If managing money and sorting debt doesn’t come second nature, having a helping hand can take a weight off your shoulders (and your income).

Tauranga Budget Advisory Service (TBAS) offers FREE, confidential and non-judgmental advice by trained financial mentors. No matter your income, your financial position or circumstance, their mentors can guide and support, liaise with creditors on your behalf and connect you with other organisations that can help.

Manager Shirley McCombe says, “People are often embarrassed to ask for support, especially if they have a good income, but still struggle to make ends meet. But the more we earn, the more we spend and these are often the people who struggle most, particularly when there is a sudden change like a redundancy.”

We find out more about TBAS and how they can help.

What is the purpose of Tauranga Budget Advisory Service?

Tauranga Budget Advisory Service (TBAS) is a not-for-profit organisation, funded by the government, to build financial capability through education programmes and one-on-one sessions with clients. Our service is free, confidential and non-judgmental.

We are NOT the money police, we don’t tell people how to live their lives or even spend their money. We help them identify what is important to them, what aspirations they have for themselves and their families, and then we help them take control of their money so they can achieve these.

We make sure they are receiving the correct entitlements from Work and Income (such as accommodation allowances that are available to people who are in employment, if they meet the criteria); we negotiate with people they owe money to, we look at contracts to ensure they are being treated fairly, then we create a sustainable budget and support them to stick to it.

Our clients are often juggling many challenges in their lives. TBAS works with other organisations to support them in any area they identify they need assistance with. This may include assistance to stop smoking or get help with alcohol or drug addictions – it might involve counselling, support with a healthy, non-violent relationship or a child with a disability. We can even assist with access to interest-free loans for those who meet the criteria.

For clients with significant debt, we can assist with KiwiSaver withdrawal applications, debt repayment orders, no asset procedures and bankruptcy.

Tell us a bit about your team:

We currently have a team of 24, comprising of both employees and volunteers. Our backgrounds vary from nursing to banking, teaching, to business and accounting. All our Financial Mentors are trained by FINCAP, our umbrella organisation.

What are some key ways in which you can help businesses?

Financial wellbeing fluctuates throughout our lives, just as our physical and emotional wellbeing changes. These changes may occur because of:

• A personal change in a circumstance like a relationship breakup, poor physical or mental health or the need to support families overseas
• A community-wide event like a flood or an earthquake
• A worldwide event like a pandemic, resulting in reduced hours or redundancies.

When employees are struggling because of financial stress in their lives, they are less focused, less safe conscious, less productive and often less reliable. In addition, the stress they experience can have implications for their physical and mental health.

Often they have tried to fix a short-term problem with high interest, payday type loans or credit card debt and can’t see a way out. We see such a change in our clients when they meet with a member of our team, and realise they don’t have to face their challenges alone and they won’t be judged.

What are some challenges/issues that businesses have been coming to you for support on?

COVID-19 will see many businesses facing the prospect of making staff redundant when the subsidies end. This is a difficult process for both employer and employee. Our support can make the processes a little easier for everyone. We have clinics all over Tauranga and we offer evening sessions via Zoom for those who struggle to find the time during their busy days.

We are happy to come and speak with employees about our service. Our only goal is to help make the lives of those in our community better because they can manage their money effectively.