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Picture Book · Debt and cash flow

The fortnightly trick

Story pages

A woman in her forties on a verandah with a cup of coffee and a laptop
Meet Joy. She pays her home loan once a month, like clockwork.
Twelve large stepping stones and twenty-six smaller stepping stones crossing a calm creek side by side
A year has 12 months, but 26 fortnights.
A woman stepping across many small stepping stones and reaching the far bank a little sooner than a friend on the big stones
If she pays half her monthly amount every fortnight, she makes the equivalent of 13 monthly repayments a year, not 12.
A pile of building blocks shrinking as a child removes one at a time
Every extra dollar reduces what she owes, so less interest is charged after that.
A woman on the phone in her kitchen jotting notes
It's worth checking with the lender how repayments are set up and whether any fees apply.
A woman standing at her front gate under a jacaranda tree
Small, steady changes can take time off the loan.

The end

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General advice warning. This picture book is general information only. It does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs, and it is not personal advice. Rules and thresholds change. Before acting, consider whether it is right for you, read any relevant Product Disclosure Statement and our Financial Services Guide, and seek personal advice. Past performance is not a reliable indicator of future performance.

Information as at 27 October 2026. Sources:

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