Driven by a deep love for her family and a resolute spirit, Mary Hotakeni has carved a path as a successful market vendor for eight years. Juggling the demands of raising five children - two boys and three girls - Mary uses her resourcefulness to ensure they have both a daily breakfast and the opportunity to pursue their education through her fresh vegetable sales.

The Market Journey

Mary’s days at the Honiara Centra Market are filled with hustle and connection. She sources her vegetable supplies from local farmers and skillfully resells them to her customers. But it’s not just about transactions; it’s about building relationships. Through her market business, Mary networks with fellow vendors, local farmers, and customers. She has learned that patience is key—earning money in the market requires persistence and resilience.

The ANZ Money Minded Training

Recently, Mary participated in the ANZ Money Minded training, a program designed to enhance financial literacy and empower individuals to make informed decisions. Despite being a successful market vendor, Mary realized that she lacked proper planning, saving and budgeting skills. She admitted to misusing money, especially on one particular habit: chewing betelnut. The Money Minded training was an eye opener for her, as she realized the amount of money that she could have been saving. 

The Money Minded training is a flexible adult financial education program that builds knowledge, confidence and skills to help people make informed decisions and manage their money. It is ANZ’s flagship program to improve financial wellbeing in the community, supporting ANZ’s purpose to shape a world where people and communities thrive.

Breaking the Betelnut Habit

Betelnut, a common cultural practice in the Solomon Islands, had been draining Mary’s finances. She and her husband both indulged in this habit, spending $50-60 daily. The training opened her eyes to the unnecessary expense. Mary decided it was time for change.

Shared Learnings and Family Support

Back home, Mary shared her newfound knowledge with her husband. Together, they acknowledged that betelnut was not a necessity. They pledged to cut down their spending on this habit to a more reasonable $10 per day. Mary’s husband, who had always supported her market business, now stood by her side in this financial transformation.