Everyone wants to be an investor.
But few want to do the boring bits.
It’s a common dream:
Owning a bunch of Apple stock, watching it grow year after year, sipping coffee while your investments do all the hard work.
Who wouldn’t want to be one of those people with a portfolio full of shares, a couple of properties, and money working while they sleep?
But here’s the thing…
Wanting vs. Living Like an Investor
Everyone wants to be an investor.
But not many people want to live like one.
There’s a quote I love by Thomas Sowell:
“People who enjoy meetings should not be in charge of anything.”
Now, you could easily swap the word meetings for spending money you don’t have, and it still rings true.
Because a lot of people say they want financial freedom —
But they also say yes to every dinner out, every weekend trip, and every new gadget or upgraded car.
Where Investing Really Starts
Being an investor doesn’t start with buying shares. It starts with your day-to-day choices.
And for most Kiwis, the number one thing stopping them from building wealth isn’t a lack of income — It’s a lack of control over their expenses.
You can’t invest what you don’t save.
And you won’t save unless you change how you think about money.
The Boring Truth About Investing
Here’s the hard truth:
Real investing starts with discipline.
And that part is boring.
It’s about tracking your spending — every dollar.
It’s about knowing exactly how much money comes in and where it all goes.
It’s looking at your bank statement and asking,
“Do I really need this?” — more often than you’d like.
It’s about saying no:
No to a fancy dinner you can’t afford.
No to a weekend away that could go towards your emergency fund.
No to keeping up with your mate who just financed a new ute on $90 a week.
That stuff doesn’t feel exciting.
No one wants to talk about spreadsheets and sacrifice.
But that’s where investing actually begins.
Start Here: Track Everything
Want to build real wealth?
Start here:
1.Track everything.
Use an app, a spreadsheet, or just the back of a notebook. Just know where your money is going.
2. Live below your means — not at your means.
Below your means is where the savings live.
3. Build an emergency fund before you invest a cent.
Give yourself some breathing room.
4. Automate your investing.
Whether it’s KiwiSaver or something else — make it regular and boring, like brushing your teeth.
5. Avoid debt like it’s poison — because it is.
It’s not flashy.
But that’s the point.
Flashy is usually fake.
Wealth is often quiet.
What’s Actually Exciting
Do you know what’s truly exciting?
Getting to 55 with no debt
• Your house is paid off
• A healthy KiwiSaver balance
• Money in the bank
• Being able to walk away from a job if it’s not right
• Helping your kids
• Backing a cause because you care about it
• Taking a month off just because you feel like it
But that future?
It’s built with boring bricks — today.
That’s a wrap
So next time you catch yourself saying: “I want to invest.”
Stop and ask: “Am I willing to say no to a few things today so I can say yes to way more later?”
Because that’s the real difference between a dreamer and a doer. And the doers?
They’re the ones who end up owning Apple stock.
If you need any financial help or advice please get in touch with us at Super-Advice.
