Stop wishing, start stacking: Your future self will thank you

As we head into a new year (and another season of summer holiday humblebrags), I’ve been reflecting on the changes I wish I’d made sooner. Spoiler alert: none of them involve buying more oat lattes or upgrading my phone for the 17th time.

Here’s the big one: I wish I’d understood earlier that building wealth isn’t just about clocking in for a paycheck. Working hard is great, but if your money disappears faster than your willpower at a Boxing Day sale, you’re not building a future, you’re just funding your present.

And honestly, we need to talk about financial education. Our tamariki deserve better than “money doesn’t grow on trees” as their main financial lesson. I didn’t involve my kids in money conversations, and now I feel like I’ve done them a disservice. If TikTok can teach them how to make feta pasta, surely we can teach them how compound interest works.

The stats aren’t cute either. Kiwis are under serious financial pressure. And don’t get me started on Muldoon scrapping compulsory superannuation in 1975. If that had stayed, we’d probably be sipping cocktails on a beach instead of Googling “how to retire without selling a kidney.”

In ten years, one in five of us will be over 65. Translation: the future is coming fast – and it’s wearing orthopaedic shoes.

So, here’s the vibe for 2026: stop wishing, start planning. No goal is too big or too small. Want to save $20 a week? Do it. Want to finally understand how KiwiSaver actually works? Make it happen. A little effort each week adds up, kind of like those random subscriptions you forgot to cancel, except this time it’s working in your favour.

Your future self is out there, scrolling through retirement memes and thanking you for every dollar you didn’t blow on impulse buys. So set those goals, automate those savings, and maybe – just maybe – start treating financial literacy like the ultimate glow up.

Because wealth isn’t about flexing on Instagram. It’s about freedom, security, and not having to live off 2 Minute Noodles when you’re 70.