Spend less than you earn, save your money, and -- poof! -- your financial problems are solved. If only it were this easy. Being broke sucks enough on its own, and then there are obstacles that make it extra hard for poor people to fight their way to financial security. For example, here are a few expenses that actually cost more for low-income individuals.

The Fair Work Commission has just approved lifting the national minimum wage by 2.4 per cent. This translates to an extra $15.80 per week. We look at when the pay bump kicks in, whether it's fair and how many people get it.

A friend of mine is a career counselor. During sessions, she inevitably asks clients: do you have a budget? A common response is: No, because I don't have a lot of money. The good news is: you don't have to be rich to come up with a budget.