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Over the past few decades, advertising has had an enormous influence on the way we shop today. As a result we often go into remote control when we buy things rather than stopping to think if we are spending our money as wisely as we can.

With Christmas at our doorstep it's important to remember the gifts that don’t require any money, just a little bit of time and some imagination. Many of us often link gifts with things that cost money but often the gifts that don’t cost mean the most to us.

The first step in a successful savings programme is making the commitment to better your future by small and regular sacrifices today. If you were able to save just $20 per week into an appropriate savings vehicle for 30 years and earn 5% net per year, your total savings and interest would now be worth $73,000!

Many Kiwis dream of having their own business and becoming their own boss. It can be a great way to get ahead financially; however it can be a lot of hard work and the buck stops with you! There are approximately 500,000 businesses operating in NZ; most have less than 10 employees, and many will only have one or two.