Organise your accounts

You know where your money’s going. You know where you want to go. Now how do you organise your accounts to make it happen? Here are some ideas that could help.

1. Bucket your money

Divvying up your income

It’s not about how much you earn, but what you do with your money that counts. Buckets mightn’t be glam, but when it comes to managing your money they’re really useful. Organising and naming your accounts for different things could help you feel more in control of where your money’s going. 

The popular 50-30-20 budget's been around for a while and sets up the handy concept of splitting your income into three buckets – for your needs, wants and goals. Whether you try 50-30-20, or prefer 80-15-5 or 70-20-10, any split goes - it’s finding a budget that works for you and getting into the habit of moving your money into your buckets, the moment your pay lands, that’s key. 



A bucket for your needs

These are necessary costs for you to live, like a roof over your head, food, electricity, transportation, credit card and loan repayments … basically, anything that can’t be missed and must be paid.


A bucket for your wants

These are the things we enjoy, but could go without if we had to. Things like new clothes, eating out, entertainment and social outings. Pop a portion of your income into this bucket so you don’t have to miss out on the good stuff.


A bucket for your goals

This bucket looks different to everybody. Whether you’re saving up for a house, paying off debt or want to have a nest egg for unexpected expenses, this one helps you achieve your goals.


Remember, every bucket looks different for everyone. 


So let’s see it in practice

Imagine you're trying a 70-20-10 budget and your fortnightly pay was $1,000:

70%

$700 would stay in your designated account for all your needs, e.g. rent, bills, food and transport. 

20%

$200 could be set aside for your wants, e.g. nice clothes, a trip, social expenses, or that upcoming weekend away with your 'special someone'. 

10%

The final $100 is set aside for savings and not touched. This could be used for unexpected expenses, saving for a home loan or other large goals. 



2. How to automate your accounts

Your goals on autopilot

The less you have to think about saving money, the easier it is to do. So to help your savings grow even faster, turn on auto-pilot. 

You could set up automatic payments on the first day of your pay cycle to automatically split your income between your accounts. When it happens automatically you don’t miss the money and sticking to your budget becomes a whole lot easier. 

If you’re an ANZ customer, you can quickly and easily set up automatic payments by logging in to ANZ goMoney or Internet Banking.

Just remember to do what's right for you. 

3. Earning interest

Patience is a virtue and, when it comes to your savings account, it can also be a money maker. When you’re working towards a goal, every little bit helps, so consider the following:


Shop around

Compare savings accounts to find one that suits your needs. Be sure to check the interest rates, account fees, any minimum monthly deposits needed and what’s involved in getting access to your money if you need to.


Review your account regularly

Interest rates do change, so it pays to review your savings account every year for a better deal.


Satisfy the terms and conditions of the account you choose

If your account pays bonus interest, make sure you always satisfy the criteria needed to earn the maximum interest rate. 

Now you’re feeling more organised, what’s next?

With your money doing the hard work for you, here are some other useful things to consider. What's up next?

How to:

More support

Important information

This material is for information purposes only. We recommend seeking financial advice about your situation and goals before getting a financial product. To talk to one of our team at ANZ, please call 0800 269 296, or for more information about ANZ’s financial advice service or to view our financial advice provider disclosure statement see anz.co.nz/fapdisclosure