August 14, 2025 • 33 mins
If it looks like an MLM and quacks like an MLM… is it an MLM? That's the big dilemma our community member needs help with this week. Her brother is obsessed with a “self-development program” that’s apparently changing his life (and draining his bank account). Now he’s trying to sign up the rest of the family, and it's giving MLM vibes. Then we’re jumping into another all-too-relatable situation: being the financially responsible one in a relationship. You’re saving for a shared goal, they’re spending big elsewhere. How do you get on the same page without turning into the budget police? It's slightly chaotic, surprisingly wise, and just the Friday fix you need.
Ready for more laughs, lessons, and unhinged money chats? Check out our oh-so-bingeable Friday Drinks playlist. Listen here.
Join our 300K+ She's on the Money community in our Facebook Group and on Instagram.
Acknowledgement of Country By Nartarsha Bamblett aka Queen Acknowledgements.
The advice shared on She's On The Money is general in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's On The Money exists purely for educational purposes and should not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision. If you do choose to buy a financial product, read the PDS, TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards your needs. Victoria Devine and She's On The Money are authorised representatives of Money Sherpa PTY LTD ABN - 321649 27708, AFSL - 451289.
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
My name is Tatasha Bamblet. I'm a proud First Nations
woman and I'm here to acknowledge country t Glenn Young Ganya, Niana,
Kaka yah y and beIN Ahaka Nian our gay In
Mbini yakarum jar dominyamiga Umagahawaka Woman, Damon Imlan Bomba ban
Gadabomba in and now in wakah ghan On yak rum
jar water Nadaa. Hello, beautiful friends, we gather on the
(00:24):
lands of the Aboriginal people. We thank, acknowledge and respect
the Aboriginal people's land that we're gathering on today. Take
pleasure in all the land and respect all that you see.
She's on the Money podcast acknowledges culture, country, community and connections,
bringing you the tools, knowledge and resources for you to thrive.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
She's on the Money.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
She's on the Money. Hello and welcome to She's on
(01:09):
the Money, the podcast that makes personal finance fun, especially
on Fridays. It is our favorite day of the week
because we get the team together to celebrate you our
incredible She's on the Money community. Miss Jess Gricci is
going to be sharing our favorite money wins Beck is
away again, so I'm going to be sharing this week's
bre tips and we'll be helping to answer a money dilemma,
(01:31):
which is all about being the quote financially responsible one
in a relationship and something that you slid into our
dms about this week, your sibling Cape's getting caught up
in something that is giving MLM vibes and we all
know how I feel about EMLM, so I cannot wait
to get into that. Before we get there, though, Miss
Jessic GRICI, how was the week that was? It's lovely?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I wanted to do Last night I went and saw
the new Fantastic Four, which was great, very much.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I ran into back how funny? Oh, I feel like
I got that invite as well? About you would have
got that.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah, I was doing this so jess got it through
work apparently you but it's so funny. We walked in
James night. We were a little bit late and then
I just yeah, Jessica Rickie, and I'm.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Like, where is this voice coming over? And I was
back in jest. It was so funny, so cute. I
really wanted to go, but at the moment, I feel
like I'm really having to balance my social like yeah,
what I'm doing socially because I feel not guilty, but
I just don't have the energy. Like tonight we're going
out for drinks. Yes, you and I are going out
(02:34):
for drinks with our Amazon family, which will be really fun.
But I was like, I cannot back that up. But
I cannot do a movie premiere and then like after
work drinks. I'm sorry, that's too much for me. Yeah,
and also OK, here I feel rude being like to
my husband, you've got the baby two nights in a rob.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
In a week.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Not of rude. But anyway, as we've been it's been good.
I've got work drinks tonight with Amazon, which honestly sounds
really fa Nancy, but honestly will be so nice because
most of the Amazon team, and this is I don't
know why I'm telling you this, maybe you'll find it
interesting actually based in Sydney, and so many of our
other brand partners are based in Sydney as well. So
whenever they do like, oh, into Financial Year drinks or whatever,
(03:15):
usually Jess, you and I have to be like, oh,
thanks for the invite, but we are in Sydney and like,
we don't have the capacity to just fly up. So
I think it'll be so nice. And I know that
there are going to be probably a lot of other
faces that we know there tonight, so that'll be good.
But yeah, I'm gearing up. I'm off to Bali soon,
so I am going. Yeah, just a little bit nuts
with packing already, like getting my stuff together, ordering out,
(03:38):
Oh my goodness. Yeah. And it's like winter. Yeah, and
I've been trying to find baby swimsuits so painful. Yeah. Anyway,
I got one on eBay, so money win. Love that
money win. So I was thinking, would you like a
five star review before we get into your break tips?
Honestly they are my absolute favorites. So this one this
week comes from Reread, and she says, I wanted to
(04:01):
write this review to say thank you for the big
impact your podcast has had on my finances and on
my life. I used to be an absolute mess when
it came to saving and spending, but now I finally
have a budget, a healthy emergency fund, and even I'm
investing in chares. Please never stop making this show. I've done.
(04:22):
I just love when you guys are like I have
my shit together and I'm like, how good does that feel?
Naps for you Cuenqueen. All right, keeping up the good vibes,
missjss GRICI, what money wins? Some confessions are you bringing
to us this week? From the group? All right? This week?
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Firstly one from Lauren, who said I got audited by
the ETO, but I was great. I didn't lie on
anything and I just ended up owing them thirty nine
dollars for a simple mistake that she'd made, but the
ATO decided to wave it and cancel the audit.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Sorry, what unheard of? Who did you sleep with the adal?
But that's where you get for being a good person?
Did not want to go return. Sorry. If you're always
just being a good person, good things are going to happen.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I completely agree. Next, I've got a money in from Anya,
who said money win. I received a big dividend payment
from Shares's, which I then reinvested into my shares account.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
And she also found a fifteen dollars disc on Facebook Marketplace.
Isn't that so good? It was like dividend payment time
at the start of this month. Yeah, And I like
posted a screenshot to my stories. I was like, maybe
it's a dividend season. I had like all these little
notifications for all my ETFs and it was like, you
just got paid thirty cents and I was like, thanks,
(05:36):
and I will take it and I will be happy
for it.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Next, I've got a money in from Anita who said
he he I hacked in quotes my teen daughter's Instagram
account and followed she's on the money now so she
has inspiring financial tips from awesome role models popping up
in her feet. I love you, and honestly, we SHO
didn't actually hack it because in quotation marks, I.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Think she just was cheeking lock. Also like, sorry, if
you leave your phone unlocked on the bench, I think
that's fair game to follow me. I completely agree, and
thanks for the follow We really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
A Next, I've got a money from Delia, who said
she used our prompt to get discounts on her phone
bill and her car insurance and she's been shopping smart
with Woolli's and now has sixty dollars of rewards banked
towards Chris Money.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
When I was actually having a conversation in my DMS
this week with someone who was like, oh, Vy, you
keep saying that you need to renegotiate like your mortgage
rate and just call your bank up and see if
you can get a better deal. But like, I'm so stumped,
Like I'm so bad at like advocating for myself. And
I was like, do you know that there are prompts
on our website, Like we have a whole e book
that you can download for free that basically has a
(06:41):
script on what to say and what to plug in
and how to get a better deal exactly. She was like, Victoria,
this is exactly what I was looking for. Twenty minutes
later a message I got a discount exactly, I.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Sing, we're poppling to that in the show notes if
you want to get yourself a better deal too, just
like Delia did. Next, I've got a money win from Rose,
who said she did her tax return and she's realized
that over the past five years her income has increased
by forty thousand dollars.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Sorry, is it?
Speaker 4 (07:10):
And I'm assuming that's just like, you know, a little
bit each yar over those years. She's, yeah, so look
at where you've come from, because I think sometimes in
our journey we can forget like what we've done, and
maybe your tax returns a good time to do it.
And then lastly, this week I've got a money win
from Kelly, who said she filled up her car with
a locked in fuel price at seven eleven and she
(07:32):
got to redeem a reward because I think it's every
times you got does she tell us, Yeah, she got
a free Krispy Kreme and I had a giggle because
I did that this morning.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I picked up my free Crispy because you had to
get it by Chrispy. Good money. We in like we
have historically worked with seven eleven, but like I use
that app on a weekly basis, Like whenever i'm you know,
thinking about fuel, I'm like, oh, just have a look.
And sometimes I get a little bit cocky. I don't
know about you, but I look at the price lock
that I could put in and I'm like, no, I'm
(07:59):
going to see what I could get tomorrow. And then
I like check tomorrow and then'm like, aha, went down
by two cents. I'm not locked that in anyway. I just,
I don't know, feel powerful. Free Krispy Kreme my favorite
thing in the world exactly. I tagged you in a
thing on Instagram the other day and I was like, Jess,
remember the time we made a whole cake out of
Krispy Kreme. Oh, very we should do that again. Weish,
we should absolutely do that again. So that was a
(08:22):
good rap. I have the absolute privilege of getting Beck's
whole Broke Tips segment, so I hope I do do
this justice. The first broke tip. I have got a
lot of love in our community on our broke Tips thread.
This one comes from Jennifer and she says, if you
belong to any coffee clubs that do loyalty cards with
(08:42):
stamps or digital freebies, hang on to the freebie for
public holidays. When the cost gets much higher for your
free coffee, then gesus are you joking? You're a genius.
She's hated the system, no service surcharge because it's Freefe's free. Sorry,
you're a genius. Yes. The next one comes from Lily
and I'm sorry. I forgot that this even existed as
(09:05):
an option. Ikea Family membership do fifty percent off main
meals on Fridays twenty six dollars fifty for what's actually
a very nice meal, plus Hoists points used for discount
movie tickets, and you've got a very cheap date night.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Oh my god, that's perfect because there's a hoeets and
an Ikea at Richmond.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
You cannot tell me that Ikea meatballs don't slap Oh
my other so the vegetables are also delicious. I don't
care anything from Ikia. The desserts elite next level, like
ten out of ten. We should probably go and do
an ea is it worth it at Ikea and be like,
let's try the meatballs again. It's been years, a little
wander through Ikea. I just love a brown too, not
(09:47):
too all right. And the last one I've got this
week is from Daria and she says, as I've got
a school aged kid at home, I was approved for
free internet and free school bus tickets for them, which
now saving me one hundred dollars a month free internet.
Oh my god, that's sue it. She didn't provide us
with any information, so I had to do a little
(10:08):
bit of research. But the Australian government is providing a
School Student Broadband Initiative or the SSBI, which provides free
NBN Internet to eligible families with school age children only
until the end of this year. But like free internets,
say less.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
That's amazing, that's so good, go get on that if
you've got.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Here, absolutely, And that's all I've got for broke tips.
Jess it amazing. I'm excited. Let's go to a really
quick break because on the flip side, we're going to
be answering a money dilemma, which is all about being
the financially responsible one in a relationship. And something that
you slid into our dms about your sibling is getting
caught up in something that's giving MLM vibes. So guys,
(10:49):
don't go anywhere. Welcome back, everybody. Let's take a listen
to this week's money dilemma. Hi, there, have you got
a money dilemma you just can't solve that. She's on
the Money team is here to help. Every week we
tackle your dilemmas, both big and small, to answer your
(11:10):
most burning money, career and life questions. To get involved,
simply head to our website and leave us a short
voice recording and you might just find yourself on the show. Now,
let's take a listen to this week's money dilemma.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Hi, she's in the money. I'm hoping you can help
me figure out how to have a serious money conversation
with my partner. For a bit of context, we've been
together for four years, living together for two and we
already have a joint account we both transfer to monthly.
I have a steady income and have set up some
good money habits with automatic transfer setup to go to
dedicated accounts. My partner's money, sorry, is very different. He
comes for a family farm and for a long time
(11:45):
he never received a regular wage. We'll just request a
draw as needed, so as a result, he never developed
any good money habits and has no savings. Last financial year,
the family partnership changed so that he now receives a
weekly wage. This is a very low amount, about a
quarter of my income. Offered multiple times to assist my
partner in setting up his finances, and we have allocated
amounts on paper and open to savings account. But I
(12:06):
know he does not yet have any automatic transfer set up,
as he says he prefers to move his money himself.
But an added frustration is I have to remind him
every month to transfer to our own joint account. On
top of this, we you're planning some motivations I've been
saying for a while now, and have about forty thousand
dollars saved. Once upon a time he said he would
match me when the time came, but I doubt this
will happen now. I've asked many times if he can
contribute to the Reno fund or just how he saves
(12:28):
are going, but he never wants to talk about it.
I've also said I do not expect him to match
my monthly contribution, as I do have a high income,
but I still adm yet to see anything from him.
I feel I'm stuck in this Augard situation where I
don't want to push him about his money and his
savings habits, but I regularly see him spend money in
large sums and get very frustrated and concerned that we
are not matching our goals. I've tried to express my concerns,
but his response is always I know, I understand it'll
(12:49):
be right, and I still see no action. Please help.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
That's such a hard one, is that I feel like
that's a very classic Australian farming community, like should be right,
we'll figure it out. Like I think that's very like
Salt of the Earth, traditional take on things, we're right,
Like I have family in like rural Australia, and like
I think that attitude is very much like a common thing.
It sounds like if I had to take a guess
I think he's embarrassed. I think it would be hard
(13:15):
probably for him to be earning a quarter of what
you are. And it's good that you're acknowledging that his
ability to save would be a lot lower than yours.
But I do think that it sounds like whether it's
because he's financial literacy isn't as good as yours, or
whether it's not a priority and he's not comfortable saying that.
I feel like potentially there's a little bit of emotion
tied up in this, and that's kind of what's god
(13:37):
in putting the wall up.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I think that.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
It's hard because you can't crack someone open if they
don't want to talk to you. But he is your partner,
and I think that if he doesn't want to say
for the renovation, you know, if he has other priorities
and that's what he's spending the large sums of money
on or whatever, that looks like it's okay. But if
you guys aren't on the same page, like that's something
(14:00):
that you need to have a serious conversation about and
he needs to be comfortable being honest with you. I
know that it's hard to, you know, talk about something
especially if you are feeling embarrassment or if you are
feeling you know, not taking a wage for a long time.
Maybe he's feeling behind or I don't want to stereotype,
but I think again, especially in rural areas, I do
think there is a level of traditionalism that exists when
(14:25):
it comes to gender roles and things like that, and
so that maybe playing an element into it as well.
I think that it sounds like you're doing all of
the right things, and maybe you do just need to
have like a serious moment with your partner and say, hey,
I'm starting to feel really concerned. I'm starting to feel
really left out in the dark. Open the door and
(14:46):
say to him, it's okay if you don't want to
say for these things, or it's okay if you are
feeling some.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Type of way.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
You know, we're a team. I'm here to support you
and whatever that looks like. If you want to transfer manually,
that's cool, you've got to do it. What's the barrier
for you there? I think we've got to kind of
figure out what's preventing him from doing the things that
he's saying he's going to do. Is it because he's
not remembering Okay, can you set up reminders or is
it because it's not a priority to him, And if so,
(15:15):
that's okay. But he needs to feel comfortable saying that
to you. Yeah, and it's so tricky because obviously we
don't have any insight into your relationship or him as
a person. Yes, so hard, But I'm making a lot
of assumptions and generalizations. But I think that it does
sound like you guys really are on different pages, and
sometimes you do have to just say to somebody, Hey,
it feels like we're in two completely separate worlds and
(15:37):
if we can't get on the same page, we might
not be able to do things together.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Like it just simply might not work. Yeah, I'd be
like agree with everything, So I'm not going to like
repeat what you've said, but cut paste of what Jess said.
And then I think it's also about kind of putting
the hard word on as well. Okay, so you said
that you've got some renovations planned. I would be saying
to your partner, Hey, we're going to have to put
a hold on the renovations. Like you don't have any savings,
(16:02):
you can't match it. So I guess like we're just
going to have to cancel those plans for now as
a little bit of a kick up the butt, like, sorry,
I know that you're spending a whole heap of money
over here, and that's fine if it's not a priority.
Do you do you just not want to do the
renous like what's going on here? Because if you're saving
aggressively and then you're seeing him spend large sums of
money on other stuff, sorry, yeah, that would annoy me
(16:23):
as well, Like, yeah, that's again element that I it
feels disrespectful, Like if you and I are saving towards
something together and then I see you going and spending
on something else, and it means that we have to
sacrifice our shared goal. Sorry, that feels icky. Yeah, So
I think it's about just putting the hard word on
and being like do you not want to do this?
And then I'm sure, and I'm not saying that that's
(16:43):
the best way, but like I'm sure it will be
a bit of a backtrack. No, no, I do. Okay,
well you're not showing me that you do, and like,
actions honestly speak a little bit louder than words, and
like I'm you know, sick of telling you every single
month to transfer to the joint account. So I'm not
going to ask you. You need to pull a reminder
in your calendar or you need to find a way
to do it. If you don't want to automate it,
(17:04):
that's fine. Some people do genuinely want to manage their money,
you know, by going in and being more hands on.
But like, I'm not your mum, No, so get it together,
because I shouldn't have to remind you to transfer to
the joint account. You should be doing that yourself. So
whether that is not automating it but putting a reminder
in your calendar, that should be on you, mate. Like,
(17:25):
I just feel like sometimes you need to have some
hard conversations to make life in the long term a
little bit easier. Yeah, I'd love to know what he's spending,
like what I need? What are the large sums? I
feel like that's an important.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Bit of context that we're missing because everything else you're oh, well,
it could be tied back to the disparity in the income.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Yeah, I've got I'm so curious
to know.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
I will.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
It's so hard, especially if you're trying to move towards
shared goals together like renovations tells me that you probably
own a property together, and like, yeah, that would be
really rough. Do you have a GUICDM forect? Oh my god,
I do. Are you ready? And it's about MLMs? So
I can't wait? All right, Hello, she's on the money.
I'm in the middle of a family money dilemma and
(18:08):
I need your advice. My brother's gotten really into this
self development program called Landmark. He's spent thousands already and
swears it's changed his life. Now he's pushing the rest
of us to join two. The course he wants me
to do is one thousand dollars, and he keeps offering
to pay half to convince me. But honestly, I've been
(18:28):
doing some research online and it's giving MLM vibes. Hard
to be honest, my sister al it is lined up,
even though I know she can't afford it. She told
me she's feeling just too much pressure to say no
to him. I feel like they're taking financial advantage of him,
and I want to help, but I also want him
to stop pressuring me. I just don't know how to
(18:49):
say something without making it worse or risking our relationship.
That's crazy.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
I'll be honest, I don't really know much about what
Landmark is. Do you anything about that?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Ah? So jess Landmark world war much is? Oh? Like,
they just get called Landmark more often. It's an American
employee owned, quote for profit company that uses like self
development programs as their sales tactics. So they don't sell
like a product like you know, mone they sell hair
(19:18):
care and then you've got arbon and they do like
skin care and stuff. Landmark is the company behind what's
called like Landmark Forum, and it's described as having a
lot of similarities to a multi level marketing structure, though
it's not officially classified as one. While Landmark relies heavily
on like word of mouth marketing through its participants to
(19:40):
like recruit new customers, it also emphasizes a really hard
sell approach. And this reliance that this company has on
referrals and recruitment, coupled with what I would say or
call like a super intense nature of like the program
sales tactics, has led lots of people to compare the
to a multi level marketing business. So a lot of
(20:03):
people online are saying, first of all, there's no doubt
Landmark is not an MLM. But it also, you know,
is quite a hard sell kind of situation because people
are not making any money for their referrals, but they
are being able to sell the product to you, if
that makes sense. So lack and it's a life coaching course,
(20:24):
is all you said, kind of life coaching vibes course,
gets your shit together course. It definitely, from my perspective,
praise on people when they are feeling a little bit
flat or lost a little bit of direction and they're
looking for, you know, someone to give them a hand.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Yeah, okay, Yeah, it's tough that it's your brother who's
in that situation is trying to unsell it to you.
I think that you should just be able to say, like, no,
he's a full sentence, you know, I absolutely agree, they're
really to me. Should not be much more than that
it sucks your sister's already signed up and done it,
Like I get it for your family and friends when
(21:02):
they're doing something and when they say they've got this
fantastic thing, maybe flipping it around a little bit and saying, hey,
I actually don't have the money to do the course
right now. I feel like that, but I'll pay for
half chess oh yeah, I just I would just I
it's hard because I would just say, look, I'm just
not interested.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
It's just not for me. Thanks, Yeah, I'm just done.
Like it's giving quasi Ponzi scheme vibes, Like it's just
I'm not going to say that to my brother at
that point. But I also think it is I don't know,
if it cracks like a duck. Yeah, looks like a duck.
Maybe it's a duck. Yeah, maybe maybe it's an MLM.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
But yeah, I think that if Sometimes I think, honestly,
kind of like what we're saying before, sometimes a bit
of harsh truth is what people need. And so maybe
turning around and saying, hey, like you're making me really
uncomfortable by trying to pressure me into this, if someone
said that to me, I would feel truly so terrible.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
You know, yeah, but you're a nice person. And I'm
not saying that this person's brother is not a nice person,
but like they are already worried about saying something that
is going to ruin the relationship, and like, you know,
if I said to you, hey, jes you're making me
feel really pressured, you'd be like, what that's on you?
And then maybe we won't be friends anymore.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Yeah, either, relationships that fragile, though, is it worth protecting? Like,
I know that it's family. I don't understand that that's
a really big and important thing. But at the same time,
you can't put yourself a detriment, no financially or emotionally,
for the sake of protecting them either.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
I just think it is. It is so fair. And
you said before nol is a full sentence. It is
so fair to say no, I'm not interested in this.
But then I feel like you're getting the overwhelming sense
to like educate your brother on this as well, because
you're feeling like he's being financially taken advantage of. And
I think that's where you might want to be able
to flag it say oh, like I really like and
(22:57):
maybe this is how I would do it. I looked
into it. Oh my goodness, did you see all the
Reddit threads and stuff online? Like even the Wikipedia says
that it is basically an MLM that takes advantage of
people like you know, what research did you do before
you got involved? Like the whole point is to feel
motivated or get it, but like, what are you genuine
(23:17):
apart from like loving the content, what else are you
getting out of it? Like what are they getting out
of it? And kind of going down that route because
you don't want to be like you're being taken advantage of,
because like I know what they're going to say, no,
we're not, Yeah, okay, have you seen all this stuff online?
And hopefully that prompts them to maybe do a little
bit more research or even come back to you and
(23:39):
say no, and you go, well, I actually did a
hit more research and it says X, Y and Z,
And like, I think that could be a good opener
because a lot of the time it's like I get
so many messages from people and they're beautiful, smart women,
and they say, Victora, I'm so embarrassed I got out
of an MLM. I can't believe I did that. That's
so embarrassing. Not because you're not smart. These platforms rely
(24:03):
on smart people who don't know about their background. They
rely on smart people like you, Jess, who trust who
are going to go, oh my god, that does sound
good and I trust the person telling me, so why
would I take the time to research and deep dive?
They probably haven't done it and don't understand the negative
(24:23):
side of it, because it's so easy to see the
positive when everyone's so happy and there's like course incredible,
the same thing is happening. I think I'm getting a
lot of dms recently about these property seminars that are
verse eight grand crazy and you get to walk away
at the end of the weekend with one or two
investment properties off the plan. Those people are making an
(24:45):
absolute mint from taking advantage of you. If you want
to get into investment properties, you can learn so much
for free through my content, through lots of other podcasts,
content from my books on property, from other people's books
on property, and then you know what you can do.
Just you can go talk to a mortgage broker and
be like, hey, what would this look like? What serviceability
do I have? Because I promise they're not giving houses
(25:08):
to people who can't afford them. They're giving houses to
people who can be lulled into this false sense of
security to then sell them off the plan properties that
they're taking a massive clip of. Yeah, it actually kills me.
It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
What did everybody else say? Because I feel like we're
kind of yeah, we ask in the community.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
So first question we said was what would you do
if you thought your sibling was being financially taken advantage
of like this, fifty nine percent of you said, I'll
just be giving them my opinion truthfully. Twenty one percent
of you said, we're having a family intervention. I kind
of rate that honestly, like a big banner, the whole
shebang full family intervention. And then eighteen percent of you said,
(25:49):
try and plant the seed gently, and then three percent
of you said, I'm going to say nothing. They're an
adult that they can deal with that. I'm all for
the family intervention. Could you film that and send that
to us? Just I would like to see that just
for educational purposes. I feel like maybe if.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
You're confronted with so many people that you'd love to
all saying to you hate because you know one person
you can is cooked.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Have you seen that show in the US called Intervention? Oh,
it's so good.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Ah.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
In my mind it would be powerful because it's like, yeah,
like one person says, oh.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
I think like this isn't great. You're oh, it's just them.
In my head, an intervention is so dramatic, like they're like, oh, hey, Jess,
do you want to come to my house for dinner?
It'll just be you and I and then you walk
into my house and it's full of all your family
and friends and they're like, sit down in the chair,
we're going to tell you to get off the drugs.
And you're like, my god, I need another wine for this. Yeah,
that sounds like a lot, but also, don't do it
(26:39):
like that. But if you do, maybe film it and
send it to me. I don't know anyway. We also
ask the community, how would you handle the pressure they
are putting on you to sign up? Eighty nine percent
of you said I'd be setting a firm boundary, seven
percent of you said I'd actually distance myself, five percent
of you said I'm just changing the subject, and none
of you so zero percent. But like in terms of
(27:02):
our statistics, we had so many responses, so some people replied,
but it wasn't enough to get to one percent of
this group said say yes just to make it stop.
Oh no, don't do that. Well, thankfully, it was a
very very small amount of people. So technically zero percent
of people said that, but a couple a couple still
said that eighty nine five and seven.
Speaker 4 (27:21):
I don't know that the math on that is quite now,
that's what I want that's what Instagram says, right, That's what.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Our Instagram responses said, So we're just going to go
with that. Yeah, one percent of you is definitely very
valid and reliable. Yep. Well, if you're writing a thesis
or you're doing a PhD, this data is significant. Don't
use Instagram policy for PhD. We also went to the
community and said, guys, what's your two cents tell us?
(27:50):
First person said, careful the intervention doesn't backfire. Had someone
pull this on me and it still hurts. Oh, that's
really sad that it didn't work for them. No. Next
person said, check the company financials. Who's getting paid when where?
Speaker 4 (28:04):
Well, yeah, there's nothing that's going to make you feel
like a shock of cold water exactly. The people at
the top of getting millions and millions and you're making
four dollars and you're still in ten thousand dollars worth
of debt. Wild Next person said, send them the links
to She's on the money. I'm just here for Veda's response.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
On this one. The people know you, well, I just
get a little bit mad. Someone said, it's giving Nexsian
vibes some good films, books and podcasts on it. Might
be really helpful for your brother. And then there's a
three parter. So this three part A. And I'm not
going to out who they are, but they are somebody
who is very proactive in the MLM community in terms
(28:46):
of like exposing what's going on. Yeah, so like I'm
not saying it to be able to identify them, but
I do take what they say. They're educated. Yeah, they're
educated in this like they would know. So first is
three part. First comment says Landmark is a cult as
it uses elgats. You have to set a firm boundary
and distance yourself. Look up what elgats are. They're large
(29:09):
group awareness trainings to understand how he's literally been brainwashed.
Landmark Investment never has an end date. Avoid distance yourself
at all costs. That's scary and the nexum vibes. So next,
I don't know what a cult in the US, very
(29:29):
MLM like lots of documentaries on it. Just type in
neum like documentary to Google. This is the stuff that
I eat up. Jess, Like, if you come to my
house on Friday night, we're ordering pizza, but we're also
watching an MLM or a cult documentary.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Well, because I feel almost like mlums are like a
soft cult, right, Like they kind of I feel like
there's some processes.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
And practices that are maybe mirrored. I think this is
why I love the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, because
the idea of like Mormonism gives to me cult vibes
as well. I just, oh, do you know what? I
also need to remind you of the statistic or the
piece of research that says the people that are drawn
more to reality TV have a higher IQ at this point,
(30:13):
very important stuff, hard hitting there.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
But yeah, I think that it's especially knowing that additional
bit of context from someone who obviously said is in
the no so to speak. Yeah, that makes me feel
that perhaps they're right in that all you can do
is provide them with the right information. But it's really
important that you don't get sucked down into that too,
because they're using manipulation and psychological techniques and things too.
(30:36):
They're using it to take advantage of you full stop
in the story, which is really scary. Next person and
I've just got two more for you, said so. Next
person said, I had an ex in Landmark and it
was horrendous, A really bad therapy version of an MLM.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
And there someone said, actually was in Landmark. So I've
been there. I've done that. I lost thousands of dollars.
If it doesn't ever feel right, don't do it. Don't
let other people convince you. I'm so glad you got out.
That's really it's chaos. And I think there's so many
times people are really embarrassed. They're like, I can't believe
I did this. It must be because I'm so silly,
(31:12):
or I'm not very smart. No, no, no, you're smart.
That's why you kind of were more likely to buy
into it, because they make sense well, and you manipulate,
you use fact.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Yeah, and they particularly, I think, to target the types
of people they think will be susceptible, right, And I
think that more often than not, that someone who's really
kind or really empathetic, or someone who's searching for a
way to contribute and make their life better. And they're
taking advantage of people who are trying to do good
for themselves or for the world or for whatever. And yeah,
(31:43):
they're really like ruining that and turning it into something negative.
And that's such a shame.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
It genuinely breaks my heart. But I think that's probably
a really good price place to leave it. If you
aren't following Sheets on the Money on your podcasting platform,
I would urge you to do so out because do
you know what it does? It helps more people like
you and I find this podcast and grow our community
of friends. And I guess that's all from us, Miss
(32:10):
Jessicarcci see you've brighten early on Monday morning for money Diary.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
Hi, guys.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
The advice shared on She's on the Money is general
in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's
on the Money exists purely for educational purposes and should
not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision.
If you do choose to buy a financial product, read
the PDS TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards
(32:41):
your needs. Victoria Divine and She's on the Money are
authorized representatives of Money sheper pty LTD ABN three two
one IS six four nine two seven seven zero eight
AFSL four five one two eight nine.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Do you re
My name is Tatasha Bamblet. I'm a proud First Nations
woman and I'm here to acknowledge country t Glenn Young Ganya, Niana,
Kaka yah y and beIN Ahaka Nian our gay In
Mbini yakarum jar dominyamiga Umagahawaka Woman, Damon Imlan Bomba ban
Gadabomba in and now in wakah ghan On yak rum
jar water Nadaa. Hello, beautiful friends, we gather on the
(00:24):
lands of the Aboriginal people. We thank, acknowledge and respect
the Aboriginal people's land that we're gathering on today. Take
pleasure in all the land and respect all that you see.
She's on the Money podcast acknowledges culture, country, community and connections,
bringing you the tools, knowledge and resources for you to thrive.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
She's on the Money.
Speaker 3 (00:47):
She's on the Money. Hello and welcome to She's on
(01:09):
the Money, the podcast that makes personal finance fun, especially
on Fridays. It is our favorite day of the week
because we get the team together to celebrate you our
incredible She's on the Money community. Miss Jess Gricci is
going to be sharing our favorite money wins Beck is
away again, so I'm going to be sharing this week's
bre tips and we'll be helping to answer a money dilemma,
(01:31):
which is all about being the quote financially responsible one
in a relationship and something that you slid into our
dms about this week, your sibling Cape's getting caught up
in something that is giving MLM vibes and we all
know how I feel about EMLM, so I cannot wait
to get into that. Before we get there, though, Miss
Jessic GRICI, how was the week that was? It's lovely?
Speaker 4 (01:53):
I wanted to do Last night I went and saw
the new Fantastic Four, which was great, very much.
Speaker 3 (01:58):
I ran into back how funny? Oh, I feel like
I got that invite as well? About you would have
got that.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah, I was doing this so jess got it through
work apparently you but it's so funny. We walked in
James night. We were a little bit late and then
I just yeah, Jessica Rickie, and I'm.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Like, where is this voice coming over? And I was
back in jest. It was so funny, so cute. I
really wanted to go, but at the moment, I feel
like I'm really having to balance my social like yeah,
what I'm doing socially because I feel not guilty, but
I just don't have the energy. Like tonight we're going
out for drinks. Yes, you and I are going out
(02:34):
for drinks with our Amazon family, which will be really fun.
But I was like, I cannot back that up. But
I cannot do a movie premiere and then like after
work drinks. I'm sorry, that's too much for me. Yeah,
and also OK, here I feel rude being like to
my husband, you've got the baby two nights in a rob.
Speaker 1 (02:51):
In a week.
Speaker 3 (02:52):
Not of rude. But anyway, as we've been it's been good.
I've got work drinks tonight with Amazon, which honestly sounds
really fa Nancy, but honestly will be so nice because
most of the Amazon team, and this is I don't
know why I'm telling you this, maybe you'll find it
interesting actually based in Sydney, and so many of our
other brand partners are based in Sydney as well. So
whenever they do like, oh, into Financial Year drinks or whatever,
(03:15):
usually Jess, you and I have to be like, oh,
thanks for the invite, but we are in Sydney and like,
we don't have the capacity to just fly up. So
I think it'll be so nice. And I know that
there are going to be probably a lot of other
faces that we know there tonight, so that'll be good.
But yeah, I'm gearing up. I'm off to Bali soon,
so I am going. Yeah, just a little bit nuts
with packing already, like getting my stuff together, ordering out,
(03:38):
Oh my goodness. Yeah. And it's like winter. Yeah, and
I've been trying to find baby swimsuits so painful. Yeah. Anyway,
I got one on eBay, so money win. Love that
money win. So I was thinking, would you like a
five star review before we get into your break tips?
Honestly they are my absolute favorites. So this one this
week comes from Reread, and she says, I wanted to
(04:01):
write this review to say thank you for the big
impact your podcast has had on my finances and on
my life. I used to be an absolute mess when
it came to saving and spending, but now I finally
have a budget, a healthy emergency fund, and even I'm
investing in chares. Please never stop making this show. I've done.
(04:22):
I just love when you guys are like I have
my shit together and I'm like, how good does that feel?
Naps for you Cuenqueen. All right, keeping up the good vibes,
missjss GRICI, what money wins? Some confessions are you bringing
to us this week? From the group? All right? This week?
Speaker 4 (04:39):
Firstly one from Lauren, who said I got audited by
the ETO, but I was great. I didn't lie on
anything and I just ended up owing them thirty nine
dollars for a simple mistake that she'd made, but the
ATO decided to wave it and cancel the audit.
Speaker 3 (04:52):
Sorry, what unheard of? Who did you sleep with the adal?
But that's where you get for being a good person?
Did not want to go return. Sorry. If you're always
just being a good person, good things are going to happen.
Speaker 4 (05:06):
I completely agree. Next, I've got a money in from Anya,
who said money win. I received a big dividend payment
from Shares's, which I then reinvested into my shares account.
Speaker 3 (05:16):
And she also found a fifteen dollars disc on Facebook Marketplace.
Isn't that so good? It was like dividend payment time
at the start of this month. Yeah, And I like
posted a screenshot to my stories. I was like, maybe
it's a dividend season. I had like all these little
notifications for all my ETFs and it was like, you
just got paid thirty cents and I was like, thanks,
(05:36):
and I will take it and I will be happy
for it.
Speaker 4 (05:39):
Next, I've got a money in from Anita who said
he he I hacked in quotes my teen daughter's Instagram
account and followed she's on the money now so she
has inspiring financial tips from awesome role models popping up
in her feet. I love you, and honestly, we SHO
didn't actually hack it because in quotation marks, I.
Speaker 3 (05:55):
Think she just was cheeking lock. Also like, sorry, if
you leave your phone unlocked on the bench, I think
that's fair game to follow me. I completely agree, and
thanks for the follow We really appreciate it.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
A Next, I've got a money from Delia, who said
she used our prompt to get discounts on her phone
bill and her car insurance and she's been shopping smart
with Woolli's and now has sixty dollars of rewards banked
towards Chris Money.
Speaker 3 (06:20):
When I was actually having a conversation in my DMS
this week with someone who was like, oh, Vy, you
keep saying that you need to renegotiate like your mortgage
rate and just call your bank up and see if
you can get a better deal. But like, I'm so stumped,
Like I'm so bad at like advocating for myself. And
I was like, do you know that there are prompts
on our website, Like we have a whole e book
that you can download for free that basically has a
(06:41):
script on what to say and what to plug in
and how to get a better deal exactly. She was like, Victoria,
this is exactly what I was looking for. Twenty minutes
later a message I got a discount exactly, I.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
Sing, we're poppling to that in the show notes if
you want to get yourself a better deal too, just
like Delia did. Next, I've got a money win from Rose,
who said she did her tax return and she's realized
that over the past five years her income has increased
by forty thousand dollars.
Speaker 3 (07:09):
Sorry, is it?
Speaker 4 (07:10):
And I'm assuming that's just like, you know, a little
bit each yar over those years. She's, yeah, so look
at where you've come from, because I think sometimes in
our journey we can forget like what we've done, and
maybe your tax returns a good time to do it.
And then lastly, this week I've got a money win
from Kelly, who said she filled up her car with
a locked in fuel price at seven eleven and she
(07:32):
got to redeem a reward because I think it's every
times you got does she tell us, Yeah, she got
a free Krispy Kreme and I had a giggle because
I did that this morning.
Speaker 3 (07:39):
I picked up my free Crispy because you had to
get it by Chrispy. Good money. We in like we
have historically worked with seven eleven, but like I use
that app on a weekly basis, Like whenever i'm you know,
thinking about fuel, I'm like, oh, just have a look.
And sometimes I get a little bit cocky. I don't
know about you, but I look at the price lock
that I could put in and I'm like, no, I'm
(07:59):
going to see what I could get tomorrow. And then
I like check tomorrow and then'm like, aha, went down
by two cents. I'm not locked that in anyway. I just,
I don't know, feel powerful. Free Krispy Kreme my favorite
thing in the world exactly. I tagged you in a
thing on Instagram the other day and I was like, Jess,
remember the time we made a whole cake out of
Krispy Kreme. Oh, very we should do that again. Weish,
we should absolutely do that again. So that was a
(08:22):
good rap. I have the absolute privilege of getting Beck's
whole Broke Tips segment, so I hope I do do
this justice. The first broke tip. I have got a
lot of love in our community on our broke Tips thread.
This one comes from Jennifer and she says, if you
belong to any coffee clubs that do loyalty cards with
(08:42):
stamps or digital freebies, hang on to the freebie for
public holidays. When the cost gets much higher for your
free coffee, then gesus are you joking? You're a genius.
She's hated the system, no service surcharge because it's Freefe's free. Sorry,
you're a genius. Yes. The next one comes from Lily
and I'm sorry. I forgot that this even existed as
(09:05):
an option. Ikea Family membership do fifty percent off main
meals on Fridays twenty six dollars fifty for what's actually
a very nice meal, plus Hoists points used for discount
movie tickets, and you've got a very cheap date night.
Speaker 4 (09:21):
Oh my god, that's perfect because there's a hoeets and
an Ikea at Richmond.
Speaker 3 (09:24):
You cannot tell me that Ikea meatballs don't slap Oh
my other so the vegetables are also delicious. I don't
care anything from Ikia. The desserts elite next level, like
ten out of ten. We should probably go and do
an ea is it worth it at Ikea and be like,
let's try the meatballs again. It's been years, a little
wander through Ikea. I just love a brown too, not
(09:47):
too all right. And the last one I've got this
week is from Daria and she says, as I've got
a school aged kid at home, I was approved for
free internet and free school bus tickets for them, which
now saving me one hundred dollars a month free internet.
Oh my god, that's sue it. She didn't provide us
with any information, so I had to do a little
(10:08):
bit of research. But the Australian government is providing a
School Student Broadband Initiative or the SSBI, which provides free
NBN Internet to eligible families with school age children only
until the end of this year. But like free internets,
say less.
Speaker 4 (10:24):
That's amazing, that's so good, go get on that if
you've got.
Speaker 3 (10:27):
Here, absolutely, And that's all I've got for broke tips.
Jess it amazing. I'm excited. Let's go to a really
quick break because on the flip side, we're going to
be answering a money dilemma, which is all about being
the financially responsible one in a relationship. And something that
you slid into our dms about your sibling is getting
caught up in something that's giving MLM vibes. So guys,
(10:49):
don't go anywhere. Welcome back, everybody. Let's take a listen
to this week's money dilemma. Hi, there, have you got
a money dilemma you just can't solve that. She's on
the Money team is here to help. Every week we
tackle your dilemmas, both big and small, to answer your
(11:10):
most burning money, career and life questions. To get involved,
simply head to our website and leave us a short
voice recording and you might just find yourself on the show. Now,
let's take a listen to this week's money dilemma.
Speaker 2 (11:23):
Hi, she's in the money. I'm hoping you can help
me figure out how to have a serious money conversation
with my partner. For a bit of context, we've been
together for four years, living together for two and we
already have a joint account we both transfer to monthly.
I have a steady income and have set up some
good money habits with automatic transfer setup to go to
dedicated accounts. My partner's money, sorry, is very different. He
comes for a family farm and for a long time
(11:45):
he never received a regular wage. We'll just request a
draw as needed, so as a result, he never developed
any good money habits and has no savings. Last financial year,
the family partnership changed so that he now receives a
weekly wage. This is a very low amount, about a
quarter of my income. Offered multiple times to assist my
partner in setting up his finances, and we have allocated
amounts on paper and open to savings account. But I
(12:06):
know he does not yet have any automatic transfer set up,
as he says he prefers to move his money himself.
But an added frustration is I have to remind him
every month to transfer to our own joint account. On
top of this, we you're planning some motivations I've been
saying for a while now, and have about forty thousand
dollars saved. Once upon a time he said he would
match me when the time came, but I doubt this
will happen now. I've asked many times if he can
contribute to the Reno fund or just how he saves
(12:28):
are going, but he never wants to talk about it.
I've also said I do not expect him to match
my monthly contribution, as I do have a high income,
but I still adm yet to see anything from him.
I feel I'm stuck in this Augard situation where I
don't want to push him about his money and his
savings habits, but I regularly see him spend money in
large sums and get very frustrated and concerned that we
are not matching our goals. I've tried to express my concerns,
but his response is always I know, I understand it'll
(12:49):
be right, and I still see no action. Please help.
Speaker 4 (12:53):
That's such a hard one, is that I feel like
that's a very classic Australian farming community, like should be right,
we'll figure it out. Like I think that's very like
Salt of the Earth, traditional take on things, we're right,
Like I have family in like rural Australia, and like
I think that attitude is very much like a common thing.
It sounds like if I had to take a guess
I think he's embarrassed. I think it would be hard
(13:15):
probably for him to be earning a quarter of what
you are. And it's good that you're acknowledging that his
ability to save would be a lot lower than yours.
But I do think that it sounds like whether it's
because he's financial literacy isn't as good as yours, or
whether it's not a priority and he's not comfortable saying that.
I feel like potentially there's a little bit of emotion
tied up in this, and that's kind of what's god
(13:37):
in putting the wall up.
Speaker 3 (13:38):
I think that.
Speaker 4 (13:40):
It's hard because you can't crack someone open if they
don't want to talk to you. But he is your partner,
and I think that if he doesn't want to say
for the renovation, you know, if he has other priorities
and that's what he's spending the large sums of money
on or whatever, that looks like it's okay. But if
you guys aren't on the same page, like that's something
(14:00):
that you need to have a serious conversation about and
he needs to be comfortable being honest with you. I
know that it's hard to, you know, talk about something
especially if you are feeling embarrassment or if you are
feeling you know, not taking a wage for a long time.
Maybe he's feeling behind or I don't want to stereotype,
but I think again, especially in rural areas, I do
think there is a level of traditionalism that exists when
(14:25):
it comes to gender roles and things like that, and
so that maybe playing an element into it as well.
I think that it sounds like you're doing all of
the right things, and maybe you do just need to
have like a serious moment with your partner and say, hey,
I'm starting to feel really concerned. I'm starting to feel
really left out in the dark. Open the door and
(14:46):
say to him, it's okay if you don't want to
say for these things, or it's okay if you are
feeling some.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Type of way.
Speaker 4 (14:53):
You know, we're a team. I'm here to support you
and whatever that looks like. If you want to transfer manually,
that's cool, you've got to do it. What's the barrier
for you there? I think we've got to kind of
figure out what's preventing him from doing the things that
he's saying he's going to do. Is it because he's
not remembering Okay, can you set up reminders or is
it because it's not a priority to him, And if so,
(15:15):
that's okay. But he needs to feel comfortable saying that
to you. Yeah, and it's so tricky because obviously we
don't have any insight into your relationship or him as
a person. Yes, so hard, But I'm making a lot
of assumptions and generalizations. But I think that it does
sound like you guys really are on different pages, and
sometimes you do have to just say to somebody, Hey,
it feels like we're in two completely separate worlds and
(15:37):
if we can't get on the same page, we might
not be able to do things together.
Speaker 3 (15:41):
Like it just simply might not work. Yeah, I'd be
like agree with everything, So I'm not going to like
repeat what you've said, but cut paste of what Jess said.
And then I think it's also about kind of putting
the hard word on as well. Okay, so you said
that you've got some renovations planned. I would be saying
to your partner, Hey, we're going to have to put
a hold on the renovations. Like you don't have any savings,
(16:02):
you can't match it. So I guess like we're just
going to have to cancel those plans for now as
a little bit of a kick up the butt, like, sorry,
I know that you're spending a whole heap of money
over here, and that's fine if it's not a priority.
Do you do you just not want to do the
renous like what's going on here? Because if you're saving
aggressively and then you're seeing him spend large sums of
money on other stuff, sorry, yeah, that would annoy me
(16:23):
as well, Like, yeah, that's again element that I it
feels disrespectful, Like if you and I are saving towards
something together and then I see you going and spending
on something else, and it means that we have to
sacrifice our shared goal. Sorry, that feels icky. Yeah, So
I think it's about just putting the hard word on
and being like do you not want to do this?
And then I'm sure, and I'm not saying that that's
(16:43):
the best way, but like I'm sure it will be
a bit of a backtrack. No, no, I do. Okay,
well you're not showing me that you do, and like,
actions honestly speak a little bit louder than words, and
like I'm you know, sick of telling you every single
month to transfer to the joint account. So I'm not
going to ask you. You need to pull a reminder
in your calendar or you need to find a way
to do it. If you don't want to automate it,
(17:04):
that's fine. Some people do genuinely want to manage their money,
you know, by going in and being more hands on.
But like, I'm not your mum, No, so get it together,
because I shouldn't have to remind you to transfer to
the joint account. You should be doing that yourself. So
whether that is not automating it but putting a reminder
in your calendar, that should be on you, mate. Like,
(17:25):
I just feel like sometimes you need to have some
hard conversations to make life in the long term a
little bit easier. Yeah, I'd love to know what he's spending,
like what I need? What are the large sums? I
feel like that's an important.
Speaker 4 (17:36):
Bit of context that we're missing because everything else you're oh, well,
it could be tied back to the disparity in the income.
Speaker 3 (17:42):
Yeah, one hundred percent. Yeah, I've got I'm so curious
to know.
Speaker 1 (17:46):
I will.
Speaker 3 (17:46):
It's so hard, especially if you're trying to move towards
shared goals together like renovations tells me that you probably
own a property together, and like, yeah, that would be
really rough. Do you have a GUICDM forect? Oh my god,
I do. Are you ready? And it's about MLMs? So
I can't wait? All right, Hello, she's on the money.
I'm in the middle of a family money dilemma and
(18:08):
I need your advice. My brother's gotten really into this
self development program called Landmark. He's spent thousands already and
swears it's changed his life. Now he's pushing the rest
of us to join two. The course he wants me
to do is one thousand dollars, and he keeps offering
to pay half to convince me. But honestly, I've been
(18:28):
doing some research online and it's giving MLM vibes. Hard
to be honest, my sister al it is lined up,
even though I know she can't afford it. She told
me she's feeling just too much pressure to say no
to him. I feel like they're taking financial advantage of him,
and I want to help, but I also want him
to stop pressuring me. I just don't know how to
(18:49):
say something without making it worse or risking our relationship.
That's crazy.
Speaker 4 (18:53):
I'll be honest, I don't really know much about what
Landmark is. Do you anything about that?
Speaker 3 (18:57):
Ah? So jess Landmark world war much is? Oh? Like,
they just get called Landmark more often. It's an American
employee owned, quote for profit company that uses like self
development programs as their sales tactics. So they don't sell
like a product like you know, mone they sell hair
(19:18):
care and then you've got arbon and they do like
skin care and stuff. Landmark is the company behind what's
called like Landmark Forum, and it's described as having a
lot of similarities to a multi level marketing structure, though
it's not officially classified as one. While Landmark relies heavily
on like word of mouth marketing through its participants to
(19:40):
like recruit new customers, it also emphasizes a really hard
sell approach. And this reliance that this company has on
referrals and recruitment, coupled with what I would say or
call like a super intense nature of like the program
sales tactics, has led lots of people to compare the
to a multi level marketing business. So a lot of
(20:03):
people online are saying, first of all, there's no doubt
Landmark is not an MLM. But it also, you know,
is quite a hard sell kind of situation because people
are not making any money for their referrals, but they
are being able to sell the product to you, if
that makes sense. So lack and it's a life coaching course,
(20:24):
is all you said, kind of life coaching vibes course,
gets your shit together course. It definitely, from my perspective,
praise on people when they are feeling a little bit
flat or lost a little bit of direction and they're
looking for, you know, someone to give them a hand.
Speaker 4 (20:41):
Yeah, okay, Yeah, it's tough that it's your brother who's
in that situation is trying to unsell it to you.
I think that you should just be able to say, like, no,
he's a full sentence, you know, I absolutely agree, they're
really to me. Should not be much more than that
it sucks your sister's already signed up and done it,
Like I get it for your family and friends when
(21:02):
they're doing something and when they say they've got this
fantastic thing, maybe flipping it around a little bit and saying, hey,
I actually don't have the money to do the course
right now. I feel like that, but I'll pay for
half chess oh yeah, I just I would just I
it's hard because I would just say, look, I'm just
not interested.
Speaker 3 (21:20):
It's just not for me. Thanks, Yeah, I'm just done.
Like it's giving quasi Ponzi scheme vibes, Like it's just
I'm not going to say that to my brother at
that point. But I also think it is I don't know,
if it cracks like a duck. Yeah, looks like a duck.
Maybe it's a duck. Yeah, maybe maybe it's an MLM.
Speaker 4 (21:40):
But yeah, I think that if Sometimes I think, honestly,
kind of like what we're saying before, sometimes a bit
of harsh truth is what people need. And so maybe
turning around and saying, hey, like you're making me really
uncomfortable by trying to pressure me into this, if someone
said that to me, I would feel truly so terrible.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
You know, yeah, but you're a nice person. And I'm
not saying that this person's brother is not a nice person,
but like they are already worried about saying something that
is going to ruin the relationship, and like, you know,
if I said to you, hey, jes you're making me
feel really pressured, you'd be like, what that's on you?
And then maybe we won't be friends anymore.
Speaker 4 (22:16):
Yeah, either, relationships that fragile, though, is it worth protecting? Like,
I know that it's family. I don't understand that that's
a really big and important thing. But at the same time,
you can't put yourself a detriment, no financially or emotionally,
for the sake of protecting them either.
Speaker 2 (22:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (22:34):
I just think it is. It is so fair. And
you said before nol is a full sentence. It is
so fair to say no, I'm not interested in this.
But then I feel like you're getting the overwhelming sense
to like educate your brother on this as well, because
you're feeling like he's being financially taken advantage of. And
I think that's where you might want to be able
to flag it say oh, like I really like and
(22:57):
maybe this is how I would do it. I looked
into it. Oh my goodness, did you see all the
Reddit threads and stuff online? Like even the Wikipedia says
that it is basically an MLM that takes advantage of
people like you know, what research did you do before
you got involved? Like the whole point is to feel
motivated or get it, but like, what are you genuine
(23:17):
apart from like loving the content, what else are you
getting out of it? Like what are they getting out
of it? And kind of going down that route because
you don't want to be like you're being taken advantage of,
because like I know what they're going to say, no,
we're not, Yeah, okay, have you seen all this stuff online?
And hopefully that prompts them to maybe do a little
bit more research or even come back to you and
(23:39):
say no, and you go, well, I actually did a
hit more research and it says X, Y and Z,
And like, I think that could be a good opener
because a lot of the time it's like I get
so many messages from people and they're beautiful, smart women,
and they say, Victora, I'm so embarrassed I got out
of an MLM. I can't believe I did that. That's
so embarrassing. Not because you're not smart. These platforms rely
(24:03):
on smart people who don't know about their background. They
rely on smart people like you, Jess, who trust who
are going to go, oh my god, that does sound
good and I trust the person telling me, so why
would I take the time to research and deep dive?
They probably haven't done it and don't understand the negative
(24:23):
side of it, because it's so easy to see the
positive when everyone's so happy and there's like course incredible,
the same thing is happening. I think I'm getting a
lot of dms recently about these property seminars that are
verse eight grand crazy and you get to walk away
at the end of the weekend with one or two
investment properties off the plan. Those people are making an
(24:45):
absolute mint from taking advantage of you. If you want
to get into investment properties, you can learn so much
for free through my content, through lots of other podcasts,
content from my books on property, from other people's books
on property, and then you know what you can do.
Just you can go talk to a mortgage broker and
be like, hey, what would this look like? What serviceability
do I have? Because I promise they're not giving houses
(25:08):
to people who can't afford them. They're giving houses to
people who can be lulled into this false sense of
security to then sell them off the plan properties that
they're taking a massive clip of. Yeah, it actually kills me.
It's crazy.
Speaker 4 (25:21):
What did everybody else say? Because I feel like we're
kind of yeah, we ask in the community.
Speaker 3 (25:25):
So first question we said was what would you do
if you thought your sibling was being financially taken advantage
of like this, fifty nine percent of you said, I'll
just be giving them my opinion truthfully. Twenty one percent
of you said, we're having a family intervention. I kind
of rate that honestly, like a big banner, the whole
shebang full family intervention. And then eighteen percent of you said,
(25:49):
try and plant the seed gently, and then three percent
of you said, I'm going to say nothing. They're an
adult that they can deal with that. I'm all for
the family intervention. Could you film that and send that
to us? Just I would like to see that just
for educational purposes. I feel like maybe if.
Speaker 4 (26:04):
You're confronted with so many people that you'd love to
all saying to you hate because you know one person
you can is cooked.
Speaker 3 (26:11):
Have you seen that show in the US called Intervention? Oh,
it's so good.
Speaker 1 (26:15):
Ah.
Speaker 4 (26:16):
In my mind it would be powerful because it's like, yeah,
like one person says, oh.
Speaker 3 (26:19):
I think like this isn't great. You're oh, it's just them.
In my head, an intervention is so dramatic, like they're like, oh, hey, Jess,
do you want to come to my house for dinner?
It'll just be you and I and then you walk
into my house and it's full of all your family
and friends and they're like, sit down in the chair,
we're going to tell you to get off the drugs.
And you're like, my god, I need another wine for this. Yeah,
that sounds like a lot, but also, don't do it
(26:39):
like that. But if you do, maybe film it and
send it to me. I don't know anyway. We also
ask the community, how would you handle the pressure they
are putting on you to sign up? Eighty nine percent
of you said I'd be setting a firm boundary, seven
percent of you said I'd actually distance myself, five percent
of you said I'm just changing the subject, and none
of you so zero percent. But like in terms of
(27:02):
our statistics, we had so many responses, so some people replied,
but it wasn't enough to get to one percent of
this group said say yes just to make it stop.
Oh no, don't do that. Well, thankfully, it was a
very very small amount of people. So technically zero percent
of people said that, but a couple a couple still
said that eighty nine five and seven.
Speaker 4 (27:21):
I don't know that the math on that is quite now,
that's what I want that's what Instagram says, right, That's what.
Speaker 3 (27:27):
Our Instagram responses said, So we're just going to go
with that. Yeah, one percent of you is definitely very
valid and reliable. Yep. Well, if you're writing a thesis
or you're doing a PhD, this data is significant. Don't
use Instagram policy for PhD. We also went to the
community and said, guys, what's your two cents tell us?
(27:50):
First person said, careful the intervention doesn't backfire. Had someone
pull this on me and it still hurts. Oh, that's
really sad that it didn't work for them. No. Next
person said, check the company financials. Who's getting paid when where?
Speaker 4 (28:04):
Well, yeah, there's nothing that's going to make you feel
like a shock of cold water exactly. The people at
the top of getting millions and millions and you're making
four dollars and you're still in ten thousand dollars worth
of debt. Wild Next person said, send them the links
to She's on the money. I'm just here for Veda's response.
Speaker 3 (28:20):
On this one. The people know you, well, I just
get a little bit mad. Someone said, it's giving Nexsian
vibes some good films, books and podcasts on it. Might
be really helpful for your brother. And then there's a
three parter. So this three part A. And I'm not
going to out who they are, but they are somebody
who is very proactive in the MLM community in terms
(28:46):
of like exposing what's going on. Yeah, so like I'm
not saying it to be able to identify them, but
I do take what they say. They're educated. Yeah, they're
educated in this like they would know. So first is
three part. First comment says Landmark is a cult as
it uses elgats. You have to set a firm boundary
and distance yourself. Look up what elgats are. They're large
(29:09):
group awareness trainings to understand how he's literally been brainwashed.
Landmark Investment never has an end date. Avoid distance yourself
at all costs. That's scary and the nexum vibes. So next,
I don't know what a cult in the US, very
(29:29):
MLM like lots of documentaries on it. Just type in
neum like documentary to Google. This is the stuff that
I eat up. Jess, Like, if you come to my
house on Friday night, we're ordering pizza, but we're also
watching an MLM or a cult documentary.
Speaker 4 (29:45):
Well, because I feel almost like mlums are like a
soft cult, right, Like they kind of I feel like
there's some processes.
Speaker 3 (29:51):
And practices that are maybe mirrored. I think this is
why I love the Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, because
the idea of like Mormonism gives to me cult vibes
as well. I just, oh, do you know what? I
also need to remind you of the statistic or the
piece of research that says the people that are drawn
more to reality TV have a higher IQ at this point,
(30:13):
very important stuff, hard hitting there.
Speaker 4 (30:14):
But yeah, I think that it's especially knowing that additional
bit of context from someone who obviously said is in
the no so to speak. Yeah, that makes me feel
that perhaps they're right in that all you can do
is provide them with the right information. But it's really
important that you don't get sucked down into that too,
because they're using manipulation and psychological techniques and things too.
(30:36):
They're using it to take advantage of you full stop
in the story, which is really scary. Next person and
I've just got two more for you, said so. Next
person said, I had an ex in Landmark and it
was horrendous, A really bad therapy version of an MLM.
Speaker 2 (30:49):
Wow.
Speaker 3 (30:50):
And there someone said, actually was in Landmark. So I've
been there. I've done that. I lost thousands of dollars.
If it doesn't ever feel right, don't do it. Don't
let other people convince you. I'm so glad you got out.
That's really it's chaos. And I think there's so many
times people are really embarrassed. They're like, I can't believe
I did this. It must be because I'm so silly,
(31:12):
or I'm not very smart. No, no, no, you're smart.
That's why you kind of were more likely to buy
into it, because they make sense well, and you manipulate,
you use fact.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Yeah, and they particularly, I think, to target the types
of people they think will be susceptible, right, And I
think that more often than not, that someone who's really
kind or really empathetic, or someone who's searching for a
way to contribute and make their life better. And they're
taking advantage of people who are trying to do good
for themselves or for the world or for whatever. And yeah,
(31:43):
they're really like ruining that and turning it into something negative.
And that's such a shame.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
It genuinely breaks my heart. But I think that's probably
a really good price place to leave it. If you
aren't following Sheets on the Money on your podcasting platform,
I would urge you to do so out because do
you know what it does? It helps more people like
you and I find this podcast and grow our community
of friends. And I guess that's all from us, Miss
(32:10):
Jessicarcci see you've brighten early on Monday morning for money Diary.
Speaker 4 (32:13):
Hi, guys.
Speaker 3 (32:21):
The advice shared on She's on the Money is general
in nature and does not consider your individual circumstances. She's
on the Money exists purely for educational purposes and should
not be relied upon to make an investment or financial decision.
If you do choose to buy a financial product, read
the PDS TMD and obtain appropriate financial advice tailored towards
(32:41):
your needs. Victoria Divine and She's on the Money are
authorized representatives of Money sheper pty LTD ABN three two
one IS six four nine two seven seven zero eight
AFSL four five one two eight nine.
Speaker 4 (33:00):
Do you re
Popular Podcasts
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
My Favorite Murder with Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark
My Favorite Murder is a true crime comedy podcast hosted by Karen Kilgariff and Georgia Hardstark. Each week, Karen and Georgia share compelling true crimes and hometown stories from friends and listeners. Since MFM launched in January of 2016, Karen and Georgia have shared their lifelong interest in true crime and have covered stories of infamous serial killers like the Night Stalker, mysterious cold cases, captivating cults, incredible survivor stories and important events from history like the Tulsa race massacre of 1921. My Favorite Murder is part of the Exactly Right podcast network that provides a platform for bold, creative voices to bring to life provocative, entertaining and relatable stories for audiences everywhere. The Exactly Right roster of podcasts covers a variety of topics including historic true crime, comedic interviews and news, science, pop culture and more. Podcasts on the network include Buried Bones with Kate Winkler Dawson and Paul Holes, That's Messed Up: An SVU Podcast, This Podcast Will Kill You, Bananas and more.
The Joe Rogan Experience
The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.