Welcome It is official, Winter is here.  Do not let the winter chill keep you from enjoying the outdoors.  We so often feel the temperature drop,  see the rain pouring and use the crummy weather as an excuse to not do 'stuff'.  Going for a walk, a bike ride, or even getting out in the garden, are excellent activities for getting the blood circulating.  Also, moderate exercise can be a potent preventative measure for the usual 'winter coat' many of us middle-aged people are prone to 'growing'.  As one stops to think about the inevitable colds and flu's, one has to ask if the lack of exercise and physical activity from the cold weather have something to do with it? Please read the first of four ACC case studies.  The rules have changed around ACC levies, and there can be substantial savings to be made for self-employed people.  If you are self-employed or are close to someone who is, it is definitely worth investigating. Warm Regards, Jamie Coltman

June Articles Is it a "Want" or a "Need" An Interesting Case Study about ACC Levies...  Funny Story of the Month The Power of Words Reading Round-Up Event of the Month Is it a "Want" or a "Need" With the dawning of the new Information Technology era, you can already go shopping without leaving the comforts of your own home.  There is no longer a need to wait in long lines for your turn at the checkout counter.   You do not even have to go through every aisle at the store trying to look for what you want. Plus, you do not have to deal with annoying people who keep looking at what you have picked out for yourself while you are shopping.  Gone are the days of wasting your time driving to and from your home.  No more road rage or looking for parking and complaining about the rising cost of gas.   No, we're not even going to go there.  That is a separate story altogether. If you want something, all you have to do is type in the word on your computer...and voila!...it pops right up on your screen. A few clicks of your mouse and then your credit card details. So what, right?  You pay for your comfort and convenience. Nothing gets any easier than that.  But wait!  How do you know if you need it? How often do you stop and ask yourself if it's a WANT or a NEED? There is a delicate line between a want and a need and the psychology behind most advertising does not make it any easier to distinguish between the two. Let's start with the basics:  Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs.  If what you need does not fall under the Physiological and Safety category, then it is more than likely a "want".  In these times, we are hearing terms like enforced austerity measures and hyperinflation. And, with the rising costs of commodities affecting our disposable incomes, one has to ask more often, "Is it a need or a want"?  As long as your "wants" do not cost a thing, then no one's going to mind if you "need" to have it.  Not even you. While we're at it, you might also want to click on the link and check out, "The 7 Things You Don't Need Anymore". An Interesting Case Study about ACC Levies...                  Mark is an Electrician who earned taxable income of $80,000 pa. and paid $2,986 in ACC Cover Plus standard levies. Mark also paid $4,696 a year for personal Income Protection and Life & Trauma Insurance on his wife and himself, plus Medical Insurance for his family of 5. Total cost of Protection $7,682. Mark switched to CoverPLus Extra, dialed back his ACC to 40% of his taxable income. Mark now only pays $ 1,731 a year to ACC. Total cost of Protection $ 6,427 a year. Saving him $1,255 a year! **If you're interested in reducing your ACC levies, feel free to email me anytime by clicking HERE  and I will be more than happy to assist you. Funny Story of the Month Problem with Gambling During an IRD audit, the auditor looked at the tax payer and exclaimed... ... "Well, sir, you have an extravagant lifestyle and no full-time employment, which you explain by saying that you win money gambling. I'm not sure the IRD finds that believable." "I'm a great gambler, and I can prove it," says Ralph. "How about a demonstration?" The auditor thinks for a moment and said, "Okay. Go ahead." Ralph says, "I'll bet you a thousand dollars that I can bite my own eye." The auditor thinks a moment and says, "No way! It's a bet." Ralph removes his glass eye and bites it. The auditor's jaw drops. Ralph says, "Now, I'll bet you two thousand dollars that I can bite my other eye." The auditor can tell Ralph isn't blind, so he takes the bet. Ralph removes his dentures and bites his good eye. The stunned auditor now realizes he has wagered and lost three grand, with Ralph's attorney as a witness. He starts to get nervous. "Want to go double or nothing?" Ralph asks. "I'll bet you six thousand dollars that I can stand on one side of your desk, and pee into that wastebasket on the other side, and never get a drop anywhere in between." The auditor, twice burned, is cautious now, but he looks carefully and decides there's no way this guy can manage that stunt, so he agrees again. Ralph stands beside the desk and unzips his pants, and urinates all over the desk. The auditor leaps with joy, realizing that he has just turned a major loss into a huge win. But Ralph's attorney moans and puts his head in his hands. "Are you okay?" the auditor asks. "Not really," says the attorney. "This morning, when Ralph told me he'd been summoned for an audit, he bet me twenty thousand dollars that he could come in here and pee all over your desk and that you'd be happy about it." The Power of Words The Power of Words 40273 ratings 8,884,285 views Reading Round-Up Mary Holm: Let's make most of KiwiSaver  (Click here...) Mary answers readers' questions about KiwiSaver and exchange rates. (NZ Herald)     Bernard Hickey:Why I'm a grumpy whinger  (Click here...) It's been just over 4 years since US banks began reporting heavy losses on sub prime mortgages, triggering the worst Global Financial Crisis in almost a century. (NZ Herald - Show Me the Money Blog) NZ needs working boomers  (Click here...) New Zealand needs to tap into the economic potential of the retiring baby-boom generation if it is to offset the cost of supporting them, a new report says. (NZ Herald)   Amanda Morrall: How much rent can you afford?  (Click here...) With good reason there is a lot of doubt about official numbers lately, be it Budget forecasts, inflated returns, IMF reports, Standard & Poor ratings or media reports regurgitating the figures and accepting them at face value. (NZ Herald) Squeeze may hit Wellington's housing  (Click here...) The Government's $1 billion belt-tightening could put the brakes on Wellington's housing market recovery, ASB says. (Stuff)   Inflation tipped to hit 20-year high  (Click here...) Inflation could blow out to 10 per cent over the next five years, well above the Reserve Bank target of 1 per cent to 3 per cent, according to funds management company NZ Funds. (Stuff) Cheaper power checks urged  (Click here...) A campaign to help households reduce their power bills could save consumers up to $240 million a year. (Stuff) Event of the Month Kaipatiki Project Community Planting Day Kaipatiki Project Community Planting Day, Glenfield, 2 July 2011 Where: Eskdale Reserve, Glenfield Road, Glenfield Website: Kaipatiki Project Kaipatiki Project is the environment centre of the North Shore. We need your help to plant new native trees in local reserves. Bring your family, friends, school, club, church groups welcome. Free BBQ for all planters. Bring a spade if you have one. To view previous month's newsletters click here

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