Your Best Financial Year Yet: How to Set Money Goals That Actually Stick

Haaapppyyyy Friday friends! Imagine spending years saving $110,000 for your first home, only to realise you and your partner have completely different ideas about what that home should look like. One wants a bigger house further out, the other wants a smaller place in a suburb they actually love. And suddenly, saving the deposit feels like the easy part. This week, we're tackling the property dilemma so many first-home buyers face. Do you prioritise location, lifestyle or space? Is rentvesting the answer? And does your first home really need to be your forever home? Plus, one community member is navigating life with a new baby and a partner who's a sole trader, which means money comes in whenever clients decide to pay their invoices. Not exactly ideal when you're trying to budget. We're sharing practical ways to manage an irregular income, build a financial buffer and make your money feel a little more predictable. And because it's Friday Drinks, we're also celebrating some seriously good Money Wins, sharing your best Broke Tips and workshopping our drag queen alter egos. Because apparently that's where we're at. Grab a drink, friends. We've got a lot to discuss. Thank you to our friends at Revolut for helping bring our money wins to life! To learn more about Revolut and get your $40? – click here! INVESTING CHEAT SHEET, INCOMING: Grab a copy of our investing cheat sheet over on our website shesonthemoney.com/download-resources. WTF IS COMPOUND INTEREST? Learn all about what folks have described as the eighth world wonder by searching for ‘compound interest’ on the blog: shesonthemoney.com/blog New here? Follow us on Instagram (@shesonthemoneyaus) for Q&As, bite-sized advice, daily money inspo... and relatable money memes that just get you. Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett aka Queen Acknowledgements (queenacknowledgements.com) The advice shared on She's On The Money is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's On The Money exists purely for educational purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Victoria Devine and She's On The Money are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 4451289. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Could you really have a baby in Australia for less than $3,000? According to two mums in our She's on the Money community, absolutely. And they've brought the receipts to prove it! After previously unpacking the costs of having a baby through the private healthcare system, we're flipping the conversation to something that deserves a whole lot more love: Australia's public maternity system. This week, we're getting nosy with two gorgeous community members, Hannah from Melbourne and Erin from Perth, who are sharing exactly what they spent throughout their pregnancies and births. We're talking every ultrasound, appointment, pregnancy supplement, physio visit and even those sneaky hospital parking fees. But this episode isn't just about the money. Both mums had incredibly positive experiences with Australia's public healthcare system, from the continuity of care offered by midwife-led programs to the incredible support they received during pregnancy, birth and beyond. And their stories are a pretty wonderful reminder that great maternity care doesn't necessarily have to come with a hefty price tag. So whether you're planning a family, weighing up public versus private or just curious about what having a baby actually costs in Australia, we're breaking down the numbers, celebrating our incredible midwives and showing you just how valuable our public healthcare system really is. GET OUR BABY BUDGET: Budgeting for a new arrival? Grab ours. READ THE BLOG: Check out our write-up on things to consider when preparing for a baby. RETHINKING YOUR INSURANCE? Check out our playlist devoted to choosing the right insurances for you. New here? Follow us on Instagram (@shesonthemoneyaus) for Q&As, bite-sized advice, daily money inspo... and relatable money memes that just get you. Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett (nartarshabamblett.com.au) The advice shared on She's On The Money is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's On The Money exists purely for educational purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Victoria Devine and She's On The Money are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 4451289 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At 38, she was raising a seriously unwell daughter, escaping a financially abusive relationship and using a credit card to pay a mortgage she couldn't afford. At 56? She owns her home outright, has $670,000 invested and works four days a week because she can. So how on earth did she turn things around? This week's Money Diarist shares what it really looks like to start again when everything you've worked for falls apart. From navigating financial abuse and a messy separation to rebuilding her confidence, finding love again and creating genuine financial independence, her story is proof that your life doesn't have to go according to plan to turn out pretty spectacularly. We talk about the importance of having money that's yours, why leaving is only the first step and how small financial decisions can change everything over time. Because if you've ever felt like you're falling behind or should have your life sorted by now, this one's for you. Turns out, starting again doesn't mean starting from scratch forever. SORT YOUR INSURANCE: A big thank you to our partner Skye Wealth for bringing this episode to life. If you're ready to get your insurances sorted, you can learn more about them here.We have a long standing referral partnership with Skye Wealth and only ever partner with people we trust.

Being the financially responsible sibling is great. Until everyone starts assuming you'll be the one footing the bill for Mum and Dad. This week, we're getting into a family money dilemma that's probably going to ruffle a few feathers. One community member has spent years building her savings, while her siblings have been spending theirs. Now their parents are getting older, and she's worried being the sensible one means she'll automatically be expected to contribute more. Is that fair? And how do you have that conversation without starting a family war? Plus, a 22-year-old business owner wants to build her property empire and is wondering whether buying a home through her business could be a clever tax move, or a very expensive mistake. We're unpacking what she needs to consider before jumping in. And because it's Friday Drinks, we're also debating whether wearing socks to bed is an actual crime, celebrating some seriously impressive Money Wins and sharing Broke Tips that might save you a few dollars. Grab a drink, friends. We've got opinions. Thank you to our friends at Revolut for helping bring our money wins to life! To learn more about Revolut and get your $40? – click here! INVESTING CHEAT SHEET, INCOMING: Grab a copy of our investing cheat sheet over on our website shesonthemoney.com/download-resources. WTF IS COMPOUND INTEREST? Learn all about what folks have described as the eighth world wonder by searching for ‘compound interest’ on the blog: shesonthemoney.com/blog New here? Follow us on Instagram (@shesonthemoneyaus) for Q&As, bite-sized advice, daily money inspo... and relatable money memes that just get you. Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett aka Queen Acknowledgements (queenacknowledgements.com) The advice shared on She's On The Money is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's On The Money exists purely for educational purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Victoria Devine and She's On The Money are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 4451289. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We're always telling you to invest, invest, invest. But here's a question nobody seems to be answering... when do you actually get to spend the money?! Like, are we just supposed to keep putting our hard-earned cash into ETFs forever? When do the profits hit our bank accounts? And how do people actually use their investments to pay themselves an income without going back to work? This week, Victoria and Bec are getting into the part of investing we don't talk about nearly enough: how you actually make money from your investments, and when you get to enjoy it. From the difference between dividends and capital growth to why Victoria keeps 90% of her portfolio in ETFs, we're unpacking the strategies Australians use to build wealth, the mistakes that could cost you thousands, and why your reason for investing matters just as much as what you're investing in. Plus, we're talking franking credits, the magic of compound interest, whether picking your own stocks is really worth the effort, and the tax advantages of investing in property. Because building wealth is one thing. Knowing how to actually use it? That's a whole different conversation. And there's so much to unpack that this is only Part 1. Trust us, you'll want to stick around for Part 2. GET YOUR FREE INVESTING CHEAT SHEET: It’s yours for the taking over at https://www.shesonthemoney.com/download-resources HIGH-INTEREST SAVINGS ACCOUNTS: We’ve compiled a list of some of Australia’s most competitive high=interest savings accounts over on the blog. Search ‘high-interest’ at www.shesonthemoney.com/blog TUNE IN, TURN UP THE DIVIDENDS: Stream our investing playlist over at https://open.spotify.com/playlist/7iWOxtjWXFzTMLU6mtru2I New here? Follow us on Instagram (@shesonthemoneyaus) for Q&As, bite-sized advice, daily money inspo... and relatable money memes that just get you. Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett (nartarshabamblett.com.au) The advice shared on She's On The Money is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's On The Money exists purely for educational purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Victoria Devine and She's On The Money are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 4451289. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.