In this episode, I dive into the critical difference between explanations and excuses when it comes to our financial situations. I explore how identifying this difference can transform our money mindset, help us take meaningful action, and prevent future regrets. By learning to shift from excuse-making to explanation-seeking, we can break through psychological barriers and create genuine financial progress.

Episode Highlights:

1. Explanations vs. Excuses: I break down how explanations clarify with facts and context, while excuses shift responsibility and provide psychological comfort that ultimately holds us back.
2. The Self-Employment Example: I share my personal tendency to use "I'm self-employed, so it's harder" as an excuse, and how transforming this into an explanation creates actionable pathways forward.
3. Four Questions to Identify Excuses: I provide a framework to determine if you're making excuses or giving explanations, including asking if it's specific, if there's a way forward, if you'll stand by it in five years, and if there's anything you're not telling yourself.
4. The Future Self Perspective: I discuss how our future selves will thank us for turning excuses into explanations that we can act upon, rather than letting opportunities pass us by.
5. Life's Regrets: I reference Bronnie Ware's "Top Five Regrets of the Dying" to highlight how excuse-making can lead to unfulfilled dreams and missed opportunities for meaningful connections.

What you will learn:

• How to differentiate between legitimate explanations and limiting excuses in your financial life
• Practical techniques to transform your excuses into explanations that enable action
• Why psychological comfort from excuses can lead to long-term regret
• How to balance accepting real financial challenges while still moving forward

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.

When are we buying to fix ourselves, and when are we "investing in ourselves"? In this solo episode I dive into the sometimes-dangerous advice I see on social media about "investing in yourself" (which is basically just fixing yourself and/or emotional spending in disguise), and unpack the differences between healthy investments in yourself and toxic pseudo investments in yourself. Then, we move onto a model you can use to explore 7 ways you can invest in yourself in a meaningful way, and side step that toxic side of self-investment. 

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 part two of this slap-a-dappin episode on self-image and financial health, I explore four additional powerful strategies to build self-acceptance and stop the cycle of emotional spending. Building on the foundation laid in part one, this episode dives deeper into identifying your "fantasy self," recognising spending triggers, working with what you already own, and developing a framework to intercept negative self-talk. Discover how liking yourself more can become your financial superpower and free up mental space previously consumed by self-criticism.

What you will learn: 

• How to identify your "fantasy self" and break the spending cycle tied to that unrealistic image
• Techniques to recognise and distance yourself from triggers that lead to emotional spending
• Why working with what you already own can radically shift your relationship with yourself
• A practical A.A.D.E. framework (Acknowledge, Articulate, Dispute, Evidence) to intercept negative self-talk
• The connection between self-acceptance and improved financial decision-making

Episode Highlights

• How identifying your "fantasy self" can help you intercept emotional spending before it happens (5:40)
• Why your triggers for disliking yourself are powerful clues for changing your relationship with money (12:30)
• The radical act of deciding you can like yourself with what you already own (18:20)
• Introduction of the A.A.D.E. framework for transforming negative self-perception (22:35)
• Why liking yourself is actually a "cheat code" for financial wellbeing (28:15)
• My personal journey from self-criticism to neutrality and how it transformed my spending (30:25)
• The connection between women's self-image struggles and engagement with personal finance (32:10)

Mentioned in this episode: The Spending Trap of Your Fantasy Self episode: https://thebrokegeneration.com/blog/episodes/friday-faves-the-spending-trap-of-your-fantasy-self/?portfolioCats=362

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.

Step into my time machine: for this week's Friday Fave we're going all the way back to 2023 to hear a fave ep about the link between a lack of self love and financial self sabotage, WOOF! Buckle up, it's a juicy one.

When we exist in a society that conditions us (especially women and marginalised groups) to constantly pursue "better" versions of ourselves, our finances often suffer as a result. I share how my own struggles with self-esteem in my teens and early twenties led to financial leakage, and how therapy and self-awareness have transformed my relationship with both myself and my money.

Highlights:

1. Emotional Spending Cycles: How using shopping as a coping mechanism creates a vicious cycle of temporary highs followed by financial regret
2. Self-Sabotage Patterns: Why we unconsciously derail our own financial progress when operating from a place of low self-worth
3. The "Worthiness" Factor: How feeling undeserving can prevent you from saving, negotiating better pay, or charging what you're worth
4. Identity-Based Purchasing: The danger of buying things to "become" someone else rather than to enhance who you already are
5. The Awareness Solution: Practical first steps to notice the connection between your self-esteem and spending habits

What you'll learn:

• The 7 specific ways low self-love sabotages your financial confidence
• How to identify when you're spending to fill emotional gaps rather than actual needs
• Why struggling financially might feel like your "comfort zone" (and how to break free)
• The psychological difference between healthy vs. toxic identity-based purchasing
• Simple reflection practices to begin healing your relationship with both yourself and your money

If you're stuck in a cycle of taking one step forward and two steps back with your finances, this episode will help you understand the underlying self-worth issues that might be holding you back.

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 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 Myth
  Why we've been conditioned to believe self-acceptance is instantaneous rather than a gradual rewiring of our thinking patterns.
• The Money-Image Connection
  Explore 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 Loop
  Learn why stopping certain consumption patterns might actually be more effective than adding new ones when building self-acceptance.
• The Mirror of Judgment
  Discover how our perception of others directly influences our self-criticism and spending habits, and what we can do to break this pattern.
• Neutrality Before Positivity
  My 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-Criticism
  Uncover 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.brokegeneration
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration  

Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe

See 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.brokegeneration
TikTok: 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.brokegeneration
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@the.brokegeneration  

Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe

See 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.brokegeneration
TikTok: 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.