'Where Your Treasure Is...': The Podcast where Faith and Finance Meet

In the final episode of the ‘Money and Me’ season, Simon and Bex put money into its proper perspective, discussing a number of ways in which there is more to life than money.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon explains why, in the context of the ‘Money and Me’ season, it seemed worthwhile to have a podcast episode which explores what money can’t do. [01:20]
• Simon suggests that the familiar expression, ‘Money can’t buy happiness,’ isn’t entirely true as money can certainly make a difference by addressing basic necessities, enabling people to move beyond the lowest rungs of Maslow’s ‘Hierarchy of Needs’. [02:14]
• Money can also make a difference to our health, but it definitely can’t cover all the bases. [06:51]
• Similarly, money can help to support our social interactions, but it can’t, for example, buy a best friend! [09:47]
• Simon notes that if we are offering practical help to someone, it can make a real difference if we are specific about the ways in which we can help. [12:59] He also points out that creating time for people by the way that we provide support can be an invaluable gift for them [15:35], as can something that we are able to do for them because of a skill that we have. [17:27]
• Many of the things that money can’t buy can contribute to a sense of joy that is more deep-rooted and significant than just feeling happy. [18:05] Bex quotes from Philippians 4.11-13 to illustrate the nature of the deep contentment and trust that Paul suggests should be the experience and hallmark of Christians: ‘I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ [19:05]
• Simon suggests that a godly perspective (the Perspective Hack) can make all the difference to the way that we live our lives and the degree to which we feel a sense of purpose. [19:58]
• And, of course, as the Beatles sang, one vital element of life that can’t be bought is love! [21:30]
• Bex invites listeners to send in their ideas about ways in which we can help others [22:11], and also recommends listening to our 100th episode to learn about the charity giveaway that is currently taking place. [22:47]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

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This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In Episode 7 of the ‘Money and Me’ season, Simon shares a number of 'hacks' that he hopes will be helpful in assisting listeners to use and manage money well.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon introduces the episode by explaining that there is nothing dodgy about the hacks that he will be sharing with listeners. Instead, they are simply different ways of looking at money matters, or dealing with money tasks, that are designed to enhance our ability to use and manage money well. [01:04]
• Hack number one is the Toolbox Hack, which emphasises the importance of treating money as a tool rather than making it an objective in its own right. [02:06]
• Simon’s second hack is the Purpose Hack, based on the principle that every pound should be given a purpose. [02:58]
• The Three Pots Hack guides us into dividing our money into three separate elements: what we’re going to spend; what we’re going to save; and what we’re going to give. [04:19]
• Some hacks can be boring but necessary, and the Track Your Spending Hack [04:46] and the Renewals Reminder Hack [06:15] are good examples of that category.
• The Snowballing Hack provides two very helpful approaches to paying off debt. [07:21]
• One way to try to avoid having regrets about how we have spent and used our money is to imagine how we will look back on our financial track record in the future, as illustrated by the Rocking Chair Hack. [09:33]
• In response to a question from Bex about her experience of a banking app that had set bank customers a One Penny per Day challenge, Simon suggests that the situation that has been created could be described as the outcome of a Compounding Hack operating in conjunction with a Gamification Hack! [10:31]
• Like the Rocking Chair Hack, the Seesaw Hack aims to encourage the responsible and prudent use of resources but it does so by prompting us to look ahead rather than backwards. It can be a really useful mechanism for weighing up the complex competing needs and desires of our current self and our future self. [12:07]
• Following an invitation from Simon to name a hack describing the inability of some people to use their emergency fund, Bex settles on the Gilded Cage Hack. [15:09]
• Simon explains why he has come to appreciate the Investing in Presents Hack [16:12] before going on to talk about two time-related hacks. The Time Machine Hack [17:01] delves further into the consequences for our future self of decisions that we make now, and the Relativity Hack [18:53] highlights the significance of the choices that we make when we decide to whom we are going to compare ourselves.
• Simon concludes by describing the benefits of giving money away (the Generosity Hack) [20:12], the advantages of applying automatic processes to the income we receive (the Non-stick Hack) [21:11] and the importance of identifying and prioritising what is most important to us in the long-term (the Ladder Hack, as articulated by Stephen R Covey). [23:03]
• Listeners are invited to get in touch and share – for publication, if so desired - their own money hacks. [24:37]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In this special bonus edition to mark the hundredth episode of the ‘Where Your Treasure Is…’ podcast, Simon and Bex celebrate all things 100, invite listeners to nominate charities to receive £100 and introduce some surprise outtakes.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon and Bex set the celebratory tone for Episode 100 with an impromptu drum roll, cupcake chat and a review of favourite 100s, including the FTSE 100. [00:33]
• Biblical references to 100 are also covered although Simon notes that the number doesn’t seem to have been as significant to that culture as it is to ours. [06:22]
• Bex puts Simon on the spot by asking him how many of the ten podcast seasons that have generated one hundred episodes he can remember! [09:10]
• Simon acquits himself much better when he and Bex talk about the episodes that they have enjoyed the most! [10:25]
• Bex and Simon explain that they want to emulate a Hobbit tradition by using a notable event to give something away to others. In this instance, they are inviting listeners to participate in some ‘spontaneous planned giving’, inspired by the content of last week’s podcast episode: Season 10 Episode 6 – The Great Giveaway. [13:10]
• Listeners are invited to nominate a worthy charity that would, if selected, make excellent use of one of three £100 gifts being made available by the ‘Where Your Treasure Is…’ team of Simon, Bex and Mike. Nominations should be submitted by 31 August 2025 via Instagram - @whereyourtreasureispodcast – or email - [email protected] [16:48]
• Inspired by its ability to provide food for the soul, Simon signs off by reading Psalm 100. [19:24]
• Simon and Bex demonstrate great trust by introducing outtakes without knowing what bloopers, surprise content and mangled email addresses may lie ahead! [20:12]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In Episode 6 of the ‘Money and Me’ season, Simon and Bex talk about the importance and benefits of being open and generous in our outlook and practice.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon introduces the topic of generosity by describing it as a highly significant, God-initiated ‘Great Giveaway’ in which we can participate as enthusiastic stewards of all that we have been given. [00:33]
• Simon stresses the importance of having a holistic attitude to generosity so that our giving is not restricted solely to monetary gifts. [01:47]
• In response to a prompt from Bex, Simon explains how generosity can benefit both the giver and the recipient, acknowledging the influence that the book, ‘Happy Money’, has had on his thinking in this area. [04:37]
• One approach that Simon has found to be very helpful and effective is to engage in ‘spontaneous planned giving’. This has also proved to be a great way of encouraging others to be generous as well. [07:36]
• Simon goes on to share two other practical tips. First of all, he talks about giving as a means of investing in our relationships with other people by supporting family, friends and colleagues who are raising money for causes that are important to them. [10:25] Secondly, Simon suggests that the ‘good’ that we can do with our money can also include making deliberate shopping choices that benefit the local community. [11:54]
• Simon comments on the value of joining in the ‘grace of giving’, even if we can give only a tiny amount. He then goes on to talk about the great benefits - for all concerned, and also for society - of giving our time - and very often our expertise as well - through volunteering activities. [14:29]
• Simon’s remarks on the benefits of sharing expertise and encouraging community prompt him to invite listeners to engage further with the podcast and to share suggestions and requests with him and Bex through the contact details that are included at the end of these show notes. [ 21:22]
• Next week’s episode will be the hundredth edition of the ‘Where Your Treasure Is…’ podcast – worth ‘a minuscule drum roll’, according to Bex! Simon and Bex will not only be celebrating with cake, they will also be sharing a way of marking the occasion that seems to fit in with the content that has been covered in this episode and will also provide listeners with the opportunity to join in with the ‘grace of giving, if they would like to do so. [22:57]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In Episode 5 of the ‘Money and Me’ season, Simon and Bex talk about talking about money, and why it is a good thing to do!

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Bex and Simon open up the topic by discussing why talking about money can be a difficult thing to do and the extent to which our culture affects our attitudes towards money and the way that we speak about it – or not, as the case may be! [01:33]
• It is noted that it can be easier to talk about money in a business context, but therein lies a danger because that can lead to a skewed perspective in which individuals are assessed and evaluated according to their monetary worth or potential. [04:29]
• Furthermore, if ‘price tag thinking’ takes hold, it can have a detrimental influence on the ‘value’ that we place on people and on the contribution that they make to life. [09:07]
• Another factor that we have to overcome if we are to have meaningful and helpful conversations about money is the worry and anxiety that it can provoke because of its potential significance in our lives. [11:16]
• Our ability to be ‘content’ with what we have emerges as a key point of interest, prompting Bex to share a couple of extracts from the Bible on that theme. In Philippians 4.12-13, Paul comments, ‘I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation - whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through Him who gives me strength.’ And Psalm 37.16-17 says, ‘Better the little that the righteous have than the wealth of many wicked; for the power of the wicked will be broken, but the Lord upholds the righteous.’ [14:57]
• Simon’s top tip for opening up conversations about money is to do so in a way that draws people into an exchange of views rather than making them feel defensive as a result of feeling that they are having to justify the way that they deal with money issues. [18:31]
• For Bex, being open and transparent has helped to facilitate constructive discussions and better decision-making as far as money matters are concerned. [20:22]
• The next episode in the ‘Money and Me’ season will be ‘The Great Giveaway’ in which Simon and Bex will explore why and how we might want to make generosity an intrinsic element of our journey with money. [23:33]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In Episode 4 of the ‘Money and Me’ season, Simon and Bex discuss strategies for anticipating and dealing with personal financial emergencies that can arise in life.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• In response to a question from Bex about factoring life’s uncertainties into our financial planning, Simon dives in at the deep end and talks about death. It serves as a useful illustration of the mixture of certainty and uncertainty that we experience in our lives – on the one hand, we know that we are all going to die at some point; on the other hand, we don’t know when that will happen and what financial impact it will have on others. [00:33]
• While it is not particularly pleasant to think about life’s uncertainties and reflect on the possible consequences of death and serious injury, doing so can prompt us to consider positive actions such as writing a will, taking out insurance and being prudent in our financial planning and expenditure. [06:20]
• Simon picks up on the insurance point and acknowledges that people can have mixed attitudes towards it, including querying it from a faith perspective. However, it can be extremely helpful when difficult life events occur and can also significantly reduce the impact and trauma of such happenings on individuals and families. [09:26]
• Simon goes on to offer some thoughts about limiting our exposure to the risk of redundancy and the benefits of proactively building resilience through our financial planning and the choices that we make. [13:09]
• When it comes to contingency planning, it can be worthwhile to think about setting up our finances so that some checks and balances - such as using bank or savings accounts requiring notice for withdrawals - are in place. [16:07]
• Simon’s top tips when it comes to thinking about the uncertainties that can arise in connection with buying a house is to do our best to remember all of the associated costs that come with moving home and to resist the temptation to stretch ourselves to the limit when taking on a mortgage. [17:34]
• ’Everyday emergencies’ – when expensive bills arise from unforeseen incidents and events – can be very stressful and difficult, so Simon urges listeners to put in place whatever proportionate and sensible financial contingency planning they can afford. A beneficial side-effect of taking that approach is that it increases the likelihood that we will be able to help others when they are in need. [22:46]
• After a short break, the next two episodes in this ‘Money and Me’ series will explore the challenges involved in talking about money and the benefits of being generous. [26:15]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the third episode of the ‘Money and Me’ season, Simon and Bex talk about practicalities (including processes as well as tools) that can help us to manage our money well.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon starts off by commenting that because people deal with issues in different ways, there is not a single, ideal way to manage our money. Instead, we need to select - from a range of options - the strategies and tools that are going to work best for us. [01:35]
• Rather than launching straight into an evaluation of money management tools, Simon highlights the importance of adopting key attitudes from the outset: being deliberate; being diligent; being discerning. [03:09]
• Unless we are deliberate in our approach to money, we will not take on the sense of responsibility that is required if we are going to be good and effective stewards of our wealth and possessions. [04:02]
• Diligence is the action of following through so that appropriate and thoughtful actions are taken. Research and study of relevant topics can really help us to achieve that goal, and Simon mentions a couple of specific recommendations that he has found particular helpful: the work of Mark Lloydbottom and books from www.eden.co.uk [05:47]
• Building up our ‘discernment muscle’ over time can really help us to align our decision making with godly principles and practice. [08:59]
• When it comes to the practicalities of managing our money, it is important to look both backwards and forwards. Looking backwards enables us to check for mistakes and also to review our spending. [10:47] Looking forward gives us the opportunity to plan the way that we use our money so that we can achieve goals that are important to us and are aligned with God’s call on our lives. [13:17]
• In response to a question from Bex, Simon mentions some money management ‘tools’ that he has found helpful. Currently, he uses a paid product, ‘You Need a Budget’ software, for his own purposes but he stressed the availability of free products that will serve most people’s money management needs – banking apps, spreadsheet tools and phone notes can all be really useful in helping us to track and plan expenditure etc. Bex added that she finds a digital ‘to do’ list, such as todoist, a great way of setting reminders to undertake particular financial tasks. [17:32]
• Simon concludes by emphasising the importance of taking account of both the ‘certainties’ and the uncertainties of life when planning our finances. Forethought, flexibility and allowing for unexpected contingencies can therefore be very helpful strategies to identify and develop. [19:38]
• Next week’s episode, ‘Life Happens!’, will drill down further into ways in which we can prepare ourselves and build resilience that can help us deal with the range of unwelcome surprises that we can end up having to deal with in our lives. [22:49]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the second episode of this season on ‘Money and Me’, Simon and Bex talk about the importance of identifying core values and principles at the start of our journey with money.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon suggests that the first step in getting to grips with money is being willing to think and talk about it [01:25]; the second stage is to start exploring and understanding what we believe as a result of our faith and how that then affects the way that we think about money and how it should be used. [05:32]
• Simon talks about the importance of identifying a small number of key guiding values that tie in with our circumstances, experiences and personal priorities. We can test whether these values are likely to be appropriate and helpful for us over the long-term through the likes of the rocking chair test, which prompts us to evaluate our anticipated direction of travel by looking into the future and thinking about the kind of person we might become. [07:44]
• Simon comments that one of the biggest challenges that we face arises from the fact that the culture of the society in which we live can exert a huge influence on our attitudes towards wealth and possessions. If we are to exercise integrity in our dealings with money, we not only need to be alert to that factor, we will also need to make our own decisions, based on our view of the nature and purpose of money. [12:25]
• In response to a question from Bex, Simon talks about possible ways in which we can find an appropriate balance between being responsive and generous with our money while, at the same time, managing it in a godly and wise manner. Two very significant principles for us to consider in that context are to include others in our money journey and to have a ‘stewardship’ mindset. [16:05]
• Next week’s episode, ‘Do I Need a Spreadsheet?’, will explore some of the practical tools that can help us to turn our principles into practice when it comes to managing and using our money well. [21:16]
• Bex rounds off the episode by encouraging listeners to pick up the challenge of having a money conversation this week and to get in touch to say how that went. [22:30]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the first episode of this season on ‘Money and Me’, Simon talks about key moments and turning points in his journey with money.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Simon talks about a Peugeot 204 and the part that it played in the first ‘gripping memory’ that he has of money. [03:45]
• Simon's first significant experience of managing his own money was when he became a student. [06:06]
• Being left some money in his Gran’s will prompted Simon to consider the relevance of biblical teaching to what he did with his money. [08:32]
• Getting married was a really formative time in Simon’s journey with money, especially in terms of coming to appreciate the difference between ‘managing’ money and ‘using’ it. [13:19]
• Thinking of money as a tool helped Simon and his wife set goals for their mortgage and the kind of house that they wanted to buy that were in line with their desire to create a really good home for their family and to be hospitable. [16:04]
• Simon explains some factors that have influenced his approach to financial planning, highlighting, in particular, the need for people to identify and understand what is most important to them if they are going to use money well. [18:10]
• Simon concludes the episode by talking about why the ‘Where Your Treasure Is…’ podcast exists. [21:05]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed through @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking here: https://where-your-treasure-is.kit.com/13c7b5fec6

In the second bonus episode of this season on ‘Making Things Happen: Churches, Charities and Money’, Dr Yekemi (Kemi) Otaru shares her experiences of dealing with faith and finance challenges in her role as CEO of Aberdeen charity, Somebody Cares.

Some key points of interest covered in this episode include the following:

• Kemi introduces herself, explaining the steps that led her to become the CEO of Somebody Cares. Her achievements en route include becoming the first black woman to serve as a University Chancellor in Scotland. [01:09] Kemi goes on to talk about how Somebody Cares gives immediate relief and support for people in hardship and poverty in and around Aberdeen by providing furniture and running a food bank. [02:40]
• In response to a question from Bex, Kemi outlines her journey of faith from childhood, through her professional life and into the present day. [05:24]
• Kemi describes the nature of her role at Somebody Cares and the importance of finding time both for immediate, practical priorities and for long-term, strategic planning. [13:21]
• When asked about the significance of money to her role, Kemi speaks about funding, contingency planning and using the money well so that it makes the greatest possible impact. [16:43]
• Kemi drills deeper into funding arrangements and explains how listeners can support Somebody Cares and similar charities. [22:18]
• Kemi responds to a question from Simon about how her attitude to her own personal giving has been affected by her involvement with a charity. [27:45]
• As well as the website that explains charity VAT(!), Kemi has found www.goodfinance.org very helpful as it provides key performance indicators and examples linked to social impact reporting. [29:39]
• Kemi’s final piece of advice is directed towards anyone who feels that God may be calling them to some kind of involvement in the charitable sector. As well as praying about the options, Kemi would suggest exploring the possibility of becoming a trustee of a charity because that can provide such great insights into charitable activities while also being of huge benefit to a charity. [31:31]
• With this being the final episode of Season 9 of the ‘Where Your Treasure Is…’ podcast, Simon invites listeners to provide feedback and suggestions that will help to shape Season 10, which will commence after a short break. [34:40]

Suggestions or feedback arising from this episode can be sent via email to [email protected] while messages via Instagram should be directed to @whereyourtreasureispodcast.

This show has been brought to you by Free Range Podcasting.

You can sign up to receive news and updates about this podcast by filling out the brief form to which you will be taken when clicking on this link.