The Broke Generation

In this episode I’m joined by positive psychology practitioner and author of Choose Joy, Sophie Cliff, to discuss how we can inject a little more joy into our lives.  Highlights: What actually is joy and how can we define what it means to us? Why joy is so often linked to spending and consumption How to find joy without spending any money Reprogramming your brain to notice the little moments that make you happy Why we’re so used to dwelling on the negatives Balancing good and bad days, moments, and feelings Research-backed ways to find more joy Where to find Sophie: Book: Choose Joy, available at all major bookstores. Instagram: @sophiecliff  Website and programs: https://sophiecliff.com/ Where to find me: Instagram: @the.brokegeneration Blog: The Broke Generation | Destination for Hot Mess Millennials  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s the long awaited wardrobe freeze update! In this episode, I’m sharing my reflections on completing a year without buying any clothes. I share the challenges and the wins, diving into what I discovered about myself and my existing wardrobe. I also unpack the strategies that got me through the year, and the importance of mental preparation and finding balance in various life aspects. From weight fluctuations to rediscovering treasures in my closet, I’m sharing the valuable lessons learned during this period of intentional living. Looking ahead, I’m laying out my game plan for the next year and figuring out how to put into action what I've picked up. This involves tweaking how I approach clothing consumption - thinking about making my own, trying out rentals, and, of course, doing a bit of shopping. Join me as I continue this journey of mindful consumption, reflecting on the past and stepping into a future where my relationship with clothes is not just about style, but about conscious choices and sustainable practices. Episode highlights: I finished my wardrobe freeze! Insights into the challenges and wins during the wardrobe freeze, How to prepare, physically and mentally, for a freeze, The financial aspects of the challenge - how much did I save by not buying clothes? My future plans post-wardrobe freeze, including seeking the help of a stylist! “I have a photo album on my phone of over 120 outfits I think that I put together throughout the year."Emma [17:35] “Spend time in your wardrobe, spend time with the stuff that you've got. Get to know the stuff that you caught by setting aside half an hour on a Saturday morning or an extra half an hour when you're getting ready."Emma [17:48] “A lot of things will happen during a year. They'll be events that you didn't even know you were going to go to yet. There will be feelings that you have about the way that you look."Emma [22:12] Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Pre-order my book, Good with Money! Out February 27th 2024  Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It’s 2024, and I’ve set 24 goals for myself, my finances, and my business. From spontaneous trips to doubling my podcast listenership, these goals reflect a mix of building on past achievements and future growth. Balancing bold targets, such as running a live event, with practical steps like monthly business strategy reviews, I'm determined to make 2024 a transformative year. Join me on this journey and share your 2024 goals too! Plus, if you fancy leaving a podcast review on Apple Podcasts or a star rating on Spotify, you'd be helping me kick off one of my goals! Episode highlights: Reflecting on the achievements of last year's goals, The impact of having a list of goals, emphasising accountability and self-reflection, Building routines, with the intention to develop more structured habits in my daily life, Striving for balance in personal and professional life, with specific goals related to financial and business aspects, The value of interconnected goals, where working towards one, actually helps another goal too! “So I feel like I've gone from a year of experimentation… and now I want to like, refine that and sort of lay down some patterns using that data."Emma [10:57] “I'm sort of getting into that mindset of working three months ahead of myself in terms of what I'm planning to do, so that I can think about plotting out those times I want to take off ahead of time rather than trying to take it off in the moment"Emma [27:43] “If I can give anybody any advice in terms of, like I guess, mental health and finding your passions and things like that and like finding yourself, it's find things to be proud of that aren't work."Emma [46:32]   Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Pre-order my book, Good with Money! Out February 27th 2024  Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this last episode of The Broke Generation podcast for 2023, we’re diving into the annual Guided Reflection, exploring the highs and lows of our individual financial journey this past year. I’ll walk you through some helpful questions and introduce my LILAC framework (Leave, Improve, Learn, Achieve, Carry) to gain insights into your successes, challenges, and major life events and to help you plan for the upcoming year. Now armed with this valuable data, it's time for you to sit with it, empowered to plan your next year with intention. It’s time to leave behind what no longer serves you, seek improvement, continue to learning, and set achievable goals. If this episode has you hungry for more reflection, check out my Reflect & Reset workshop series, you can watch the replay for session one now, and catch the second workshop on the 14th of January. And hey, don't forget about my upcoming book, "Good With Money," available for pre-order, check the links below.  I’ll see you next year! Episode highlights: Work through my Guided Reflection, a lite version of my Reflect & Reset workshop series, Looking back at major events, experiences, financial ups and downs, and leveraging that reflection for personal growth, Unpacking the LILAC Framework (You know I love a framework!), Bring clarity to your financial situation, understanding personal behaviours, and setting meaningful goals. “Reflecting is so powerful and I'm going to go out on a limb and say, I actually don't think that you can do the deep work on your money mindset, your money perspective to change your reality without doing a bit of reflection."Emma [04:35] “Think about if your year in money were a book or a movie, what would it be called? What would the Shownotes be? What would the reviews be?"Emma [19:23] “How do we hold ourselves back? How did other non-financial things perhaps get in the way of our financial progress?"Emma [22:43] Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Sign up for my Reflect & Reset Workshop Series, workshop one is now available for replay! Pre-order my book, Good with Money! Out February 27th 2024  Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Welcome to part two of my Year in Review! In case you missed the first part, it dropped last Thursday, so be sure to give that a listen. Today, we're diving in from July, where I'm sharing the highs and lows of juggling running my own business, writing a book and everything else that life felt like throwing at me! From working to the bone on my book, to dealing with the challenges of maintaining mental health, we're covering it all.  Despite some very heavy challenges, the second half of the year definitely started to come up (thanks Milhouse Mindset!). While in rock-bottom’s basement, my book was eventually becoming more solidified, and my wardrobe challenge gave me an extra boost of positivity. Reflecting on the year, I'm proud of overcoming challenges and finding a level of financial stability in my second year of full-time self-employment. So, let's jump right into the second instalment of my journey through the year. Episode highlights: Finding my rhythm with university studies and the rest of my schedule, The importance of scheduling breaks and maintaining boundaries when it comes to rest, The importance of the supportive business community, How the Milhouse Mindset has been helping me in the later half of the year (Check out Episode 115: My game-changing mantra for the last 3 months of 2023). “By the middle of the year, really started leaning into the really lovely business self-employed community that I kind of cultivated over the last few months."Emma [07:59] “Now I can chill a little bit before we hit the ground running in the New Year in terms of like goals and stuff for 2024."Emma [33:13] “You sow seeds, and they bloom. I'm hoping that in the new year they can bloom. And I've also, you know, I'm not going in blind, but a bit of a direction for what I want to do in Jan and beyond."Emma [35:50] Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Pre-order my book, Good with Money! Out February 27th 2024  Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Strap in for part one of a two-part year in review extravaganza! I walk you through each month, sharing the behind-the-scenes of my life, money, and business. From navigating the challenges of self-employment, to the complexities of health issues and the exciting inception of the year-long wardrobe pause challenge, this year has been non-stop! In between everything else, I have also been writing a book (available for preorder now!), and in this episode I’m giving you a peak behind the curtain about how I went about juggling that with the rest of my life. I also get real about how my freelancing and sponsored content has been going, and where this podcast fits in amongst it. Stay tuned for part two, where I'll be talking about the latter months of 2023, I promise it’s more positive than the start. Remember - Milhouse Mindset! Episode highlights: It’s my first full year of being self-employed! I’m chatting about what I’ve learned from it, Challenges in mental and physical health, along with a busy schedule due to study, Writing my book! Holy moly this is a big chunk of my year, but obviously it has a good ending! Reflection on the podcast's growth, and the challenges and complexities of sustaining a podcast. “This year in general just turned out very different to how I expected in terms of like I had some mental and physical health things that needed to be dealt with."Emma [06:41] “I kind of realised that I wanted to finish study and I wanted to finish the book before I did this, sort of like next, I guess, phase because of, I guess the uncertainties that I was feeling around that."Emma [07:54] “I knew that completing the book would not only give me this kind of beacon to stand behind of like what my work represents and also the confidence of standing behind that and the accomplishment and the achievement of finishing that project, as well as my study."Emma [09:05]   Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration    Pre-order my book, Good with Money! Out February 27th 2024    Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

‘Tis the season for reflection! This episode I’m kicking off with a review of my 23 goals for 2023, both my achievements and setbacks, and exploring the reasons behind why some goals weren’t met - and whether I’ll be giving them another crack next year. I’m sharing insights into my own personal growth over the year, the challenges I faced, and the emotions tied to achieving my goals. I also share personal highlights, such as overcoming the mental hurdle of getting a new car and the importance of taking breaks. Whether they’re fun activity based like rock climbing, or important super contributions, goals should be made for yourself!  Episode highlights: Reflecting on the benefit of adding a level of accountability to goal setting, The importance of flexibility in adjusting goals, especially when faced with unexpected challenges, Overcoming mental hurdles in financial decision-making. “Even if you do not share your life and your goals with the internet and listeners and things like that, I really encourage you to just set a list of 24 things that you want to do, even if those things aren't even necessarily hard, just things you want to do."Emma [02:42] “I have really found that it's pushed me to saying ‘come on, we've got three months left of the year. Which of these can you do?’ Or even just take a step closer to some of them."Emma [03:00] “I'm pretty happy with having this list because I'm like, you know what I'm going to put I'm going to find $1,000, or if it's 500, I'm going to put it in there so that I have done something for future me."Emma [13:12] Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In today's episode, I’m sharing a personal technique I've been using to boost my productivity and achieve goals - making promises to myself. When you make a promise to a friend, you work hard to keep that promise, right? So it’s time to treat yourself with the same level of respect and commitment! I’m covering four big reasons why this approach is effective and how it can be applied to various aspects of life, not just your finances. I also have a little challenge for you, to help build momentum fostering self-respect and building a positive self-identity. Tune in to discover how this method can enhance self-trust, improve financial habits, and create a routine for achieving larger goals.  Episode highlights: Micro actions lead to macro results, Integrate positive habits into daily routines with small daily promises, Build momentum, learn what works and refine your routine for long-term success. “I've had a lot of hard things to do, like life stuff, business stuff. I've had to pretty much bribe myself to be a functioning adult."Emma [02:43] “Making a promise to yourself not only sets the intention at the time but actually brings that concept of saying, I'm going to do this, I am respecting myself."Emma [06:43] “Every time you follow through, when you break something down, follow through with it, the power is back in your hands and allows you to go a bit further and a bit further and a bit further every single time."Emma [14:10] Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegenerationTikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Have you got your card details at the ready for Black Friday tomorrow? Maybe you’re hanging out till the Cyber Monday deals instead? I’m swooping in with this episode just before tomorrow’s frenzy with a bit of insight into the psychological aspects that can influence our spending behaviour during sale periods. The current economic landscape, marked by reserved spending and consistent interest rate hikes, can make even the most disciplined saver more susceptible to the allure of a good sale. Now is the time for mindful decision-making! I’m also discussing the challenge of dealing with regret avoidance spending, (Hello FOMO!) especially when faced with significant discounts. This is the time to be strategic, isolate your shopping behaviours, and prioritise mindful spending over impulsive decisions.  Tune in for some practical tips, including price comparisons, checking alternative platforms for better deals, and leveraging discounts and cashback opportunities. Episode highlights: Experts are predicting significant discounts during Black Friday, with 71% of retail experts expecting high discounting, Five #SpendingTraps that could test you this sale season The importance of comparing prices, checking alternative platforms like marketplaces and Depop for better deals, and leveraging discounts and cashback opportunities to maximise savings. “Because of the cost of living crisis, people's discretionary spending is down. We're being a lot more reserved. So they're needing to entice us to spend a little bit more."Emma [03:40] “Be really, really careful with big discounts when you see them because it's going to throw everything else out of context."Emma [10:17] “Being good with money does not mean being perfect. It's all about how you respond."Emma [25:31] Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegenerationTikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

By now, you've probably heard me talk about the significance of aligning your personal values not just with savings and investments but also with your day-to-day spending. In this episode, I'm highlighting the importance of recognising and understanding your natural spending tendencies and how they shape your financial behaviour. It's about mastering the art of blending your financial choices seamlessly with your unique personality and priorities! Like most things, there are pitfalls and exceptions to navigate. I share my own experiences, shedding light on the nuances of values-based spending, and the ongoing challenge of distinguishing between conditioned wants and genuine needs. The beauty of this approach lies in its dual nature: indulging in things that truly matter while also saving or investing in alignment with those core values.  And because learning doesn't have to be all serious, I've got a couple fun exercises for you to try. These will guide you in uncovering and comprehending your financial values. Remember, getting to know yourself is the first step in getting on top of your money! Episode highlights: The importance of understanding and acknowledging your behaviour and motivations, How savings and investments can also honour your values, contributing to your overall financial well-being, Assessing how well current financial behaviours reflect values and potential for adjustments. “It's a lot easier to shut out a lot of that noise when you have your financial values nutted out and you really get into the flow of aligning your money to these values."Emma [10:34] “I've noticed a lot that my priorities, my values are shifting and not like going against each other, but more just becoming more refined."Emma [17:55] “Finding a way to honour your values in some way in your financial routine makes your money, makes your relationship with money instantly stronger, and it makes it easier to engage in the behaviours that are conducive to positive financial outcomes."Emma [31:07]   Where to find The Broke Generation Website: https://thebrokegeneration.com/?v=518f4a738816 Instagram: https://instagram.com/the.brokegeneration TikTok: @the.brokegeneration  Sign up to The Glue: the weekly money psychology and mindset newsletter www.thebrokegeneration.com/subscribe, where you’ll also get your free Financial Values workbook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.