Keep The Change

Recently I teamed up with Lighthouse Financial and Sorted for this emergency fund masterclass, and it's exactly what every Kiwi needs to hear right now. 44% of Kiwis don't have an emergency fund. That's 2.3 million adults walking around completely exposed to life's curveballs.In this session, James from Lighthouse, Tom from Sorted, and I break down:Why you need $1,000 before you do anything elseThe real cost of not having emergency money (hint: it's not just financial)How to calculate your actual emergency fund targetWhy revolving credits sound good but usually backfireThe tools that actually work to build your fundWe kept this practical, no-nonsense, and focused on what works in the real world. No theory, just the stuff that will actually help you sleep better at night.If you're one of those 2.3 million Kiwis without an emergency fund, this is your wake-up call. And if you've got one but haven't reviewed it lately, we'll show you how to make sure it's actually fit for purpose.This is Money Month content that could genuinely change your financial future.

You see it online all the time: “Not everyone wants to be a business owner. Well, no sh*t. You don't often hear: ‘’Not everyone can be an employee.’’ Right now, over 406,000 Kiwi are currently receiving a form of ‘main benefit’ government support. Imagine if just 10% of those 406,000 people were equipped with boring ole income-generating skills? Why haven't we normalised this?

What makes a great fighter and an even better coach? City Kickboxing head coach Eugene Bareman opens up about his journey into fighting, the critical role of self-discipline, and why mental toughness matters more than raw talent. We explore the reality of big paydays, the resilience required to stay at the top, and how he’s helped shape a culture where even the biggest superstars stay grounded. From humble beginnings to putting New Zealand on the global MMA map, this episode is packed with insight, honesty, and the mindset behind building champions.I have a goal to help 100,000 Kiwis improve their financial literacy. Generate KiwiSaver Scheme has sponsored Keep The Change to help me reach more people and make this a reality. Cheers Generate. Head to http://generatekiwisaver.co.nz/change to find out more.

Today, we sit down with Rose Kennedy, the visionary behind Rose’s Dining Table (https://www.rosesdiningtable.co.nz/), a unique experience that turns dining into a form of creative expression. From quitting her full-time corporate job because she knew she wasn’t herself, to designing immersive dining experiences across New Zealand, Rose shares how her signature pink dining table became a symbol of connection, creativity, and conceptual hospitality.We talk about the power of shared meals, building a brand rooted in emotion and design, and how one bold idea can create space for community, conversation, and unforgettable experiences.Find Rose:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rosesdiningtableWebsite: Rosesdiningtable.co.nz (https://www.rosesdiningtable.co.nz/)LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rose-kennedy-777705171/Generate are supporting my vision to improve the financial literacy of 100,000 kiwis by sponsoring Keep The Change. Cheers Generate. Head to http://generatekiwisaver.co.nz/change to find out more.

Prepare to be inspired by Aaron Wilton-Jones, entrepreneur, TikTok sensation, and co-founder of Autoclean Premium Detailing. The once skydiving instructor launched a thriving car detailing business that changed his life and took him on a journey to making more money online than he had from cleaning the cars. With over a million combined followers on social media, Aaron is now teaching thousands worldwide how to build successful detailing businesses and many pay him to do this through the Autoclean Detailers Academy.In this episode, Aaron shares the chapters of his journey, the strategies behind his social media success, and valuable insights on overcoming adversity to build a purpose-driven business. We dive into the world of online courses, Kiwi scepticism, making a lot of money, and much more!Whether you're an aspiring entrepreneur or simply love a good resilience story, Aaron's journey will motivate you to turn challenges into opportunities.If you need to find Aaron, do that here: https://autoclean.co.nz/about-us/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/autocleanacademy/I 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://generatekiwisaver.co.nz/change to find out more.

Sometimes I find myself wondering…what if the reality is that most people don’t actually want to accept what it takes to make their lives better? Billion-dollar wisdom can be served up cheaper than your $7 trim flat white you need to go for a walk. It’s almost as though, now that it’s all sitting in front of us, we are thinking ‘I better pretend I don’t know, so then I don’t need to take action’. We are running out of excuses with the amount of barriers that have been bashed down for us by people trying to make our lives easier to succeed. Let's explore some of the ways other people have made our lives even easier than we could have dreamed of.

Unemployment Hits 5.2% 400,000 Kiwi Want More WorkWe’ve got to the stage of the cycle where more people than ever want more employment. But many are fishing in the wrong pond or using the wrong fishing line altogether. Why? Well they haven’t been taught how to fish. What if more of them knew how to increase their income by other means? Back when unemployment was 3.3% I was encouraging people to learn how to make more money and I will explain why.I will explain what I think one of the major headwinds the economy has that may see unemployment increase further from here too! Please be prepared. 

Banks are slow. Fintech is fast. Dosh is here to shake up how money moves in New Zealand. In this episode, we chat with Shane Marsh, one of the co-founders behind Dosh about the pain points they're solving, what financial innovation actually looks like, and what’s next in the race to modernise Kiwi banking. Over the past four years, they’ve rolled out savings accounts, cash back debit cards, and even mortgages: already serving over 40,000 Kiwis and now they have their sights set on becoming a household name in the banking space. Whether you're a tech lover, business owner, or just tired of waiting for transfers, this one's for you.Find Dosh: https://www.dosh.nzInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/dosh_new_zealandI have a goal to help 100,000 Kiwis improve their financial literacy. Generate KiwiSaver Scheme has sponsored Keep The Change to help me reach more people and make this a reality. Cheers Generate. Head to generatekiwisaver.co.nz/change to find out more.As always, no part of this podcast is intended as financial advice; it is intended as general information only.

A person recently explained that they borrowed money against the equity in their property to invest into shares. They came into some money and paid down non tax-decuctible debt and then turned around and borrowed it to by stocks. Because the new loan is used for investment purposes, the interest is now potentially tax-deductible (not tax advice!!!). We dive into the world of 'debt recycling'.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/