Anita (*) is a senior living on a pension. Her mobility issues were making everyday life increasingly difficult. They were limiting her independence, her ability to get around, and her confidence to participate in daily activities, social events and errands on her own terms.

She had wanted to save for years for a life-changing foldable power wheelchair, but there just wasn’t enough left over each month to ever have enough on her own. With simple joystick controls and a lightweight, compact design, it would have given her the freedom to move without relying on others and provided flexibility to travel easily.

Separately, Anita had gotten a “quick” loan from a high-interest lender that turned into a nightmare. She had borrowed $3,000 for an emergency. After paying $125 every fortnight for a full year – more than $3,200 in total – she was shocked to learn she still owned more than the original loan amount. The interest trapped her in a cycle where her repayments barely touched the principal, leaving her with little disposable income and even less ability to save for the wheelchair she desperately needed.

That’s when Anita met a Good Shepherd NZ Community team member. Together, they reviewed her budget and identified areas where she could reduce expenses. A small Good Shepherd Hardship Relief Grant helped cover an essential expense, easing some of the pressure. 

A new Good Shepherd no-interest loan then allowed her to consolidate her existing debts into one manageable payment. With affordable, sustainable payments, Anita was finally able to include the cost of the wheelchair in her loan. Her fortnightly payments dropped from $125 to just $60.32, and for the first time in three years her balance is actually going down. 

Today, Anita moves freely around her home, her neighbourhood and her life.  She is so happy with the outcome that she tells all her friends and family how she found her way back to financial freedom, confidence and renewed sense of control.

* name has been changed.