📺How much money would you actually need for retirement? How do we overcome the mental block when it comes to investing in our future? It can be difficult to envision ourselves 20, 30, 40 years from now. This means that all too often, we don’t take the steps we need to take to benefit our future selves.

While we’re living longer, the State Pension doesn’t offer us enough of a buffer. We’re therefore faced with a sometimes daunting personal responsibility to save and invest while trying to eventually achieve our dream retirement.

Here’s a summary of our interactive recording with Becky O’Connor (Director (VP) Public Affairs at PensionBee), Emma Maslin (Money Coach and Founder of The Money Whisperer) and Emilie Bellet (Founder of Vestpod).

Ever found yourself wondering if you're spending too much money? Let’s talk about "lifestyle creep."

You might not have heard of it before, but chances are you've experienced it at some point in your life. It's that gradual increase in your spending as your income goes up, which can lead to financial stress and hinder your long-term goals.

So, let's dive in and explore what lifestyle creep is, how to recognise it, and most importantly, how to deal with it.

📺 Are you wondering, "Should I work with a financial adviser? How do I find one that suits me? And how much does it actually cost?" Well, you're not alone. In a sometimes complex financial landscape, managing your finances effectively is crucial, and sometimes, getting help and support is essential. Today's episode is all about demystifying the world of financial advice. I recently had a fascinating conversation with Karen Barrett, the Founder and CEO of Unbiased, and she shared valuable insights on what you can expect from a financial adviser and how they can add value to your financial journey.

📺 Have you ever wondered why some people seem to effortlessly build wealth and achieve financial success, while others struggle? Today I’ll be exploring some of the lessons learned from Morgan Housel's 'The Psychology of Money' and how improving your relationship with money can help you build the life you truly want. Money has little to do with how smart you are, but rather, it’s all about your mindset. Instead of just focusing on financial formulas and ratios, Housel shows how our behaviours and attitudes towards money play a crucial role in our financial success. With 20 insightful stories, he explores how these "soft skills" can help us make better financial decisions and build long-term wealth.

📺 Trying to maximise returns by timing the market is often a losing game. Instead, focus on spending "time in the market" and maintaining a long-term investment approach with a diversified portfolio. Stay invested for years, even during market volatility, to achieve steady, long-term growth. Major market crashes in history, like the 2008 financial crisis and the dot-com bubble burst, resulted in substantial losses, but markets have shown resilience and the ability to rebound over time.

📺 Are you hesitant to invest in the stock market? 

Do you think you need a lot of money to start investing? 

Does investing feel like gambling to you? 

Unfortunately, these myths have also created a stereotype that investing is only something that men do.

However, the truth is that investing is accessible to anyone. In fact, studies have shown that women are often more successful investors than men due to their long-term approach and skepticism of impulsive decisions.

📺 Ever been triggered to buy something that you later regretted? Instant gratification involves a powerful hit of dopamine that can be hard to resist. But how do we decide whether a purchase is worth it or not? In this video, we'll explore some strategies for making smart purchasing decisions, avoiding buyer's remorse, how to navigate the complex world of consumerism and make choices that align with your values and priorities.

📺 Chatting about budgets and bills is hardly romantic. However, did you know that money worries are one of the top reasons why married couples split?

While there's no doubt managing money together can be tricky, following these tips could ease your money conversations and ensure that you’re both happy with how your financial lives are built together.

📺 Did you know that most of our money habits are set by age 7? According to a study, 40% of people who didn’t receive financial education have no savings at all. On the other hand, people who did receive financial education as a child could be £70,000 richer in retirement. Teaching financial responsibility early creates a foundation for a lifetime of good money habits. So I was wondering how as parents, how do we instil healthy habits into our kids?

📺 Most of us have never been taught how to manage our money. This includes everything from budgeting and planning for the future but also how to save in the short term for the things we really want.

So, how do we balance our goals and make sure we can achieve our goals and feel financially secure or independent?