29 August 2012

Learning about everyday money is key

Next week is New Zealand’s first ever Money Week (2-8 September). “Money Week is about helping kiwis learn about everyday money,” says Raewyn Fox, CEO of the New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services.

“Your everyday money is your household money; the money you need to pay the bills, feed your family, and pay your rent. It’s essential to learn how to manage this money, but it’s not always taught in school,” Fox says.

“Money Week is a great opportunity to think more about how you’re managing your day to day finances. Are you thrown by small but unexpected jumps in prices? Does the occasional big expense mean you’re going without, sometimes? If so, it may pay to attend a Money Week event or visit your local budgeting service.”

Money Week events are advertised on www.moneyweek.org.nz. The New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services is running free seminars in Auckland, and their members are running a series of events around the country.

“There’s a budgeting service in almost every community and we don’t always get the chance to be proactive with our community education. Money Week gives us the excuse to get out there and be a bit more visible and proactive,” Fox says. “We saw more than 40,000 clients last year around the country and almost all of them had debt of some kind: credit card debt, pay day loans, vehicle loans or advances. Wouldn’t it be great for them to learn how to manage their finances so that they didn’t always need a loan? We think the more Kiwis who learn how to manage their everyday money, the better.”

The New Zealand Federation of Family Budgeting Services is a network of community budgeting services offering free, confidential, non-judgemental budgeting advice. Find a free budget adviser on www.familybudgeting.org.nz or by calling 0508 BUDGETLINE (283 438).

ENDS

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