You have nowhere else to turn to. It’s like you have no hope. You’re just in the midst of somewhere you don’t know where to go.
That’s how Vaasa remembers life when she and her husband were waiting for the outcome of their permanent residency application, and while their children were New Zealand citizens, Vaasa and her husband were not allowed to work. They had to survive on $350 a week from family tax credits.
“That is the income that we pay for our rent, all the children’s expense, buy our groceries, and everything else,” she says. With more going out than coming in, the pressure was constant. “I was really stressed out with financial situation,” Vaasa says. “I shared my depression, my frustration about what’s going on in my home.”
A coordinator from the Pasefika social services organisation, Fonua Ola, referred Vaasa to Visionwest, where she met Money Mentor Mahesha. Vaasa remembers sitting down and being heard.
She was listening to me talking here and there about all my frustration. She was very helpful.
Through Mahesha, Vaasa was connected with practical support across Visionwest and beyond. There was food support, help with arrears, assistance with school costs, referrals to counselling, Community Connection support, and links to other organisations that could help with expenses like school uniforms.
There are a lot of different services within Visionwest. I was really surprised with how Mahesha has connected me to different people.
One-on-one money mentoring also helped Vaasa look clearly at her family’s finances.
You understand how to budget your money wisely. You need to look at what’s really needed, not the wants.
Today, the family has received their resident visas. Vaasa and her husband are working, the children are doing well at school, and the family is building a more stable future.
The feeling of empowerment, the feeling of the strength when you came through such journey, it’s really empowering for you moving forward.
Her encouragement to others is simple:
Don’t be afraid to seek help. Don’t be afraid to ask, because the door is not open if you don’t knock.
Visionwest Financial Mentoring
We provide financial guidance for people who are experiencing money difficulties, struggling with overspending or debt repayments, adjusting to changes in their financial circumstances, or wanting to improve their financial knowledge and money management skills.
Visionwest Financial Mentoring is a free and 100% confidential service.
VISIONWEST MONEY MENTORS WEST AUCKLAND
VISIONWEST FINANCIAL MENTORING SOUTH AUCKLAND
