My Family Strategist

Ever feel completely paralysed by the sheer volume of choices you have to make as a parent? Maybe it’s because you’re making 35,000 choices every single day. The constant pressure leads straight to decision fatigue and second-guessing. In this episode, I break down practical, proven methods to conquer decision paralysis and fatigue using frameworks straight from the world of business. I’m going to...

From national TV to a high-stakes corporate career, followed by the whirlwind of back-to-back babies, I sit down with Sophie Tieman for an incredibly raw, honest look at modern motherhood, identity shifts, and the reality of the working-mum juggle. Many of you know Sophie as a finalist on The Bachelor (S6) or as an incredibly authentic voice in the lifestyle and parenting space, but in this episod...

Are you a two-income household earning good money, yet somehow ending the month with a $0 balance? You aren't alone. A Parent Lifestyle Audit isn't about skipping lattes; it's about the $10,000+ structural wins most families miss. In this episode, I expose the "Death by a Thousand Cuts" and big structural changes that drain parents' bank accounts. Whether it’s negotiating a raise or mastering geog...

Are you earning more than ever but feel like your bank account has a hole in the bottom? You aren’t alone. Even for households earning $200k+, lifestyle inflation and the "unconscious spending" of the 2026 economy can leave you living paycheck to paycheck. In this episode, Christina Spark (former Chartered Accountant and "Family COO") breaks down a simple Budgeting System. Learn how to set up a 5-...

I think being "One & Done" is a very misunderstood decision. It isn’t about being selfish; it’s about a purposeful allocation of my time, mental health, marriage, and our financial freedom. The decision to have another child is often led by emotion or social pressure without a real look at the facts. In this episode, I’m peeling back the curtain on why my husband and I decided to be...

Why is it that we can manage 20-person teams and million-dollar budgets at work, but fall apart when our toddler misses a nap? In this episode, I’m revealing how I moved from just reacting to the daily juggle of parenting to finding a sense of calm and clarity by applying the high-level strategies I learned during my decade-long career at Google to my home life. These are the exact frameworks I us...

Are you counting down the days to a retirement that's 30 years away? In this episode, I’m breaking down the "Micro-Retirement" strategy that allowed me to exit the $500k corporate grind at age 39. In 2026, 70% of Australians are reaching burnout, and 91% of parents feel they aren't spending enough quality time with their kids. We’ve been sold a 19th-century myth that we have to wait until 65 to re...

Why do so many smart, capable women completely outsource their family’s financial future to their partners? If you’ve ever felt "behind" with money, intimidated by the stock market, or overwhelmed by investing jargon, this episode is for you. As a former Chartered Accountant, Corporate Strategist and Mum, I am going to break down the exact steps to go from $0 to investor in just 15 minut...

Feel Broke? It’s Because You’re a Parent.  Most Google searches will tell you a baby costs $10,000 in their first year. They are wrong. In this episode, I perform a full financial audit on the first year of my own son’s life in Sydney, Australia. Moving past the "stuff" like prams and onesies, I dive into the massive structural changes that result when you become a parent: lost wages, ho...

How can you give your kids a financial headstart, without spoiling them? The idea of a handout is uncomfortable, but past generations in Australia got plenty of handouts - university was free in the 70s & 80s, you could buy a home for 3x your salary (now it's 12-15x). In an AI driven economy that will massively disrupt the workforce, our kids will most likely have an even steeper climb than we...

 EPISODE SUMMARY I walked away from a compensation package of well over $500K per year. There was so much financial pressure to stay in my job, I had a mortgage, I had just had a child. Some people thought it was brave. A lot of people thought it was crazy, but it was not a rash decision. It was such a well-informed, intentional one based on 5 life lessons that I'm sharing in this podcast. In this...

EVERY CHILDCARE MODEL, HIDDEN COSTS & STRATEGY Childcare is the biggest expense for most Australian families, but very few people understand the true ROI of each model.  In this episode, I’m breaking down every major childcare model—from daycares, nannies, au pairs, community preschools, and even the stay-at-home-parent path—to reveal the true 'Total Cost' for each. We aren't just looking at t...

WE NEED MORE SPACE 😳 It’s the phrase every parent says right before making a massive financial commitment—but is buying a home actually the best move for your family right now? In this episode, I’m breaking down the Rent vs. Buy Debate through the lens of wealth, time, and family joy. As a former Accountant who has been on all three sides of this (I’ve rented, I’ve owned, and I’m a landlord), I’v...

IS PRIVATE SCHOOL ACTUALLY WORTH IT? (A CPA'S HONEST ANALYSIS) As a former Accountant and mum, I'm analysing the financial trade-offs of a private vs public school education to determine if private school is actually worth it. We'll explore the the significant opportunity cost involved when choosing between elite schooling and investment for child education; as well as dive into what the research...

EPISODE SUMMARY: How much do you spend per month? How much debt do you still have to pay off? If you own your home, how much equity is in it? Do you roughly know when you can retire? Most people have absolutely no idea the answer to any of these questions, but I do. And the reason is because I have built my family's financial scorecard and it was one of the best, things I have ever done for my fam...

BRINGING SMART FINANCIAL STRATEGY TO THE CHAOS OF PARENTING I’m your host, Christina Spark. As a former Chartered Accountant with a Master’s in Professional Accounting, I know numbers—but as a mum, I know the reality of being time-poor and overwhelmed. I’m here to help you navigate the skyrocketing costs of childcare and housing while reclaiming your time. Each week, I’ll help you answer questions...