North Canterbury News: August 06, 2020

Seek help early, budgeters advise
By DAVID HILL
North Canterbury families are
being encouraged to seek help
early beforethey get into
financial trouble.
BudgetingServices North
Canterbury (BSNC)service
manager SharonGrant is keen
to changeamindsetwhich
seesbudgetingadvice as the
‘‘agency at the bottomofthe
cliff’’, as the realities of Covid­
19 begintobite for local
families.
‘‘Covid hashit alot of people
who thought theywouldnever
be in thissituation andthey
may be tooproud to seek
help,’’Sharonsays.
‘‘But if youfell into ahole
you would accept help from
the policeorhelicopter and
the ambulance and thenyou
would bakeacake and say
thank­you,sothis is no
different.’’
Financialmentor Renee
Burns saysoften onepartner
willbemoreopen to seeking
advice,‘‘with the other
partner coming on board once
they’re aware that other
optionsmay be available’’.
‘‘Wecan offer tips like
checking withyour internet or
mobileproviders or your
power companyand making
sureyou are on the bestplan
or looking at payment
options.’’
Sharon saysfinancial
mentors offerpracticaltips,as
wellasbeing abletoadvocate
withWorkand Income,
negotiate with utility
providers, banks and
creditors, andhavecontacts
forlow interestloans when
needed.
‘‘We trytodrawfrompeople
what skills and strengths they
have gotalready,because
peoplecan become so browbeaten
thatthey forget that
they are jolly goodbudgeters.’’
Amajor concernisthe cost
of housing, with houseprices
andrentsincreasingly outof
proportion with incomes, even
before Covid­19.
CanterburyDistrictHealth
Board health promoter for
housing, LeanneBayler, says
thecost of housingcan
seriously affectpeople’s
health,particularlypost
Covid­19.
‘‘When money becomes too
tighttomention,rents,rates,
mortgagesand the ability to
heat theirhomeinwinterand
cool it in summer is impacted.
‘‘This can impact people’s
health andwellbeing,’’ she
says.
‘‘Iknow thateveryone’s
storyisdifferent and
sometimespeople are hitwith
curveballs or lifestyle
changes, likelossof
employment, reduced income,
retirement or bills which hit
from outofthe blue.’’
BSNC is offering financial
skillstraining to helppeople
to unpack theirfinancial
issues and work on their
financial dreams.
‘‘We offerone­on­one
sessionsorpeople cancomein
with theirpartner and we may
Providing support ... Budgeting Services North Canterbury financial
mentor Renee Burns, left, is ready to help local residents negotiate
financial challenges.
PHOTO: DAVID HILL
keepthemonour books for
overayear.
‘‘Theyoften comeback for a
financialwarrant of fitness
and it allowsthem to keep
control,’’ Renee says.
To getincontact with
Budgeting Services North
Canterbury,goonline to bsnc.
org.nzorphone (03) 313 3505.
NEWS
The North Canterbury News, August 6,2020
21
Candidates
selected
Social Credit has selected
Waipara farmerJohn McCaskey
to stand in the Kaikoura
electorate.
LawrenceMcIsaac, a
professional firefighterfor 30
yearsand aself­employed
businessmanwho is now semiretired
in Woodend, willstand
for the party in the Waimakariri
electorate.
Mr McCaskey is apast
chairman of the local Young
Farmers Club and Federated
Farmers. He was its provincial
agriculturerepresentative.
He instigated the Glenmark
Irrigation Scheme in the early
1970sand was instrumental in
getting the Waipara Valley wine
industry startedin1981.
He is acampaigner for
commuterrail on the existing
Christchurch network.
Mr McCaskey says overthe
past fourdecadeshehas
witnessed acountry in decay. A
new direction is needed, he
says,tosupport the unemployed,
rebuild business, lift incomes,
address inadequate housing,
develop suitableindustriesand
moveprimaryproducers
towards regenerativefarming.
Mr McIsaac says SocialCredit
has the only really viable
alternative for amore
sustainable future,from
superior monetary policy, to less
tax and better health options.
‘‘If we always do what we have
always done, we willalwaysget
whatwehave alwaysgot.’’
THE NEW LAND ROVER DEFENDER
WORKING REMOTELY
AVAILABLE NOW. BOOK ATEST DRIVE.
The new Land Rover Defender relishes challenges and doesn’t care much for impossibilities. With permanent
all-wheel-drive and world-first configurable Terrain Response technology, ithas the capability to push boundaries
even further. Tested in every condition, in every environment, and onevery surface you might encounter, it
always comes out the other side, ready for the next challenge. Defender. An icon inacategory of one.
Yours from $89,900 plus on-road costs. *
Archibalds
38 Tuam Street, Christchurch
021 907 961 -Darren Griffith
archibalds.co.nz/newdefender
*Terms and conditions apply. Price shown relates to Defender 110and is the Maximum Retail Price (MRP). The standard scheduled 5Year servicing isincluded (different terms and conditions apply to different models). Contact Archibalds for more details orvisit archibalds.co.nz/newdefender.
Image contains optional extras and is not representative ofMRP price.