A pay rise should feel like progress, not a disappearing act when that extra income vanishes before it has a job to do. In this edition of Ruth's Two Cents, Ruth shares how to enjoy earning more while keeping lifestyle creep from eating into your future plans.
Money tips
Traffic light methodologies are widely used in project, time and even behavioral management — so why not financial management too? Guest writer and PocketSmith super user Rachel uses her own custom traffic light system, and she shows us how she’s combined it with PocketSmith to organize her finances.
Money tips
At the end of 2021, with house prices skyrocketing and rental shortages across the country, journalist Derek Cheng decided to buy a house with a few of his friends. Five months later, he reflects on his experience and shares some intriguing insights.
Money tips
How do you raise financially resilient kids? For Head of Marketing Dora, getting her teenage son, Jordan, started on his investing journey early was vital. It’s been a few weeks since he opened an account with investment platform, Sharesies, and he shares his experiences making his first investment with us.
Money tips
In this very first edition of Ruth's Two Cents, Ruth answers the burning question any parent or caregiver has - how do you give your kids the best financial head start?
Money tips
As the end of the financial year in Australia approaches, we’ve pulled together some essential reading from our partner, Sharesight, that will help you be prepared, get on top of your investments, and have a straightforward tax filing season.
Money tips
As a company founded by a couple of enterprising young blokes who wanted to make a positive difference in the world, we fully believe in the significance of entrepreneurship! Our friends at nowly champion the value of this too, and they’re sharing how many entrepreneurs are a force for driving real change.
Money tips
“I’ll start a budget next week” or “I’ll only dip into my savings just this once” — we’ve all told ourselves tall tales like this about our money before. When we lie about money, it’s often not for nefarious reasons, rather it’s to ease our guilty conscience. But being aware of these lies is key to helping ourselves build better money habits in the future.
Money tips
Have you considered making your side hustle your main gig? As a relatively new entrant to the world of self-employment, Emma is well acquainted with what it takes to make the jump from a full-time, salaried position. Check out how she prepared to transition into being her own boss!
Money tips
Long gone are the days where a down payment on your dream home could be easily achieved by saving hard. Working towards a home deposit now requires a bit more finesse. As a master of creativity herself, Ruth The Happy Saver shares some outside-the-box thinking for reaching your deposit goals.
Money tips
Perhaps you’re paying for one too many streaming subscriptions that you don’t use or it could be the coffee you buy on the way to work each morning. Whatever it is, everyone has a financial vice and it can be incredibly difficult to give up. Identifying your financial vices is the first step to being able to control them and put you back on track with your finances.
Money tips
When was the last time you took a hard look at your finances? Last week? Last month? Erin Lowry’s book “Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together” explores all the basics of financial management that you need to know when getting started on your personal finance journey, and Anton shares his thoughts on the book.
Money tips
With 2022 continuing to be the year of The Great Resignation, we thought we’d ask our friend, Ruth The Happy Saver, for some tips on changing jobs and careers. After all, this Jill of many trades has done everything from driving trucks at a gold mine, to working for the Lotteries Commision, and now, as a successful blogger and podcast host!
Money tips
If you’re new to investing, it’s easy to become overwhelmed by the sheer amount of jargon that’s thrown at you. While it can seem daunting, it’s important to gain an understanding of some of the basics to help build a strong knowledge foundation. Here are some of the most important investing terms that you should learn.
Money tips
The end of the financial year can feel like an arduous and admin-heavy time, especially if you earn secondary income through something like a side hustle or investment portfolio. Follow Emma’s checklist to get your finances ready for the end of the fiscal year and keep the tax man happy.
Money tips
Oh to be young and have the freedom of your entire life ahead of you. But you aren’t a teenager anymore and it could be the right time to start thinking about your future finances — how do you want to spend your retirement? Lavishly or pinching pennies? Starting early can put you on the right path.
Money tips
From YouTube to TikTok, young people have never been exposed to as much financial information as they are now. But with more teens gaining interest in a subject as nuanced as investing, it’s important that they’re equipped to confidently make the most of it. We’re sharing how the next generation can develop a strong foundation to start their investing journey.
Money tips
It seems like every other day that you see a headline about some company pledging to go net-zero emissions by 2050. The primary method they use is carbon offsetting. You might have even purchased carbon offsets yourself. But what are they, and are they actually a viable solution for solving our emission problems?
Money tips
Mind the leak! It’s pretty normal to experience hairline cracks in your budget from the day-to-day stresses of life, but it’s important to keep them in check. Emma shares how you can spot those leaks and plug them up before they become an absolute deluge.
Money tips
Side hustles aren’t just a hobby, they’re a job and they can make an excellent addition to your resume for demonstrating your skills to further your career. Hiration co-founder Aditya Sharma shares how you can add your side hustles to your CV and put your expertise on full display.
Money tips
Whether it’s due to economic uncertainty or self-imposed for movements like the Great Resignation, the average worker will experience unemployment at least once or twice. Ruth The Happy Saver reminisces about her own experiences with unemployment, and shares what you can do during this period to keep moving forward to your next stage in life.
Money tips
In late 2021, the NZ government introduced legislative changes aimed at protecting Kiwis from high-cost loans and unaffordable debt. One unintended result is that banks now closely scrutinize your spending habits when you apply for finance. Mortgage Lab CEO Rupert Gough explains how using PocketSmith to track your expenses can make all the difference to your application.
Money tips
Many people get calls regarding the debt they don’t own, but you’ve got some tools up your sleeve to dispute your debt and deal with such creditors. Lyle Solomon from Oak View Law Group breaks down the recourse available to our friends in the USA if you’re being hounded by pushy debt collectors.
Money tips
So your account has been hacked or there’s been suspicious transactions in your bank account — now what? In the final part of our fraud series, Emma from The Broke Generation shares the steps you can take if you ever fall victim to a scam so your money stays intact.
Money tips
As the saying goes, “tidy house, tidy mind”. Keeping a tidy wallet can have a similar effect on your well-being. But it can be easier said than done keeping something as complex as your finances organized and effective. Ruth The Happy Saver channels her inner Marie Kondo and shares how she’s decluttered her financial life.
