This article was published on 7 April 2022. Some information may be out of date.

Some shocking results in survey on New Zealanders’ finances

Canstar Consumer Pulse Report 2022:

  • More than half spend more than they earn — especially young
  • ⅔ don’t have enough rainy day money
  • Nearly ¼ don’t save anything
  • Only 45% are debt-free, excluding mortgages

How you might change your habits

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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.