Ep.100 Adding Up - The Power Of Documenting

Welcome to one hundred episodes! I’ve just re-listened to episode one of the Adding Up Podcast. My voice was shaking and I stated that if I could help just one person in the process of recording this podcast it would be a success.

4 years and thousands of downloads later, I am humbled. The power of documenting is something that I completely underestimated.

I started the podcast buoyed by a shred of hope, I had made enough changes to my spending habits to pay off $5,000 off of one credit card. I still had more on that balance plus another 2 cards maxed out, but I could see quite literally little changes could add up.

I have stumbled more than once in 4 years. I have had 2 significant breaks in recording episodes. The first when I was on the verge of burnout during the 2nd lockdown of my local area trying to keep up with running my business and homeschooling my children. Something had to give and thankfully I noticed at the time that I wasn’t prepared to give up my health.

The 2nd time I became bedridden for 2 weeks. I simply didn’t see the warning signs the 2nd time. This time I had no choice but to not record the podcast.

Listening to the first episode of the podcast again today, reminded me of just how far I have come.

Taking stock of my achievements since starting this podcast in May 2019, I have:

As of May 2019 Serena I had reduced my debt by $6,000 without increasing my personal budget. By December 2019, I reduced my debt by $11,200 and had $3,046 left on my 3rd and final credit card. My target was to have no more credit cards by June 2020.

As of April 2020 I achieved this goal and had reduced my debt by $17,507.54.

As of March 2023, I have reduced my debt by $47,097.54.

It’s important to note that as of March 2022 I adjust the budget to save for a family holiday as the need to pay down extra debt hasn’t been as important. Interest rates have also been increasing so this has impacted the ability to pay extra as I see the importance of paying debts.

Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au

Also included are my tips and experience on:

- Saving Money Tips

- Interest on savings

- 7-Eleven Coffee

- Having difficult conversations

- Money mindset

Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use this link to share your details and we'll be in contact.

Ep.099 Adding Up - What Happens When Interest Rates Go Up, Again

Deep breath and here we go, again. Another month, another interest rate rise. I’m feeling like it’s groundhog day. It’s getting harder to stay positive and even harder to save money, or, is it? There’s no point crying about it (well at least not all the time). This episode is one where I share the hard feelings, the pity party and then how I’m moving on and getting focused on the future.

Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au

My Budget Highlights:

My Best Saving - Pausing

My Best Learning - Continuing to learn

Money Bravery - Get clear and open to creative solutions

Also included are my tips and experience on:

- Saving Money Tips

- Paying in instalments

- Interest on savings

- Negotiating better rates on a mortgage

- Shop around on insurance premiums

- Service NSW Premium and Savings Vouchers and Rebates

- Shopping Online Vs In Store

- The Convenience Tax

- Reusable Coffee Cups

- 7-Eleven Coffee

- Checking your details are up to date with your insurances

- Having difficult conversations

- Get rid of unnecessary costs

- Money mindset

Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use this link to share your details and we'll be in contact.

Ep.098 Adding Up - Learning New Ways To Save Money

Another month, another interest rate rise. It’s getting harder to stay positive and even harder to save money, or, is it? In this episode it’s about looking for creative and different ways to save money despite the current economic challenges.

Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au

My Budget Highlights:

My Best Saving - Raiding The Freezer

My Best Learning - I Can Always Learn

Money Bravery - If You Don’t Speak Up You Don’t Have Opportunity Of A Yes

Also included are my tips and experience on:

- Saving Money Tips

- Paying in instalments

- Interest on savings

- Negotiating better rates on a mortgage

- Shop around on insurance premiums

- Service NSW Premium and Savings Vouchers and Rebates

- Shopping Online Vs In Store

- The Convenience Tax

- Reusable Coffee Cups

- 7-Eleven Coffee

- Checking your details are up to date with your insurances

- Having difficult conversations

- Get rid of unnecessary costs

- Money mindset

Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use this link to share your details and we'll be in contact.

Ep.097 Adding Up - How Is Your Money Understanding Setting You Up

Is your money understanding setting you up for success? Or failure? The funny thing is if we’re not paying attention to the money we have and what we are using it for we can find ourselves struggling. Going on a journey to get better with my finances I’ve discovered that more people are challenged with money understanding and money confidence than I realised. Staying in control with finances is my focus in 2023. For me to break the myth that it doesn’t happen to everyone, more stories from many different backgrounds need to be brought to light. In this episode I also detail what and where I’m seeking more support and advice to continue to be and do better with my budget and finances.

Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au

My Budget Highlights:

My Best Saving - Don’t Buy What You Don’t Need

My Best Learning - Centre For Women’s Economic Safety

Money Bravery - Always Ask For Alternatives

Also included are my tips and experience on:

- The value of documenting

- Kids don’t listen, they watch

- What is the purpose of money

- Having difficult conversations

- Get rid of unnecessary costs

- The cashless envelope system

- Money mindset

Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use the link this link to share your details and we'll be in contact.

Ep.096 Adding Up - Don't Think It Won't Happen To You

You don’t know what you don’t know. Going on a journey to get better with my finances I’ve discovered that more people are challenged with money understanding and money confidence than I realised. Staying in control with finances is my focus in 2023. For me to break the myth that it doesn’t happen to everyone, more stories from many different backgrounds need to be brought to light. In this episode I also detail what and where I’m seeking more support and advice to continue to be and do better with my budget and finances.

Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au

My Budget Highlights:

My Best Saving - Service NSW Back To School Vouchers

My Best Learning - Research, there can be more for free than you realise

Money Bravery - Use the payment plans

Also included are my tips and experience on:

- The value of documenting

- Kids don’t listen, they watch

- What is the purpose of money

- Having difficult conversations

- Get rid of unnecessary costs

- The cashless envelope system

- Money mindset

Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use the link this link to share your details and we'll be in contact.

Ep.095 Adding Up - Staying In Control With Finances

Staying in control with finances is my focus in 2023. For this to happen I’m taking the time to review all the things I can control and even plan for the things I can’t control. In this episode I also detail what and where I’m seeking more support and advice to continue to be and do better with my budget and finances.

Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au

My Budget Highlights:

My Best Saving - Walking the dog

My Best Learning - Routine with choice

Money Bravery - If you don’t have all the facts you can’t make an informed decision

Also included are my tips and experience on:

- Saving money on food

- Eating leftovers

- How to avoid the fridge to bin problem

- Favourite leftover meals

- Switching off lights

- Service NSW vouchers

- Combatting the costs of going back to school

Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use the link this link to share your details and we'll be in contact.

Ep.094 Adding Up - What Does Financial Security Look Like?

What does financial security look like? I spoke at an event recently about financial literacy. Afterwards a woman approached me to thank me for sharing my story. She then went on to say I only have a credit card for emergencies. I had been there myself at one point. In this episode I share why I have changed that approach and how I did it.

Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au

This episode is one of a series pre-recorded so I have a break with my family over the Summer Holidays in Australia. No weekly highlights mentioned in the episode, but in saying this, the fact thatI’m having a break with my family it’s a HUGE highlight for me.

Also included are my tips and experience on:

- Issues Grow When We Ignore Them

- Kids don’t listen, they watch

- What is the purpose of money

- Having difficult conversations

- Get rid of unnecessary costs

- The cashless envelope system

Ep.093 Adding Up - New Year Resolution For Saving

Is it possible to save more money with the cost of living rising?

Review your spending of 2022

Adjust your budget

Shop around on essentials

Do your homework

Automate saving

Consistently look for savings

Every saving matters

Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au

My Budget Highlights:

My Best Saving -

My Best Learning -

Money Bravery -

Also included are my tips and experience on:

- Issues Grow When We Ignore Them

- Kids don’t listen, they watch

- What is the purpose of money

- Having difficult conversations

- Get rid of unnecessary costs

- The cashless envelope system

- Money mindset

- The Good Fight by Dr Liane Davey