News | Personal Finance
18 Sep 2025 6:12
NZCity News
NZCity CalculatorReturn to NZCity

  • Start Page
  • Personalise
  • Sport
  • Weather
  • Finance
  • Shopping
  • Jobs
  • Horoscopes
  • Lotto Results
  • Photo Gallery
  • Site Gallery
  • TVNow
  • Dating
  • SearchNZ
  • NZSearch
  • Crime.co.nz
  • RugbyLeague
  • Make Home
  • About NZCity
  • Contact NZCity
  • Your Privacy
  • Advertising
  • Login
  • Join for Free

  •   Home > News > Business > Features > Personal Finance

    Ways to prepare for the unexpected

    Life is full of events we plan for and look forward to, like leaving home, starting work or getting married. But sometimes events happen that can’t be predicted and may not be so welcome – like changes to your health, wealth or working conditions.


    It’s important to take some time to plan, so if the unexpected does occur, you and your family will be looked after.

    Think about what you need to protect and the level of risk you’re willing to take. A sensible first step is to consider what is important to you and do a stock-take of your most valuable assets. These might be your home, family, health or career, or for many, it’s a combination of these things.

    The next step is to think about how you can protect these things. Insurance is one option and there are some types of insurance you are required to have, like house insurance if you have a mortgage. And if you own a car, it’s wise to have at least third party car insurance so you’re covered if you damage someone else’s car.

    There are other ways to manage the risk that you may wish to consider – especially if other insurances are beyond your budget. Having access to an emergency fund is a good start. For some, that might mean setting aside three months of income to draw on if the unexpected happens. It might take time to build up – but it’s a good goal to have. For others an emergency fund may be having access to credit, equity in their home or an arrangement with family to support them.

    If you have insurance it’s important to check it’s up-to-date and takes into account any changes to your circumstances. You may no longer need certain insurances or you may decide that what’s important to you has changed.

    Buy insurance that protects what’s important to you and only buy what you need – it’s easy to buy too much insurance but it’s just as easy to buy too little.

    Even though it’s not pleasant to think about what might happen, the more prepared you are the better off you’ll be.

    © 2025 sorted.org.nz, NZCity

     Other Personal Finance News
     10 Sep: Spring clean your finances
     13 Aug: Plan ahead to give yourself a debt-free Christmas!
     10 Jul: Wise up to clear credit card debt
     30 Mar: Time for a financial progress check
     10 Feb: Studying up on NZ Super
     10 Jan: Managing the back-to-school bills
     10 Dec: Stay in charge of your Christmas spending
     Top Stories

    RUGBY RUGBY
    World champion high jumper Hamish Kerr has fired a warning to his rivals that he believes a strong offseason will take him to another level More...


    BUSINESS BUSINESS
    A warning from a Government watchdog - for councils to manage their finances carefully More...



     Today's News

    Entertainment:
    Alan Cumming wants US President Donald Trump to join The Traitors US 6:01

    Rugby:
    World champion high jumper Hamish Kerr has fired a warning to his rivals that he believes a strong offseason will take him to another level 21:57

    Entertainment:
    Paris Hilton has a room in her home dedicated to housing her collection of 10,000 sunglasses 21:31

    International:
    Hasan Piker opens up on Charlie Kirk's death, Donald Trump and Elon Musk's campaign against him 21:27

    Rugby:
    The Black Ferns are under no illusions of what lies ahead with Canada standing between them and a spot in the Rugby World Cup final 21:17

    Entertainment:
    Meg Stalter shunned the formal dress code and wore jeans to the Primetime Emmy Awards on Sunday (14.09.25) 21:01

    Entertainment:
    Neil Young made a dash to hospital after his show in California over the weekend due to an "unexpected health emergency in the family" 20:31

    Entertainment:
    Mark Ronson has recalled the bizarre night he spent in Michael Jackson's hotel room when he was 13 20:01

    Entertainment:
    Hacks is ending with season five 19:31

    Environment:
    Firefighters are continuing to fight one large scrub fire in Canterbury, fuelled by strong winds and forestry slash 19:07


     News Search






    Power Search


    © 2025 New Zealand City Ltd