Can You Really Save Money in New Zealand?

I recently came across a conversation in our Pinoys in NZ community asking a very simple question:

“Can you really save money in New Zealand?”

The answers were interesting.

Some said, “Yes, absolutely.”

Others said, “Ang hirap. We are barely surviving.”

Then one comment really caught my attention.

One kabayan said that although it may seem impossible, he was able to save around ₱1 million in four months.

As expected, that created a LOT of reactions. 😅

So instead of immediately judging whether it was possible or impossible, I became curious.

What was his story?

I reached out to him privately and we had a great conversation.

I learned that his journey wasn’t easy either. Like many migrants, he made sacrifices when he first came to New Zealand. He started the hard way, worked, learned, and eventually became involved in trading.

And that reminded me of something important:

We cannot compare the number without understanding the story behind the number.

We have different jobs, incomes, family responsibilities, mortgages, rent, children, debts and people we support back home.

For many migrants, the first few years can be particularly challenging while establishing a career, home and financial foundation.

But difficult today doesn’t automatically mean difficult forever.

Discipline matters—but so does your situation.

One lesson I’ve learned from my mentors is that our mindset around money matters.

If we constantly tell ourselves, “I can never save,” we may stop looking for ways to change our situation.

But mindset alone isn’t enough.

We also need practical habits.

Start by knowing exactly what comes in and what goes out. Create a realistic budget. Build an emergency fund. Pay yourself first, even if you have to start small. Learn about saving and investing before putting your money into anything.

A free NZ resource I recommend is Sorted.org.nz, where you can find budgeting, saving, debt, KiwiSaver and investing tools.

Another resource that helped open my own thinking about money is Brother Bo Sanchez’s Truly Rich Club. I’m sharing a free video series with this article for anyone who wants to explore some of these ideas and start developing better money habits.

And if, after looking carefully at your numbers, your income genuinely isn’t enough?

Don’t only ask:

“How can I save more?”

Also ask:

“How can I grow my income?”

That could mean career progression, learning a new skill, investing carefully, starting a side business, or exploring an additional income stream that fits your circumstances.

There are many possibilities available to us in New Zealand—but we still have to take the first step.

YOUR TOOL THIS WEEK

Take 30 minutes and write down:

Income → Essential expenses → Debt → Family support → Savings → Investments

Then ask yourself:

Where am I today, and what is ONE thing I can improve this month?

Don’t compare your Chapter 2 with somebody else’s Chapter 20.

Start where you are.

Save. Learn. Invest wisely. Grow your income. And keep moving forward.

👉 Watch the free Truly Rich Club video series here: https://www.pinzmarketing.com/trulyrichclub

And tell us: What is the ONE money habit that has helped you most since moving to New Zealand?