Balancing your finances on a grad wage.

Unless you’re leaving uni with a Doctorate in Medicine or you’re lucky enough to have super wealthy folks, going into your first job as a student or graduate will mean that you are unlikely to have a huge disposable income. Many of us will feel fortunate enough to nab that grad role in the first place. But once you find it (hopefully on newforce.co.nz), it’s a good idea to go in knowing you’re balancing your money. Here’s some key tips: 1. Herne Bay is probably going to be off the cards for many off us for a little bit, but there are still loads of options. You may know people looking to flat where you are, in which case it’s a good idea to get a good number of people together to keep costs down. Otherwise, there are plenty of great websites such as http://www.trademe.co.nz/flatmates-wanted/auckland and NZ Flatmates. Also check out Facebook flatmate groups that are popping up all the time. It’s a great way to be across everything and places you may have never considered. 2. Your travel cost will vary depending on where you live and where you work. But there are heaps of options and it’s only getting better. If you live more than walking distance to work like most people one of the better options is now public transport, particularly in Auckland. With your AT Hop card https://at.govt.nz/register-for-at-hop/ you can hop straight onto any bus, train or ferry. The cool thing is they’ve also made the zoning cheaper than before, so if you go across the city it’ll probably cost you much less than you expect. Otherwise if you live and work  in Central Auckland or other main centres like Hamilton and Christchurch, cycling is a great option. New cycle ways are opening up all the time in Auckland and Christchurch and it’s becoming ever more popular. Check it out: https://at.govt.nz/cycling-walking/auckland-cycle-run-walkway-maps/  http://www.tfc.govt.nz/travel-by/bike/cycle-map/ 3.Saving. Yes it sucks, but the earlier you start this habit the better. At the very least you should look at the state of your Kiwisaver and the contributions you are making. You might not know this,  but you can change how much you are contributing each week, plus you can change the kind of investment fund your money goes into, i.e. Conservative low return vs. High Risk.  Get started early by making your student job work for you.  It’s a great idea to discuss your options with your Kiwisaver provider (usually the people you bank with). http://www.kiwisaver.govt.nz/

While you’re getting everything in order, make sure you’ve completed a  profile at www.newforce.co.nz to help in your job search.  It’s the best way to match with employers who are looking for students, graduates and career starters in government jobs, administration, call centre, IT and more.  

Plus, it’s free so no need to worry about your finances!

www.newforce.co.nz