Dollars & Distractions

Christmas is coming, the calendars are filling up, and before we know it, we'll be buying presents, paying for school supplies and wondering where all our money went! In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Mez and Bec are talking about the expenses that always seem to sneak up on us, even though we know they're coming. From Christmas presents and blended families to school fees, car regist...

Is That $80,000 Car Costing You Your Dream Home? 🚗🏡 That shiny new car might look amazing in the driveway… but could it be the very thing standing between you and your dream home? In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Mez and Bec are talking about the financial decisions we make today that can have a BIG impact on our future. With interest rates changing and borrowing capacity tightenin...

Feeling Behind in Life? You're Not Running Out of Time Ever looked around and thought, "Hang on… wasn't I supposed to have my life together by now?" 🙋‍♀️Maybe you thought you'd own a home, be married, have kids, be financially comfortable or have a healthy savings account by this age. But life hasn't exactly gone according to plan. In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec a...

Are offset accounts a gimmick? Is redraw better? And should we really be getting our financial education from TikTok? This week, Maryanne and Bec unpack a social media video that got them fired up, particularly the claim that offset accounts and other common home loan features are simply gimmicks designed to benefit the banks. We break down what offset accounts, redraw facilities and lines of cred...

Buy a house. Pay it off. Avoid debt. Credit cards are bad. Your first home should be somewhere you can stay forever. Sound familiar? In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec unpack some of the money and property advice many of us grew up with — and ask whether it still makes sense in today's financial and property landscape. The reality is that property prices, mortgages, li...

Does being an award-winning mortgage broker automatically mean someone is better at their job? Does a Certificate IV suddenly make someone experienced? And when you're choosing a broker, should you be looking at qualifications, awards, years in the industry… or something completely different? In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec get into the reality of the mortgage broki...

What actually happens to your money, property and super when you die? And if you already have a will, can you just tick that box and forget about it forever? In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec welcome their very first guest, Elizabeth from Ardor Legal, to talk about the stuff most of us know we should organise… but somehow keep pushing to the bottom of the to-do list:...

Ever looked at your income and thought, “I earn good money… so where the hell does it all go?” You're definitely not the only one. In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec unpack why earning a good income doesn't necessarily mean feeling financially comfortable, especially when the cost of living, lifestyle creep, kids, mortgages, holidays, cars and all those sneaky little e...

Why is your friend's home loan interest rate lower than yours? And does that automatically mean you're getting a bad deal? Not necessarily. In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec unpack one of the most common questions mortgage brokers hear, “What's the cheapest home loan interest rate at the moment?” The problem is, there isn't one interest rate that's automatically right...

Should you pay off debt, put extra money into savings, pay down your mortgage or invest it? It’s one of those personal finance questions that sounds like it should have a simple answer, but it doesn’t. In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Mez and Bec chat about what to consider when deciding what to do with extra money, including whether you should pay off credit cards and personal loans...

It's probably not something anyone wants to think about when they're happily married or in a relationship, but separation can have a massive impact on your financial position. In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Marianne and Bec talk about relationships, separation, financial independence and why both people in a relationship should understand what's happening with their money. We talk...

If you could sit down with your 25-year-old self and give them some financial advice, what would you say? In this episode of Dollars and Distractions, Maryanne and Bec look back at their 20s and chat about the money lessons they wish they had learned earlier. From buying property and trying to keep up with friends, to learning that appearances don't always reflect someone's true financial position...

Buying a home is exciting, but what happens after the contract goes unconditional? This week, Bec shares her real life experience of settling into her new home, and it's safe to say that even working in the finance industry didn't prepare her for some of the unexpected costs that popped up along the way. From surprise cleaning invoices and rental exit fees to mortgage repayments, hidden settlement...

Ever sat in front of a mortgage broker or bank and wondered what on earth they were talking about? LVR... LMI... PAYG... DTI... P&I... If you've ever nodded along pretending you understood, this episode is for you. In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec break down some of the most common mortgage and banking terms into simple, everyday language without the finance jarg...

If you've ever thought about investing, chances are you've considered residential property or shares. But what about commercial property investing? In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec unpack why commercial property is often overlooked, why more Australians are starting to explore it, and the key differences between buying commercial and residential property. Whether you...

Think the lowest interest rate always means the best home loan? Think again.  In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec unpack one of the biggest misconceptions in home lending—that your interest rate is the only thing that matters. From refinancing costs and lender policies to life changes, property values and long-term financial strategy, they explain why choosing (or keepi...

Is the Bank of Mum and Dad the Only Option? Multi Generational Living Explained Is buying a home becoming a family affair? In this episode of Dollars & Distractions, Maryanne and Bec chat about one of the biggest trends they're seeing in today's property market... families buying together. From parents helping first home buyers, to grandparents moving in, dual living homes, guarantor loans and...

With interest rates, media headlines, social media opinions, and endless market predictions flying around, it can be hard to know whether now is the right time to buy a property or whether you should sit tight and wait. In this episode, Maryanne and Bec unpack one of the most common questions they hear from clients: "Should I buy now, or should I wait?" Drawing from their own recent property buyin...

Have you ever wondered how mortgage brokers get paid? Or what happens when you're sitting on a valuable property but don't have enough cash flow to enjoy life? In this episode of Dollars and Distractions, Maryanne and Bec start with a funny story involving a curious 12-year-old and end up diving into one of the most misunderstood topics in lending: equity unlocks. They discuss: ✅ How mortgage bro...

In this episode of Dollars and Distractions, Maryanne and Bec dive into the financial wins that rarely make it onto social media, but can make a massive difference to your long-term wealth. While the internet is full of flashy cars, expensive toys, and luxury lifestyles, the real money flexes are often the boring habits happening behind the scenes. Things like driving a reliable car for years, usi...

Episode Summary: In this episode of Dollars and Distractions, Maryanne and Bec dive into an old-school banking strategy that many people have forgotten about, using credit cards and home loan structures to reduce interest and potentially pay off a mortgage faster. They unpack the difference between the old line of credit setups banks used to offer and the modern alternative using offset accounts a...

In today’s episode of Dollars and Distractions, we’re diving into something a little different… but something we’re seeing a LOT right now 👀 👉 People entering the mortgage broking industry We unpack what it’s really like behind the scenes, the common misconceptions, and what both clients and aspiring brokers need to understand before jumping in. 💡 What We Cover: 1. The low barrier to entry (and...

In this episode, Maryanne and Bec dive into a very real and relatable topic, ADHD and money habits, and how impulse spending can creep in when structure isn’t in place. From self-diagnosed ADHD tendencies to the impact of modern life (hello, constant notifications and scrolling 👀), this conversation explores how our environment may be shaping shorter attention spans and influencing the way we spe...

Money conversations in relationships… let’s be honest, they don’t always happen and when they do, they’re not always easy. In this episode, we dive into the real, unfiltered side of couples and money. The habits we bring into relationships, the things we don’t talk about, and why avoiding these conversations can create bigger problems down the track. We also share some personal stories (including...

📝 Episode SummaryBuying a property isn’t just a financial decision, it’s an emotional one too. In this episode, Maryanne and Bec dive into the real, often unspoken side of purchasing a home, from anxiety after signing a contract to the pressure of fast-moving markets. They share personal experiences, client stories, and practical insights to help you navigate the emotional rollercoaster of buying...