All in Budgeting

Debt-Free at 18: The Money Systems We Put in Place Years Before University

Debt-Free at 18: The Money Systems We Put in Place Years Before University

Ruth
ETFs, Kids and Money, KiwiSaver, Money Education, PocketSmith, Sharesies, Smart, Budgeting

Our daughter is leaving home, off to Otago University. I’m so looking forward to her finding her next steps, but I will miss her terribly. She is ready to go! And, I’m not going to lie, I am looking forward to a tidier house. As we adjust to a new phase of long-distance parenting, I’m pretty determined to make one last push to get her as financially ready as we can for the big, wide world. I’ve always put a lot of time into making sure she understands how money works, long before she leaves home. In many ways, it all comes down to this moment: can she leave home and be fully financially capable? Without a doubt, I’m pleased to say the answer is yes. So today I’m sharing exactly how we have managed to, I hope, successfully let her financially set sail from home.

Answering the Money Questions Readers Email Me About

Answering the Money Questions Readers Email Me About

Ruth
Budgeting, Emergency Fund, Investment, KiwiSaver, ETFs

I’ve been hitting “reply” to as many emails as I can this week. If you write to me, I will write back, but due to the volume of emails I get, there is often a delay. I respond to every single email because the questions asked are so valid and important to the person doing the asking. Every email is different, weaving together a set of circumstances in a new way, so I provide a bespoke response that links to tools and resources to help answer the questions. While each is different, though, there are commonalities. Most of my emails give people a simple starting point and a rough map to follow, so I thought that, as we head for Christmas, a time when a lot of people do sit down and focus on money, this might help you head into 2026 more prepared.

How We (and Our Daughter) Plan to Pay for University Without a Student Loan

How We (and Our Daughter) Plan to Pay for University Without a Student Loan

Ruth
Budgeting, ETFs, InvestNow, Kids and Money, PocketSmith, Sharesies, Smart

Well, the moment has arrived. The tiny five-year-old who started Primary School back in 2012 has just turned 18 and completed her final day of Year 13 at High School. Just. Like. That! I was warned that time would pass quickly, and it has. She has a few exams to get through, then she is done with school for good and can enjoy a few well-deserved weeks of R&R. Once the weather heats up, she will launch into full-time summer work for a local cherry packhouse. Going to university is expensive. Most of the cost is in the accommodation. We have always explained to her that we will financially assist her through university, provided she also contributes. She has done that. It’s going to be a family effort to get her through her degree debt-free.

Everything Broke at Once - Why We’re Financially Hunkering Down

Everything Broke at Once - Why We’re Financially Hunkering Down

Ruth
Budgeting, Emergency Fund, ETFs, Index Funds

There’s been a bit of drama this month—our household needs to reduce its spending. We’ve got a few things going on, and I think we’d be foolish not to mind our dollars right now. As of April 2025, with storm clouds brewing, we’re financially hunkering down. Before you start to think that The Happy Saver has gone into a tailspin because the share market is particularly volatile at the moment, well, that’s not our problem at all. We haven’t reduced the amount we invest each month. While the cost of everything else is rising, at least shares are on sale right now! You’ve got to find the positives.

Looking for a Friend to Chat Money With?

Looking for a Friend to Chat Money With?

Ruth
Money Education, Phone A Friend, Budgeting, Investment, KiwiSaver

There’s no shortage of money advice out there, but sifting through it all can be exhausting. You can research endlessly, but much of what you find is complex, conflicting, or comes with a sales pitch. Sometimes, what you really need is a straightforward conversation with someone who isn’t trying to sell you anything—just a friendly kōrero about money. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of being that person for many Kiwis looking for practical, no-nonsense financial information. Whether it’s answering emails, chatting in passing, or sitting down for a Phone A Friend, I love helping people gain clarity and confidence with their money. If you’ve ever wished you had someone to talk things through with, I’m happy to help. In fact, one of these conversations just last week inspired this blog post.

How much money do I need to have invested at 65?

How much money do I need to have invested at 65?

Ruth
Budgeting, ETFs, Index Funds, Investment, KiwiSaver, Retirement

It may be because my ears are finely tuned to anything money-related, but there seems to be increasing talk of saving for retirement. More specifically, people are not investing enough for retirement. Organisations are panicking on our behalf as they watch Kiwis nonchalantly wander their way to retirement, in many cases hopelessly unprepared, having barely given the financial side of stopping work a thought. I’m well ahead of the game here, as I’ve been thinking about—and financially planning for—our eventual retirement for years. I have a question for you. If you woke up tomorrow and found you were now 65 and would receive government superannuation but no longer worked, as your financial situation stands today, could you survive financially?

How We Pay Cash for Every Holiday

How We Pay Cash for Every Holiday

Ruth
Budgeting, PocketSmith, Saving, Wise

In January 2025, we boarded an eight-night South Pacific cruise. Today, I’m sharing our exact costs and how we paid cash for this holiday and every holiday we will take in the future. This blog post is not to convince you to book a cruise but to show you that if you have a holiday in mind that you want to take, I can help you make sure you have the money to pay for it. Travel is expensive, so it's essential to plan well in advance.

PocketSmith Helps Me Manage and Understand Our Money

PocketSmith Helps Me Manage and Understand Our Money

Ruth
Budgeting, PocketSmith, Money Education

Budgeting is particularly at the top of my mind as I’ve been leaning heavily on it since quitting my day job in late October. Given that my regular paycheque is now gone, it is during times of change that I pay closer attention to our pūtea until things settle down. In the lead-up to finishing work, I’d used my budgeting and saving skills to build up various bank accounts, which would act as a cash buffer/backup plan. My hunch was that we would be OK, but it pays to double-check. So I could feel confident about stepping away from a paycheque, PocketSmith, as always, played a massive role in helping me plan.

I quit my job!

I quit my job!

Ruth
ETFs, Hnry, Investment, KiwiSaver, PocketSmith, SmartShares, Smart Invest, Smart, Budgeting, Net Worth

In a recent blog post, I rebalanced our investment portfolio; this time, I’m rebalancing my life. I resigned from my PAYE job. I’m another step closer to early retirement, and I’m VERY excited about it! I always looked forward to working on Wednesday and Thursday each week, and deciding to leave a job I enjoy, plus giving up $20,000 a year, has been challenging. 

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