Welcome! I’m Sophia, the author of Mindful with Money (@mindfulwithmoneynz). I’m passionate about all things personal finance, currently work in the NZ financial industry, and hold the NZ Certificate in Financial Services (Life, Disability & Health Insurance; General Insurance; Residential Property Lending) and NZ Certificate in Money Management. This blog is my money diary, and I hope it gives you plenty of helpful tips and inspiration on your own personal finance journey!
I quit my job (without another lined up)
A few weeks ago, I shared with some close friends that I was working through a 'job quitting list'. Working through a to-do list, I was going to quit my job - without another lined up. If you are in the same boat, and if for any reason you are also quitting your job without another lined up, I wanted to share the things I did to financially secure my husband and I.
How COVID-19 impacted our personal finances
Today, I want to share with you my thoughts & experiences on how COVID-19 has impacted our money and personal finances. I imagine that life looks very different for most of us at the moment, including how we handle our money and what our incomes & expenses look like. I hope this helps you if you’re looking for ideas – and the knowledge that you’re not alone.
You don't need to be rich to be financially stable
What does being financially stable mean to you? To the people I asked in person, it was more or less, “Not living paycheck to paycheck.” Here's why I believe that you can achieve financial stability, whether or not you consider yourself 'rich'.
Money habits I nailed in my 20’s
Today, I’m back with another reflective post. After sharing my financial regrets, I’ll be sharing with you mindful money habits I’ve done right – from my teens to mid 20’s.
I have no money and it’s all my fault: a guide to taxes
Confused about taxes? Here’s my guide to how income taxes work in New Zealand, why you get tax refunds and bills (and why it’s fair), and what to do if you can’t afford to pay it all at once. I’ll also cover the Independent Earner’s Tax Credit for those eligible for a free $520 per year, provisional tax, secondary tax, and more.
Money mistakes I made in my 20's
Today, I'd like to introduce you to the hot mess I was in my early 20's, and the freeing changes I've made since. You could even call it my own financial #glowup!
Please note these are definitely not all overnight fixes; whether they've taken weeks, months, or years to improve upon, they are all things younger me could have done better over the last 8 years.
The costs of owning a home
What costs do you think of when you think of buying a house? It's so easy to simply think of the purchase price and mortgage payments - plus mortgage protection for peace of mind. Today, I thought it would be interesting to share what I pay for now that I own a home vs. when I was renting, and hope it will be helpful to both other homeowners and future homeowners!
How I save money on an inconsistent income
Just a few years ago, I'd rely on $1400 to hit my bank account every fortnight - and it did, each and every fortnight without fail. Even then, my income regularly fluctuated because I volunteered for so much overtime and, twice a year, received a performance bonus - but it was positively inconsistent in that I could always rely on at least that amount or more. It was blissfully easy to budget.
Fast forward to 2019, and I'm sure those of you who are freelancers, self-employed, contractors, or run a side business can relate to earning a wildly inconsistent income. So how on earth do I budget and save money when my income is never the same?
How to manifest money
Manifesting money isn't praying to the universe to give you money while you're sitting around doing nothing, or the opposite - working to the point of burn-out. It's not simply using Law of Attraction and positive affirmations to say, "I am wealthy" - it's so much more than that. Here are the best lessons I've personally learnt about manifesting money.
The six ways I’ve made money this year
It’s only the end of September, yet so far, 2018 has been a very interesting year for me – in life, in love, and in finances. A few years ago, like most people, I worked full-time and had one income, but this year so far, I’ve earned income from several different sources – six to be exact. Today I’ll share with you these six ways I’ve made money this year.
First, let me take you back to last year, 2017 – where I lay the foundations for where I am today. Let’s go in quarters, shall we?
Follow me on @mindfulwithmoneynz
