Week three of Emma Edwards' silly-season money diary slows things right down — desk days before shutdown, a self-serve acai bowl break and the steady drip of "life admin" spending. With PocketSmith tracking it all as it happens, she teases out what a quieter week's receipts show about planned routines, sneaky annual fees, and the small choices that keep holiday spending feeling calm.
Money tips
No matter where you are in the world, the weather is changing and you’ll be heading into slippers or swimwear season. But new seasons means new expenses, and your wallet can take a hit. Ruth The Happy Saver offers some tips on how you can keep your budget intact when the seasons change.
Money tips
Fixing your broken appliances is great for the environment and your wallet. But sometimes it’s not the most sensible option, whether the cost of parts are too expensive or a newly purchased machine is more economical to run. But how do you make that decision? David shares some questions to ask yourself to determine whether you should repair or replace.
Money tips
Managing a home is more than just your preferred appliance brand or the system you use to divide up chores, it’s about how you communicate with the members of your household and the behaviors you engage in to ensure everything runs smoothly. Household CFO and happy saver Ruth shares how her family of three work together to run a smooth operation.
Money tips
So many podcasts, so little time! Not to worry, we’ve curated a list of our favorite business and financial podcasts that educate, inspire and very frequently, make us chuckle. All that’s left is to pick a show, put on your headphones, and prepare to come away with something new.
Money tips
New to the world of investing? Ruth shares her journey from newbie to seasoned investor, giving us a quick 101-rundown on her favorite investment approach, the humble index fund. Find out why Warren Buffett recommends index funds as the best way for everyday investors to grow their money, as well as some quick ways to start!
Money tips
Had enough of personal finance books and financial jargon? If you need a break from reading about compound interest, sinking funds and the nuances of envelope budgeting, we’ve selected some beautiful lines from classic literature that impart some surprising lessons about money management.
Money tips
Buy, sell, and share markets - oh my! Investing has made its way into everyday chat but it’s still a difficult pursuit to get into, so we asked our very wise guest writers for advice on launching your investing journey. Emma is kicking things off this week by answering seven ‘investments 101’ questions to build the foundation of your investing knowledge.
Money tips
The rush from scoring a blender for a handful of bucks is intense, but so is the guilt knowing it will probably be busted and binned a few months later. In this article, David talks about the right to repair, and why you should consider fixing your broken gadgets and appliances before rushing out to buy something brand new.
Money tips
In part one of our financial challenges series, we unpacked some of the common challenges we’re all facing with our finances. Now, in part two, we’re delving deeper into those challenges and offering our favourite tips, tricks and resources to help you overcome them.
Money tips
Overcoming financial challenges can be tough, but knowing you’re not alone can be the difference between surviving and thriving as you tackle them. After a tough year and a ‘hit the ground running’ start to 2021, there are a few common financial challenges we’re all facing right now, so we’ve done a deep dive into what’s going on in everyone’s wallets.
Money tips
How do you avoid a back-to-school budget blowout? Ruth shares six steps that will help reduce the stress that is associated with this expensive time of year! Uniforms, stationery, extracurricular activities and school trips, she’s got it covered!
Money tips
All parents will know the simultaneous joy of dropping the kids off on their first day back at school (yay, quiet house!) and the dreaded knowledge of how much emptier their pockets are (boo, back-to-school expenses!). Ruth The Happy Saver shares her experiences now that her daughter’s started high school. Non-Kiwi readers, prepare to be shocked at how much our school uniforms cost!
Money tips
Every parent or caregiver knows how valuable it is to teach children good money habits when they’re young. But where to start? We’re lucky enough to live in a time where that information is not only readily available but can also be reinforced anytime and anywhere. Here are four apps you can use to improve your kid’s financial literacy.
Money tips
Child-friendly internet of the early 2000s may seem medieval compared to today – primitive, outdated and a little bit lawless. But like any standard ancient society it did have its king, and that was Neopets. Chloe reflects on the prime website of her childhood and the unintentional money lessons she gained from it.
Money tips
A good portion of today’s workforce have a student loan. The years-long commitment to repaying it can feel like a heavy burden, but it shouldn’t stop you from living the life you want. Emma from The Broke Generation answers your questions on how you can still thrive while paying back your student loan.
Money tips
Achieving financial independence might have different connotations when you’re 25 compared to when you’re 55. Whatever it looks like to you, it’s never too late to take stock of your current financial situation and see how adopting a fresh approach can help you achieve your goals faster.
Money tips
In Ruth’s home, conversations about money happen everyday, and helping her daughter level-up financially comes as naturally as equipping her with essential life skills like cooking! In her latest article, she shares six tips for teaching kids about money.
Money tips
For many Gen Zs and millennials, student loan repayments can be a depressing part of our everyday realities. If you’re chipping away at your loan in Australia, New Zealand and the UK, this article’s for you. We’ve rounded up our top tips on managing and repaying your student loan like a pro.
Money tips
Can video games teach kids essential life skills? Head of Marketing Dora sits down with her two sons, aged 8 and 12, to see what they’ve learned from their favorite game, Minecraft. Turns out it’s not all about crafting swords and battling mobs, but a surprising amount of economics as well.
Money tips
Financial forecasting can help you plan out your personal and business finances, and transform the way you manage your money. By looking at how your money, budget and income is likely to perform in the future, you can better plan for savings, investments and hitting your financial goals.
Money tips
21st century living is complicated as it is. Ruth The Happy Saver shares the story behind her family’s trusty old dining table, and how it inspires her to live simply and frugally. She shows us different ways sustainable living is within our reach and shares seven practical household tips!
Money tips
The proliferation of online share trading platforms has propelled ethical investing into the mainstream. Many of us are now asking how to combine our personal values and social responsibility with an investment strategy. Ruth Henderson shares six tips on how to do that.
Money tips
Working from home can be an uphill battle of staying focused, staying productive, and trying to survive yet another Zoom call. But thankfully there are some great apps for working from home that’ll help you stay on track.
Money tips
Despite making her peace with her fluctuating levels of productivity throughout the nine months she spent working from her living room in 2020, Emma has found a few tricks that keep the productivity juices flowing – most of the time!
