The $0 to $1 Million Challenge: How I’m Starting With Nothing

Can You Go From Centrelink to $1 Million? I’m About to Find Out!

If you’ve ever felt stuck financially, wondering how the hell you’re supposed to get ahead and how to build wealth from nothing when you’re barely covering expenses—welcome to my life.

I’m a single mum of five after leaving domestic violence, who’s spent years on Centrelink, scraping by while dreaming of a life where money isn’t a constant stress. I’ve had moments where I felt like financial freedom was impossible, that no matter how hard I worked or how much I tried to save, something would always knock me back.

I remember one moment in particular, the moment I knew things had to change. I was at line in the checkout of my local Woolworths with my weekly shopping on the checkout waiting for my turn. While I was waiting, i was constantly checking my bank account that had my last $75 in it, hoping and praying i could pay for the shopping before another bill came out. I had nappies and formula to get adn it was a mad race to ensure i could buy what my 3-month-old son needed.

SInce then I have been on a mission to get ahead enough where I could at least afford what my kids needed.

I have been in a much better financial positions for the last2 years and am slowly starting to get ahead and have became debt free apart from my now 13 year old sons Invisalign treatment.

But now? I’m done playing small.

I’m launching the $0 to $1 Million Challenge, documenting my journey as I go from relying on government assistance to building a $1M net worth. No trust fund. No shortcuts. Just strategic saving, investing, and turning my blog into a business.

And the best part? I’m sharing everything I learn along the way, so if you’re on a similar journey, we can do this together.

Where I’m Starting (The Honest Truth)

Right now, here’s my reality:

✅ I receive Centrelink payments (which cover basic living costs).
✅ My blog is earning very little—but I know it has the potential to grow into my full-time income.
✅ I have some investments (ETFs, high-yield savings, and a few dividend stocks).
✅ I have zero debt (which is already a win!).

But… I don’t have a steady, high-paying job. I don’t have thousands of dollars to invest every month. And I definitely don’t have a magic shortcut to getting rich overnight.

What I do have is a plan. And I’m about to put it to the test.

My Plan to Reach $1 Million

Since money doesn’t just fall from the sky, I have to create a real, step-by-step strategy to build wealth from the ground up. My focus? Making more, saving smart, and investing consistently.

Here’s the 3-Part Plan I’ll be following:

Growing My Blog Into a Full-Time Income

My biggest focus right now is turning my blog into a money-making machine. I plan to:
Write 1-2 high-value blog posts per week to increase traffic.
Master SEO & Pinterest marketing to drive visitors.
Monetize with affiliate marketing, ads, and digital products.

Long-term goal? Make at least $10K/month from my blog so I can replace Centrelink, invest aggressively, and have complete financial freedom.

Boosting my financial foundation

I will be allocating some money every month to my less common but essential expenses, think things like car rego and Christmas. I will also be focusing largely on my emergency fund because lets face it, shit happens when we least expect it and i want to be ready for it. Having a little aside, even if it is nly $100, is better then nothing at all.

Investing Every Dollar I Can (Even If It’s Small at First)

I don’t need thousands of dollars upfront to start investing. Instead, I’ll be:

Investing in ETFs (VAS, VHY, IVV, NDQ) every single month.
Building passive income with dividend stocks.
Using high-yield savings accounts & reinvesting earnings.
Tracking my net worth growth every month.

Even if I can only invest $100-$500/month at first, small consistent investments add up over time—and I’ll be documenting the entire process.

Increasing My Income With Side Hustles

While my blog grows, I’ll also be boosting my income with:
Freelancing (writing, digital services, consulting)
Reselling (flipping items for profit)
Cashback apps, rewards programs, and smart budgeting

Every extra dollar I make goes straight into savings & investments—I’m treating every cent like a building block to financial independence.

Boosting my financial foundation

Why I’m Sharing This Journey Publicly

Because no one talks about how hard it is to build wealth from nothing.

Most “finance success stories” you see online are from people who already had money—they started with high-paying jobs, financial support, or connections. But what about the rest of us?

The single mums, the low-income earners the ones starting at zero?

I want to tes the advice and prove that it’s possible to build wealth from nothing—even as a mum, even without a ‘traditional job’, even while balancing life’s chaos.

This challenge isn’t just for me—it’s for anyone who’s ever felt stuck, who’s tired of scraping by, and who wants to take control of their financial future.

And if that’s you? Then let’s do this together. 🚀

What’s Next? Follow the Journey!

This is just the beginning. Every month, I’ll be posting:

Income & savings updates (how much I made, saved, and invested).
What’s working (and what’s failing).
My progress on leaving Centrelink & becoming financially independent.
Lessons learned along the way.

Next post: “My Plan to Grow This Blog Into a Full-Time Income”—how I’m scaling my blog, increasing traffic, and making money online.

Want to follow my journey? Sign up for my email updates & let’s build wealth together!