Hollie

Hollie is a 34-year-old sole parent of two children and works as a teacher. She first heard about Saver Plus, not long after her separation.

Before joining the program, Hollie described her financial situation as a “week-to-week struggle”, where money seemed to disappear as quickly as it came in.

“I couldn’t sleep at night, and I couldn’t even get the basics right for my kids” Hollie shared.

Unable to budget effectively, everyday expenses such as groceries and petrol, became a source of anxiety. However, this all changed after Hollie completed the Saver Plus program. With newfound knowledge and tools, she embraced budgeting.

“I'm going to cry with joy, because where I am compared to where I started, I have grown so much. I'm okay with my budget now, I'm prepared. I know what's coming up. There’s hope again, where there wasn’t before.” Hollie explained.

Hollie learnt to allocate her income strategically, identifying the difference between needs and wants, and weekly meal preparation became a game-changer. Planning and preparing her meals for the week every Sunday afternoon helped reduce her weekly food expenses by nearly half.

Moreover, Hollie used her knowledge to negotiate better deals with her service providers, cutting down her utility costs significantly.

“I went from nearly $90 on my internet to $40, and my phone plan I got down from nearly $53 to $10” she explained.

Another highlight of the Saver Plus program for Hollie, was the ongoing support she received from her Savings Coach.

“Knowing that I had someone there, who was supportive, was a huge thing. Especially when I started, I felt like such a failure as well. Just knowing that I had that security in my Savings Coach always being there was a huge help.” Hollie said.

When asked about her overall experience with Saver Plus, Hollie emphasised the value of gaining new knowledge and skills.

“The best thing about it was getting the knowledge. The money at the end was fantastic, but the knowledge was worth so much more.

Learning the skills to manage money and now be okay with money, not be scared of money as well. I've got some tools now that will help me and my kids. That has been the biggest impact.” Hollie said

Her long-term savings goal is to save up for a house deposit.

“I've worked it out. It'll probably take me 10 years to save the deposit, but that's okay because I can see how it works. Just putting that little bit away, it just adds up over time.” Hollie explained.

Hollie’s story is testament to the transformative power of the Saver Plus program, and her message to others considering joining is clear.