I’m back!  
 

For any new readers who don’t know me, I’m business and finance reporter Emily Stewart (or Sensible Emily to my finance friends). 👋
 

Firstly, a massive thank you to my brilliant colleague Kate Ainsworth for filling in for me while I was at home with my second baby. 🌟
 

I know you all loved getting to know her and I’m sure she’ll pop in here from time to time to say hello. 
 

But enough about us, on to the finance news!  
 

It’s been a big week, with the Reserve Bank cutting interest rates for the first time since 2020. 📉
 

A relief for anyone with a home loan, as most lenders have already announced they’ll be passing on the full 0.25 percentage points on variable home loans. 👏
 

To get a quick look at how much your repayments might be dropping, you can plug in your numbers to the ABC’s mortgage repayment calculator. 🧮
 

(For the most accurate figures though, it’s best to contact your lender).
 

Savers, however, will probably soon be getting paid less on the money they deposit in the bank.
 

Many banks are still reviewing their policies for savings rates. 💰
 

So, let’s have a look at our crystal ball and see whether there’s likely to be any more rate cuts soon…
 

In other banking news, the big four banks have agreed to keep their regional branches open – for a time.
 

About a third of bank branches in regional Australia have closed in the past decade, meaning many communities have nowhere to withdraw cash or open an account in person. 💸
 

Here’s the proposed timeline for closures and what it could mean for you.
 

On to the workplace now.
 

Has your employer insisted you come back into the office? 💻
 

Now that we’re in the post-pandemic era, there’s been a growing push worldwide to end working from home.
 

So, are you still WFH? Here’s a look at how many Australians are.
 

Let’s talk about money and relationships now. 💕
 

It’s not particularly romantic, but in many cases, if you’re in a couple, your finances are interlinked (in the eyes of the law)!
 

However, there are things you can do to protect your finances, if things do go wrong.
 

Most of us are spending more at the supermarket than we used to (thanks to inflation). 🛒
 

But spare a thought for people living in remote parts of Australia, who often pay double the price for essential items than those living in capital cities. 😱
 

A new federal government scheme is set to lower the price of a basketful of everyday items.
 

Here’s why they’re so expensive.
 

Finally, are eggs back on the shelves in your local grocery store? 🥚
 

Egg supplies are still struggling to keep up with demand and the price of eggs is increasing.  
 

It’s all because of a nasty avian flu outbreak, which has already been contained.
 

So, when will the shortage end?
 

Until next time,  
 

Sensible Emily