Money Made Simple

In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub breaks down inflation in plain English, explaining what’s actually driving rising prices in NZ and what households can realistically expect in 2026.
Inflation has dominated headlines and kitchen table conversations alike. From groceries and electricity bills to mortgage rates and job prospects, Shamubeel explores why the cost of living still feels intense, even as headline inflation "moderates".
This episode covers:
What inflation actually measures and how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) works in NZ
Why recent inflation has felt especially painful, particularly for food and everyday essentials
The different causes of inflation in NZ
How the Reserve Bank responds to inflation and why interest rates move in cycles
Why price increases have been uneven across sectors, with essentials rising while big-ticket items fall
What to expect in 2026 for food prices, insurance, rates, wages and the labour market
Why/how inflation impacts low-income households and retirees more severely
Shamubeel also reflects on how recent inflation has shifted over time, from pandemic disruptions to labour shortages and now to cost pressures in necessities. He explains why we’re unlikely to see prices fall sharply, but why moderating inflation combined with improving job prospects could bring some relief next year.
If you’ve been wondering why your weekly supermarket bill feels heavier, why mortgage rates move the way they do, or whether 2026 might finally feel easier, this episode gives you the context to understand what’s happening and what could come next.

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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv and Jennie jump on the popular “ins and outs” trend - but give it a practical money twist for 2026.
They share realistic financial habits to bring in this year, and the common money mindsets and behaviours to leave out. This isn’t about perfection, restriction or hustle culture - it’s about small, sustainable tweaks that can make managing your money feel simpler and less stressful.
This episode covers:
What to automate (and what to review) to make money admin easier
The power of celebrating small money milestones
Why knowing your KiwiSaver fees matters more than you think
How to spend more intentionally - without cutting all the fun
Why you don’t need to know everything (or have heaps of money) to start investing
How guilt and comparison can quietly derail your financial confidence
The hidden cost of putting off financial admin
Why your money journey doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s
Resource mentioned in this episode:
Sorted NZ – Sorted’s Smart Investor tool lets you compare KiwiSaver and managed fund fees across providers. Filtering by fees helps identify lower-cost options, which can significantly improve long-term returns, as high fees can erode tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime.
Whether your goal is to save more, stress less, or just feel a bit more on top of things, this episode is packed with simple ideas you can actually stick to. Because better money habits don’t come from being perfect - they come from small steps, taken consistently.
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

In this episode of Money Made Simple, Jennie and Liv unpack one of the most powerful, and not always well understood, ideas in personal finance -  compounding returns.

They explain how money can make money itself over time, why the “snowball effect” is such a game-changer for long-term savings and investing, and how it can work not just for you, but also against you when it comes to debt. Using simple, relatable examples, they show why starting early really matters.

This episode covers:
What compounding actually means (in plain English)
The difference between compounding interest and compounding returns
Why time matters more than trying to perfectly time the market
A powerful example showing how starting earlier can beat investing more later
How compounding works in KiwiSaver, managed funds and shares
The flip side: how compounding can quietly grow credit card, loan and mortgage debt
Small, practical ways to make compounding work harder for you

Helpful money resources:
If this episode got you thinking and you want to learn more, these NZ based resources are a great place to start:
Sorted NZ – Free tools, guides and calculators to help with budgeting, KiwiSaver and retirement planning

MoneyHub NZ – Independent guides and comparisons on banking, investing, KiwiSaver and more

MoneyTalks (Free Financial Mentoring) – Confidential, non-judgemental help if you’re struggling with debt or bills

Whether you’re just getting started or need a refresher, this episode shows how tiny actions today can have a big impact on your future. Because when it comes to compounding, the best time to start was yesterday - and the second best time is today.
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

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Facebook
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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

In this episode of Economy Made Simple, Shamubeel Eaqub breaks down the Long Term Insight Briefings published by New Zealand’s key government agencies and explains why they matter far more than most of us realise. These reports look decades ahead and ask some uncomfortable but necessary questions about NZ’s future, including how we fund public services, care for an ageing population, respond to climate and geopolitical risks, and balance today’s needs with those of future generations.
Rather than focusing on politics or short term headlines, this episode steps back to explore the big structural forces shaping NZ’s economy and society, and the trade offs we are going to have to confront - whether we like it or not.
This episode covers:
 Why NZ’s fiscal maths no longer stacks up as the population ages - why ratios of workers vs retirees matter
 The growing infrastructure deficit and the cost of decades of deferred maintenance
 How weak productivity growth limits our future choices
 The impact of climate change and geopolitics increase economic risk for a small trading nation
 The tension between equity and efficiency and between current and future generations
 Why governments struggle to move from short-term thinking to long-term resilience
 The role immigration and KiwiSaver could play as societal safety valves
 Why culture, institutions and social cohesion matter as much as economic policy does
Resources and research referenced in this episode (Govt department Long Term Insights Briefing papers):
- Treasury Long Term Insights Briefing
- IRD Long Term Insights Briefing 
- Ministry of Social Development Long Term Insights Briefing
- Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment Long Term Insights Briefing
This conversation helps you lift your gaze beyond the next budget or election cycle and understand the deeper forces shaping NZ’s future. You will come away with a clearer sense of the trade-offs ahead, why there are no costless solutions, and how greater awareness can inform both your personal preparation and your engagement as a citizen. It is an episode designed to make complex long-term challenges feel understandable, relevant, and worth thinking about.
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.

In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv sits down with Robbie Paul, CEO of Icehouse Ventures, to unpack how venture capital really works in New Zealand - and what it takes to build successful startups in a small, but globally connected market. From arriving in NZ as an unpaid intern to leading one of the country’s most influential venture capital firms, Robbie shares his journey, lessons learned, and why he’s more optimistic than ever about the future of Kiwi entrepreneurship. 
 This episode covers:
What venture capital actually is, and how it differs from private equity
How Icehouse Ventures supports Kiwi founders from idea stage through to global growth
Why New Zealand’s startup ecosystem is stronger and more vibrant than ever
The role KiwiSaver and institutional capital can play in funding high-growth companies
The reality of startup success and failure, and why patience matters more than perfection
What successful founders tend to have in common, beyond just a good idea 
You’ll come away from this episode with a clearer understanding of how venture capital fits into the wider investing landscape, why startup success usually takes FAR longer than headlines suggest, and how Kiwi entrepreneurs are quietly building world-class companies from the bottom of the globe. It’s an optimistic, grounded look at risk, reward, and the long game... whether you’re curious about investing, startups, or how innovation actually gets funded. 
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Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

Find us:
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Facebook
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Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.