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The Happy Saver Podcast - Personal Finance in New Zealand

The Happy Saver Podcast - Personal Finance in New Zealand

By: Ruth - Personal Finance Blogger
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About this listen

Your friends might not want to talk about money, but I do! Hi, I’m Ruth and I’m a blogger on Personal Finance and in this podcast I tell the stories of Kiwis and their experiences with the money in their lives. How do they use it or how does it use them? Where do they save and invest it and does it work? What are their financial triumphs and financial train wrecks? How can you extract the most out of life and spend as little as possible while doing it? Join me as I ask the questions everyone else is too polite to ask but is dying to know about New Zealanders and their money. Happy Saving! Ruth

 Economics Personal Finance
Episodes
  • 108. Living by Design, Not by Default

    108. Living by Design, Not by Default
    Jul 16 2025
    In today’s episode, you’ll hear from an awesome couple, Kate and Taka, aged 33 and 34, who are doing life and money a little differently, and doing it well. From the moment we started talking, I could tell they’d put a lot of thought into not just their finances, but how they want to live. Over the past few years, they’ve made some bold, intentional choices: moving south, stepping back from full-time work to each working just two days a week, and prioritising time with their three young kids. It’s not the typical path, but it’s one they’ve carved out thoughtfully and intentionally. And mathematically. We chat about how they’ve managed to build a life that gives them both freedom and stability by sticking with frugal habits from their student days, questioning whether more work really means more money, and making financial decisions as a true team. Taka’s a fan of the numbers, Kate brings the big-picture perspective, and together they’ve found a rhythm that works. This episode is packed with practical tips, honest insights, and a refreshing example of what it looks like to live by design, not by default.
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    1 hr and 4 mins
  • 107. Revisit with Hamish: An investor with military precision!

    107. Revisit with Hamish: An investor with military precision!
    Jun 25 2025
    This is a revisit episode, I enjoy doing these because I like you wonder, “Whatever happened to…?” I last spoke with Hamish in 2021, Episode 50, An Investor With Military Precision, back when he was a 27-year-old solo homeowner and disciplined saver working in the New Zealand military. Fast-forward four years, and life has changed: he’s now 31, married to Sophie, and the two of them are navigating homeownership, investing, and future planning as a team. It’s clear from talking to Hamish that theirs is a partnership built on communication, respect, and shared goals. With two minds on the case, they’re refining their investment strategy, slowly shifting from property-heavy assets toward a simpler, more diversified approach, while still living a good life with their growing whānau.
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    37 mins
  • 106. Revisit with Neil: A Financially Complicated Breakup

    106. Revisit with Neil: A Financially Complicated Breakup
    Jun 4 2025
    This episode revisits my August 2022 conversation with Neil in Episode 69, A Financially Complicated Breakup. Now 52, Neil has lived in New Zealand for 20 years, working in IT since moving from the UK in 2005. He retained his UK property as a rental and began learning about personal finance around 2006. When KiwiSaver started in 2007, he joined up, and by our first chat, his KiwiSaver had grown to $200,000. After a previous long-term relationship ended with a fair asset split, Neil began to invest more and more in a range of ETF funds. A new relationship followed, and he became a father, but without a relationship property agreement in place, the eventual breakup led to a bitter legal dispute over money. Hearing his story offered a valuable male perspective on something I more often hear from women: lengthy, painful separations marked by financial and emotional strain. Often, there’s already a financial imbalance, which becomes even more difficult when children are involved and time off work affects a woman’s earning power. While I’m mindful this is only Neil’s side of the story, I’m pleased to share that this challenging chapter ultimately ended well, and I hope the details provide insight and hope to others navigating similar situations.
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    37 mins

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Profile Image for Andy

Different way to financial freedom

I really enjoyed this episode. It is really difficult to bounce back from relationships that have ended. Ruth always works to get different points of view from all walks of life. I also really appreciate the focus on family most of her episodes touch on. A lot of finance doesn't often have the same whanau approach and is more wealth related.

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