Guest Kelly Bracegirdle shares her journey of living with ADHD and discovering her diagnosis as an adult. Kelly opens up about her money story, the emotional aspects of finances, and the concept of the "ADHD tax," which includes unintentional expenses like online shopping, wasted food, and overlooked subscriptions. Kelly offers practical strategies for curbing impulsive spending and her methods for staying organised.
Read MoreMel and Darlene share candid insights on navigating work you're not passionate about and preparing for the emotional journey when parents retire. They discuss the unconscious biases and judgments people face about money, regardless of gender or income. They emphasize the tendency to match spending to income and lifestyle, even among higher earners, and the importance of managing social expectations and being open about financial challenges. The hosts also touch on the pressure of being a breadwinner and the toll of maintaining appearances. They stress the significance of recognizing personal biases and having honest conversations about money, and offer insights on selling and buying homes, including tips on communication and what to include on offer clauses.
Read MoreMel and Darlene discuss setting goals with your partner, paying children for chores, and the taboo topic of financial hardship. They provide strategies for managing financial challenges and stress the importance of assessing your financial standing, educating yourself, and building a support network. The hosts also address organizing bank accounts after purchasing a home, emphasizing aligning your setup with your money management style and automating your finances.
Read MoreMel and Darlene share personal stories and practical advice on managing competing priorities like private health insurance, income protection, and saving for family holidays. They emphasize the importance of planning for financial resilience and discuss the impact of traditional gender roles on financial dynamics in relationships. The hosts encourage listeners to strive for interdependence by actively engaging in financial management together and modelling healthy money behaviours for children.
Read MoreExplore the 8 Step Financial Wellbeing Program with Mel and Darlene as they unpack a little about each of the key areas and why they are critical to achieving an uplift to your financial wellbeing. These include having a vision, knowing your purpose, setting goals and priorities, knowing your numbers, understanding your financial products, creating a budget, growing your financial resilience, and more. They also discuss options and what to do if you’re unable to make mortgage repayments, offering a way forward for people unable to meet their expenses with the cost-of-living crisis.
Read MoreHave you ever wondered why you make certain financial decisions, while others seem to have completely different approaches? Listen as Mel and Darlene unpack each unique money personality, looking at their inherent strengths and weaknesses and their hallmark traits. They discuss how being aware of your money personality and seeking support when needed can bring balance and confidence to your financial choices.
They discuss how the money personality quiz can be used to gain deeper insights into the "why" behind your impulsive responses when it comes to money, and can help you recognise opportunities for uplifting your financial wellbeing.
They dive deep into relationships and discuss the need for understanding your partner on a financial level. At the beginning in ‘Our Truth’ the topic of parents giving pocket money is raised, and the episode ends with an in-depth talk about ‘mortgage prisoners’ being people stuck in certain home loan situations and what some possible options are to change their situation.
Listen to Mel and Darlene explore different professionals in the finance industry and unpack where financial wellbeing coaches fit, when you might engage one, and what exactly they can do for you.
They discuss financial planners and financial counsellors, and what the differences are between them, as well as money coaching and how financial wellbeing encompasses that but is far more holistic in its approach and outcomes.
Further examining the capability and resilience that form financial wellbeing, they touch on the concepts of scenario planning, the balance of power in relationships, and the fear emotion that so many people have around money.