Q&As:
– Financial mentors offer free help for everyone who is struggling
– A good reason to switch KiwiSaver fund
– Reader “aghast” at my “cherry picking” in fund comparison
– Why passive share funds won’t take over entirely
– Life insurance advice from one who knows
Bridging the gender retirement gap
Ideas from a conference on how to help women increase their retirement savings:
– Why the gap is there
– Suggestions on government action
– Suggestions on employer action
– Suggestions finance industry action
Cutting back your spending
Some more unusual ideas on ways to spend less:
– Wait for a week
– Stay away from shops
– Separate bank accounts
– Ideas from FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early)
– Wear the same clothes repeatedly
– Fish and chip dinner parties
– Many other great ideas from listeners
Q&As:
– Bonus Bonds weren’t only about returns
– Gold is not the best spot for reader’s inheritance
– Are billionaires the new millionaires?
– Retirement savings idea not a winner
– Unfairness in treatment of overseas pensions?
Some shocking results in survey on New Zealanders’ finances
Canstar Consumer Pulse Report 2022:
– More than half spend more than they earn — especially young
– 2/3 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.
Q&As:
– Online calculator helps you work out how much your home should be insured for
– A catch-up for daughters’ KiwiSaver accounts
– Laddering plus compounding works a treat …
– … But is this a good time to get into term deposits?
– Could laddering work for a mortgage?
– How one couple runs their money
Q&As:
– Please don’t let your partner run your money without your input
– Comparing KiwiSaver and non-KiwiSaver funds
– Laddering term deposits a great way to invest low-risk money — and what are Term PIEs?
– How do NZ-owned banks compare with overseas-owned ones?
– How high inflation affects low-risk savings
Did you pass the test?
– What happens when share market wobbles
– Younger investors more prone to making bad moves
– Don’t try to time markets, research shows
– House prices wobble too — and returns not always as good
– Conclusion — if you move, stay moved!
Money and couples — Part 2: Survey results, and how to do it well
NZ survey:
– Young are worse
– All income groups
– Causes of money problems
Research on successful relationships:
– Debt
– Equal access
– Talking to one another
– Large purchases
Buy now pay later — good or bad?
– What is it, and how does it work?
– Some examples
– Who uses it most, and what are they buying?
– Growth in use
– Problems, and consumer protection issues
– How to use it well