Men score higher on financial knowledge than women, but why?

A new survey from the CFFC has highlighted the gender gap when it comes to financial literacy, with some of the lowest scores among women with children and women over 35. (PLUS: How financially knowledgeable are you?) While much has been said about the wage gap between men and women in recent years, it isn’t … Read more

Kids need to learn about money. Here are just a few ways of doing it at home

Good habits start young, and with Money Week this week, now is a great time to look at how we can support and nourish our kids’ financial journeys writes Banqer’s Simon Brown.  For some reason, a lot of people see money as a boring topic. But the fact is, it’s a construct we operate within … Read more

The calm before the storm: Preparing for the looming wave of financial hardship

The end of the wage subsidy is expected to trigger an avalanche of financial hardship requests. Budgeting services and financial mentors are bracing to meet it head on. It’s been a surprisingly quiet few months for most of New Zealand’s budgeting services. Spending was down during lockdown and with more than a million people tended … Read more

The targeted support service helping whānau clear their debt

Wrap around support services and a new software are helping whānau get out of debt, without taking yet another loan. It’s hard not to feel chuffed for Jacquilin Tuatara. Six months ago, the former social worker was drowning in debt and preparing to leave Auckland. A year of unsuccessful job hunting and “chasing contracts” had … Read more

I bet you don’t have a will. This is why you need one.

In the final instalment of our Money Talks series, freelancers and sprightly young women Tess Nichol and Alice Webb-Liddall talk about the necessity of making a will, despite both being under 30. Most of us couldn’t say when or how we’ll kick the bucket, but just about the only thing we know for sure in … Read more

Salvation Army marches in with an ethical shopping truck for South Auckland

The Sallies are so fed up with mobile traders preying on poor areas and trapping people into crushing debt that they’re firing back with a rival service. When the Salvation Army first started in New Zealand in the 1800s it noticed the bakers of the day were exploiting people with extremely high bread prices. So, … Read more

2019 is our year of being grown-up about money. We mean it this time

Four Spinoff writers share their New Year financial resolutions and some tips on how to actually make them happen this time.  Every January a fountain of hope spews forth a list of commitments to solve all the issues in our lives in the form of the annual New Year resolutions. But usually, the fountain runs … Read more

How a new programme is helping school students avoid payday lenders

A new programme being rolled out in 111 schools teaches students how to manage money – and the difference between good and bad debt. In Porirua East the houses look like Monopoly hotels. Two-storied, sturdy state houses that are more giant blocks than anything else. They’re good homes, with beautiful wooden floors (if you happened … Read more