Money planning to meet your financial goals
What is a budget?
Making a budget Getting help
Inside . . .
Budgeting
budgeting
What is a budget?
A budget is a plan for the money you expect to receive and how you expect to spend it.
Everyone can benefit from having a budget.
It’s one of your best tools for getting sorted.
To make a budget you add up how much money is coming into your household (your income), then you add up how much money is going out (your spending), and work out the difference.
Your budget will tell you whether you have money left over (a surplus) or not enough money to cover your spending (a deficit). The aim of a budget is to try and make a surplus – so you have some spare money to save for your goals or to pay off debt.
What is a deficit?
A deficit is when you don’t have enough money to cover your spending. If you spend more than you earn, you have a deficit.
What is a surplus?
A surplus is when you have money left over. If you spend less than you earn, you have a surplus.
Have you set your goals?
Setting your goals will help you to think about what you want in life and how you want to spend your money. Order the Set your goals booklet from sorted.org.nz/ordering or call 0800 SORT MONEY (0800 767 866).
Jimmy and Suzie live with their seven-year-old son in Hastings. When they bought their first house they decided to work out a budget together.
Making their budget took time, but once it was done, Jimmy and Suzie could see where their money was going. They found there were some areas where they could spend a bit less and put that money towards paying off debt.
While the budget was hard to stick to at first, Jimmy and Suzie have paid off their hire purchase debts and saved
$5,000 towards an emergency fund that they can use if they need it.
Jimmy’s top tip is to be realistic when working out a budget. At the start Jimmy and Suzie just wanted to pay off their debts and they didn’t leave enough money for their weekly expenses. So they changed their budget to have a bit more money to spend each week – making that change meant the rest of their budget could work after all.
Kiwi story
A budget that works If you have a surplus
Here are some things you could do:
n Check that the amounts in your budget give you enough money to pay for your family’s expenses.
Are there any areas where a little more money would make your budget work better?
n Use your surplus to pay off your debt more quickly
n Save your surplus towards one of your goals. Your goal could be having an emergency fund, buying a house or saving for a holiday.
n Meet a budget adviser and work out a savings plan
n Make a date to check your budget in six months’ time.
If you need help to make a budget, call Family Budgeting Services on 0508 BUDGET (0508 283 438). Their services are free and confidential. A trained budget adviser will answer your call. They will answer your questions over the phone or put you in contact with an adviser in your area.
Family Budgeting Services has budget advisers throughout New Zealand who can show you how to make and operate a budget. They will help you to take control of your money.
Done your budget? Getting help
Budgeting made easy Use the Money planner to make a plan for your money. Just enter your income and your spending, and it will do the calculations for you.
See where your money goes Now you’ve done a budget, use the Sorted’s Money tracking guide to help see where your money really goes. You can track your spending day to day or month to month.
If you have a deficit
Here are some things you could do:
n If you have any savings, use some of it to pay off debt.
n Check your budget. Is there any spending that could be reduced?
n Call 0800 774 004 to make sure you are getting your Working for Families entitlements – you may qualify for Working for Families tax credits, the Accommodation Supplement or Childcare Assistance.
n Think about ways to earn more income
n Meet a budget adviser.
Things you need
1 A list of your spending each week. Keeping receipts from your shopping
is one way of doing this.
2 Your bank statements and bills for at least the last three months. These will show how much you are spending each month on rent, mortgage payments, hire purchase, credit cards, telephone and power bills and insurance.
3 A list of costs that you pay from time to time such as car licensing, medical expenses, gifts and holidays
4 A list of any money you get such as your pay, benefits or other government support, NZ Super or interest you earn on your savings
5 A list of any regular savings you make
Get all the information Give yourself a couple of weeks to get all the information you need. Put it in one place so that it’s all together when you’re ready to make your budget.
Making a budget that works For a budget to work, the information needs to be accurate and complete.
Don’t forget to include the little things like ice creams for the kids or bus fares and money for parking. A budget also needs to be up to date, so it’s a good idea to check it regularly.
Find out what to do next
Get your budgeting Get your budgeting
Now you’ve made your budget, find out what to do next if you have money left over (a surplus) or not enough
to cover your spending
(a deficit). Try our online calculators
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Total
5
$ Total weekly income
6
$ Total weekly spending
2. Your weekly spending
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Food & housekeeping (include extra milk, bread, etc.)
Rent/board
Child support payments Fares/petrol
Personal cash (e.g. cigarettes, entertainment) Children’s school books, school trips, etc.
Children’s pocket money Donations (church, charity) Work and Income repayments Fines
Other weekly spending
3. Your monthly spending
Mortgage payments Power/gas
Telephone (including mobile, broadband) Insurances (house, contents, car, medical, life) Credit cards: 1
Credit cards: 2
Credit contracts (hire purchase): 1 Credit contracts (hire purchase): 2 Loans (e.g. car loans, personal loans) Equipment rental (e.g. washing machine, TV) Bank fees
Other monthly spending
4. Your yearly spending 5. Your results
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Rates (including water)
Car licensing and warrant of fitness Car maintenance and repairs
Fees and subscriptions – schools, kindergarten, clubs Medical (including doctors, dentist, prescriptions) Dog registration and vet
Home maintenance Clothing, shoes, uniforms Gifts
Holidays Regular savings Other yearly spending
Add the above for the total.
$ Step 3. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Multiply by 12 months (x12). Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
(if you pay fortnightly, work out the monthly amount by multiplying the amount you pay by 26 and then dividing it by 12.)
Subtract Box 6 from Box 5. Write the answer here.
Put the total from Box 1 here.
Add Boxes 2,3 & 4, and put their combined total here.
Tick the box that’s right for you:
The amount in Box 5 is bigger than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my surplus.
The amount in Box 5 is smaller than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my deficit.
2 Total $
$ Total
4 $ 3 $
Making a budget
1. Your weekly income
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$ Weekly take-home pay (after all deductions)
Benefits or other government support NZ Super payments
Working for Families income Child support
Board payments
Interest/dividend payments Other income
If you receive fortnightly payments, divide them by 2 to get the weekly amounts.
For monthly payments, multiply them by 12, then divide by 52.
Add the above for the total.
When you have all the information you need, it’s time to work out your budget.
Set some time aside for this. You can use this budget sheet or the Money planner on sorted.org.nz. Be realistic about the amounts you include. You need to put down your real costs for your budget to work.
1 Total $
7
Sum $ total
Get your budgeting
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Total
5
$ Total weekly income
6
$ Total weekly spending
2. Your weekly spending
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Food & housekeeping (include extra milk, bread, etc.)
Rent/board
Child support payments Fares/petrol
Personal cash (e.g. cigarettes, entertainment) Children’s school books, school trips, etc.
Children’s pocket money Donations (church, charity) Work and Income repayments Fines
Other weekly spending
3. Your monthly spending
Mortgage payments Power/gas
Telephone (including mobile, broadband) Insurances (house, contents, car, medical, life) Credit cards: 1
Credit cards: 2
Credit contracts (hire purchase): 1 Credit contracts (hire purchase): 2 Loans (e.g. car loans, personal loans) Equipment rental (e.g. washing machine, TV) Bank fees
Other monthly spending
4. Your yearly spending 5. Your results
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Rates (including water)
Car licensing and warrant of fitness Car maintenance and repairs
Fees and subscriptions – schools, kindergarten, clubs Medical (including doctors, dentist, prescriptions) Dog registration and vet
Home maintenance Clothing, shoes, uniforms Gifts
Holidays Regular savings Other yearly spending
Add the above for the total.
$ Step 3. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Multiply by 12 months (x12). Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
(if you pay fortnightly, work out the monthly amount by multiplying the amount you pay by 26 and then dividing it by 12.)
Subtract Box 6 from Box 5. Write the answer here.
Put the total from Box 1 here.
Add Boxes 2,3 & 4, and put their combined total here.
Tick the box that’s right for you:
The amount in Box 5 is bigger than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my surplus.
The amount in Box 5 is smaller than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my deficit.
2 Total $
$ Total
4 $ 3 $
Making a budget
1. Your weekly income
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$ Weekly take-home pay (after all deductions)
Benefits or other government support NZ Super payments
Working for Families income Child support
Board payments
Interest/dividend payments Other income
If you receive fortnightly payments, divide them by 2 to get the weekly amounts.
For monthly payments, multiply them by 12, then divide by 52.
Add the above for the total.
When you have all the information you need, it’s time to work out your budget.
Set some time aside for this. You can use this budget sheet or the Money planner on sorted.org.nz. Be realistic about the amounts you include. You need to put down your real costs for your budget to work.
1 Total $
7
Sum $ total
Get your budgeting
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Total
5
$ Total weekly income
6
$ Total weekly spending
2. Your weekly spending
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Food & housekeeping (include extra milk, bread, etc.)
Rent/board
Child support payments Fares/petrol
Personal cash (e.g. cigarettes, entertainment) Children’s school books, school trips, etc.
Children’s pocket money Donations (church, charity) Work and Income repayments Fines
Other weekly spending
3. Your monthly spending
Mortgage payments Power/gas
Telephone (including mobile, broadband) Insurances (house, contents, car, medical, life) Credit cards: 1
Credit cards: 2
Credit contracts (hire purchase): 1 Credit contracts (hire purchase): 2 Loans (e.g. car loans, personal loans) Equipment rental (e.g. washing machine, TV) Bank fees
Other monthly spending
4. Your yearly spending 5. Your results
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Rates (including water)
Car licensing and warrant of fitness Car maintenance and repairs
Fees and subscriptions – schools, kindergarten, clubs Medical (including doctors, dentist, prescriptions) Dog registration and vet
Home maintenance Clothing, shoes, uniforms Gifts
Holidays Regular savings Other yearly spending
Add the above for the total.
$ Step 3. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Multiply by 12 months (x12). Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
(if you pay fortnightly, work out the monthly amount by multiplying the amount you pay by 26 and then dividing it by 12.)
Subtract Box 6 from Box 5. Write the answer here.
Put the total from Box 1 here.
Add Boxes 2,3 & 4, and put their combined total here.
Tick the box that’s right for you:
The amount in Box 5 is bigger than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my surplus.
The amount in Box 5 is smaller than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my deficit.
2 Total $
$ Total
4 $ 3 $
Making a budget
1. Your weekly income
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$ Weekly take-home pay (after all deductions)
Benefits or other government support NZ Super payments
Working for Families income Child support
Board payments
Interest/dividend payments Other income
If you receive fortnightly payments, divide them by 2 to get the weekly amounts.
For monthly payments, multiply them by 12, then divide by 52.
Add the above for the total.
When you have all the information you need, it’s time to work out your budget.
Set some time aside for this. You can use this budget sheet or the Money planner on sorted.org.nz. Be realistic about the amounts you include. You need to put down your real costs for your budget to work.
1 Total $
7
Sum $ total
Get your budgeting
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Total
5
$ Total weekly income
6
$ Total weekly spending
2. Your weekly spending
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Food & housekeeping (include extra milk, bread, etc.)
Rent/board
Child support payments Fares/petrol
Personal cash (e.g. cigarettes, entertainment) Children’s school books, school trips, etc.
Children’s pocket money Donations (church, charity) Work and Income repayments Fines
Other weekly spending
3. Your monthly spending
Mortgage payments Power/gas
Telephone (including mobile, broadband) Insurances (house, contents, car, medical, life) Credit cards: 1
Credit cards: 2
Credit contracts (hire purchase): 1 Credit contracts (hire purchase): 2 Loans (e.g. car loans, personal loans) Equipment rental (e.g. washing machine, TV) Bank fees
Other monthly spending
4. Your yearly spending 5. Your results
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Rates (including water)
Car licensing and warrant of fitness Car maintenance and repairs
Fees and subscriptions – schools, kindergarten, clubs Medical (including doctors, dentist, prescriptions) Dog registration and vet
Home maintenance Clothing, shoes, uniforms Gifts
Holidays Regular savings Other yearly spending
Add the above for the total.
$ Step 3. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Multiply by 12 months (x12). Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
(if you pay fortnightly, work out the monthly amount by multiplying the amount you pay by 26 and then dividing it by 12.)
Subtract Box 6 from Box 5. Write the answer here.
Put the total from Box 1 here.
Add Boxes 2,3 & 4, and put their combined total here.
Tick the box that’s right for you:
The amount in Box 5 is bigger than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my surplus.
The amount in Box 5 is smaller than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my deficit.
2 Total $
$ Total
4 $ 3 $
Making a budget
1. Your weekly income
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$ Weekly take-home pay (after all deductions)
Benefits or other government support NZ Super payments
Working for Families income Child support
Board payments
Interest/dividend payments Other income
If you receive fortnightly payments, divide them by 2 to get the weekly amounts.
For monthly payments, multiply them by 12, then divide by 52.
Add the above for the total.
When you have all the information you need, it’s time to work out your budget.
Set some time aside for this. You can use this budget sheet or the Money planner on sorted.org.nz. Be realistic about the amounts you include. You need to put down your real costs for your budget to work.
1 Total $
7
Sum $ total
Get your budgeting
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Total
5
$ Total weekly income
6
$ Total weekly spending
2. Your weekly spending
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Food & housekeeping (include extra milk, bread, etc.)
Rent/board
Child support payments Fares/petrol
Personal cash (e.g. cigarettes, entertainment) Children’s school books, school trips, etc.
Children’s pocket money Donations (church, charity) Work and Income repayments Fines
Other weekly spending
3. Your monthly spending
Mortgage payments Power/gas
Telephone (including mobile, broadband) Insurances (house, contents, car, medical, life) Credit cards: 1
Credit cards: 2
Credit contracts (hire purchase): 1 Credit contracts (hire purchase): 2 Loans (e.g. car loans, personal loans) Equipment rental (e.g. washing machine, TV) Bank fees
Other monthly spending
4. Your yearly spending 5. Your results
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ Rates (including water)
Car licensing and warrant of fitness Car maintenance and repairs
Fees and subscriptions – schools, kindergarten, clubs Medical (including doctors, dentist, prescriptions) Dog registration and vet
Home maintenance Clothing, shoes, uniforms Gifts
Holidays Regular savings Other yearly spending
Add the above for the total.
$ Step 3. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Multiply by 12 months (x12). Step 1. Add the above for the total.
Step 2. Divide by 52 (weeks/year).
(if you pay fortnightly, work out the monthly amount by multiplying the amount you pay by 26 and then dividing it by 12.)
Subtract Box 6 from Box 5. Write the answer here.
Put the total from Box 1 here.
Add Boxes 2,3 & 4, and put their combined total here.
Tick the box that’s right for you:
The amount in Box 5 is bigger than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my surplus.
The amount in Box 5 is smaller than Box 6. The amount in Box 7 is my deficit.
2 Total $
$ Total
4 $ 3 $
Making a budget
1. Your weekly income
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
$
$ Weekly take-home pay (after all deductions)
Benefits or other government support NZ Super payments
Working for Families income Child support
Board payments
Interest/dividend payments Other income
If you receive fortnightly payments, divide them by 2 to get the weekly amounts.
For monthly payments, multiply them by 12, then divide by 52.
Add the above for the total.
When you have all the information you need, it’s time to work out your budget.
Set some time aside for this. You can use this budget sheet or the Money planner on sorted.org.nz. Be realistic about the amounts you include. You need to put down your real costs for your budget to work.
1 Total $
7
Sum $ total
Get your budgeting
Jimmy and Suzie live with their seven-year-old son in Hastings. When they bought their first house they decided to work out a budget together.
Making their budget took time, but once it was done, Jimmy and Suzie could see where their money was going. They found there were some areas where they could spend a bit less and put that money towards paying off debt.
While the budget was hard to stick to at first, Jimmy and Suzie have paid off their hire purchase debts and saved
$5,000 towards an emergency fund that they can use if they need it.
Jimmy’s top tip is to be realistic when working out a budget. At the start Jimmy and Suzie just wanted to pay off their debts and they didn’t leave enough money for their weekly expenses. So they changed their budget to have a bit more money to spend each week – making that change meant the rest of their budget could work after all.
Kiwi story
A budget that works If you have a surplus
Here are some things you could do:
n Check that the amounts in your budget give you enough money to pay for your family’s expenses.
Are there any areas where a little more money would make your budget work better?
n Use your surplus to pay off your debt more quickly
n Save your surplus towards one of your goals. Your goal could be having an emergency fund, buying a house or saving for a holiday.
n Meet a budget adviser and work out a savings plan
n Make a date to check your budget in six months’ time.
If you need help to make a budget, call Family Budgeting Services on 0508 BUDGET (0508 283 438). Their services are free and confidential. A trained budget adviser will answer your call. They will answer your questions over the phone or put you in contact with an adviser in your area.
Family Budgeting Services has budget advisers throughout New Zealand who can show you how to make and operate a budget. They will help you to take control of your money.
Done your budget? Getting help
Budgeting made easy Use the Money planner to make a plan for your money. Just enter your income and your spending, and it will do the calculations for you.
See where your money goes Now you’ve done a budget, use the Sorted’s Money tracking guide to help see where your money really goes. You can track your spending day to day or month to month.
If you have a deficit
Here are some things you could do:
n If you have any savings, use some of it to pay off debt.
n Check your budget. Is there any spending that could be reduced?
n Call 0800 774 004 to make sure you are getting your Working for Families entitlements – you may qualify for Working for Families tax credits, the Accommodation Supplement or Childcare Assistance.
n Think about ways to earn more income
n Meet a budget adviser.
Things you need
1 A list of your spending each week. Keeping receipts from your shopping
is one way of doing this.
2 Your bank statements and bills for at least the last three months. These will show how much you are spending each month on rent, mortgage payments, hire purchase, credit cards, telephone and power bills and insurance.
3 A list of costs that you pay from time to time such as car licensing, medical expenses, gifts and holidays
4 A list of any money you get such as your pay, benefits or other government support, NZ Super or interest you earn on your savings
5 A list of any regular savings you make
Get all the information Give yourself a couple of weeks to get all the information you need. Put it in one place so that it’s all together when you’re ready to make your budget.
Making a budget that works For a budget to work, the information needs to be accurate and complete.
Don’t forget to include the little things like ice creams for the kids or bus fares and money for parking. A budget also needs to be up to date, so it’s a good idea to check it regularly.
Find out what to do next
Get your budgeting Get your budgeting
Now you’ve made your budget, find out what to do next if you have money left over (a surplus) or not enough
to cover your spending
(a deficit). Try our online calculators
Jimmy and Suzie live with their seven-year-old son in Hastings. When they bought their first house they decided to work out a budget together.
Making their budget took time, but once it was done, Jimmy and Suzie could see where their money was going. They found there were some areas where they could spend a bit less and put that money towards paying off debt.
While the budget was hard to stick to at first, Jimmy and Suzie have paid off their hire purchase debts and saved
$5,000 towards an emergency fund that they can use if they need it.
Jimmy’s top tip is to be realistic when working out a budget. At the start Jimmy and Suzie just wanted to pay off their debts and they didn’t leave enough money for their weekly expenses. So they changed their budget to have a bit more money to spend each week – making that change meant the rest of their budget could work after all.
Kiwi story
A budget that works If you have a surplus
Here are some things you could do:
n Check that the amounts in your budget give you enough money to pay for your family’s expenses.
Are there any areas where a little more money would make your budget work better?
n Use your surplus to pay off your debt more quickly
n Save your surplus towards one of your goals. Your goal could be having an emergency fund, buying a house or saving for a holiday.
n Meet a budget adviser and work out a savings plan
n Make a date to check your budget in six months’ time.
If you need help to make a budget, call Family Budgeting Services on 0508 BUDGET (0508 283 438). Their services are free and confidential. A trained budget adviser will answer your call. They will answer your questions over the phone or put you in contact with an adviser in your area.
Family Budgeting Services has budget advisers throughout New Zealand who can show you how to make and operate a budget. They will help you to take control of your money.
Done your budget? Getting help
Budgeting made easy Use the Money planner to make a plan for your money. Just enter your income and your spending, and it will do the calculations for you.
See where your money goes Now you’ve done a budget, use the Sorted’s Money tracking guide to help see where your money really goes. You can track your spending day to day or month to month.
If you have a deficit
Here are some things you could do:
n If you have any savings, use some of it to pay off debt.
n Check your budget. Is there any spending that could be reduced?
n Call 0800 774 004 to make sure you are getting your Working for Families entitlements – you may qualify for Working for Families tax credits, the Accommodation Supplement or Childcare Assistance.
n Think about ways to earn more income
n Meet a budget adviser.
Things you need
1 A list of your spending each week. Keeping receipts from your shopping
is one way of doing this.
2 Your bank statements and bills for at least the last three months. These will show how much you are spending each month on rent, mortgage payments, hire purchase, credit cards, telephone and power bills and insurance.
3 A list of costs that you pay from time to time such as car licensing, medical expenses, gifts and holidays
4 A list of any money you get such as your pay, benefits or other government support, NZ Super or interest you earn on your savings
5 A list of any regular savings you make
Get all the information Give yourself a couple of weeks to get all the information you need. Put it in one place so that it’s all together when you’re ready to make your budget.
Making a budget that works For a budget to work, the information needs to be accurate and complete.
Don’t forget to include the little things like ice creams for the kids or bus fares and money for parking. A budget also needs to be up to date, so it’s a good idea to check it regularly.
Find out what to do next
Get your budgeting Get your budgeting
Now you’ve made your budget, find out what to do next if you have money left over (a surplus) or not enough
to cover your spending
(a deficit). Try our online calculators
Jimmy and Suzie live with their seven-year-old son in Hastings. When they bought their first house they decided to work out a budget together.
Making their budget took time, but once it was done, Jimmy and Suzie could see where their money was going. They found there were some areas where they could spend a bit less and put that money towards paying off debt.
While the budget was hard to stick to at first, Jimmy and Suzie have paid off their hire purchase debts and saved
$5,000 towards an emergency fund that they can use if they need it.
Jimmy’s top tip is to be realistic when working out a budget. At the start Jimmy and Suzie just wanted to pay off their debts and they didn’t leave enough money for their weekly expenses. So they changed their budget to have a bit more money to spend each week – making that change meant the rest of their budget could work after all.
Kiwi story
A budget that works If you have a surplus
Here are some things you could do:
n Check that the amounts in your budget give you enough money to pay for your family’s expenses.
Are there any areas where a little more money would make your budget work better?
n Use your surplus to pay off your debt more quickly
n Save your surplus towards one of your goals. Your goal could be having an emergency fund, buying a house or saving for a holiday.
n Meet a budget adviser and work out a savings plan
n Make a date to check your budget in six months’ time.
If you need help to make a budget, call Family Budgeting Services on 0508 BUDGET (0508 283 438). Their services are free and confidential. A trained budget adviser will answer your call. They will answer your questions over the phone or put you in contact with an adviser in your area.
Family Budgeting Services has budget advisers throughout New Zealand who can show you how to make and operate a budget. They will help you to take control of your money.
Done your budget? Getting help
Budgeting made easy Use the Money planner to make a plan for your money. Just enter your income and your spending, and it will do the calculations for you.
See where your money goes Now you’ve done a budget, use the Sorted’s Money tracking guide to help see where your money really goes. You can track your spending day to day or month to month.
If you have a deficit
Here are some things you could do:
n If you have any savings, use some of it to pay off debt.
n Check your budget. Is there any spending that could be reduced?
n Call 0800 774 004 to make sure you are getting your Working for Families entitlements – you may qualify for Working for Families tax credits, the Accommodation Supplement or Childcare Assistance.
n Think about ways to earn more income
n Meet a budget adviser.
Things you need
1 A list of your spending each week. Keeping receipts from your shopping
is one way of doing this.
2 Your bank statements and bills for at least the last three months. These will show how much you are spending each month on rent, mortgage payments, hire purchase, credit cards, telephone and power bills and insurance.
3 A list of costs that you pay from time to time such as car licensing, medical expenses, gifts and holidays
4 A list of any money you get such as your pay, benefits or other government support, NZ Super or interest you earn on your savings
5 A list of any regular savings you make
Get all the information Give yourself a couple of weeks to get all the information you need. Put it in one place so that it’s all together when you’re ready to make your budget.
Making a budget that works For a budget to work, the information needs to be accurate and complete.
Don’t forget to include the little things like ice creams for the kids or bus fares and money for parking. A budget also needs to be up to date, so it’s a good idea to check it regularly.
Find out what to do next
Get your budgeting Get your budgeting
Now you’ve made your budget, find out what to do next if you have money left over (a surplus) or not enough
to cover your spending
(a deficit). Try our online calculators
Jimmy and Suzie live with their seven-year-old son in Hastings. When they bought their first house they decided to work out a budget together.
Making their budget took time, but once it was done, Jimmy and Suzie could see where their money was going. They found there were some areas where they could spend a bit less and put that money towards paying off debt.
While the budget was hard to stick to at first, Jimmy and Suzie have paid off their hire purchase debts and saved
$5,000 towards an emergency fund that they can use if they need it.
Jimmy’s top tip is to be realistic when working out a budget. At the start Jimmy and Suzie just wanted to pay off their debts and they didn’t leave enough money for their weekly expenses. So they changed their budget to have a bit more money to spend each week – making that change meant the rest of their budget could work after all.
Kiwi story
A budget that works If you have a surplus
Here are some things you could do:
n Check that the amounts in your budget give you enough money to pay for your family’s expenses.
Are there any areas where a little more money would make your budget work better?
n Use your surplus to pay off your debt more quickly
n Save your surplus towards one of your goals. Your goal could be having an emergency fund, buying a house or saving for a holiday.
n Meet a budget adviser and work out a savings plan
n Make a date to check your budget in six months’ time.
If you need help to make a budget, call Family Budgeting Services on 0508 BUDGET (0508 283 438). Their services are free and confidential. A trained budget adviser will answer your call. They will answer your questions over the phone or put you in contact with an adviser in your area.
Family Budgeting Services has budget advisers throughout New Zealand who can show you how to make and operate a budget. They will help you to take control of your money.
Done your budget? Getting help
Budgeting made easy Use the Money planner to make a plan for your money. Just enter your income and your spending, and it will do the calculations for you.
See where your money goes Now you’ve done a budget, use the Sorted’s Money tracking guide to help see where your money really goes. You can track your spending day to day or month to month.
If you have a deficit
Here are some things you could do:
n If you have any savings, use some of it to pay off debt.
n Check your budget. Is there any spending that could be reduced?
n Call 0800 774 004 to make sure you are getting your Working for Families entitlements – you may qualify for Working for Families tax credits, the Accommodation Supplement or Childcare Assistance.
n Think about ways to earn more income
n Meet a budget adviser.
Things you need
1 A list of your spending each week. Keeping receipts from your shopping
is one way of doing this.
2 Your bank statements and bills for at least the last three months. These will show how much you are spending each month on rent, mortgage payments, hire purchase, credit cards, telephone and power bills and insurance.
3 A list of costs that you pay from time to time such as car licensing, medical expenses, gifts and holidays
4 A list of any money you get such as your pay, benefits or other government support, NZ Super or interest you earn on your savings
5 A list of any regular savings you make
Get all the information Give yourself a couple of weeks to get all the information you need. Put it in one place so that it’s all together when you’re ready to make your budget.
Making a budget that works For a budget to work, the information needs to be accurate and complete.
Don’t forget to include the little things like ice creams for the kids or bus fares and money for parking. A budget also needs to be up to date, so it’s a good idea to check it regularly.
Find out what to do next
Get your budgeting Get your budgeting
Now you’ve made your budget, find out what to do next if you have money left over (a surplus) or not enough
to cover your spending
(a deficit). Try our online calculators
Get your insurance
Notes
1
2 3
Got the information you need to budget – spending, income, statements and bills?
Made a budget?
Worked out if you spend more or less than you earn?
Next steps:
e.g. call 0508 BUDGET on (date), track your spending
Where to now?
Sorted 021 December 2014
Sorted booklets
Order from sorted.org.nz/ordering or call 0800 SORT MONEY (0800 767 866).
