Applying The Barefoot Investor in NZ - 2025 UPDATE

Applying The Barefoot Investor in NZ - 2025 UPDATE

Ruth
ETFs, Index Funds, Investment, InvestNow, Kernel, KiwiSaver, Money Education, Sharesight, Smart, SmartShares

The content I’ve created on applying The Barefoot Investor book to New Zealand remains some of the most regularly viewed on The Happy Saver, with collectively close to 100,000 views. I continue to gift his book to others because I believe it’s a perfect guide to getting on top of your finances. If you were to combine his book with Rebel Finance School’s free online course, you could pretty much call yourself “financially literate.” Since The Barefoot Investor remains so popular, it's time for me to update the March 2020 blog post I wrote, so that all those people reading the book for the first time, as well as those following along with The Barefoot Investor principles, have a reliable New Zealand resource to turn to. 

What 220 Kiwi Net Worth Millionaires Told Us

What 220 Kiwi Net Worth Millionaires Told Us

Ruth
ETFs, Index Funds, Investment, Money Education, Net Worth, Saving, Shares

Reaching a net worth of $1,000,000 is no small feat, it takes time, discipline, and a whole lot of intentional decision-making. I’ve been lucky enough to hear from over 220 Kiwis who’ve done just that, and they generously shared how they got there by filling out my Net Worth Millionaire Questionnaire. In this blog post, I used AI to analyse all of the responses, giving me a summary and highlighting the repeated themes across all submissions for each questionnaire question. The result? A fascinating look at how everyday New Zealanders are quietly building wealth. The beauty of becoming a millionaire is that, as you will see, there are many paths that lead to it. So, pick your own path, and enjoy the journey. Whether you’re just getting started or already on your way, I reckon you’ll find a few golden nuggets in what they had to say.

KiwiSaver’s Government Contribution is Being Cut – Here’s What I’m Doing About It

KiwiSaver’s Government Contribution is Being Cut – Here’s What I’m Doing About It

Ruth
ETFs, Index Funds, InvestNow, KiwiSaver, Smart, Kernel, Simplicity, Retirement

Every June, I check in with our KiwiSaver accounts to make sure we’re on track to receive the annual government contribution. If you put in at least $1,042 by the 30th of June 2025, the government will deposit $521 into your KiwiSaver account; a welcome little bonus for those of us thinking ahead to retirement. But from 1 July 2025, that bonus will be cut in half, dropping to just $260 a year. With the government’s contribution shrinking, yet again, it’s time for me to rethink my strategy. In my recent fortnightly email, I mentioned that I was considering ceasing payments into my KiwiSaver. My friend Wayne questioned that move, so I wanted to explain a bit more about what I’m planning on doing with my KiwiSaver, and what Jonny and I are planning as a couple, especially given we will be retiring in our fifties.

Mortgage or Investing? Why Not Both?

Mortgage or Investing? Why Not Both?

Ruth
Debt, ETFs, Index Funds, Investment, Mortgage, PocketSmith, KiwiSaver, FI Series

Andrea asked me this question, “Mortgage vs investments... One or the other, or both?”  With two young kids, a $240,000 mortgage, and an eye on the share market, she’s wondering if delaying investing to get rid of the mortgage is the best move, or if she’s missing out on valuable time in the market. As our KiwiSaver balances grow as a nation, plus people become aware of share market investing as a successful way to make money outside of housing, more people question whether putting additional payments towards their mortgage is the ‘right’ thing to do. Would they become wealthier if they reduced their mortgage payments and invested that money instead? The fear of missing out is real.

My Ever-Evolving List of Trusted Money Tools and Resources

My Ever-Evolving List of Trusted Money Tools and Resources

Ruth
FI Series, Hnry, Money Education, Personal Finance, PocketSmith, Sharesight

I receive daily emails from people asking me for resources and information to help them answer their money questions. I frequently share the same handy tools and resources. Today I wanted to share them all in one place. I firmly believe in sending helpful information your way and letting you explore and learn about it yourself because that way, you absorb it better and apply it directly to your situation. I know that when you educate yourself about your finances, instead of outsourcing the task to someone else, whether that be a financial advisor or a spouse, it puts you in charge, or makes you part of a team.

I have stopped buying the US 500. Well, sort of.

I have stopped buying the US 500. Well, sort of.

Ruth
ETFs, Index Funds, Investment, KiwiSaver, InvestNow, Sharesight, Smart, SmartShares

Managing our money is never ‘done’. I am constantly tweaking and adjusting. Whether for the little things like an increase in our weekly rates bill, or preparing for a bigger expense. Our income and costs are constantly in flux, and we need to keep monitoring and evolving with those changes. The time has come to tweak our investments. Which is why, once I was up and running with our new KiwiSaver provider, I turned my attention to our US 500 ETF and began researching whether we should also slightly adjust our direction with this investment.

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?

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