Week three of Emma Edwards' silly-season money diary slows things right down — desk days before shutdown, a self-serve acai bowl break and the steady drip of "life admin" spending. With PocketSmith tracking it all as it happens, she teases out what a quieter week's receipts show about planned routines, sneaky annual fees, and the small choices that keep holiday spending feeling calm.
Money tips
Whether you’re a lover or a hater of the WFH life, there are more costs involved beyond your tax deductible power bills and office supplies, so bear these sneaky spends in mind if you’ve been tasked with deciding how you’ll work in the future.
Company
Homemaker is a very evocative word. A page straight out of 1950’s “Good Housekeeping”, it conjures the image of a subservient wife relegated to the kitchen. The problematic stereotype remains, but so too does the importance of a home and how we function within it. Co-founder and CEO Jason proposes challenging the term, and redefining it to honor the unsung leaders and problem-solvers of every uniquely flavored household.
Money tips
At the start of every year, household CFO and happy saver Ruth Henderson uses PocketSmith to plan her family’s finances for the year ahead. Budgeting, she says, is the key to financial freedom. Find out which three PocketSmith features she considers essential to helping her family achieve their money goals.
Money tips
With international travel off the cards for most of us, the past year has forced those of us looking to take a break to consider holidaying locally. But that doesn’t mean you need to miss out on the fun, or some savings! Amanda shares five tips on having a cheap holiday in your own backyard.
Money tips
How does a self-confessed lover of fashion and shopping survive one year without buying any new clothes? Hear from Dora as she shares the lessons she learned, some tips on running a successful clothes swap, and the surprising amount of money she actually ended up saving.
Money tips
Have you been making more unnecessary online purchases than usual in the past year? We're all guilty of buying something ridiculous like a tub of hummus in response to the pressures of lockdown. The Broke Generation's Emma reminds us that it's not the end of the world!
Money tips
As we fervently sing Auld Lang Syne to bid farewell to 2020 (no offence, but man, are we glad to be seeing the back of you!), Ruth The Happy Saver sits at her desk in her new garden shed, to share with us what she does every New Year’s Eve (hint: it’s not what you think).
Company
2020 started on a note of unbridled optimism here at PocketSmith. This was going to be our year of growth and new feature rollouts! Then in early March, everything changed. Co-founder and CEO Jason reflects on the tumultuous year that was, and on the importance of kindness and wellbeing as measures of success.
Product feature
We’re wrapping up 2020 by making it easier for our lovely community to share PocketSmith with friends and family! Help them be more productive with their money, by gifting them a free month of PocketSmith Premium. If they choose to stay, you get a free month too. Everybody wins!
Money tips
Last Christmas, I gave you my… what? If holiday gifting has gotten a little out of hand for you, Ruth The Happy Saver has six handy tips to help avoid that end-of-year overspend! Paraphrasing Mariah, ultimately, all most people want for Christmas… is you!
Money tips
Couples who talk about money with each other have stronger relationships. The same applies to families! Ruth The Happy Saver shares how she uses PocketSmith’s tools to help have productive financial conversations with her family!
Money tips
When it comes to your finances, are you a Chandler or more of a Monica? Guest writer Emma uses her unagi to assess how the characters of Friends handled their money.
Money tips
Globally, 2020 will be a hard year to forget. We've had to rapidly adjust to COVID-19 and its effects, and our money habits are no exception. Here are nine tips to help you adjust your finances to the new normal.
Product feature
Did you know that you can share access to your PocketSmith account with a trusted family member, friend, or advisor? Here are three ways sharing your financial goals with someone can help you achieve them faster!
Money tips
Talking to your partner about money can be stressful. Our friend Ruth, The Happy Saver shares 8 steps she uses to have positive money conversations with her husband.
Money tips
Financial anxiety is defined as feelings of worry, stress or uneasiness about your financial situation. A variety of factors can trigger financial anxiety, from job loss to increased cost of living, but the compounding events of 2020 have arguably seen more people confronted with financial anxiety than ever.
Interviews
Ellen runs a tight ship in her Auckland flat of five. She talks to us about how she uses PocketSmith to keep track of her flat’s shared rent and expenses!
Money tips
Did you take out the 6-month mortgage holiday when COVID-19 hit? That six months is coming to an end in Australia. Here’s what to do next if you’re reaching the end of your mortgage holiday.
Money tips
Side hustles have become pretty commonplace in the past decade, and with good reason. People have the opportunity to earn additional income, and grow their marketable skills. However they do require a serious time investment, and a level of commitment that may not be for the faint of heart.
Product feature
We're excited to announce that custom dashboards for web are now available for preview!
Money tips
Millennial money guru Emma is back to answer more of Gen Z Maddie's money questions. We find out that you're never too young to start thinking about your credit score and saving for retirement.
Money tips
Managing your finances can be difficult at the best of times but being a contractor can add another layer of complexity. Whether you’re self-employed or just thinking about freelancing, here are three tips on how to manage your money as a contractor.
Money tips
If you’re committed to achieving FIRE, you’ll need to track your finances carefully and meticulously. We’ll show you how software like PocketSmith can help you do the heavy lifting!
Money tips
Our resident Gen Z, Maddie, asks our resident millennial money guru, Emma, her burning money questions. She might not know TikTok, but she knows taxes.
