r/InvestRetireNZ

Every Govt can dangle their fingers in the cookie jar, there is no tax benefits compared to ISA and 401ks, and with the govt recently touching and changing so many things lately i dont trust it at all, i get the employer match not the extra govt contribution because locking away a grand for a measly 260.72 per year? id rather pay $260 py to invest myself, i wouldn't have a problem with it if you could withdraw with penalties, but i can since i invest money, it feels like im being punished for being an investor, and who knows if you live to retirement age they can change it on a whim, they can also change the kiwisaver age so you never get your hands on the money, what are your thoughts, is kiwisaver stil a viable scheme? is it only for those who need forced savings because they're bad with money, is the govt simply using it as their piggy bank and they want more tax money, what do you see for the future of kiwisaver? thanks.

It drives me crazy that everywhere I go, people are saying, “Buy a house! Buy a house!” or “It’s an asset!”

NZ has become unusually dependent on housing as a store of wealth, and I don’t feel comfortable stretching myself financially just to own a house right now.

I invest what I’m comfortable with in the market, usually around what I consider a reasonable mortgage repayment, rather than stretching myself to match the cost of a mortgage on the house I currently live in.

I value my freedom and financial flexibility. We’ll buy a house when we want to, and when it actually feels right for us.

38M with a young family, both of us working full-time.