Financially illiterate (but learning!) and would love some advise
(Starting off great with spelling 'advice wrong in the post title 😅
Hi everyone, I would love and appreciate some advice...
A bit of background, I'm 33, F, grew up pretty dirt poor with terrible financial role models. Now I'm not saying my current situation was all on them, because I could have educated myself, but honestly I was so clueless I didn't even realise financial literacy, and actually LEARNING how to be good with money was even a thing?! I got myself into a bit of credit card debt in my twenties that went to debt agencies, but I'm proud to say after a few years of prioritising debt I've completely paid those off. I still have my student loan, but I pay that off each month and it's not a priority for me.
So here's my situation - I'm currently living in the UK, been here 3 years and I know I'll return to NZ (someday), but not for the next few years at least. To renew my UK visa it cost me close to $10,000NZD (scandalous price) but my partner is here, and it's here I want/ need to be for the time being. I had 0 savings to my name so had to take my Kiwisaver out to pay for it (no judgement around this please, I had 0 other options!). There's $20,000 left and I don't know what to do with it. I don't have kids, probably won't tbh, and buying a house isn't on my radar until I know where I want to settle. I'm on a pretty low-mid paying job in the UK and have really been trying to better myself with money - I've managed to create a £1k ($2,300NZD) emergency fund which I am SO proud of because that's the most money I've ever managed to save in my life. My parents, bless them, will probably pass down debt rather than inheritance so it's just me, and I want to do better.
My question is, what do I do with that $20k?! I don't know ANYTHING about stocks, investmenting, savings - any of that and I want to make sure I grow/ don't waste that money and don't treat it as a cashpot and waste it. Any advice/ advice of where to look/ what to read/ what to do would be SO APPRECIATED. Due to the rotten exchange rate and the fact I'll return I want it to be NZ-based, whatever I do with the money. 33 isn't too late to start getting your shit together I hope 😅
Thanks so much in advance 🫶