Big rates rise? Consider rates postponement
- Some councils offer for everyone, others just for those on lower incomes
- Frees up money for expenses — or fun!
- You pay no rates, but owe your council the money — pay back when you sell house or die
- Some fees plus compounding interest, but house value should grow more than debt
- Check your council’s website
- Another idea: pay smaller amounts more often
Listen to the segment below, or click here to read Radio NZ’s summary.
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Mary Holm, ONZM, is a freelance journalist, a seminar presenter and a bestselling author on personal finance. She is a director of Financial Services Complaints Ltd (FSCL) and a former director of the Financial Markets Authority. Her opinions are personal, and do not reflect the position of any organisation in which she holds office. Mary’s advice is of a general nature, and she is not responsible for any loss that any reader may suffer from following it. Send questions to [email protected] or click here. Letters should not exceed 200 words. We won’t publish your name. Please provide a (preferably daytime) phone number. Unfortunately, Mary cannot answer all questions, correspond directly with readers, or give financial advice.