Can you believe it’s Christmas again?  This year has flown by!  Christmas in my house is full of ritual and tradition. Some old and some new, but it’s the familiarity and comfort these customs generate that make the season unique.  (more…)

Most afternoons I walk up to the local shops to meet my kids at the bus stop. We then stop in at the local café for a coffee and milkshake. Depending on how many children I have in tow the cost can vary but usually it’s around the $10 mark. Often I walk my son to school in the morning as well and I’m inclined to grab a coffee for the walk home. (more…)

Recently I was walking through Sydney’s CBD at lunchtime.  I’m not there that often so I found the vibrancy and congestion of the place quite intense.  It’s certainly a different world from the day-to-day of getting 4 kids ready for the school run!  I confess I felt out of place among all the impeccably dressed business men and women rushing around. Walking past the gorgeous shop window displays only fuelled the insecurity I felt about my own, let’s call it, “relaxed” appearance. (more…)

Gardening is one of my passions. I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself a green thumb, but it’s definitely something that inspires me. One part of my garden that I’m particularly proud of, is my vegetable patch. There are a couple of reasons I find it so appealing. (more…)

These days it’s hard not to open a newspaper without being inundated with stories relating to finance. In this current economy, our grip on money may feel less secure, making what we choose to do with it very important. You may have found that concerns around job security, debt, your budget and the future have suddenly become top of mind. But when did you last take 30 minutes to properly review your finances (more…)

I recently realised that I’d had the same bank account since the age of ten. That bank account joined later by a credit card, and a mortgage saw me through school and university, through a procession of jobs, and through a marriage and four kids. That’s not to say I didn’t keep an eye on my finances in fact, I felt I had a good handle on things like the day-to-day budget. (more…)

Welcome to my new blog, through which I want to share my journey to becoming ‘money confident’. For many years I’ve written about the issues and concerns of Australian women - particularly those raising a family - but never solely around the topic of money, and I’m looking forward to sharing my perspective, and also hearing yours. (more…)