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Keep The Change
NZ Has Changed FOREVER & Some Can't See It
5 years ago I went live on Instagram warning people about what 'free' money could mean. 5 Years on I go live to share what I think we've seen happen.
New Zealand's economy has fundamentally changed and won't revert to how things were. In this video, we explore how to adjust to these economic shifts, emphasizing the importance of controlling your own income. We discuss the current economic climate, the impact of inflation and rising property prices, and practical strategies to increase your earning potential. Discover why "skills pay the bills," and learn actionable tips for navigating uncertainty, leveraging opportunities, and staying ahead despite economic challenges.
1. Economic Landscape Has Changed:
NZ economy won't return to pre-pandemic norms.
Current environment remains challenging, despite expectations of improvement by 2025.
Interest rates peaked and are slowly declining, but economic recovery is gradual.
2. Economic Lessons from the Pandemic:
Pandemic showed economy's resilience due to digital solutions (Shopify, online stores, remote working).
Revealed that the economy shifted significantly towards digital and skills-based sectors.
3. Inflation and Housing:
Wage growth projected at 2.6%, while housing prices expected to grow at 6% annually.
Imbalance between wage growth and property inflation highlights a fundamental economic issue.
People are leaving for better economic opportunities overseas (e.g., Australia).
4. Importance of Controlling Your Income:
Relying solely on wages won't keep pace with inflation or asset growth.
Increasing your income through skills is essential ("skills pay the bills").
Government budget and policy won't significantly boost wages or ease pressures soon.
5. Examples of Increasing Income:
Examples include car cleaning, photography services, and value-added services for older, wealthier demographics who value convenience.
Side hustles, skills-based work, and entrepreneurship can significantly boost income.
The key is identifying what people value and are willing to pay for.
6. Leveraging the Flow of Money:
Position yourself near economic activities (e.g., sports events, community activities) to capture money flows.
Identify niches and areas where spending is consistent, even in economic downturns.
7. Personal Wellbeing:
Prioritise mental and physical health for sustained success and resilience.
Maintain self-care routines to navigate economic and personal challenges.
8. AI and Technological Disruption:
AI and technology will disrupt traditional jobs; prepare by diversifying skills and income sources.
Government hasn't effectively addressed AI's economic impact; individuals must adapt proactively.
9. Practical Resources:
Keep the Change podcast episodes and webinars offer practical advice (e.g., increasing income by \$10k, managing finances).
Encouragement to use available free resources to educate yourself.
More episodes
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MM 291 - Why Your Boss Drives a Ranger & You Don’t
47:03|Most employees think their boss is “making a killing.” In this episode, I break down the hidden costs of running a business, the real risks owners carry, and why comparing your hourly rate to what the client pays is a massive misunderstanding. Strap yourself in.Hey thanks for listening! Please take some form of action from this content, don’t just be a consumer, become a producer! Make sure you’re subscribed to Money Mail via Keepthechange.co.nz to receive our weekly lesson on money and financial literacy. Stay close to us on social media and share this with someone that you think this content will help. Together we can collectively improve the financial literacy of New Zealand - let’s get on with it. Find us here:@keepthechange_nzhttps://www.keepthechange.co.nz/
Has NZ's Economy Hit Rock Bottom? What's Next In 2026?
01:02:46|"Survive to 25" was bullshit. We're halfway through 2025 and it still feels brutal. But the data is starting to tell a different story.Luke and Mikey break down what's really happening and why 2025 might be looked back on as the economic bottom. We cover the fatigue everyone's feeling, why people are leaving at record levels, and the regional differences across the country.The reality? Some are crushing it while others are struggling. The difference isn't luck, it's taking control of your income instead of waiting for someone else to save you.Find Mikey:Instagram https://www.instagram.com/officialmikeysmith/Linkedin https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikey-smith-25999548/Website https://guardiansmith.co.nzAmy from http://Levridge.co.nz has come on as a sponsor of Keep The Change to help people with their financial planning. Stuck? Find Amy : amy@levridge.co.nz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.levridgeWebsite: https://www.levridge.co.nzGet tickets to the 2nd annual in person 'keep the change unplugged' event: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/keep-the-change-tickets/artist/3925924Generate are supporting my vision to improve the financial literacy of 100,000 kiwis by sponsoring Keep The Change. Cheers Generate. Head to https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/change/ to find out more.
MM 290 - Why I Went To Queenstown To Plan The Next 12 Months
31:19|We hit pause on the day-to-day noise and take a step back to ask ourselves the big questions. Where do we want to be in 12 months? What about in 5 years? What needs to happen this quarter to get us moving? We talk openly about what’s working, what isn’t, what work we want to do, and where we want to push ourselves. Summer and the end of a year is great time to do this. Take it seriously too! You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to get started. Take some time to dream. Make a plan. Share it. Act on it. Review the plan quarterly. Take more action on it.Hey thanks for listening! Please take some form of action from this content, don’t just be a consumer, become a producer! Make sure you’re subscribed to Money Mail via Keepthechange.co.nz to receive our weekly lesson on money and financial literacy. Stay close to us on social media and share this with someone that you think this content will help. Together we can collectively improve the financial literacy of New Zealand - let’s get on with it. Find us here:@keepthechange_nzhttps://www.keepthechange.co.nz/
The Strengths Coach Who Helped Change My Life: Suzanne Oh
01:01:38|Someone once told me to focus on my strengths. I said how. They showed me the Gallup’s StrengthsFinder to figure out what I’m actually good at, and what to stop wasting time on. Then the maximiser in me wanted to go deeper on this so I linked up with an incredible human. In this episode, I’ve convinced my secret strengths coach, Suze Oh, to join me for a deep dive into how understanding your natural talents can change the way you work, lead, and live. It certainly did for me. We unpack my Top 10 strengths (yep, the real list), talk about how they show up in business and life, and how you can use your own strengths to make more progress with less burnout.If you’ve ever wondered why you’re wired the way you are, this one’s for you.Find Suze OhWebsite: https://www.thinkplando.co.nz Email: suze@thinkplando.co.nzChat: https://calendly.com/suzeoh/Amy from http://Levridge.co.nz has come on as a sponsor of Keep The Change to help people with their financial planning. Stuck? Find Amy : amy@levridge.co.nz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.levridgeWebsite: https://www.levridge.co.nzGet tickets to the 2nd annual in person 'keep the change unplugged' event: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/keep-the-change-tickets/artist/3925924Generate are supporting my vision to improve the financial literacy of 100,000 kiwis by sponsoring Keep The Change. Cheers Generate. Head to https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/change/ to find out more.
MM 289 - Overtaxing Kiwi Leads Them To Want To Work Less
36:22|Every week in NZ, people turn down overtime, stop pushing for bonuses, or refuse side work because they think it’s not worth it. Is that right? Some are even convinced they received less, for working more. The old accountant in me couldn’t help but step in and ask a few questions to try to help.Hey thanks for listening! Please take some form of action from this content, don’t just be a consumer, become a producer! Make sure you’re subscribed to Money Mail via Keepthechange.co.nz to receive our weekly lesson on money and financial literacy. Stay close to us on social media and share this with someone that you think this content will help. Together we can collectively improve the financial literacy of New Zealand - let’s get on with it. Find us here:@keepthechange_nzhttps://www.keepthechange.co.nz/
New Zealand's Population Crisis: What's Really Happening w Professor Paul Spoonley
01:10:20|For 12 months, 70,000 New Zealand citizens have left to live overseas. 60% went to Australia. That's the highest we've ever seen.Our most popular guest yet, Professor Paul Spoonley is back to break down what's really happening: we're losing young graduates, skilled workers, and even 30-somethings who've been in our workforce for years. Meanwhile, net migration has dropped to just 10,000, we've "emptied the coffers" on population growth.The economics are brutal, Australia's offering higher wages on top of relocation fees, while NZ graduates are unable to find jobs whilst sitting with massive debt, so why not move somewhere that pays more?We're facing a 250,000 worker shortage over the next 20 years, but we're losing our best people to countries that value them more.New Zealand has changed. The question is: are we adapting fast enough?Find Paul Spoonley on X: https://x.com/PSpoonley Amy from http://Levridge.co.nz has come on as a sponsor of Keep The Change to help people with their financial planning. Stuck? Find Amy : amy@levridge.co.nz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.levridgeWebsite: https://www.levridge.co.nzGet tickets to the 2nd annual in person 'keep the change unplugged' event: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/keep-the-change-tickets/artist/3925924I believe 100,000 kiwi with better financial literacy will create a better New Zealand. The Generate KiwiSaver Scheme are helping me reach this goal. Cheers Generate. Head to https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/change/ to find out more.
MM 288 - Only 21% Of People Are Engaged In Their Work (Why?)
39:56|Only 21% of people globally are engaged in their work. That means almost 4 out of 5 people are turning up each day to something that doesn’t really light them up. Crazy, right? Well, probably bloody normal based on the stats. But for me, that’s hard to relate to. So I asked the Keep The Change audience: “Why stay in work you’re not actually engaged in?"Hey thanks for listening! Please take some form of action from this content, don’t just be a consumer, become a producer! Make sure you’re subscribed to Money Mail via Keepthechange.co.nz to receive our weekly lesson on money and financial literacy. Stay close to us on social media and share this with someone that you think this content will help. Together we can collectively improve the financial literacy of New Zealand - let’s get on with it. Find us here:@keepthechange_nzhttps://www.keepthechange.co.nz/
What Every NZ Family Needs to Know About Retirement Homes, Wills & Ageing Parents: Emily Silby
59:37|Most Kiwi families have no idea what's coming when their parents age. Then they get hit with legal bills, family fights, and financial shocks they never saw coming.Emily Silby breaks down the legal reality every family will face: enduring power of attorney, wills, retirement village contracts, and rest home subsidies. We cover the 30% deferred management fee, why you don't actually own anything in a retirement village, and what happens when your parents can't make decisions anymore.The numbers are brutal: median rent is $600/week, but retirement village fees can hit $400/week on top of your million-dollar entry fee. Meanwhile, 85 is the average age people enter rest care - if they ever do.If your parents don't have wills and enduring power of attorney sorted, you're setting your family up for expensive legal battles and court applications.We cover relationship property traps, residential care subsidies, and why leaving it to the kids to figure out is the worst possible plan. Plus the MSD loan scheme that keeps people out of limbo when houses won't sell.Don't wait until crisis hits. Get the legal structure sorted now, while everyone still has their marbles.Your future self will thank you.Find EmilyEmail: emily@rejtharlaw.co.nzLinkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/emily-silby-a5181290Amy from http://Levridge.co.nz has come on as a sponsor of Keep The Change to help people with their financial planning. Stuck? Find Amy : amy@levridge.co.nz Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amy.levridgeWebsite: https://www.levridge.co.nzGet tickets to the 2nd annual in person 'keep the change unplugged' event: https://www.ticketmaster.co.nz/keep-the-change-tickets/artist/3925924I believe 100,000 kiwi with better financial literacy will create a better New Zealand. The Generate KiwiSaver Scheme are helping me reach this goal. Cheers Generate. Head to https://www.generatewealth.co.nz/change/ to find out more.
MM 287 - The End Of Tax-Free Property Gains?
37:38|Labour’s Chris Hipkins has put his chips on the table with a Capital Gains Tax. Yep the one that’s always been political poison in New Zealand. Will Labour win an election on this? Don’t know but credit to them getting this out in the public a year before the election so that people can sit with it and have epic Xmas arguments with their family. Let's explore a quick summary of how it would work.Hey thanks for listening! Please take some form of action from this content, don’t just be a consumer, become a producer! Make sure you’re subscribed to Money Mail via Keepthechange.co.nz to receive our weekly lesson on money and financial literacy. Stay close to us on social media and share this with someone that you think this content will help. Together we can collectively improve the financial literacy of New Zealand - let’s get on with it. Find us here:@keepthechange_nzhttps://www.keepthechange.co.nz/