Mayase Jere, Human-Centred Technologist| Program & Product Management| Author

“I grew up in a Zambian working-class family, where my mum was the main provider. From her, I learned that money was about hard work and paying the bills. Savings, investments, or building wealth were not part of our conversations at home. The pattern was simple: work, earn, pay, repeat.

When I moved to Australia to study, money suddenly became very real. That’s when I first understood debt—not just my own, but also my mum’s. She borrowed from family, friends, and banks to cover my tuition and keep the family going. It took her years to pay it back. Watching her carry that weight taught me perseverance and sacrifice, but it also showed me the heavy cost of debt when it's your only choice.

For a long time, my life was stuck in survival mode: study, work, pay bills. Then one day, a friend said, “You work so hard, but I’ve never seen you spoil yourself.” That comment shifted everything. I realized money could be more than bills—it could be a tool for self-care and for building a life that reflected my dreams, not just my responsibilities.

To me, true wealth is freedom. It’s the security of knowing that if your paycheck doesn’t come, you won’t crumble. It’s the simple joy of going out to dinner without guilt. It’s the ability to spend time doing what you love, with the people you love, when you want to. Most of all, it’s making memories without the constant fear of financial ruin.

If I could go back, I’d start saving earlier. I loved Scott Pape’s idea of “saving buckets,” but it took me years—three credit cards, a personal loan, and a car loan later—before I could really put it into practice. Having an emergency fund has been a game-changer. It helped me recently when my father passed away suddenly, and I had to travel to Zambia urgently.

I carry my mum’s resilience with me. And following the African proverb, “The wealth which enslaves the owner isn’t wealth”, I’m chasing freedom. The freedom to travel and to create lasting memories with the people I love.”