Money is one of those things we don’t talk about enough, especially as mums. In this episode, I’m sharing my own money wake-up call and how motherhood completely changed the way I look at finances.

I open up about:

• ​
• ​The messy money habits I carried into my thirties
• ​
• ​How motherhood magnified the gaps in my financial safety net
• ​
• ​Why I never want my son to worry about my financial wellbeing
• ​
• ​The small shifts I’m making now to build financial independence
• ​
• ​The tools helping me stay on track

This isn’t a “how-to” from someone who’s got it all figured out. It’s a real, honest account of where I’m at and the changes I’m making in the hope that it helps you feel less alone with your own money story.

If motherhood has been your money wake-up call too, this one’s for you.

Resources mentioned:

💸 Financielle: https://www.financielle.com/

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.

We talk about this kind of stuff in It's A Lot. So, if you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it, this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠⁠Download it here.⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

☕️ Support my work: if you’re enjoying my podcast, you can buy me a virtual coffee here! Thank you 🫶🏽 buymeacoffee.com/nataliekmartin

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Your partner is sleeping two feet away while your baby screams. You’re exhausted, furious and wondering how they can possibly sleep through something that has you instantly wide awake.

In this Reddit episode, I respond to a mum travelling with her two-and-a-half-year-old and one-month-old baby. She didn’t want to take the trip in the first place, then found her husband sleeping through both children crying during the night. By 3.30am, she was looking at flights home and questioning whether she could trust him as a caregiver.

I talk about why a partner sleeping through the baby can create such intense anger and resentment, particularly when you already feel alone with the night wakings. But I also look beyond the immediate rage: she was newly postpartum, away from home on a trip she hadn’t wanted to make, both parents were exhausted and this behaviour was unusual for him.

We explore postpartum boundaries, advocating for yourself, sharing night-time parenting, recognising when resentment began before the argument itself and asking what else might be happening when a usually responsible partner suddenly doesn’t show up.

Context can help us understand what happened, but it doesn’t remove a mother’s need for sleep and support. The real conversation is about how both parents’ needs can be acknowledged without leaving one person to carry the night alone.

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Reset from chaos to calm in minutes The Overwhelmed to Grounded Toolkit gives you three simple, real-life tools to help you recalibrate without adding more to your to-do list. ⁠⁠⁠Download it here.

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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Going back to work after kids can feel terrifying. Will your brain still work? Can you juggle the home stuff as well as job deadlines?

In this episode, I’m here to remind you that not only can you do it - you’re already highly qualified.

Motherhood is like running a business. You’ve been project managing, negotiating, crisis handling, and leading every single day. These are not “soft skills.” They’re powerful, transferable, and exactly what employers are looking for.

Here’s what I cover in this episode:

- The key skills you’ve developed as a mum (and how they match workplace needs)

- How to frame your experience for CVs, interviews, and appraisals
- My best tips for balancing the juggle of work and home life without losing yourself in the process

If you’re nervous about returning to work or need a confidence boost to see your value clearly, this episode is for you.

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.
If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:
Instagram: ⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠

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Have you ever felt guilty because motherhood is easier than you thought it would be? Maybe your baby sleeps well, rarely gets sick, and you’re actually enjoying this season but instead of celebrating, you feel bad about it.

In this episode, Nat unpacks a Reddit post from a mum who admitted she was finding things surprisingly smooth, and the guilt and isolation that came with it.

We'll hear:

- why mums often expect only the hard parts of motherhood

- how comparison and guilt creep in when things feel “too easy”

- why every phase brings its own mix of challenges and ease

- the importance of celebrating the good moments without shame

- how to find safe spaces to share your real experience

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠

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This week I’m opening up about something that feels raw but vital: financial independence for mums. It started with a viral comment I left on a reel by Tori Dunlap (Her First $100K). The conversation that followed showed me how many women still believe 'my partner handles the money, so I don’t need to worry.'

But is that really safe? What happens if life changes through divorce, illness, job loss or widowhood?

you’ll hear:

• why 'my partner handles the money' feels safe, but isn’t

• the truth behind the 80% of divorces initiated by women

• how history still shapes our finances today

• the motherhood penalty and why mums retire with less

• a step-by-step guide to becoming financially independent (without shame)

Resources to help:

• Tori Dunlap @herfirst100K

• Ramit Sethi’s Money for Couples podcast

• Books: Profit First, Overcoming Underearning

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

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When you’re overwhelmed, burnt out or barely functioning, a bubble bath or journalling practice probably isn’t the first kind of self-care you need.

In this episode, I share my self-care hierarchy, a simple approach inspired by Maslow’s hierarchy of needs that helps you work out what your body and mind need most right now.

At the foundation are the survival basics: water, food, sleep and movement. Once those needs are supported, you can begin to add soothing care such as taking a shower or putting on clean clothes, followed by restorative practices like meditation and journalling. Self-development and personal growth come later, when you genuinely have the capacity for them.

This isn’t another complicated self-care routine or a list of things overwhelmed mums should be doing. It’s a way to pause, assess what’s missing and begin with the most basic form of care available to you.

Self-care isn’t always indulgence. Sometimes it’s drinking a glass of water, eating something nourishing or going to bed.

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

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It's holiday time! Once you’ve got kids though, they'll look very different to how they used to — but that doesn’t mean they can’t be fun, memorable and even (dare I say it) relaxing. In this episode, I’m sharing tips fresh from my own trip to Spain with my toddler.

From flights and airports to naps and meals, I’ll walk you through the small mindset shifts and realistic travel tips for mums that made all the difference.

Whether you’re travelling solo with your child, as a family, or with friends, this episode will help you let go of old expectations, take the easy options without guilt, and create memories that feel just as good as the ones you made pre-kids — even if they look very different.

✨ In this episode you’ll hear:

• Why holidays with toddlers aren’t really “holidays” — and how to be okay with that

• Travel tips for flights, airports, and luggage when you’ve got little ones in tow

• How to pack light but smart (without forgetting the essentials)

• Why convenience is your best friend (yes, even sunbeds and screen time)

• How to make memories that matter without burning yourself out

If you’ve got a family holiday coming up, this one’s for you.

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

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If you’ve ever found yourself wondering, “Why can’t I just cope like my mum did?” — this episode will make you feel seen.

Nat breaks down the real numbers behind the parenting struggle in 2025, comparing wages, housing, childcare, energy bills, food, holidays, and petrol costs today with those from the 1990s. Spoiler: the maths is brutal.

💥 Jaw-drop stat: In 1990, the average UK family had the equivalent of £2,870 a year in today’s money left over after essentials. In 2025? The same lifestyle leaves the average family almost £9,000 in the red.

We’re talking about:

• How wages have risen — but not enough to keep up with the essentials.

• Why two incomes are now a necessity, not a choice.

• The staggering cost of childcare (and why it feels like a second mortgage).

• The jump in everyday bills — from electricity to broadband.

• Why holidays have gone from a yearly treat to a once-in-a-blue-moon luxury.

• And all the extra emotional and mental load that our parents simply didn’t face.

By the end, you’ll see why it’s not you — it’s the system. And maybe, just maybe, you’ll stop blaming yourself for not keeping up in a game that’s completely changed.

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

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When you’re having a hard day, the last thing you need is another list of things you should be doing to feel better.

In this episode, I share the idea of a “hard day protocol”, a concept I learned from Maisie Hill. Despite the name, it isn’t a complicated routine or a better version of self-care. It’s simply noticing the things you already turn to when life feels awful and letting those things help you through.

For me, that might mean cooking something new, baking banana bread, cleaning, listening to angry music, putting on a podcast, lighting incense or simply allowing myself to mope for a while.

The point isn’t to meditate, journal, exercise or become the best version of yourself unless those are genuinely the things you naturally want. There are no extra tasks and no pressure to fix your mood. Your hard day protocol is about recognising what already helps you cope and giving the real version of you some space to exist.

So, when you’re feeling overwhelmed, angry or just completely fed up, what do you already do that helps you get through the day?

🎶 My Hard Day playlists

• RAGE: Metal, hardcore and music to scream in the car (or silently) to

• Retreat Everyday: Mantras, spiritual and generally chill vibes to help you find your Zen

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

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When your toddler is sick and everything falls apart – the routine, the sleep, the house – it’s easy to feel like you're on the edge.

In this honest and helpful episode, Natalie shares how she survived a week of solo parenting while her toddler was unwell – and how she actually came out of it feeling more rested than expected. From letting go of tidying to reclaiming nap times for rest, this is a refreshingly real look at navigating the chaos of sick days with more calm and less burnout.

Listeners will hear:

• practical tips for handling sick days without losing their mind

• how to prioritise what actually matters (and drop the rest)

• why rest during nap time is not a luxury – it’s survival

• how simple rituals like drawing or a short walk can shift the whole energy

• creating space for help and support (and actually accepting it)

• small boundaries that protect energy, sleep, and sanity

This is the episode every overwhelmed parent needs when the house is upside down, the to-do list won’t quit, and their child just wants to be held all day.

🤩 Join a loving community of mums in IT'S A LOT – free for 30 days.If you’re feeling shaky having brought your new baby home, in the trenches of toddlerhood or just need a place to share the joys of being a mama with people who get it – this is your new support network. The best part? It’s all via voice notes – ⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.nataliekmartin.com/mama-circle⁠⁠⁠⁠

👉🏽 Overcome those moments of overwhelm with some light hearted fun! ⁠⁠Download my Overwhelm Busting Bingo sheet here⁠⁠

Want to share your thoughts on this episode? Comment on Spotify or:

Instagram: ⁠⁠⁠⁠@natalie.kmartin⁠⁠⁠⁠

Email: ⁠⁠⁠⁠[email protected]⁠⁠⁠⁠

📢 Don’t forget to follow the podcast so you never miss an episode