120. Rebuilding After Divorce

120. Rebuilding After Divorce

Author: Ruth - Personal Finance Blogger April 29, 2026 Duration: 1:11:26
This episode shares the story of Emma, a solo mum who, from the outside, appears to have it all together: a home of her own, strong finances, and a clear plan for the future. But behind that picture is years of hardship, resilience, and determination to rebuild her life after leaving an unhealthy marriage. She is now rebuilding from a much stronger foundation, describing her life as being in “financial rehab,” making up for lost time as she steadily rights her waka and moves into calmer waters. Through grit, determination, and a series of deliberate, intentional steps, she has rebuilt her confidence and created a safer, more stable life for herself and her children. Emma chose to share her story to help other women who may be feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or unsure where to begin. Her journey is a powerful reminder that change is possible, step by step, and that with the right support, courage, and practical action, you can work your way toward safety, stability, and a future where you truly believe: I am going to be OK.

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: 100

The Happy Saver Podcast - Personal Finance in New Zealand
Podcast Episodes
85. Revisit with Kiri: The Rollercoaster Continues [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 30:25
I’ve been corresponding with Kiri for about five years now. Those back-and-forth email conversations eventually led to me picking up the phone and chatting in person for the first time, and back in September of 2021, I r…
84. Early Retirement: But still working stuff out. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:58
Today, I have the pleasure of sharing the story behind how Tony and his wife Karen came to create a net worth of $2.8 million and retire aged 49 and 54, respectively. Now that I have your attention, you might also be int…
83. Iron Fisted Lucy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:03
Lucy, Steve and their two teenage children openly talk about money in their family. It comes from them trying to make sense of their complicated financial upbringing and then joining their financial lives together at 19.…
82. From Paycheque to Paycheque to Home Sweet Home [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:04:20
In this episode, we hear from Jess, a single 52-year-old woman who reached out to me in early 2022 when she sent me a lovely email telling me she had been using my blog and podcast, plus The Barefoot Investor, to learn m…
81. Turning good opportunities into reality! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:58
I met 29-year-old Dylan when he heard my call out for younger people to get in touch and share their stories with money. Through luck and good timing, aged just 21, he found himself buying his first property, an empty se…
80. Young, Bright, and Financially Wise [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 31:42
In this week's episode, I wanted to revisit an earlier episode with an update on Nathan from episode 71, and introduce a new guest, Sam, a 16-year-old Year 12 student who is starting a financial journey similar to Nathan…
79. I'll drink to that! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:44
I’m looking forward to telling you all about 37-year-old Tui. She described herself as someone who has worked hard to get her financial house in order, and in the last three years in particular, she has made great progre…
78. In the process of making a Financial U-turn! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:13:01
Nic described herself as a 42-year-old professional who sometimes has to pinch herself at the job she has. It’s a tough demanding role in a field she loves that pays really well. A mum to two tamariki and a partner to th…
77. Saving is the new shopping! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 47:40
When Rachel told me that she had very recently moved from a super consumer to thinking instead that saving was the new shopping, I knew the story of this single, city-dwelling, dependent-free, self-employed 54-year-old w…
76. Part-time work. Full-time life. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:51
This week I’m sharing the financial life of Ngaio and Ben, a Coromandel couple in their early 30s. They struck a chord with me because I love seeing examples of life enjoyed a little bit differently to most, in their cas…