We confess all on Facebook. The whole world knows what we ate for lunch and what we think about political or social issues. But we don't tell the world how much we earn or owe.

Blended families are common in New Zealand.

Death brings financial disaster for many families. If the breadwinner dies without adequate life insurance, the family can be left to struggle on benefits.

After returning to NZ I remember putting the phone down after an interview and saying out loud to myself, "this is the Wild West", writes Diana Clement.

The funeral industry needs a dollop of real competition of the sort Specsavers added to optometry, writes Diana Clement.

Who hasn't heard the Beatles song When I'm Sixty-Four? When Paul McCartney and John Lennon penned this ditty in their youth, the age of 64 would have seemed a long way away.

Ordinary travel insurance is full of fish-hooks, writes Diana Clement. Credit card travel insurance has even more nasty surprises.

What's the difference between a beneficiary and someone earning $100,000? Not much if they can't make ends meet.

Following a budget can result in lifelong lifestyle changes. Students who don't budget will go on to be workers who don't budget, writes Diana Clement.

12 ways to stop going over the top at Christmas.

Hundreds of thousands of Kiwis are up for a tax king hit. And many of them have no idea it's coming.

Squeezing the last dollar out of savings ought to be a contact sport. I'm a fan of playing the banks at their own game and ensuring they pay top dollar for my dosh.

What's your money up to? Are your KiwiSaver and other investments funding industries that damage the environment, use child labour, encourage gambling or produce tobacco?

Wouldn't you love to manage your own retirement funds? Instead of handing them over to a KiwiSaver provide, you research and buy the assets, which could include individual equities and even rental properties.

I had a brainwave recently and decided to cook up a batch of the traditional Chinese treats and fill them with various financial talking points for families.

You've saved all your life and have a tidy nest egg. Now it's all downhill. How long will that capital last and how can you eke it out?

Despite advances in technology, there are no perfect personal finance smartphone apps, says Diana Clement.

You die before your children turn 20. Whether you've written a will or not, the money that goes to them will be held in trust until they're 20. And that can be mighty costly.

There is much more to cash investing than just choosing the right savings account or term deposit.

If ever there was a time to do all those financial tasks you've been putting off, it's this week.

Some people need a hit between the eyes before they'll change their errant financial ways.

Home insurance policies have been rewritten thanks to Canterbury quakes - and not in policy holder's favour.

It's a rare New Zealander who doesn't either give money to charity or fundraise.

Bank accounts come in many flavours and there are some real gems offered by New Zealand's banks, building societies, credit unions and others.

Credit scores are important - guard yours well. A good credit score is essential for getting a mortgage, business finance and perhaps even a job.