Kaitaia Family Budgeting Service manager Raewyn Flay knows there is a lot of stigma around the word budgeting.
Budgeting is just one small part of what her and the team of financial mentors do.
Based alongside the Kaitaia Community House, the service has been helping whānau take control of their finances for more than 30 years.
Raewyn says financial mentors can meet one-on-one with individuals or whānau to help them achieve their financial aspirations. This can be done through:
- Individual financial mentoring
- Community education groups
- Goal setting sessions.
“It’s a place where you can come and discuss your goals and aspirations around building financial capability,” says Raewyn.
Although they’re based in Kaitaia, they work with people from Panguru, to Taupō Bay and north to Cape Reinga.
Raewyn encourages anybody who wants to look at their finances to get in touch with them – and not wait until there is a moment of crisis.
You may have had a change in working hours, an unexpected expense or want to make sure you’re prepared for an emergency – something many whānau are thinking about following the COVID-19 lockdown.
You might just want to come in for a korero to make sure you’re on the right track.
The service recently helped a client who wasn’t sure if she should continue her mortgage payments at the same rate during lockdown, but the Financial Mentors worked with her through all the options.
“She actually chose to keep paying the rate she was currently paying which saved three years off her mortgage, and that was her decision, and she was stoked,” says Raewyn.
You can make an appointment by visiting their office at 12 Puckey Ave, Kaitaia, on their website or Facebook page, or by calling 09 408 1021.
If your whānau and friends outside of Northland need support too, you can direct them to our national MoneyTalks helpline.
MoneyTalks connects people and whānau with their local foodbanks, helps them find their way through Work and Income processes and entitlements and supports people to manage their money.
Anybody can get in touch with our MoneyTalks team on 0800 345 123 if they need help with day-to-day money matters like budgeting and debt management. And, it’s free!
Reach out to Kaitaia Family Budgeting Service or the MoneyTalks helpline today if you want help to reach your financial aspirations.