Best Ruth Personal Finance Blogger Podcasts (2024)

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Part 4: KIWISAVER 22:03

13h ago22:03

22:03

FI Series - Part 4: KIWISAVER What's In This Episode? The fourth part of this six-part series is one of the easier topics to cover, KiwiSaver. Joining KiwiSaver is a no-brainer, and it still surprises me when I meet people who are not in it. I’m always looking ahead and doing my best to determine what I might need money for and how much I might nee…

1
Part 3: EMERGENCY FUND 19:10

15d ago19:10

19:10

FI Series - Part 3: EMERGENCY FUND What's In This Episode? 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 I didn’t otherwise plan for, but I need money …

1
Part 2: BUDGET 26:21

29d ago26:21

26:21

FI Series - Part 2: BUDGET What's In This Episode? 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., budgeting. When you learn to budget, your net worth will begi…

51
Part 1: NET WORTH 14:06

1M ago14:06

14:06

FI Series - Part 1: NET WORTH What's In This Episode? 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 independent. Because I know that there are some in my audien…

51
93. Revisit with Nic: In the process of making a financial U-turn! 31:12

3M ago31:12

31:12

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 93 What's In This Episode? 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 long after we had finished the episode, I wondered how…

1
92. An adventurous 19-year-old 38:37

4M ago38:37

38:37

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 92 What's In This Episode? 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 email. Josephine hoped that I might be able to answer a fe…

1
91. With only $100 in the bank, something had to change. 45:00

4M ago45:00

45:00

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 91 What's In This Episode? 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 and education debt and onto a new path of saving up to b…

1
90. Revisit with Bradie and Paul: The First Year of Early Retirement 26:36

5M ago26:36

26:36

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 90 What's In This Episode? 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 debt just seven short years ago, and now they have just…

1
89. Creative Planners Working Towards a Retirement of Plenty 47:18

7M ago47:18

47:18

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 89 What's In This Episode? 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 who are parents to three adult tamariki. Very handily…

1
88. Birds of a Feather Flock Together 46:57

8M ago46:57

46:57

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 88 What's In This Episode? 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 her mid-30s. They’ve been together about four years an…

1
87. My Partner Died Without a Will 56:31

8M ago56:31

56:31

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 87 What's In This Episode? 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 course, about everyday Kiwis in Aotearoa. Hers, as yo…

1
86. You can’t live with a lifestyle that is above your income. 1:04:50

11M ago1:04:50

1:04:50

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 86 What's In This Episode? 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 mo…

1
85. Revisit with Kiri: The Rollercoaster Continues 30:25

12M ago30:25

30:25

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 85 What's In This Episode? 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. First Home Buyers, where I detailed the rollercoaste…

1
84. Early Retirement: But still working stuff out. 56:58

1y ago56:58

56:58

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 84 What's In This Episode? 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 they own one home and have a large retirement fund which …

1
83. Iron Fisted Lucy 58:03

1y ago58:03

58:03

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 83 What's In This Episode? 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, they made many decisions because their backs were again…

1
82. From Paycheque to Paycheque to Home Sweet Home 1:04:20

1y ago1:04:20

1:04:20

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 82 What's In This Episode? 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 her keep on track with some long-term money goals. Aft…

1
81. Turning good opportunities into reality! 58:58

1y ago58:58

58:58

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 81 What's In This Episode? 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 thing led to another; he stumbled upon a cracking good dea…

1
80. Young, Bright, and Financially Wise 31:42

1y ago31:42

31:42

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 80 What's In This Episode? 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 demonstrates a forward-thinking mindset towards his financial w…

1
79. I'll drink to that! 1:00:44

1+ y ago1:00:44

1:00:44

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 79 What's In This Episode? 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 teens and twenties gathering life experiences by living …

1
78. In the process of making a Financial U-turn! 1:13:01

1+ y ago1:13:01

1:13:01

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 78 What's In This Episode? 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, carefree non-money-driven man. Her money journey sta…

1
77. Saving is the new shopping! 47:40

1+ y ago47:40

47:40

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 77 What's In This Episode? 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. Covid was to be the tipping point for Rachel. Realising …

1
76. Part-time work. Full-time life. 52:51

1+ y ago52:51

52:51

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 76 What's In This Episode? 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 live in a tiny home, work part-time, take mini-retire…

1
75. If it’s not simple, you shouldn’t be doing it. 43:48

1+ y ago43:48

43:48

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 75 What's In This Episode? 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 degree, get to write their own story. In 2019, they purchas…

1
74. Interesting things happen to interesting people. 48:19

1+ y ago48:19

48:19

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 74 What's In This Episode? 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 the bank. She had a brief stint in the Navy and then com…

1
73. No student loan for me! 46:52

1+ y ago46:52

46:52

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 73 What's In This Episode? 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-time when she can to keep the income rolling in. The …

1
72. An inheritance goes a long way! 45:37

2y ago45:37

45:37

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 72 What's In This Episode? 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 in 2013 was similar to throwing a dart at a dart boar…

1
71. 19 Year Old Goes to Polytech Debt Free 43:18

2y ago43:18

43:18

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 71 What's In This Episode? Being only 19, and one of the younger people I’ve interviewed didn’t mean that today's guest Nathan had less to share. In November of 2022, he will graduate from Polytech with a Diploma in Quantity Surveying, with two years of industry experience, no debt and a job lined up. Added to that, he is a…

1
70. Our Money, Our Future 47:24

2y ago47:24

47:24

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 70 What's In This Episode? Today’s guest, 33-year-old Freya from Auckland, emailed me because she wanted me to interview more younger women who had their money sorted and also handled their families' finances. From the little she divulged in her email, I could tell that she was on track to being financially sorted, so I enc…

1
69. A Financially Complicated Breakup 38:07

2y ago38:07

38:07

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 69 What's In This Episode? Neil has come a long way in life since his move from London to New Zealand in 2005. His one-year adventure has turned into 17 and counting, and year on year, he has continued to learn a little more about how money works. Today he finds himself in his late 40s, a father of one, with investments bot…

1
68. On the trail to FIRE! 45:51

2y ago45:51

45:51

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 68 What's In This Episode? I managed to cross paths with 35-year-old Dani because both of us are runners and seeing the trails she was enjoying always inspired me to lace up my own shoes and head out the door for a run. It’s probably no surprise that when I found out she was also navigating her own path to FIRE, or Financia…

1
67. How to Use Your Nest Egg in Retirement 43:53

2y ago43:53

43:53

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 67 What's In This Episode? Sometimes, a minor conversation lights a spark and makes me want to know more about a person. This was the case with today’s guest Zoe. She emailed me a question, which I answered, but what got me interested was how financially assured this recently retired woman from Christchurch was as she actua…

1
66. You've gotta know your numbers! 51:58

2y ago51:58

51:58

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 66 What's In This Episode? Senia and her small whānau moved to Ashburton, New Zealand, from Samoa back in 2010 and quietly began to take on consumer debt. Until one day, enough was enough, and some well-timed conversations about becoming debt-free coincided with her realising they were living paycheque to paycheque. This ki…

1
65. I am no longer at the mercy of fate. 45:15

2y ago45:15

45:15

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 65 What's In This Episode? Australian based Kiwi Dad of two Jon went through a relationship separation and a financial crisis some years ago but is now on track to be mortgage-free within the next four years. The key for him has been self-taught education about how to handle his personal finances and he was particularly kee…

1
64. Building intergenerational wealth through property investment. 48:15

2y ago48:15

48:15

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 64 What's In This Episode? 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 and outs of the property market. He has been incredibly successful so far in b…

1
63. Revisit with Bradie: Suffocating Mortgage Debt to Financial Independence in Six Short Years 28:45

2y ago28:45

28:45

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 63 What's In This Episode? This is the fourth time that I’ve interviewed Bradie for this podcast! Why do I keep coming back for more? Because I am hooked on her journey from suffocating mortgage debt to financial independence in just six short years. Each time we speak there is an exciting new development and this episode d…

1
62. I retired at 39! 46:15

2y ago46:15

46:15

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 62 What's In This Episode? 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 kind of guy. So I was delighted when he took the time (because let’s face it he h…

1
61. Revisit with Bella: I don’t want a student debt hangover! 25:55

2y ago25:55

25:55

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 61 What's In This Episode? 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 fight your way out again. She explains how she has been tackling her $85,000 of …

1
60. First Home Buyers 46:50

2+ y ago46:50

46:50

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 60 What's In This Episode? 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 2020, which included a move to Australia, paying off student loans, buying a ho…

1
59. The evolution of a workable financial plan. 42:57

3y ago42:57

42:57

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 59 What's In This Episode? 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 said, “I love the idea of owning a car park in the city”. He thought it was a …

1
58. Leaving the big city for the Good Life 44:14

3y ago44:14

44:14

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 58 What's In This Episode? 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 financially and for a better work-life balance. With careers in IT and Health …

1
57. You can plan not to be broke 33:21

3y ago33:21

33:21

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 57 What's In This Episode? 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 tweaking all aspects of her financial life to gently steer her waka where she wa…

1
56. House Rich, Cash Poor 37:55

3y ago37:55

37:55

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 56 What's In This Episode? 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 built up, she found herself seriously short on cash and having to borrow money fro…

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55. Steep Grade Charge Down - Leaving Debt in the Rearview Mirror Forever 40:21

3y ago40:21

40:21

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 55 What's In This Episode? I’m starting out this series of six new episodes with a woman that I know pretty well, the reason being that she is one of my sisters! It took a little convincing to get her to appear on my podcast and I’ve changed her name for a bit of anonymity, but the reason I wanted to share her story is that…

1
54. Where are they now? A revisit with Lucas, Callum and Bradie. 30:00

3y ago30:00

30:00

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 54 What's In This Episode? For the last episode in this series, I have once again reconnected with a few people that I’ve interviewed before. I like to check in on people and get a feel for the progress and changes they have made and I know you do too. A lot of people ask me, ‘what happened to so and so’? So, I’ve got three…

1
53. On a flight path to financial independence. 36:42

3y ago36:42

36:42

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 53 What's In This Episode? When Julian and Sophie met in 1999 they each had a car, a very small amount in savings and no debt. Just 21 ‘short’ years later they have an approximate net worth of $1,500,000. So, how did they do it? Their current wealth is the combination of good budgeting, steady investing into retirement acco…

1
52. I don’t want a student debt hangover! 46:20

3y ago46:20

46:20

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 52 What's In This Episode? In today’s podcast, 26-year-old Bella shares the realities of student loan debt in New Zealand and how you can meander your way into debt, but it’s far harder to meander your way out again. She explains how the pressure of taking on student loans from the age of just 18 can quickly add up to $85,0…

1
51. Family first, live within your means, always have an emergency fund. 34:44

3y ago34:44

34:44

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 51 What's In This Episode? Aria and her husband Dave didn’t grow up with much so once they got together they knew they didn’t want to live paycheque to paycheque like many of their friends and whanau. In their mid-forties they have now reached a point where they can work part-time and afford to be generous with both their t…

1
50. An investor with military precision! 26:54

3y ago26:54

26:54

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 50 What's In This Episode? I first heard from Hamish when he sent me an email in late 2020 telling me that back in 2018, at the age of just 24 he had saved up and bought a $379,00 house in Palmerston North with a big deposit of $125,000. Apparently, that’s meant to be impossible in this day and age? Hence, no surprises I wa…

1
49. Everything I thought I knew about money was wrong 50:08

3y ago50:08

50:08

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 49 What's In This Episode? “Well this is awkward” I thought when some guy called Chris started secretly emailing me without his partner’s knowledge! Big long emails with tonnes of questions about personal finance, my favourite topic for sure! That is how I came to sit on the sidelines of the transformation of not just Chris…

1
48. Everything is working out perfectly! 49:17

3+ y ago49:17

49:17

MONEY JOURNEYS - EPISODE 48 What's In This Episode? Jen freaked out at 49! She considered herself to be halfway through her life and had big concerns about what the other half might look like. She became heartily sick of working so hard. At the age of 16, she started full time work, at 20 she had bought her first house, then got married and slowly …

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