Travel Ideas

Travel

Do you have some well earned time-off due to you? We’ve put together some travel ideas and some key areas to think about to help you with your travel planning this year.

Destination Advice

Now that you have some holiday time owing and you’ve decided to book yourself a holiday, you’ll need to start with a destination. And what better place to look than with our own borders here in New Zealand?

Here in New Zealand, we’re very fortunate in that we have a wide diversity of landscapes across the country. Depending on your preference, you could book yourself into one of many Auckland hotels online and sample the delights of a bustling city centre and a diverse range of cultures.

Auckland is a popular destination on a world stage and, for many international visitors, the gateway to New Zealand. If you live in New Zealand and haven’t spent any time in Auckland, it’s time to find out what you’ve been missing!

Alternatively, with just a few clicks of the mouse, you could find yourself at the other end of the country in one of the more remote and adventurous Queenstown hotels ready to battle the snowy slopes or face your fears on the river rapids.

Like Auckland, Queenstown is a highly popular destination on a world stage. Unlike Queenstown, the city is known less for what it offers in the way of city life and city centre shopping and more in the way of extreme activities and entertainment.

No matter what your destination, you can save a lot of time trawling the Internet looking through hundreds of websites for various hotels by using one of the many online resources that provide hotel bookings all in one place.

Types of Holiday

Once you’ve settled on a destination, it’s a good idea to nail down exactly what sort of holiday you’re after. Setting this in stone at the beginning will help you to determine nearly every following aspect of your trip, from your travel arrangements to your entertainment itinerary and even down to what you’ll pack in your luggage!

Family Holidays

To many, a holiday getaway isn’t complete without the family. Sharing your experiences with family members can make a holiday that much more complete. Also, if you have young children, family holidays will mean a great deal to your children and will be something that they reflect on for years to come.

If you have a regular favourite holiday destination that you always travel to with your family, chances are that when your children are old enough and starting their own families, they’ll carry on the family tradition and will continue to visit your favourite spots.

However, if you’re the sort that likes to escape from the responsibilities that come with families, it can be a good idea to figure out which are the family holiday hotspots so that you can avoid them in order to truly relax on your holiday!

Romantic Holidays

Travelling with a loved one can be highly rewarding and a great way to strengthen your relationship while creating stories to share for years to come.

Successful romantic holidays can all come down to the accommodation combined with the local attractions and can be quite different for different styles and tastes.

If your partner is the outdoors type, you might want to think about finding a secluded lodge amongst the hills or mountains that gives you instant access to the great outdoors. If your partner is more of a city person, there are endless opportunities for accommodation right in the city centre. Couple this with a tour of your partner’s favourite shopping outlets and cafes and you’ll cement your relationship for years to come.

Working Holidays

If you really can’t escape work for a decent length of time, why not take work with you? There’s nothing wrong with taking a laptop with you on your travels and checking in to complete some work while enjoying a change in surroundings.

It can be a good idea to put aside a set amount of time each day during which you’ll only focus on work-related activities. You can also take advantage of your time away from home to catch up with associates around New Zealand that you may deal with on a regular basis but rarely meet face-to-face. In a new relaxed setting, you could find that there are certain issues or potential deals that may arise out of your meeting that may not have been approached in a simple email or phone conversation.

 

This article was kindly supplied by NZS.

Planning a Vacation

Planning a Vacation?
Planning a vacation and searching for flights and hotels is often the least fun part about holidaying. Instead of keeping your eye out on the papers for daily specials, and trawling through website after website looking for the best deals, you can now book all of your travel online from NZS.com’s new travel deals section.

Powered by Wego, we’ve launched a travel search section which gives you access to the best travel deals available online, anywhere! Do you often get frustrated flicking between browser windows of airline websites and online travel agents, just trying to work out who has the best deals? From one simple page, you can search over 100 different travel websites and produce the results for you in a simple yet comprehensive and customisable results page. Planning a vacation could not be easier.

Need to filter by airline, flight time, price range, location… or anything else? It’s easy and it updates immediately as you change the variables – so there is no need to reload the page each time you make a change.

Your search will also be updated instantly while you’re on the page with any other deals that are made available – the system is continually checking for updates from its providers, even while you are browsing over the results it has already produced. This is particularly great because our travel deals section also displays sale fares from budget airlines such as Jetstar and Pacific Blue, which many online travel websites won’t show you.

Searching for hotels, package deals and attractions and researching articles, news and photos on your destination can all be done from NZS.com’s new travel deals section. The holiday season airplanes are boarding… where are you off to next?

Searching for Flights
Simple, fast and easy, searching for cheap flights on NZS.com can have the best deal from any airline in your hands in seconds.

Simply enter the departure and arrival destinations, dates you want to go, cabin class and passenger quantity and hit Search Multiple Travel Sites.

From there, you’ll be presented with the deals from lowest to highest price, and you can start filtering the results to get the perfect deal to suit your needs. Use the left hand navigation menu to select the stops you’d like to make, the hours you’d like to travel in, your favourite airlines, airports, cabin class, price range, currency, and even aircraft type!

Hotels Are Easy Too!
Finding a cheap hotel is easy as well, simply click the hotels tab, enter your dates and destinations and hit Search Multiple Travel Sites. You can choose your star rating too, or wait and see which deals can be found first.

Automatically sorted by popularity, you can change the filter by price or stars depending on your specific needs.

Again, the left hand navigation menu is your best friend for customising your travel deals. If you’re picky about your hotel must haves (swimming pool, health club, broadband) you can tick your favourite boxes to ensure you only see accommodation that has your required amenities. You can also search by property type – hostels are great for students; hotels for couples; apartments for families – and even choose your hotel chain of preference.

Getting a Package Deal
Package deals are quick and easy to find using the Packages tab. Just choose your destination and browse every package deal that can be found online – perfect for when you want an all-inclusive, no stress holiday.

Package deals often include several stops, all flights, accommodation, meals, drinks and even activities in the price. Packages are particularly great if you haven’t been to a region before and wouldn’t know how to go about trying to plan a multi-destination vacation yourself, you can let our virtual travel agents do that for you, while you still get a great price!

Find the Best Activities Ahead of Time
Going sightseeing? Paying on the day will mean you’ll be paying the full rack rate for booking activities, theme parks, tours, cruises and shows.

Choosing your destination in the Activities tab will produce great prices and ideas on things to do while you’re on holiday, and allow you to pre-book and pre-pay. You can search by price, popularity, activity type (day tour, night cruise, water activity – got your attention yet?), and perfect for the kids – by duration.

Researching Before You Book
Narrowed it down to three hotels, two airlines and a handful of activities, but not sure how to choose? Click on the research tab to find independent information about your travel destination plans before you book. Just enter the aspect of your trip you want to know more about (e.g., hotel name), and click the types of media you want to search.

You can select travel magazines, newspaper articles, guide books, hotel reviews, photos, videos, forums and blogs and even industry news. You’ll then be able to read over information from sought-after sources and get a wider perspective on what you’re about to book from someone other than the provider themselves – meaning feeling good about making a decision on quality!

 

This article was supplied by NZS.

Financial Management

Financial management is the smartest way to ensure your personal and business finances don’t get out of hand. In a sensitive economy it pays to plan ahead with your finances, have back-ups and make sure you get yourself out of the rut that can lead to debt.

List It All
Before you begin your first step for financial management, write down your personal income or the amount your business expects to bring in on a monthly basis on one list. Then make another list of all of your expenses. You’ll need to grab your bank statements in order to do this so you can compare dollar for dollar. Compare the two lists and go from there – if there isn’t anything left and you’re in deficit, you’re probably living off your credit cards and need to pull back on that first. Read on below on the steps to take.

Living off Credit Cards
Your first step for financial management is often the hardest to make – stop living in debt on your credit cards. Understandably, many people need credit cards to be able to function financially in today’s world, and there’s nothing wrong with that. The problems come when things get out of hand, you start spending more than you think you’re spending and debt starts to accrue. This becomes a further issue when you are penalised with interest owing on your credit cards, leading to more and more debt.

Get a Charge Card Instead
Many people have lived in debt on their credit cards for several years, and see it as a normal way to function financially. This is not true – and you don’t need to get rid of the credit card system you’re so used to either. Find a bank which offers a charge card, which must be paid in full each month. This means you’ll avoid just paying the minimum, and will learn how to only spend what you’re bringing in. You still have a month’s lenience so you can purchase things before you have the money, but you can only spend the amounts that you know you’ll be able to pay back within the month. In doing this, you avoid high revolving interest and are able to keep your monthly spending in control.

Charge cards also work for business and corporate situations, giving your business a way to scrutinise every expense with highly detailed reporting. You can apply for a business charge card online and manage your business’ money easily with liability options and easy online account management tools.

Read Bank Statements Regularly
It is important to read your bank statements carefully each month – don’t just throw them away with the weekly circulars. Not only is having monthly run-down of your account action important for paying credit card and card charge bills back, but it’s also important to make sure there aren’t any mistakes.

Make sure there are no strange or miscellaneous charges from your bank on your statement. By tracking fees, you’ll discover if your bank is charging you unnecessarily, and how you can make changes in the future. Situations where this can happen include maintenance fees, teller withdrawal charges, annual fees, cheque fees and so on. If you approach your bank looking for ways to get around these charges, you’ll probably find there are many ways you can change your accounts to avoid them.

Additionally, read your statements regularly with particular attention to the surcharges you are paying. Wondering what all of those $1 ATM surcharges are? They are the fees you incur when you use another bank’s ATM. Stick with only those of your bank and those surcharges will disappear – but not unless you don’t notice they’re on your account statement!

Give Yourself Cash
While electronic card purchases are essential for large buys, keep your incidental day-to-day spending limited by only using cash. Set yourself a limited amount of money for purchases such as your daily lunch, drinks after work, extracurricular activities and so on. Get that amount out in cash and don’t let yourself pay electronically for any of those kinds of purchases for the week. You’ll find having real, tangible money means you limit yourself when you need to (or risk going without for a few days), and you won’t incur the surprises when you find out you’ve spent way over budget on morning coffees.

Reward Yourself
If you consolidate all of your purchases to one source like a charge card, which you have to pay off in full each month, you’ll avoid high revolving interest and kick start your financial management into the right gear. Also remember to take part in rewards systems if you’re going to do all of your spending on one card, as you’ll be able to use your points to buy everyday things that would come out of your normal budget – even down to paying for things like your annual card fees. This is also great for businesses who can pay their expenses with their charge card, then earn points to buy things that you’d need to buy for your business anyway such as corporate gifts and day-to-day sundries.

 

This article was kindly supplied by NZS.

Types of Mortgage

Buying a house is a big decision. There’s lots to think about. A lot of your decisions can boil down to one thing – your financial situation. This is important from the perspective of the type of house that you can afford to buy and how well you’ll be able to manage your cash flow and keeping up with your mortgage payments following the purchase.

As in many big life decisions, it’s essential to be arm yourself with information before choosing a path to go down. The good news is that there’s plenty of help and assistance out there. Don’t be afraid to speak to a bank first – they’ll be able to provide you with relevant advice and information, free of any emotional persuasion that may come from family members and friends. A bank will be able to talk you through the home loans that they have available and match a solution to your own personal needs, requirements, and financial capabilities. They’ll discuss your exact financial situation and then help you to find a mortgage and repayment plan that you can afford – one that doesn’t over-stretch your finances and leave you struggling week-to-week.

While a banker or other financial advisor can help you to find a mortgage that’s right for you, it’s worth having an understanding of the different types of mortgage that are available so that you can more accurately discuss your wants and needs when it comes to choosing the home loan. You’ll also be able to identify the decisions that will help your financial situation now and understand how making those decisions will affect your financial situation in the long-term.

It’s also worth knowing that many banking and other mortgage-lending businesses provide a home loan calculator through their website. In the privacy of your own home, you can enter your dream home’s purchase price, the amount of deposit that you have, the terms of the loan and your preferred mortgage type’s interest rate and you’ll quickly be given an idea of how high or low your repayments will be. Armed with this information, you’ll have a better idea of the type of loan that suits you best.

Mortgage Types

The different types of mortgage don’t just come down to changes in interest rates. There’s a fair bit more to it than that. The banks themselves may offer their own tweaks and changes, as well as their own brand names for mortgages, but generally there are a few key types of mortgage that are considered to be standard.

Table Mortgages

A table mortgage is the most common type of mortgage. Your payments include those against both the principal (i.e. the amount of money you need to purchase your house) as well as against the interest (i.e. the ‘cost’ of borrowing that amount of money).

The ratio of payment to interest and principal is the key difference that defines a table mortgage. At first, a significant portion of your payment goes towards your interest and a very small portion towards the principal. In fact, around 90% of your payment may be going straight into paying off your interest.

Throughout the term of the mortgage, this ratio changes and more and more of your payment is assigned to your principal.

Benefits:

With a table mortgage, the actual amount you pay each time typically stays the same – this can help you to budget more wisely for the future as you’ll have a good idea of how much of your weekly income will need to go towards paying off your mortgage.

Another benefit is that because the principal payments are lower at the start of your mortgage, you may be able to borrow a larger amount than you would under other mortgage types.

Reducing Mortgages

With a reducing mortgage, the amount you pay each time regularly decreases over the period of your loan.

Typically, the percentage of your payment that goes towards your principal is the same throughout the year but you begin your payments by paying a lot more against your interest. The amount that you pay on your interest then decreases over time.

Benefits:

Towards the end of your mortgage, your payments are much less as you’re only paying off the principal and a very small amount of your interest.

A reducing mortgage is a good option for those that have the cash-flow to afford higher initial loan payments and wish to be more and more comfortable financially over the lifetime of the mortgage.

Interest Only Home Loans

An interest-only mortgage is one specifically designed for people who are expecting a substantial one-off payment into their bank accounts at a point in the future.

This loan is set up specifically for short-term borrowing. Initial payments are minimal as they are only being paid against the interest of the loan. At a pre-arranged date, you then make one final payment to pay off the last of the interest as well as the initial principal that you borrowed.

The typical scenario is: a person who has owned a home for a while and is looking to sell that home and purchase a new one. They haven’t yet sold their current home and so wish to take out a mortgage for the new home that allows them small re-payments until they can sell their home and pay-off the new mortgage in one lump-sum.

Benefits:

The benefits of an interest only home loan come down to the fact that the initial payments are minimal and your commitment is only short term.

 

 

Sustainable Living

Windfarm

What Is Sustainable Living?
Living sustainably means living smartly. It means reducing your impact on the environment without compromising your lifestyle. It also means saving money.

Reducing your environmental impact doesn’t take much effort. It just means thinking carefully about the way you dispose of your rubbish, and use electricity and fuel.

Rubbish
Up to two-thirds of your household waste can be reduced, reused or recycled. These actions lower carbon emissions, save energy and resources, and cut the costs of disposal.

To manage your waste better, first audit what you’re throwing away. Collect a week’s worth of rubbish, spread it on a tarp outside, and sort it into plastic, glass, textiles, paper and cardboard, and metals. Have a separate bin in the kitchen for food waste – you don’t want to filter through your other rubbish with bits of week-old lasagna on it!

See how much could be reused, such as old clothes for cleaning rags, jars for storing things. Look at what you can recycle: plastic and glass bottles, tin cans, cardboard, magazines. See what you could reduce by buying less, such as food packaging. Finally, see what can be composted, such as vegetable scraps.

Using Less Electricity
You can do many things to use less electricity and make your home healthier too. Some are free, others require up-front investment, but all will save you money in the long-run, as well as helping improve the environment.

Home Heating
Home heating makes up around 33% of your power bill. If you can afford to, consider installing energy-efficient heating, such as a heat pump or pellet burner. Good-quality insulation in the ceiling, floors and walls will also make a huge difference to the amount of power you use.

Cheaper actions to save energy for heating include stopping draughts around your home, closing the curtains before it gets dark, and blocking off fireplaces that aren’t being used.

Saving Electricity In Other Ways
Simple actions make a big difference to your power bill and to how much carbon dioxide goes into the atmosphere from generating electricity.

Fixing a dripping hot water tap can save you $30 a year, and washing your laundry in cold rather than hot water will also save energy. To save even more, hang your clothes outside rather than using a dryer. Taking shorter showers also saves on water heating.

Turning off lights when you leave a room and switching appliances, such as TVs and computers, and phone chargers off at the wall saves a surprising amount of electricity. Turn off your heated towel rail when towels have dried or, even better, dry your towels outside.

Using your microwave rather than your electric stove or oven will save power. Don’t forget to switch it off at the wall, as running the clock can use more energy than cooking food.

Replace your most-used light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps, otherwise known as eco-bulbs. They use 20% of the energy of a traditional light bulb. Curtains with a good-quality thermal lining can make a big difference to your power bill, particularly if you have a lot of windows.

Saving Fuel
Transport makes up 14% of the average household budget or about $136 a week.

Engine size isn’t necessarily a guide to fuel consumption. When buying a new vehicle, check with the dealer about the car’s efficiency. Maintaining your car well, not overloading it with roof racks and stuff in the boot, and keeping tyres at the right pressure helps save fuel.

To save petrol on the road, drive smoothly, and don’t speed or let the engine idle for long periods. Avoid short trips on a cold engine and only use the air-conditioning when you really need to. You can also reduce your fuel use by planning your journeys and saving up quick errands for one trip.

If you can, don’t take the car at all. Public transport has advantages other than using less fuel per person. It’s usually cheaper than running and parking a car, it gives you a chance to do other things like reading a book or just relaxing, and it causes less pollution.

Consider using a walking school bus rather than driving kids to school. They’ll get fitter and have fun with their friends, as well as saving you time and money.

 

This article was kindly supplied by NZS.

Superannuation

Retirement doesn’t have to mean the end of a productive, enjoyable lifestyle! With planning and saving for retirement, you can enjoy the years after your retirement in comfort and without financial concerns. For many, superannuation and retirement savings are things they would rather not think about, but wise financial planning and investment today can help make your retirement a rewarding time.

How much do I need to save for my retirement?
There is no single answer to this question. How much you need to save will depend on the quality of life you expect to have during the years of your retirement. You will receive New Zealand superannuation, but it’s worth saving some extra money to complement your NZ super payments and prepare yourself for unexpected expenses.

Generally, it’s considered you’ll need around 70% of the income you’ll be receiving just before you retire. If you’re a long way from retirement, calculate your required savings using 70% of your current pay. This amount should allow you to continue with a good lifestyle. Costs for health care may increase, but the amount you spend on mortgage payments, education and other expenses will decrease. Ask yourself:

  • When do I want to retire? The amount you need to save will be dependent on the age at which you plan to retire. Assuming you retire at age 65, you will need to plan on saving enough income for 20 years.
  • What kind of lifestyle do I want during retirement? Consider whether you are willing to live a simpler lifestyle or whether you want to maintain your current standard of living.
  • Will I be single or living with a partner? There is no certainty in life, so ensure that there will be enough to meet the needs of both you and your partner during the years of retirement.
  • Will I be renting a property or living in my own home? If you decide to rent, you will need more savings for rent payments, but you’ll have more cash readily available (this would otherwise be tied up in home ownership). Debt-free home ownership will provide more security, but remember to budget for rates, property maintenance and other such expenses.

It’s a good idea to discuss your specific circumstances with a financial advisor for a detailed saving plan, but making a calculation using the figure of 70% provides a good basic guide. Try one of the many nifty online retirement savings calculators to work out exactly how much you should be saving each week. Remember, the earlier you start, the easier it will be to meet your savings goal!

What kind of retirement savings account should I have?
Although it may seem like a stretch to save anything, it’s well worth putting some money aside for your retirement. The type of savings account that will reap the most rewards is one with a system of compound interest. This means that your saved dollars work for you, earning more interest as you go. This means that your earnings are invested and re-invested, creating a cumulative effect that is great news for your bank balance. Talk it over with your local New Zealand bank to get the best interest rates and find the account which will work best for you.

Are there other kinds of investment that could help me save?
Although there are other options when saving for retirement, most New Zealanders choose to save cash and earn a fixed rate of interest on that capital. A riskier option is investing in the share market, a choice which many planning for retirement avoid because of the higher level of risk. An investment with a higher risk also offers a potentially higher reward – investing in assets such as shares will allow your investment to grow, while a savings account will not adjust with inflation. Talk to a New Zealand financial advisor about your options.

What if I have to stop work before I turn 65?
You may not be able to work right up until the age of 65. Illness, family circumstances or redundancy can force you to stop work earlier than you had planned. If you want to protect you and your family against this, you can purchase income insurance, which will protect your earnings level up until the age of 65. Browse the NZS.com directory for New Zealand insurance providers.

So, in summary…
If there’s one golden rule about saving for retirement, it’s ‘Start saving and planning now.’ It’s never too early or too late to start saving for your retirement. The earlier you begin, the greater your chances of enjoying a stress-free, comfortable retirement. Whatever our financial situation, we all need to plan for a time when we’ll no longer be able to work. Starting early means saving can be done without having a huge impact on your current lifestyle. Starting at mid-life or later requires a more aggressive retirement saving strategy, but don’t feel put off by the task at hand. In this case, it’s best to consult a professional financial advisor, who will put you on the path to your financial goal.

 

This article was kindly supplied by NZS.

Five Tips for Getting Happy

In the hectic place we live in today, we all have days where we just feel like everything is going against us. Studies show we are more stressed out than ever before. Especially in wintry weather, it is very easy to feel low and uninspired. Here are a few things you can do every day to increase your happiness.

1.     Dedicate time to your hobby

We all have them and enjoy them but only a small number of us actually do them. Numerous times we have heard people say, “I really wish I could find the time to do my drawing/ fishing/ golf/ photography/ gardening/ hairbrush karaoke…”

  • There is absolutely no rule on what your hobby should or shouldn’t be
  • Discover something you enjoy doing
  • Find time in your busy schedule
  • Don’t worry if other people think it’s nerdy or boring – you will probably perceive theirs to be equally as dull.

Now, go ahead and actually do your hobby! You will be surprised by how much better you feel. Dust off that 80’s-style skateboard collecting dust in the garage. Pull out that mint coin collection stored at the back of the cupboard. Get your hobby on!

2.     Catch up with an old friend

We always seem to put off this activity for more urgent tasks that need to be done. However, we are social creatures. We all need contact with others to feel a sense of community and belonging.

  • Choose a friend who is a good listener and non-judgmental
  • Be sensitive and supportive to each other’s issues and concerns
  • Make the call or catch up in a place with minimal background noise or activity
  • Choose a time to talk or meet up that suits both your schedules

Knowing that someone else is going through similar stresses in life can be comforting. Meet for a coffee or call up your friend and chat away!

3.     Watch a funny show, DVD, or movie

Laughter plays a significant role in our overall health. Even those who are depressed are encouraged to watch comedies to bring on a chuckle.

  • The anticipation of laughter increases levels of hormones that ward off depression
  • These hormones also boost the immune system, keeping you healthy
  • Choose to watch a movie, DVD, or show that makes you feel good

Make some popcorn, sit back, and prepare for the belly laughs that follow! People may even comment on your relaxed attitude and sunnier disposition as a result.

4.     Get out and get moving

Why?

There are numerous reasons why exercise is good for us; one is that it makes us feel happier.

  • Exercise creates positive physiological and psychological effects
  • It releases feel-good chemicals in the brain that elevate our mood
  • Endorphin levels increase regardless of exercise type or intensity
  • Regular workouts actually make these endorphins stronger

How?

If you are completely new to exercise there is a plethora of exciting ways to get fit out there.

  • Find what seems appealing and what you could do on a regular basis – choose from a wide range of activities such as cycling, circuit training, dancing, hiking, karate, tai chi, yoga, Zumba, or boot camp, to name a few
  • Join a gym for a wide range of access to facilities and services – gyms take out the guesswork when it comes to fitness
  • Sign up with a personal trainer for guidance and professional advice – personal trainers provide you with new and exciting ways to keep fit
  • Join a team sport or a local club with a friend – the social aspect increases motivation and fun
  • Work out from home with help of a fitness DVD or book – the convenience and privacy of exercising from home is an advantage
  • Get outside for a walk – an easy and cheap way to start a fitness regime

The key is to find a type of exercise you can and will do on a consistent basis. This may mean scaling back in terms of difficulty. Better to be kind to yourself and exercise than be tough on yourself and avoid it altogether. Your body and calm mind will thank you for it.

5.     Take at least fifteen minutes of alone time every day

Give yourself a time out to recharge your batteries. Afterwards, your concentration levels will be sharper.

  • Use the time to be alone with your thoughts
  • Your place to relax should be quiet and peaceful
  • Take a bath, meditate, pet your cat or dog, people watch on a park bench, sit outside in the sun, listen to the birds, or have a brief walk. Do anything that ‘quiets’ your mind and makes you relax
  • Avoid watching television, listening to the radio, or engaging in conversation – you are attempting to minimise brain stimulation and activity

Why?

Here are five reasons why you should follow these tips:

  1. A good mood is infectious and will rub off on those around you
  2. Taking responsibility for your happiness makes you feel empowered
  3. Tending to your health and well-being improves your ability to help others
  4. You will be a much better spouse, parent, child, friend and co-worker as a result
  5. Finding a healthy balance will allow you to be more productive and active at work, home, and in your community

Give them a go and hopefully they will make a positive difference!

 

 

Design Psychology

Have you ever returned from holiday at a luxury resort desperate to capture the same feelings of comfort, relaxation and opulence in your own home?

If you’re a do-it-yourself decorator, knowing how the exact the perfect design balance in your home can be hit and miss.

The luxurious and decadent design elements featured in many modern New Zealand luxury hotels and resorts is at the forefront of intelligent interior design. The professional design strategies to convey feelings of comfort, lavishness and escape are part of what makes your stay at a luxury hotel so enjoyable.

The good news is, the design psychology behind the delectable décor of a luxury resort suite can easily be applied to your own home, albeit on a smaller scale.

The power of our surroundings
It is well known that our surroundings can have a significant impact on our mood and feelings, with certain colours, textures, shapes and patterns having the power to relax and revitalise us subconsciously.

While interior design can be described at its most basic level as the process of shaping the experience of interior space, the design psychology guiding the décor plays a large role in shaping the way we feel when we enter that space.

Resort rooms offer the optimum in style, sophistication and elegance. Well appointed and spacious areas in their grand suites can offer feelings of rest and relaxation, and of capturing a slice of the good life with their sumptuous furnishing and décor.

Why design psychology?
While the reality of being on holiday is enough to instantly relax any New Zealander seeking a little pampering, the intelligent interior design elements featured in modern New Zealand hotels and resorts goes a long way in enhancing these feelings and maximising your holiday enjoyment.

So what can you do in your own home to capture those delicious feelings of rest, revitalisation and luxury in your own home?

Though your budget is probably going to be a great deal more limited than that of a designer creating a gorgeous luxury accommodation retreat with all the exquisite trimmings, utilising the right design psychology can assist you in creating your own lavish sanctuary at home.

Your goal through this process will be to design your décor to be attractive, functional, and to provide a certain ‘feel’ for each room in the home.

The right design elements can encompass changing wallpaper, painting walls and other surfaces, choosing the right furniture and fittings, and providing other decorations for the area such as paintings and ambient lighting.

Let’s look at the psychology of successful design so eloquently executed in luxury suites and retreats.

Creating a sanctuary
Whether it’s your home or a grand suite to make your own while on holiday, any sanctuary is most comfortable when it caters to our subconscious desires of what a safe haven is. This includes much more than just the basic elements of protection from the elements and security from the outside world.

We want our inner sanctums to make us to feel happy, peaceful, comfortable and healthy. So how do we turn a simple set of walls, ceilings and floors into an inviting, lavish space that can nurture our bodies and minds?

Studies in environmental psychology show that what makes us feel comfortable and happy in our homes may be connected to survival instincts that we’ve carried within our DNA for millennia.

Firstly, design psychology suggests that we want to be able to think of our homes as places of refuge. Our earliest ancestors were more likely to survive if they knew how to find secure places that provided shelter from the elements and protection from predators, and this might explain our modern preference for cozy corners.

The best interior designers understand how even the right placement of furniture and the selection of materials can enhance feelings of comfort and security in luxury hotel rooms and modern homes.

Declutter, destress
The second most influential psychological design element often evident in luxury hotels is a focus on simplicity. Though a room’s furnishings and fittings may be lavish, you’ll often find the most stylish and sophisticated luxury suites centre on a simple elegance in their design.

Clean lines, simple yet bold focal points, and surroundings that are clear and uncluttered provide an inviting environment in which to holiday.

Clutter and mess can contribute to stress and feelings of unrest, so take a page from the design principals employed in luxury suites and declutter your spaces. Not only will your sanctuary be tidier, but you’ll be able to bring the airy feeling of simple or even minimalist elegance to your own home.

Unwind, then design
There’s no denying the decadent pleasure of taking time out to holiday, unwind and relax at a resort. Their suites are of course spaces where you can completely check your worries at the front desk and indulge in the highest quality, luxurious surroundings and facilities.

But by understanding some of the key elements of design psychology, we can see how subtle changes in materials, designs, lighting, and placement of furniture can help us bring those feelings of relaxation into your own elegant retreat at home.

 

This article was kindly supplied by NZS.

Residential Real Estate: Selling Your Home

Thinking about selling? Employing the expertise of real estate agents can make all the difference in attaining a successful sale. With residential real estate offices right around New Zealand, the advice you need and the service you want are right around the corner.

If you think your property may appeal to residential real estate buyers overseas, employ the services of a real estate company with offices worldwide. With the added support of their global network, their experienced professionals can help you reach an overseas market with clear information, professional guidance and the right voice.

Perfect timing, perfect price
If you’re thinking about selling, timing is everything. The smartest move you can make is to seek expert residential real estate advice from professionals that truly know and monitor your local market. Find an agent you feel comfortable with and discuss your options thoroughly with them.

Realistic pricing is hugely important, and you may even want to discuss the benefits of listing your home at or below the competitive market price with your agent.

If similar houses for sale in your area are priced at $350,000, it may be worth listing yours for $345,000 to generate an extra level of interest. You may even end up with more money because more potential buyers could lead to a competitive bidding situation.

Set a competitive and fair price for your home. Keep in mind that there are numerous properties on the real estate market and buyers have a lot of homes to choose from. Do some online research and find out the local selling prices, and discuss your options with your realtor – after all, they will be the residential real estate expert for your area.

Always be flexible
You and your agent also need to be ready to respond quickly to changing residential real estate market conditions, and a good agent will be able to give you the best advice on this. Don’t wait too long to lower the selling price if there isn’t any interest – you don’t want to put potential buyers off if you aren’t willing to come down a couple of thousand dollars to secure a sale.

Don’t let your ego or pride get in the way when determining a price for your home. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and allow your residential real estate agent to be the voice of reason when emotions run high.

It’s natural to have a little trouble letting go of your emotional attachment to your home – even when you are ready to move on. Having the support of an industry expert as a neutral advisor can mean the difference between a successful sale, and your home staying on the market for months.

It’s what on the inside, and the outside, that counts
Putting the best face on your house is more important than ever in a buyer’s market because potential residential real estate buyers can afford to be a little pickier. If there’s something they don’t like about the house, they are more likely to just move on to the next one, so an aesthetic appeal is crucial.

Generally, it doesn’t matter whether an agent is marketing residential or rural real estate: a focus on a comfortable and stylish home appeals to all potential buyers. Your real estate agent will have plenty of experience in seeing how the visual aesthetics of a home can influence saleability, and most will be able to offer good advice on which home improvements could help add value to your home.

Street appeal is hugely important. Many potential buyers will do a drive-by of the home and the area before setting up a time to view the property, so you need to make sure your house looks inviting to someone from the street. If things look good outside, they can assume things inside the house will be similar.

The Internet is where most buyers will begin searching for houses to tour, so it’s also important to make sure your property really pops off the page in online photos. If your home is in need of a little spruce-up, your agent will be able to give you some ideas on how you can give your home a bit more pizzazz without going broke.

Minor investments can mean greater returns
Home-staging has become somewhat of an art form in recent years, but if you’re planning on making improvements yourself, one of the first things you might like to do is look at your landscaping. Some well-placed shrubs, a few summer flowers and a new layer of bark or river stones can enhance that first impression. Keeping the lawn neatly mowed is a must because it shows not only that the home and yard are well cared for, but it also shows off the size of the yard.

A new and more inviting walkway and front door may be enough to draw potential residential real estate buyers into your home, while a lick of fresh paint might be the factor that convinces them to stay.

In fact, impressing potential buyers by improving your home’s appearance is one of the best ways to speed up the sale of your home when there are more properties on the market.

Take a stroll through your home jotting down the little things you might do to spruce it up. Adding new light fixtures and mirrors are low investments that can give your home more emotional appeal. Freshening up the inside of your house, cleaning the carpets, polishing wooden floors, and replacing old worn vinyl may not cost a lot, but can have a psychological impact on buyers.

If they feel they can move right in and not have to worry about costly renovations, they’ll be that much more likely to make an offer.

Make the house a potential buyer’s home
On that note, put away the clutter to make your home appear bigger, and make sure everything is clean, but not antiseptic and sterile. The aim is to make people to feel like they are at home in your home, so remove all personal photos and replaced them with more generic items so the buyers can visualize themselves living there.

When it comes to residential real estate, buying a home is often based just as much on emotion as it is on investment, so work with your real estate agent to sell potential buyers a lifestyle, and not just land, walls and a rooftop.

 

Life Coaches

Life coaching can guide you on the road to self-improvement. With the help of a professional New Zealand life coach, you can get your life on track, reach goals, overcome obstacles or change jobs. Think of life coaches as objective onlookers who can assist you during difficult times in your life, periods of transition or times when you’re in need of direction.

So, what’s involved in life coaching?
Your life coach will have a professional relationship with you, but depending on your specific situation, your discussion may breach aspects of your life which are deeply personal. With this information your life coach can assist in aspects of your life, including your:

  • Career: assisting you with career direction or coping with career transition.
  • Life: helping you reach your personal, emotional and spiritual goals.
  • Leadership: executive coaching can help you become a more effective leader.
  • Business: corporate coaching can assist an organisation in developing business direction, dealing with change in the workplace or creating an organisational vision.

The focus in life coaching should be on the client, who will learn the skills and behaviours needed to produce results in their own life. Your life coach is someone who offers guidance and may demand some kind of commitment from you to define and reach a goal, or make an important change in your life. Really, life coaching is about reaching your potential, but remember it’s you who has to put in the hard yards. Talk to an NZ life coach if you think you’re up for a challenge!

Who can be a life coach?
At present, there is no regulation of life coaching and no formal qualification is required to practice as a life coach. It’s important to remember that a life coach, while helping you to bring about positive change for the future, is not a qualified mental health professional.

The role of your life coach
At various times, you may need your life coach to be many things. In some ways, the life coach’s role is similar to that of a counsellor, who is there to listen and offer guidance. The life coach, though, will demand more of you, challenging you to change your behaviour and actively supporting you in your endeavours. The role of your life coach is a changing one, as he or she challenges, motivates, listens, plans and supports you.

What are some of the benefits of life coaching?
New Zealand life coaches will assist you in reaching your potential. What this means will vary according to your life situation, goals and priorities. It is difficult to define the outcomes, but they may include:

  • Increased awareness of who you are and what you want from your life
  • Discovering what you are good at
  • Defining a vision for your own life
  • Getting a wake-up call and honest feedback
  • Identifying obstacles (or perceived obstacles) within your life
  • Increased confidence and self-esteem
  • Replacing old or unhelpful attitudes with a new, fresh outlook

Life coaching isn’t about miraculous or sudden change, and it isn’t about someone else doing the things that you’ve always wanted to achieve. Life coaching wil help you gain tools and learn skills to get the life you want, achieve balance in your life, become more focused and motivated, and improve your relationships with others. Once you’re on the right track, things can begin to fall into place in all areas of your life. Remember, though, a positive outcome can only be achieved if you have the will to succeed!

 

 

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