25 for 25: money moves from Sorted since 2001

1 of 25 | Pay yourself first, even if it’s just a little. 

Saving gets easier when it happens straight away, before the money disappears. Try moving a small amount to savings on payday. It doesn’t need to be huge – it just needs to happen steadily. See how it adds up.

2 of 25 | Give every dollar a job. 

A budget isn’t about saying no to everything. It’s a plan that helps you cover the must-haves and make room for what matters to you. Try our free budget planner. 

3 of 25 | Track a week of spending. 

You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Tracking your spending for one week can show where your money is going and what you might want to change. Track your money. 

4 of 25 | Are you playing it too safe with your KiwiSaver fund? 

Is the safest KiwiSaver fund always the best fit? Not necessarily. What suits you depends on your goals, your timeframe and how comfortable you are with ups and downs. If you haven’t checked your fund in a while, it could be worth another look. Use Sorted’s free KiwiSaver fund finder. 

5 of 25 | Build a buffer, one small step at a time. 

You don’t need a big lump sum to start an emergency fund. A small amount saved regularly can still build a useful buffer over time. Start small, stay consistent, watch it grow. Learn how to build an emergency fund and try the free Sorted Buffer builder™ app to take the first step. Download Buffer builder. Learn more about emergency savings.

6 of 25 | Find your money leaks. 

Small subscriptions and repeat payments quietly add up over time. A quick check can help you spot what’s still worth paying for and what that money could be doing instead. See how regular savings can grow over time with Sorted’s savings calculator. 

7 of 25 | Repaying only the minimum costs so much more in the long run. 

Repaying more than the minimum, when you can, will really shorten the life of a debt and reduce the interest you pay. Run the numbers. 

8 of 25 | Tackle your highest-interest debt first. 

If you’re paying off more than one debt, putting extra towards the highest-interest one first will reduce the total interest you pay. Keep minimum repayments going on the others. Make a plan. 

9 of 25 | If you’re splitting up the repayments, count the whole cost first. 

Buy now, pay later can make a purchase feel smaller than it is. Before you tap, check the full cost, every due date and what else is leaving your account each week. Read the guide. 

10 of 25 | You don’t need to be an investing expert. 

You don’t need to be an investing expert to start learning. Begin with your goals, how long you’re investing for and how comfortable you feel with ups and downs. From there, you can explore what might work for you. Start with the investing basics. 

11 of 25 | Give your KiwiSaver a check-up. 

Is your KiwiSaver contribution rate helping you get where you want to be? 4%? 6%? 8%? A quick check can show whether you’re on track for the future you have in mind, and whether your current rate is enough to help you get there. Try the calculator. 

12 of 25 | Your fund should fit you. 

The KiwiSaver fund you ended up in years ago may not be the best fit today. Your timeframe, goals and comfort with ups and downs all matter when you’re picking a fund. Use Sorted’s free fund finder to check whether your current fund is the right fit for you. 

13 of 25 | Invest in a way that works for you. 

You don’t need to know every market move to get started. Begin with a clear goal, a timeframe and an approach you understand. Find your starting point. 

14 of 25 | Build your buffer in four moves. 

Building a buffer doesn’t need to happen in one big leap. Choose a first target, automate what you can, keep it separate and top it back up after you use it. Read our guide to learn how to build an emergency fund, then use Sorted’s free Buffer builder app to create a plan and start building your savings. 

15 of 25 | What’s your money style? 

There’s no good or bad money personality. Understanding your style with money can help you make a plan that works with you, not against you. Take the quiz. 

16 of 25 | Buy now pay later needs a place in your budget too. 

Buy now pay later can make a purchase feel smaller, but the repayments still need a place in your budget. Before you buy, check what you’ve already committed to, when each payment is due and how it fits alongside your other costs. Use Sorted’s free budget planner to see what your money is already committed to. 

17 of 25 | Saving for your deposit is only part of the journey. 

Planning for a first home is about more than the deposit. Planning to take down a mortgage is just as key. Start here. 

18 of 25 | Test-drive your future mortgage. 

Before you buy, work out what your mortgage repayments could be. Then try setting aside the difference between your current housing costs and that amount to see how it feels in practice. Run the numbers with Sorted’s mortgage calculator. 

19 of 25 | Turn ‘one day’ into a plan. 

Big goals often start as ideas that need money. Giving your goal a target amount and timeframe can help turn it into something you can actually work towards. Try Sorted’s free goal planner to map out your next steps and see what it could take to get there. 

20 of 25 | Take on these 4 investing basics. 

Know your goal and timeframe.
What are you investing for, and when will you need the money? Your goal and timeframe should shape your choices. 

Understand risk and return.
Higher returns often come with more ups and downs. Think about how much risk you’re comfortable taking. 

Spread your risk.
Putting your money into different types of investments can help you cope with risk. 

Keep an eye on fees.
Even small fees add up over time. It’s worth knowing what you’re paying. Try our investor profiler to learn more about your investor type and explore options that could fit your goals. 

21 of 25 | Match your investment to your goal. 

The sooner you’ll need your money, the less time you have to ride out market ups and downs. Match your approach to your goal and timeframe. Stick with the basics. 

22 of 25 | Start exploring home ownership way before you’re ready to buy. 

Thinking about buying a home one day? You don’t need to have everything figured out before you start exploring what’s possible. Looking at a possible deposit and repayments can give you a clearer picture of what will be right for you and what you could work towards over time. Try our mortgage calculator.

23 of 25 | Build your buffer automatically. 

Pumping up your emergency savings can be easier when the habit is built in. The Buffer builder app helps you through automatic round-ups within your own bank accounts. Download now, it’s free. 

24 of 25 | Break a big goal down to the next step. 

Big goals can feel more manageable when you break them into smaller moves. Name the goal, put a number on it and work backwards. Try the goal planner. 

25 of 25 | You don’t need perfect. Just get started. 

There you have it: 25 practical money lessons from 25 years of Sorted. The best isn’t the one you read. It’s the one you put into action. Choose one small money move and start there. 

Thank you for being part of the journey, whether you’ve been with us since the Sorted mouse or discovered it more recently. We’ll keep helping New Zealanders make the most of their money for many years to come.