Starting the year with your finances doesn’t need to feel overwhelming.

In this episode of Your Finance Lounge, Teressa shares a calm and practical reset to help you approach your money with more clarity and confidence. We cover three simple financial foundations worth revisiting, a brief and grounded market update, and how preparation — not perfection — leads to better outcomes.

You’ll also hear how Your Finance Lounge can support you through education, resources, and finance consultations, plus what’s coming this year across workshops, courses, and future podcast episodes.

If you’re looking for a clear, no-jargon way to reset your finances and feel more in control this year, this episode is a great place to start.

Key Takeaways

✔ Clarity beats avoidance when it comes to money
✔ Flexibility matters more than perfection
✔ The right structure can make a long-term difference
✔ Preparation creates confidence

Explore free guides, courses, and finance support at:
👉 yourfinancelounge.com.au 

If you’d like help reviewing your current loan or planning your next step, you can also book a finance consultation through the website.

If you enjoyed this episode:

• Follow or subscribe to Your Finance Lounge

• Share it with someone who might benefit

• Send through topic suggestions for future episodes

Helpful ResourcesStay Connected

Ever wondered how to cut years off your mortgage and save thousands in interest? In this episode, Teressa breaks down the practical steps you can take to reduce the total cost of your loan, without drastically changing your lifestyle.

From making the most of your offset account and redraw facility to adjusting your repayment frequency and scheduling regular loan reviews, these simple strategies can make a huge difference over time.

Whether you’re just starting out or already a few years into your home loan, this episode will give you clear, easy to action tips to help you get ahead financially, and own your home sooner.

✨ Tune in and learn how small changes can lead to big savings.

If you would like to have your loan reviewed reach out to us at yourfinancebroker.co

🎙️ Episode: First Home Buyer Boost — Schemes, Grants & Government Support

Buying your first home is one of the biggest financial steps you’ll ever take — but it doesn’t have to feel out of reach. In this episode, I unpack the government schemes, grants and concessions that are designed to give first-home buyers a helping hand.

From 1 October, the First Home Buyer Scheme is expanding, allowing more Australians to purchase with just a 5% deposit and no lenders’ mortgage insurance. I’ll break down exactly what’s changing, plus explore other key benefits like the First Home Owner Grant, Stamp Duty concessions, and the First Home Super Saver Scheme.

We’ll also bust some of the biggest myths that often hold buyers back — like needing a full 20% deposit or missing out because you earn “too much.”

Whether you’re actively house hunting or just starting to dream about your first home, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence to understand what support is available — and how it could save you thousands.

✨ Ready to explore your options? Let’s dive in.

Reach out if you are ready to chat further about your options.

Yourfinancebroker.co

In this episode of Your Finance Lounge, I’m joined by the incredible Kerry Sainsbury — Director of Credit Success and a passionate advocate for financial education.

With over 20 years in the banking and credit industry, Kerry brings deep knowledge and lived experience to this conversation. We dive into what your credit report really means, common myths (like whether you need a credit card to build your score), and the biggest mistakes people unknowingly make when it comes to their credit.

Kerry also shares practical steps to protect your credit, rebuild after financial setbacks, and why education — especially for young people — is key to long-term financial wellbeing.

Whether you're new to the world of credit or looking to improve your score, this episode is full of simple, empowering insights.

Listen in and take your first step toward credit confidence.

Don't forget to check out Kerry's website and her Ebook on how to get a healthier credit report. CreditSuccess.com.au

In this episode, I break down why pre-approvals are one of the most important steps in the home buying journey. From giving you confidence and clarity around your budget, to helping you stand out in a competitive market — we’ll chat about how a simple pre-approval can put you ahead of other buyers.

I’ll also explain how that first conversation with a broker can uncover potential grants, schemes, or stamp duty savings you didn’t even know you were eligible for.

Whether you’re a first home buyer or just getting back into the market — this episode is for you.

In this episode of Your Finance Lounge, Teressa chats with Dione Payn, founder of High Impact Property Investments and author of E.T.H.I.C.A.L Property Investing. Dione shares her journey from finance to social impact, how she’s helping more women into safe and inclusive homes, and why ethical investing doesn’t mean sacrificing returns.

They unpack:

• What makes a property investment truly ethical

• How Dione’s E.T.H.I.C.A.L. framework works

• The biggest challenges in the affordable housing market

• How everyday investors can be part of the solution

• Why women need to be leading the charge in values-based investing

This episode is for anyone who wants to do good and build wealth.

Connect with Dione:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dionnepayn/

women4homes.com

Today we’re diving into some important updates and helpful insights if you’re considering building a modular home in 2025.

We’re seeing exciting shifts in how policies, lenders, and construction processes are aligning to make modular living more accessible—and way less confusing.

In this episode, I’m going to break down:

• What’s changed with progressive payment policies,
• What lender options you now have for modular builds,

• • And how our own process supports you from pre-approval to the final handover.

to organise a chat.

#modularhomes #modularbuild #modularAustralia

In this episode we cover off on the current rates and what strategies you may like to put in place to leverage yourself in the current climate.

Whether you are looking at buying, selling or refinancing, listen for some practical tips to help give you a head start on your finances.

Find more resources at yourfinancebroker.co

Christmas is usually the busiest time of the year. Not only are our weekends booked up with celebrations, but our wallets are open with funds seemingly flying out.

Although we may have left it a little too late for some of these tips, I wanted to get in to help you start preparing for next years silly season.

From giving gifts to thrifting, I hope you find a tip or two in this episode to turn your Christmas into a Thriftmas!

Variable rates can be great if flexibility is key for your goals. But did you know there are a couple of different variable products your lender may offer?

Today's episode is a run through of a couple of different variable options on offer and their pros and cons, to help you find one that suits your needs.

If you would like to chat about your individual circumstances, please feel free to book in a chat.

https://calendly.com/yourfinancebroker/finance-consultation

yourfinancebroker.co