New Zealanders savings ability

When it comes to personal finance, the habit of saving money regularly is often touted as the cornerstone of financial well-being. Yet, the recent results from the Wealth Map Evaluation quiz paint a revealing picture about how people actually approach this crucial habit.

Out of 6178 respondents, only 10% selected the lowest score (1), indicating they rarely or never save money regularly, while just 5% marked the highest score (10), signaling strong and consistent saving behaviors. Interestingly, the highest concentration of answers fell in the mid-range, with 16% choosing a 6 and 19% landing on a 7. This suggests that while many people recognise the importance of saving, most are only partially committed or struggle to make it a consistent priority.

What's truly thought-provoking is the spread across the spectrum. About 29% of respondents scored themselves at 6 or 7 - just above average, but not excellent. Meanwhile, a combined 28% fall into the lower half (scores 1-5), highlighting that nearly a third of people are not in control of their savings habit. The upper tier (scores 8-12) is similarly underrepresented, with only 24% of respondents placing themselves here.

This distribution might reflect the challenges people face: competing priorities, lack of financial education, or even uncertainty about where to begin. It could also indicate a sense of complacency - knowing that saving is important, but not feeling the urgency to act until circumstances force a change.

So, what does this mean for you? If you see yourself in the mid-range, you're not alone - but you're also not maximising your potential. Recognizing the gap between knowing and doing is the first step toward meaningful change.