How one woman saved 50% of her income to fund a career change

<p><strong>Each week BusinessDesk and the NZ Herald’s Cooking the Books podcast tackles a different money problem. Today, it’s how one New Zealander used financial independence to fund a career change. Hosted by Frances Cook.</strong></p> <p>We often talk about financial independence in terms of its most famous acronym, FIRE, for Financial Independence, Retire Early. </p> <p>But many people chasing financial independence aren’t actually interested in retirement. They’re instead after the financial security that allows them to make whatever career choice is best for them. </p> <p>Hopes and dreams are all well and good, but unfortunately, it often takes money to fund them. </p> <p>Many of us would be interested in starting our own business or going after a career change, but the reality is, it’s hard to make that leap without some financial security behind you. </p> <p>Today’s guest knows all about that. </p> <p>She went from spending everything she earned, to saving 50% of her income, within a year. </p> <p>She then used that to reconsider her career options, start a side hustle, and then dove in to turn that side hustle into her own business. </p> <p>Here’s how she made it work. </p> <p>For the latest podcast, I talked to Christel Maurer, from The Money Journey.</p> <p>If you have a question about this podcast, or a question you'd like answered in the next one, come and talk to me about it. I'm on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/FrancesCookNZ/">Facebook here</a>, <a href="https://www.instagram.com/francescooknz/">Instagram here</a>, and <a href="https://twitter.com/FrancesCook">Twitter here</a>.</p> <p> </p><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>