As of March 2025, more than 340,000 New Zealanders were still sitting in default KiwiSaver funds — meaning they never actively chose a provider or investment fund. For most, it wasn’t a conscious decision. Life just got busy, and KiwiSaver quietly became something that “future me” would deal with one day.

But here’s the problem: that lack of engagement could be quietly costing you thousands of dollars over your lifetime — and for women, the gap is even wider.

J’s story is proof that change doesn’t happen overnight — but small, consistent actions make a big impact over time.

If you’re living on a benefit, please don’t tell yourself there’s nothing you can do. You might not be able to control how much comes in, but you can control how it’s managed. Learning even the basics of budgeting can help you make the most of what you have now and rely less on WINZ in the future.

On 17 October 2025, Ashley’s Law comes into effect — a new pathway designed to help survivors of family harm divorce an abusive partner immediately if they hold a final protection order. But behind the headlines, there’s a hidden risk that could cost survivors their financial security and property rights.

Adding a donation line to your budget isn’t about the size of your gift. It’s about creating meaning, building resilience, and proving to yourself that money can be used not just for survival, but for impact.

The truth is, one loving, safe parent is enough. And when that parent is healing, building financial stability, and showing up every day with love — children don’t just survive, they flourish.

Look, I know it’s only September… but if you’re anything like me, Christmas always sneaks up faster than expected. And with it comes the pressure: presents, food, decorations, school holidays… and the swipe of the card that can leave you stressed and paying it off well into the new year or cringing when you see those After Pay payment reminders.

This year, let’s do things differently. By starting now, you can enjoy the holidays without the debt hangover.

This month is Wills Month, give yourself (and your kids) the gift of certainty. It doesn’t matter if you’ve got $5 or $50,000 in the bank, your wishes matter, and putting them down on paper protects the people you love most.

A 2025 Vanguard study in the U.S. found that emergency savings are the single strongest predictor of financial well-being. Just having $2,000 tucked away was linked to a 21% increase in financial well-being. Women with that buffer reported less stress, spent fewer hours worrying about money, and were less distracted at work.

The following are some tips that might help. This isn’t a “buy a cow and churn your own butter” kind of list. These are small, realistic things you can do right now to make your budget stretch without adding to your stress.

It’s hard not to feel frustrated when you meet someone in a similar situation who seems to have had more support — or didn’t have to pay back the same things you did. You wonder what you missed. What box you didn’t tick. What piece of information you never got.

And that’s part of the problem. When you’re already overwhelmed, trying to process trauma, and keep a roof over your head — you shouldn’t have to be a policy expert just to survive.

Aotearoa has one of the highest rates of family violence in the developed world and we’re also a country full of pet lovers. So it’s no surprise that our furry companions play a significant role in the decisions women make about whether and when to leave an abusive relationship.

Recent data shows that 53% of women in abusive relationships delayed leaving out of fear for their pet’s safety, and 73% said they would have found it easier to leave if there were safe accommodation options for their pets.

If you’ve just downloaded the She’s Worth It Emergency Fund Tracker - yay! You’ve taken the first step toward building your financial safety net.

Now, if you’re anything like me, you’ve probably downloaded dozens of free templates over the years... and never opened half of them again. So let’s make this one different. This blog will walk you through exactly how to use your tracker, and how to keep the momentum going even when money is tight or motivation dips.

With Sorted’s Money Month coming up, I was chatting with a few of my colleagues about the Emergency Fund Challenge I’m running through She’s Worth It. It led to a great conversation:
“Where should you actually keep your emergency fund?”

I said straight away: “A high-interest savings account (HISA), hands down.”

One colleague said she just uses the savings account attached to her regular bank account. Another said she’s been using term deposits.

Your emergency fund is there for you when everything else falls apart. Keeping it in a high-interest savings account isn’t just financially smart—it’s an act of self-respect.

If you’re just starting to build one, start small. $5 a week. $20 a month. Whatever you can do. Over time, it adds up. And when life happens (because it always does), you’ll be so glad you did.

With new changes to KiwiSaver rules in July 2025, it’s easier than ever for parents and teens to set themselves up for the future. So let’s talk about what’s new, why it matters, and how you can get started, no matter your budget.

If you've lived it, you don’t need a research paper to tell you that leaving an abusive relationship is hard, especially when money is tight, or gone altogether. But sometimes, seeing the numbers laid out helps validate our experience. It shows we’re not imagining it. That it’s not just “bad luck” or “poor decisions.” It’s a system that fails women over and over again.

The latest Good Shepherd NZ report, Barriers to Exit: How financial barriers prevent women from leaving abusive relationships, is one of the clearest, most compassionate breakdowns I’ve read lately about why so many women stay. And why so many of us walk away not just traumatised, but broke.

New Zealanders have fully embraced contactless payments — about 70% use contactless as their preferred method for everyday purchases, up from 36% between 2019–2020. But convenience often comes with a hidden cost: retailers commonly add 2–2.5% surcharges to cover their processing fees.

I wouldn’t call myself a fashionista.
But I do like to feel smart — especially when I’m in professional settings.
And I’ve found a way to do that without blowing the budget.

If you’re rebuilding your finances, starting over, or just trying to get out of survival mode — please start here.
Sinking funds are simple. But they’re powerful.

If you’re stressed about money, you’re not alone.
And no, it’s not just “because you need a budget” or “should meditate more.”

For a lot of us, especially after financial trauma or divorce, money anxiety runs deep. It’s not just about the numbers, it’s about feeling unsafe, unsupported, and out of control.