Welcome! I’m Sophia, the author of Mindful with Money (@mindfulwithmoneynz). I’m passionate about all things personal finance, currently work in the NZ financial industry, and hold the NZ Certificate in Financial Services (Life, Disability & Health Insurance; General Insurance; Residential Property Lending) and NZ Certificate in Money Management. This blog is my money diary, and I hope it gives you plenty of helpful tips and inspiration on your own personal finance journey!
Confessions of a money blogger
A 2026 life update and honest heart-to-heart about money & mental health, financial anxiety, investing for children, and more.
How I’m investing for my children’s financial future
As parents, we all want our children to be financially successful and to be able to help them out with a financial head start. From investing to taking out life insurance, here’s how I’m creating generational wealth for my little ones.
Why we cancelled our $40,000 wedding
One of my biggest life lessons on values-based spending. Here’s my story on what happened when my husband and I planned our wedding from 2018-2020.
I’m taking a year of parental leave to care for my new baby. Here’s how I’m making it work.
We’re expecting! Being fortunate enough to take 13 months off paid work, here’s how my husband and I are making it work - from creating a parental leave budget, increasing our income & savings, using government benefits, and trimming our expenses.
Six ways to save money this Christmas
It’s the most wonderful - and expensive - time of the year! If you’re looking to save money this Christmas, check out six ways I personally love - from gifting future experiences at no upfront cost to hosting meaningful but affordable Christmas celebrations.
Money & parenthood: what should I save money on?
This week, my husband and I celebrated a major milestone - our baby’s first birthday! It’s hard to believe that a year has already flown by since our lives changed forever, but also encouraging to know that we’ve survived our first year of parenthood, including all its ups and downs and unexpected twists & turns. I’ve previously shared with you my pregnancy & postpartum finances and today, I’m back with more money-saving tips.
How the cost of living crisis has affected us and our money
During the cost of living crisis, my husband and I sold a house, bought a house, had a baby, and refixed our mortgage. Here’s how the cost of living crisis has affected us and our money, and how we’re enjoying life without sacrificing our sanity.
I’m a mum! | My pregnancy & postpartum finances
I have some big news for you all… After 9 long months, Mrs Mindful with Money is a mum!
Today I’m sharing with you all about my pregnancy and postpartum finances - what we bought, how we saved money on baby expenses, and my sources of income during maternity leave.
How I sold my house - and bought my second home with my husband
Exciting news: I sold my house, and have bought a new one with my husband! Today I’ll be sharing my personal experience of buying and selling a home at the same time, for those who might be about to go through the process.
Reflecting on my money in 2022
Happy 2023! Today I thought I would reflect on my money in 2022 - more specifically, mine and my husband’s money, as we share joint finances. Here are some notable things that happened, including pay rises, saving money on food & groceries, and changing lifestyle expenses.
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