Beanstalk Single Mums

Why separating without lawyers is definitely a thing

It is a myth that you need to hire lawyers to separate and divorce.

You don't.

Property settlement is essentially a financial exercise that a lot of separating couples can work through together with the support of an expert. Which is where Belinda from Divide comes in.

Belinda works with separating couples throughout Australia to help you financially separate and have your orders approved by the family court, without using lawyers. The end result is a more amicable split which will encourage a healthier co-parenting relationship and leave more money for you both to begin your new lives.

Not only this, Belinda is a whizz at tax and super in a financial split so her advice will pay-off now and way into the future. Or, to put it another way, nothing will come back and bite you on bum further down the track.

Sounds good? Find out more in this podcast.

Listen to Belinda and I discuss:

• Which kind of cases would or would not require the services of a family lawyer
• Options available to separating couples if they don't want to hire lawyers
• The benefits of choosing the "no lawyer" pathway (there are heaps!)
• The importance of factoring super and tax into a property settlement (and what can happen if you don't)
• Ways to keep your separation amicable so you can "make it through" without lawyers

For more podcasts like this and heaps of other free single mum resources head to the Beanstalk Mums website.

Your official guide to Child Care Subsidy balancing

It's that time of year ladies ... don't delay and confirm your income with Services Australia today!

Why?

Because once you have, Services Australia can get to work and balance your child care subsidy for the financial year.

If you are hesitant for any reason, listen to this podcast with Hank Jongen, General Manager of Services Australia, because he has a great way of explaining the process that makes it all sound super simple.

Whether you don't know where to start, you're concerned about a debt, or you just want to get it right moving forward, you'll get the support you need. And, if you don't, Hank explains where to go for more support - and this is not just the usual channels ...

Hank explains:

• What CCS is and how it is paid

• What you need to do to have your CCS balanced

• How to confirm your income (over and over again if you need to)

• What to if you don't need to lodge a tax return (don't do nothing!)

• What outcomes to expect once your CCS has been balanced

• What support is available if you have incurred a debt

• Where to go for more information

4 Simple strategies for a low conflict separation

A low conflict separation might seem like a contradiction in terms but it really is possible for many ex-couples. Maybe not right now, but certainly in time.

The truth is, it only takes one person to counteract conflict with a more effective and peaceful resolution process. If you want to be this person, this podcast will help you move your separation out of the combat zone and into a collaborative, working space.

I chat to Lisanne Iriks, who is an award-winning mediator and coach and the owner of Life Mediation. Having been a mediator for over 12 years, specialising in family mediation, Lisanne is perfectly placed to share her knowledge around this tricky topic.

Even if you think there is no hope for you and your ex, it is likely you will find some of Lisanne suggestions helpful, so listen and learn ladies ...

Lisanne and I discuss a lot of stuff, including:

• Why it is so incredibly important to aim for a low-conflict separation
• Understanding the stages of grief in separation and how to keep the peace with this knowledge
• The importance of interim orders
• Communication - responding and not reacting
• Where (and where not) to get advice and support, this is so important!
• Lisanne's work with Beanstalk offering single mums a free consultation to get that low conflict separation happening

Expert advice to find your single mum style

Do you, like me, feel that you have lost touch of what your personal style is? Or do you know what you want your style to be but don't have the time to rock it?

Then stay tuned.

I chat to Danielle Johansen from Threadicated, an online and shipped to your door personal fashion styling service. This is a lady who has spent years in the fashion industry understanding trends, body types and style.

Remember, style is not just about the latest trends for the rich and famous. It's about expression, self-care and feeling good about yourself when you strut out your front door every day.

Listen to Danielle and I talk about:

• Why it's so damn important to find your style (do not put it at the end of your "to do" list)

• Some really simple starter tips that you can do right now ... without even leaving the house

• How to make clothes shopping (at the actual shops) enjoyable and successful

• The services of an online personal fashion stylist and how it all works

• How to get (and stay) stylish without shelling out too much cash

• The Threadicated 20% OFF special offer on the Beanstalk Discount Directory

Covid disaster payments: What you need to know

Lockdowns are becoming part and parcel of daily life here in Australia, but they certainly don't get easier, especially if you are losing work each time.

On this podcast, I chat to Hank Jongen, General Manager of Services Australia, who are doing a heroic job of getting covid disaster payments out to those in need, when they need it.  

This factual chat will put you on the right path to get support whether you're in lockdown or isolation, and losing money (or your mind) as a result of it.

Hank explains:

• What support is available to people in lockdown across Australia
• How eligibility works (hint: it's done by hours not dollars)
• How to make a claim for a disaster payment
• The estimated wait time for financial assistance
• Moving forward, as lockdowns continue, how and when to re-claim
• What to do if you are self-employed or a sole trader
• How these payment work in terms of tax and income support purposes
• More support services available, over and above the disaster payment

Genius tips for the first time (in a long time) dating single mum

Terrified of dating after being off the scene for so long? We get it! 

I chat to Elly Johnson who, alongside Leena Sisco, owns TruthLove Academy, designed to help women date smart and date safe. Elly explains how to get perfectly poised to make your debut into the dating world. Then, once you're off and running, how to protect yourself, enjoy yourself and ultimately attract an amazing partner.

Our conversation includes but is not limited to:

• The biggest challenges for single mums getting back into the dating world, and how to overcome them
• Some of the risks to women on the dating scene and how to protect yourself
• The texting trap - what it is, how and why to avoid it ... and why some single mums do it
• The importance of the kind of stuff Elly and Leena can teach you, like learning about human behaviour, information elicitation and understanding limiting beliefs
• Why (and how) to stay positive on the dating scene
• Where to found Elly and Leena if you need to more support with dating

Helpful tips to complete your tax return in 2021

I talk to Tim Loh who is the Assistant Commissioner at the ATO and tax time spokesperson for 2021 to help single mums across Australia with their tax returns.

 

In this podcast we cover-off on these points:

• Whether you need to lodge a tax return and how to do it

• What can (and can't) be claimed as a work related expense

• What to do if you get a tax bill after lodging your tax return

• The tax implications if you have received JobKeeper, JobSeeker or accessed super under the COVID measures

• What you need to know if you have been working from home

• How the Services Australia end-of-year balancing works

• Specifics for lodging a tax return as a single parent

• Tips for mums with kids who are entering the workforce

• Where to get help if you need more support

 

The Family Home Guarantee: What you need to know

Get the absolute latest information available about the all-new Family Home Guarantee in this chat with Assistant Treasurer and Minister for Housing, the Hon Michael Sukkar MP.

We cover: What the Family Home Guarantee is; the motivation behind the scheme; the impact owning a home can have on single parent families; the eligibility criteria for the Family Home Guarantee; property price threshold amounts (stay posted, they are increasing!); and how to apply and get further information, here's the link Michael talks about: NHFIC.

A candid guide to the property market for single mothers

Desperate for your forever home? We can help! I chat with Louis Christopher from QSM Research about the facts that matter when looking to purchase a property, whether that be right now, or at some point in the future.

We discuss: An overview of the Australian property market with speculation to the future; the impact of Covid, JobKeeper and HomeBuilder; the implications of long-term renting; why purchasing a property is a sensible option if you struggle to save; choosing the right area to buy in (which may not necessarily be where you want to live); and clever options to propel you onto the first rung of the ladder.

Simple stress management tips to teach your kids

Stressed out kids = stressed out parents, and vice versa. For this reason, I chat to Dr Louise Metcalfe about how to help our children manage stress and anxiety on a daily basis.

We discuss: Why it's so important for the gorgeous little people in our worlds to understand their emotions and take care of their mental health; the benefits of the much undervalued and underrated activity of breathing, the advantages of getting kids to talk and who they can talk to; different kinds of stress relieving resources that can work for kids; how to help kids manage overwhelm as part of a normal day; and how the Gheorg app can play a positive part in helping your child develop resilience and manage stress.