86. You can’t live with a lifestyle that is above your income.

86. You can’t live with a lifestyle that is above your income.

Author: Ruth - Personal Finance Blogger August 16, 2023 Duration: 1:04:50
The standout for me today is how quickly you can change your financial lot in life simply because you decide to. Helen and Scott are 45 and 42 respectively, and have lived a life common to many of us, with good bits, not-so-good bits and, to a large extent, following the crowd for whom managing money is a struggle. With five tamariki between them, they have known each other a long time, yet only became a couple a few years ago. Both carry the scars and financial lessons from previous marriages, including reliance on consumer debt and being excluded either willfully or unwillingly from handling pūtea, yet they both jumped in boots and all with their money in their relationship today. Working harder was always their way out of a financial jam, but finally, they are learning to work smarter.

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
64. Building intergenerational wealth through property investment. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:15
Today I have a chat with Jay. He reached out to me with a story to share about him and his wife Shelle and their property investment journey. He sees residential real estate as their way to riches, and he enjoys the ins…
62. I retired at 39! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:15
This week I’m sharing the story of early retiree Brendan. We’ve met in person many times now, even more so since he moved to Central Otago in late 2021 and I have always found him a relatively quiet and contemplative kin…
61. Revisit with Bella: I don’t want a student debt hangover! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 25:55
In today’s podcast, I’m doing a revisit with Bella who I interviewed in Episode 52. She shared the realities of student loan debt in New Zealand and how you can meander your way into student loan debt, but you need to fi…
60. First Home Buyers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:50
Kiri and I have been emailing each other since mid-2018 discussing all manner of money related things as they unfolded for her whānau of three. Kiri, her husband John and their four-year-old daughter, had big plans for 2…
59. The evolution of a workable financial plan. [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 42:57
I first heard from Andy when he was 29. He emailed with several questions and observations, and the bit that stuck with me most was that he was pretty keen to buy himself a car parking space as an investment. Indeed, he…
58. Leaving the big city for the Good Life [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 44:14
This week I’m sharing the story of a central Hawke’s Bay couple Rach and Becs. They made the bold move to leave both of their families behind and move out of Auckland, headed for Hawke's Bay so they could get ahead both…
57. You can plan not to be broke [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:21
Over the years Janet, who is 59, has worked out that other people can be unreliable, so she is better to plan for her own success, instead of relying on others. She is a huge forward thinker and she spends time gently tw…
56. House Rich, Cash Poor [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:55
Today I’m introducing you to Fatima. By working hard and being at the right place at the right time, she had managed to buy several properties but there was a tipping point one day when despite the net worth she had buil…