The Investor 28 January 2012
Take action now to avoid bill blues next January. Ah, summer. Time for beaches, baches, barbecues — and facing probably the year’s biggest credit card bills, or even demands for payment from loan sharks.
Take action now to avoid bill blues next January. Ah, summer. Time for beaches, baches, barbecues — and facing probably the year’s biggest credit card bills, or even demands for payment from loan sharks.
Q&As: Is it wise not to save because if you do you’ll lose some government subsidies — and to spend the money on cars instead?; Our chances of ending up in a rest home. And could there be insurance to cover the costs?; Last week’s “oily ragger” should do her own thing; No bargain is quite so good when you consider how much you really had to earn to buy it; Update on a reader’s predictions of NZ’s exchange rate and gold and silver prices.
Q&As: Reader knows more about chemistry than savings schemes; Yes, KiwiSaver does rely on government favours to be attractive, but that’s okay; Timing of the tax credits in the next KiwiSaver year; Some KiwiSavers on total remuneration may want to take contributions holidays; When to bring UK inheritance to New Zealand.
Savings growth is far from over at 65. I’m a bit hesitant to pass on this information, for fear that some readers might get the wrong message. But here goes. Just promise me you’ll read past the first half dozen paragraphs, okay?
More reasons to get young into savings accounts. An article I read recently made me more convinced that it’s good to sign up children into savings accounts.
Q&As: Why 55-year-old Mum shouldn’t give up on home ownership; Important to save a little, even if you have a mortgage, to gain market knowledge over the years; Banks “are just like car dealers”; Will below-market share buyer lose it all in tax?
So much for the “can’t afford to save” excuse. Practically all New Zealanders can save. If they want to. In the wake of the release of the Savings Working Group (SWG) report on February 1, various people have been saying that many New Zealanders just can’t afford to save. I don’t buy it — or should I say save it.
Q&As: Here’s an incentive to save for retirement; Would increasing GST have to hurt those on lower incomes?; Time to count a few blessings; Lengthening the term of a mortgage can ease payments — but at a price; Don’t let tax drive your investment decisions.
Q&As: Should we all panic over the Savings Working Group’s dire forecasts?; Do Bill English and Alan Bollard need to talk about how hard it is for New Zealanders to save?; Why mailing nasties to companies that make low-priced share offers might not work.
Q&As: What the Savings Working Group is up to, and why; Have banks been given a fair go in this column?; Is $8 worth worrying about?