MMS #77 | How much should be in your emergency fund?

It's officially Sorted's Money Month - and we have a special guest in to celebrate! In this episode of Money Made Simple, Liv sits down with Kate Hannah from Te Ara Ahunga Ora Retirement Commission - the team behind Sorted.org.nz, to unpack what financial resilience really means, and why it's about much more than just having enough money.

With cost-of-living pressures still biting, Kate explains why an emergency fund is the foundation for getting your finances sorted. She shares the research on how Kiwis are feeling, why young people are being hit hardest, and how small, achievable steps are the real key to building a buffer. They also talk through Sorted's brand new Buffer builder app, launching for August's Money Month - linked below!

This episode covers:

• What financial resilience actually means, and how it's more than just having enough cash
• Why an emergency fund is the foundation everything else is built on
• The research on how Kiwis are really feeling about their finances right now
• Why young people are among the hardest hit, and how to start when money is already tight
• Whether the "$1,000 rule" is a good, genuine goal to start with
• The power of small, achievable steps and building a "saver" identity
• How Sorted's new Buffer builder app uses open banking to make saving almost automatic

Resources mentioned in this episode:

- Sorted Buffer builder app – free emergency savings app to make saving automatic, available on Android and Apple

- Sorted – free, independent tools, guides and calculators from the Retirement Commission: https://sorted.org.nz

- Sorted Retirement Navigator – helps you plan how to draw down your savings in retirement: https://sorted.org.nz/tools/retirement-navigator/

- Sorted Mortgage Calculator – includes a first-home-buyer mode for planning your first mortgage: https://sorted.org.nz/tools/mortgage-calculator/

- Sorted Smart Investor – compare KiwiSaver and Managed Funds on fees, returns and more: https://smartinvestor.sorted.org.nz

- Money Matters 2025: The Power of Emergency Savings (Retirement Commission research paper)

You will come away from this episode armed with the small steps you can take to start building your financial safety net. Whether you are just starting out or topping up an existing buffer, there are free, independent tools to help you meet money where you are at.

---
Please help us share the good word (and make Kiwis richer and smarter with money) - the more we grow, the more good we can do %) Don't forget to follow, subscribe and rate the podcast if you found it useful!

Find us:
Instagram
Facebook
LinkedIn

Disclaimer: This podcast contains personal opinions and is intended to provide educational information only. It doesn't relate to your particular financial situation or goals and is not financial advice or recommendations. Simplicity New Zealand Limited is the issuer of the Simplicity KiwiSaver scheme and investment funds. For product disclosure statements please visit Simplicity's website simplicity. kiwi.