The New Zealand government has legislated that banks are not allowed to charge for open banking, an about-face from the draft legislation stating that banks could charge up to $5 a month for consumers to have access to their own data. While this is a win for New Zealanders, it's worth keeping in mind that pay-to-play open banking should never have been on the table in the first place.
Money tips
While buying a house is a lifelong goal for many people, it’s become an incredibly expensive endeavor. But it’s not all doom and gloom if you’re part of the renting lifestyle! Here are five financial advantages that renting has over home ownership.
Money tips
“Like the Fellowship, PocketSmith brings a bunch of different skills to the table.” In one of history’s greatest pieces of fantasy, the core of the Fellowship is a system that is greater than the sum of its parts. Tolkein fan and PocketSmith user Rachel joins the two for a delightful comparison that will have you more satisfied than second breakfast.
Money tips
The dreaded T word: Tax. Whether you're feeling the pinch of the current cost of living or not, paying less tax is always a bonus. Accountant and tax agent Sam answers a reader's question on achievable tax-saving strategies to minimize the expense of one of life's inevitables.
Interviews
We asked some of our wonderful users to share how they use PocketSmith to be productive with their money and plan for the future. Read how Andrei is tracking his expenses, net worth, and other aspects of his financial wellbeing, even on-the-go with the PocketSmith mobile app.
Money tips
What do you do when disaster strikes? After losing her house to an earthquake, Ruth understands the stress of a situation like this. In this edition of Ruth's Two Cents, she's answering a reader's question on how to prepare for, and ultimately get through, a financial emergency.
Money tips
Being your own boss comes with many perks. You work on your own terms, get to choose when and where you spend your time, and you work towards building your own dream rather than someone else’s. Being solely responsible for your income can be overwhelming, but cash flow forecasting can help you feel more in control of your self-employed income.
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We're pressing "pause" on how we've been serving people in Canada. The landscape for automatic bank feeds in the region has become untenable, and we cannot bear disappointing our customers anymore. So we're changing up how we do things in Canada, and the environment will need to change before things go back to how they were. Read on to understand what this means and what has prompted this change.
Money tips
Us Kiwis are well known for our ingenuity! New Zealand is lucky to have such a deep pool of innovation, especially in fintech. Rachel details her favorite Kiwi-owned finance apps, and how she’s used them to create a living ecosystem for all aspects of her financial management.
Money tips
There’s still debate whether a recession will hit this year, and where. But just the concept and its potential financial impacts can be stressful to many people. Ruth shares her mantra for prepping for a possible recession, and why she’s not conceding to the panic.
Money tips
When you’ve got a rigid budget, it can be hard to mentally justify spending money on things outside the basics. But even a small amount invested regularly is amplified over time. Adam from The Stock Dork shares how you can still be an investor when you’re following a stringent financial plan.
Interviews
We asked some of our wonderful users to share how they use PocketSmith to be productive with their money and plan for the future. Read how Louise keeps on top of her spending habits and adjusts accordingly using PocketSmith’s Trends and Reports.
Money tips
In this new era of accessible tech and remote working, the world is your oyster! Digital nomadism is skyrocketing in popularity, where people can work and play completely location-independent. If you’re considering an overseas work adventure, check out these great tips to thrive while you’re traveling and earning.
Money tips
You’ve just signed up to PocketSmith and you’re ready to fully harness its money management power — now what? If you’re looking to make the most out of your shiny new PocketSmith account, check out what user Rachel would have told her newbie self now that she’s a pro.
Money tips
Many of you have probably asked yourself whether testing Buy Now Pay Later services out is a worthwhile move. If you take a frugal and no-nonsense approach to your finances like Ruth does, you might agree with her assessment. Read why she’s opting to stay clear of Buy Now Pay Later, and letting delayed gratification steer her budget instead.
Money tips
The beginning of each year is the perfect time to get a handle on your personal finances, but with the explosion of content in the space it can sometimes seem overwhelming. Podcasts can be a great conversation to listen in on and help form a strategy for navigating your own way to financial freedom, so we’ve compiled a list of our favorites to get you started!
Money tips
Go with the flow! Sankey diagrams are a technique to show the flow of resources, and can be a great tool for visualizing data. Hear how Rachel is using PocketSmith’s native Sankey widget to see trends and better understand and interact with her finances.
Interviews
We asked some of our wonderful users to share how they use PocketSmith to be productive with their money and plan for the future. Read how Ian understands the effect of the cost of living on his finances with PocketSmith, and the bad habits he was able to identify and cut out.
Money tips
New year’s resolutions are a contentious topic. Some love them, some hate them, and as the world falls out of love with toxic hustle culture, the way we set resolutions is changing. We’re big fans of healthy resolutions that help you get closer to your goals, without burning you out. Here are eight of our favorites.
Money tips
"For now, just a simple three-month audit is all required to kick start lasting change that goes well beyond any New Year resolution." Follow Ruth as she rejects the new year's overhaul and looks to install manageable long-term money management improvements.
Money tips
Thinking that this might be the year that you give freelancing a crack? Maybe Rachel, a flourishing freelancer herself, will give you some ideas and inspiration. Hear what goals she has for her freelancing endeavors in the upcoming year, and how PocketSmith is helping her achieve them.
Money tips
A new year always means a clean slate, and it’s the same for businesses as they look to offload stock — time to grab yourself a good deal! Emma shares how you can stock up on helpful bargains without dressing yourself down later for regretful purchases.
Money tips
“I’m not throwing away my shot!” Head of Marketing Dora recounts the dark patterns she encountered in her quest to score tickets to the hit musical Hamilton. She shares how these user interfaces are designed to trick people into doing things they wouldn’t normally do, and why it’s important to speak up.
Money tips
“I don’t make new year’s resolutions, but I do make a new year’s plan.” What better time of year to check in on your finances than the start of a new one? Rachel’s already making a financial game plan for the new year — read how she’s using PocketSmith’s range of tools to do just that.
Interviews
We asked some of our wonderful users to share how they use PocketSmith to be productive with their money and plan for the future. Read how Scott discovered the freedom of budgeting and how he’s made PocketSmith’s extensive toolkit a part of his everyday life.
