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Gen Z gets written off as entitled and spend-happy - Maddie Borge proves otherwise. At 24, she lays out a disciplined, practical approach to money in a world where the old “degree → job → house” promise no longer holds. We discuss why renting in cities like London can be precarious, how that instability reshapes goals, and the trade-offs between owning and investing. Maddie shares the systems that actually move the needle - pay yourself first, ring-fence essentials, use high-yield savings and index funds/ISAs, audit subscriptions and day-to-day leaks, and gamify progress so it sticks. We also talk balance: enjoying small luxuries without derailing a deposit, and why building a portable career or business can be a smarter path than climbing a broken ladder. This isn’t “lazy Gen Z”; it’s thoughtful, disciplined, and quietly ambitious.

Maddie's Channels:

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Kidulting is on the rise, and it’s not just about grown-ups buying plushies for their shelves - it’s shaping up to be a full-blown investing trend. We dive into why collectibles like Jellycats and Labubus are booming, and how to spot whether a “cute craze” could actually be a smart addition to your portfolio. From there, we get into the US government shutdown drama (and what it really means for interest rates, jobs, and your money), why investors are flocking to gold when things feel shaky, the surprising premium butter boom (yes, butter is the new luxury), and the London Stock Exchange’s fall from grace. Plus, we share a listener’s brilliant email on women buying “boring” businesses and what it would take to start one yourself. Packed with money insights, random tangents, and at least one stubbed toe story - this one’s worth the listen.

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🎧 Listen to Vic’s 'Review of ‘The Soul of Money’.

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Vic brings ‘The Soul of Money’ to the couch and suddenly our bank statements feel like diaries we maybe… wouldn’t show our mums. We unpack the myth of ‘never enough,’ swap abundance for sufficiency, and explore money as a flow (sometimes a waterfall, sometimes a dribbly tap) that carries our intentions - whether that’s supporting local, giving with purpose, or voting with our wallets. Expect chat on financial integrity, values-based spending & donating, and why hoarding can dam your energy. Key takeaways: name your ‘enough,’ let money move with palms-up energy, and ask if each spend reflects who you are. Listen in, tell us your thoughts where you’re tuned in, and drop your next book recs - we’re ready for round two.

🎧 Listen to our episode with Roxie Nafousi.

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Soph is off having a well-deserved break in the woods this week (miss you Soph - plss come back soon 🥲). In her place, we’ve got Emily stepping out from behind the camera and onto the mic, matcha in hand. And speaking of matcha… it’s officially having a moment. Sales have doubled, cafés are going green, and Gen Z is treating it like the new Aperol Spritz (but healthier, Instagrammable, and about 100 shades brighter). We chat about why little luxuries are booming, the economics behind the matcha craze, and what it tells us about shifting spending habits. Plus, Vic weighs in on Trump’s latest visa drama, Nvidia and OpenAI’s eye-watering $100B deal, Pfizer muscling into the weight-loss drug race, and New Zealand smashing a glass ceiling with its first female central bank governor. Happy Monday everyone!

WTF Does That Mean? A Guide to All the Jargony Bits:H-1B Visa – US work visa for skilled jobs (techies, doctors).Market Cap – Total value of a company’s shares.AI Chips – Supercharged computer brains for AI.GLP-1 – Protein in weight-loss drugs that kills cravings.Acquisition – When one company buys another.Obesity Drug Market – The $$$ biz of weight-loss meds.Central Bank – The big boss bank running the economy.Interest Rates – How much it costs to borrow money.Inflation – When prices rise and money buys less.

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Ever walked into a pay rise conversation, only to feel your brain switch off and your confidence evaporate faster than your lunch break? You’re not alone. In this episode, Sophie sits down with salary negotiation powerhouse Meggie Palmer to unpack how to prep, practise, and push through those oh-so-awkward money chats. From knowing your “wish, want, walk” numbers, to mastering the art of silence, Meggie shares practical scripts, confidence tricks, and even a “fake tunnel drop-out” hack you’ll want to keep in your back pocket. We also tackle why women are conditioned to feel icky about asking for more, and how to rewire that mindset. Spoiler: you’re adding value - time to own it.

PepTalkHer: https://www.peptalkher.com/

The original episode with Meggie: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0ukKYVeZDXfaBz20qal0Gv?si=Edty--14SLuXqRIWxgkkhQ

Want the step-by-step guide we put together with Lexus on how to actually afford a big-ticket item (like a car that makes you feel as sleek as you look)? ⁠Grab the free PDF ⁠⁠⁠here.

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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This week we dig into the very viral Ben & Jerry’s saga - Jerry stepping away after 47 years, the Unilever peace-deal-gone-fraught, and what it really costs to put values ahead of vanilla. We unpack the “independent within a conglomerate” merger setup, the Gaza/Israel flashpoint that turbo-charged tensions, and why brave exits can still break your heart (and your P&L). Then it’s a rapid-fire news: TikTok staying in the U.S. via a new consortium and a licensed algorithm (hello, governance plot twist), China easing up on Google, chatter about shifting U.S. company reporting to twice-yearly, Klarna’s float and first-week vibes, Tesla’s big rebound plus a hefty insider buy (cue our “ethics vs returns” debate), and Sophie’s surprise portfolio hero, SharkNinja. Share, rate, and drop your thoughts - would you invest in Tesla or is that a hard pass?

WTF Does That Mean? A Guide to All the Jargony Bits:Merger Agreement – The contract when two companies join.Board of Directors – The decision-making bosses.Independence Clause – “We’ll stay in charge” fine print.PE (Private Equity) – Big funds buying companies.VC (Venture Capital) – Startup money with big hopes.Algorithm – Code that decides your TikTok feed.National Security Risk – Gov-speak for “sketchy data.”Quarterly Reporting – Company report cards, every 3 months.Float / Going Public – When a company sells shares.Insider Buying – Bosses buying their own stock.Defaults – Missed payments.

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

Sometimes the biggest lessons arrive completely out of the blue. In this episode, we sit down with 26-year-old Lily Foote, who shares the health scare that made her realise just how important health insurance really is. We talk through what it’s like to get an unexpected diagnosis, the overwhelm that comes with medical jargon, and how ADHD and anxiety can make the whole process even harder to navigate. Lily opens up about the financial relief of being covered, the reality of recovery (two weeks horizontal, not ideal for a self-confessed non-chiller), and the mindset shifts that came with it all. We also dive into why admin feels like climbing a mountain, how to make health insurance less intimidating, and that tricky balance between living in the moment and planning for the future. It’s an important conversation that’s honest, supportive, and might just be the nudge you need to finally tick “sort health insurance” off your list.

The Income Protection Episode mentioned in this podcast: A guide to adulting - Getting your Plan B sorted before it’s too late 

What we share on this podcast reflects our own views and experiences, and not the views of Southern Cross Health Insurance. This is not intended to be a recommendation or financial advice. If you’re interested in getting health insurance, please seek appropriate advice from a qualified professional to suit your circumstances.

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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This week on The Curve Weekly, we’ve got a very special guest: Lucy Blakiston from Shit You Should Care About is in the studio - and we LOVED HAVING HER. Together we dive into Rupert Murdoch’s real-life Succession drama, Lululemon’s fall from athleisure grace, and the big one: Klarna finally hit the stock market. The giant IPO’d on the NYSE at $40 a share, shot up to $57, and closed at $45.82 - a neat little 15% glow-up on day one. We break down what that actually means, why Klarna is still losing money (but less than before), and whether you’d want it in your portfolio. Plus: Bowie bonds, activist investors, tube-strike survival stories, weddings that drain your bank account, and one very rogue hair intervention. Finance, but fun - and with Lucy in the mix, chaotic in the best way. 💖

Subscribe to Lucy's Substack HERE (we highly recommend it 🙏)

Watch our previous episode with Lucy HERE. 🎥

WTF Does That Mean? A Guide to All the Jargony Bits:

IPO – A company’s stock market debut.

Ticker – The code a company trades under (Klarna = KLAR).

Valuation – What the market says a company’s worth.

On its knees – A stock performing terribly.

Activist Investor – Buys shares to shake things up.

Bowie Bonds – Musicians borrowing against future royalties.

Royalties – Cash artists get when their music’s played.

Private Equity – Investors buying companies off-market.

Trust – A legal pot of assets (Murdoch-style).

Succession Plan – Who takes over next.

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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What happens when your “dream first home” turns into the ultimate financial horror story? Enter Gabby, who found herself tangled in $700,000 of debt, a collapsing relationship, disappearing tenants, and the kind of stress that ages you a decade in six months. In this episode, she shares the rollercoaster of buying a property with her ex - from the excitement of auctions and shiny new builds to the gut-punch of surprise valuations and last-minute scrambles for tens of thousands of dollars. It’s brutal, it’s eye-watering, but it’s also packed with must-know lessons about contracts, worst-case planning, and why you should never assume property ownership is a simple path. Grab a wine (you’ll need it) and get ready to hear how Gabby turned her property nightmare into resilience, wisdom, and a story you won’t forget.

📝 Read Gabby’s original blog here

We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ, who know that home ownership isn’t a straight line. Sometimes life throws curveballs, and BNZ is all about supporting you through the hard stuff, not just the highlights. Whether you’re at the start of your journey or rebuilding after a setback, BNZ’s home loan experts have the tools and people ready to help you find a way.

👉 To learn more, head here: ⁠⁠⁠⁠bnz.co.nz/home-loan-partners-youtube-ep5

BNZ home loans are subject to BNZ’s lending criteria (including minimum equity requirements), terms and fees. An establishment fee of up to $150 may apply.

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

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Bitcoin billionaires are swapping airport queues for £80k charters (cool cool cool), while the rest of us are price-checking Skyscanner and pretending our carry-on will magically zip. We chat why luxury travel is booming for the crypto-rich, gold hitting record highs as everyone panic-cuddles a safe haven, Jet2’s very un-holiday update, and how a viral jingle, Sydney Sweeney’s American Eagle moment, and Gap’s 90s groove actually moved markets. Plus: Nestlé’s CEO scandal and the succession-plan shambles, Pepsi getting an activist knock at the door, and real-life travel hacks that don’t nuke your payday. Takeaways: new money changes old habits, leadership risk matters, fear lifts gold, timing kills flight costs.

Sorry for the late drop but we hope it was worth the wait!!

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Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.