What Are Cookies Anyway?

Cookies are small text files that get stored on your device when you visit our site. Think of them as digital breadcrumbs that help websites remember things about you – like your login status, language preferences, or items in your cart.

But cookies aren't the only tracking tech out there. We also use similar technologies like web beacons (tiny invisible images), local storage, and pixels. They all serve similar purposes: helping us understand how people use our financial education platform and making your experience better.

Why We Use These Technologies

Here's the thing – we're not collecting data just for the sake of it. Every piece of tracking serves a purpose. Some cookies are essential for the site to work properly. Others help us understand which content resonates with our Australian audience so we can create better resources about financial terminology and concepts.

Specific Cookies We Use

We believe in being specific. Here's a breakdown of the actual cookies you'll encounter on our site:

How Long Do We Keep This Data?

Not forever. Different cookies have different lifespans based on what they do. Session cookies disappear when you close your browser – they're temporary by nature. Others might stick around for months or even a couple of years, but only if they serve a legitimate ongoing purpose.

Third-Party Cookies

Sometimes other companies set cookies through our site. This happens when we embed content from external sources or use third-party analytics tools. We're selective about who we work with, but you should know that these external cookies have their own privacy policies separate from ours.

For example, if we embed a financial calculator from a partner site, that partner might set their own cookies. We don't control those, but we do our best to work only with reputable organizations that respect user privacy.

Your Control Options

You're not stuck with our cookie settings. Browsers give you pretty extensive control over what gets stored on your device. And honestly? We respect whatever choice you make, even if it means less data for us to work with.

Browser Settings

Every major browser lets you manage cookies through settings. You can block all cookies, accept only first-party cookies, or clear cookies after each session. Just keep in mind that blocking essential cookies will probably break some site functionality.

Mobile Devices

Mobile browsers have similar controls, though they're often buried a bit deeper in settings. iOS users can manage cookies through Safari settings, while Android users will find options in their browser app settings. The location varies depending on which browser you're using.

Do Not Track Signals

Some browsers send "Do Not Track" signals to websites. Here's our position: we respect these signals for marketing cookies, but essential and functional cookies will still be set because they're necessary for the site to work. It's a balance between respecting your preferences and maintaining basic functionality.

Updates to This Policy

Technology changes. Regulations evolve. Sometimes we add new features that require different tracking approaches. When we make significant changes to how we use cookies, we'll update this policy and note the revision date at the top. We might also send a notification if you're a registered user.

We recommend checking back occasionally, especially if you're particular about privacy settings. We try to give advance notice when possible, but some security updates might need to be implemented quickly.

Questions or Concerns?

If something in this policy doesn't make sense, or if you want to know more about specific cookies, reach out. We'd rather have a conversation than leave you confused about what's happening with your data.