When you picture a millionaire, the image that comes to mind might be luxury cars, designer suits, or a Silicon Valley tech founder. But for Vinnie Anglesey, the path to becoming a New Zealand millionaire was paved with spreadsheets, frugal habits, and a relentless focus on financial independence.

Vinnie lives in New Zealand with his wife Denise, where they’ve built their family’s net worth to over one million NZD—all while living modestly, investing consistently, and refusing to let debt rule their lives.

“I had no idea about money—pretty much had my head in the sand,” Vinnie recalled. “I was doing this dead-end job… living week to week with no money, up to our eyeballs in debt.”

Here’s how this everyday Kiwi transformed his finances and how you can follow in his frugal, freedom-focused footsteps.

From Contractor to Conscious Wealth Builder

At age 44, Vinnie found himself at a low point: working as a low-paid bank contractor, carrying $173,000 in debt, and living paycheck to paycheck with virtually no savings.

“We owed around $156,000 on the mortgage, $6,000 on a credit card, plus a few other bills,” he said. “We were living week to week, and it just wasn’t sustainable.”

Things began to shift when he landed a better job—one that offered more income and the chance to finally breathe.

The first step? Taking a hard look at their finances.

“I had to have a budget because we didn’t know where we were at. Just acknowledging it—this is where we’re at, here’s our income and our debt—that was the starting point.”

Teaming Up with His Frugal Wife

Vinnie didn’t go it alone. His wife, Denise, was already a natural at living frugally.

“Denise is very frugal, which is excellent for me… she’s not a big spender,” he shared. “She even has her own side hustles like recycling fashion—making clothes out of other clothes and selling them.”

Although Denise was facing health issues at the time and working only part-time, their shared mindset allowed them to work together and make real progress.

“It wasn’t really anyone’s decision necessarily. It was joint. We just knew something had to change.”

They made key moves like:

• Refixing (or refinancing, as we say in the USA) their mortgage at a lower rate
• Transferring credit card debt to a 0% interest card
• Adding solar panels through a subsidized bank program
• Trimming expenses and sticking to a tight budget

Tracking Net Worth Monthly: The Millionaire Habit

One of Vinnie’s most powerful habits? Tracking their net worth every single month.

“On the first of every month, I sit down with my spreadsheet and calculate everything. You can see exactly where your financial position is—it’s super motivating.”

If you want to become a millionaire like Vinnie Anglesey, tracking your financial progress is essential. A tool like Empower can make this easy. Empower’s free net worth tracker lets you see all your accounts, assets, and liabilities in one place—so you can stay focused on your goals and measure real growth over time.

How Vinnie Anglesey Built a $1 Million Net Worth

Vinnie and Denise’s wealth journey wasn’t about big paychecks or risky investing—it was about smart decisions and long-term commitment.

Their biggest asset? Their home.

“We paid $98,000 for our house over 20 years ago,” Vinnie said. “During the pandemic, it skyrocketed to $890,000. Even now, it’s worth about $600,000.”

When the mortgage was finally paid off—after five and a half years of disciplined repayment—they only needed around $110,000 in investments to become net worth millionaires.

“We now have about $370,000 invested—mostly in the New Zealand stock market, with some U.S. holdings and ETFs. Everything is debt-free.”

Lean FIRE on the Horizon

So what’s next for Vinnie Anglesey after hitting millionaire status?

The goal is Lean FIRE—a version of financial independence where your investments cover your basic expenses.

“We live pretty cheaply. We own our house, have solar panels, chickens, and a garden. To cover the essentials, we only need about $500 per week.”

That means they’re aiming for around $630,000 in invested assets, generating a 4% return. With $370,000 already saved, they’re on track to reach Lean FIRE in just four more years.

“We’re not in a rush to quit working. But hitting that point will give us options—a choices lifestyle, rather than a budget lifestyle.”

Invest Simple. Stay Consistent.

Vinnie’s approach to investing is refreshingly simple.

“We’re not day traders. We’re buy-and-hold investors,” he said. “We invest every two weeks. It’s the same amount every time.”

One of their proudest moments? Saving $100,000 in three and a half years by contributing $1,000 per fortnight into the stock market.

“I’m no savvy investor. I just stuck with the plan.”

Their long-term, consistent strategy continues to pay off—and it’s something anyone can emulate.

Follow Vinnie’s Journey at Project Frugal

If you want to dive deeper into how Vinnie Anglesey became a New Zealand millionaire, check out his YouTube channel Project Frugal. With nearly 500 videos, it’s a treasure trove of budget tips, investing stories, and real-life lessons from someone who’s walked the talk.

From saving on everyday expenses to investing in index funds, Vinnie shares the strategies that helped his family win financially, without earning six figures or sacrificing their values.

Ready to Track Your Net Worth?

Inspired by Vinnie Anglesey’s story? Start tracking your net worth today with Empower. It’s the free net worth tracker that helped my wife and me grow our net worth from -$50,000 to over $1 million. Empower gives you a clear view of your financial progress, helping you make smart, informed decisions—month after month.

Remember: what gets measured gets improved. Let Vinnie's story be your motivation to take that first step today. Carpe Diem!

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