No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds

Every parent wants to help their kids with money stuff. And we know that some aren't able to. But for those who can, at what age does that responsibility end? Should you still support your kids through university, trades training and the like? What are the options out there, beyond the Bank of Mum and Dad?

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• Student loan isn’t enough to cover hall of residence fees. Are there ot...

If your employer doesn't contribute extra to your KiwiSaver, is there any point being in the scheme? It's a question that gets to the heart of what KiwiSaver is for, and whether some New Zealanders might be better off investing elsewhere.

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• Whether KiwiSaver is worth it if you're on a total remuneration package
• The pros and cons of investing outside KiwiSaver
• Whether a 46-year-old is t...

Say you can afford to pay off more than the minimum on your mortgage. Everyone says it's a good idea. But what's the best way to do it? Focus on one part of it, or spread it across the whole loan? Listen and find out in this week’s episode of No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds.

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• What’s the best way to smash down my mortgage?
• Is it a good idea to have your current accou...

Everyone loves a good garage sale. But if you're running one, should you be charging GST on the things you sell? They're all goods, after all. Who actually needs to charge GST? And is there a case for and against taking it off essential household purchases?

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• Why does my business pay GST when we’re not registered to collect it?
• Why aren’t we taking GST off our power bills?
• ...

Do you have kids? If so, are they bugging you to get them Ooshies, those tiny, plastic figurines they’re giving away at one of the supermarkets? Or maybe you’re more in the mood for some stylish new kitchen knives, so you shop at a different supermarket? Either way, does giving stuff away for ‘free’ really drive your decision on where to buy your groceries? The answer - and the business plan behind these pro...

What should you do if you’re offered an extended warranty when you’re buying an appliance? Isn’t that what the Consumer Guarantees Act is for? That’s just one of the questions that we’re looking into on this week’s episode of No Stupid Questions, which is a dive into some of the niggly questions that annoy people in their everyday lives.

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• Are exte...

Most of us have debt. And we've all heard about good debt versus bad debt, even if we don't always understand what that means or always make a wise choice if we do. But does the good debt/bad debt divide also apply to the country as a whole? Or are there different ways of weighing it up?

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• Does the thinking about good debt vs bad debt also apply to government debt?
• Which KiwiSaver pr...

Not everyone is entranced by the promise of AI That includes potential investors - and might include you. Perhaps you're unconvinced by the property market? Maybe you can't make your mind up between pumping up your KiwiSaver balance or paying off more of your mortgage? Don't worry. We've got you, because on this episode of No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds, we're answering your queries about investing.

In this episode, Susan a...

A couple of episodes ago, we talked about tax. Now, it's time for the OTHER certainty in life: death. That’s where we’re going in this episode of No Stupid Questions: making a will, estate planning, blended families, joint property - all the thorny questions about who gets what when you pop your clogs.

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• Does a child automatically inherit part of a parent's estate eve...

It sure seems like the world is a tough place right now. And sometimes it's hard to believe things could get worse. But they could! History shows us it's possible - and your emails lately show us you're thinking about it, too. So, in this week's episode of No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds, we're going there. What do you do if it all goes really, really wrong?

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• Is my KiwiSave...

GST turns 40 this year and nowadays makes up about 30% of our total tax revenue every year. But since its introduction back in October 1986, economists and everyday folk have been questioning whether it’s a fair system for all, or if some households are affected more than others. In this week’s No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds, we'll have a crack at answering that. We'll also look into which time of the year is th...

There are some solid reasons to change your KiwiSaver provider. But how easy is it to swap? How long does it take? And how do you know whether you should, anyway?

In this episode, Susan answers questions about:

• How (and why) do you swap KiwiSaver providers?
• My life insurances premiums are increasing. Should I keep servicing them or cancel the policy?
• I think I paid too much tax on my overseas pension. What do I do?
• How do I find ...

The news lately seems to have lots of good stories about how well our farmers are doing. Fonterra's big payout, exports going really well and sheep and beef farmers are seeing a rebound after years of struggle. But there are also stories how some New Zealanders can't afford to buy food like the beef, lamb,  butter and cheese our farmers produce. How come? On this episode of No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds, we'll go behind t...

There's nothing better than a warm, dry towel after a shower. And on these chilly winter mornings, that goes double. Your power bills can go double, too, during these months. But is it really all due to your heated towel rail or whether you keep your electric blanket on all night? Does it really matter if you boil the jug for a cup of tea or heat the water in a microwave? In this episode of No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds, w...

Got a foreign investment fund? Yes? Wondering what changes to the FIF tax rate mean for you? Probably! Good news - this episode of No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds is for you! Well, mostly, anyway. We'll also crack into the promise of open banking, selling second-hand stuff on Trademe and the history of the credit card. Hint - they've been around longer than you might imagine...

In this episode, Susan answers questions about...

KiwiSaver hardship withdrawals are on the rise. In April, more than 4000 applications were made, with $38.5 million being paid out. On the flipside, questions are being asked about the returns active managers are getting versus the fees they charge. On this week's episode of No Stupid Questions, Susan gets into your KiwiSaver queries, plus a whole bunch of other subjects from our mailbag.

In this episode, Susan answers questions abo...

The property market has been a bit boring of late. Prices did drop dramatically after Covid, no doubt, but since then, they have mostly just been moseying along. But boring doesn't mean things aren't going on under the surface and that there aren't questions to be asked. What’s actually going to happen to house prices? And what do you need to know if you’re thinking about buying, selling or just fixing your home loan?...

Most of us probably think we have a pretty good understanding of the pension. You turn 65, you get it. Right? Well, it turns out that there lots of little details that can catch you out. We’ve had a lot of questions about the pension (or NZ Super), so we’re on a bit of a deep dive into the most common ones. And don’t worry – this isn’t all questions for the over 65s, so stick with us if you’r...