Money Maverick NZ

We made an offer. Then it turned into a multi-offer situation. Blind auction. No idea what the other side offered. They could have gone fifty thousand dollars less and we would never know.

Before we made the offer, we went to our lawyer and mortgage broker to get the right conditions in place. Finance, builder's report, LIM, and valuation. Ten working days to meet them.

The seller accepted. We were conditional.
Here is what that cost up front.

$713 for a builder's report.
$953 for a valuation.
$310 for a LIM.
$1,850for the lawyer.

Nearly three thousand dollars cash up front, even though we get five thousand back once it settles.

Get your lawyer and mortgage broker sorted before you start making offers. Not after you find the house. Before. When you are in a multi-offer situation, you have got twenty-four to forty-eight hours to decide. If you are scrambling to find help, you are already behind.

These conversations cost you nothing. Not having them can cost you thousands.

Part four next week when we're hopefully unconditional!

We made an offer. Then it turned into a multi-offer situation. Blind auction. No idea what the other side offered. They could have gone fifty thousand dollars less and we would never know. Before we made the offer, we went to our lawyer and mortgage broker to get the right conditions in place. Finance, builder's report, LIM, and valuation. Ten working days to meet them. The seller accepted. We were conditional. Here is what that cost up front. $713 for a builder's report. $953 for a valuation. $310 for a LIM. $1,850for the lawyer. Nearly three thousand dollars cash up front, even though we get five thousand back once it settles. Get your lawyer and mortgage broker sorted before you start making offers. Not after you find the house. Before. When you are in a multi-offer situation, you have got twenty-four to forty-eight hours to decide. If you are scrambling to find help, you are already behind. These conversations cost you nothing. Not having them can cost you thousands. Part four next week when we're hopefully unconditional! #FirstHomeBuyer #FirstHomeNZ #MoneyMaverick #PropertyNZ #HomeOwnership #MortgageAdvice #NZProperty #FinancialCoaching #KiwiSaver #ConveyancingLawyer

We went conditional on a house this week. It took four years longer than we had originally planned.

Back in 2021, we had a choice. We could buy at peak prices and lock ourselves into safe jobs to service the debt. Or we could take a risk on self-employment and wait at least three years before we could even qualify for a mortgage.

We chose to wait.

It felt like watching everyone else get ahead while we stood still.

But by the time we made our offer this year, my income alone was larger than both of us combined back in 2021.

Here is the lesson. Stop overestimating what you can do in one year. Stop underestimating what you can do in five.
One year is nothing. Five years can completely change your life.

If you are feeling behind on the property ladder right now, zoom out. What decision could you make today that would not pay off for three years, but would completely change your position in five?

This week I am sharing the full story of how we bought (are buying?) our first home.

Part two drops tomorrow.

We went conditional on a house this week. It took four years longer than we had originally planned. Back in 2021, we had a choice. We could buy at peak prices and lock ourselves into safe jobs to service the debt. Or we could take a risk on self-employment and wait at least three years before we could even qualify for a mortgage. We chose to wait. It felt like watching everyone else get ahead while we stood still. But by the time we made our offer this year, my income alone was larger than both of us combined back in 2021. Here is the lesson. Stop overestimating what you can do in one year. Stop underestimating what you can do in five. One year is nothing. Five years can completely change your life. If you are feeling behind on the property ladder right now, zoom out. What decision could you make today that would not pay off for three years, but would completely change your position in five? This week I am sharing the full story of how we bought (are buying?) our first home. Part two drops tomorrow. #FirstHomeBuyer #FirstHomeNZ #MoneyMaverick #FinancialCoaching #PropertyNZ #KiwiSaver #HomeOwnership

Many people I work with say the same thing in the first five minutes: "I'm so embarrassed about where I'm at."

There's nothing to be embarrassed about. You're here. That's what matters.

The hardest part isn't the money stuff. It's the shame, the overwhelm, and the feeling that you should have figured this out by now.

But here's the thing. You're not behind. You're not bad with money. Personal finance is a learnable skill, and you just haven't had someone in your corner who genuinely cares about your wellbeing, not your wallet.

Financial coaching isn't about being lectured or sold products. It's about having someone help you understand your options so you can make your own informed decisions.

In one hour:
• You'll know exactly where you stand
• You'll have a clear next step
• The anxiety lifts

No overwhelming paperwork. No products to buy. No judgment. Just practical support to help you take control.

Whether it's debt management, budgeting, retirement planning, investment questions, separation or just figuring out where your money goes, this space is for all of it.

You come as you are. We work with what you've got. And you leave feeling like you can actually do this. If money stress is stealing your sleep, let's sort it.

Visit moneymaverick.nz or send me a message to get started.

You can only genuinely focus on three major things at any given time. And I reckon most people are trying to juggle way more than that.

Work, kids, fitness, sorting your money, social life, a side project, home renovations, learning something new. That's eight things, but you've only got bandwidth for three.

So what happens? Everything gets half your attention, nothing really moves forward, and you end up feeling like you're failing at all of it.

But here's what changes everything. When you pick your three things and actually focus on them, they become routine, they become automatic, and once something's in a routine, it drops out of your top three. Which means you've got space to add something new.

One out, one in, that's how you actually make progress without burning out.
I wrote about this properly on the blog, including the part I didn't mention in recent video about protecting your three things from distractions, and how money stress takes up way more energy than you realize.

Link in comments.

Today is about reviewing subscriptions again, from a different angle.

Subscriptions hide in plain sight. Music apps. Streaming. Fitness platforms you opened once. Each charge feels small on its own.

Take $15 per month as an example. Over a year, $180 disappears without a moment of thought. $180 pays for school shoes. Or a family day out. Or a power bill top up during winter.

This is not about removing enjoyment from your life. This is about noticing where money leaves without intention. Awareness creates choice. Choice creates control.

When you review subscriptions, you create a pause. You decide what earns a place in your budget and what does not.

Open your banking app. Scan the list calmly. Keep the ones you value. Remove one you forgot about.

Future you benefits from one quiet decision today.

December feels crowded when you hold everything in your head. Work functions, family gatherings, school breaks, and community events all compete for attention. Nothing feels clear until you write the month down.

List every December event and add a rough cost beside each one. Your mind settles once the plan is on paper. You move from guessing to clarity.

Once the list is in front of you, your decisions become easier. You choose the events that matter to you. You skip the ones that drain your time or money. You also see which community events fit without pressure.

This process sets clear expectations for your family. Everyone knows what is coming and what each event might cost. You remove surprises and create a calmer December for everyone.

Budgeting is what you plan to do.
Tracking is what you actually do.

If you do not know where your money is going,
you are just guessing,
and guessing is not a financial strategy.

You do not have to be perfect.
You do not have to feel bad.
But you do have to start paying attention.

Reflection:
Do you know what you actually spent last week — or are you hoping it was fine?