My Money Sorted: Natalie

What’s the best money advice you’ve ever been given?

My parents have always been an inspiration to me in terms of how they manage their finances, and taught me that you’re more likely to achieve your goals in a relationship if you and your partner are on the same page. For me, this can be a challenge, because my husband’s more of a spender than I am and not as organised when it comes to planning ahead or saving up for specific things he wants, like new golf clubs, because that’s what he feels our savings account is for. We make it work by having open and honest conversations and realigning our goals.

What makes you feel sorted when it comes to your money?  

Being organised. I’ve set up several different bank accounts for bills, and the exact amount of money goes into each one every time we get paid. Because everything is automated, we don’t even need to think about it – we just have to remember to review our expenses occasionally to make sure we’re not paying for things we don’t need. 

What money beliefs have you inherited from your whānau?  

When I was growing up, my dad used to say, “Don’t buy what you can’t afford”. That might seem obvious to some, but with all the buy now pay later options these days, it’s easy to fall into the trap of paying ‘a bit each week’. I did that in my early 20s, but I think I’m one of those people who needs to learn the hard way, and once I got myself out of debt I realised I never wanted to be in that situation again and changed my money habits dramatically. 

If your bank account could talk, what would it say to you right now?   

“You’ve come a long way, keep it up.” I used to be a mess with my finances. I’d hang out for payday every fortnight, using my credit card because I’d overspent on luxuries and couldn’t afford the essentials. I didn’t know what payments for what bills were coming out of my account when, and I never planned for my big expenses, even though I knew they were coming. Over the years, I’ve refined my banking ‘system’, but it took a long time to get to this point, and it’s a work in progress for sure. 

When you think about your retirement, what do you see?  

I’d like to make sure I can still travel, so I’m working hard on my retirement plan to make that possible, but overall I see a simple yet active retirement. Much of what I enjoy – beach walks, hikes, bike rides – doesn’t involve spending money, and my hobbies might change over the years, but with everything our beautiful backyard has to offer, I think I can keep myself busy! 

If you’d like to join the conversation and share your own experiences with money, we’d love to hear from you. Scroll down to find the links to our social media platforms, click through to send us a short introductory message and we’ll get back to you with all the details. Ngā mihi!