The Happy Saver Podcast - Personal Finance in New Zealand

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 Aotearoa after years overseas and going on to build a successful career, they eventually brought two very different financial journeys together. Today, she has paid off her student loan, they’ve combined their finances, they’re aggressively paying down their mortgage, investing for themselves and their child, using sinking funds and an emergency fund, hunting for bargains and deliberately spending money on the things they enjoy. But above all, I think their story is about what money can really give you. Choices. Resilience. Independence. And, when you’re in a position to do so, the ability to help others.

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 All About Me. Since then, The Happy Saver blog has become a bit of a diary, tracking our financial journey and the thinking behind the decisions we’ve made. The podcast, on the other hand, has always been about everybody else. But while kind people constantly tell me they love hearing other people’s money stories, I’m still regularly asked to share more of my own. So, eight years on, I thought it was probably time. This episode isn’t going to cover every tiny detail; the blog is still the best place for that, but I’ll share a few numbers, what’s changed, what we’ve learned, and where Jonny and I find ourselves financially today. It’s not easy interviewing yourself; I can tell you that much!

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. They joined KiwiSaver early, eventually bought a home of their own, and continued investing in both the sharemarket and residential property. Mindfulness is also central to their lives. Their daily meditation practice and Zen philosophy have taught them to let go of drama, avoid dwelling on setbacks and view mistakes as opportunities to learn. That perspective is particularly valuable now as they chase down FIRE and rethink their investment strategy. While some of their investments are doing extremely well, others are performing extremely poorly. After eight years of owning rental properties, they have accepted that the strategy has not worked for them. They are now steadily untangling themselves from those investments and redirecting their money towards share investments they better understand and believe in. Throughout their relationship, they have always lived within their means and spent less than they earn. Combined with their mindfulness practice, that habit allows them to view past mistakes as tuition fees rather than failures: take the lesson, make a better decision and move forward.

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.

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 home ownership really suited the life they wanted. Once they ran the numbers, they made the bold decision to sell their house, rent a home that better fits their lifestyle, and redirect their surplus income into sharemarket investments instead. Anna’s story is about much more than money. It’s about questioning lifestyle creep, rethinking housing as the automatic path to wealth, biking instead of driving, budgeting with intention, and creating enough financial margin to have real choices. She and Thom are still early in their journey towards financial independence, but they are already experiencing what it can look like in practice: breathing room, flexibility, and the ability to choose how they spend their time.