Eliminate one problem at a time
When a problem seems like a big rock, Leeanne Stowers starts with the obstacles and eliminates them one at a time knowing they have a big impact on our health, well-being and general peace of mind.
Her tactic reduces the strain both in her own life and in the lives of the people she helps when they feel overwhelmed by debt.
“Debtfix is my kind of place – people helping people, educating each other, and making a difference in people’s lives,” she says.
Before finding a job near to her northern Rodney home, Leeanne worked in customer services in Auckland city and that experience developed her resilience and problem-solving skills.
Her role as a Debt Navigator is much more than she envisaged. Leeanne knew there was a lot of pain and hurt for people who need help with money but hearing their stories has shed a new light on the impact of debt in New Zealand.
“Credit is so easy to get and we can all walk into a shop and get excited; buy something and forget we have to pay for it. The positive is that Debtfix is here to help and there are a lot of resources available to sort out people’s debt and help them learn how to avoid it in the future.”
She feels rewarded when clients go from desperation to saying they can sleep at night and can eat again. It’s not always a complex debt solution or insolvency that is required, and sometimes a quick shuffle of a client’s budget is all that is required to get their finances sorted.
Leeanne likes to remain in contact with her clients, following up on their progress and offering an understanding ear when people need to talk about their financial difficulties.
A person who had an impact on Leeanne is a semi-retired person who entered a no asset procedure through the New Zealand Insolvency and Trustee Service. For more than six months, Leeanne has continued to provide guidance, especially when significant life events have affected the client’s finances. Leeanne ensures any further documentation and agreements are completed correctly, and the client is determined to do the right thing.
She has a genuine sense of pride in the client’s growth in learning how to avoid further debt problems.
“I feel I belong at Debtfix and when I get up in the morning, I look forward to seeing what I can achieve for people in the coming day. We all experience hardships – me included, and I like to turn challenges into positive experiences.”
Late in 2020, Leeanne was given more responsibility with Debtfix to become a Crew Manager. Congrats!
Keep an eye out for her around the pool tables at RSAs and Cossie clubs around New Zealand because Leeanne is a keen 8 ball pool player.
She loves the game because it is social, not exclusive and does not discriminate as anyone can play –maybe even the other Debtfix Crew members.
Leeanne Stowers - Debtfix Manager