Everyone’s circumstances will be different. 53% of the workforce are able to work from home, 47% can’t. Of that 53% that can work from home, many are dealing with doing their best to work with children running riot around them, and or helping the children with their school work. Multi-tasking at it’s worst. The school holidays help.
I am in lockdown at home with Sarah, Theo the cat, and Bradey and Kahu the huskies. Eroica is in lockdown at her home. We are all safe and working, and able to support you through this uncertain time.
Theo is totally chill about the lockdown and is enjoying having us around. Bradey and Kahu are on the other hand a little anxious, they hear us around more and want us to come and play or take them for long walks. Many of the places Sarah would usually take them are out of bounds with the stay at home or stay very local rules.
We can ease that anxiousness by just hanging out with the dogs. Children are very much like our pets. Hang out with them and talk. Set daily routines, and make sure you set a work week routine and a weekend routine. By having a routine, you will create some certainty in your life. No excuses for not following through, as it is not like you will not be home to follow through.
Self care is really important, and there will be times that you will be feeling NOT OK! … and the key thing when this happens is to reach out. I wish that the government would use the phrase “physical isolation from others not in your bubble” as opposed to social isolation. Reach out and stay in touch with family and friends, make calls, zoom meetings, facetime or skype sessions to others outside your bubble as a regular part of your week.
So what about your financial situation?
Here are a few things to think about, and as always please get in touch with us if you’d like to talk any of it through. We’re here to help you!
Spending Plans
Are you on wages and has your income been reduced? If yes, then you will need to look at your spending plan and see what you can cut or reduce in your plan until you can get back on track. Some things like entertainment and motor vehicle costs will be easy to reduce as you are not going anywhere so are not needing to spend money on fuel, takeaways and other entertainment activities. Some costs will go up, you are likely to be spending more on groceries as you are eating at home, and if you are like me, will need snacks.
If you are self-employed or a business owner with staff, make sure you have taken advantage of the Wage Subsidy offered by the Government. If you need assistance or want to talk this through, get in touch by email or book a callback.
Self employed and Business Owners
First, sort out your wage subsidy! Once you are settled in to working from home, take some time to start to think about you and your business. Make sure you spend some time ON your business. Check in with your clients and see what help they need, and let them know you are around and available via the virtual methods. Stay in communication with your staff team.
KiwiSaver
In the recent weeks we have been talking about sticking with your KiwiSaver or giving us a call to discuss your personal situation.
We are now 12 weeks out from 30 June which is when we all need to have made the minimum contribution of $1,043.86, so that you can get the Government Contribution of $521.43.
Do a quick check of your account to see if you’re on track, if you are unsure of how to do this we will help. Now is not the time to miss out on free money.
Risk Management
If you have business insurance, then check with your insurance adviser to see if you are able to make a claim to support you through this time.
If you have income insurance cover and you have been made redundant you may be able to make a claim.
If your spending plan still has a deficit then you may need to take a premium holiday on your insurance. Partners Life have a very generous offer of pausing your premium with maintaining your cover.
Talk to your insurance adviser or give me a call if you wish to discuss.
Finance
If you are struggling with your rent due to a changed income, we strongly advise you to please talk to your landlord and negotiate a reduced rent, and then a repayment plan for when things get back on track. DO NOT bury your head in the sand. It may seem like a difficult conversation to have, but many landlords will be very understanding and will do what they can to help you through this. It’s worth asking!
If you have a mortgage and the income is tight, the banks are offering mortgage holidays and interest only options. Each of these come at a cost. To talk through the best options for you, get in touch. Here’s a link to a video on our Facebook page, which may shed a little light on how these ‘holidays’ work.
Business loans are also available for businesses that have been hit by the pandemic.
B1G1
This month we hit 825 gifts, which has multiple impacts towards the seventeen UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). At this stage we have made the most impacts within the Education goal. Education is followed by Sustainable Cities and Communities, and then the No Poverty SDG goal.
Thanks to you for working with us. It’s good to feel like we are able to make some positive impacts on the world, especially now. If you want to know more about B1G1, click here. For more info about the UN’s SDGs click here.
Last thoughts (for now!)
Stay home if you are not an essential worker. Look after each other, be kind. If you are able, reach out and support others outside your bubble using virtual means.
We are here at Building on Basics working from the home offices, and happy to talk to you and work through the options to help you through this time of uncertainty, or even just to have a chat.
Take care out there and be kind to one another.