No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds

You might own a lot, you might own a little, but you probably still need to write a will. But do you have to use a lawyer to do it? There are changes coming to KiwiSaver contribution rates. Who will miss out? And how do donation credits actually work? In this episode, Susan answers questions about:How will the changes to KiwiSaver contribution rates affect you?How does the donation tax credit actually work?Why aren't spouses paid to be caregivers?Are there still benefits to KiwiSaver when the government contribution stops?Do you have to write a will with a lawyer or can you write your own, have it witnessed and just keep it in a safe place?What items have gotten cheaper over the last 10 years?And which part of the country has the highest uptake on solar power?If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Conflict has broken out in the Middle East – again – and New Zealanders are being warned to watch out for it hitting everything from petrol prices to the cost of food. This week, our special episode of No Stupid Questions is all about how it might affect your household and what you can do to ease the impact.Episode detailsIn this episode, Susan answers questions about:How high could petrol prices go?Will inflation rise again?Will my KiwiSaver balance be affected?I want to fly overseas soon. What do I need to consider?What will be the biggest pain points for households?If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Quite a few Aussie banks operate here in New Zealand as well as over the ditch. Are Kiwis being offered the same deals as their Australian cousins? If we can peg property rates to inflation, then why not electricity prices? Parents have a legal duty to look after their children, obviously, but at what age does that responsibility end? Susan answers all these questions as well as what's included in tax refunds on donations (and what isn't), how benefit sanctions are managed and which parts of the country pay the highest power bills.Episode detailsIn this episode, Susan answers questions about:00.33 Can we peg power prices to the rate of inflation?4.17 Are the big Aussie banks treating Kiwis like mugs?9.10 How long are parents and stepparents legally responsible for their kids?11.54 Does my employer have to apply the new KiwiSaver increase?12.36 Why aren't admin costs included in my donation tax refund?14.38 And where in New Zealand do we pay the most for power?If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

It can happen. And does. Your dad dies. Your stepmother sells their home and then leaves all the money to her kids. You get nothing. This doesn't seem right. Is there anything you can do? We investigate your options on this as well asking whether it is worth having a savings account anymore, what the unemployment rate tells us and what it doesn't, and are KiwiSaver providers making their returns sound better than they are?In this episode, Susan answers questions about:What doers the unemployment rate actually tell us? And what is it leaving out?Can a stepparent cut their partner's kids out of the will?Are KiwiSaver providers making their returns sound better than they are?With interest rates so low, is it worth having a savings account anymore?How are the new rules around tenants and their pets working out?And what is the most expensive pet procedure insurance will pay for?If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Your kids are all grown up now, having families, buying homes of their own and working hard to make ends meet. Wouldn't this be the best time for them to inherit your money? Have we got the wrong approach to inheritances? Susan has answers for this, as well as what the tax situation is when buying a house overseas, whether financial advisers who are paid on commission can really be objective and what to look out for when insuring your car.Episode detailsIn this episode, Susan answers questions about:00.51 What exactly is the OCR?2.42 What are the tax implications when buying an offshore apartment?5.17 Do we have inheritances all wrong?8.12 What are banks saying about the future of house insurance?10.22 Can financial advisers every truly be impartial?12.44 What you need to know about insuring your car13.41 And is a 1983 car better value than one from today?If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Family stuff can be pretty tricky, especially after a bereavement. What can you do if you're partner has passed on and their kids want you to sell your house so they can get a payout? Speaking of kids, why isn't the cost of childcare tax deductible? Does the NZ Super Fund super proof my pension? And would you have been better off buying a house in 1981 - or Lego?In this episode, Susan answers questions about:00.44 What to do when your partner dies and your kids want you to sell the family home4.02 Why childcare isn't tax deductible5.19 Will pensions one day be paid out entirely from the NZ Super Fund7.55 Can a person on a low income afford to buy a tiny home9.28 Whether to invest in Kiwi Bonds or put your money into a savings account12.38 And what the average price of a house was in 1981If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Plenty of us rent the homes we live in. How do we know if we're paying more for it than we should? Susan finds out and asks if anyone is making money from your rental bond, as well as how to avoid being scammed when you're investing, and whether your LEGO collection is a good investment or not.In this episode, Susan answers questions about:00.55 What to do if you think you're paying more than market rent5.38 Is anyone making money from your rental bond6.49 What happens if a parent dies with no money to pay for their funeral8.03 How to avoid the scammers when you've got lots of money to invest10.35 Why your KiwiSaver account is not being scammed12.39 How to protect yourself from being ripped off when buying online13.34 Why your KiwiSaver balance doesn't count against your pension14.07 And whether your LEGO collection is a good investmentIf you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

More than 600,000 New Zealanders have a student loan. If you’re one of them, you might have questions - like what happens if you die? Does your partner have to take on half if you split? We're looking at this as well as pension questions, tax questions, investing for your kids, and ensuring your KiwiSaver is invested in a way you're comfortable with.In this episode, Susan answers questions about:00.55 Avoiding the student loan debt trap2.59 Options for setting up your grandkids' financial future5.53 Why savings can count against an accommodation supplement7.02 How to avoid ethical jump scares when investing9.46 What happens when a working pensioner needs ACC payments10.35 Why tax on your pension isn't the government double-dipping11.55 What the new inflation data means for your mortgage13. 09 When did instant noodles get added to the CPI?If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Can I invest in gold through my KiwiSaver? Will I still get my pension if I live on my boat? And what is a disappointment gap? Questions this week for Susan:00.54 Can I invest in gold through my KiwiSaver?02.39 I qualify for superannuation but still have a mortgage. Will that affect my tax rate?04.31 Can my employer deduct KiwiSaver my from my hourly rate of pay?07.20 If I live on my yacht, can I still claim superannuation?08.55 Do I pay GST on capital gains?10.43 What is the 'Disappointment Gap'?12.24 Audience Q&A for the week: in what year did waterbeds and wine cooler drop out of the Consumer Price Index?Expert input this week came from Greg Smith at Generate, Anne-Marie Lockyer at Pie Funds, GST expert Alan Bullot and Shamubeel Eaquab from Simplicity.If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

No Stupid Questions with Susan Edmunds will be back online, on-air and in your feed from late-January 2026. If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or send us a voice recording to questions@rnz.co.nz. Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

My tradie asked to be paid in cash...will that get me in trouble with the IRD? Where's the best place to keep an emergency fund? And are rewards points really worth it?Episode detailsQuestions this week for Susan:Where should I put my emergency money, in a manged fund, term deposit or just a bank account?When the Reserve Bank changes the official cash rate, where does the extra money I pay on my mortgage go?Which kinds of KiwiSaver funds are seeing the most hardship withdrawals?If I'm paying a surcharge on my credit card, does that cost more than the Hot Points I earn?If a tradie asks me to pay in cash, can I get in trouble with the IRD?Audience Q&A for the week: what sort of increase in spending is normal at Christmas?Expert input this week came from Dean Anderson at Kernel, David Cunningham at Squirrel, investment adviser Jeremy Sullivan and Robyn Walker at Deloitte.If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

If you die without family, what happens to your KiwiSaver? Is it fair that a household with one high earner pays more tax than one with two average earners? And what is productivity and why does it matter to the average New Zealander who’s just focused on getting their own job done?Questions this week for Susan:00.44 What are tenants not allowed to do?2.52 When it comes to tax, what's the difference between boarders and flatmates?6.03 What is productivity and are we really so bad at it?10.45 What happens to your KiwiSaver when you die?12.07 Is it fair that a household with one high earner pays more tax than one with two average earners?15.19 When the Student Loan Scheme was first set up, what was the rate of interest?Expert input this week came from Brad Olsen at Infometrics.If you have a money question you'd like Susan to answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

A lot of people put money away for their children's future. But is a savings account the best way to do that? And if I invest in the sharemarket, is a growth fund too risky? Do I play it safe or go for gold?Episode detailsQuestions this week for Susan:00.52 What is a capital change notice?3.44 Why do petrol pumps warn you that a hold is being placed on your credit card?5.25 What has happened to my late daughter's Australian super?6.43 Should I save or invest for my child's future?8.29 Audience Q&A for the week.Expert input this week came from Rupert Carlyon from Kiwisaver provider Koura, and Ana-Marie Lockyer at Pie Funds, If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

We're aways reading headlines about how Australia can pay higher wages than us but are also able to sell a cheaper cup of coffee. How do they keep the cost of living low while we struggle? What's Australia's secret sauce? Economist Mary-Jo Vergara says the answer is actually pretty simple. Questions this week for Susan:00.44 - How does Australia pay high wages but still keep the cost of living low?3.03 - What are my options if my religion prevents me from earning interest on my KiwiSaver account?4.00 - My Visa details were expired, but the payment still went through. How?6.56 - Why am I being charged a new service fee on international transactions on my credit card?9.09 - What your landlord is allowed to do - and what they're not.11.03 Audience Q&A for the week.Expert input this week came from Mary-Jo Vergara of Kiwibank, Barry Coates from Mindful Money and Massey University's Claire Matthews.If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Borrowing money these days seems to involve so much paperwork. Why?Questions this week for Susan:Is private school worth the money?Is it worth getting a second job?Do I have to pay gift tax?And why are banks so stuck on paperwork?Expert input this week came from Dr Michael Johnson, Robyn Walker, Greg Bunkall, and Anne Marie LockyerIf you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Is the AI boom a bubble? Is it about to burst? What should I do?Questions this week for Susan:Is the bubble about to burst on AI?Is it cheaper to rent or buy?Will the Fonterra brads sale drive up inflation?And how do I choose financial advisor?Expert input this week came from Shamubeel Eaqub, Sharon Zollner and Tim Fairbrother.If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Is it better to be alive in 1985 or in 2025?Questions this week for Susan:Why can’t we take GST off fresh food?What is gift tax?How do I split the bills when a relative moves in?And were we all better off in the 80s?Expert input this week came from Brad Olsen, Craig Renney, Shamubeel Eaqub, David Verry and RNZ Morning Report host Corin Dann.If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Is it fair that my partner's residential care will drain my KiwiSaver account too?Questions this week for Susan:If I have to use my KiwiSaver account to pay for my partner's residential care, is that fair on me?What is a Capital Gains Tax?How likely am I to win Lotto?If you have a money question you'd like Susan to try and answer, put it in an email or voice memo, then send it to questions@rnz.co.nz.Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

When money people and politicians talk about the "bank of Mum and Dad", what does that really mean?If you have a question you'd like Susan to answer, you can email her at questions@rnz.co.nz. We'd love to hear from you!Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details

Do banks always pass on cuts to the official cash rate to their customers?If you have a question you'd like Susan to answer, you can email her at questions@rnz.co.nz. We'd love to hear from you!Go to this episode on rnz.co.nz for more details