Building a Financial Plan for Summer is about staying intentional with your money when social plans, spending, and distractions ramp up. In this live webinar, Mike and James break down how goal-setting, budgeting, KiwiSaver, income planning, and smart debt decisions can keep your finances on track over summer and beyond
Setting Clear Financial Goals
Everything starts with knowing exactly what you’re working towards. Rather than vague ambitions like “buy a house” or “save more,” the webinar focuses on breaking big goals into realistic, achievable steps that work day-to-day.
The approach is simple: start with the end goal, then reverse-engineer it into monthly, weekly, or even daily actions. By adjusting either the size of the goal or the timeframe, people are far more likely to stay consistent and avoid giving up when things feel overwhelming.
Creating a Budget You Can Stick To
Budgeting isn’t about restriction – it’s about structure. A budget works when it supports saving and progress while still allowing room for enjoyment, especially over summer when spending naturally increases.
The webinar outlines a practical system using multiple accounts:
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fixed expenses that must be paid
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irregular but essential costs
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savings aligned to specific goals
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a dedicated “fun” account
Automating payments ensures savings happen first, helping avoid lifestyle creep and making the plan sustainable long-term.
Increasing Income the Smart Way
With inflation putting pressure on household budgets, the discussion emphasises focusing on primary income rather than unreliable side hustles. Creating a career development plan, setting clear KPIs, upskilling, and working with mentors are highlighted as the most effective ways to lift income over time.
The key message is that stronger money habits matter more than salary alone – unmanaged income increases rarely improve financial outcomes on their own.
Making KiwiSaver Work Harder
KiwiSaver is positioned as one of the most powerful tools for both first-home buyers and retirement. The webinar stresses the importance of making an active choice around provider, fund type, and contribution level rather than staying in default settings.
For those planning to use KiwiSaver for a home deposit in the near term, fund selection becomes critical, as market volatility can impact short-term balances. Education combined with small, deliberate actions can make a meaningful difference over time.
Navigating the Home-Buying Process
From setting goals and saving a deposit to securing pre-approval and navigating due diligence, the webinar breaks down what buyers need to think about before entering the market. Working with a mortgage broker is emphasised as a way to access multiple banks, understand lending nuances, and avoid being wrongly excluded from the market.
Correct mortgage structuring after purchase is also highlighted as critical, as poor decisions around interest rates and loan terms can cost borrowers significantly over time.
Understanding Good vs Bad Debt
A strong warning is given around consumer debt, particularly credit cards, vehicle loans, and buy-now-pay-later services. These forms of debt are described as barriers to progress, especially when entering a season of higher discretionary spending like summer.
The webinar encourages prioritising emergency savings and cash buffers, reducing reliance on debt, and making purchasing decisions based on affordability rather than convenience.
Key Takeaways
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Clear goals make financial progress measurable and achievable
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Budgets work best when savings come first and fun is planned
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Career growth is often more effective than side hustles
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KiwiSaver choices should align with timeframes and goals
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Mortgage structure matters just as much as getting pre-approval
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Avoiding bad debt protects long-term financial momentum
Next Steps
If you want help turning your goals into a clear plan, book a complimentary 30-minute chat with a Lighthouse Financial adviser.
If you’d like to watch more, check out these other episodes below.
For a no obligation discussion to see how we can help you on the path to wealth, please contact us.
Disclaimer:
The information in this article is general information only, is provided free of charge and does not constitute professional advice. We try to keep the information up to date. However, to the fullest extent permitted by law, we disclaim all warranties, express or implied, in relation to this article – including (without limitation) warranties as to accuracy, completeness and fitness for any particular purpose. Please seek independent advice before acting on any information in this article.
