This Mum Likes Finance

This Mum Likes Finance Workbook links in posts or head to my store.

SMBC 👶🏻 Financial education mostly for mums
20+ years CPA, Finance & NLP Master Coach
Collabs: [email protected]

Feel free to send me a virtual star ⭐️

20/09/2026

💛 I’ve realised that for me, working 3 days a week instead of 4 or 5 is what works best.

As a solo parent raising my beautiful 2-year-old 👶, every dollar 💰 and every hour ⏰ matters. When I really looked at the numbers, including childcare, travel, the extra costs of working, and what I’d actually take home, I realised those extra days weren’t giving me the return I thought they would.

For my family, 3 days a week gives us the balance we need.

🤍 More quality time together, less burnout, and enough financially to make it work.

Every family’s situation is different, but this was a reminder that more hours don’t always mean you’re better off.

Sometimes the best decision is the one that gives you both financial stability and precious time with your little one. 🌿💕

✨ That’s exactly why I built my calculator. It works out your 2026/27 take-home pay after tax, estimates your childcare costs after the Child Care Subsidy (if applicable), and helps you see what you’re actually left with after the real costs of working. It’s designed to help parents make informed decisions about whether taking on extra days at work will genuinely leave them better off financially.

Because sometimes, working less doesn’t mean falling behind—it means choosing what matters most. 💛

Comment CALCULATOR to get the link.

Parenting ChildCareSubsidy FlexibleWork FamilyFirst

19/09/2026

I’m eligible for the maximum 90% Child Care Subsidy — but I’m still paying $72.14 out of pocket every single day. 😮‍💨

Here’s why 👇

💰 Daily childcare fee: $215
🕒 Session: 11 hours
📊 CCS hourly rate cap: $15.19/hour
💵 Maximum fee the government subsidises: $167.09
✅ 90% CCS entitlement: $150.38
⏸️ 5% withheld: $7.52
💳 CCS actually paid to childcare: $142.86
❗ My out-of-pocket cost: $72.14 per day

And this is the part I think many parents don’t realise:

🚨 90% doesn’t mean 90% of your childcare bill.

The subsidy is calculated against the government’s hourly rate cap, not necessarily what your centre charges.

Then there’s the 5% withholding, which means you don’t receive the full calculated subsidy throughout the year.

So while I’m incredibly grateful for the support ❤️, the headline “90% Child Care Subsidy” can make childcare sound much more affordable than it actually feels for many families.

Because at the end of the day, $72 a day adds up FAST. 💸

What does your childcare actually cost you each day? 👇

And if you want to see exactly how much you’re taking home after tax AND childcare costs, I’ve created my 2026/27 calculator 🧮💰

Comment CALCULATOR and I’ll send you the details. 👇

CostOfLiving EarlyLearningAustralia FamilyBudget

19/09/2026

Before you spend money on birthday treats, check if your favourite brands are already offering you something for FREE! Many rewards are available simply by joining their free loyalty programs before your birthday.

🎂 Popular Birthday Rewards for Kids & Families

🍦 Baskin-Robbins – Free birthday scoop for Club Baskin-Robbins members. Baskin-Robbins Australia

🥤 Boost Juice – VIBE members can receive a free birthday drink. Boost Juice

🍩 7-Eleven – Eligible app members may receive a free Krispy Kreme doughnut birthday reward. 7-Eleven Australia

🥖 Bakers Delight – Dough Getters members can receive a free birthday scone. Bakers Delight

🍔 McDonald’s MyMacca’s Rewards – Birthday bonus offers may be available through the app. McDonald's Australia

🍨 Cold Rock – Birthday rewards are available at participating stores for members. Cold Rock Ice Creamery

🍕 Pizza Hut – Selected birthday rewards and member-exclusive offers may be available. Pizza Hut Australia

🍫 San Churro – Members can receive a birthday churro reward. San Churro

🎬 Village Cinemas Vrewards – Eligible members may receive a birthday popcorn reward. Village Cinemas

🛍️ Retail Birthday Rewards

💄 Sephora Beauty Pass – Free birthday beauty gift. Sephora Australia

🛒 Myer ONE – Birthday reward for eligible members. MYER

🛍️ David Jones Rewards – Birthday voucher or reward depending on membership tier. David Jones

📚 Dymocks Booklover – Birthday reward for eligible members. Dymocks Books

🧸 Spotlight VIP – Birthday discounts or bonus offers. SPOTLIGHT

💡 Don’t forget these family favourites too:
🐨 IKEA Family
☕ Gloria Jean’s Rewards
🍗 Nando’s PERi-Perks
🍜 Sushi Sushi
🧁 Muffin Break
🥐 Michel’s

✅ Top tips to make sure you don’t miss out:
✔️ Join loyalty programs at least 30 days before your birthday.
✔️ Add your correct birth date when registering.
✔️ Download the brand’s app if required.
✔️ Check your email and app notifications during your birthday month.
✔️ Read the terms and conditions, as offers, locations, and eligibility can vary.

💰 With a little planning, your family

18/09/2026

Egg freezing in Australia is often marketed as a way to “buy time,” but what isn’t talked about enough is the financial, physical, and emotional reality behind it.

Over the years, I spent almost $80,000 on my fertility journey.

I spent around $50,000 on 7 egg-freezing cycles. Three of those cycles were cancelled before retrieval, meaning thousands of dollars, weeks of medications, appointments, scans, and hope ended with nothing to freeze.

Between the ages of 38 and 41, I froze 37 eggs. On paper, that sounds like a success. The numbers looked reassuring. The statistics seemed promising.

But the story didn’t end there.

After fertilisation, embryo development, and multiple embryo transfer cycles, I spent another $30,000 trying to turn those frozen eggs into a pregnancy.

In the end, only one worked.

One embryo. One chance. One outcome after years of treatment, countless injections, procedures, appointments, waiting, setbacks, and heartbreak.

I’m sharing this because fertility preservation is often presented as a simple backup plan. The reality is far more complex. Freezing eggs is not a guarantee of a baby. It’s an opportunity—a valuable one—but it’s not certainty.

What many women aren’t told is that the journey doesn’t stop when the eggs are frozen. There can be significant additional costs for fertilisation, embryo creation, genetic testing, storage fees, and embryo transfer cycles. The financial commitment can be far greater than the initial egg-freezing process itself.

I don’t regret doing it. In fact, I’m deeply grateful I had the option. But I wish more women were given a realistic understanding of what the process can involve, especially when freezing eggs in your late 30s and early 40s.

My numbers looked like this:

• 7 egg-freezing cycles
• 3 cancelled cycles
• 37 eggs frozen between ages 38–41
• Approximately $80,000 spent in total
• Only 1 embryo that ultimately worked

And despite everything, all it takes is one.

That’s the miracle, and the reality, of fertility treatment. ❤️

18/09/2026

1. You’ve got $10k–$30k+ in an emergency fund
That’s 3–6 months of living costs for most families—rent/mortgage, food, fuel covered without stress.

2. Your super is on track (or ahead)
Rough guide:
• Age 30 → ~$60k+
• Age 40 → ~$150k+
• Age 50 → ~$300k+
And you’re actually checking it, not ignoring it.

3. You’re saving at least 15–25% of your income
Across savings, offset, or investments—not just what’s “left over.”

4. Your housing costs are under ~30% of your income
Whether renting or paying a mortgage, you’ve kept it sustainable.

5. You could handle a $2,000 surprise expense today
Car repair, medical bill, last-minute flight—without going into debt.

Bonus:
You’re not relying on Afterpay/credit cards to get through the month.

Quiet financial stability > flashy spending.

If you tick even 3 of these, you’re doing better than most.

Save this for a reality check.

So how much should you have in a family’s emergency fund? 🤷🏻‍♀️
18/09/2026

So how much should you have in a family’s emergency fund? 🤷🏻‍♀️

17/09/2026

As parents, one of our biggest responsibilities isn’t buying every new craze—it’s teaching our kids how to think beyond it.

Today it’s:
🎴 Pokémon cards
🧸 Labubu figures
🧸 Jellycat plushies
🥤 Prime drinks
🎮 Fortnite skins
🎮 Roblox Robux
⚽️ Match Attax & AFL cards
🎁 Blind-box collectibles
🎒 The latest “must-have” school bag, lunch box, or drink bottle

Next term... it’ll be something else.

The products change. The pressure to fit in doesn’t.

There’s nothing wrong with these hobbies when your child genuinely enjoys them. The challenge is helping them understand the difference between wanting something and feeling like they need it because everyone else has it.

💡 Here are a few ways to keep spending under control while teaching lifelong money habits:

💰 Give them a monthly spending budget for “wants” and let them make the decisions.

⏳ Introduce a 48-hour waiting rule before buying anything that’s trending.

🎯 Encourage them to save for bigger purchases instead of expecting instant rewards.

❓Before buying, ask:
• Do you really want this?
• Would you still buy it if your friends didn’t have one?
• Will you still care about it in a few months?

👏 Celebrate patience, saving, and thoughtful choices—not just the newest purchase.

Remember, saying “not today” isn’t about saying no to your child—it’s about saying yes to teaching resilience, patience, and smart financial habits.

❤️ The goal isn’t to stop every trend. It’s to raise children who know their worth isn’t measured by what they own and who feel confident making choices based on their own values, not someone else’s.

Trends come and go. Good money habits last a lifetime.

17/09/2026

💕 How much does the average Aussie earn at your age?

Ever wondered how your income compares with other Australians?

👀 I pulled together the latest available Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) earnings data to give you a simple age-by-age snapshot.

The highest figure in this comparison is for Australians aged 45–54, at around $2,115 per week — roughly $110,000 a year if that weekly amount were earned consistently for 52 weeks.

But here’s the important part 🫶🏼: an average isn’t a target. Your salary can look completely different depending on your occupation, industry, experience, working hours and whether you work full-time or part-time. Everyone’s financial journey is different. 🏡💕

📌 Also worth knowing: these are average (mean) weekly earnings, not median earnings. That means higher earners can pull the average upward, so it shouldn’t be interpreted as what the “typical” Australian earns.

👀 Where do you sit compared with your age group?
Tell me your age + salary below 👇💬

💗 Save this post for later and send it to your partner, family or friends!

Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), Employee Earnings and Hours, Australia, May 2025.

Figures are gross earnings before tax and represent average weekly total cash earnings, not base salary. They may include overtime, allowances, penalty payments and regular bonuses/commissions.

MoneyAustralia

Address

Sydney, NSW

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when This Mum Likes Finance posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Business

Send a message to This Mum Likes Finance:

Shortcuts

Share

Category