Life Admin Life Hacks

In this episode, Mel Kettle discusses perimenopause with Mia and Dinah and its impact on mental load, productivity, and life admin. Perimenopause is the transitional phase leading up to menopause, marked by hormonal changes and various symptoms. It can last for a significant period of time, during which women may experience changes in their menstrual cycle, hot flushes, night sweats, and other physical symptoms. However, what is often not discussed are the cognitive symptoms, such as brain fog, increased anxiety, and short-term memory loss. Get tips for navigating this transition.Resources The Art of Adulting Mel Kettle's website Australasian Menopause Society Dr. Jen Gunter's book "The Menopause Manifesto" Dr. Jen Gunter's Instagram: @DrJenGunter Lara Bryden's book "Hormone Repair Manual" "Not My Mother's Menopause" podcastFor the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. Subscribe to our Momentum newsletterFollow the latest tips and hacks on: Instagram Facebook LInkedIn

Mia and Dinah talk with accredited practicing dietician, Annie Barry, about how to plan family meals that help you 'glow, grow and go', balancing 'whole food' with 'soul food' and which food to embrace to support the perimenopause transition.Resources The Art of Adulting Annie Barry's website: www.allroundwellness.com.au Supermarket Meals Annie Barry on Instagram: @healthy.habits.dietitian Annie Barry on FacebookFor the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. Subscribe to our Momentum newsletterFollow the latest tips and hacks on: Instagram Facebook LInkedIn

Mia and Dinah talk about how to find more time in your day for reading, exercising, studying, family, yourself...all the things. They canvas 12 ideas you can start experimenting with today.Resources The Art of Adulting online membershipFor the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. Subscribe to our Momentum newsletterFollow the latest tips and hacks on: Instagram Facebook LInkedIn

Mia and Dinah talk about what it means to be 'on top of things', how to diagnose why you might not be on top of things, and the essential tools, mindsets and processes to adopt to get on top and stay there.Resources Monthly Momentum Digital CalendarFor the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. Subscribe to our Momentum newsletterFollow the latest tips and hacks on: Instagram Facebook LInkedIn

Mia and Dinah interview certified money coach, Marion Mays, to discover how to improve your financial IQ and EQ, build wealth, finding the right financial professional advice and managing your finances systematically.Resources Thalia Stanley Group Money SmartFor the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. Subscribe to our Momentum newsletterFollow the latest tips and hacks on: Instagram Facebook LInkedIn

In this episode, Mia and Dinah talk about what life admin is and is not, and describe the different categories of life admin, so that you can approach it in a more systematic way.Mia and Dinah share their definition of life admin and explain that it is not housework or parenting but it often overlaps. Life admin is the third piece of the domestic labour puzzle and includes the scheduling, booking, shopping, paperwork, and planning that often facilitates housework and parenting tasks, but also has its own areas of responsibility.For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks.Subscribe to our Momentum newsletterFollow the latest tips and hacks on: Instagram Facebook LInkedIn

Discover gift-giving hacks for the festive season to save money, reduce your mental load and and buy group gifts efficiently.In this episode, we interview Ali Linz, co-founder of Group Together, about the benefits of group gifts, common mistakes when buying gifts, and the benefits of a systematic approach to gift buying.Resources GroupTogether Get Ready for Christmas Checklist Catherine Hamlin  Fred  Hollows Foundation Oxfam Christmas gifts Kmart Wishing TreeFor the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks. Subscribe to our Momentum newsletterFollow the latest tips and hacks on: Instagram Facebook LInkedIn

Discover smart strategies for a memorable and meaningful holiday season without breaking the bank. Mia and Dinah talk about celebrating Christmas given the high cost of living and how people can enjoy a low cost Christmas with some clever hacks. They discuss: Setting a Budget Cost-Saving Strategies for Buying Gifts Budget-Friendly Holiday Meals: Travel Hacks for the Holidays:For the full shownotes, head to Life Admin Life Hacks - https://shorturl.at/duyG1 Subscribe to our newsletter Follow the latest tips and hacks on:  Instagram Facebook LInkedIn 

Mia and Dinah interview advocate, Carol Robertson, and discover how a buyer's advocate can help reduce the mental load of buying property, saving you time and stress.Carol Robertson is a real estate veteran with more than 20 years of experience in property. She specialises in her clients' homes rather than property investment and provides valuable insights and guidance for her clients to make informed decisions about their next home and selling their current one. She is dedicated to reducing overwhelm for her clients in the real estate industry.The Impact of the Current Economic Climate Market uncertainty affects both buyers and sellers, making it crucial to carefully consider the timing of buying or selling a property. Downsizers need to ensure that the sale of their current home will provide enough equity for their future plans.Essential Steps for Buyers: Get your finances in order before starting the search for a property, including obtaining pre-approval from a lender. Research the market thoroughly, looking not only at current listings but also at recently sold properties to understand pricing trends. Consider your long-term goals and the specific features you want in a property to ensure it meets your needs.Importance of Building and Pest Inspections Depending on the age and condition of the property, it may be necessary to conduct building and pest inspections to identify any major defects or issues. These inspections provide valuable information for buyers to make informed decisions and negotiate repairs or adjustments to the purchase price.Strategies for Buyers in a Competitive Market Understand the local market and the tactics used by agents, such as underquoting, to set realistic expectations. Be patient and avoid rushing into a purchase, as this can lead to overpaying or making a decision that doesn't align with your long-term goals. Consider hiring a buyer's advocate to navigate the process, provide independent advice, and negotiate on your behalf.The Role of Buyer and Seller Advocates Buyer and seller advocates are independent professionals who guide clients through the buying or selling process, providing valuable insights and reducing stress. Advocates conduct extensive research, shortlist properties or agents, and ensure that clients are well-informed and prepared. Advocates can also assist with coordinating other professionals, such as conveyancers and tradespeople, to streamline the process.Buying or selling a property can be overwhelming, but with the right preparation, research, and support from buyer and seller advocates, it can be a more efficient and less stressful experience.RESOURCES msproperty.com.auSHAREPlease head to the Life Admin Life Hacks Facebook,  Insta or Linked In pages to connect with listeners and share your thoughts, questions or suggestions.

In this episode, Mia and Dinah follow Obu's journey from an affluent upbringing to navigating financial constraints, setting the stage for a discussion about helping women take control of their financial wellbeing.Obu Ramaraj is a money management speaker, author of two books: Smart Women: Smart Home Loans - what your lenders won’t tell you and Smart Women Smart Habits - powerful practices to create your ideal financial future. She’s the CEO of Smart Money Solutions. Her mission is to help women take control of their financial lives, helping women transform their relationship with money to transform their relationship with life.The key topics covered include:What is financial wellness and how to improve financial literacy Obu highlights the common mistake of women relying solely on their partners for financial decisions, emphasizing the importance of financial independence and open communication in relationships. The absence of financial literacy in traditional education is highlighted, with Obu stressing the importance of understanding where one's money comes from and where it goes.Uncovering Money Stories, Limiting Beliefs and Emotional Spending Recognizing one's money stories and limiting beliefs is paramount for making sound financial decisions. The conversation spotlights the psychological factors influencing financial choices. The issue of emotional spending is discussed, with a focus on identifying triggers and developing healthier habits to curb impulsive buying.Aligning Values with Financial Priorities Creating sustainable financial plans involves aligning financial priorities with personal values and desires. Setting specific financial goals is a fundamental aspect of financial planning.Money managementObu emphasizes the importance of financial tracking and the availability of apps and tools for tracking spending is discussed, along with the value of using spreadsheets. The conversation encourages individuals to create separate financial buckets for savings, investments, and daily expenses to ensure proper allocation of funds.Superannuation and Retirement Planning The discussion delves into the topic of superannuation, emphasizing the need to understand fund and investment options and the benefits of regular contributionsInsurance and Emergency Funds The conversation highlights that insurance isn't solely for major events and recommends having a financial safety net to cover unforeseen expenses.Investment and Overcoming Risk Aversion The conversation addresses the common tendency of women to be risk-averse when it comes to investing. It encourages women to overcome this fear and explore long-term investment options.LIFE ADMIN RESOURCES Obu Ramaraj's website Obu's Savvy Finance Tracker Episode 70 - Your Money Mindset  Episode 68 - Managing investments  Episode 30 - Sorting out life insurance