The Broke Generation

In this episode I explore the profound connection between self-acceptance and financial wellness. Discover why the journey to liking yourself isn't a simple switch to flip, but rather a transformative process that can revolutionise your relationship with both your self-image and your spending habits. I had SO MUCH TO SAY it's ended up being a two parter, so tune in next Thursday for 4 more ways to like yourself more. What you'll learn: Why self-acceptance is a gradual journey of neuroplasticity, not an overnight transformation The surprising ways our self-perception drives our financial decisions Practical strategies to break the cycle of "improvement" spending How to begin separating your self-worth from the standards we've been conditioned to meet Episode Highlights: The Self-Love Switch MythWhy we've been conditioned to believe self-acceptance is instantaneous rather than a gradual rewiring of our thinking patterns. The Money-Image ConnectionExplore the hidden relationship between how we see ourselves and where our money goes—particularly through "enhancement" purchases that promise to make us more acceptable. Breaking the Consumption-Confidence LoopLearn why stopping certain consumption patterns might actually be more effective than adding new ones when building self-acceptance. The Mirror of JudgmentDiscover how our perception of others directly influences our self-criticism and spending habits, and what we can do to break this pattern. Neutrality Before PositivityMy journey of moving from self-hatred to self-neutrality before reaching self-acceptance, and why this middle step is crucial. The True Cost of Self-CriticismUncover the financial impact of constantly trying to "fix" yourself through purchases, and what happens when you begin to step away from this pattern Quotable Moments: "When you're relying on that externality, that was just a complete sinkhole of spending because there is no end there. It's just a cycle that's going to keep going around."  "If you see it as a project of changing the way you see yourself, rather than just going from disliking yourself to liking yourself, it will feel a lot more manageable." Stay tuned for Part 2 next week! Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Order my book, Good with Money! Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all love a good actionable list, and this week I'm taking you through ten wallet-friendly ways to level up your life without burning a hole in your budget. From sprucing up your morning routine to splurging on fancy hand soaps, I explore practical strategies for enhancing your lifestyle without breaking the bank. With the current cost of living, it's never been more important to prioritise upgrades that improve your life long-term (that includes improving your happiness!). Have a listen, and let me know on socials what small thing you fit into your budget that leaves you feeling like the baddie that you are! Episode highlights: Practical strategies for upgrading life affordably. The importance of carving out time for personal choice and enjoyment. How to enhance your daily routine, and indulgences without overspending. “When is a spend lifestyle creep that is going to be damaging and when is a spend actually a perfectly reasonable expression of lifestyle elevation?"Emma [05:19] “When we're actually looking at taking care of ourselves, looking after ourselves and prioritising ourselves, we have to consider the financial component."Emma [04:31] “Sometimes having something in stock and available to you is actually a really good way to stop yourself from like having that scarcity..."Emma [21:20] Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Order my book, Good with Money! Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I'm taking you through some advice I use in my Wardrobe Project behaviour change program about how to break the habit of buying your confidence on a rack. I spent years outsourcing my confidence and my identity to consumption, most notably clothing consumption, and it not only drained my bank account, but kept me stuck in a cycle of never being good enough. I'll take you through 14 things, from practical tips to mindset shifts, to help you embrace confidence outside of consumption. Mentioned in this episode:  Christine Buzan: https://www.instagram.com/thechristinebuzan/ Join the waitlist to be the first to know when the next round of The Wardrobe Project is enrolling: https://mailchi.mp/7dbdeba873ab/atq5ho25bz Order my book, Good with Money: Australia: https://amzn.to/4eLOi5x  UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Money-Reprogramme-Spending-Control/ Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegenerationTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration   Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode, I explore the idea of "quiet quitting" beyond the workplace and how it applies to our consumption habits. Inspired by a recent newsletter on stepping back from the beauty hamster wheel, can a change in mindset help us break free from the cycle of overconsumption and superficial self-care? I share practical strategies for assessing what genuinely adds value to our lives, like simplifying beauty routines and scrutinising our purchases. From questioning the necessity of trendy beauty treatments to evaluating convenience-driven consumption, I show how adopting a quiet quitting attitude has empowered me to make more intentional choices, and you can too!  Episode highlights: Practical tips on simplifying beauty routines and scrutinising purchases. How convenience-driven consumption impacts spending. Actionable strategies for making better choices about consumption. “I was able to identify that the thing compelling me to pay for that, or to consider getting that treatment, was because I felt pressure that everybody else was."Emma [12:26] “All of these things are priming us to become these convenience seeking consumers like it doesn't serve us."Emma [20:08] “Is this really expressing myself? …Can I really see beyond this one decision and really can I really make sense of what I'm actually trying to do with this consumption decision."Emma [25:38] Book mentioned: Indistractable by Nir Eyal Follow for help with your fashion footprint: curatedwardrobe.au Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegenerationTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration   Order my book, Good with Money! Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I'm taking you through 9 practical ways to learn to SPEND money like a financially confident queen – because when we SPEND money effectively, we can do everything else much better, too. Highlights: Why learning to spend money is paramount to learning to save and invest Countering values-based spending with anti-values sacrifices Identifying and eliminating a scarcity mindset Knowing your numbers Setting up your financial ecosystem for success Mentioned in this episode: expense streamlining calculator buymeacoffee.com/thebrokegen/e/310925 Order my book, Good with Money: Australia: https://amzn.to/4eLOi5x  UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Money-Reprogramme-Spending-Control/ Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegenerationTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration   Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I take you on a journey through the many evolutions of my personal finances so far, through the lens of the mindset shifts and identity upgrades I've undergone going from hot money mess to financially confident and building wealth. I go through the changes I made as I: Started fixing my finances once and for all Began paying off debt Finally paid off my debt Learned to save Invested small amounts Invested bigger amounts Went full time self employed and bought a brand new car for the first time ever  Order GOOD WITH MONEY: https://amzn.to/4eLOi5x  Where to find Emma Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegenerationTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration   Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We all know that dopamine drives our spending, whether it’s impulse shopping, online browsing, or grabbing a little treat just because. That quick hit of excitement can make spending feel effortless, while saving? Not so much. But what if we could flip the script and make saving just as rewarding as swiping our card? This week, I’m unpacking how to retrain your brain to crave financial wins instead of spending sprees. By understanding the psychology behind our money habits, we can start making small shifts that give us that same dopamine rush, not from spending, but from watching our savings grow. I'm covering: Why we’re wired to seek dopamine from spending How to make saving feel just as rewarding Simple ways to gamify your savings If you’ve ever struggled to break the cycle of impulse spending, this one’s for you! Order my book, Good with Money: Australia: https://amzn.to/4eLOi5x  UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Good-Money-Reprogramme-Spending-Control/ Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegenerationTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration   Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week's Friday Fave is an episode on how our fantasy self shows up in our spending habits! We're unpacking the concept of the "fantasy self" and exploring how it influences our financial behaviours and spending decisions. If you've participated in my wardrobe challenges, you might already be familiar with the idea of the fantasy self when it comes to clothing. But today, we're broadening that lens to see how it shows up in various aspects of our lives. Today I’m covering: Understanding the Fantasy Self Common Categories Where the Fantasy Self Shows Up How to Dismantle Your Fantasy Self Listen to the episode on Spending Runways mentioned in this episode here: https://thebrokegeneration.com/blog/episodes/are-spending-runways-draining-your-money/?portfolioCats=362  Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegenerationTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration   Order my book, Good with Money! Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode I'm taking you through 5 things I've learned since starting to track my spending again as part of running Smart Spenders Club!  Highlights: how tracking can provide a helpful behaviour modifier why visuals can help you connect to the impact of your spending the dangers of avoidance and how tracking helps you face the music Smart Spenders Club has closed for enrolment now, but stay tuned for a potential second round later this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the next 10 weeks, we're hitting replay on 10 of your most loved episodes, to give a little extra love to the eps that made the most difference in your lives and your finances throughout the four (yes FOUR!!) years of The Broke Generation podcast.  First up we've got one of the most listened to eps of the podcast EVER... my round up of my year long wardrobe freeze. If you're new here, you're gonna love this one. If you've listened before, let it hit in a whole different way.  Thank you so much for listening to the podcast and being a part of the gang – I so appreciate you! To celebrate the best eps of the last four years, why not share the podcast with a friend to help us reach more people!? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.