All in PocketSmith

The Full Cost of University in 2026

The Full Cost of University in 2026

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

Well, that went quickly! Just like that, the daughter we dropped off at Otago University in February is about to finish her last exam and head home for the summer. While it will be wonderful to have her home, there goes my tidy house! She has had a very good year, and I'm proud of how she has managed the transition from home to university and a whole new life. Given all the talk about the merits, or lack of, of tertiary education, and given that she has no interest in being a tradie, I thought I'd break down the actual costs of a university education for other young people considering this very valid route towards a future career.

Jonny, How Is Retirement Going?

Jonny, How Is Retirement Going?

Ruth
ETFs, Hnry, Jonny's Take, PocketSmith, Retirement

Ruth has been asked this question a lot over the past couple of months: “So, how is Jonny’s retirement going?” The short answer is: excellent. And it’s probably easier that I, Jonny, answer the question. A couple of months ago, I left my two-day-a-week graphic design job. Effectively ending a 30-year career. We had reached a point financially where I no longer needed to keep earning a regular PAYE income, and we decided it was time for me to stop. But I don’t really think of myself as retired. I think of it more as making work optional.

The Financial Job I’ve Been Avoiding For Months

The Financial Job I’ve Been Avoiding For Months

Ruth
ETFs, InvestNow, Net Worth, Sharesies, Sharesight, Smart, PocketSmith, KiwiSaver

I’m pretty good at financial admin. Most of the time, I really look forward to it. I genuinely get excited about the first of the month because that is when I check the value of each bank account, our ETF, and our KiwiSaver, and use that information to update our net worth spreadsheet. Tracking my net worth, however, doesn’t tell me how our investments are actually performing. It’s all well and good investing in something, but if it’s not making any money, what’s the point? Which is why I’ve always used an online share portfolio tracker, a Kiwi company called Sharesight, to do all the maths I’ve got absolutely no interest in doing myself. It tracks our ETF investments and tells me whether they are actually making us any money, or not.

The Happy Saver Turns 10: Giveaways, Gratitude and Your Wins

The Happy Saver Turns 10: Giveaways, Gratitude and Your Wins

Ruth
ETFs, Index Funds, KiwiSaver, Money Education, Net Worth, Personal Finance, PocketSmith, Sharesies, Sharesight, Smart

I know your time is important, and over the years I’ve taken up a fair bit of it, ten years in fact! Yes, The Happy Saver is 10 years old. This blog post is packed with gratitude, giveaways, and a celebration of your wins, because you haven’t just read my blog; many of you have changed your lives. I want to say a heartfelt thank you to you for being part of The Happy Saver, and to the Kiwi companies who continue to support the work I do. For ten years, I’ve been writing blog posts documenting our financial progress and answering the questions I regularly receive from you. The original goal of The Happy Saver was simple: help people. Ten years later, that goal has not changed. What has changed is our own net worth, and the net worth of thousands of people who have quietly and steadily become better and better at managing their pūtea.

Jonny’s Take: Becoming Debt-Free Changed Everything

Jonny’s Take: Becoming Debt-Free Changed Everything

Ruth
Debt, ETFs, KiwiSaver, Net Worth, PocketSmith, Retirement, Smart, Jonny's Take

Jonny has been thinking a lot about money, work, health, and what really matters lately. In this story, he shares his honest take on what becoming debt-free has made possible for our family, from paying off the mortgage to stepping back from full-time work and creating more freedom, flexibility, and breathing room in life. He also talks about why couples don’t both need to love spreadsheets or know every investing detail, but they do need to communicate, trust each other, and work towards the same goals together.

Someone Call an Ambulance

Someone Call an Ambulance

Ruth
Emergency Fund, ETFs, Insurance, PocketSmith, Smart

We’ve had a bit of drama recently, meaning all of our 2026 plans are currently up in the air. Jonny had a serious accident; he fell off the ladder, breaking his arm and fracturing his pelvis in four places. After eight days in hospital, he’s now home resting and beginning what will hopefully be a full recovery. One thing he said to me while in hospital really stuck: “Well, at least money is the last thing I need to worry about. In fact, it hadn’t even crossed my mind.” That peace of mind doesn’t happen by accident. It’s the result of years of building financial resilience so that when life throws a curveball, money isn’t another stress. While Jonny’s job in hospital was to lie still and recover, I suggested he write down a few thoughts about the experience. So this is his writing debut. I’ll let Jonny take it from here, and I’ll add a few thoughts at the end.

$1.71 Million Net Worth: Our 2025 Money Update

$1.71 Million Net Worth: Our 2025 Money Update

Ruth
Budgeting, ETFs, Investment, InvestNow, KiwiSaver, Net Worth, PocketSmith, Smart, Smart Invest

At the start of every year, I open one spreadsheet that tells the story of a decade of choices. Updating our net worth spreadsheet helps me see where we’ve been, and where we might be heading. These annual check-ins matter, and I genuinely enjoy this process. 2025 was a good financial year for us, driven primarily by consistent investing in the share market through our ETF and, to a lesser extent, our KiwiSaver. Once again, we prioritised investing, never missing a month, and it paid off. 

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.

Christmas Giveaway!

Christmas Giveaway!

Ruth
PocketSmith, Sharesies, Sharesight

Once again, we’re celebrating the festive season with a special Christmas Giveaway for the fabulous people who subscribe to The Happy Saver. Thank you so much for your ongoing support throughout 2025. Nothing says CHRISTMAS like getting your finances in good shape, whether that’s through a brilliant money book, some powerful budgeting software, a handy investment tool, or even a boost to the grocery budget!

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