Q&As:
– Get rid of the rental and get on with enjoying life!
– Reader gets it upside down on KiwiSaver fees
– When it’s good to be in more than one KiwiSaver fund
– Rental property not all that “safe(ish)”
– Shares are a great alternative to property
Q&As:
– Tips for a 26-year-old on how saving for a home
– A 50% house price drop? 30% has happened
– Changes strengthen landlord argument
– Tough gifting rules for elderly care subsidy
– One way around the care subsidy rules?
– Divorce not the answer unless real
Q&As:
– Are house prices too high?
– Bank needs to improve KiwiSaver withdrawal options
– In residential care subsidy rules, do charity donations count?
– My mistake with gifting number
– 2 Q&As on care subsidy details
– Legal execs “are not secretaries”
Q&As:
– Life insurance is usually for more than the funeral
– How to run elderly relative’s finances
Plus:
– Upside Downside: Risky behaviour: Expecting past performance to continue
Q&As:
– Owner of rental shouldn’t give up and sell
– Buy Hamilton house now or later?
Plus:
– Upside Downside: Risky behaviour: Putting short-term money in volatile investments
– Also, Risky behaviour: Buying investments that are hard — or expensive — to get out of
Q&As:
– Be brave about daughter’s KiwiSaver
– Would this be fairer to withdrawing investors?
– A call for Contact Energy to be clearer
Plus:
– Upside, Downside: Risky behaviour: Failing to diversify within each type of asset
Houses still too expensive? Lower your standards
– House price rises still very high
– House size increased while families smaller
– Quality has risen, but also unnecessary rooms?
– Too expensive? Choose smaller home
It’s OK to give up on ever owning a home.
– Home ownership falling — people need family help to buy
– It can work to be a long-term renter
– Advantages of renting
– But you need to save lots for renting in retirement
– Prediction — long term house prices will fall relative to incomes
– Best way to save
Q&As:
– Rental property comparison with KiwiSaver not valid
– Working out your true income can help you curb spending
– How reader can keep getting some benefits after 65
– A pity more managed fund providers don’t distribute dividends to investors
– A reader’s story: Recovery from divorce, and 21st birthday presents
Q&As:
– Rental property not always the winner over managed funds
– The risk of borrowing to invest
Readers’ stories about how the column has helped them
– 9 lessons learnt
– Move to growth fund made big difference
– We don’t like shopping!
– “Spend more” message is not for everyone