If you've ever asked yourself if personal insurance is really worth it... you need to listen to the episode! This week’s Money Diarist always considered herself a finance girl. She was working, studying finance on the side, investing, and saving for her first home. The kind of person who had an emergency fund and she even had her personal insurances sorted. Then, exactly 1 year after she set up her cover, she was diagnosed with stage four Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Within a week she was starting chemo, she couldn't work and the life she’d been carefully building suddenly looked very different. But the financial foundations she’d put in place meant she didn’t have to make decisions from panic while navigating the biggest challenge of her life. Now, as she approaches the end of treatment, she’s reflecting on how the experience reshaped her relationship with money, priorities, and what actually matters when life throws the unexpected your way.

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.

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Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett aka Queen Acknowledgements.

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.

International Women’s Day is this weekend, and while we love celebrating incredible women, it also felt like the perfect time to talk about some of the very real career trade-offs a lot of us are still navigating *and this episode comes with a content warning below*.

So if one job offers a higher salary and paid parental leave… but almost zero flexibility. The other pays less, but gives you more freedom. With kids potentially on the horizon, which one actually sets you up better long term? We unpack the parental leave maths, the reality of juggling work and childcare, and why flexibility can end up being one of the most valuable things a workplace can offer. Then we had a community member write in because she was concerned about her friend. Her partner earns significantly more, keeps most of the money himself, and has shut down her plans to go back to study because it would affect his income. From the outside it feels like a huge power imbalance… but it raises the question is this actually financial control. What would you do when you notice something in a friend’s relationship that doesn’t sit right? It opens up a really thoughtful conversation about financial independence, the invisible cost of motherhood, and how to raise concerns with a friend in a way that is supportive rather than confrontational. As always, the community also had a lot to say on this one.

CONTENT WARNING: This episode talks about coersive control and financial abuse which might be triggering for some listeners. If you, or a friend needs support 1800 RESPECT offers free, confidential counselling and resources. You can visit them here.

NEW HERE?: Take our Money Personality Quiz and we will send you free resources based on how YOU actually manage money here.

Ready for more laughs, lessons, and unhinged money chats? Check out our oh-so-bingeable Friday Drinks playlist. Listen here.

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Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett aka Queen Acknowledgements.

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 - 451289

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Everyone keeps saying “just use your equity” like it’s some kind of cheat code to getting rich… but what does that actually mean? To break it all down properly, Victoria sits down with Mortgage Broking queen Jaclyn Walsh to breaking down equity properly. We're talking what it is, how much you can really get, why the bank doesn’t see it the way you do, and when using it can genuinely accelerate your wealth. Because yes, equity can be powerful... but it can also lock you into more debt, more risk, and less flexibility if you don’t understand how it works.

In this ep:
🏡 The equity myth most people believe
🏡 Why the bank can say no (even when your house has skyrocketed)
🏡 The 80% rule banks use to decide how much you actually get
🏡 When equity can boost your wealth… or cap your future borrowing
🏡 Why a value drop can leave you owing money after you sell
🏡 What question you should ask before releasing a single dollar of equity

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE EQUITY: You can contact the team at Zella here
and find them on Instagram.

MORE PROPERTY EPISODES: Check out our How to Buy and Save For Property playlist.

FREEBIE: Get our She's on the Money Mortgage rate calculator here.

Join our Facebook Group AKA the ultimate support network for money advice and inspiration. Ask questions, share tips, and celebrate your wins with a like-minded crew of 300,000+.

And follow us on Instagram for Q&As, bite-sized tips, daily money inspo... and relatable money memes that just get you.

Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett aka Queen Acknowledgements.

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 - 451289.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.