Working Women's Wealth Podcast

Are you feeling a little stuck? Uncertain of your next move? This lockdown has had different impacts on people (particularly around work and money), and whilst it doesn’t feel like there’s much that can be done about anything right now, there is something that you CAN do for your money during lockdown. Whatever your situation is, you can do a spring clean on your finances. And no, that doesn’t sound like much fun, but it is the basis of wealth. It’s also a good money habit that will ensure that you are on track and conscious of your spending. In this episode, we take you through the steps of HOW to spring clean your finances - how to categorise your spending; how to budget. After all, you spend all that time working, why not take a little bit of time to manage your money?

In the wake of this global pandemic, (and the subsequent lockdown) has your income suddenly dried up? Whether you're a freelancer who has lost work, own a business that has had to cease operations, or are an employee who has been asked to take a dramatic cut in salary, the repercussions are massive when you have had no time to prepare or slowly reduce expenses. The knock on impact of this financial crisis to companies means that more and more of us are going to find ourselves in trouble, and because it’s going to take a while for the economic situation to come right, we've put together some strategies to help guide you through this period of uncertainty.

As parts of the world go into Coronavirus lockdown, and you watch helplessly as your life gets turned upside down, how are you coping with this new normal? Whilst both the threat of an unknown virus and that of economic uncertainty raise issues of your very survival, there is also the question of how you are going to survive the next few weeks living (and working) in such close proximity with your significant other and your children. Or maybe you're home alone... Is anybody else feeling claustrophobic yet? My guest today, Mary Baird-Wilcock, talks us through some practical strategies to navigate these very challenging times ahead.  

Amidst the panic and chaos of both COVID-19 and an unpredictable stock market, you know a couple of things for certain – wash your hands (A LOT); and practice social distancing. But what about your money? What can you do when the market crashes? Yes, the markets are low and the virus is coming, but the WORST thing you can do now is to panic and run. Avoid the hysteria, and hold onto your plan. Here’s what you need to do when the market crashes…

Let’s talk retirement…. do you know how much money you need to have saved? More to the point, how much should you have saved by NOW? Most people don’t like to ask the questions, because they’re afraid of the answers. But this particular issue is not going to go away. And the truth of it is, the sooner you face the reality, the sooner you can find a path to a solution. Researchers have found that “one of the highest determinants of success is HOPE!” And so, despite how far behind you might feel, there is a way. And you WILL find it!

Are you content with your career choices? Or are you itching for a change? It’s never too late to take a leap of faith, and as my guest today can attest to, there is no profession so exalted that you can’t transition out of it. Dr Karen Barnard, went from doctor to life coach, and in this episode we speak about the mindset that can make or break your career, the voice of the inner critic, aha moments, mitigating risks and reskilling to become proficient in a whole new skill-set. As part of her reskilling, she did my 16 Week Side Hustle Course, and of it she says: “I can be as good a coach as I ever think I’m going to be, but if I don’t know how to make a business out of it, I’m not going to make a living”

The most important money you will ever invest is that which you saved before you turned 30. But what if you didn’t start then? Are you too old to achieve financial freedom? The answer is a resounding NO! Don’t resign yourself to the fact that you’re stuck. Not with the job you’re in, the expenses you have, or the life you’re living. You have a lifetime ahead of you. Do you want to spend it living your BEST LIFE? Here’s how to fast track your financial freedom at any age…

Have you ever wanted to invest in property? Do you talk about saving and investing but haven’t yet jumped in? Taking risks is scary, particularly on a budget. Hearing someone else's story sometimes makes it easier to begin your own... My guest today, Tiffany Alexy, bought her first property at 21 (and she now owns 11!), and has since started a company that helps people buy, sell and invest in property. Listen to this episode to hear how she did it, as well as her tips and strategies for how YOU can do it too. “It’s not hard,” Tiffany says “I will say it takes a lot of hard work and dedication.” Only YOU can choose to invest in your future financial freedom!

Do you spend time learning about, measuring and managing your money? Or do you (like most people) avoid it, because financial speak sounds like a foreign language to you? When it comes to money, the average time people estimate they spend on personal finances is one hour and 12 minutes a month.  And so it isn’t surprising that, according to the National Treasury, 94% of people won’t get to living a retirement of an even similar standard. Most people find out too late how far short they are from their goal, and consequently will have to drastically reduce the quality of their lives, or face a difficult conversation with their children (who will have to support them rather than save for their own retirement). But, it’s easily fixable. So put aside the notion that you’ll never understand money and listen to this episode for what you can do NOW to step change your finances.

Were you ever taught financial literacy? Did your parents ever talk to you about money? Do you feel that you are adequately equipped to become financially free? Research says that by the time a child is seven, they’ve already formed financial habits (they learn by simply watching their parents), and so it’s important to both TEACH and DEMONSTRATE good financial practices from an early age. My guest this week, Gugu Sidaki, talks family responsibility (and the importance of planning for it), financial literacy for children, and the concept of being financially free. “Money is an enabler”, she says, “if you’re able to educate somebody about managing their money, you’re literally able to change their lives.”

Have you taken an inventory of your finances recently? Or are you scared of what you’ll find when you do? Sometimes all you need is a little support to get you started... Find your REAL financial starting point, and the REAL reason you are where you are. Create your OWN plan to stop the worry that’s draining you. Only when you know where you are, can you know how to get to where you want to go next. You don’t have to face it alone! Join us in kickstarting YOUR financial freedom.

When you think about finance, do the words ‘complicated’ and ‘not my job’ come up for you? Does your husband take care of money matters? And what would that mean for you if the subject of divorce arose? Whether or not divorce is on the cards, my guest today, says that “We can’t assume someone is going to look after us. We need to do it ourselves.” Mary Waring has over 30 years of experience in the financial sector, and provides an exclusive, bespoke and discreet financial concierge service to women before, during and after divorce. In this episode, Mary talks about the importance of engaging in your finances, the power of money to give you choices, and what divorce means for your money. Many women have a mental block about finance, and so bury their heads in the sand. Money complicates divorce, but knowing where you stand creates certainty, and a clear view of the future and your choices.

Has the holiday season bust your budget? Or has financial stress been plaguing you a fair bit longer than that? Either way, most of us have financial stress in one form or another. And because money worry in the pit of your stomach is the last thing you need to start this decade with, and because it will happen to all of us, there are three things you need to know to help get you out of financial stress. Wealth is a series of decisions we make throughout the day, and all these tiny decisions compound over time, and we ‘wake up’ at 65 wealthy or poor. There is a way out, and once you’ve done some soul searching (and some deep diving), it all comes down to one simple equation: spend less, or earn more. That equation doesn’t bend for anyone…

You’ve got big plans and you know how to set them into motion. You are a woman that CAN. You’re all GO, GO, GO and PUSH, PUSH, PUSH! Until you’re burnt out. With the realisation that it’s time to find a new way of operating. The fact is, women are 60% more likely to burn out than men, and as a gender, are less happy, less fertile, and sicker. But we have opportunities. And the power that it took us to achieve these opportunities is not the same power that it will take to sustain them. My guest today talks about the challenges facing women in leadership, and the five different energies, that if accessed, make available a very strong yet feminine power, which bring with it a huge amount of sustainability. If one wants to transform the wealth and well-being of a community in the developing world all of the research points to the empowerment of women, and Dr Joanna Martin (founder of One of Many) had a calling to support these women and equip them with the tools they need to step into leadership and change their

Happy New Year! Has today found you resolutely jotting down your New Years Resolutions? How many of those are the same from last year? Don’t beat yourself up! There are lessons to be learnt in failure. I know I’ve learnt some of those lessons this year! Most ‘instant success’ comes from hard work and consistency over time, and so it’s important to NOT give up. In this episode I share with you three of the lessons that I’ve learnt that could completely change how you approach (and stick to!) your New Years Resolutions this year.

Deck the halls with boughs of holly and jingle all the way, it’s the happiest time of the year! Christmas is traditionally a time to spread joy and good cheer, and one of the BEST ways to do that is through gratitude. Gratitude is a cornerstone of happiness, and a good practice to adopt is to find at least one thing every single day to be grateful for. In this episode, I share with you a new technique that I’ve learnt that will deepen your practice of gratitude journaling. Have a very Merry Christmas, I hope that this New Year coming is one that will bring you all the love and joy that you so deserve.

There is! It's called Trading Back, and it enables you to have a little bit of the AND. In today’s episode I reveal how to utilise this secret to enable you to both live now AND save for the future.

In the workplace, do you feel able to engage in courageous conversations, allowing yourself to be vulnerable? Or do you ‘armour up’, afraid to appear weak? Vulnerability is being able to connect with people on an emotional level. It takes courage. Courage is a necessary leadership skill. And, it turns out that you can LEARN to be courageous! My guest today went all the way to the USA to find out how. After studying with Brené Brown to become a Dare to Lead facilitator, Kim Potgieter talks about self-awareness, the importance of having clear values, the risks of people pleasing at the expense of your own authenticity and how to create a culture of courage in an organization.

In debt? No savings for retirement? Do you find yourself making purchases to ‘keep up with Joneses’? What would you have done differently if you had known more about money earlier in life? The truth is, even though it’s easier to form good money habits when you’re younger, it’s never too late! In today’s episode I talk about the six lessons that I’d teach my younger self about money, things I wish that I’d known back then.

Do you hear stories of successful female entrepreneurs and feel like there’s no way you can measure up? With the constant pressure to be perfect, do you feel like you’re the only imperfect one? My guest today, Nwabisa Mayema, is an entrepreneur who is passionate about developing female entrepreneurs and creating a community of women who OWN their perfectly imperfect stories. ‘Perfectly imperfect is the new cool’, and she believes that when you can operate from a place that is open and vulnerable and authentic, you will realise how strong you are, without having to be aggressive. No matter where you are in the world, the struggles and the challenges you face are similar to other female entrepreneurs. You are on a journey to learn, to grow, to make an impact, and most importantly, to find joy.