Money Matrimony

Episode 36 - The Real Cost Of Having Kids What It Really Costs (And Who Actually Pays For It) Nobody gives you a straight answer to this question. The baby books don't cover it. Your parents had different costs. And Google will give you a figure so large it either paralyses you or you dismiss it entirely. In this episode, Hayson and Nikki break down what raising a child actually costs in Australia...

Episode 35 - What 2 Years Of Podcasting Taught Us What Talking About Money Did To Our Marriage Two years ago we sat down with a microphone and a question: why aren't couples talking about money? Today, we're marking our second anniversary by turning the lens on ourselves. In this episode, Nikki and Hayson get personal about why Money Matrimony started, what they've had to unlearn along the way, an...

Episode 34 — What Do We Owe Our Children — and Our Parents? Inheritance. Ageing parents. Entitlement. Responsibility. Few family conversations carry more emotion — or more unspoken expectation — than money across generations. Should parents leave an inheritance? Should children expect one? And what happens when ageing parents need financial support later in life? Most families never clearly talk a...

Episode 33 - Financial Security: When enough, is enough In this episode, we explore financial security not necessarily through the lens of a monetary amount, but rather through ‘feelings’. We discuss how ‘enough’ is not an end goal that one achieves to reach but a state of emotional confidence and peace that is supported by preparedness and aligns with your financial reality and the importance nav...

Episode 32 - Money Boundaries: Why and how it creates freedom in a relationship Money boundaries can sound burdensome. Like rules, we immediately think of restriction. Less freedom. But in our experience, the opposite is true. When money boundaries are unclear, tension quietly builds; guilt around spending, surprise purchases, avoiding conversations, and resentment that’s hard to name. Not because...

Re-release | Must-Listen: Budgeting 101 – The What, Why & How (Part 1 of 4) As the new year approaches, many couples resolve to “be better with money.” And yet, year after year, one reality remains: many people still don’t have a budget. This is one of our most popular episodes, and for good reason. In this first part of our Budgeting 101 series, we break down what a budget actually is, why it...

Re-release | Must-Listen: Budgeting 101 – Obstacles to Budgeting With Your Spouse (Part 2 of 4) Once you’re convinced you need a budget, the next challenge is doing it together. As we head into the new year, we’re re-releasing this episode because budgeting as a couple is rarely just about numbers — it’s about communication, expectations, control, and shared responsibility. In this episode, we tal...

Re-release | Must-Listen: Joint Accounts – Bridging the Divide As we head into a new year, we’re re-releasing what we believe is one of the most important money conversations for married couples. This episode isn’t really about bank accounts — it’s about unity, trust, and how you choose to function as a team. Over the years, we’ve seen joint accounts become one of the most powerful tools for reduc...

Re-release | Must-Listen: Money & Me (Part 1) Before you set financial goals, build a budget, or make plans for the year ahead, there’s one crucial step most couples skip: understanding each other . That’s why we’re re-releasing this foundational episode as you begin the new year. In Money & Me, we unpack how our personal money stories — shaped by childhood, culture, experiences, and past...

Episode 31 — Is It Worth It? Family Holidays & Grocery Shopping In Part 2 of our “Is It Worth It?” mini-series, we take on two everyday decisions that every family wrestles with: 🏖️ Family holidays — memories vs money 🛒 Online vs in-person grocery shopping This episode explores how couples can balance joy, time, convenience, and financial goals when making decisions that feel small but add up...

Episode 30 — Is It Worth It? (Part 1) Subscriptions, Eating Out & Private Schools In this episode, we dive into the everyday decisions couples face and unpack the real question behind them: How do we decide if something is truly worth it for our family? From the streaming subscriptions we forget to cancel, to whether eating out is convenience or comfort, to the massive long-term decision of pu...

🎧 Episode 29: Adulting 101 - Health Insurance, Wills, and Grown-Up Stuff No One Told Us About Because adulting doesn’t come with a manual — and we’re learning it together. Ever found yourself saying, “Why didn’t anyone teach us this in school?” You’re not alone. This week, we’re diving into the side of adulthood most people avoid talking about — things like health insurance, wills, superannuation...

Episode 28: Financial Life Hacks That Actually Work Ever feel like you’re working harder than ever but still watching money slip through your fingers? You’re not alone — and this week, we’re unpacking the real-world financial hacks that have helped our family save thousands (without feeling like we’re cutting joy out of life). From refinancing the mortgage to bulk-buying, side hustles, and mindset...

🎙️ Episode 27: Would You Rather…? Money Edition for Couples What do your choices reveal about your money personality — and your marriage? In this episode, Nikki and Hayson play a round of “Would You Rather: Money Edition,” answering thought-provoking (and sometimes laugh-out-loud) scenarios that every couple can relate to. From mortgages vs. investing, weddings vs. home deposits, to work-life bala...

Episode 26 - Love Languages Meet Money Languages: How We Spend Reflects How We Love We all speak a love language — but did you know you also have a money language ? In this episode of the Money Matrimony Podcast , Nikki and Hayson unpack how the way we give and receive love connects deeply to how we manage (or mismanage) money. If you’ve ever felt misunderstood when it comes to spending, saving, g...

Episode 25 – Stay-at-Home Parent Part 2: Practical Tips & Considerations In Part 2 of our stay-at-home parenting series, we go deeper than the surface-level debates and talk about the real trade-offs, the decision-making process, and the practical steps that make it work for the long haul. We cover: The Real Cost — Financial, Emotional & Career Trade-offs Staying home changes more than jus...

Episode 24 - Stay at Home Parent: The Job Everyone Judges, But No One Sees (Part 1) What comes to mind when you hear “stay-at-home parent”? Lucky? Lazy? Not working? Or maybe… the person holding the entire household together with one hand — while wiping down high chairs, calming tantrums, and answering a dozen questions before lunch. In Part 1 of this two-part series, we’re pulling back the curtai...

Episode 23 - Money Myths 2.0: What’s Really Holding Us Back? We’ve all heard them — the money “truths” that sound wise… but actually keep us stuck. In this episode, we’re taking on five of the most common financial myths that many couples (and let’s be honest, even we at times!) believe — and we’re breaking them down one by one. If you’ve ever felt restricted by a budget, scared to invest, or like...

Episode 22 – Love & Retirement: Are You and Your Partner on the Same Page? Retirement isn’t just about superannuation balances or pension age — it’s about aligning your vision for the future as a couple. In this episode, we dive into what retirement actually means, how to talk about it, and why getting on the same page now (even if it feels early) can save a lot of confusion, conflict, and mis...

Episode 21 – Teaching Kids About Money (Part 2): Turning Everyday Life Into a Money Classroom Welcome to Part 2 of our two-part series on raising financially literate kids! In this episode, we move from theory to practice—how do we actually teach our kids about money in everyday life? And what do we do when things get tricky? We’ll be talking through: ·      How to in...

Episode 20 – Teaching Kids About Money (Part 1): Shaping a Healthy Money Mindset When we think about teaching our kids about money, maybe our first thought is budgeting… or saving up for a bike. All good stuff. But what if the most important lesson isn’t how to use money, but what money really is? In this first episode of our 2-part series on kids and money, we’re going back to the foundation. Bec...

Stronger Together: Facing Life's Big Challenges (Starting with a Home Reno) Life inevitably throws big challenges at couples – career shifts, family changes, financial pressures, and yes, sometimes the unique chaos of a home renovation! This episode dives into how facing these hurdles together isn't just about survival, it's about building a stronger, more resilient partnership. Using the intense...

Episode 18 - Raising Generous Kids: Teaching Giving & Gratitude in a Material World In today’s consumer-driven world, our kids are constantly bombarded with messages telling them they need more — more toys, more tech, more stuff. But how do we raise children who appreciate what they have and learn the value of giving to others? In this episode, Hayson and Nikki dive deep into why generosity ma...

💭 Have you ever believed a money myth that shaped how you handle finances in your marriage? We all grow up hearing certain “truths” about money—statements passed down from family, picked up from social media, or even reinforced by friends. Some of these beliefs sound logical. Others feel comforting. But the real problem? Many of them simply may not be true. And when these myths go unchecked, they...

Episode 16 - Keeping Up with the Joneses: The Hidden Cost of Comparison 💰 When a friend upgrades their car, a colleague moves into a bigger house, or social media flaunts the latest luxury trend—it’s easy to feel like you’re falling behind. But is the race to “keep up” actually worth it? In this episode of Money Matrimony , we, Hayson & Nikki , dive into the financial and emotional costs of c...