Blog Minx

There’s an episode of Friends where Phoebe is working in a massage parlour (real massages) but she’s not happy there because it’s “one of those chain places”. Still, she stays despite her misgivings because they help her with what she calls a “four-oh-wunk”. Cue the canned laughter, because she’s referring to a 401K which is a retirement fund in the US.

That reference would have been completely lost on me the first time I saw the episode (yes, I watch the odd rerun) but I understand now, because a year ago I started reading lots of books about how to manage my money better.

We don’t have four-oh-wunks here in NZ, but we have a new thing called Kiwisaver which is similar. Deposit some funds, and the government/your employer will help out too. Sounds good. I’ve signed up with a medium risk fund at 8% of my net income.

It’s hard, though, for two reasons. One, I have a terrible attitude about ageing. I want to be better and wiser etc, but why does that have to be accompanied by hundreds of cats/walking frames/the pervasive scent of lavender/ lawn bowls? So it’s hard to acknowledge that I’m heading in that direction and need to prepare financially for a time when people start buying me lavender soap for my birthday.

Also, it’s money that could be spent on far more exciting things: travel to exotic locations, books, clothes, gadgets… best not to dwell on it really, and just do it. I’ll thank myself later.

Do you have a four-oh-wunk?