Money guides
Straight-talking guides to budgeting, saving and getting ahead in New Zealand.
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The cost of living in New Zealand is up again. Did your pay go up 19%? Yeah, nah.
Prices rose 3.7% in the year to the September 2026 quarter, with petrol up 19.1%. What it means week to week, and a payday-by-payday plan.
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Power's up 9%: how to stop your power bill wrecking your week
Power prices rose 9.3% in a year. Why bills are up, how to compare plans, the April 2027 plan change, and how to spread the bill across your pays.
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Why we're building KiwiBudget in Invercargill
If your money's gone before payday, it's not just you. Why we're building KiwiBudget in Invercargill, around your payday. Launching 16 November 2026.
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The Best Budget Split for NZ Renters
The 50/30/20 rule breaks when rent eats most of your pay. Here is a realistic budget split for NZ renters, plus how to handle flat bills, bond and a buffer.
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How to Set a Grocery Budget in New Zealand
What Kiwi households really spend on food each week, how to set a grocery budget that fits, and simple ways to cut the bill without eating beans every night.
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How Much Should You Have Saved by 25, 30 and 40 in NZ
Honest savings checkpoints for 25, 30 and 40 in New Zealand: your emergency fund, KiwiSaver and general savings, with rules of thumb that will not shame you.
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How to Check Your KiwiSaver Balance in New Zealand
Where your KiwiSaver balance really lives, why myIR shows less than you expect, and what to check while you are logged in: your rate, your fund and your fees.
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Open banking in New Zealand: what it is and what it means for you
Open banking is now law in New Zealand. Here's what it means in plain English, what can and can't be shared, and how to stay in control of your data.
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How to budget when you're paid fortnightly in New Zealand
Paid every two weeks? Here's how to split monthly bills across fortnightly pays, plan for the two "three-pay" months, and know what's safe to spend.
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Christmas on a budget in NZ: a payday-by-payday plan
Count your paydays to Christmas, set one amount aside each pay, and plan for the long gap before January's first pay. A simple NZ Christmas budget plan.
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KiwiBudget on RNZ's Nine To Noon: a budget built around your payday
Jack Ridder joined Kathryn Ryan on RNZ National to talk about KiwiBudget, the NZ budgeting app built around weekly and fortnightly pay. Listen here.
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Petrol just hit a record high: what it costs and how to pay less
The national average for 91 just passed $3.50, up about 48c in four weeks. What it costs you, why it is happening, and the discounts that still work.
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Six Step Debt Snowball for New Zealand Pay Cycles
Pay cycle aware debt snowball for New Zealanders. Six steps to align extra payments with payday and keep momentum with KiwiBudget tips.
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Track Subscriptions NZ: Scan 3 Months and Align Charges with Pay Cycle
Scan three months of statements, cancel unused services, and fold recurring fees into your weekly or fortnightly pay cycle budget. Try KiwiBudget for NZ...
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Credit cards at a 24-year high: what it means for your money
Credit cards hit 71.1% of NZ card spending in August, a 24-year high. What that really means, what interest costs here, and what to do if you carry a balance.
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KiwiSaver Contributions: What Changed, and What Your Rate Should Be
The government contribution to KiwiSaver was halved from 1 July 2025. It now pays 25 cents in the dollar up to $260.72 a year, with a new $180,000 income…
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Budgeting in NZ: Start Your Plan in 60 Minutes
Discover how to create a simple weekly budget in New Zealand in just 60 minutes. Get started with KiwiBudget and expert mentoring!
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Cold Flat, Big Power Bill: What NZ Students Are Entitled To This Winter
Your landlord must legally provide a fixed heater in the living room. You probably do not get the Winter Energy Payment on Student Allowance.
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Secondary Tax NZ: Why Your Second Job Feels Taxed to Death
Secondary tax is not a higher rate and it is not a penalty. Here is what SB, S, SH, ST and SA actually mean, why a second job is taxed at your top rate from…
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NZ Tax Brackets 2026: Your Complete Guide
Explore the NZ tax brackets for 2026, understand how higher earnings may affect your rate, and plan your finances effectively.