From Stress to Savings. Robert learns Money Skills. His Daughter Saves Thousands.

Born in Samoa and raised in Aotearoa since 1984, Robert has worked most of his life as a machine operator at Colorcote. He will tell you straight, money used to come in and go out just as fast. Loans, fees, obligations. “Back then I wasn’t educated about money,” he says. “Money come, money go.”

After completing Auckland Council's Money Confidence programme with Zeducation, that story changed at home, at work, and inside himself as a husband and father. Here is Robert, in his own words, on what shifted.

Q: What were some of the key things you learned or gained from the course?

“Some of the things that I learned from this program is budgeting and interest rates, but what stuck out the most was savings. Back then, I didn’t understand wants versus needs. I wasn’t educated about the cost of loans or what happens if you miss a payment. If I knew then what I know now, I would have been smarter with my decisions.”

He also found his voice. Walking into class late in the intake and, at nearly 58, older than most staff, he decided to lean in. “I asked questions, wrote things down. The way our tutor explained it, detail by detail, it clicked. I promised myself I would graduate, and I did. I’m proud of that.”

Q: How did you apply your learnings from the course in your workplace?

“The first change was discipline. If you put your heart into something and want to get somewhere, you need to do the hard work. The hard work in class was done by our tutor, now it was up to us to respect that and apply it.”

Planning and saving turned into daily habits on the job, prioritise the important tasks, stick to the plan, finish strong. “It gave me confidence to be an acting team lead when needed.”

Q: In what ways has the course supported your career growth?

“I didn’t have self confidence before. After this course, I believed I could lead by example. It made me a better husband and a better teacher to my kids, so at work I felt more stable too. When you are not stressed about money the same way, you focus better, you help others, and you step up.”

Then the growth multiplied in practical ways.

• Readiness to step up: “When the team leader is not here I act as 2IC. The planning and prioritising I learned in class helps me keep the line moving and support the team.”

  
  

• Calmer under pressure: “Money stress used to follow me to work. Now that I have a plan, I focus better and I do not panic like before. That helps with quality and safety.”

  
  

• Asking better questions: “In class I learned to speak up and ask for help. I use that at work, I ask the right questions and I write things down. That helps me learn faster.”

  
  

• Role model for younger staff: “I was one of the oldest in the room and I still graduated. At work I encourage others to join the programme and to stick with it. If I can do it, anybody can do it.”

  
  

• Reliability and trust: “Because I show up steady and keep my word, the company knows they can rely on me. That opened the door for acting in leadership and helping the team.”

Q: How has your financial wellbeing changed?

"I used to really struggle with money. I would work all week and the money was gone the same day, automatic payments to lenders, nothing left. I was stressed all the time. There were moments I hit rock bottom. I even had suicidal thoughts. I felt like walking away.”

Faith and new skills helped him turn the corner. “Finding out we were paying 23 percent interest, that freaked me out. We cut spending and stopped the old habits. We started saving. Now we have money every week. I will not say how much, but the numbers do not lie.”

His proudest outcome is at home. “One of the biggest things I learned was savings. I went home and taught my kids. At first they did not believe me, Dad talks too much, no action. So I led by example. I put my graduation certificate on the wall. My daughter started saving, a lot of money. Every two weeks she puts money into the account. She looked at me and said, wow Dad. That put a smile on my face.”

"This programme saved my life" - Robert

Q: What are your hopes for the future, what is next for you?

“It already changed my life. I want to live longer to see my kids get married, have children, and carry on what we learned. I want to teach my grandchildren too. I thank God for this programme. With savings and managing money, I am a better man. If I can do it, anybody can do it.”

Closing reflection

Robert’s story is not about perfection, it is about ownership of choices, of knowledge, and of the future. Money Confidence gave him the language, the tools, and the faith to lead at home and show up stronger at work. Certificate on the wall. Plan on the table. Savings in the account. A father teaching by example. That is leadership you can see.

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