About Us

Joan and travis, founder of moneywise

When my husband and I moved from China to Auckland, we faced a whirlwind of challenges in our new environment. With limited finances and a language barrier, everything from finding work to navigating daily life felt like an uphill battle. I was determined to make every penny count, yet I constantly worried about falling into traps and making costly mistakes.

Despite these difficulties, I’ve always been someone who faces challenges head-on. I embraced every obstacle as an opportunity to learn and grow, continuously seeking solutions and refining my approach to overcome the hurdles in our way. Slowly but surely, we began to find our footing in this new land.

One day, it struck me—surely, I wasn’t the only one who wanted to live wisely and make the most of their resources. Whether new to New Zealand or long-time locals, many others could benefit from the lessons I had learned. Why not share my experiences to help others avoid the pitfalls I had encountered?

And so, my blog was born.

Through this platform, I aim to share the insights and strategies I’ve developed for living well on a budget. My goal is to help others save money, make informed decisions, and find the best way to navigate life in New Zealand.