Does Christmas have to be like this?: First — an early thought about a new year’s resolution; Survey findings on Christmas spending; Survey findings on Christmas financial stress; Things to think about this Christmas; Other ways to do it.
Q&As: Easy rule of thumb on how much you’ll need in retirement; KiwiSaver solution for Downs syndrome son; Reader unsuccessful at opting out of KiwiSaver; Different types of fees-only financial advisers.
Q&As: Gift vouchers have their faults, but they’re not scams; How to find a financial adviser that doesn’t receive commissions; Why KiwiSaver returns on your own contributions are so high; KiwiSaver providers that don’t charge fees for under-18s; Winners of seminar tickets contest.
Q&As: Some spend too much on fun, but some spend too little; What to do if employer won’t contribute to KiwiSaver; 2 readers ‘self-insure’ for health insurance; Reader glad he had check-up before dropping health insurance; Another way to keep down health insurance costs; How have you done in KiwiSaver?; Win a seminar ticket.
Q&As: Perhaps we should celebrate a young man’s spending splurge; Don’t get rid of student loan, pay down mortgage; Dodgy share advice given to elderly couple; Think of NZ Super as insurance; Pension info there, but reader may have been distracted.
Spending too little, spending too much: Shopping is a favourite pastime; People who are too mean on themselves; People who spend too much — why do they do it? — 1. Keeping up with the Joneses, 2. Psychological, 3. Credit card company behaviour; Help for big spenders; Most important of all — Change your habits. PS: Final reminder about KiwiSaver tax credit.
Q&As: Ignore misleading KiwiSaver salesman, but maximize your tax credit; Change to contributions holidays just a suggestion; 1970s house much more modest than today’s houses; Well done! — but take care about judging others’ spending.
Q&As: Adding to already huge mortgages is playing with fire; It’s not interest rates but mortgage size that matters; Lack of family communication leads to big debt…; …so do pushy credit card providers.
Q&As: Is it really harder to buy a house now than in the 1980s?; A money coach explains an addiction to spending…; …And a reader describes how it affects her; Does it work to have life insurance with 2 companies?
Q&As: Thai retirement not so cheap; Buffett not unbalanced; 3 Q&As on investing in international index funds.