Back
Budgeting
Planning & budgeting
Saving & investing
KiwiSaver
Tackling debt
Protecting wealth
Retirement
Home buying
Life events
Setting goals
Money tracking
Plan your spending with a budget
Getting advice
Studying
Get better with money
What pūtea beliefs do you have?
How to save your money
How to start investing
Find a financial adviser to help you invest
Your investment profile
Compound interest
Net worth
Types of investments
Term deposits
Bonds
Investment funds
Shares
Property investment
How KiwiSaver works and why it's worth joining
How to pick the right KiwiSaver fund
Make the most of KiwiSaver and grow your balance
How KiwiSaver can help you get into your first home
Applying for a KiwiSaver hardship withdrawal
How to use buy now pay later
What you really need to know before you use credit
How to get out of debt quickly
Credit reports
Know your rights
Pros and cons of debt consolidation
Credit cards
Car loans
Personal loans
Hire purchase
Student loans
Getting a fine
What happens if I start to struggle with moni?
How to protect yourself from fraud and being scammed
About insurance
Insurance types
Insuring ourselves
Wills
Enduring powers of attorney
Family trusts
Insuring our homes
Losing a partner
Redundancy
Serious diagnosis
How to cope with the aftermath of fraud
Separation
About NZ Super
This year's NZ Super rates
When you’re thinking of living in a retirement village
How to plan, save and invest for retirement
Manage your money in retirement
Find housing options in retirement
Planning & budgeting
Saving & investing
KiwiSaver
Tackling debt
Protecting wealth
Retirement
Home buying
Life events
Resources
Videos
Podcasts
Just wondering
Help with the cost of living
In need of financial help
Booklets
Glossary
Blogs
View all
16 January 2017
Reading time: 2 minutes
Posted
, 0 Comments
Hands up – who’s read that story about Michelle McGagh, the woman who saved the equivalent of NZ$38,000 with a ‘buy nothing’ year?
She did have to buy some things, obviously – basic food, toiletries – and pay for housing and bills. But she cut out spending on transport, clothing, eating out, entertainment, and holidays. Now that’s extreme. Actually, it sounded pretty grim to me…
You’ve gotta admire her determination. But if reading her tale of austerity left you disheartened with a sinking feeling in your stomach, don’t despair.
You don’t have to give up everything to save money.
Trust me, you don’t need to take it that far.
Just take a step back and ask – does your budget reflect the kind of life you want to live?
Work out what’s important to you – whether that’s travel, concerts, food, fashion – and how that adds up. Prioritise the things that mean the most, and build those into your budget.
Have a look at your budget categories and what you’re spending on various things. Are there any numbers that stand out as being high yet not all that rewarding? Look for the easy wins: stuff that you don’t care much about and won’t really miss.
Budgets need to breathe, so make room for what really matters to you.
You CAN have your cake and eat it too.
Visit us on social
© Office of the Retirement Commissioner
Use verification code from your authenticator app. How to use authenticator apps.
Don't have an account? Sign up
Or log in with our social media platforms
A Sorted account gives you a personal dashboard where you can save your tools, track your progress and you'll also receive helpful money tips and guidance straight to your inbox.
Or sign up with our social media platforms
Comments (0)
Comments
No one has commented on this page yet.
RSS feed for comments on this page | RSS feed for all comments