My tradie asked to be paid in cash...will that get me in trouble with the IRD? Where's the best place to keep an emergency fund? And are rewards points really worth it?

Episode details

Questions this week for Susan:

Where should I put my emergency money, in a manged fund, term deposit or just a bank account?

When the Reserve Bank changes the official cash rate, where does the extra money I pay on my mortgage go?

Which kinds of KiwiSaver funds are seeing the most hardship withdrawals?

If I'm paying a surcharge on my credit card, does that cost more than the Hot Points I earn?

If a tradie asks me to pay in cash, can I get in trouble with the IRD?

Audience Q&A for the week: what sort of increase in spending is normal at Christmas?

Expert input this week came from Dean Anderson at Kernel, David Cunningham at Squirrel, investment adviser Jeremy Sullivan and Robyn Walker at Deloitte.

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

If you die without family, what happens to your KiwiSaver? Is it fair that a household with one high earner pays more tax than one with two average earners? And what is productivity and why does it matter to the average New Zealander who’s just focused on getting their own job done?

Questions this week for Susan:

What are tenants not allowed to do?

When it comes to tax, what's the difference between boarders and flatmates?

What is productivity and are we really so bad at it?

Is it fair that a household with one high earner pays more tax than one with two average earners?

Audience Q&A for the week: when the Student Loan Scheme was first set up, what was the rate of interest?

Expert input this week came from Brad Olsen at Infometrics.

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A lot of people put money away for their children's future. But is a savings account the best way to do that? And if I invest in the sharemarket, is a growth fund too risky? Do I play it safe or go for gold?

Episode details

Questions this week for Susan:

00.00 What is a capital change notice?

00.00 Why do petrol pumps warn you that a hold being placed on your credit card?

0.00 What has happened to my late daughter's Australian super?

00.00 Should I save or invest for my child's future?

00.00 Audience Q&A for the week.

Expert input this week came from Rupert Carlyon from Kiwisaver provider Koura, and Ana-Marie Lockyer at Pie Funds,

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

We're aways reading headlines about how Australia can pay higher wages than us but are also able to sell a cheaper cup of coffee. How do they keep the cost of living low while we struggle? What's Australia's secret sauce? Economist Mary-Jo Vergara says the answer is actually pretty simple.

Questions this week for Susan:

00.44 - How does Australia pay high wages but still keep the cost of living low?

3.03 - What are my options if my religion prevents me from earning interest on my KiwiSaver account?

4.00 - My Visa details were expired, but the payment still went through. How?

6.56 - Why am I being charged a new service fee on international transactions on my credit card?

9.09 - What your landlord is allowed to do - and what they're not.

11.03 Audience Q&A for the week.

Expert input this week came from Mary-Jo Vergara of Kiwibank, Barry Coates from Mindful Money and Massey University's Claire Matthews.

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Borrowing money these days seems to involve so much paperwork. Why?

Questions this week for Susan:

• Is private school worth the money?
• Is it worth getting a second job?
• Do I have to pay gift tax?
• And why are banks so stuck on paperwork?

Expert input this week came from Dr Michael Johnson, Robyn Walker, Greg Bunkall, and Anne Marie Lockyer

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Is the AI boom a bubble? Is it about to burst? What should I do?

Questions this week for Susan:

• Is the bubble about to burst on AI?
• Is it cheaper to rent or buy?
• Will the Fonterra brads sale drive up inflation?
• And how do I choose financial advisor?

Expert input this week came from Shamubeel Eaqub, Sharon Zollner and Tim Fairbrother.

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Is it better to be alive in 1985 or in 2025?

Questions this week for Susan:

• Why can’t we take GST off fresh food?
• What is gift tax?
• How do I split the bills when a relative moves in?
• And were we all better off in the 80s?

Expert input this week came from Brad Olsen, Craig Renney, Shamubeel Eaqub, David Verry and RNZ Morning Report host Corin Dann.

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Is it fair that my partner's residential care will drain my KiwiSaver account too?

Questions this week for Susan:

• If I have to use my KiwiSaver account to pay for my partner's residential care, is that fair on me?
• What is a Capital Gains Tax?
• How likely am I to win Lotto?

If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to [email protected].

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When money people and politicians talk about the "bank of Mum and Dad", what does that really mean?

If you have a question you'd like Susan to answer, you can email her at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Do banks always pass on cuts to the official cash rate to their customers?

If you have a question you'd like Susan to answer, you can email her at [email protected]. We'd love to hear from you!

Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details