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Honing In On Supermarkets
During the last two years or so of the pandemic in NZ, the big winners commercially were supermarkets and banks.
Whilst business in general took a big hit and in many cases - a dive - supermarkets and banks thrived.
All this whilst the Government had to find huge loans and spend money earmarked for other projects and promises to help Kiwis get through the crisis.
So while I loathe banks I(mainly Australian) making so much dough and charging customers unnecessarily more than should be the case, I don't begrudge supermarkets in NZ profiting annually by a handsome amount. And yet I do say the line must be drawn on the approx 500 million annually the two supermarket franchises have made whilst some in NZ have been scrimping and failing to gather in enough money to buy groceries weekly and the Government is blamed for the rising cost of living and the rising inflation rate well past the hitherto three percent max per annum.
So the steps the Government are taking are the right ones and hopefully will further pave the way for additional competition from at least another supermarket player.
Supermarkets in NZ were given big wraps by people here on Neighbourly during the pandemic for being so stoic but did they really deserve all the praise? They didn't pay their staff extra for the extra dangers they faced and they made more profit than normal as people staying at home bought more products sold at supermarkets.
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Poll: Do you mind when neighbours leave freebies on the street?
Some spare wood, used furniture or children's toys - do you mind when your neighbours leave goods on the street for others to make use of?
Share your thoughts in the comments and poll below.
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83.4% It's fine!
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14.7% It annoys me!
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1.8% Other - I'll share below
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Q&A: Financial well-being with Cat Rikihana
We're back this Wednesday at 9.30am with a Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with Cat Rikihana who is a financial mentor, educator and financial capability practitioner at Financial Freedom Trust in the Manawatū.
Cat Rikihana (Ngai Tahu) like many financial mentors around Aotearoa, works with individuals, groups and whānau to successfully navigate financial stress and hardship. Mentors work alongside whānau to increase confidence and skills in personal money management and advocate with and for clients. Cat enjoys delivering online and face-to-face workshops which provide opportunities to normalise money conversations and encourages people to make time to consider their financial well-being.
Cat is also an independent financial well-being coach, educator and indigenous life coach at Restore Wellness Network. She is a published writer and currently in the process of writing her first non-fiction book: 'A financial self-care guide for women in Aotearoa.'
She'd love to answer any questions you may have around your budgeting and spending habits, strategies for saving, retirement planning and debt. (Don't be shy, but be mindful about what you disclose!)
↓ Share your questions in advance below and Cat will answer them on Wednesday ↓
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Here's the riddle challenge for today: No Googling allowed!
What five-letter word becomes shorter when you add two letters to it?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
Want to stop seeing riddles in your newsfeed? No worries! Simply head here and click once on the Following button.
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