7 cost-effective tips for keeping your home warm during winter

With today’s cost-of-living pressures, winter can be a challenging time financially for households, especially with soaring electricity and gas bills.

Here are some tips to manage your energy costs this winter and keep the household budget in check.


1) Be smart about heating

Firstly, choose your heating wisely. According to Choice, reverse-cycle air con is the cheapest way to heat your home.

Portable electric heaters are convenient and cheap to buy, but they’re expensive to run and will drive up power bills. Choice estimates that running a reverse-cycle air conditioner for an entire year could cost less than running an electric heater for the winter months.

Next, heat only the rooms you’re using, rather than the entire property. Close the doors to any unused spaces and save on energy and cost.

Instead of blasting the thermostat, opt for a comfortable temperature of between 18 and 20 degrees. Every degree of additional heating can add up to 10 per cent on your energy use. If your heating system has a programmable function, pre-set it to warm your home during the times of day when you really feel the cold. To save money, turn off heating when you’re not home or overnight.


2) Seal gaps and cracks

To heat a room efficiently, aim to seal any gaps or cracks that could create a draught.

Up to 40 per cent of your heating can be lost through the windows. Check windows are closed properly, and draw the blinds or curtains to retain the heat inside. You might even consider double glazing, though this can be costly.

Ensure doors are firmly closed and use a draught stopper for added heating efficiency. If you have hard floors, lay down thick rugs for added insulation.


3) Warm yourself up in cost-effective ways

To reduce your power bills, rug up rather than reaching for the heater remote during winter. Consider materials that are warm, like flannel for your bed linen and wool clothing.

A hot water bottle or heated throw is a cost-effective way to warm up, rather than heating an entire room. Just be sure to read the instructions and safety warnings.

Lastly, keep showers short and sharp. Heating hot water can account for over 20 per cent of household energy use.


4) Service your heating systems

Regular maintenance of your heating system is important for efficiency, so that it doesn’t have to work harder to heat your home.

Clean the filters and ensure the vents are clear of dust. It might take you 10 minutes, but it could help reduce your energy consumption and save you money in the long run.

Gas heaters should be serviced by a professional.


5) Be mindful of insulation and appliances

How well is your property insulated? Heat can escape easily from poorly insulated properties. Having a fully insulated home could reduce heating and cooling costs by as much as half, so it’s worth considering.

Upgrading to energy-efficient appliances is another way to save money on your electricity bills over time. Don’t forget to turn off appliances that are not in use at the power point (such as televisions and computers), so that they’re not using energy while in standby mode.


6) Switch ceiling fans to reverse

Switch your ceiling fans to reverse mode, which will make the blades turn anti-clockwise. This will disperse the warm air from your heating system around the room and back down towards the ground.


7) Make the most of the sun

During the day, allow as much sunlight into your home as possible to warm it up naturally. If you have the budget for solar panels, they can be a worthwhile long-term investment to help reduce your energy costs.


With the right planning, your winter heating doesn’t have to break the bank. If you’re looking to renovate your home to make it more energy efficient, or you’d like to purchase a newer home with better energy performance, chat to us today about your finance options.

Are investors changing course after the new negative gearing reforms?

August 20, 2026
The Federal Government’s negative gearing and Capital Gains Tax (CGT) reforms represents a significant shift in how future property investments will be treated for tax purposes. For investors considering their next purchase, the changes may influence everything from the type of property they buy to how they assess cash flow and long-term returns. Legislated, many investors are reassessing their property purchasing plans and strategies. The core reforms have now passed Parliament, although some of the more detailed implementation rules are still being finalised ahead of their commencement. If you’re looking to buy an investment property down the track, here’s what you need to know about the reforms and how they change the playing field. What is changing? On 12 May, Treasurer Jim Chalmers handed down the Federal Budget , which included major changes to negative gearing and CGT rules. From 1 July 2027: Negative gearing for residential property investments will be limited to new builds. The 50 per cent CGT discount will be replaced with cost base indexation and a 30 per cent minimum tax rate on capital gains. Properties held before the announcement (7:30pm AEST 12 May 2026) will be exempt from the negative gearing changes, while the CGT reforms will only apply to gains accruing after 1 July 2027. How have the reforms affected the market and investors? When the changes were announced, Australia’s property market had already been cooling, driven by a combination of cash rate hikes, housing affordability constraints, the Middle East conflict, and cost-of-living pressures. But the Federal Budget reforms dampened the market even further, with auction clearance rates slipping to levels worse than during the pandemic, and investor confidence dropping. One survey of more than 1,400 Australian investors found that more than 80% believed residential investment property had become less attractive following the 2026 Federal Budget changes. At the same time, 51.5% said they planned to hold their existing investments and wait to see how the proposed legislation evolves. Overall, the survey offers a useful snapshot of investor sentiment, although it should not be taken as representative of every Australian property investor. Key shifts in strategy Since the announcement, there have been early signs that some investors are reconsidering where and how they invest, although it is too soon to say how the reforms will reshape the broader property market over the long term. New builds could attract more attention With negative gearing limited to new builds from 1 July 2027, there are signs that some investors are pivoting towards newly constructed properties. Data from property fund manager Oliver Hume shows the proportion of new-build sales to investors in Victoria has risen above 40 per cent for the first time since December 2024, for example. Experts say investors will likely switch to new units or houses on the outer city fringes, while suburbs in the middle of cities could experience a decrease in stock, potentially resulting in higher rents . Holding or grandfathering existing assets Investors with established properties purchased before 12 May 2026 may choose to retain those properties, as they are exempt from the negative gearing reforms and can continue to access the existing tax treatment that applies to grandfathered properties. These investors can keep negative gearing the property against their wage income and retain the full benefits until they sell. Cash flow could become an even bigger consideration Historically, negative gearing enabled investors to offset losses on established investment properties against their taxable income. But under the changes , investors purchasing established properties would no longer receive immediate tax relief on those losses. The changes may prompt some investors to focus more heavily on rental yield , cash flow and long-term returns when assessing investment opportunities. As a result, positively geared properties could become more attractive relative to investments that rely heavily on tax concessions to support returns. Some may also look for properties with the potential to transition to positive gearing over time as rental income grows. What about the changes to SMSF borrowing? In addition to the CGT and negative gearing reforms, there are new rules around self-managed super fund (SMSF) borrowing. From 10 August 2026, SMSFs can no longer use Limited Recourse Borrowing Arrangements (LRBAs) to buy residential property. Current LRBAs are grandfathered. SMSFs can still purchase residential property outright using cash , and LRBAs can be used to acquire business real property. The changes have been met with mixed reviews among investors, and some critics questioning whether it would make it harder for Australians to build retirement wealth . Some experts also believe that the changes could increase the appeal of commercial property among SMSF investors, although SMSF property investment can involve complex lending, tax and superannuation requirements, so specialist financial, legal and tax advice is particularly important. Considering an investment property purchase? The changes in the budget mean investors may need to think differently about the type of property they purchase, its cash flow and how the investment fits within their broader financial plans. While we can’t provide tax or financial advice, we can help you understand the lending side of the equation. We can review your borrowing capacity, compare suitable loan options and help you understand how different property and loan scenarios could affect your repayments and overall finance structure. If you’re considering your next investment property, get in touch! We can help you explore your finance options so you can make your next move with a clearer understanding.

What’s driving the drop in auction clearance rates?

July 20, 2026
After years of fierce competition, fast-rising prices and crowded auction weekends, the market is beginning to show signs of a shift. More properties are being listed for sale, homes are taking longer to sell, and buyers are becoming increasingly selective about what they’re willing to pay.