It was 18 months ago when my fiancée Laura and I sat at our kitchen table, staring at our banking app.
Hearts sinking, stomachs churning, we were a million dollars in debt and about to run out of savings.
While Laura was on maternity leave, we were down to a single income. And every monthly mortgage payment we made sent us backwards. This wasn't just numbers on a page. This was our home, our kids' futures, and our sanity on the line.
I'm Reagan, and if you've been following my podcast Where’s My Money?, you'll know the journey has been anything but straightforward.
After nearly losing everything, I managed to claw my way back. We got serious about budgeting, cut down our expenses, took control of our money habits, and eventually started to breathe a little easier. Interest rates have stabilised too, and we've built a solid budgeting habit that has helped us make genuine progress on our mortgage
But here I am, two years later. I’m still worried, still anxious, and still waking up in the middle of the night asking the same question: "Where’s my money?"
Despite some recent small growth in the economy, everything still feels incredibly uncertain.
Financial stress isn’t logical, it’s emotional. When there's an unexpected bill, a slight rise in the interest rate, or a news headline that hints at financial instability, my heart rate spikes at the fear of slipping backward.
That's why Season Three of Where’s My Money? feels more necessary than ever.
Financial recovery isn't a straight line. It’s messy, filled with setbacks and emotionally draining.
This season, we're getting even more honest about those ‘freak out moments’ - the ones that catch you off guard and make you question every financial decision you've ever made.
Returning expert Sue Kohn-Taylor, founder of The Mental Fitness Company, gave some strong advice that hits home: financial peace isn’t just about managing money; it's about managing your emotional response to money.
"You have to practice mental fitness," she explained.
Deal with the small moments of panic, so you’re prepared for the bigger ones.
I'm also facing one of my toughest decisions yet: potentially selling our family home, the very home we fought so hard to keep.
The logic of rentvesting; to sell, rent, and invest smarter - makes perfect sense financially. But emotionally, it feels like a step backwards.
Hannah McQueen of EnableMe gave a wise word about the decision-making process, which feels more than just financial advice:
It's not a backward step, but it's a scary step. Sometimes you have to let go before you can hold on.
The truth is, financial anxiety isn't something you solve once and never face again. And my story isn’t unique. Kiwis every day find themselves trapped in similar spirals, caught between practical money moves and emotional turmoil.
But that's why I’m still here asking the same question of "Where's my money?" - not just for me, but for all of us Kiwis trying to build a stable and secure future in uncertain times.
Join me in Season Three as we face these fears head-on, navigate our financial anxieties openly, and continue working towards financial freedom, one messy step at a time.
