With the Reserve Bank serving up a rate cut, it’s a smart move to keep your repayments at the same level. Many lenders don’t automatically reduce your repayments when rates fall. That doesn’t mean, of course, that you’re not getting a cut in interest rates – just that your weekly or fortnightly (or monthly, but [...]

  It seems that when Melbourne Cup Day sneaks up on us  Christmas is just around the corner and this year, with the first Tuesday being the 1st November, it gives us all a sense of urgency. For the first time I decided to close our office and support the local fundraising for Children with [...]

We’re on a roll with environmentally-friendly work tips and here are five more great ideas if you have the ear of the boss. 1. Cleaning Products Whether you’re using an independent cleaning person or the building management has staff in place, now is the time to switch cleaning products to greener versions to drastically reduce [...]

Australia’s biggest home lenders cut mortgage rates soon after the central bank reduced the cash rate for the first time since April 2009. Westpac took just 15 minutes to pass on the Reserve Bank of Australia’s (RBA) 0.25 percentage point rate cut in full on Tuesday. It will lower its standard variable home loan rate [...]

Homeowners have been granted a long awaited reprieve, with the Reserve Bank opting to drop interest rates by 25 basis points. The cut continues what is becoming a tradition, with the Reserve Bank changing the cash rate on Melbourne Cup Day for the sixth year in a row. It is also the first time in [...]

Fixed term mortgages hit 3.5 year high in October Basic variable rates were the most popular with new home loan borrowers only 11 months ago, but today they have been far surpassed by ongoing discount rates and fixed rates, according to loan approval data from Mortgage Choice, Australia’s largest independently-owned mortgage broker. At that time, [...]

One in 10 Australian households is in housing stress and at risk of financial hardship and poverty, a new report says. Renters and first home buyers are most under pressure, with 26 per cent of renters and 15 per cent of first home buyers in housing stress, the Australians for Affordable Housing (AAH) said on [...]

As we all know Lois Buckett is an avid supporter of many local entities from Lennox Head Surf Club to the Primary School – with everything inbetween. Part of her constant “giving back” to the community includes many years of sponsoring the “Buckett of Books” Awards for both Lennox Head and Bangalow primary schools. Lois [...]

It was a very sad day for Lois and the family on Sunday 23 October 2011 when Dotty, their much loved spaniel, passed away. The locals in Lennox Head are used to seeing Lois and Dotty on the beach and over the past 13 years she has been a constant companion. Dotty reached the ripe [...]

Some of the Lois Buckett Staff on Loud Shirt Day The staff and community in Lennox Head were keen to show their support on Loud Shirt Day on Friday 21 October 2011.   Lois Buckett was proud to sponsor the event and, as you can see from the photo, the staff were vibrant in their [...]

It can sometimes feel like making earth-friendly choices means spending more money.  Well, the good news is that being green doesn’t have to break the bank. With a little creative thinking, it’s easy to ditch the high prices of trendy eco products and go green at no cost. Here are the first five of our [...]

The housing sector is stabilising as talk of an interest rate rise wanes and Australians are encouraged to borrow more, economists say. The number of home loans approved in August rose 1.2 per cent to 50,965, official figures show. Economists’ forecasts had centred on a 1 per cent rise in housing finance commitments for the [...]

One of the biggest trends in renovating we might be about to see emerge is the mini-makeover. Think: paints, cupboard handles, tap fittings, wallpapers (yes, wallpapers going up, not coming down) and the polishing of timber floors. Also light fittings and window treatments. Anything that changes the feel and adds a bit of pizzazz without [...]

Next time you are making a cup of coffee in the morning, spare a thought that you are dealing with a potential fuel of the future. It’s not just aroma – in Britain, engineers have built a car that runs entirely on coffee beans and broke the world speed record for a car powered by [...]

The benefits of natural light, minimal aircon and natural carpets have been shown to have positive benefits for office workers.  Beyond the obvious savings in cost and energy, employees are happier, healthier and more productive.  And remember, you don’t need a carbon tax to become more aware of CO2 emissions. A recent article in The [...]