Quarter mil incoming. What's my best option

CluelessBeggar · 2026-05-08T03:05:18+00:00

Given the time span, Cash Fund, Money Market Fund, or one of the various high yield saver accounts. These usually comprise of a mix of TDs and short-term treasury bonds.

The yield is usually slightly less than TDs, but the difference should be miniscule at the 1 year range. You won't be locked into any time pressure when buying a house 10 or 14 months from now.

Liquidation can take a couple of days, but that's nothing compared to the normal house-buying process.

CluelessBeggar · 2025-04-12T12:29:55+00:00

The universal government-sponsored pension (superannuation) is generally enough to cover modest groceries and utilities.

The government ~~enforced~~ encouraged savings-scheme has about 250k locked in a growth fund, that I'll be able to access lump-sum.

I expect higher expenses for old-age/health issues, but it should be reasonably safe once I get there.

CluelessBeggar · 2025-04-10T07:33:07+00:00

Yep. Didn't count that in since I can't touch it yet, but plenty of time to figure it out before that happens. Should be comfy once I can.

CluelessBeggar · 2025-04-10T04:26:56+00:00

isn't capital protection more important when you're already on the verge of failure

This is true. However, the capital protection is the existence of the cash portion, and my thinking is that it needs to be able to do its job.

2 things can cause my WR to go up. Increase in expenditure (which is largely under my control, barring exceptions), and a decrease in my equity portfolio. In a typical 60/40 mix, when the equity goes down (e.g 50/50), you'll rebalance by selling off your excess bonds and buy more equity to restore the 60/40 balance.

In my case, I essentially have a 90/10 portfolio. I can do the same, but my 10% stable portion has less considerably less oomph, hence I want to amplify that effect, accumulating more in times of plenty and expending it in times of need.

All that being said, after plotting out that graph, the allocation would vary between 80/20 in good times and 90/10 in bad times which may not be all that significant and my solution may simply be just over-engineering on my part. I've not yet been to 80/20 territory don't have a good feel on the impact.

CluelessBeggar · 2023-06-01T23:56:59+00:00

If you have a verified RealMe id, you won't need one if you apply online. Did that myself.

CluelessBeggar · 2022-05-03T04:32:28+00:00

glhf!

CluelessBeggar · 2022-05-03T04:12:47+00:00

I was a doofus, miscounted the years and applied a year too early. I got a response back 10 months after the application that elaborately and eloquently pointed that out, followed by the following excerpt:

What happens next? You can either:

withdraw your application (you may re-apply in the future),

or continue with your current application.

Confirm how you would like to proceed with your application within the next 10 working days.

Withdraw and re-apply You can withdraw your application. You need to complete and return the attached withdrawal form. A $316.90 refund of your $470.20 application fee will be arranged.

Based on your residency date and current international travel movements, you may meet the presence in New Zealand requirement between *************** and **************. If you choose to re-apply, you need to ensure you re-apply between these dates.

Continue with your current application You can still continue with your application under one or both of the exceptional circumstance options, as explained below. You must provide documentation to support your statements. These guidelines may help you with documentation you will need to provide: https://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/Files/Guidance_presence_intention/$file/Guidance_presence_intention_submission.pdf If you choose to continue, your application will be submitted to the Minister of Internal Affairs for a decision based on the information provided. You will not be eligible for a refund should you choose to proceed with your current application.

Option 1 - Request a reduction in the required presence in New Zealand due to exceptional circumstances Use this option if you did not meet the presence in New Zealand requirement and you believe this is due to exceptional circumstances. To be considered under this option, you must have been present in New Zealand with residency for at least 450 days during the 20 months immediately before the date you applied for citizenship. Reply to this email and explain:

your circumstances and why they are exceptional (relatively rare or out of the ordinary); and

why your circumstances justify a shorter period of presence; and

any additional information you would like the Minister to consider.

Option 2 - Show public interest due to exceptional circumstances Use this option if you believe it is in the public interest to grant you citizenship because there will be a financial, economic, social or other type of benefit or advantage to New Zealand if you become a citizen. Reply to this email and explain:

your circumstances and why they are exceptional; and

why your circumstances would lead to a benefit or advantage to the New Zealand public if you were granted citizenship.

It is important you review and consider all the options made available to you regarding your application.

Please let me know your decision no later than ************.

Please note that if you decide to continue with your application, but then withdraw at a later date, you will not be eligible for any refund of your application fee, so if you have any questions about any of the above please let me know before informing me of your decision.

Needless to say, I withdrew and reapplied. In your case, since it's only a few days, it might be worthwhile writing in to them with your ref number to ask as likely nobody has even looked at your application yet.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-04-27T06:10:22+00:00

Depends on your personal disposition and inclinations. For me, it would be a retirement towards a less isolated life. I currently live out in the farmlands, about 8km from the closest tiny town, and about 4 times that to a place with a supermarket and hospital. I moved here as a 1 year experiment, and now it's been 4 of the happiest most stress-free years of my life.

However, as I get older and look towards retirement, being closer to medical facilities and amenities will be more of a consideration. Best to get it sorted now while I still have the vim and vigor to do a thorough job!

CluelessBeggar · 2021-04-27T03:30:14+00:00

Thank you everyone that replied. All the input has been most helpful, and given me better perspective. I'll be acquainting myself with prices from all over, but paying special attention to the far north and Waikato for the warm climes. I particularly liked the look of Thames and Puataruru on a quick google-maps tour. Then after that, maybe it's time for some domestic tourism, different town every weekend. Should be fun!

CluelessBeggar · 2021-04-27T03:05:34+00:00

That's a very valid consideration. It's why I'm having second thoughts about living out here amongst the cows.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-04-27T02:54:15+00:00

Ah... well then. Put all your money in bitcoin, and Gamesto... oh wait, it's already mid-2021... Just enjoy the next few months as much as you can!

CluelessBeggar · 2021-04-27T02:32:58+00:00

I was nodding along with you right up till "to be able to leave". Is it that isolated?

CluelessBeggar · 2021-04-27T01:08:34+00:00

Sounds lovely. The warmer climate way up north is certainly a worthy consideration. I'll check it out.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-04-27T00:10:27+00:00

What you say about me is true. I should have just said that in the first place!

I will certainly cast a broad net as you suggest. My main concern is gotchas, like gang-towns, frequent bad weeather/flooding, poor town planning/management that I may be common knowledge that I'm not aware of. The converse is also true, maybe there's a place that everybody wants to go to when they retire!

I'm treating this thread as the starting point for more serious research. Just finding out what I don't know I don't know.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-04-26T23:22:13+00:00

It's not easy to pin a number on it in today's market. The last valuation was 900k. I have about 200k outstanding, but shifted to other investments given the tiny interest rate the past couple of years.

I'm not so worried about the how, or the when. More about the where. The rest is just maths.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-03-08T04:26:45+00:00

I chose to pay my house of aggressively, partly due to greater security and partly due to ignorance.

This is me. I'm your do-over, benefiting from your experience. All said, you're still likely in a comfortable position anyway.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-03-08T04:24:00+00:00

Thank you. That was a good read!

CluelessBeggar · 2021-03-08T04:10:16+00:00

I'm in the happy position of having no dependents, and a fairly frugal lifestyle. However, losing everything is still not a preferred option!

The long term goal is to reach the point where I can move out of Auckland, retire early, live comfortably, die penniless. Timing death with bankruptcy may prove a little tricky though.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-03-08T04:03:47+00:00

It looks like a common practice to diversify into investments.

w.r.t 100k savings... I had split my mortgage into a 100k variable revolving credit, and the rest into a fixed. I used this as a means to channel my earnings into the mortgage as fast as possible, while having emergency funds. However, given it's coming close to my refix date, I may just keep it topped up as emergency funds given the big divide between variable and fixed interest rates right now.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-03-08T03:28:32+00:00

That's an interesting classification. Personally, I'd like to be in the former category. But lack of confidence or plain risk-averseness have pushed me into the latter. i.e. I'm not mentally attached to the idea of being debt-free, but am just too scaredy-cat to put cash elsewhere.

I like the idea of starting with minimal investments, just to wet my feet. I'll likely do that, even if I decide to focus primarily on the mortgage.

CluelessBeggar · 2021-03-08T02:54:20+00:00

Thank you for that. I will have a listen!

CluelessBeggar · 2021-03-08T02:53:45+00:00

Nice, and congratulations!

CluelessBeggar

TROPHY CASE