Where’s My Money? Season 5, Episode 6
Season Five of multi-award-winning podcast Where’s My Money? is back to shed light on the common money questions New Zealanders are asking.
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.
Two years ago, Reagan came to enable.me in crisis when he suddenly found himself questioning whether he’d be able to make his next mortgage payment or default. On paper he appeared to have it all: a good job, a supportive partner, a beautiful home, and two adorable kids. But his finances told a very different story.
In this week’s episode, Reagan provides an update on his current situation – two years on from choosing to take control of his mortgage and finances. He’s now working with enable.me coach Shelley Palman, who joins Reagan to discuss his updated numbers and revised goals.
From Survival to a Fresh Start
Reagan no longer finds himself in fight-or-flight mode, but he’s not at the finish line either. He’s ready to refresh and begin a plan designed to accelerate his progress.
The early phase of Reagan’s journey was all about putting out fires – buying time to stabilise and keep his head above water. Having done that work, stability is now in place and it’s time to shift gears.
Shelley describes his new plan as “a fresh start”: a revitalised approach aimed at accelerating progress and redefining what’s possible. It’s about moving from crisis mode into growth mode – and resetting the systems that support that shift.
“It’s going to be really nice that we’re moving away from survival mode, because when you had that initial session… you were in a place of fight or flight at that point. So, the conversations we had today were really positive actually, we got to look ahead,” Shelley says.
She continues: “When we put together a system, it’s really important that the system works. We tried one system with you guys – you know, you did reduce your mortgage, so we made progress – but I want to accelerate that progress and really, kind of, push you ahead at a rate of knots.”
Breaking Things Down Re-evaluating Systems
To keep the journey manageable, Shelley breaks Reagan’s plan into year-one, year-two, and year-three targets – bite-sized, achievable, and motivating.
One of the first steps? Renaming his revolving credit to something that reduces temptation: “Do Not Touch.” The next step is improving visibility through his mortgage structure.
Shelley explains: “Very, very clear targets over the next three years, without you having to think too hard about it. A new system. We’ve got to make it automatic, make it easy, and remove the human element from it.”
Reagan’s New Mortgage-Free Trajectory
Progress can feel slow, but the compounding effect of small, consistent decisions is what ultimately drives meaningful change. Shelley’s advice is clear: rolling off fixed terms, unexpected shifts, or life’s curveballs can all be opportunities to reset – if you approach them intentionally.
“Little wins, you know? Often it is the little wins,” Shelley says, “so with the changes that we’ve made, it’s about capturing those little wins and channelling them towards you kind of getting a good result.”
Shelley shares that Reagan is currently on track to be mortgage-free in 13 years – provided he sticks to the plan.
Along the way they’ve added goals to keep motivation high – his updated plan includes budgeting for home renovations to make his home more functional for his growing family, as well as a provision for holidays and fun experiences.
If you’re new to the Where’s My Money? podcast, follow Reagan’s journey from the very beginning of Where’s My Money? Season 1.
From Spenders to Mortgage-Free: Rachel and Richie’s Story
Next on the episode, we hear from long-standing enable.me clients Rachel and Richie, now living mortgage-free – an achievement a decade in the making. They joined the podcast to share their journey, which was far from straightforward.
Before working with enable.me, they weren’t living pay check to pay check, but they also weren’t making meaningful progress. One of their first shocks was learning that around 25% of their income was being frittered away on things that didn’t improve their happiness.
At the time they joined, they were in their mid-20s, owned a home in Dunedin, were newly engaged, and had just returned from a Melbourne shopping trip. They realised they needed a plan to afford the things they enjoy – and accountability to follow through.
Despite being big spenders, they didn’t find the programme restrictive. The structure enabled them to pay down the mortgage while still enjoying holidays, a wedding, a honeymoon, and everyday life.
From the outside, given the lower cost of living in Dunedin, it may appear their journey was easier than some in New Zealand. But behind the scenes they faced major challenges – including $50,000 spent on IVF to conceive their two daughters. Without a plan in place, they doubt they could have afforded the treatments when they needed them.
The Power of Expense Tracking
When asked what made the biggest difference, they credit expense tracking. It was tedious at first, but once the habit formed, the transparency became invaluable.
The biggest eye-opener was the options they unlocked. They no longer worry about large, unexpected expenses and now feel confident about moving to the next stage of their financial journey – purchasing an investment property.
Today, they feel unrestricted, empowered, and proud of the work they put in over the years.
Financial Transformation Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint
Reagan, Rachel, and Richie’s stories show that financial transformation isn’t about perfection – it’s about structure, systems, and steady progress.
Crisis may be the starting point for some, but it doesn’t need to be the defining chapter. With the right support, clarity, and accountability, small decisions compound into significant results.
Hear more about Reagan’s progress update, and catch Rachel and Richie’s full, inspiring story in the full episode of the Where’s My Money? podcast below.
