Sorted Blog posts

It doesn’t seem so long ago that you were setting up the Christmas tree and packing the kids off to the beach.Now the holidays have ended and the kids are returning to school.

Many of us are getting settled back into work after relaxing summer holidays away.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

If you haven’t done your Christmas shopping yet, don’t panic.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Yesterday the Reserve Bank announced no change in the Official Cash Rate (OCR) this time around, and some commentators are predicting th

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

During the election campaign there was a lot of discussion about New Zealand’s assets. Assets are also important to your personal financial wellbeing.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

With less than a month till Christmas, it’s time to start thinking about how you’re going to pay for it.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

On Monday Sorted is launching a new campaign to help Kiwis stay out of ‘dumb debt’ these holidays. 

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Every year thousands of Kiwis head off on their 'big OE'. And there are lots of money issues to sort out before taking off.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

It’s voting time again for the annual People’s Choice KiwiSaver Award.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Over the past few years the news has been full of stories about Kiwis who have lost their life savings after investing in dodgy finance companies or receiving misleading financial advice. 

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

Kiwis have no appetite for credit this Christmas, according to Dunn and Bradstreet’s latest

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

The days to Christmas are ticking down. If you don’t have a plan you could find yourself with a mountain of dumb debt come New Year.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

A financial decision guide for Canterbury red zone residents is available from today on the Sorted website.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Ten years ago today the Sorted website was officially launched.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

When it comes to financial smarts, how do you measure up?

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

Yesterday the Reserve Bank announced there would be no change in the Official Cash Rate (OCR).

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Rugby World Cup is a great opportunity for Kiwis to celebrate and have a great time, but six weeks of partying could take a toll on your finances.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

You may have heard that shares in a certain online auction site could be on sale in the near future. Glossary: shares

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Is your life insured? If not, how do you know if you should insure your life?

This week's round-up of recent personal finance stories:  

Buying on credit can seem like the answer to having what you need or want right now.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Right now the news is full of speculation about what’s going to happen to New Zealand’s economy.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

When your heating is still on high and you don’t leave the house without a coat, summer may be the last thing your mind.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:   

This week Reserve Bank Governor Alan Bollard announced the Official Cash Rate (OCR) would remain unchanged at 2.5%.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

This week came news that inflation is the highest it’s been in 21 years, which exp Glossary: inflation

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

This week the media has been abuzz with the arrival of Posh and Becks’ new baby, Harper Seven.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

On Monday morning many of us were busy snapping up tickets to the Rugby World Cup, with the release of individual tickets to pool games and quarter finals.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Today the new financial advisers regime, administered by the Financial Markets Authority (FMA), comes into full force in an effort to restore faith in the finance industry.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

This week Retirement Commissioner Diana Crossan issued a public challenge to the finance sect

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

If you were a follower of her blog on stuff.co.nz, you’ll know that Greer McDonald is the Lady in the Red no more.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

You may have seen our “dumb debt” campaign around town or online this week. So what is it all about?

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

You may have heard talk about bonds following last month’s budget.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

News of Arnold Schwarzenegger and Maria Shriver separating is just the latest in a string of celebrity bust-ups reported every year.

This week's selection of personal finance stories from the last few days - with a focus on Budget 2011 coverage:  

 At yesterday’s Budget it was announced that the KiwiSaver member tax credit rate would be halved from 1 July 2011.

In Budget 2011 on Thursday 19 May, the government

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories.  

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories.  

Pain at the petrol pump is driving some Kiwis to the car yards to trade in their gas-guzzlers for more modest veh

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories.  

How old were you when you opened your first bank account, or learnt what it meant to save? Are there any money lessons you had to learn the hard way which you wished someone had told you?

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories.  

For many of us, Easter is a time for spending with family, taking time out from work and, of course, indulging in Easter eggs.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories.  

You may have heard the term “net worth” and wondered what it means, or what yours might be. Glossary: net worth

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories.  

Autumn is here, and with winter just around the corner, you may be thinking about a mid-year break.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

Each year the government reviews the level of payments for New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) taking into account increases in the cost of living and wages.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories.  

The end of the financial year is upon us - a good opportunity to look at how your finances are shaping up so far in 2011.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Changes in the economy can affect you in different ways – from the price you pay for petrol, to the interest rate you earn on your savings. Glossary: interest

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

In light of the recent earthquake in Christchurch, it’s a good time to think about how equipped you are for the unexpected.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

If you are living in the Christchurch area and need access to cash or financial help, or you want to give money to help the region's recovery, here's where to go:  

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Leaving home for the first time is an exciting milestone.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

Back to school is an exciting time for kids - it’s when they make new friends and take on fresh challenges.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

A mortgage is likely to be your biggest financial commitment.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

In the red after paying for Christmas festivities on credit?

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

It’s the season for making New Year resolutions and a great time to think about what you want out of the coming year.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

With 2010 coming to a close it’s time to reflect on the year’s achievements and contemplate what you want to get out of 2011.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

If you haven’t started your Christmas shopping, don’t panic. Last minute shopping can lead to impulse purchases, making your Christmas costs higher than they need to be.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Avoiding payments today can have a big impact on your financial future so consider how your credit record would be affected before you decide not to pay that bill on time.

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

Sometimes unwelcome things happen in life that can’t be predicted, like developing a health problem or being involved in an accident.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Christmas is a great opportunity to spend time with family and friends, but it can also be a time of money worries.

It’s a good idea to regularly take stock of your financial arrangements to make sure they still work for you.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Clear and regular communication from your financial provider will help ensure you make the best choices for your own circumstances and stay in control of your finances, as well as avoiding any unpl Glossary: provider

This week's round-up of recent personal finance stories:  

When deciding on the right type of investment there are a few things you need to think about and risk is top of the list. Glossary: investmentGlossary: risk

A selection of personal finance stories from over the long weekend...  

Money may be the last thing you want to think about when you’re in a relationship, especially when it’s in the early stages. But it’s important to talk about money, not only

This week's pick of personal finance stories from the last few days:  

Saving regularly is an important step towards achieving the things you want in life – whether that’s a comfortable nest egg for your retirement, owning your own home or saving for a tre

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

Tax changes from 1 October will affect what you earn and what you spend, making it a good time to review your finances.

NZ Super payments are increasing from 1 October because of cuts to personal tax rates, plus a special increase to compensate for the rise in GST from 12.5% to 15%

This week's selection of personal finance stories from the last few days:  

Lower interest rates and falling house prices mean buying a home is more affordab Glossary: interest rates

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

Credit cards can seem like a good option when the bank offers you one for the first time. But there are a few things you might want to think about before making your decision.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories.  

Paying off a mortgage can seem like a daunting task. But the quicker you pay it off, the less it will end up costing you.

This week's pick of personal finance stories from the last few days.  

A major bank announced this week that they were introducing a “reverse mortgage” product. So what exactly is this and who is it for?

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

Credit cards can be a useful payment option if you use them wisely. If not, they can quickly cost you more and more. A few simple tips can help you stay in control of credit card debt. Glossary: debt

This week's pick of personal finance stories from the last few days.  

If you’ve belonged to KiwiSaver or a while now, it may have crossed your mind to switch to another scheme, or change funds within your current scheme.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories.  

It’s been three years since KiwiSaver was introduced.

This week's pick of personal finance stories:  

You may have heard about the Official Cash Rate (OCR) in the news, but why is it important and how does it affect you?

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories.  

According to this story a number of New Zealanders are planning to put some of their ho

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories.  

Most of us have good intentions when it comes to spending money wisely. But this can be easier said than done.

If you answer yes to three or more of these questions, chances are your finances are getting out of control and you need to get sorted ASAP.

For many older people it’s difficult to talk about financial issues like appointing an enduring power of attorney, writing a will or using some of the money tied up in the family home.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

This week's round-up of recent personal finance stories.  

We know that people’s money problems spill over into work.

This week's pick of personal finance stories from the last few days:  

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories, with a focus on the aftermath of the OCR increase on Thursday 10 June.

Mortgage rates are likely to rise after today's Official Cash Rate increase to 2.75% and some are predicting further rate rises from the Reserve Bank later in the year year.

If you're living in New Zealand, there hasn’t been much of a reason to pay off more than the minimum repayment amount on your student loan - until recently.

If you leave the country for 6 months or more, you will generally have to pay interest on your student loan. But you may be able to take a 'repayment holiday'. 

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories.

This week's post-Budget bumper crop of recent personal finance stories:  

In Budget 2010 on 20 May, the government announced a range of money changes due to take effect from 1 October this year. These include: 

This week's round-up of personal finance stories from the last few days:  

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories:  

This week's selection of personal finance stories:  

How well do you know yourself and what triggers your spending habits?  

This week's round-up of recent personal finance stories:  

This week's pick of recent personal finance stories.  

A selection of personal finance stories from the last few days:  

Here's this week's pick of personal finance stories from over the (long) weekend:  

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories:  

This week's pick of personal finance stories, plus links to related Sorted content:  

The government is introducing new tax rates from 1 April 2010 for people who earn bank account interest or invest in a PIE (Portfolio Investment Entity). Glossary: interestGlossary: Investment

Changes to the student loans scheme this year mainly affect overseas borrowers, who will now pay less, or in some cases no, interest on their loans. Glossary: interest

Each year the government reviews the level of payments for New Zealand Superannuation (NZ Super) taking into account increases in the cost of living and wages.

If you're feeling unprepared for retirement, or need help making KiwiSaver decisions, try these Sorted calculators:  

This week's pick of personal finance stories from the last few days.  

If you’re a Sorted My Plan user, you’ll have noticed a few changes when you logged in today.

This week's selection of personal finance stories from the last few days, plus links to related Sorted content.  

If you’re a Sorted My Plan user, there’s some good news on the way for you.

This week's selection of recent personal finance stories, with links to online versions.  

It’s been a busy start to the year at Sorted, so here’s a quick catch-up on what we’ve been working on and what’s coming up.

A selection of personal finance stories from the last few days.  

At Sorted when we talk about managing your money we usually mention things like budgeting, saving, investing… but one thing we haven’t talked much about is giving.

Martin Hawes: Two sides of risk and return

In his Statement to Parliament today, Prime Minister John Key clarified the Government's plans for tax reform. Here are the main points:

This week's pick of personal finance stories from the last few days, with links to online versions.  

After two-and-a-half years and over 1.2 million members, there are still some aspects of KiwiSaver that don’t get that much attention. Did you know:

This week's selection of personal finance stories from the weekend media, with links to online versions.

Not that long ago you didn’t really think about your mortgage until your fixed term came up for review, then you just fixed it again for another 2-3 years. 

This week's selection of personal finance stories:

Today the Tax Working Group released its report on the tax system and options for reform.

A selection of personal finance stories from the last few days.  

Welcome to the first media round-up for 2010 - a selection of personal finance stories from the last few days, with links to online versions.

It’s the day-to-day decisions that can make or break your ability to reach your goals, and motivational New Zealanders Michael Jones and Nigel Latta know it well.

Saving is a habit that pays off for Retirement Commissioner Diana Crossan and ANZ National chief executive Jenny Fagg.

If you’re a TV or radio star, you’re rolling in it and don’t need to worry about money – right? 

For our sporting champions, setting goals is a part of life as they constantly strive to improve their performance.

OK, we haven’t quite said goodbye to 2009, but as you can see from our home page we’re into the New Year spirit already.

It’s that time when everyone’s doing their “most-popular” lists for the year, so here's ours – the top tools and content Kiwis used and viewed on Sorted in 2009:

This week's round-up of personal finance stories from the last few days (and the last for 2009), with links to online versions.

Since the Cashflow calculator launched in December 2007, we’ve been aware that it hasn’t been the easiest of our tools to use.

This week's selection of personal finance stories from over the weekend:  

Credit cards are a convenient way to pay, but they can require a bit of discipline at this time of year.

Here's this week's selection of personal finance stories from the last couple of days, with links to online versions:

No-one wants to be a Grinch or a Scrooge at Christmas. But that doesn’t mean you have to start the New Year with a debt hangover. 

Stieg Larsson’s “Millennium” novels will be on the reading lists of many K

This week's pick of personal finance stories from over the weekend, with links to online versions:

With the Christmas sales period in full swing, there are lots of attractive finance deals out there. 40 months interest free! No repayments till May! Glossary: interest

This week's selection of personal finance stories from over the weekend, with links to online versions.

Saving is one of those things that sounds simple in theory, but in reality can be hard to put into practice. Here are five tips to help you get started:

As part of our new “Investigate before you invest” campaign we’ve upgraded our two investing tools – the Risk recommender and Investment recommender. Glossary: RiskGlossary: Investment

This week's round-up of personal finance stories from over the weekend, with links to online versions.

Before you leap into any investment decision, there are some important rules you should follow:

Workplace Savings NZ is holding an online poll to find out which KiwiSaver provider communicates the best. Glossary: provider

This week's selection of personal finance stories from over the weekend, with links to online versions.

Six things we've learnt from the recession that we shouldn't forget:

This week's selection of personal finance stories from over the weekend, with links to online versions.

Earlier this year, after a couple of years of procrastination, I finally decided to join KiwiSaver. The reduction of the minimum contribution to 2% clinched the deal for me.

A selection of personal finance stories from over the (long) weekend, with links to online versions:

As the secondary school year draws to a close, many senior students around the country (and their parents!) will be preparing for the big move to tertiary study in 2010.

We recently asked New Zealanders if they feel they know enough about insurance to make good decisions about buying or cancelling policies.

This week's collection of personal finance stories from the weekend media, with links to online version.

You spend more of your waking hours at work than at home Monday to Friday, so it’s a good place to make some in-roads with your budgeting, and get closer to your goals.

Getting the right insurance is an important part of managing your money. How important? Raewyn Fox, CEO of NZ Federation of Family Budgeting Services, gives her perspective:

This week's selection of personal finance stories from the weekend media, with links to online versions.

If you’re on a floating mortgage at the moment you’ll be loving the rates currently on offer – which range from 5.69% to

The latest selection of weekend personal finance stories, with links to online versions:

This week I asked around the office for everyone’s favourite money tips. Here are six of the best (in no particular order).

Yes, it was 8 years ago today that sorted.org.nz was officially launched into the world with the catch-cry “When you want to get sorted on money matters use your mouse!” 

A selection of personal finance stories from over the weekend, with links to online versions.

The school holidays can be a demanding time for the household finances.

You may have read a news story recently about people selling KiwiSaver door-to-door.

The latest pick of the weekend’s personal finance stories, with links to their online versions:

The cost of a daily cup of coffee is often used as an example of money that could be better used for saving.

Setting goals is a crucial first step in getting sorted.

Here's this week's selection of the weekend's personal finance stories, with links to their online versions:

It’s been a great week for the surviving Beatles’ retirement funds, with the release of their Rock Band game and remastered CD catalogue.

This week is Financial Awareness Week, organised by the Institute of Financial Advisers.

The weekend media is often a treasure trove of personal finance stories.

Welcome to the new Sorted blog. This is a place for us to share news about what’s happening on sorted.org.nz, and keep you up to date with other ways to help you manage your money.