So, it happened again. Last year, you swore that you’d never, ever leave Christmas shopping to the last minute, then life got in the way and there you are again – caught up in the procrastination trap, with a handful of names still to cross off your Santa’s list.

Don’t worry, it can happen to the best of us. And it’s not too late. Here are some handy gift ideas to save another Christmas.

The perfect quick gift?

They may not be the most creative, but gift cards are always appreciated. And the greatest thing about them is there’s a huge range to choose from, depending on the recipient’s taste.

Giftstation.co.nz offers a wide array of gift cards from leading retailers and well-known brands. In a few clicks, you can purchase a gift card online and have it couriered to any locations in New Zealand, along with a personalised message.

Otherwise, if you like a more old-school approach, you can head down to your favourite shop or bookstore, and see if they offer gift vouchers.

What’s in the box?

Gift boxes are another popular choice and, just like gift cards, you can easily purchase them online.

A simple Google search will turn out a ton of options. Just to name a few, you may find a good selection of gift boxes and hampers at Spoilme.co.nz, CelebrationBox, The Pressie Box, Little Koha, and BoxSmith.

You can shop by occasion, by recipient, and in some cases even by colour, or build a custom box and have it gift-wrapped and delivered.

It’s Christmas every month

What about a subscription box? Subscription boxes can be a great way to spoil your friends or family all-year-round. And there’s a good one for almost everyone out there – from beauty products to self care, chocolates, coffee and seasonal cheese.

Some good examples include My Treat Box (a monthly delivery of beauty products for busy women), Kimera (purpose-fit for students); My Chocolate Box (nine selections of NZ best chocolate flavours, delivered to your friend’s door); The Cheeseclub (for the cheeselover in your life); On the Grind (a coffee-lover’s heaven) and I Am Co. (delivering ethical, local and sustainable products all over New Zealand).

Lastly, if the recipient is a bit of a “dog person”, NZ Dog Box may be a good idea. Each monthly box contains five or six treats and one or two premium toys – just what your friend needs to spoil their pup on a regular basis.

Something memorable

Sometimes, the best gifts are experiences rather than items, and once again, there are plenty of options to select from.

Redballoon offers a range of adventures for every taste and budget, from food and wine to guided tours, extreme sports and once-in-a-lifetime driving experiences. Remember.co.nz, as the name aptly suggests, is all about memorable presents, provided by a large range of suppliers throughout New Zealand. Similarly, EverythingNewZealand offers a broad selection of locally-sourced gift vouchers, ranging from adrenaline-pumping adventures to relaxing experiences.

Get creative

If you’re feeling creative, there are plenty of great DIY ideas online that will not only help you save Christmas but also some hard-earned money.

For example, Forbes has published a list of “ten unique Secret Santa gift ideas that don’t require much time, effort or Pinterest-worthy crafting skills.” From herb-scented candles to homemade granola bars jars, map coasters and bookmarks, you might be able to sort out a present for your bookworm cousin and that friend who has a bit of a green thumb…

Happy shopping! Enjoy the break and see you in the New Year. 

Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current development or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.

The holidays are here, and what best way to celebrate the season than some Kiwiana decorations? If you’re looking for tips and ideas for giving your house a Kiwi-style Christmas look, here are some nice touches you might consider adding.

Make a Pōhutukawa Christmas Wreath

The Pōhutukawa tree is as Kiwi as Marmite, jandals, and the kiwi itself.

If you don’t mind a bit of DIY, a simple but impactful Pōhutukawa wreath can be a great way to welcome guests into your home.

Check out NZ House & Garden’s handy guide: all you need is polymer to create the ceramic garland, wire, a few letter stamps, and of course, some thin Pōhutukawa branches.

Decorate your Kiwiana-inspired Christmas tree

New Zealand creator Astar’s Place has published a video tutorial on how to create (and then plant) a Kiwiana-inspired Christmas tree.

She explains: “Several weeks ago I heard mention that if we all planted a tree or gifted a tree this would in part help with climate change. With carbon emissions increasing, the experts think that globally this might be beneficial for us all… and how hard is it to plant a tree?”

Things to gather: a pine nut tree, a flax bag to cover the pot, plus artificial baby ferns, Pōhutukawa flower sprigs and paua shells for the final touch.

Light it up

When the sun goes down, Christmas lights will come out.

Your Christmas lights may not be as flamboyant as Nicholas Ngwun, who recently vowed to turn his Manurewa house into the most festive light show in New Zealand, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t give it a try.

A quick Google search will yield a lot of great photos to get some inspiration for your lighting design, or if you think it’s too late, you can check out what other Kiwis around you are doing. Next year, you’ll be the envy of the neighbourhood.

More Kiwiana Christmas ideas

Even small details can make a big impression.

If you haven’t already, visit Pinterest.nz to see how other creators got into the Kiwiana Christmas spirit…

Merry Kirihimete! We look forward to seeing you in the New Year.

Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current development or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek independent guidance.

Thinking about your Insurance may not be high on your list of priorities. But if you’d like to make sure that your cover is still the best fit for you – and will protect you at claim time – it’s important to do a regular check-up.

Here’s when is a good time to schedule a chat with an Insurance adviser like us.

Your relationship changes

What you need as a single person and what you might need as half of a couple can be quite different.

When you’re in a couple, for example, you might have joint debts that you wouldn’t want your partner to be left to cover alone if something were to happen to you. Plus, many couples choose to own each other’s Life Insurance policies to make claim time easier – so it’s a good idea to talk to an adviser about how best to structure your policies.

Similarly, if you have recently come out of a relationship, you may want to ensure that the details on your policies are correct or adjust the level of coverage you’re getting.

Your commitments change

For many people, taking out a mortgage is the catalyst for entering the personal Insurance market.

If you take on new, significant debt, you’ll need to make sure that you have sufficient cover for that. It could be Life Insurance to help those you might leave behind, or Income Protection, Trauma or TPD to ensure that you could cope financially if an accident or illness meant you couldn’t work.

Many people also find that, when they have children, their Insurance needs increase again. Little people usually bring big expenses and amplify the need to provide continuity for the family, no matter what life throws in the way.

You pay off debt

Once you are clear of a significant debt such as a mortgage, your need for some Insurance products may decline.

As Insurance advisers, we can help you work out how to allocate your Insurance budget to maximise the benefit you get from the amount you spend.

Your work-life significantly changes

If you go into self-employment, get a big pay rise or retire, consider re-assessing your cover.

Being in business on your own can mean a whole lot of new Insurance types to consider – like Business Continuity, Key person or Shareholder Cover.

When you start to earn more, you might want to insure a higher income so that your quality of life can be maintained, no matter what happens. We can talk to you about your options – some may not even require additional underwriting.

We’re just a phone call away

It’s worth checking in with us on a regular basis, regardless of what’s going on in your life. We can help you understand developments in the market and whether your policies are still the right option for you and your family.

Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current development or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek advice from a financial adviser.

Throughout our lives, we go through a number of changes. And along the way, our Insurance needs change too. So here’s a guide to the most common Insurance types at every life stage.

20s

You’re young – why would you need insurance? The reality is, there may be quite a few reasons.

This a period of your life where you might be finding your feet and having a bit of fun. Health insurance is worth considering so that, if you were to suffer an ailment or illness that could not be treated quickly through the public system, you could choose to go private and get back to normal as quickly as possible.

Young people often think about getting life insurance when they take on commitments such as a mortgage or children. But even if you don’t have those things yet, there are still reasons to think about life insurance. Even taking out a small amount of life cover can help you circumvent any conditions that may be considered ‘pre-existing conditions’ later on.

Income protection may also be a good option, depending on your circumstances. Once again, it’s about being financially independent no matter what life throws at you.

Whatever insurance type you choose to take out, the benefit of buying any form of personal insurance young is that the premiums are usually comparably lower. And as we said, you can also lock in a policy before you develop conditions that an insurer might exclude if you took it out later.

30s

Commitments often become more pressing during your 30s.
Financial Services Council‘s data showed that 13 per cent of people in their 30s who did not have insurance had thought about taking life insurance in the past two years. About 40 per cent of all respondents aged over 25 had a life policy.

Children are a big motivator for this. Life insurance means you do not have to worry about who would provide for, or look after them, if you were not around to do that.

You might also consider a trauma or total permanent disability policy. These types of cover pay out a set amount if you suffer one of a range of serious, usually life-threatening conditions, or if you have a disability that means you won’t work again. They are a good way to help you reduce the financial stress on your family at a time of emotional strain.

40s

Your 40s are often your peak earning years, but at the same time, you might still have significant debt and children living at home with you.

In this scenario, protecting your ability to earn an income is key. From income protection to life, trauma and health insurance, having the right mix of policies in place can make all the difference. The important thing is to ensure you get the right level of coverage for your budget, so please don’t hesitate to contact us: we can help you achieve value for money without compromising on your needs and goals.

50s

A focus on earning usually continues through your 50s as you start to think about preparing for retirement, so an income protection policy can still be important to keep you on course.

If you paid off your debt, you may start to think about dropping or reducing your life insurance coverage.

Also, if you have health insurance in place and want to make sure it stays affordable in the long run, now may be a good time to think about the excess options to reduce premiums while still maintaining the valuable cover.

60s

At this stage, you may have had a life insurance policy with level premiums for decades. If so, it’s a good idea to keep it going through retirement, as sometimes these policies are used to transfer wealth to the next generation.

If your investments and assets (like your house) are set up to allow you not to work, you shouldn’t need a lot of other financial protection. Consider maintaining your health insurance though, so that if you were to require an operation that had a long public waiting list, you could choose to go through a private provider instead.

Want to talk through your options? We can help you work out what insurance you need, no matter what stage of life you’re at. Get in touch today.

Disclaimer: Please note that the content provided in this article is intended as an overview and as general information only. While care is taken to ensure accuracy and reliability, the information provided is subject to continuous change and may not reflect current development or address your situation. Before making any decisions based on the information provided in this article, please use your discretion and seek advice from a financial adviser.

Not all Insurance policies are created equal – even if they have the same name.

Before you change your Insurance policies, consider these four tips, to ensure you are not just saving a few dollars, but you’re also putting yourself in a better position.

Like for like?

Are you replacing your existing policy with a policy that is reasonably similar, and has the same benefits and conditions? If not, the savings you are making may be at the expense of having a comprehensive insurance policy.

Before deciding to replace your Insurance, make sure you do a full comparison of the benefits of each policy – and don’t forget we can help you with it.

Is cost the only consideration?

Perhaps your existing policy has some benefits or advantages that you can’t get with any new policy. Depending on what that benefit is, you may be better off keeping your existing policy, even if it is a bit more expensive than another relatively similar policy.

Have you had any medical events?

If so, so you may find that you can’t now get Insurance cover for a loss resulting from a recurrence of, or caused by, that medical event.

For example, if you had skin cancer removed, that might be excluded from a new policy, while still being covered under your existing policy. Some medical events may be covered still, but you have to pay an additional premium.

You may be better off keeping your existing policy, to have the peace of mind that you are still fully covered.

Do you need to replace it – or just change what you already have?

Are you looking to save money on your premiums? If that’s the only reason for changing, you might be better off looking at ways you can save money on your existing policy, rather than go through the time-consuming paperwork for a new policy.

Changing your existing policy can also be less risky – when applying for a new policy, you may forget to tell the Insurance provider something important.

Plus, keep in mind that your circumstances may have changed: perhaps you have less debt now, or your children have grown up, so you don’t need quite as much cover anymore. Look at reducing the cover you are paying for, and see the premiums reduce – without changing policies.

Changing policies can be a good idea – but you need to do your homework first. Most of all, make sure you never cancel existing policies until you have confirmed replacement cover in place, and you know exactly what you are covered for, and the cost.

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