You might know Fundo for smaller loans. We’ve recently added larger personal loans too, from $5,000 to $10,000. How much you’re offered depends on your application, and approval isn’t guaranteed. Our smaller loans still start from $500. You can see our current rates on our pricing page. This guide covers what factors influence how much you can borrow, how to choose between $5,000, $10,000 or somewhere in between, and what to check before you apply.

What affects how much you can borrow?

There’s no single number that applies to everyone. When you apply, we look at a few things:

• Your income and expenses. This shows what you can comfortably afford to repay.
• Your financial situation today. We look at where you are now, not just where you’ve been.
• Your history with Fundo. If you’ve borrowed with us before, how that went counts for something the next time you apply.
• The amount you ask for and the term we offer. A bigger amount over a shorter term means bigger repayments, and that affects what’s suitable for you.

As a licensed credit provider, we assess whether a loan is suitable before we offer it. That means the amount you’re offered can be lower than the amount you ask for.

Fundo’s borrowing range

Fundo’s larger personal loans are $5,000 to $10,000. Smaller loans start from $500. If you need to borrow more than $10,000, we’re not the right fit, and it’s better to know that before you apply. 

Your rate and the amount you’re offered are based on your application. For current rates, see our pricing page.

Is $5,000 or $10,000 the right amount?

A bigger loan isn’t automatically a better deal, and the top of the range isn’t a target. A few questions help you land on the right number:

• What does it need to cover? Get a quote or invoice first and borrow that amount, not a round number. Planned costs in this range often include a major car repair, dental or medical work, moving costs or home repairs.
• What repayment fits your budget? A repayment you can meet comfortably matters more than how much you borrow.
• How long do you want to take? A longer term usually means smaller repayments but more paid overall. A shorter term does the reverse.
• Could savings cover part of it? Borrowing less means paying less back. If your costs add up to less than $5,000, a smaller loan may suit you better.

How the amount and term change your repayments

Two things move your repayments the most: how much you borrow and how long you take to pay it back. Borrowing $10,000 over a longer term has smaller repayments than borrowing the same amount over a shorter one, but you’ll pay more in total because interest and fees add up over a longer term. Borrowing $5,000 over the same term has smaller repayments and a lower total cost than $10,000, because there’s less to repay and less interest and fees charged on it.

Before you apply, work out what you can afford for each repayment, then choose the amount that fits inside it.

What to check when you compare loans

The advertised rate is only part of the picture. When you’re comparing offers:

• Look at the total cost. Check fees and charges as well as interest, including any establishment fee and ongoing account fees.
• Use the comparison rate where there is one. It folds most fees and charges into one figure, so you can compare two loans side by side.
• Match the term to your plan. Work out what you can afford, then choose a term that fits.
• Know whether the rate is fixed or variable. A fixed rate keeps your repayment the same for the whole term.
• Ask about early repayment. Some lenders charge a fee if you pay a loan off early.

For a closer look at how rates are set, read How Personal Loan Interest Rates Actually Work in Australia. To see why two customers can be offered different rates, read How Is My Interest Rate Calculated?

Frequently Asked Questions

How much can I borrow with a personal loan?

With Fundo, anywhere from $500 up to $10,000, depending on your application. Our larger personal loans are $5,000 to $10,000. Some other lenders offer larger personal loans, so if you need more than $10,000, Fundo isn’t the right fit. The amount you’re offered depends on what you can afford to repay, and approval isn’t guaranteed.

Can I get a $5,000 loan?

$5,000 sits within Fundo’s range, subject to approval. Your rate and the amount offered depend on your application.

Can I borrow $10,000?

$10,000 is the top of Fundo’s range. Whether you’re approved for it depends on your application and, if you’ve borrowed with us before, how that went.

Can I borrow less than $5,000?

Yes. Fundo’s loans start from $500, so you can borrow a smaller amount if that’s all you need. Borrowing only what you need keeps your repayments lower.

How long do I have to repay?

The term depends on the loan and your application, and it’s set out in your loan agreement.For Personal Loans, our loan terms range from 9 to 24 months. You can also see our current terms on our pricing page.

Will I get the same interest rate as someone else?

Not necessarily. Rates are personalised to each application. You can read more in How Is My Interest Rate Calculated? and see current rates on our pricing page.

Is it better to borrow less?

Often, yes. Borrowing only what you need means paying back less, and a shorter term usually costs less overall than a longer one. The right amount is the one that covers what you need and fits comfortably in your budget.

The Bottom Line

With Fundo you could borrow from $5,000 to $10,000 with our larger personal loans, or less if you need it, starting from $500. The amount you’re offered depends on your own application, so it’s worth working out what you need and what you can comfortably repay before you apply.

Ready to see your own rate?

Important Information 

Credit provided by Fundo Loans Pty Ltd ACN 604 639 143 Australian Credit Licence 491418 to approved applicants only. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and eligibility criteria apply. See fundo.com.au

The information provided on this website is general in nature and for information only. It is not intended to be relied upon as advice. Before making a decision about any of our products, you should seek your own independent advice and refer to the terms and conditions to ensure that the product is appropriate for your particular objectives, financial situation and needs. See the relevant Target Market Determination before applying.

The post Borrowing $5,000 to $10,000: What to Know Before You Apply appeared first on Fundo Loans.

Black Friday 2026 in Australia is on Friday 27 November, with Cyber Monday on Monday 30 November. The best way to plan a Black Friday and Christmas budget is to set one total before the sales start. Work out what you can comfortably spend, write a short list of things you already planned to buy, and treat Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas as one budget. This guide covers the key sale dates and a simple plan so a good deal stays a good deal.

When is Black Friday 2026 in Australia? Key sale dates

Black Friday is on Friday 27 November 2026 and Cyber Monday is on Monday 30 November. Many retailers start their deals earlier in the week and run them across the weekend, so it often feels like one long sale. Here are the main dates for the rest of the year:

With five big sale days in about two months, plus Christmas in the middle, one budget across all of them is the easiest way to keep track.

Black Friday and Christmas in Australia: the numbers

A few recent numbers show how Australians shop the sales, and why a plan helps:

• Black Friday is a big event. The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan expected about 6 million Australians to spend $6.8 billion over Black Friday to Cyber Monday in 2025, an average planned spend of $804 each. The top reasons for shopping were low prices (42%), great deals (38%) and saving money on Christmas gifts (25%).
• Plenty of people plan around the sales. An AMP Bank survey in October 2025 found 61% of Australians deliberately hold off on purchases until the sales. The same survey found 29% don’t set a budget at all, and 40% say they spend more than they should during key shopping periods like the sales and Christmas.
• Christmas shopping is starting earlier. The same two organisations forecast $12 billion on Christmas gifts in 2025, an average of $757 per person, with 29% of shoppers buying earlier than in 2024.

The sales work best when you know what you’re after and what you can spend before they start.

Why a plan makes the sales work better

Sales move fast. Countdown timers, “only 3 left” messages and prices that expire at midnight all push you to decide quickly. The sales also come one after another: other events like Click Frenzy at the end of October, Singles Day in mid-November, Black Friday and Cyber Monday at the end of November, then Christmas and the Boxing Day sales a few weeks later. It’s easy to treat each one as a separate small spend and lose track of the total, which is why one budget for all of them works well.

A plan made on a calm day, before the sales, is much easier to stick to than one made at 11pm with a cart full of items. It also means you can enjoy the deals without second-guessing them.

How do I set a Black Friday and Christmas budget?

1. Start with what’s left. Work out what you have after your essentials, like bills, rent or mortgage, groceries and savings. That’s your spending money.
2. Decide what the money is for. Split it between things you already needed, Christmas gifts, food and entertainment, and anything else. Count it all as one budget, not several.
3. Make a short list with prices. Write down the things you planned to buy and what they usually cost. Check prices now, not on the day, so you can tell a real discount from a marked-up one.
4. Set a hard total. Pick a number and stop when you reach it. Some people keep the amount in a separate account so the limit is visible.

How do I shop Black Friday without overspending?

• Check the usual price. A “50% off” tag means little if the item was recently marked up. Shop around or compare against the price from a few weeks ago.
• Give anything off your list a day. If you still want it tomorrow and it fits the budget, it’s probably a good buy.
• Start tracking prices early. Watch the items on your list from now. When the sales arrive you’ll know what a real deal looks like.
• Count delivery and fees. The price in the cart isn’t always the price you pay.
• Check the returns policy. Sale items can have different return terms.
• Add any payment plans to the total. Splitting a payment doesn’t make the cost smaller. Count any instalments or store payment plans in your budget so they don’t catch you out later.

What if it’s something you need, not just a deal?

Sometimes a sale lines up with a real, planned cost, like replacing a washing machine or a laptop you need for work. If you can cover it from savings, that’s usually the cheapest way. If you can’t, there’s no rush. Watch the price over a few weeks, look at second-hand or cheaper options, and only buy when it fits your budget.

Black Friday and Christmas budget checklist

✓ Work out what’s left after bills and savings

✓ Set one total for Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas

✓ Write a list of planned purchases with checked prices

✓ Decide the hard limit and where the money sits

✓ Wait a day before buying anything off the list

✓ Count delivery, fees and any payment plan repayments

Frequently Asked Questions

How much should I budget for Black Friday and Christmas?

There’s no right number. Add up what you can spend on Black Friday, Cyber Monday and Christmas together after bills and savings, and set a limit that still leaves you comfortable in the new year.

What is a realistic budget for Christmas in Australia?

It’s whatever fits after your bills and savings. Averages vary a lot depending on what’s counted, such as gifts, food and travel, so your own number matters more than anyone else’s.

How much do Australians spend on Christmas gifts?

The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan forecast about $12 billion on Christmas gifts in 2025, an average of $757 per person. Use that as a reference, not a target.

When is Black Friday and Cyber Monday 2026 in Australia?

Black Friday is on Friday 27 November 2026, and Cyber Monday is on Monday 30 November. Many retailers start their sales earlier in the week.

Are Black Friday deals actually cheaper?

Sometimes, but not always. Compare the sale price with what the item usually costs, and add delivery and fees before you decide.

Should I go over budget for a Black Friday deal?

Try not to. If it was already on your list and you can cover the extra by trimming something else, that can work. If it wasn’t planned, give it a day. A deal only saves you money if it fits your budget.

What is the 50/30/20 rule?

It’s a simple budgeting guide: about 50% of your after-tax income on needs, 30% on wants and 20% on savings or paying down debt. It’s a starting point, not a strict rule. Black Friday and Christmas spending would usually come out of the “wants” part.

When should I start my Christmas shopping?

Earlier than you might think. The Australian Retailers Association and Roy Morgan found 29% of shoppers were buying earlier in 2025 than the year before. Starting early lets you spread the spending across a few pay cycles, track the prices on your list and avoid last-minute buying, so it’s easier to stay inside your budget.

Is it OK to use credit for Black Friday or Christmas?

It can be, if it fits your budget. Work out the full cost first, check you can comfortably afford the repayments, and compare your options before you commit. Read the terms, and stick to licensed providers.

How Fundo can help

Fundo has been an online Australian lender since 2019, helping Australians cover everything from unexpected bills to costs they’ve planned for. You can apply online or in the Fundo app, and we check that repayments are affordable before we lend.

Whatever it’s for, we think the best money decisions are made with a plan, which is why we put this guide together. If you’re ever weighing up credit, take a look at how Fundo works.

The Bottom Line

A good Black Friday and Christmas starts with a plan. Set one limit, list what you’re after, check the real price and give yourself a day before buying anything that wasn’t on your list. Do that and you can enjoy the sales knowing the money is covered, because a deal is only a deal if it fits your budget.

If the sales are adding pressure to your budget, free help is available from ASIC’s MoneySmart (moneysmart.gov.au) and the National Debt Helpline on 1800 007 007.

Disclaimers

Credit provided by Fundo Loans Pty Ltd ACN 604 639 143 Australian Credit Licence 491418 to approved applicants only. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and eligibility criteria apply. See fundo.com.au

The information provided on this website is general in nature and for information only. It is not intended to be relied upon as advice. Before making a decision about any of our products, you should seek your own independent advice and refer to the terms and conditions to ensure that the product is appropriate for your particular objectives, financial situation and needs. See the relevant Target Market Determination before applying.

The post Black Friday and Christmas Budget: How to Plan Your Spending Before the Sales Start appeared first on Fundo Loans.

Personal loan interest rates are set by the lender based on the loan amount, the loan term, and how that particular product is priced. At Fundo, that means loans between $2,001 and $10,000 are priced under two different structures, Medium Loan and Personal Loan, rather than one flat number applied across the whole range. In Australia, lenders are also required to publish a comparison rate alongside the interest rate, and that second number is the one that actually tells you what a loan will cost once fees are added in. If you’re comparing personal loans, both numbers matter, but for different reasons.

What Actually Sets Your Interest Rate

Personal loan interest rates aren’t pulled out of thin air, and they aren’t negotiated one person at a time either. A few things decide them:

• The loan amount. Lenders typically price loans in bands. A $3,000 loan and a $9,000 loan often sit under different rate structures, because the risk and the cost of servicing each are different.
• The loan term. How long you have to repay affects both the rate structure and the total interest you’ll pay over the life of the loan.
• How the lender prices the product. Some loans are priced as an annual percentage rate (APR), which expresses the cost of the loan as a yearly rate. That rate can still be fixed for the full term, APR and fixed aren’t opposites, it comes down to the lender and the product whether the rate, and your repayments, can move once you’re approved.

Fundo’s rates for Medium Loans ($2,001 to $5,000) and Personal Loans ($5,000 to $10,000) aren’t one flat number for everyone anymore. Your rate is based on your own financial situation and, if you’ve borrowed with us before, how that went, a clean track record with us works in your favour. It’s still a fixed rate once you’re approved, so it won’t move over the life of the loan, and you’ll see your real number before you agree to anything.

Interest Rate vs. Comparison Rate: How to Actually Compare Two Loans

Two lenders can advertise different interest rates and still end up costing you close to the same amount, or the reverse, because the interest rate on its own doesn’t tell you the full story. The comparison rate does.

Think of the comparison rate as the number that does the maths for you. Instead of manually adding up an establishment fee, ongoing fees, and whatever else is sitting in the fine print, it folds all of that into one figure so you can put two loans side by side and know which one actually costs less. A loan with a lower advertised rate but a high establishment fee can end up pricier overall than one with a slightly higher rate and no fees, and the comparison rate is what catches that before you sign anything.

Comparison rate example figures are worked out against a standard loan amount and term set by regulation, and they’re only accurate for the example given, not for every loan on the product. Check the comparison rate for your specific loan amount and term before comparing offers.

How to Compare Personal Loan Interest Rates Properly

A handful of things are worth checking every time, not just the headline rate:

• Look at the comparison rate first, not the advertised rate. It’s the number built to be compared across lenders.
• Check the total fees, including any establishment fee and ongoing account fees, since these can sit outside the advertised rate entirely.
• Match the loan term to your actual plan for paying it off. A longer term usually means a lower repayment but more total interest paid over the life of the loan.
• Know whether the rate is fixed or variable. A fixed rate means your repayment stays the same for the full term, which makes budgeting more predictable.
• Ask about early repayment. Some lenders charge a fee if you pay a loan off ahead of schedule, which matters if there’s any chance you’ll do that.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a personal loan interest rate? It’s the cost of borrowing the loan amount, expressed as a yearly percentage. It’s charged on top of what you borrow and is one part of your total repayment.

What is a comparison rate, and why does it matter more than the advertised rate? The comparison rate combines the interest rate with most fees and charges into one percentage, based on a standard loan example. Australian lenders are required to publish it alongside the interest rate so borrowers can compare the real cost of different loans rather than just the headline number. That’s the relationship to understand when you’re comparing personal loan interest rates across lenders, not just the advertised number on its own.

Does my credit history affect the interest rate I’m offered at Fundo? Not directly. Your rate for Medium Loans and Personal Loans is based on your own financial situation and, if you’ve borrowed with us before, how that went, not on an external credit score. Approval is assessed separately, using standard responsible lending checks like income and existing commitments.

Are there fees on top of the interest rate? Some loans carry an establishment fee or ongoing fees in addition to the interest rate. These are factored into the comparison rate, which is why it’s the number to check rather than the interest rate alone. Your loan contract will set out exactly what applies to your loan.

Is a lower advertised interest rate always the cheaper loan? Not necessarily. A loan with a lower rate but higher fees can cost more overall than one with a slightly higher rate and no fees. Comparing the comparison rate, and the total repayment amount over the full term, gives a more accurate picture than comparing rates alone.

The Bottom Line

Personal loan interest rates come down to the amount, the term, and how the lender prices that product, and in Fundo’s case, both the Medium Loan or Personal Loan rates are published upfront with no surprises after you apply. When you’re comparing offers, the comparison rate and the total fees will tell you more than the advertised rate on its own.

Ready to see your own rate?

Sign Up for Fundo

Disclaimers

Credit provided by Fundo Loans Pty Ltd ACN 604 639 143 Australian Credit Licence 491418 to approved applicants only. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and eligibility criteria apply. See fundo.com.au

The information provided on this website is general in nature and for information only. It is not intended to be relied upon as advice. Before making a decision about any of our products, you should seek your own independent advice and refer to the terms and conditions to ensure that the product is appropriate for your particular objectives, financial situation and needs. See the relevant Target Market Determination before applying.

The post How Personal Loan Interest Rates Actually Work in Australia appeared first on Fundo Loans.

Priya took out her first loan with Fundo back in April. Her car had failed rego for the second time that year, the exhaust this time, and it needed fixing before Monday, the same day she needed it to get to work. She applied on her lunch break and was approved by the time she got back to her desk, money in her account before she’d even left the mechanic’s that evening. Nothing unusual there. That part of the story is the same one thousands of Fundo customers could tell.

Six months later, the same car found a new way to let her down. Priya borrowed again, same rough amount, same kind of expense, and if she’s honest, she wasn’t expecting anything to be different this time. Same app, same five minutes of details, same number at the end, or so she figured.

It didn’t look the same. The rate she was offered was noticeably better than the one she’d had six months earlier, good enough that she got in touch to check nothing had glitched on our end. Nothing had. She’d paid on time, every time, and that counted for more with us than her credit score ever would. Good borrowers get better rates, that was the whole point.

Why doesn’t everyone get the same interest rate?

Because your rate is moving away from one flat number and toward something based on your own financial situation and repayment history, for loans between $2,001 and $10,000. For a long time, every Fundo customer borrowing the same amount in that range was offered the same rate, whether it was their first loan or their fifth, whether they had paid off every installment early or late a few times. One number, same for everyone, regardless of anything either of them had actually done.

Picture two customers side by side. One has borrowed from us twice before and paid both loans back without missing a beat. The other is applying for the first time, in a shakier financial position, more likely to need a bit of flexibility along the way. Under the old system, they would have been offered exactly the same rate. That treats two very different situations as identical, and it meant we had no way to do right by the customer who had actually earned a better deal. And it never gave someone like Priya, who pays reliably and manages her money well, any real reason to come back to us rather than shop around elsewhere. A flat rate can’t tell the difference between her and someone we’ve never met before. That’s the part we’re changing.

What actually affects my rate?

Two things mainly: your income and financial situation as it stands today, and if you have borrowed from us before, how that went, whether you paid on time, needed help along the way, or closed the loan out cleanly.

It is a similar idea to how car insurance or home insurance works. Two drivers with the same car and the same postcode do not pay the same premium, because the insurer is pricing the actual risk in front of them, not an average across everyone. Nobody finds that strange or underhanded when an insurer does it. We are applying the same logic to lending, we are just less used to seeing it there.

This is also different from how most lenders set your rate. Most price you largely off your credit score, one external number pulled from your whole credit history, everywhere you’ve ever borrowed. We don’t. We look at your borrowing behaviour with Fundo and your money behaviour more broadly, not just what’s sitting on a credit bureau file somewhere. That means a bad credit score doesn’t shut the door here, you can still get a loan with us, and sometimes even a good rate.

What matters isn’t one single number, it’s the overall picture, how settled your situation is right now, and how you’ve handled things with us before. The steadier that picture, the better position you’re in, and that’s genuinely something within your control.

What if this is my first loan, or my situation isn’t perfect?

You are not locked out. Every application is assessed on its own situation, whether it is your first loan with us or your fifth, and plenty of first-time applicants are approved at rates well within what we have always offered.

A less established financial picture might mean you sit at a different point in the range than someone with years of clean repayments behind them, but it does not mean the door is closed, and it does not mean your rate can suddenly move against you for reasons you cannot see. If anything, this new approach is meant to give first-time customers something the old flat rate never could, a rate that reflects where you actually are right now, rather than being priced as if you were the riskiest person we lend to.

Is this just a good rate nobody actually gets?

No. Your rate will come from your own application, and you’ll see the real number, in full, before you agree to anything, so there’s nothing to switch on to you later. Most people also land somewhere higher up the range than the lowest number on offer, and that’s still genuinely your own rate, not a downgrade from some standard everyone else got.

This is not a headline number designed to get someone through the door before the terms change. If it is not right for you, you walk away having paid nothing and owing nothing. What you see is what you’re actually offered. We would rather tell you upfront that your number is genuinely yours, built from your own situation, not a rate borrowed from someone else’s best case.

Will my rate change if I borrow from Fundo again?

Yes, it can move either way, it’ll be reassessed against your situation each time you borrow, not locked in from your first loan, however there is no guarantee that you will get a better rate. 

When Priya got in touch to ask about her rate, we told her more or less what is written above. She had borrowed once before and paid it back without a hiccup, and that history counted for something the second time around. Not a favour, not a discount she had to ask for. Just what the numbers looked like once they were actually about her.

She still had the car repaired before the weekend. That part never changes. What changes is what happens in between applying and getting your answer, and increasingly, that gap is starting to work in favour of the people who have earned it.

Curious what yours would look like?

No cost to look, no obligation to go ahead. Good borrowers get better rates, just ask Priya.

Important information

Credit provided by Fundo Loans Pty Ltd ACN 604 639 143 Australian Credit Licence 491418 to approved applicants only. Terms, conditions, fees, charges and eligibility criteria apply. See fundo.com.au

Interest rates shown not available to all customers. Your rate is based on information you provide, your repayment history and our assessment of your application. We’ll confirm your personalised interest rate in your loan offer document before you decide to accept it.

The information provided on this website is general in nature and for information only. It is not intended to be relied upon as advice. Before making a decision about any of our products, you should seek your own independent advice and refer to the terms and conditions to ensure that the product is appropriate for your particular objectives, financial situation and needs. See the relevant Target Market Determination before applying.

The post How Is My Interest Rate Calculated? appeared first on Fundo Loans.