Katie Holland: Breaking down Budget's impact

So that was the Budget. Done and dusted for another year.

No sooner had Steven Joyce finished delivering it in Parliament than the indignation and debate began.

While the Government pointed to the extra resources they were putting into various areas and how their changes would make Kiwis better off, opposing parties and others claimed it was not enough, that the Budget was a failure, that it didn't address pressing issues in this country.

The average person can be forgiven for throwing their hands up in the air in resignation, saying "But what does it actually mean?

"Who do we listen to?"

That's if they were even watching in the first place.

After all, our own household budgets are tedious enough for most of us.

Today we do our best to break it down and shed some light on what some of the Budget announcements could mean for you and your families.

With the promise of more cash in our hands through tax cuts the Government will be hoping the Budget will be well received.

Even if we do have to wait until next year to reap the benefits, presuming National win the election and a new government doesn't take a less generous view.

Reactions have also been mixed when it comes to announcements on education, health, housing and the environment. The key will be seeing how the policies are turned into meaningful action.

Only when we see more mental health services, more classrooms and teachers or more houses being built, will yesterday's Budget have any real meaning to the everyday person.