From Refugee Childhood To Financial Confidence In Aotearoa

Money doesn’t just sit in a bank account, it lives in our memories, our families, and the choices we make when no one is watching. We sit down with Khouanchai Adams to trace her money story from arriving in Aotearoa New Zealand as a five-year-old refugee to becoming a financial adviser who still has to wrestle with the everyday temptations of spending, convenience, and “we’ll just grab dinner out”. We talk about what it’s like growing up with parents who don’t speak English, living on a benefit, and still being shielded from the stress as a kid, until the teen years make money feel loud through labels, clothing, and fitting in. Khouanchai shares the moment she starts working at 14 so she can earn her own money, the classic first purchases that are really about belonging, and the early jobs that taught her how income creates options. Then we zoom out to the big turning point: her parents’ disciplined saving and first home purchase, and how that foundation becomes a practical lesson in financial resilience and belief. From there, we get into real-world personal finance: stumbling into banking, learning how people handle debt and savings, navigating a saver-spender dynamic in a relationship, and the hard part, raising kids who have everything they need while still teaching financial literacy. We also name a common New Zealand trap: financing a flash car early, then spending years in a loan cycle, and why “it’s faster to save your earnings than repay the debt” is advice worth keeping. If you care about budgeting, money mindset, KiwiSaver, home deposits, and raising financially capable kids, this one will stick with you. If it resonates, subscribe, share it with a mate, and leave a review so more people can build a healthier money relationship. What money rule did you grow up with?Send us Fan Mail Support the showBuy your first home in NZ Weekly Webinars You thought it's not possible or the dream is too far away? Come to my webinar and I will show you, you are much closer to your dream, than you think you are!Join Here - https://bit.ly/4m9SL72