The best thing I ever did was set some cash into a bank account, which we could instantly access in a financial emergency. It is an amount of money set aside in a specific bank account to be used for bailing myself out if something happens that

Part 2: BUDGET - FI Series

28 days ago 26m 21s

In the first episode in this series of six, I quickly showed you how to calculate your net worth. It will take a little longer today, but I want to explain why you need to keep an eye on how and where you earn and spend your money, i.e., budget

Part 1: NET WORTH - FI Series

May 15th, 2024 14m 6s

Welcome to the first episode in a short six-part series. On my blog, thehappysaver.com, I created a comprehensive Financial Independence Series of six blog posts where I mapped out a plan to help you on your way to becoming financially independ

93. Revisit with Nic: In the process of making a financial U-turn!

Mar 26th, 2024 31m 12s

Today, I have an update on Nic from Episode 78, released in March 2023. A lot can happen in a year, which I wanted to share with you today. When Nic and I spoke in early 2023, Nic was still very new to the whole concept of personal finance and

92. An adventurous 19-year-old

Mar 5th, 2024 38m 37s

I met 19-year-old Josephine in mid-2023 when she emailed me with some questions about money. I actually already knew a little about her because her Mum and I have been in contact for a number of years, chatting about personal finances over emai

91. With only $100 in the bank, something had to change.

Feb 13th, 2024 45m

In early January, I was lucky enough to have a long chat with Grace, who is now in her late 20s. Grace has been following my podcast since 2019, which is when her money journey did a sharp U-turn as she moved out of about $40,000 of consumer an

90. Revisit with Bradie and Paul: The First Year of Early Retirement

Jan 23rd, 2024 26m 36s

I’m particularly excited about today’s podcast because it is a revisit episode with Bradie and Paul. This is actually the fifth time we have caught up on their money journey. The elevator pitch for them is that they felt they were drowning in d

89. Creative Planners Working Towards a Retirement of Plenty

Nov 28th, 2023 47m 18s

I chatted with Isobel and Sam for almost three hours on a sunny Sunday afternoon. As with all of these interviews, straight out of the gate, we were into the nuts and bolts of the financial lives of this 56 and 57-year-old deeply-in-love couple

88. Birds of a Feather Flock Together

Nov 7th, 2023 46m 57s

In this episode, I’m going to be sharing the experiences of Scott and Jane. This couple are from completely different backgrounds and also from different countries. Scott’s from New Zealand, in his late 20s and Jane’s from South America and in

87. My Partner Died Without a Will

Oct 17th, 2023 56m 31s

Today I am really looking forward to sharing the financial ins and outs of Rachael, a wonderful wahine who has been listening to this very podcast for years. She enjoys this podcast because the stories I share are relatable because they are, of

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

Aug 16th, 2023 1h 4m

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

85. Revisit with Kiri: The Rollercoaster Continues

Jul 5th, 2023 30m 25s

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 released that episode: 60

84. Early Retirement: But still working stuff out.

Jun 14th, 2023 56m 58s

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 interested to know that the

83. Iron Fisted Lucy

May 24th, 2023 58m 3s

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. When they were young, t

82. From Paycheque to Paycheque to Home Sweet Home

May 3rd, 2023 1h 4m

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 more about money to help

81. Turning good opportunities into reality!

Apr 12th, 2023 58m 58s

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 section, and then one thin

80. Young, Bright, and Financially Wise

Mar 28th, 2023 31m 42s

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's and already demonstra

79. I'll drink to that!

Mar 14th, 2023 1h

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 progress. She had spent her te

78. In the process of making a Financial U-turn!

Feb 28th, 2023 1h 13m

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 the world's most laid-back

77. Saving is the new shopping!

Dec 13th, 2022 47m 40s

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 was one worth sharing. Co

76. Part-time work. Full-time life.

Nov 29th, 2022 52m 51s

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 case, choosing to build and

75. If it’s not simple, you shouldn’t be doing it.

Nov 1st, 2022 43m 48s

This week I caught up with a couple in their mid 20’s, Richard and Jane. Their express aim in putting themselves out there is to comfort the other twenty-somethings that their financial situation is in their own hands and they, to a large degre

74. Interesting things happen to interesting people.

Oct 18th, 2022 48m 19s

This week I’m sharing the story of Ayana, a woman who sure does have a zest for life. However, life keeps throwing her curve balls, and she has to keep adjusting course. Ayana has worked since she was a teenager and left school with money in th

73. No Student loan for me!

Oct 4th, 2022 46m 52s

Today I’m excited to share the story of Pipi, a 20-year-old wahine from Auckland. Pipi got her first part-time job at the age of just 13, and now that she is a second-year nursing student, she continues to work part-time while studying and full

72. An inheritance goes a long way!

Sep 21st, 2022 45m 37s

I’ve met countless people who have received an inheritance, yet today they are in a really poor financial situation. It’s what you DO with an inheritance that counts. Will chose to pay off debt and invest. And while his investment strategy back