Debt levels are spiralling
When Larry Burkett started Christian Financial Concepts (now Crown Financial Ministries) 50 years ago he was very concerned about America’s spiralling debt. He was particularly concerned about runaway United States federal government debt. Those trends have got worse, especially for federal government debt, which is now estimated to be US$40 trillion. In fiscal year 2026
Financial advice for life-long singles
The Census by Statistics New Zealand in 2023 identified that 24% of households in New Zealand consisted of one-person. People aged 65 years and over accounted for nearly half of all single person households. The proportion of one-person households increased slightly between 2018 and 2023, while the proportion of one-family households declined. Some singles delay
The good and bad of oil prices
The good and bad of oil price rises This article was first published in November 2022, reflecting the increase in petrol prices to $3.08 per litre in July 2022. It has been updated with the latest vehicle data from the 2023 Census. Oil prices have significantly increased recently due to the Israeli and United States
Choosing a Joyful Christmas
CS Lewis observed years ago that Christmas had become a commercial enterprise, but you can choose to ignore materialism and joyfully celebrate the birth of our Savior. Do you join in what CS Lewis called the “merry-making and hospitality” of Christmas or in what he described as the “annual symptom of that lunatic condition…in which
Learning from failure
Have you ever failed? I mean, really failed? You know, that sickening feeling when you realize you’ve missed the mark, made a huge mistake, or gone just a little too far? No wonder it’s one of our greatest fears. I’ve certainly failed. My biggest financial failure was becoming successful in the eyes of the world
Maintaining your savings accounts
Maintaining your savings accounts Looking ahead to the future is an important, especially when it comes to your finances. The best way to prepare for the future and give yourself financial margin is to establish healthy savings accounts. That helps ensure you have cash to cover expenses, stay out of debt, reach your goals, and
Setting up an emergency savings account
An emergency savings account is a primary element of a financial plan. Having money set aside and always available for the unexpected expenses eliminates a lot of financial stress and the need to rely on credit cards or other forms of short-term debt. How Much Do You Need? An emergency savings account is a source
Why having an emergency savings account is essential
Introduction The focus of the Retirement Commission’s Sorted Money Month in August 2025 is on the importance of having emergency savings. This article is the first in a series of three articles on emergency savings. The topic we are covering are: Why having an emergency savings account is essential, How to set up an emergency
Helping your children into home ownership
It is sometime suggested that home ownership is now only a dream for many people, but Census data shows the rate of home ownership has been increasing since the 2018 Census. In 2023 66 percent of households owned their own home (including those held in a family trust), while 34 percent of households did not
Materialism: What It Is & How to Escape It
Materialism: What It Is & How to Escape It One of the greatest threats to our walk with God is the trap of materialism. We have to work at not being lured away from Him when we spend our money to meet our own desires. Why? Because affluence tends to blind us to the needs