Money is tight - and through a recession, things can be pretty tough.

Don't think for a second that your bank - even your financial advisor will be able to help you out with sound financial advice. I've found a great website that lets you watch your cashflow, and best of all - SHOWS you what you're financial situation could be like in 6 months, if you take better control of your money - rather than being at the mercy of your banking partner.

We need banks more than they need us, so make them work for you. Pocketsmith is a kiwi developed and owned website (built in Dunedin!) and lets you make forecasts, allowing you to see your future bank balance.

I'm not being paid to tell you about Pocketsmith, I simply want to share this with you because we are all watching our money stretch thin - and often not far enough, and using Pocketsmith allows us to better 'see' how our money is working for us - something your bank won't ever give you in any great detail - and certainly not with this much flexibility. It's true!

Go check it out - and if you end up using it yourself - share it around. Local business is too important to our local economy to fail through bad banking decisions. If the banks got us here, then we need to take the bull by the horns and steer your financial future to your benefit.

It'll absolutely help with your confidence financially, the flow-on effect might help your friends, their friends, local business and perhaps the local economy - and confidence and optimism is the way out of recession don't you think?