Friends With Money

How to dodge bust-ups and actually talk cash with your partner

Question:
How can Australians have honest, productive conversations about money with partners or family without awkwardness, arguments, or avoidance?

Short answer:
Money conversations are often dodged due to fear of conflict, judgment, or not feeling confident. But avoiding them can make financial stress worse. According to Meray El-Khoury (MetLife Australia), the key is to start small: use gentle, time-bound openers (“Can we spend 15 minutes talking about money?”), focus on “we” not “you”, and break topics into manageable chunks - cashflow, debt, protection, retirement. Regular, calm check-ins help families plan for life’s curveballs and build financial resilience together.

Why it matters:
If you don’t talk about money, you risk missing warning signs, being unprepared for emergencies, and leaving one partner vulnerable. Open, positive conversations help families set goals, avoid nasty surprises, and take control of their financial future, instead of letting circumstances dictate outcomes.

Sources:
• Michelle Baltazar, editor-in-chief, Money Magazine
• Meray El-Khoury, chief insurance officer, MetLife Australia
• Money magazine podcast: Friends With Money, July 2026 episode

Timestamps:
00:02:04 Why we avoid money talks: fear, judgment, lack of confidence
00:04:50 How to start: gentle openers, time-bound, “we” language
00:06:45 Order of topics: cashflow, debt, protection, retirement
00:08:01 Protection: insurance, planning for the unexpected
00:13:34 Retirement: conversation starters and positive framing
00:12:02 Regular check-ins: monthly, calm, non-confrontational
00:15:22 Inclusivity: making sure both partners are involved
00:17:05 Incremental progress: clarity comes from talking

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More than four million Australian homes have gone solar, but for many others, the benefits have remained out of reach. The Solar Sharer Offer could change that.
On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Brian Spak, general manager of advocacy and policy at Energy Consumers Australia, to unpack the new Solar Sharer Offer and who will benefit from free electricity.

00:00 Introduction
01:29 How the Solar Sharer Offer works
03:54 Which households are eligible for Solar Sharer?
06:07 How to make the most of free midday electricity
07:56 How to sign up for Solar Sharer
08:43 What kind of savings can households expect?
10:17 Why caution and bill monitoring could pay off
11:52 Conclusion

#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #brianspak #energy #solarsharer

Podcast Links:
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The end of the financial year may be just around the corner, but it’s not too late to make some superannuation moves that could benefit your balance.
On this episode of the Friends With Money podcast, Money’s Tom Watson is joined by Greg Elias, senior private client adviser at UniSuper, to discuss the steps you can take before June 30 and the upcoming super changes worth knowing about.

01:44 Making a concessional contribution
05:35 Contribution caps explained
06:18 The benefits of salary sacrificing
09:00 Division 296: who it affects and what to know
12:01 What are the payday super changes?
15:03 Market volatility and superannuation
18:40 Common EOFY mistakes
20:38 Conclusion
#friendswithmoney #tomwatson #gregelias #superannuation #eofy

Podcast Links:
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Listen on Spotify
Money Website
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Email Us: podcast@moneymag.com.au

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REITs explained - A property expert explains the next investment hotspots
This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Money's editor-in -chief Michelle Baltazar speaks with Justin Blaess, principal and portfolio manager at REIT specialist Quay Global Investors, to explain real estate investment trusts (REITs) and how investors can earn investment income through them.
They discuss REITs as listed businesses that owns buildings and collect rent, how the sector has evolved since the late 1990s and the GFC, and new opportunities beyond traditional retail, office, and industrial.

01:05 What Is a REIT?
01:48 How REIT investing evolved
03:29 Investment hotspots: data centres, storage and senior living
05:59 Expected returns basics
09:34 Interest rates myth
12:43 How to start investing

Podcast Links:
Listen on Apple Podcasts
Listen on Spotify
Money Website
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Email Us: podcast@moneymag.com.au

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Summary: Thinking of helping your kids buy their first home? Discover the potential risks to your retirement & explore smart strategies like the First home super saver scheme
Want to help your kids buy their first home? Learn how it could pose a risk to your retirement plans and the smarter ways to help.
This week on the Friends With Money podcast, Michelle Baltazar speaks with Aware Super's Kate Rolfe about new research showing most parents and grandparents are willing to help younger family members buy a first home, often by gifting cash, reducing their mortgages or offering low to no-interest loans, but how their good intentions could potentially put their retirement savings at risk.
They discuss how giving financial support without proper planning can affect tax outcomes and Centrelink age pension eligibility, including potential consequences such as losing access to their benefits for years.
Rolfe recommends getting professional financial advice before money changes hands, considering whether to gift the funds or to structure it as a loan, and weighing lump sum versus drawdown payments.
01:09 How families can help
02:45 Retirement and pension risks
05:26 Tax advice and structuring gifts
06:43 First home super saver explained
08:32 Lump sum vs drawdown
11:09 Where to start
Links: First home super savers scheme

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Disclaimer
“To find out more from Aware Super, go to aware.com.au/member/what-we-offer
General advice only. Consider your objectives, financial situation or needs, which have not been accounted for in this information, and read the relevant PDS and TMD before deciding to acquire, or continue to hold, any financial product.
Consider if Aware Super is right for you and access the PDS and TMD on their website, aware.com.au/firsthomebuyer
Advice provided by Aware Financial Services Australia Limited (ABN 86 003 742 756, AFSL 238430), wholly owned by Aware Super.
Aware Super’s research involved a national online survey of 1,094 Australians aged 45 and over who indicated they were open to financially supporting younger family members. Fieldwork was completed in December 2025. All research was carried out in accordance with ISO 20252:2019 and ISO 27001:2013 quality and data-security standards.”