123. Feeling Financially Safe Again

123. Feeling Financially Safe Again

Author: Ruth - Personal Finance Blogger July 8, 2026 Duration: 59:07
Today’s guest is Olivia, a 59-year-old single woman who is on track to pay off a 30-year mortgage in just 10 years, entirely on one income. But this is not simply a story about paying off debt. It is a story about rebuilding financial safety after divorce, relationship breakdowns, solo parenting, financial mistakes, grief, and years of carrying the full load alone. Olivia shares why becoming mortgage-free matters so much to her, why she believes financial independence is essential for women, and how she changed her financial life through consistency, frugal living, tracking every dollar for 27 years, and learning to trust herself with money. This episode is honest, practical, and relatable for anyone who feels “behind” financially.

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
126. Building Financial Strength Together [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:45
Joseph and Jane’s story is one of resilience, generosity and small financial decisions adding up over time. From Joseph buying his first home at just 22 and navigating some serious health setbacks, to Jane returning to A…
125. Revisit with The Happy Saver: Eight Years On [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:21
Today I’m doing something a bit different. I thought I’d give you a little update on what Jonny and I are up to. If you've been listening for a while, you might remember that way back in 2018 I released Episode 12, It’s…
124. Learning, Letting Go and Rethinking the Road to FIRE [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:32
I had a great chat with Rose and Adam on a cold winter’s day in July, and this warm and friendly duo came to our conversation well prepared. Just over 20 years ago, they made the move from Israel to Ōtautahi Christchurch…
122. Renting, Investing and Building Financial Freedom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 57:37
Anna has developed strong money habits through years of study, careful saving, and living well below her means. After following the traditional advice to buy a home, Anna and her partner, Thom, began to question whether…
121. The Missing Will [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:12:45
Today, we hear from Petra, whose life has taken her from the UK to Australia and then to New Zealand, with a few moves back and forth along the way. Auckland is home for now, but aged 60 and widowed about five years ago,…
120. Rebuilding After Divorce [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

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,…
119. Revisit with Rachel and David: Out of Property, Into Funds [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 43:55
Back in November 2017, in Episode 04, I sat down with Rachel and David. They had reached financial independence long before the term was widely used, doing it through property and achieving what many Kiwi investors dream…
118. Living Well, Spending Less [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:10
Emily and I first met over email and via one of my Phone A Friend chats back in late 2023. Like me, she loves regional Aotearoa and everything it has to offer. She’s happily ensconced in the Taumarunui community, and she…
117. Owning Rental Property Is a Business [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:36
I really enjoyed creating this episode because it explores a form of investing that doesn’t often feature heavily in the wealth-building stories I usually share. I spoke at length with Lilly about the successful property…
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…