10 Down-to-Earth Money Tips

None of these will change your life overnight. Put a few together, though, and they add up to real progress over the years.

1. Set your savings to happen automatically so you never have to think about it.
2. Check what fund type your KiwiSaver is in and whether it still suits you.
3. Give your insurance a once-over each year as life changes.
4. Build up around three months of expenses for a rainy day.
5. Sort your income protection before you ever need it.
6. Track your spending for a single month, it's eye-opening.
7. Clear the high-interest debt first.
8. Use a budget you'll actually stick to, not a perfect one.
9. Talk about money openly at home.
10. Ask someone who knows when you're not sure.