What can my health teach me about my finances?

The Surprising Parallels Between Health and Wealth

There are two areas of life that have a huge impact on your overall wellbeing — your health and your finances. And as it turns out, many of the principles that apply to one can be used to improve the other.

We often think of financial success as something very separate to our physical wellbeing, but just like getting fit or staying healthy, it’s about long-term habits, consistency, and knowing when to make adjustments. Let’s look at a few key lessons that most people can relate to from a health perspective and how they apply to your money.

1. There Are No Quick Fixes

Just like fad diets rarely result in lasting weight loss, there’s no magic bullet in personal finance. Budgeting extremes or chasing high-risk investment returns might feel like you’re taking action, but they're rarely sustainable.

If you’re trying to build financial stability, it's not about cutting everything out or making one perfect decision, but instead it's about building a system that you can stick to over time. That might look like setting up regular KiwiSaver contributions, automating savings or investments, or gradually reducing debt.

Trying to go all in with unrealistic rules ("no spending at all" or "saving half my income immediately") often backfires. True progress comes from building a strong foundation and making steady progress often with built in small wins along the way.

2. Progress Beats Perfection

Many people wait for the "right time" to start getting on top of their finances, thinking that may be when they earn more, have less debt, or feel more in control. But just like someone waiting for the perfect moment to start getting healthy, that delay often becomes permanent. “I’ll save money when I earn more”.

A better approach is to focus on progress. Can you increase your KiwiSaver contributions from 3% to 4%? Can you set up one automatic savings or sharsies account transfer per week? Can you get clear on your income and outgoings with a quick monthly review?

These may feel small, but they compound over time and importantly, they’re achievable. Perfection leads to procrastination. Progress leads to results.

3. Consistency Wins Every Time

Your financial results aren’t about what you do once, they’re about what you do consistently. A one-off budget, a one-off savings transfer, or one good investment won’t change your life. But showing up week after week, month after month? That’s what moves the needle.

If you set up a $25 weekly contribution into an investment account and forget about it, that’s a habit that builds wealth. If you pay an extra $50 or $100 towards your home loan each week instead of the minimum allowable or you set calendar reminders to review your fixed mortgage rate a few months before expiry so you can properly consider your options, that’s a system that saves money. Habits beat willpower and consistency builds confidence.

4. Time Multiplies the Impact of Your Choices

In finance, time is your greatest advantage. The earlier you start saving and investing, or the earlier your pay down your home loan debt the more compounding works in your favour. Even modest amounts, when given time, can grow into something meaningful.

KiwiSaver is a great example. The difference between contributing 3% and 6% over 30 years can amount to hundreds of thousands of dollars at retirement. The sooner you start and the more consistently you contribute the better the long-term result.

And if you haven’t started yet, don’t let that hold you back. Start now. The best time was years ago. The second-best time to start is today.

5. Setbacks Are Part of the Process

Even when you’re doing the right things, life happens. You might lose your job, the market might dip, or unexpected expenses might pop up. The key is not to be derailed by setbacks.

If you overspend and have a blow out one month, reset. If your investments take a short-term hit, stay focused on the long term. What matters is your ability to keep going.

Mistakes happen. What counts is learning from them and returning to your plan. In the long run, consistency and resilience are far more important than being perfect.

6. Keep Reviewing and Improving

Just like your health needs evolve with age and lifestyle, your financial plan should be reviewed regularly. Are you still on track to meet your goals? Are you making the most of the tools available to you like KiwiSaver, offset accounts, or better mortgage structures? As rates drop or your income improves, can you afford to pay your home loan off even faster?

As your income grows or your priorities shift, your plan should evolve too. A good financial strategy isn’t a one-time decision, it’s a process of ongoing refinement.

Financial wellbeing doesn’t come from knowing all the right answers, instead it comes from building the right habits, making small consistent changes, and staying focused on long-term outcomes.

So next time you think about getting your finances in shape, borrow the mindset you might use for improving your health: start small, be consistent, expect setbacks, and keep going. The same principles apply and over time, they can completely change your financial future.