Also referred to as an “economic reality check,”, lifestyle audits are not just for the rich and famous, and not just useful to the tax collector! Have you ever looked at your bank statement and wondered, “Where did it all go?” It’s one of those universal moments—a glance at your spending habits and the creeping realisation that maybe, just maybe, your money isn’t working as hard as it should be for the life you want. This […]

If money decisions were purely mathematical, personal finance would be easy. Spend less than you earn, invest in low-cost index funds, and let compound interest do its thing. But as anyone who’s ever faced a financial dilemma knows, money is emotional, unpredictable, and deeply personal. Morgan Housel, in The Psychology of Money, makes a compelling argument: in finance, it’s often more important to be reasonable than to be rational. In theory, rational decisions are always the […]

It’s a tempting idea, isn’t it? The thought of managing your own finances, crafting your own investment strategy, and making the “right” moves with your money—all without the need for professional guidance. After all, the information is out there. Books, podcasts, courses, and countless personal finance influencers promise that with a little effort, you can be your own financial planner. But here’s the thing: financial planning isn’t just about what you know. It’s about how you […]

Imagine this: You’re sitting around a table with friends, and the conversation shifts to money. Someone is buying a new car, another just paid off their house, and someone else is debating whether to invest in the stock market or property. Advice gets tossed around freely—”You should do what I did!”—as if there’s a one-size-fits-all approach to financial success. But here’s the thing: context is everything. It’s easy to look at someone else’s financial choices and […]

Every relationship has a story—a narrative we tell ourselves about how things are, how they’ve been, and what they’ll always be. And while we often think of “love stories” in the context of romance, there’s another relationship in our lives that deserves just as much attention: our relationship with money. For many of us, our money story has deep roots. It’s shaped by childhood experiences, societal messages, and personal triumphs or struggles. Maybe your story is […]

Have you ever tried to steer a parked car? No matter how much you turn the wheel, you’re going nowhere. It’s a simple truth: movement is necessary for progress. Yet, movement without direction can quickly become chaos. The sweet spot lies in finding the balance—moving forward while knowing where you want to go. In life, as in financial planning, it’s tempting to stay parked. Waiting for the “perfect” moment to act or for all the uncertainties […]

Do you ever find yourself replaying decisions from your past, wishing you could rewrite the story? It’s easy for our minds to fixate on the paths we didn’t take, the doors that closed, or the moments that feel like they’ve determined everything about our present. “I missed my chance, and now it’s too late.” “I shouldn’t have made that decision back then; look where it’s left me.” “I don’t deserve to move forward because of mistakes […]

When was the last time you gave yourself the grace to be curious? To pause and ask why, instead of immediately leaping to judgment? In a world that moves fast—where we’re bombarded by expectations, comparisons, and decisions—curiosity is often overshadowed by criticism.  But what if we could flip the script? What if curiosity became our default setting, especially when it comes to our relationship with money and life? Here’s the problem with criticism: criticism is quick.  […]

Why do we say yes when we mean no? Why do we say no when deep down we wish we could say yes? These are questions that dig beneath the surface of our everyday choices, revealing the deeper, often hidden stories we tell ourselves. In his insightful discussions, Dr. Gabor Maté highlights a core conflict many of us experience: we prioritise attachment over authenticity. Whether it’s in our relationships, careers, or even financial decisions, we often […]

Life is full of roadblocks. They come in many forms: an unexpected expense, a career setback, a strained relationship, or even just a sense of stagnation. At first glance, these challenges can feel overwhelming, frustrating, and even unfair. But what if we stopped seeing roadblocks as something meant to halt our progress and instead viewed them as opportunities to pause, reflect, and redirect? Every obstacle we encounter forces us to ask important questions: Am I on […]