Her Money Matters

Every time you shop around for a home loan online, you could be silently damaging your credit score. One missed payment can stay on your file for 2 years. A default? 5 years.

Most women have never checked their credit report — and some only find out what's on it when the mortgage is declined.

Today, we change that.

Victoria Coster is the Founder & CEO of Credit Fix Solutions — Australia's #1 trusted credit repair company. She built it on one radical principle: no win, no fee. She now works with 9,000+ finance brokers across Australia, has expanded into New Zealand, and is developing a financial literacy program for Year 10 students.

In this episode we cover:

What's actually in your credit report — and the 3 bureaus holding your data (Equifax, Illion, Experian)

Your red pill moment starts now.

Connect with Victoria: Website: creditfixsolutions.com.au Phone: 1300 436 569

 Get your FREE credit reports: Equifax → mycreditfile.com.au Experian → experian.com.au

If this episode helped you, please follow the show and share it with someone who's thinking about buying a home or has ever had a financial setback. It could change everything for them. 💗

In Part 2 of our frequent flyer series, Helene and I break down the practical side of points collecting. We share 10 ways Australians can accumulate points faster using spending they're already doing every day, along with the strategies that can help you get the most value from the points you earn.

The reality is that most frequent flyer points are no longer earned from flying. They're earned through credit cards, supermarkets, insurance, utilities, shopping portals, wine clubs, hotels, and everyday household spending. We also discuss the best ways to redeem your points, including why flights generally offer far greater value than shopping rewards, gift cards, or fuel discounts.

• The 10 ways to build a frequent flyer points balance

• Credit card sign on bonuses and how they work

• Using supermarkets, utilities and insurance to earn points

• Shopping portals and hidden points opportunities

• Why Qantas Wine has become a favourite points hack

• The biggest mistakes people make when redeeming points

• Why Business Class flights often provide the best value for your points

• The difference between Classic Reward flights and Points Plus Pay

If travel is on your bucket list, this episode will show you how to earn points faster, redeem them smarter, and potentially save thousands of dollars on your next holiday.

School fees. University costs. Tutoring. Technology. Uniforms. Excursions. Somehow, every year the cost of education seems to climb even higher and for many families, it can feel like a financial treadmill that never quite slows down.

This conversation is not just for parents currently raising children as increasingly, grandparents are stepping in too. Whether it is helping with private school fees, contributing towards university costs, or wanting to create a meaningful financial legacy for the next generation, many women in their 50s, 60s and beyond are asking the same question: “How can I help my kids and grandkids without compromising my own future?”

In this episode of the Her Money Matters podcast, I sit down with Marie Lazar from Futurity Investment Group to unpack one of the financial planning tools more families are beginning to explore: education bonds.

For many women, this sits right at the intersection of family, legacy, and financial planning. You may be in the thick of paying school fees right now. You may have adult children struggling with the rising cost of raising kids, or you may be looking at your grandchildren and wanting to create opportunities for them in a practical and meaningful way.

Marie and I discuss the rising cost of education in Australia, the different ways families currently fund education, and how education bonds actually work in practice. We also unpack who they may suit, the tax considerations, the flexibility they offer, and why this has become an increasingly important conversation for both parents and grandparents.

As always, this episode is general information only and does not take into account your personal circumstances or financial needs.

So join us for a practical, thoughtful, and surprisingly fascinating conversation about one of the biggest investments many families will ever make - education.

This is the final episode in our three-part series where we go through end to end how to survive separation and divorce from a financial and emotional stand point.

In Episode 32 of Her Money Matters, we unpacked what to expect emotionally and financially through divorce.

And now… this is the rebuild phase.

This is where things start to shift, and where you begin to find your footing again. This is hopefully where confidence starts to come back and for many women, where dating and repartnering enters the picture bringing both excitement and a whole new layer of financial decisions.

In this episode, Naomi and Helene talk through the emotional and practical realities of life after divorce, from rebuilding your identity and confidence, through to navigating relationships again and avoiding the money mistakes that can come with them.

Take your time. Stay curious about yourself. Stay engaged with your money. And back yourself to make decisions that support the life you’re building next.

This week’s episode is a special one, I am so excited that this is episode 50!  How the has flown, especially when I think back to my first recording in June last year and how far the podcast has come since then.

In our conversation for this episode, we focus on the cost of living pressure many households are feeling from multiple angles. Fuel prices have surged, with petrol sitting around $2.50 - $3.50 per litre and pushing even higher in some areas, driven by global supply disruptions and rising oil prices. At the same time, interest rates have continued to rise, with the Reserve Bank of Australia lifting the cash rate multiple times in recent months and the possibility of further increases still on the table.

For homeowners, this is having a very real impact. Higher borrowing costs, rising everyday expenses, and tighter cashflow are becoming part of the day to day reality for many Australians.

In this episode, I sit down with Sharon Bae, Founder of Artemis Finance, to unpack what is happening in the lending market right now: and more importantly, the five key reasons you may want to consider refinancing your mortgage.

When costs are rising around you, it is easy to absorb it and move on. But your mortgage is one area where a small change can make a meaningful difference. Take the time to review it, ask questions, and explore your options — because the impact can be far bigger than you think.

If this conversation has led you to consider whether refinancing could work in your situation, you can reach out to Sharon Bae via email at Artemis Finance: [email protected], or via the website: https://artemisfinance.com.au/

Your 60s are a decade where everything starts to shift where for many women we are considering the next phase of life - whatever that looks like - where you potentially have the financial freedom to choose whether or not you continue to work.  There are some women who can't wait to retire and head off into the retirement sunset, and others who could think of nothing worse than stopping what they love doing and want to work until they are no longer able.

So in this episode, Naomi and Helene walk through the five things every woman needs to understand about money in her 60s:  from accessing your super, to making decisions about work, housing, family, and getting your affairs properly in order.

This stage of life is about making clear, informed decisions that support how you want to live, for this decade as well as the years ahead.

There is a bunch of information in this episode to help you navigate the move from working to either reducing your working hours or retiring completely, so pick one area that is the most relevant to you and focus on that.  The future is yours!