Misc

Don't forget the stealth taxes

In the most basic sense, the Budget is a one-trick pony. You'll either have more or less in your pocket each week.

Monday, May 23rd 2005

Chances are that many of the text-generation won't even know there has been a Budget this week and hordes of other people will have turned the page or changed channels when it hit the headlines. Should we care about the Budget?

The Budget is the Government's Robin Hood, taking money from one sector of society and giving to another. Its long-term aim, one would hope, is to improve the economy for all.

The health of the economy benefits everyone. Ultimately, the Budget affects us from maternity services to the grave, or beyond if you consider issues such as inheritance tax - which fortunately we don't have at present. It's not just the immediate effect of tax cuts or increases and Government spending that should get you texting.

"We live in a democracy and the Budget is the announcement to the shareholders about how the Government is going to spend our money in the coming year," says Consumers Institute chief executive David Russell.

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SBS FirstHome Combo 6.74
Heartland Bank - Online 6.89
Wairarapa Building Society 6.95
Unity 6.99
Co-operative Bank - First Home Special 7.04
ICBC 7.05
China Construction Bank 7.09
BNZ - Classic 7.24
ASB Bank 7.24
ANZ Special 7.24
TSB Special 7.24
Unity First Home Buyer special 6.45
Heartland Bank - Online 6.55
SBS Bank Special 6.69
TSB Special 6.75
Westpac Special 6.75
China Construction Bank 6.75
ICBC 6.75
AIA - Go Home Loans 6.75
ASB Bank 6.75
Unity 6.79
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 6.79
SBS Bank Special 6.19
ASB Bank 6.39
Westpac Special 6.39
AIA - Go Home Loans 6.39
China Construction Bank 6.40
ICBC 6.49
Kiwibank Special 6.55
BNZ - Classic 6.55
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 6.55
TSB Special 6.59
SBS Bank 6.79
SBS FirstHome Combo 6.19
AIA - Back My Build 6.19
ANZ Blueprint to Build 7.39
Credit Union Auckland 7.70
ICBC 7.85
Heartland Bank - Online 7.99
Pepper Money Essential 8.29
Co-operative Bank - Owner Occ 8.40
Co-operative Bank - Standard 8.40
First Credit Union Standard 8.50
Kiwibank 8.50

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