Financial Wellbeing Part 3

Financial Wellbeing means different things to each of us.

It can be as simple as your ability to manage your money. And isn’t necessarily dependant on the amount of money you have.

For me it is more than just being able to pay your bills.

For me it is a deeper sense of balance, a feeling of security that I am gaining control over my day to day expenses, and that there is an element of freedom to make choices to enjoy life and looking to the future having both short term and longer term financial goals.

Financial wellbeing and mental health (and then physical health) are closely linked: when one drops, we often see the other follow. There are 5 keys to financial wellbeing – this is the third article in the series of 5.

Helen M Grant, Blog, Financial PlanningHelen M GrantMay 29, 2025Blog, Helen M. GrantComment

It's not about the avocado toast

You'll see this ridiculous picture in captions everywhere where someone's complaining about cutting out a daily work coffee to save money. The meme suggests that saving $20 a week gives you $80 a month or $960 a year. They've even got the maths wrong by assuming exactly four weeks in a month. After 10 years, you've supposedly saved $9,600, which isn't enough to buy a house, so you might as well enjoy your coffee.

Alan Borthwick, Financial Planning, MortgageAlan BorthwickMay 22, 2025Blog, Financial Planning, Mortgage, SavingComment

Pay your mortgage off faster by cutting back on coffee?

I see ads like this all the time from other advisers and it tends to annoy me.

It’s a clear play on the meme that went around ages ago about cutting back on coffee of avocado toast to save for a house.

It’s designed to get you annoyed, give you some FOMO and make you think you need to do more, and they can sell you on buying rental property, with the aim that this helps you pay off your loan faster.

Blog, Alan Borthwick, Financial Planning, MortgageAlan BorthwickMay 15, 2025blog, Financial Planning, Mortgage, Alan BorthwickComment

Retirement Planning in NZ: Navigating Costs, Income, and Lifestyle Choices

Retirement planning in New Zealand requires more than just relying on NZ Superannuation. With inflation, rising living costs and varying lifestyle preferences, retirees need to consider their financial resources and future goals. Here’s a breakdown of retirement expenses, financial strategies, and how to prepare for this stage of life.

Blog, Financial Planning, Investing, Niraj PatelNiraj PatelApril 17, 2025Blog, Retirement, Niraj PatelComment

Advice is for “Life’s Defining Moments”

We often get asked about what advice is for and its value. Advice is for many things, but it all comes down to making sense of Life’s defining moments.

It may be difficult to see how this applies so here are some ideas.

Alan Borthwick, Blog, Financial PlanningAlan BorthwickNovember 14, 2024Blog, Advice, Alan BorthwickComment

When is to too late to prepare for retirement?

I often talk to people who think that because they have not started planning in the 20s, its too late now in their 30s, 40s, 50s or even 60s.

While the best time to start planning for your future is when you start work, the next best time is today, or tomorrow.

Alan Borthwick, Financial PlanningAlan BorthwickOctober 3, 2024Retirement, Financial Planning, articleComment