietly reshape household spending. From delivery fees, online shopping and takeaway coffees to heating bills, subscriptions and travel daydreams, they unpack the “convenience tax” that can creep into everyday c…

Unpacking SMSF and LRBAs Post Budget 2026: separating fact from fiction

In this episode of Unpacking Money, Scott Malcolm and Ara Jansen unpack what the post-Budget 2026 SMSF and LRBA conversation may mean for Australians considering property inside super. We will slow down the headlines, explain why limited recourse borrowing arrangements require careful review, and …

Unpacking the New Financial Year: Reset, Review and Realign Your Money

In this episode of Unpacking Money, Scott Malcolm and co-host Ara Jansen use the start of the new financial year as a practical reset point for your money life. Rather than treating 1 July as just a tax year, they unpack how to review what changed over the past year, reconnect your financial choice…

Unpacking Recession: from headlines to your household reality!

In this episode, we demystify recession by separating economic headlines from household reality and focusing on what listeners can actually control. We explore what recessions are, how they typically affect jobs, markets, borrowing, and confidence, and why thoughtful planning around emergency savin…