The mum’s-eye take on money in New Zealand. Practical, no-hustle financial guidance for NZ and Australian families – debt payoff, mortgage freedom, and financial independence – from someone who’s actually done it, not just written about it.
About Emma
Emma Healey paid off $30,000 of debt in her 20s, built a portfolio of NZ rental properties, and reached financial independence in her late 30s. She now runs mumsmoney.co.nz and lives semi-retired with her husband and two kids, splitting the year between New Zealand and long stretches of family travel.
“I started Mum’s Money because I wanted to show other mums and families that they don’t need to drown in debt trying to keep up with everyone else.”
“It starts a chain reaction — you do one thing like meal planning, and then you’re like, hmm, that worked, what else could I do?”
Go-To Source For
- Cost-of-living and frugal living
- Debt payoff strategies
- Family budgeting on one income
- Property vs. shares/index fund investing
- Financial independence and semi-retirement
- KiwiSaver and long-term family money planning
In Her Words
“Everyone has money leaks.”
“I don’t think there’s any way to do it without sacrifice. It has to be hard.”
“It was a long, hard road to realising that I could be a slave to my debt forever or I could change the narrative and become a master of my money.”
As Seen In
- 1News — “How to stop blowing your money on spontaneous online purchases” (2 May 2026)
- The Post — “‘It has to be hard’: How this young family is already semi-retired” (11 Jan 2026)
- Making Cents Podcast with Frances Cook — “From $30,000 Debt to Financially Free and Travelling the World”
- The Press — “How this Kiwi family on one part-time income lives half the year in Thailand” (28 May 2025)
- Money Flamingo — “Location-Independent Income & Long-Term Travel With Kids” (10 Nov 2022)
- Stuff — “Weeds, snails, roadkill, and a ‘bum gun’ instead of toilet paper…” (28 June 2022)
Fast Facts
- Paid off $30,000 of debt in her 20s using the debt snowball method
- Owns five properties in total – four rentals plus their own home
- Family lives on $900/week core costs; the rest goes to investments
- Paid off their own Christchurch home in 5 years instead of 30 by downsizing
- Runs mumsmoney.co.nz alongside several other content websites
- Has lived and travelled for extended periods in Thailand, Australia, Ireland, the US, Morocco, Portugal, and Spain, funded by financial independence rather than nonstop sacrifice
Media Contact
Always happy to jump on a call or answer questions for a story – reach out any time. I will get back to you as soon as possible.
Email: [email protected]
Website: mumsmoney.co.nz
YouTube: @mumsmoney | Facebook: @mumsmoneynz