Monday 18 August, 2008

Plan for financial success

There’s some words we’d all prefer not to have to say out loud, and one of them is budget. If your top lip is curling at the mention of this kind of thing, think of your budget as a four-letter word: a plan for financial success.

Put simply, planning what you do with your money helps you cover all the essential items - food, clothing and shelter, and have enough left over to have a few of life’s luxuries and save for larger goals or items.

Budgets also depend entirely on your stage in life and what your goals are. Be realistic and remember that you should review your plan regularly to make sure you’re getting the most from your hard-earned cash.

Five top strategies to help save money

Get library cards for all the family
A library card opens the door to a vast range of free or inexpensive entertainment and information. Our network of libraries will provide you with free computer access to a huge range of information and entertainment. We have libraries all over the city so you don’t have to travel far. If you have a computer at home let the library website be your gateway to fun and information.
Set yourself a budget.
If you feel like you need to talk to someone about budgeting there are lots of community organisations offering budgeting help. In planning your budget you can’t go past the Sorted budget advice pages.
Reduce Your Travel Costs by checking the the information in our Energy Efficient Travel resource.
Reduce Your Energy Costs with our Energy Use and Conservation resource.
Sell Up Your Surplus: Online auction websites like Trademe and Zillion can help, or visit a secondhand or antique dealer. Our libraries have a great range of catalogues which can give you an idea of the value of stamps, coins, antiques and other collectables as well as the Price It! Antiques and Collectibles database.

Digital day at Central Library, this Saturday

Get more from your digital library by joining us at Christchurch Central Library on Saturday 23 August between 10am and 4pm. Our experts will be on hand all day to help you get more from your online library experience. Set up your library account online, access premium websites free, read your favourite world newspaper, trace your family history or listen to thousands of music tracks - there’s so much to explore. Bring your laptop and we’ll also help you get connected to our free wireless internet service, available every day.

Find out more about your digital library - and be in to win a share of $1000 of shopping vouchers* by visiting christchurchcitylibraries.com before 24 August.
*conditions apply. See website for details.

We recommend: money and budgeting resources

Our online resources:

Sustainable living – becoming more self-sufficient
Financing your study – information for teens
Dollar stretching tips for teens from The Pulse
Cash, the cold hard facts from The Pulse
Second-hand shopping for teens from The Pulse
Community organisations offering budgeting help from our community information directory CINCH
Our business section, including
- Business directories from New Zealand and around the world
- Company information – reports from New Zealand companies
- Business databases
- Business resources by subject – from accounting to sustainable business, employing staff to marketing – something for everyone
Our consumer guide
Christchurch City Council guidelines for garage sales
localeye lists secondhand and antique dealers

Our Internet Gateway recommends:

Sorted.org.nz including setting your goals, savings and calculators
Finance and investment websites
Business magazines
The shape of money – personal financial advice
More personal finance websites
Consumer NZ
Consumer Saver
Powerswitch - see if you can get a better deal on your electricity supply
ConsumerBuild
PriceSpy.co.nz – find the lowest price on hundreds of computer and technology-related items
Supershed
Vouchermate.co.nz - discount vouchers available online

Browse the resources in our libraries:

Personal budgets and home economics
Your baby on a budget
What not to spend
Personal Finances
Personal finance for children and Children’s allowances
Home-based businesses
The new hard times handbook
Girls just want to have funds
Your future nest egg
Thrifty ways for modern days
Keep your money working
Books by New Zealand financial experts Martin Hawes and Mary Holm
Stop! Do not invest in residential property
More NZ real estate investment titles

This week in Christchurch history

What interesting things happened in Christchurch this week? Find out with the help of the Christchurch Chronology on the library website.

August 16, 1866 Cook Strait cable service links North and South Islands.
August 16, 1868 Tsunami ("tidal wave") in Lyttelton Harbour. Part of the harbour bottom was laid bare, then a wave swept in, damaging the "Novelty".
August 16, 1890 First inter-provincial soccer match held in Christchurch. Canterbury beat Wellington 2-0.
August 17, 1903 City abattoir opens at Sockburn.
August 18, 1974 Concert by Leonard Bernstein and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra.
August 19, 1840 French settlers land at Akaroa.
August 20, 1860 Canterbury Vocal Society formed. After several changes of name, it became the Royal Christchurch Musical Society in 1920. It joined forces with the Christchurch Harmonic Society in 1991 to become the Christchurch City Choir.
August 20, 1984 A long-term aim of banning open fires is approved by the Christchurch City Council.
August 21, 1989 Sir Hamish Hay announces he will not stand for position of Mayor after 15 years in Local Body politics.
August 22, 1910 Ilam homestead (on the site of the present university staff club) destroyed by fire.
August 22, 1925 Radio Broadcasting Company of N.Z. incorporated in Christchurch - the country’s first public radio company. The company became the major force in early radio, eventually owning and operating a chain of YA stations throughout the country.

What’s new online?

New on the blog

Next week: The Press Christchurch Writers Festival

Your library will be covering events and talking to the fascinating line-up of writers at The Press Christchurch Writers festival. Be in the know with our must-read edition next week.