How to make the most of your lunch break
Lunch breaks are absolutely key, no matter what industry you’re in, but we often get so busy that we forgo taking a break and grab something on the go instead. Taking a lunch break is actually more important for your physical and mental health than you think. It’s a good chance to rest, reset, and fuel your body for the afternoon ahead.
To help you make the most of your lunch break and avoid fatigue and burnout, try some of these great tips.
5 ways to save money on your health insurance
With the cost of living for the average Kiwi household increasing by 8.2%, it makes sense that we would be thinking of ways to lower our everyday expenses. During times like these, many people decide to forgo getting their health insurance sorted, or they cancel their cover entirely to have money for other things.
This is understandable, but having the right health insurance in place is especially important during tough economic times - if something goes wrong, you want to know that you’ll be able to afford the treatment you need.
To help you save on your health insurance so you can keep costs down whilst also keeping yourself protected, we’ve put together some tips for you to consider.
How to stay active at work during winter
Winter tends to be a time when we slow down and are much more sedentary, because who wants to be out in the freezing rain? However, to try to keep any winter colds at bay, we need to keep as active as possible. So how can we stay active when we’re working and it’s miserable outside? Here are a few easy things to try.
I have a pre-existing condition - does that mean I won’t be able to get insurance?
This is a question that’s asked a lot by Kiwis, and it’s an important one to consider. Many people often dismiss the idea of even trying to get insurance if they know they have a condition that’s likely to not be covered. But they don’t take into account the fact that the insurance provider might just surprise them.
Receive a $100 voucher when you work with us!
At Union Plus, we work for you and negotiate on your behalf. Our advisors are skilled at finding the best solution for you - not just selling you the most expensive cover!
We understand that each situation is unique, and ‘every dollar counts’. Put us to the test today, and see how much you could save.
As a Union member you have exclusive financial benefits available to you - simply book in for free, no-obligation financial advice with one of our trusted advisers today and receive a voucher to match your first month’s premium (up to $100).
4 ways to boost your vitamin D intake
Known as the ‘sunshine’ vitamin, vitamin D is naturally produced in our bodies when we are exposed to sunlight. Because we need a good dose of vitamin D to strengthen our bones, muscles, and overall health, it’s important that we get enough of it - especially when the sun’s rays are sparse.
To help you make sure you’re getting enough of this wonderful vitamin, here are a few ways to increase your vitamin D intake and give your health a boost!
What’s the difference between Life insurance and Health insurance?
There are many different types of personal insurances out there, and whilst it might be easy to distinguish between your cover for your house, car, and contents, figuring out the difference between the other types of personal cover can be tricky.
One of the most common questions people ask is what’s the difference between Life insurance and Health insurance? Often people assume they are one in the same, but there’s actually a few important differences to note.
To help you understand why both are equally important types of cover, we’ve put together some information on each to make it easier.
Healthy eating tips for shift workers
If you’re a shift worker, it can be hard to stay on top of your health, especially when your usual waking and sleeping hours are disrupted. Because many shift workers often see fluctuations in their weight and overall health, it’s important to prioritise a healthy diet as much as possible. Here are a few tips that might just help!
Why do we need insurance if we have ACC?
It’s a common question that gets asked by New Zealanders when it comes to getting health insurance sorted - after all, why should you pay for something that you can get for free? But the reality is not as black and white as that. There are many occasions where ACC just doesn’t fit the bill, and it’s not designed to. That’s where personal insurances like health and life cover come in.
Health comes first - Findings from the FSC’s latest ‘Money and You’ report
The Financial Services Council (FSC) recently released their latest research report, ‘Money and You - Taking Cover.’ Surveying over 2,000 Kiwis, their study reveals some interesting insights into the financial wellbeing of New Zealanders and their relationship with health insurance.
Want to improve your memory? Try these 10 brain exercises
With so many ‘brain training’ apps and software available, you might be thinking that to improve your cognition and memory, you need to make use of these kinds of technological tools. But many things you might already be doing in your everyday life can contribute to improving your memory.
In fact, studies have shown that memory loss may improve by 30-50% when we perform regular mental exercises that show up in our daily lives. Just like exercising our muscles helps them grow, exercising our brain will also help give it a boost of power that will keep us sharp as tacks.
So what are some of the best brain exercises to improve memory?
Have you factored inflation into your insurance?
As we’re all well aware, inflation is rapidly increasing. The cost of living is far higher than anyone expected, and if history is anything to go by, prices will continue to rise. If you think about the insurance policies you may have, including vehicle and contents cover, is the amount you’re covered for in line with today’s values?
How union workers can take control of their KiwiSaver in 2023
If you’ve been thinking about reviewing your KiwiSaver this year, or you’re weighing up the merits of joining the retirement savings scheme, it’s important that you know how to get the most out of your KiwiSaver. To help you take control of your KiwiSaver this year, we’ve put together some things you’ll need to take a look at.
Need to make a weather-related claim? Here are some tips
The weather has been pretty unpredictable lately, and many people have found themselves in dire straits, dealing with damages caused by flooding and wind. This is where having the right cover really comes in handy, but it can be tough to deal with the added stress of making a claim. To help you out, we’ve put together some tips for making a weather-related insurance claim.
Always feeling tired? Try these 6 tips for a better sleep
We all know how important sleep is for our mental and physical health, but it’s definitely a matter of quality over quantity. If you’ve been getting 8 hours of shut-eye every night but are still waking up tired, you might need to work on your sleep hygiene.
Sleep hygiene is all about being in the best position to sleep well every night - this includes a quiet, dark, and cool environment, and avoiding any stimulants before bed. To help you boost your sleep hygiene and get a proper night’s sleep, we’ve put together some handy tips.
The top 5 medical claims in December 2022 - nib
If you’ve been putting off getting medical insurance sorted, we’ve got a few sobering claims statistics from nib that just might prompt you into getting some cover in place.
In the financial year of 2022, nib paid out $175 million in total claims for its members, and the top five claims for December alone, are broken down below - could you afford those numbers without medical insurance?
KiwiSaver FAQ - What is a PIR?
If you’re enrolled in the KiwiSaver retirement savings scheme, you may have heard the term PIR floating around. But what exactly is it?
4 good reasons to get your insurance sorted through an adviser
Insurance tends to be something that we begrudgingly get sorted because we know it’s important to have. But how many Kiwis actually have a policy that does what they need it to, and that they actually understand?
Insurance advisers are there to help you get cover in place that’s suited to your needs, and your budget. Here are some good reasons why you should always get your cover sorted through an adviser.
Car Insurance 101
If you own a car, it’s important that you have the right insurance in place to keep you covered when you need it. With a few different types of vehicle insurance out there, it pays to know what kind of cover is best for your situation, particularly if you get into a sticky situation on the road. We’ve put together this helpful guide to car insurance to help you understand how it works.
Beat the back to work blues this year
Whether you’re returning to work now or in the next couple of weeks, thinking about getting back into the swing of things can be tough. When you’ve been sleeping in and relaxing for most of the day, getting up and back into a more structured routine can feel like a mammoth effort. Here’s how you can beat the back to work blues this year.