102. Once you have won the money game, stop and enjoy life.

102. Once you have won the money game, stop and enjoy life.

Author: Ruth - Personal Finance Blogger March 12, 2025 Duration: 1:01:05
Today, I’m sharing the financial ins and outs of Alan and Katie Donegan, the world-travelling English couple behind Rebel Finance School. Over the years, we have become friends, and learning about their journey to financial independence and then watching them move into full retirement has been incredibly motivating for both Jonny and me. They finally made it to New Zealand, and back in early December 2024, we sat down at my kitchen table, where they generously answered all of my nosy questions. I’m looking forward to sharing their personal finance journey with you because once they discovered the concept of financial independence, these two were on FIRE!

Money conversations can feel awkward, but they don't have to be. On The Happy Saver Podcast-Personal Finance in New Zealand, host Ruth brings her perspective as a longtime personal finance blogger to break down that barrier. Each episode is built around real stories from everyday Kiwis, exploring the nuanced and often personal relationship people have with their finances. You'll hear frank discussions about how money influences life choices, for better or worse. The focus is on practical, grounded experiences within the New Zealand context-where people save, how they invest, and whether those strategies actually pan out over time. Ruth guides conversations that delve into both financial victories and those moments that feel like train wrecks, always with an eye toward learning. The underlying question is how to design a life rich in experience without spending a fortune to get there. This isn't about theoretical jargon; it's about the applied reality of making dollars and sense work together in Aotearoa. By listening to this podcast, you gain a collective wisdom from a community navigating the same economic landscape, from everyday budgeting to long-term investing goals. Ruth facilitates a space where money is simply a tool to be understood and mastered, one honest story at a time.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 50

The Happy Saver Podcast - Personal Finance in New Zealand
Podcast Episodes
116. Separating Finances After Decades of Marriage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:02
In today’s episode, I had the great pleasure of speaking with Carla. She lives in a small regional town in the South Island with her husband and their three children. Carla’s story is about money, but it’s also about hea…
115. I Feel Like I’m The Only One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:49
Jennifer first emailed me in early 2023 after listening to all my podcasts. She knew I was a big advocate for parents teaching kids to invest and had a few questions, including one detail that really caught my attention.…
114. Engineering a Solid Financial Life Together [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:44
Today I’m sharing the story of Steve and Sarah, a UK couple who, many years ago, packed up their lives, moved to Aotearoa, and built a really solid financial life together. From the get-go, they’ve been a great team with…
113. Late Financial Bloomers: Proof It’s Never Too Late to Start [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:44
Maria and Michelle were late financial bloomers who only really got started in their 50s. Now 71 and 69, they’ve paid off their mortgage and student loan, invested in the sharemarket, built up $1,000,000 in savings and i…
112. Resilience, Balance, Community, and Happiness [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:08
This week, I’m sharing the story of Rachel, a 90s kid from Timaru. Rachel is the youngest of four, with three brothers, and a ten year gap between her and her oldest brother, and they all grew up with a stay at home mum…
111. Moving Closer to Financial Independence [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:14
In today’s episode, I spoke with Marian, who in turn spoke on behalf of herself and her husband, Jon. Originally from the Netherlands and now based in New Zealand, they’re in the middle of a big transition, preparing to…
110. No More Using the House as an ATM [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:09:41
Today’s guest, Gail, has been on quite the financial trip and she’s still very much on it. Back in 2019, at age 41, she experienced a wake-up call. She found herself with plenty on her plate: a failing business, an incom…
109. Putting Up Some Financial Scaffolding After 50 [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:25
This week's podcast is all about 51-year-old Julian. We picked up the phone for a good old kōrero in late June 2025. Let’s just say, if talking were an Olympic sport, Julian and I would tie for first place. Late in 2023,…
108. Living by Design, Not by Default [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:14
In today’s episode, you’ll hear from an awesome couple, Kate and Taka, aged 33 and 34, who are doing life and money a little differently, and doing it well. From the moment we started talking, I could tell they’d put a l…
107. Revisit with Hamish: An investor with military precision! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 36:55
This is a revisit episode, I enjoy doing these because I like you wonder, “Whatever happened to…?” I last spoke with Hamish in 2021, Episode 50, An Investor With Military Precision, back when he was a 27-year-old solo ho…