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Christmas Present Tips for Guys

Christmas Shopping Tips for Guys

giftgreen1Most of us guys are useless at Christmas shopping. Here's a few tips I've picked up over the years.

Ladies, you might want to share this with the men in your family to avoid getting an undesirable and badly wrapped present this Christmas.

  1. Buying your Christmas presents at a petrol station or dairy on Christmas morning really isn't the done thing - apparently not everyone wants a funnel, box of biscuits or a car care kit. Don't do it.
  2. Get started early, no not on Christmas Eve, yesterday was already too late.
  3. First thing in the morning is the best time to Christmas shop, and I mean first thing, teenagers are still in bed.
  4. It's not the thought that counts, it's how MUCH thought that counts.
  5. Cash is a GREAT present for teenagers - and me.
  6. If you must give gift vouchers make sure they are from a shop the recipient actually shops in and try and avoid those with an expiry date.
  7. Wrapping and cards are important, you and I know it's just paper but for some reason they are important.
  8. Before you start browsing in a shop check that it does gift wrapping and accept the service - wait if necessary. If the shop doesn't do gift wrapping move on to the next. Unless you are an expert present wrapper - Yeah Right!
  9. Even if every present you buy is gift wrapped, buy plenty of wrapping paper and sellotape. You are going to need it because dairy's and petrol stations don't gift wrap and being a bloke you'll probably ignore number 1.

Guys ignore the above at your peril and have a wonderful Christmas.

Posted in KiwiSaver.

Update regarding KiwiSaver HomeStart applications

KS HSG

If you are using Bay Financial Partners to apply for a KiwiSaver Homestart Grant you'll already know this. If not and you are having problems you may be interested to know the following.

More than 1,600 people have been successful in securing a KiwiSaver HomeStart grant to purchase their first home, since the new scheme was introduced on 1 April 2015.

Housing New Zealand, receive around 500 applications a week. 

Housing New Zealand have found that some of the applications they receive aren't fully completed or don't have the correct documentation attached to them. This can cause delays, which causes unwanted stress or makes hitting the processing timeframes much harder.

To avoid these delays, here are some points to check before submitting an application:

  • Ensure that the income certificates are for the last 12 months, not the last financial year
  • Ensure that income certificates are provided for all named/intended purchasers
  • Provide a detailed KiwiSaver contribution statement that covers the period you have contributed to KiwiSaver
  • Provide evidence of a deposit of at least 10% of the purchase price, if there is already a signed agreement for sale and purchase
  • Ensure the correct application has been completed

Remember that Housing New Zeaeland require a minimum of four weeks/20 working days from receiving an application through to paying out the KiwiSaver HomeStart grant. 

Also, please ensure that if you're applying for the grant to meet the financial conditions of your agreement for sale and purchases, you allow at least 10 working days prior to the unconditional date.

If you would like updated information on your application, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It would also help if you could use the following email addresses for the differing types of correspondence:

For more information see www.kiwisaver-homestart.co.nz.

KiwiSaver

  • Last updated on .