5 Money Moves to Make Before 2025 Ends
Only days left in 2025. Here are the wealth-building moves Aussies should make before the new year—with calculators to run your numbers.
While Australia's financial year ends in June, December is still a critical time for your money. Holiday bonuses, end-of-year reviews, and the fresh start of a new calendar year make this the perfect moment to sort your finances.
Here are five moves to make before 2025 ends.
1. Review Your Superannuation
December is the perfect time to check in on your super:
Check your balance and performance:
- Log into your super fund's portal
- Compare your returns to industry benchmarks
- Review your investment option—are you in the right risk profile for your age?
Find lost super:
- Use myGov to check for any lost or unclaimed super
- Consolidate multiple accounts to save on fees (but check for insurance implications first)
Consider additional contributions: The concessional contributions cap for 2025-26 is $30,000. If you're employed, your employer's 11.5% SG contributions count toward this.
If you have unused cap from previous years, you may be able to use "carry forward" rules.
Calculate your take-home pay and super →
2. Deploy Your Christmas Bonus Wisely
If you're receiving an end-of-year bonus, have a plan before it hits your account:
| Option | Why It Works |
|---|---|
| Extra super contribution | Tax-effective wealth building |
| Offset account | Reduces mortgage interest instantly |
| Pay down credit card | Guaranteed 15-20% return |
| Emergency fund | 3-6 months expenses for peace of mind |
| ETF investment | Long-term wealth outside super |
The worst option? Impulse spending without a plan.
3. Check Your HELP/HECS Debt
If you have a HELP debt, the repayment threshold for 2025-26 is $54,435.
What to check:
- Your current balance (via myGov)
- Whether you're on track to repay by your target date
- If voluntary repayments make sense (no discount anymore, so usually no)
Remember: HELP debt is indexed to CPI, not interest. It's the cheapest debt you'll ever have—don't prioritise paying it off over higher-interest debt.
4. Set Up 2026 Automations
January is too late. Set these up now:
Automatic transfers to savings - The day after payday, move money before you can spend it.
Regular investing - Set up periodic investments into ETFs or your brokerage account. Dollar-cost averaging beats trying to time the market.
Bill smoothing - Some providers let you pay the same amount monthly instead of quarterly surprises.
Salary sacrifice arrangements - Talk to your employer about sacrificing into super or other benefits from January.
The best financial decisions are ones you only make once.
5. Use The Holiday Downtime
Between Christmas and New Year, while others are at the beach, you've got time to:
- Compare health insurance - Avoid the April premium increases
- Review subscriptions - Cancel streaming services you don't use
- Check your credit score - Free via Equifax or Credit Savvy
- Research investment options - Best ETFs, super funds, savings accounts
- Plan major 2026 purchases - January sales can save hundreds
The Before-2025-Ends Checklist
| Action | Time Needed | Potential Value |
|---|---|---|
| Super health check | 20 mins | Better long-term growth |
| Bonus allocation decision | 15 mins | Compound benefits |
| HELP debt review | 10 mins | Understanding your position |
| Set up automations | 20 mins | Behavioural success |
| Holiday research | 1 hour | Hundreds saved |
Run Your Numbers
- Australian Salary Calculator - See super and HELP impacts
- Investment Returns Calculator - Project your growth
- Debt Payoff Calculator - Plan your debt attack
- FIRE Calculator - Track financial independence
The Bottom Line
You don't need a complete overhaul. Five focused moves before December 31st can set you up for a significantly better 2026.
The best time to sort your finances was years ago. The second best time is the next 10 days.