ShopBack Blog
Ideas for smarter shopping, cashback, rewards, and getting more from everyday online spending.
Velocity Points Earn Cards 2026: Virgin Money vs Amex vs Bendigo in Australia
For Australian shoppers targeting Velocity Points in 2026, the American Express Velocity Platinum wins on domestic earn rate and Virgin Australia-aligned travel bundle, Virgin Money Velocity Flyer wins on Visa acceptance for merchants that decline Amex, and Bendigo Bank Ready Credit Card wins on lowest fee-to-Velocity ratio. The December 2025 Amex Membership Rewards devaluation from 1:1 to 2:1 shifted maths: direct Velocity-earn cards now beat MR transfer for most Velocity-focused shoppers. Pick by where you actually spend.
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Spring Racing Carnival 2026 Shopping Timing: Fashion, Hats, and Events in Australia
Spring Racing Carnival runs September to November 2026 across Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, with Melbourne Cup Day on Tuesday 4 November 2026. This is the month-by-month what-to-buy-when guide for race-day fashion, millinery, dresses, suiting, shoes, and accessories, including when department stores discount race-day looks and when to book event tickets and hospitality.
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Qantas Points Earn Cards 2026: ANZ vs Amex vs NAB in Australia
For Australian shoppers targeting Qantas Points in 2026, the American Express Qantas Ultimate wins on domestic earn rate and Qantas-partner alignment, ANZ Frequent Flyer Black wins on Qantas-earn-plus-Visa acceptance for merchants that decline Amex, and NAB Qantas Rewards Signature wins on lower annual fee with respectable Qantas earn. The December 2025 Amex Membership Rewards devaluation from 1:1 to 2:1 shifted the maths: direct Qantas-branded cards now beat MR transfer for most shoppers. Pick by where you spend, not by the sign-up bonus billboard.
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Best Grocery and Fuel Cards Australia in 2026: BP Flybuys vs NAB Qantas vs ANZ Rewards Black
For Australian households in 2026, BP Flybuys credit card is the specialist fuel-and-grocery play with 4x Flybuys points at BP and Coles. NAB Qantas Rewards Signature is the mainstream Qantas earn card. ANZ Rewards Black is the flexible-points workhorse. Which one wins depends on your car, your supermarket loyalty, and whether you fly Qantas.
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Black Friday Australia 2026: What to Buy When for Maximum Discount
Black Friday 2026 lands Friday 27 November, Cyber Monday follows 30 November, and the real question is not when the sale is but what to buy on which day. TVs and headphones peak on the Friday, laptops peak on Cyber Monday, toys clear out fast from Monday 23 November, and premium fashion tends to run through the full week. This is the day-by-day Australian playbook for maximising discount depth by category.
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PS5 Pro vs Xbox Series X vs Nintendo Switch 2: Gaming Console Australia 2026
For Australian gamers in 2026, the PS5 Pro is the safest buy: strongest current-gen 4K performance, deepest single-player library (God of War Ragnarok, Spider-Man 2, Horizon Forbidden West), and Amazon Australia plus JB Hi-Fi carry it consistently. Xbox Series X wins on Game Pass value and backward compatibility. Nintendo Switch 2 wins on portability and family exclusive titles (Mario, Zelda). Pick by what you actually play, not the loudest specs sheet.
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Cover-More vs InsureandGo vs Tick vs 1Cover: travel insurance Australia 2026
For Australian travellers in 2026, the choice between Cover-More, InsureandGo, Tick, and 1Cover comes down to trip length, destination risk, and the specific cover for pre-existing medical conditions, unlimited overseas medical, cruise, and snow. Cover-More has the deepest domestic brand presence via Flight Centre and airline distribution; InsureandGo competes on comprehensive cover at broad price points; Tick markets on straightforward online sign-up; 1Cover positions on medical-heavy cover and higher optional limits. Cover-More, InsureandGo, and Tick are ShopBack Australia partners; 1Cover is not currently listed. All four sell single-trip, annual multi-trip, and domestic-only plans.
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Bow Wow vs Petplan vs Woolworths: pet insurance Australia 2026
For most Australian pet owners in 2026, the pet insurance choice comes down to three archetypes: Bow Wow Meow (dog and cat, breed-conditional pricing, strong routine care add-on), Petplan (long-standing player, hereditary and congenital cover after waiting periods), and Woolworths Pet Insurance (mass-market brand, budget-friendly annual limits, underwritten by The Hollard Insurance Company). Premiums range widely by breed, age, and postcode, and no single insurer is cheapest across every scenario. The rule that matters: choose before the pet turns 8, choose accident-and-illness (not accident-only), and confirm the pre-existing condition treatment.
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TAL vs AIA vs Zurich vs NobleOak: life insurance Australia 2026
For Australian buyers of retail life insurance in 2026, the four names that dominate outside super are TAL (largest life insurer by in-force policies), AIA (formerly CommInsure life, strong wellness-linked pricing), Zurich (traditionally strong on trauma and TPD), and NobleOak (Australian mutual, competitive direct-channel pricing). None of these sit on the ShopBack cashback surface, so the comparison here is purely editorial. Choose by underwriting flexibility, definition strength on TPD and trauma, and premium sustainability across policy years.
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Embedded network vs retail electricity in Australia: what apartment residents pay, 2026
Roughly one in seven Australian apartment residents is on an embedded network, meaning their landlord or a private embedded network operator, not a competitive retailer, controls their electricity bill. Embedded network tariffs commonly sit 15% to 40% higher than the equivalent competitive retail offer once discounts and Default Market Offer benchmarks are factored in. Whether you can switch to a retail retailer depends on the AER's Notice of Retail Sale rules and whether your building's embedded network holds an exemption. This article explains what an embedded network is, how to identify one, when switching is possible, and what to do when it is not.
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