THE BIG SHARE: Fun & Financial Freedom: Turns Out, You Can Have Both
I’m Mireia, a 25-year-old from New Zealand, passionate about financial education and travelling. After studying International Relations & Māori Studies at university, I discovered I’d been stuck in the wrong Kiwisaver fund for years. This sparked my interest in personal finance, leading me to write for platforms like Sharesies and Pathfinder. In 2023, I earned my Financial Advice certification while working in the investment team at Te Puni Kōkiri, but soon after, I decided to move to Spain to teach English. Faced with the challenge of saving for travel while continuing to invest, I found a way to achieve both without compromising on the adventure. My experience shows that with smart planning, you can build your financial future while still living your best life abroad.
Fun & Financial Freedom: Turns Out, You Can Have Both
We Kiwis love to pack up for adventures abroad—whether it’s a London OE or a Spanish beach summer. But there’s one thing we don’t often talk about: how do we keep investing while saving for these big moves? Can you really have it all—travel, fun, and financial growth? Spoiler: yes, you can.
When I decided to move from New Zealand to Spain last year, I had a major dilemma. I’d been building my financial future, investing regularly, but suddenly, I needed to save a decent chunk for my move. The question was, how do I travel and keep my money growing? Here’s how I made it work.
The Reality Check
At 21, I realized I’d been in the wrong Kiwisaver fund for eight years (ugh, don’t you love those moments?). That little mistake got me thinking about where my money was actually going, and soon I was deep into the world of investing. I started with small steps, using platforms like Girls That Invest, The Curve, and Kernel. Eventually, I moved on to ETFs like the S&P 500 and Global ESG—fancy, right? But when it came time to pack my bags for Spain, I wondered: how do I keep this going?
Emergency Fund: My Safety Net
First thing’s first: I needed a safety net. Before jetting off, I built an emergency fund of $10,000. This gave me peace of mind—if something went wrong (and spoiler: it did), I had these savings. When I first moved to Valencia, I got scammed paying a deposit on an apartment (goodbye 800 euros). But with my emergency fund in place, I knew I could handle the setback. Lesson learned: always trust your gut and double-check apartment listings.
Balancing Saving & Investing
I set a savings target of $15,000 for the move, which would cover four months of travel and relocation costs. That meant scaling back my investments but not stopping completely. I set up an automatic $50 monthly transfer into my investment account, knowing that even a small amount would grow over time. It was all about adjusting to my new circumstances—because let’s be real, I wasn’t going to miss out on bachata dancing in Spain or skip investing.
Living Fully, Investing Smartly
Once I started teaching English in Spain, I had a steady (albeit smaller) income. I decided to invest $200 NZD a month, which felt like the right balance between living my best life in Europe and keeping my investments growing. I didn’t want to sacrifice my travel experiences—especially not booking last minute surf trips, or saying yes to cheap SkyScanner flights . So, I figured out a plan that let me do both.
Why It Was Worth It
At 25, I still don’t know what the next three months will look like, and that’s equal parts thrilling and terrifying. But by planning ahead, I was able to build a financial safety net while making sure my investments kept ticking along. I learned that success isn’t about ticking boxes or following someone else’s timeline. For me, it’s about growth—whether that’s building my investment portfolio or to continue taking Latin dance classes (seriously, it’s addictive).
So, if you’re thinking you have to choose between saving for travel and investing in your future, think again. With some careful planning, you can do both. Life’s too short not to explore—and too long not to invest in your future self. You’ve got this!