http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/ The latest Blog feeds from www.mymoney.net.nz en-us Sat, 02 May 2026 07:34:16 +1200 Rocketspark http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/163755/financial-literacy-for-children/ Do you know what your children are bing taught in school?This is brilliant and I only just found out from my 10 year old’s teacher because he logged in and didn’t complete the module?Apparently there are modules they are supposed to complete with parents – giving you a heads up so you don’t miss this experience to connect with your child and build some fundamental life skills.MoneyTime is the ideal homeschool financial literacy curriculum for 10 to 15 year old kids in New Zealand and Aus... Mon, 27 Apr 2026 12:10:13 +1200 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post163755 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/162935/navigating-rising-costs/ Navigating Rising Costs and Uncertainty in New Zealand: Practical Steps to Stay in ControlIf it feels like everything is getting more expensive lately—you’re not imagining it.Across New Zealand, many households are feeling the squeeze. Fuel prices continue to fluctuate, the cost of groceries and essentials remains high, and uncertainty around employment is making it harder to plan ahead with confidence.While these challenges are real, there are still practical steps you can take to regain a ... Tue, 31 Mar 2026 13:13:35 +1300 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post162935 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/162082/kiwisaver-changes-in-more-detail/ KiwiSaver Is Changing Next Month – Here’s What You Need to KnowSome changes to KiwiSaver are kicking in from April 2026, and while they’re not dramatic, they will have an impact on your pay and your future savings.If you notice your take-home pay is a little lighter next month, don’t panic — it’s probably not tax. It’s more likely your KiwiSaver contribution increasing.What’s actually changing?From 1 April 2026, the minimum KiwiSaver contribution rate is going up from 3% to 3.5% ... Wed, 18 Mar 2026 11:27:07 +1300 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post162082 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/161159/kiwisaver-changes-for-2026/ Key KiwiSaver changes for 2026 include a reduced government contribution (max $260.72 from July 1, 2025) and higher default employee/employer rates, moving to 3.5% from April 1, 2026, and 4% in 2028. High earners (> $180k) lose government contributions, while 16-17 year olds now qualify for contributions and employer matching. Business.govt.nz Key Changes Summary (2025-2026)Government Contribution Reduced: From 1 July 2025, the government contributes 25c for every $1 you contri... Sun, 01 Mar 2026 18:25:39 +1300 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post161159 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/153541/how-to-select-an-investment-property/ Here’s a practical checklist you can use when evaluating an investment property:✅ 1. Location & DemandIs the property close to public transport, schools, shops, and employment hubs?What is the vacancy rate in the suburb?Are there future developments (infrastructure, zoning changes) that may boost or hurt values?✅ 2. Cash Flow & YieldWhat is the expected weekly rent?After mortgage, rates, insurance, and property management fees, is it positive, neutral, or negative cash flow?What’... Sat, 04 Oct 2025 17:01:13 +1300 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post153541 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/153532/how-much-deposit-do-i-need/ ... Sat, 04 Oct 2025 15:01:34 +1300 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post153532 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/153187/diy-wealth-building-the-first-home-buyers-secret-weapon/ Buying your first home isn’t just about a roof over your head—it’s about building your future wealth. More first home buyers are getting ahead by choosing “do-up” properties and adding value through their own work. This hands-on approach—what we call DIY wealth building—could be a smart move into the market.With first home buyers now making up around 26% of all buyers, it’s clear this strategy is working.The Finance Factor: What You Must KnowHere’s the tricky part: funding the ... Sat, 27 Sep 2025 15:40:35 +1200 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post153187 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/148060/new-post/ The $10,000 Trap That Nearly Cost Our Client Everything "Don't worry, we'll fix it." Four words that almost destroyed our client's dream home purchase—and their financial future. The Setup The building report was crystal clear: "Roof needs repairs." The agent's response? Smooth as silk: "No problem, they'll fix it." Our buyer exhaled. Crisis averted. A simple $10,000 fix before settlement. They were walking into a trap. The Nightmare Scenario Here's the brutal reality most buyers never see com... Fri, 04 Jul 2025 15:22:57 +1200 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post148060 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/144150/is-your-kiwisaver-balance-keeping-you-awake-at-night-due-to-volatility/ A friend of mine from Craigs Investment Partners recently shared this with me in response to the market upheavals of recent times:I wanted to reach out to communicate on the recent tariff announcements by President Trump, and their impact on the markets and your portfolio.As I am sure you have noticed, the markets have experienced significant volatility following the announcement of new tariffs.  While this can be unsettling, it's important to remember that market fluctuations are a normal ... Fri, 11 Apr 2025 15:12:33 +1200 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post144150 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/post/144067/fueling-growth-in-the-economy/ How to Fuel the economy and create growth – what is the RBNZ doing to assist?The Deposit Takers Act will establish a new Depositor Compensation Scheme to protect up to $100,000 per depositor per deposit taker in the event of a failure.I recently attended the Auckland Chamber of Commerce Business After 5 event at Okahu Bay chaired by Simon Bridges and the guest speaker Brent King, Managing Director of General Capital, l shared his perspective on the current economic landscape and offered practi... Fri, 11 Apr 2025 13:33:25 +1200 http://www.mymoney.net.nz/blog/#post144067