You are going to want to take notes. Pete provides plenty of ways to cut costs – by letting us know what we should be auditing every year (or more often).

Key Takeaways:

• Annual financial checkups are essential for effective money management and should involve reviewing all expenses and bills.

• Proactively asking for better prices or researching provider alternatives can lead to significant savings without sacrificing quality.

• Understanding the importance of balancing time versus potential financial savings is crucial for effective personal finance management.

• Creating a “financial toolkit” can help structure the processes needed to make informed financial decisions regularly.

• Complacency can harm financial health; staying informed and active in challenging existing costs regularly is beneficial.

Notable Quotes:

1. "You can't correct it if you don't check it."

2. "If you care about where your money goes and what you're spending on, you should check your bills at least annually."

3. "A bit like going to the doctor, you're hopefully healthy and eating healthy [...] once a year you might go to the doctor and say, how am I really doing?"

4. "I've never seen anybody go, 'You know what, just for hanging around here's a discount.' You don't get anything without asking."

5. "You need to look at the bills, not just pay them."

Join the Money: Faith and Finance Group on Facebook here!

We love your questions. Contact the Money: Faith and Finance team and we will aim to get back to you in a future episode.

Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with Lower Russell and Farr in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings on Hope 103.2FM in Sydney, Australia.

Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ever been on hold with a call centre about a financial issue that you didn't create? When you finally get through, did things get better – or worse? Our special guest, influencer Jordana Brown ("That British Girl"), had a stressful situation with Centrelink that went viral. She tells Pete and Ben about trying to navigate bureaucracy, standing up for what's right and how faith and kindness improve terrible exchanges.

Jordana Brown is an influential social media personality known as "That British Girl" on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook. Before becoming an influencer, Jordana worked extensively in the production field, spending over 15 years behind the camera in a major UK church. Jordana currently hosts the Morning Wake-up Show on Salt1065 on Australia’s Sunshine Coast.

Key Takeaways:

• Jordana Brown's Journey: Discover how Jordana moved from behind the scenes in production to becoming a prominent influencer and radio host.
• Navigating Bureaucracy: Learn about Jordana's challenging experience with Centrelink, highlighting the importance of perseverance and clarity in dealing with life admin.
• The Role of Empathy: Maintaining politeness and empathy – even in frustrating circumstances – can lead to resolution and change.
• Faith in Adversity: Explore how Jordana's Christian faith provided comfort and guidance during extensive struggles with public services.
• Financial Awareness: Gain insights into overcoming emotional spending and the benefits of seeking professional financial advice.

Notable Quotes:

• "I became an accidental influencer. I've always worked behind the camera and just started randomly creating videos."
• "The one thing I'll have to say as an influencer—the amount of trolling I get – [but] I try to remember they are human as well."
• "The older I get, the more I think I'm empathetic."
• "From the responses from the video, it was kindness. So, yes, my takeaway is: Be kind."

Resources:

• That British Girl on Instagram: @thejordanagrace

Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do we pay tax? Should we? How much? The Bible instructs about tax? Welcome to the Tax Episode you have been waiting for and it's finally arrived. Applause.

Key Takeaways:

• Taxes are the financial backbone which support essential government services such as schools, hospitals, and infrastructure.

• The Australian tax system is progressive – higher-income earners pay proportionally more. This allocation of resources from those who can afford to contribute more can be viewed as a fair system.

• Optimising tax payments through eligible deductions and exemptions is encouraged.

• The distinction between high earners and rich individuals is crucial, particularly in discussions about tax equity and avoidance.

• From a Christian perspective, paying taxes is viewed as a civic duty aligned with scriptural teachings which emphasise honesty and respect for governing authorities.

Notable Quotes:

1. "Taxes are the price we need to pay to live in the kind of world that we want." - Pete Burrows

2. "A fair amount is what's correct... calculated within the laws." - Pete Burrows

3. "I think tax is a privilege." - Pete Burrows

4. "The Bible strongly indicates that paying taxes is necessary, 'giving to Caesar what is Caesar's'." - Ben McEachen

Join the Money: Faith and Finance Group on Facebook here!

We love your questions. Contact the Money: Faith and Finance team and we will aim to get back to you in a future episode.

Pete Burrows is an accountant for small business and individuals with Lower Russell and Farr in Penrith, Western Sydney, Australia.

Ben McEachen hosts Hope Mornings on Hope 103.2FM in Sydney, Australia.

Support the show, a product of Hope Media: https://hope1032.com.au/donate/2211A-pod/

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.