When Olivia and Digger won More FM’s Change Your Life competition, the prize arrived at exactly the right time. They had been carrying the pressure of a renovation that became more expensive than expected, rising mortgage rates, and the everyday costs of raising a family.
There were things they wanted to finish at home, especially the outdoor areas that would let them host family and friends again. But, as Olivia puts it, their priority had always been the kids first. Their own wants had been put on hold.
The prize helped ease immediate pressure. It gave them room to complete long-paused projects, cover major household bills, and create some breathing space in the day to day.
But when they look back now, Olivia and Digger are clear about what has made the biggest long-term difference: the financial coaching they received with enable.me financial coach Karen Beckham.
Watch Olivia and Digger’s story
Before coaching: pressure, pauses, and putting the kids first
Before working with enable.me, Olivia and Digger were feeling the squeeze.
They had bought their home before Covid with a plan and budget to extend it. But as costs rose, they had to focus on what was essential for code compliance and pause everything else. The deck and outdoor projects they had imagined for their family home had to wait.
At the same time, mortgage rates had risen sharply. Digger described that period as frustrating: they could see what they wanted to achieve, but it felt like progress had stalled.
For Olivia and Digger, those pauses were not just about unfinished timber or postponed house projects. They were about the moments they were missing. They love having people over, but with the outdoor area unfinished, hosting family and friends no longer felt easy.
A prize created breathing room. Coaching created direction.
When the Change Your Life prize came through, the first feeling was relief. Olivia and Digger were able to take pressure off major household costs, complete the decks, and enjoy experiences as a family that had previously felt harder to plan for.
Eight months later, the difference is visible. The decks are finished; the family has been able to host Christmas, birthdays and gatherings again, and Olivia says they feel “so much lighter” than they did before.
But both Olivia and Digger say the most valuable part has not been a one-off saving. It has been having a financial coach to help them look forward, structure their money, and understand what is possible.
For Digger, the coaching gave them direction. For Olivia, it opened up options they had not realised were available to them.
Before enable.me, they had not spoken with a financial coach. Like many people, they assumed their bank was already helping them make the best decisions. Working with Karen shifted that perception.
Making their mortgage work harder
The changes are showing up in more than the mortgage structure.
Olivia and Digger talk about hosting again on their completed deck, spending time around the outdoor fire with their kids, and being able to support their son’s passion for motocross. They also describe the emotional shift that comes from having less financial pressure sitting in the background.
Olivia says the biggest change is that they feel happier as a couple. Taking away financial stress has made family life feel lighter, and when they are happier, she says, the whole family is happier.
That is the type of progress financial coaching is designed to support: not only better numbers on paper, but more confidence in daily decisions, more clarity in the plan, and more room to enjoy what matters.
A coach “in your corner”
One of the strongest themes in Olivia and Digger’s story is their relationship with Karen.
They describe her as genuine, encouraging, positive, and firmly in their corner. For Olivia, one of the biggest surprises was that coaching was not about being told “you can’t do this” or having every enjoyable part of life cut out.
Instead, Karen helped them identify their non-negotiables, understand where their money was going, and build a plan they could take ownership of. As Olivia explains, accountability sits with them, but Karen is there to guide them through it.
That balance of expertise, encouragement, and accountability has made the coaching relationship feel practical and personal. Digger says Karen is not afraid to give them the hard word when they need it, but always in a positive way.
Changing the way they think about money
Olivia and Digger say coaching has changed their mindset. They now have a better understanding of how to use their money, how to save it, and how to put it towards the areas that matter most.
They also speak about feeling proud of what they have achieved together. Olivia tracked their progress, they hit their first quarter goal, and Karen told them she was proud of them. For Digger, that progress came from putting their heads down and sticking with the plan.
The prize was the beginning of the story, but their progress has come from the work they have put in since then: tracking, making decisions, following the plan, and staying accountable to the goals they want for their family.
Feeling better about the future
Looking ahead, Olivia and Digger feel positive about their financial future. They can see their mortgage being paid off faster than they had originally expected, while still leaving space for family life and unexpected costs along the way.
They are also clear in what they would say to someone considering financial coaching: ask the question, book the initial consultation, and find out what is possible.
For Olivia and Digger, working with enable.me and Karen has changed how they see money. It has helped them understand their options, reduce pressure, and create a plan they can keep working towards together.
Ready to see what financial coaching could help you achieve?
Whether your goal is to pay down your mortgage faster, create more structure around your money, or feel more confident about the future, an enable.me financial coach can help you build a plan that works for your life.
Book an initial consultation with enable.me today and take the first step towards feeling more in control of your money.
