Verve’s very own Content Manager Jess Hope reflects on her socially-distanced relationship with money and why she’s switching things up. 

I’ve never been “good” with money, per se. I’ve always experienced a low-burning sense of money anxiety. Often tip-toeing around the slightest whiff of a financial conversation. 

Not because I’ve been unable to make money or even access it (I was privileged to grow up with two, comfortably-employed parents) but the idea of needing money to live a fulfilled life has never sat right with me. 

Like many women, I simply resigned myself to being ‘bad with money’. 

I knew enough to get by – when bills were due, what my weekly living expenses were, which car insurance was cheapest – and I went on my merry way. Living paycheck to paycheck – no matter how my income and lifestyle fluctuated. 

When I started a serious relationship at 26, I quickly handed over even the menial money tasks to my (male) partner. I didn’t think much about it. 

Until I did. 

I realised I hadn’t really tried to change my relationship with money. Sure, I’d maintained a healthy level of independence and was debt-free (minus unpaid loans from family), but I’d never stopped to consider the opportunities I was missing. I wasn’t actively saving, or investing, nor creating a rainy day fund.

The pros: I hadn’t racked up debt. I didn’t have a credit card and I didn’t have a student loan. 

The cons: I avoided my bank balance, shied away from investing, and never “got around” to switching to an ethical bank. My best intentions weren’t materialising and I was happily keeping myself in the dark.

While the relationship between money and greed still annoyed me, I became more frustrated with myself. 

Learning about money in my 30s

Discovering money tools designed by and for women has been a game-changer for me. 

I like to think of them as supportive building blocks towards something more stable. All the helpful, honest money tips without the money-obsessed narrative that drags my mood down. 

Building wealth, sure. On my terms, now I’m listening. 

For clarity: I’m by no means a savvy investor – yet! Instead, I’ve simply taken the first steps to a better financial setup. 

These include switching to an ethical super (hey, I even work for one!). I’ve ditched a bunch of unnecessary subscriptions, bid farewell to my buy now, pay later accounts, and started to plan a realistic savings strategy. I’m working on my marketplace habit and I’ve even invited my boyfriend on a ‘money date’. I force-fed the delicious conversations of rent, savings, and transferring bills to my name. Love that for me! 

Here are some tools I’ve found useful:

• The compound interest calculator 
• This lowdown on values-based budgeting 
• Verve’s goal-setting worksheet
• Verve’s free tax guide 
• This ETF explainer
• More about ethical investing (and its financial benefits)

It turns out I was never “bad with money”; I was just too nervous to get stuck in. 

Sound familiar? If you fancy being more proactive about money, I highly recommend starting with Verve’s Money and Mindset course here. You can access the first two steps for free, while Verve members get access to all six steps.

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A friendly reminder that all the financial information contained in this blog is general and doesn’t take into account your personal financial objectives, situation or needs. It’s important to do your own research and consider getting in touch with a professional adviser to access specific advice tailored to your unique situation. When considering if Verve Super is appropriate for you, please read the PDS and TMD available on our website.