CARE Waitakere Trust, a local community organisation, has offered to give a series of presentations and workshops to assist our senior students regarding financial capability.

Sarah Woodfield a financial mentor and money mates facilitator and her colleague Iain gave their first presentation in the hall to all year 12 and 13 students on Wednesday, 2 August.

This session was titled “Getting Good with Money” and made us all think about our spending decisions and some of us were surprised to learn that we easily spend over $1,000 per year on coffee alone!

It was an interactive session with students discussing good debt and bad debt, savings decisions – why borrow and why save for such things as a car, holiday and house.

The ideas of…

• needs vs wants
• cost vs convenience
• time vs money
• your values vs other people’s expectations and
• now vs later

..definitely gave reason to reflect on how the decisions we make now will have consequences that will impact on our future.

We are looking forward to further presentations and workshops which will include topics on:

• Budgeting, saving and investment – Kiwi Saver
• Debts – good debt vs bad debt
• Managing personal finances – IRD numbers, bank accounts, budgets, tax
• Independent living – managing a flat, expenses etc

We believe that it is important for young people to have this knowledge and to be aware of key employ-ability skills so they are better prepared, confident and well equipped for life beyond school.