Her Money Matters

This week’s episode is a special one, I am so excited that this is episode 50!  How the has flown, especially when I think back to my first recording in June last year and how far the podcast has come since then.

In our conversation for this episode, we focus on the cost of living pressure many households are feeling from multiple angles. Fuel prices have surged, with petrol sitting around $2.50 - $3.50 per litre and pushing even higher in some areas, driven by global supply disruptions and rising oil prices. At the same time, interest rates have continued to rise, with the Reserve Bank of Australia lifting the cash rate multiple times in recent months and the possibility of further increases still on the table.

For homeowners, this is having a very real impact. Higher borrowing costs, rising everyday expenses, and tighter cashflow are becoming part of the day to day reality for many Australians.

In this episode, I sit down with Sharon Bae, Founder of Artemis Finance, to unpack what is happening in the lending market right now: and more importantly, the five key reasons you may want to consider refinancing your mortgage.

In this episode, we cover:

What is driving interest rates and cost of living pressures right now

How lenders price loans and why loyalty doesn’t always pay

What happens when fixed rates expire and repayments jump

How increased equity can unlock better loan options

When your current loan no longer suits your life

Using refinancing to simplify and reduce high interest debt

A Loving Kick Up the Bum
When costs are rising around you, it is easy to absorb it and move on. But your mortgage is one area where a small change can make a meaningful difference. Take the time to review it, ask questions, and explore your options — because the impact can be far bigger than you think.

If this conversation has led you to consider whether refinancing could work in your situation, you can reach out to Sharon Bae via email at Artemis Finance: [email protected], or via the website: https://artemisfinance.com.au/

Your 60s are a decade where everything starts to shift where for many women we are considering the next phase of life - whatever that looks like - where you potentially have the financial freedom to choose whether or not you continue to work.  There are some women who can't wait to retire and head off into the retirement sunset, and others who could think of nothing worse than stopping what they love doing and want to work until they are no longer able.

So in this episode, Naomi and Helene walk through the five things every woman needs to understand about money in her 60s:  from accessing your super, to making decisions about work, housing, family, and getting your affairs properly in order.

In this episode, we cover:

Turning 65 and what it unlocks: specifically relating to superannuation.  We talk about accessing your super, drawing lump sums, and creating new planning opportunities

The big question: can you afford to stop working, and do you actually want to, including how much is “enough” 

How income is built in retirement and the different options available to generate income, combining super, Centrelink, employment income, and other assets to create sustainable cashflow

Housing decisions in your 60s - this is about downsizing, retirement living, or modifying your home, and the financial and lifestyle implications of each

The realities of ageing parents and inheritances and understanding aged care costs, timing, and the options available for your  inheritance

Getting your “life admin” sorted, including your  wills, super nominations, powers of attorney, and making sure your affairs are in order

This stage of life is about making clear, informed decisions that support how you want to live, for this decade as well as the years ahead.

There is a bunch of information in this episode to help you navigate the move from working to either reducing your working hours or retiring completely, so pick one area that is the most relevant to you and focus on that.  The future is yours!

This week's episode is the second in a three-part series: last week was what women in their 40’s need to know about money, next week will be about women in their 60’s - and this episode is all about the Fabulous 50’s!

Women in their 50’s tend to find a new sense of freedom. The kids are moving on in life, you have a great sense of who you are and can be much more authentic, and many women are very comfortable in their own skin and so give no ‘F’s.  It is the decade where women get some time back in their life, and they can finally focus on themselves again.

So in this episode, we’re breaking down the five things every woman needs to know about money in her 50s, with some great tips to help you embrace this fabulous decade and get your finances under control.
In this episode, we cover:

Why it’s not too late and how your 50s still offer a powerful window to strengthen your financial position

The importance of building your asset base and understanding what you actually have working for you

Why this is the decade to get serious about reducing debt and improving your financial flexibility

What “things can get messy” really looks like, including things like menopause, illness, redundancy, divorce, and loss of a partner

The financial and emotional reality of being part of the sandwich generation

Your Loving Kick Up The Bum:
If there is one thing to take from today, it is that you have more than enough time to make a difference to your financial future.  This is the decade to get involved, to understand where you stand, to make a plan, and to take action.

So this week, pick one thing. Get a plan together to focus on what is going to make the biggest impact, focus on this, and define what you actually want your future to look like.

Your 40s are often a decade of everything. Peak earning years, peak spending years, and peak responsibility years, and normally this is all happening at once. You might be raising teenagers, supporting ageing parents, navigating a relationship or separation, and stepping up in your career or business… all while wondering, “Am I actually on track financially?”

This is the decade where money starts to feel different. For many women, this is the point where they realise they’ve been managing life… but haven’t fully stepped into their financial world.

In this episode, Naomi and Helene break down the five things every woman needs to know about money in her 40s, combining real-life experience, practical strategies, and the mindset shifts needed to move from reactive to intentional when it comes to your finances.

In this episode, we cover:

Why your 40s are one of the most financially demanding decades of your life

How major life events like divorce, career shifts, and caring responsibilities impact your finances

The mindset shift from “I’ll deal with it later” to “I’m in the room now”

The 5 biggest things that women need to know about money in their 40’s

Each of these tips has practical tips that can be applied to help you apply it

Your loving kick up the bum — how to pick one area and take action this week

Pick one area from this episode that resonated with you — cashflow, debt, super, kids’ costs, or protection — and take one action this week.

If you’d like help getting clarity and direction with your money, you can reach out:

[email protected]
www.hermoneymatters.com.au

[email protected]
www.hermindsetmatters.com.au

In today’s episode, Naomi and Helene are discussing one of the most common questions that gets asked - especially by women in their 40s and 50s.

When you have got to the stage in life when you have some surplus cash every month, the million dollar question is ‘What do I do with this’?  Do you focus on paying down your mortgage so you can become debt free sooner, or do you contribute more to your super so it has longer to grow and support you in retirement?

On the surface, both options make sense, however there are many factors to consider including things such as timing, tax, risk, lifestyle, and even how you think and feel about money.

In this episode we cover

The key difference between paying down your mortgage (certainty) and contributing to super (growth)

How tax, interest rates and compounding impact the outcome of each strategy

The psychology behind the decision — security, control and how we think about risk

A simple real-life example comparing mortgage reduction versus investing in super

How to decide where your next dollar should go based on your stage of life and goals

This episode is inspired by Cher’s If I Could Turn Back Time - because the last things we want for any of our peeps is to have retreat about making the wrong decision and wish they could turn back the clock.
 
If this episode has sparked questions for you and you would like to get some help, you can reach out to Naomi and Helene to organise an initial discussion:

[email protected]

[email protected]