Australian Finance Podcast Summer Series Part 5: Debt: Using it, managing it, and repaying it
Jan 12, 2026
Debt is reframed as a useful tool rather than an enemy. Discover the differences between good, bad, and ugly debt, alongside strategies for repayment. The hosts share personal insights on using debt for financial empowerment, including property investing successes and regrets. They also dive into the risks of buy-now-pay-later services and the importance of budgeting. Plus, follow their challenge to find $10,000 by 2026 while managing their own debts.
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Debt Is A Tool, Not A Villain
- Debt is a financial tool that can either build wealth or hinder you depending on how you use it.
- Modern wealth building often uses debt (eg. property) rather than simply saving to own assets outright.
Personal Wins And Regrets With Debt
- Gemma used interest-only loans to buy multiple investment properties and kept principal unchanged while benefiting from price growth.
- She contrasted that success with credit card failures and one regret: a personal loan for a new car at age 20.
Match Loan Types To Your Goals
- Understand secured vs unsecured and fixed vs variable loans before borrowing and match the type to your goals.
- Use fixed rates for certainty and variable for flexibility, and consider splitting if you need both security and optionality.
