Where's My Money Season 3, Episode 8

Season Three of the multi-award-winning podcast Where’s My Money? is done and dusted, and here we bring you the hot tips shared by host Reagan White and his guests over the season. 

enable.me partners with rova to bring this podcast to life and stimulate the conversation about finances with everyday Kiwis. Where’s My Money? follows the story of Reagan – a man chasing the Kiwi Dream but feeling stuck living month-to-month – and his discussions with the experts about what he may be doing wrong and how to fix it.  

One man. One million dollars of debt. One podcast to find a way out.  

Dream house, or just dreaming? 

In this episode of Where’s My Money?, host Reagan White revisits a question many Kiwis are quietly asking themselves: Is the “Kiwi Dream” still possible – or does it need a serious rethink? 

He’s joined by Brad Olsen, Chief Executive and Principal Economist at Infometrics, who cuts straight to the heart of the issue: maybe the dream hasn’t died – maybe it’s just evolved. 

“It seemed to be very old school in how life was supposed to work. I don’t own a house, and I don’t feel I’m doing particularly poorly in my life. It works for me at the moment,” Brad says. 

“I do think oftentimes people are trying to please others with their money habits.” 

Brad encourages listeners to build their own version of success. Whether that’s travel, family, home ownership, or financial independence, the goal should be your dream – not a carbon copy of someone else’s. 

The new reality: Property and the income gap 

enable.me financial coaches Katie Wesney and Kirsty Healey join Reagan to bring a reality check: for many, home ownership is feeling further and further out of reach. 

“That multiplier of income you need to support a house purchase has really gone up,” Kirsty says. 

“50 years ago, it might be that you just needed over a year’s income… But now we’re seeing that multiple has really crept up…to six [or] seven.” 

The system hasn’t just moved the goalposts – it’s moved the entire stadium. That’s why getting into a home today takes more than just saving harder. It takes strategy. 

Rent-vesting, vision, and redefining ‘success’ 

Rather than chase the traditional model of buying the perfect home in the perfect place and settling in for life, Katie Wesney invites listeners to rethink their options. 

“Potentially, the first home that you purchase might not even be the home you live in, but you’re on a path to financial freedom, to have your own property, family etc. But you have got to be creative, in terms of strategy,” Katie says. 

Later, Reagan asks if property is still the smartest option for growing wealth in New Zealand, or if Kiwis are just sticking to potentially outdated traditional values.  

“It’s really important to acknowledge that a really great plan has a balance of a lot of different investment options. For most people, they do a little bit of a lot of things. But it depends on age and stage, where you’ll get the most bang for your buck,” Katie responds. 

For many people, freedom is simply about building a life of choice – and that starts with knowing what financial success looks like to you, and creating a strategy based on your individual circumstances – your age, your lifestyle, and your goals. 

It’s your life. Own the choices. 

The trio agree that it’s harder to get ahead, but success can be found through small changes and consistency in actions – not just hoping for the best.  

“Knowing all this stuff, while nice, it doesn’t change your situation. We have to focus on action, and what is relevant to our situation,” Katie says. 

“We are human – let’s put some systems in place that allow us to stick to our plan,” Kirsty adds. 

If you’re looking for inspiration to take meaningful financial steps in 2025 and beyond, this episode will help you reset your perspective on what is possible. 

Disclaimer: The Where’s My Money? podcast and the information shared by host Reagan White and his guests does not constitute individual financial advice. If you’re interested in receiving financial advice, you can book a consultation with an enable.me coach. Costs apply.