House Prices

How to start investing now

Who wants to sacrifice present consumption like purchasing a new car or having that spring break in Fiji for future financial security? Apparently not many people in New Zealand.

Thursday, November 04th 2004

After all, you only have to look at the huge increase in use of credit (debt accumulation) cards over recent times. But how much money does it take for an individual to put aside now for a future with greater financial security?

Investing is basically the sacrifice of the certain present benefit (the new car) for an uncertain future benefit (increased income during unemployment).

You may have accumulated or inherited cash, or have the expectation of savings generated from ongoing income. Thus you have the choice ? immediate consumption or postponing spending till some time in the future. There may be many complex reasons for delaying spending until the future e.g. reluctance to borrow for major purchases, to cover ongoing expenses in the event of reduced income like retirement or to pass on wealth to a younger generation.

If you have decided to defer spending today, naturally you would expect some reward i.e. return. Realistically any investment involves risk, returns are not guaranteed but the investor may make choices to reduce the probability of losing capital and return.

Read More - Opens in a new window

Most Read

Unity First Home Buyer special 3.99
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.99
ICBC 4.25
TSB Special 4.39
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 4.39
SBS Bank Special 4.49
Unity Special 4.49
ANZ Special 4.49
Westpac Special 4.49
Kiwibank Special 4.49
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.49
Kainga Ora 4.49
ICBC 4.59
ANZ Special 4.69
Unity Special 4.69
BNZ - Std 4.69
Wairarapa Building Society 4.79
Nelson Building Society 4.87
Westpac Special 4.89
Kiwibank Special 4.89
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.89
SBS Bank Special 4.89
ICBC 4.99
Kainga Ora 5.15
Westpac Special 5.29
ASB Bank 5.69
TSB Special 5.69
BNZ - Std 5.69
SBS Bank Special 5.69
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 5.69
AIA - Go Home Loans 5.69
Kiwibank Special 5.79
Westpac 5.89
SBS FirstHome Combo 3.29
AIA - Back My Build 3.34
SBS Construction lending for FHB 3.74
CFML 321 Loans 3.95
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 4.99
Co-operative Bank - Standard 4.99
Heartland Bank - Online 5.30
ICBC 5.39
Kiwibank - Offset 5.65
Kainga Ora 5.69
Kiwibank 5.75

More Stories

Thursday, February 19th 2026

RBNZ expects slower house price growth in the current recovery

The Reserve Bank thinks house prices will rise at a much slower pace during the current recovery than they have in past cycles.

Wednesday, January 07th 2026

Queenstown not off the radar for first home buyers

First home buyers are not being deterred by Queenstown’s soaring house prices.

Record levels of first home buyers taking out low deposit loans

Tuesday, December 23rd 2025

Record levels of first home buyers taking out low deposit loans

About half of all first home buyer lending has been done at a less than 20% deposit in recent months.

Buyers sitting on the sidelines in best time to buy in a decade

Thursday, December 04th 2025

Buyers sitting on the sidelines in best time to buy in a decade

Stable house prices, low interest rates and plenty of houses to choose from are still not enticing buyers.