1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:03,920 Speaker 1: Sharing with you my best non financial investments of two 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:08,799 Speaker 1: thousand and twenty five. So welcome back to Sugar Mama's Fireplay, 3 00:00:08,960 --> 00:00:12,120 Speaker 1: the podcast where we ignite your financial independence, we fuel 4 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,360 Speaker 1: your early retirement goals and dreams, and I help you 5 00:00:15,440 --> 00:00:20,760 Speaker 1: build long lasting, sustainable wealth and independence not just in money, 6 00:00:20,800 --> 00:00:24,960 Speaker 1: but also in life. I am your host financial planner, 7 00:00:25,079 --> 00:00:27,960 Speaker 1: Canna Campbell. I'm also a mother of three, an author, 8 00:00:28,000 --> 00:00:31,520 Speaker 1: a keynote speaker, and a big believer that sometimes some 9 00:00:31,560 --> 00:00:35,600 Speaker 1: of the best investments that we make aren't always about 10 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:39,960 Speaker 1: a shared trading app or a property portfolio. Sometimes the 11 00:00:40,000 --> 00:00:44,040 Speaker 1: most valuable things that we invest in never appear on 12 00:00:44,080 --> 00:00:46,919 Speaker 1: a balance sheet, yet they shape who we are, how 13 00:00:46,960 --> 00:00:50,600 Speaker 1: we feel, and how we show up for the people 14 00:00:50,680 --> 00:00:55,360 Speaker 1: that we love so much every single day unconditionally. Now 15 00:00:55,480 --> 00:00:58,680 Speaker 1: every year, I love to pause and reflect on the 16 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:01,800 Speaker 1: non financial investment that have really added a lot of 17 00:01:01,960 --> 00:01:06,520 Speaker 1: value to my life. The purchases, the programs, all the 18 00:01:06,560 --> 00:01:11,160 Speaker 1: people that have really helped improve my sense of wellness, productivity, 19 00:01:11,400 --> 00:01:14,319 Speaker 1: sometimes even my happiness. And it's actually one of my 20 00:01:14,360 --> 00:01:17,319 Speaker 1: favorite episodes to make and share with you at the 21 00:01:17,480 --> 00:01:22,600 Speaker 1: end of every single year. So today, proudly I'm sharing 22 00:01:22,640 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: with you my best five or my top five non 23 00:01:25,840 --> 00:01:29,560 Speaker 1: financial investments of twenty twenty five. These are the things 24 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:35,679 Speaker 1: that have really nourished me mentally, emotionally, and practically, because 25 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:39,760 Speaker 1: sometimes true wealth isn't just about money, It's about living 26 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:59,080 Speaker 1: richly and with complete and absolute authenticity. All right, So 27 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: Number one, my top non financial investment of twenty twenty 28 00:02:03,560 --> 00:02:07,360 Speaker 1: five is the Jamie Ryder Phoenix Program, which really helped 29 00:02:07,400 --> 00:02:11,960 Speaker 1: me heal from the inside out. Now I've obviously shared 30 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:14,640 Speaker 1: this with you before, but this year my most powerful 31 00:02:14,680 --> 00:02:19,680 Speaker 1: investment wasn't actually a new stock or even handbag, was 32 00:02:19,680 --> 00:02:23,040 Speaker 1: actually this program created by Jamie Rider, the Phoenix Program. 33 00:02:23,600 --> 00:02:26,920 Speaker 1: And I've obviously got an episode completely dedicated to this 34 00:02:27,040 --> 00:02:29,040 Speaker 1: experience and why I did it, which I will link 35 00:02:29,080 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: in the podcast notes. But there's a reason why I'm 36 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: repeating it again to share with you is because it 37 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:39,680 Speaker 1: deserves center stage. This program, which is an online program 38 00:02:39,880 --> 00:02:41,880 Speaker 1: that you do at your own pace, in the privacy 39 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:43,680 Speaker 1: of your own home, and you can choose to be 40 00:02:43,720 --> 00:02:46,800 Speaker 1: guided with Jamie along the way. But it really guided 41 00:02:46,840 --> 00:02:49,760 Speaker 1: me through some deep work that I had to do, 42 00:02:50,400 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: and it helped me with some really old emotional patterns 43 00:02:54,120 --> 00:02:59,200 Speaker 1: and some really complicated trauma. So previously I had just 44 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:04,400 Speaker 1: been coping and you know, just surviving. But this really 45 00:03:04,560 --> 00:03:08,760 Speaker 1: helped me. It helped me understand my triggers, understand how 46 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:11,360 Speaker 1: I need to process them, and how I can build 47 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:14,680 Speaker 1: my own sense of emotional resilience that actually lasts and 48 00:03:14,800 --> 00:03:17,640 Speaker 1: is sustainable. And it helped me create a bit of 49 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:21,760 Speaker 1: distance from my reactions. And it was incredibly budget friendly, 50 00:03:21,840 --> 00:03:24,840 Speaker 1: especially when you think about the cost of seeing a 51 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:30,640 Speaker 1: professional like a counselor or a psychiatrist or a psychologist. 52 00:03:31,280 --> 00:03:34,320 Speaker 1: It really got straight to the heart of what I 53 00:03:34,400 --> 00:03:37,400 Speaker 1: needed to do to understand what was going on and 54 00:03:37,440 --> 00:03:40,080 Speaker 1: to help put me back in control and actually realize 55 00:03:40,760 --> 00:03:43,880 Speaker 1: how strong and resilient I really am. And it really 56 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,600 Speaker 1: improved my sense of self and my self worth. And 57 00:03:47,120 --> 00:03:49,680 Speaker 1: it taught me, you know, how to slow down and 58 00:03:49,840 --> 00:03:53,320 Speaker 1: how to really, with courage and authenticity, get to the 59 00:03:53,360 --> 00:03:56,760 Speaker 1: heart of the issues that I had been avoiding for 60 00:03:56,840 --> 00:03:59,840 Speaker 1: so many years and how much shame I had it. 61 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:04,000 Speaker 1: It's definitely built a stronger foundation within myself. And you know, 62 00:04:04,720 --> 00:04:06,760 Speaker 1: it's not just me that's benefited from this, it's also 63 00:04:06,920 --> 00:04:09,440 Speaker 1: my family have really benefited from this. You know, seeing 64 00:04:09,720 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: the way I am handling challenges on a daily basis 65 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:16,720 Speaker 1: with a completely different mindset and attitude. And you know, 66 00:04:16,920 --> 00:04:20,040 Speaker 1: this ripple effect goes beyond my family. I feel like 67 00:04:20,080 --> 00:04:23,800 Speaker 1: I've got a clearer sense of the future. I have 68 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: way calmer reactions, and if I get triggered or I 69 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,160 Speaker 1: get I'm in a tricky, challenging situation, I'm reacting in 70 00:04:30,200 --> 00:04:33,360 Speaker 1: a very different way, which is really having a very 71 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:36,599 Speaker 1: different outcome, a much better outcome. And I'm also finding 72 00:04:36,600 --> 00:04:39,520 Speaker 1: that I'm much better at communicating and I have a 73 00:04:39,520 --> 00:04:44,559 Speaker 1: far deeper sense of insight and awareness. And it's really 74 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:47,800 Speaker 1: reminded me that when we invest in our mental health 75 00:04:48,880 --> 00:04:52,880 Speaker 1: everything else the follow on effect. It impacts our work, 76 00:04:53,320 --> 00:04:56,279 Speaker 1: It impacts and uplifts our financial future and what we're 77 00:04:56,279 --> 00:04:58,440 Speaker 1: doing with money, and the responsibility we taken, of course, 78 00:04:58,680 --> 00:05:03,200 Speaker 1: most importantly, improve the relationships that we have around us 79 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:07,640 Speaker 1: every single day. Investing in your mental health is always worthwhile, 80 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:10,680 Speaker 1: and you know, just like investing in your financial future, 81 00:05:11,080 --> 00:05:14,200 Speaker 1: everything tends to rise, particularly over the long run, when 82 00:05:14,240 --> 00:05:17,960 Speaker 1: you are committed and consistent to your personal growth and development. 83 00:05:18,920 --> 00:05:21,440 Speaker 1: The second thing that I investaged as a non financial 84 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:23,400 Speaker 1: investment and this is one I'm really proud to share 85 00:05:23,440 --> 00:05:27,000 Speaker 1: with you. But it's a very simple selection of home 86 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:31,840 Speaker 1: gym equipment. You could say I'm investing in strength and stability, 87 00:05:31,880 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: but in a very simplistic way. Now. I bought all 88 00:05:34,160 --> 00:05:38,520 Speaker 1: of these things from Amazon. And the reason why I 89 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:40,640 Speaker 1: did this was I promised myself at the very beginning 90 00:05:40,640 --> 00:05:43,040 Speaker 1: of twenty twenty five that I really wanted to get 91 00:05:43,160 --> 00:05:47,400 Speaker 1: stronger physically and mentally. I even did this challenge called 92 00:05:47,400 --> 00:05:49,680 Speaker 1: seventy five Canna, and I did seventy five soft as 93 00:05:49,720 --> 00:05:52,960 Speaker 1: well help make sure that I remained really dedicated to 94 00:05:53,240 --> 00:05:56,800 Speaker 1: this particular goal. And doing these seventy five challenges was 95 00:05:57,400 --> 00:06:00,800 Speaker 1: really helpful. I highly recommend it. But the reality of 96 00:06:00,800 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: my life is I'm quite time poor. I have three 97 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,599 Speaker 1: young kids, all at different schools and daycares, some sort 98 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:10,080 Speaker 1: of constantly in the car dropping them off and running 99 00:06:10,200 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 1: errands for them and trying to keep on top of 100 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,640 Speaker 1: the life. Admin Tom my partner, he actually lives between here, 101 00:06:16,920 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 1: Sydney and Hong Kong because his business has expanded, and 102 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,599 Speaker 1: that's unfortunately the position that we're in. He has to 103 00:06:23,640 --> 00:06:26,359 Speaker 1: be sort of living between two countries. And I also 104 00:06:26,560 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: work I work weird hours. I work around my kids 105 00:06:30,720 --> 00:06:33,800 Speaker 1: and their schedules, but I actually work full time, so 106 00:06:33,920 --> 00:06:37,640 Speaker 1: trying to get to the gym quite often feels impossible 107 00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,279 Speaker 1: because there's just sometimes just not enough hours in the day. 108 00:06:40,320 --> 00:06:42,520 Speaker 1: And by the time I do get that break where 109 00:06:42,520 --> 00:06:44,960 Speaker 1: I could quickly pop to the gym, I'm physically and 110 00:06:45,040 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: mentally exhausted. So to stop the excuses and to really 111 00:06:50,440 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 1: combat this problem, I created my own little mini home gym, 112 00:06:55,800 --> 00:06:58,719 Speaker 1: and I bought just a few very budget friendly pieces 113 00:06:58,720 --> 00:07:04,760 Speaker 1: from Amazon, so some neoprene dumbbells, some resistant bands. I 114 00:07:04,800 --> 00:07:07,120 Speaker 1: bought a plates ring, which I believe is called the 115 00:07:07,200 --> 00:07:11,120 Speaker 1: ring of Fire. Now there's nothing particularly fancy about this equipment. 116 00:07:11,240 --> 00:07:14,680 Speaker 1: It's small, it can quickly and easily be stored away 117 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:16,960 Speaker 1: under a sofa so it's not seen, and it's not 118 00:07:17,040 --> 00:07:21,160 Speaker 1: ugly bulky equipment. But it's incredibly functional. I think I've 119 00:07:21,280 --> 00:07:23,880 Speaker 1: spent probably a maximum of made maybe two hundred dollars 120 00:07:23,880 --> 00:07:25,520 Speaker 1: in total, and I didn't buy all these things at 121 00:07:25,560 --> 00:07:27,920 Speaker 1: the same time. I bought a couple of things like 122 00:07:27,920 --> 00:07:29,880 Speaker 1: the resistance bands, and to see if I actually was 123 00:07:29,960 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: using it and it worked, and I was like, yep, 124 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:33,560 Speaker 1: they are so I'm now going to buy another item, 125 00:07:33,640 --> 00:07:37,000 Speaker 1: another piece of equipment, and I've just really slowly built 126 00:07:37,000 --> 00:07:41,080 Speaker 1: this up, spending twenty to fifty dollars each time, and 127 00:07:41,200 --> 00:07:44,240 Speaker 1: I use every single piece of equipment, and I combine 128 00:07:44,280 --> 00:07:47,280 Speaker 1: this with my twenty eight by sam Wood membership, which 129 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:49,600 Speaker 1: is brilliant. I highly recommend for any sort of time 130 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 1: poor people, because you can do this anywhere. You can 131 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,480 Speaker 1: do it off your phone, iPad and the covet of 132 00:07:54,520 --> 00:07:57,400 Speaker 1: your home, and even just doing twenty minutes in the 133 00:07:57,440 --> 00:08:00,360 Speaker 1: morning sometimes if I'm lucky, up to thirty five minutes morning, 134 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:04,480 Speaker 1: five times a week whilst my kids are asleep upstairs 135 00:08:05,240 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 1: has been transformational. You know It's Yes, I still go 136 00:08:09,840 --> 00:08:12,320 Speaker 1: to the gym when I can, but having this option 137 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:16,320 Speaker 1: at home means I never need to skip prioritizing moving 138 00:08:16,400 --> 00:08:20,120 Speaker 1: my body, and I definitely feel so much stronger and 139 00:08:20,120 --> 00:08:23,600 Speaker 1: more re energized when I have done this in the morning, 140 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,720 Speaker 1: and I find that I so much better at focusing 141 00:08:26,760 --> 00:08:28,880 Speaker 1: at work, I get less distracted, I tend to be 142 00:08:29,000 --> 00:08:32,080 Speaker 1: far more productive when I have done this little workout 143 00:08:32,120 --> 00:08:35,360 Speaker 1: at home with my two hundred dollars worth of gym 144 00:08:35,400 --> 00:08:38,640 Speaker 1: equipment from Amazon. So I know I'm going to get 145 00:08:38,640 --> 00:08:40,520 Speaker 1: lots of questions about what exactly I bought and what 146 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:41,800 Speaker 1: do I recommend, So I'm going to go and a 147 00:08:41,880 --> 00:08:45,439 Speaker 1: link in the podcast notes those particular items so that 148 00:08:45,520 --> 00:08:47,760 Speaker 1: you can have a look for yourself. And this might 149 00:08:47,800 --> 00:08:50,000 Speaker 1: be something that you might think is a great idea 150 00:08:50,000 --> 00:08:52,440 Speaker 1: as you look towards your goals perhaps for two thousand 151 00:08:52,640 --> 00:08:56,000 Speaker 1: and twenty six. But it definitely takes out the guilt 152 00:08:56,000 --> 00:08:57,480 Speaker 1: when I can't get to the gym because I know 153 00:08:57,520 --> 00:09:00,520 Speaker 1: I've actually done something in the morning. And again reminder 154 00:09:00,520 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 1: that it's consistency in both investing and our finances as 155 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:10,720 Speaker 1: well as exercise and fitness always beats perfection every single time. 156 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:18,240 Speaker 1: Number three, Pablo, our hearts through love. Now. In May, 157 00:09:18,640 --> 00:09:24,079 Speaker 1: we lost our beloved chocolate labrador, Giuseppe, my King, and 158 00:09:24,200 --> 00:09:27,720 Speaker 1: he passed away from stomach cancer that had basically just 159 00:09:27,760 --> 00:09:31,280 Speaker 1: spread throughout his body, and we were told and then 160 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: I think he passed away about it was too late 161 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:35,600 Speaker 1: to do anything about it and he was too old, 162 00:09:35,640 --> 00:09:38,480 Speaker 1: so it was very much quickly onto palliative care and 163 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: he had been with us for twelve years. He was 164 00:09:42,880 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: such an important part of our family. I'm tolding magna 165 00:09:45,600 --> 00:09:47,760 Speaker 1: tears as I talk about him. He was even my 166 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:51,200 Speaker 1: profile picture of or a dating app. When Tom and 167 00:09:51,240 --> 00:09:54,000 Speaker 1: I met, it was him Giuseppe and I his head 168 00:09:54,080 --> 00:09:56,200 Speaker 1: resting on my shoulder, and you know that's what caught 169 00:09:56,200 --> 00:09:58,680 Speaker 1: Tom's eye, you know, he was. Tom used to say 170 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,959 Speaker 1: that I love Joseppe more than him and he's been 171 00:10:01,040 --> 00:10:03,240 Speaker 1: such a huge part of our life daily and I 172 00:10:03,320 --> 00:10:05,839 Speaker 1: have so many beautiful memories of him, so losing him 173 00:10:05,960 --> 00:10:09,240 Speaker 1: broke our hearts. And even though he was never Tom's dog, 174 00:10:09,280 --> 00:10:11,360 Speaker 1: because when we met, he was always mine, but Tom 175 00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:13,720 Speaker 1: had taken him on is his own dog, and just 176 00:10:13,760 --> 00:10:17,080 Speaker 1: as heartbroken as I was when he passed. And I 177 00:10:17,120 --> 00:10:20,040 Speaker 1: got Giuseppi when I was six months pregnant with Rocco, 178 00:10:20,200 --> 00:10:22,800 Speaker 1: so you know, he was really very much my fur 179 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:25,880 Speaker 1: baby and helped raise three children. Now, when he passed, 180 00:10:26,240 --> 00:10:32,559 Speaker 1: something quite magical beautiful happened. The breeders reached out to us, 181 00:10:32,760 --> 00:10:35,960 Speaker 1: and the breeders who gave us Joseppi twelve years ago. 182 00:10:36,200 --> 00:10:37,960 Speaker 1: They reached out because I'd heard that he had passed 183 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:40,720 Speaker 1: and gave us a call, and in chatting with them, 184 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:43,920 Speaker 1: we discovered that they had actually were about to take 185 00:10:43,960 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: a break from breeding chocolate labradors and they had had 186 00:10:47,880 --> 00:10:50,160 Speaker 1: sort of their own complications and loss and that they 187 00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,960 Speaker 1: needed to take a break for at least two years. However, 188 00:10:54,200 --> 00:10:57,040 Speaker 1: as the conversation unraveled, it turned out they had one 189 00:10:57,400 --> 00:11:00,760 Speaker 1: last male puppy. Now they were very careful and not 190 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,240 Speaker 1: telling me about this, but she just said, look, I 191 00:11:03,320 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: don't want to put this on you and make you 192 00:11:04,880 --> 00:11:06,920 Speaker 1: guilty or try and put pressure on you, but I'm 193 00:11:06,960 --> 00:11:08,520 Speaker 1: letting you know we're taking a break, but we do 194 00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:11,360 Speaker 1: secretly have this one last puppy, you know. I said, 195 00:11:11,360 --> 00:11:12,800 Speaker 1: all right, she said, I'm not even going to send 196 00:11:12,840 --> 00:11:15,199 Speaker 1: you photos. I sort of spoke to Tom, and we 197 00:11:15,280 --> 00:11:18,400 Speaker 1: love this breed of fenwic Glabradors. For anyone that's wondering, 198 00:11:18,520 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: they breed the most beautiful labradors and they are such 199 00:11:21,200 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 1: beautiful kind breeders as well, like they are the Rolls 200 00:11:24,040 --> 00:11:26,720 Speaker 1: Royce of labradors. And I felt like this is something 201 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: about it. She told me. I was like no, no, no. Initially, no, 202 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:31,120 Speaker 1: that's way too soon, and then it just planted us 203 00:11:31,120 --> 00:11:33,600 Speaker 1: scene and I couldn't stop thinking about it, and I 204 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,040 Speaker 1: realized it started to be like a sign, and I 205 00:11:36,040 --> 00:11:39,400 Speaker 1: did a power Pope presentation to Tom with the kids 206 00:11:39,440 --> 00:11:42,800 Speaker 1: about this particular dog and the story, and we ended 207 00:11:42,880 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 1: up bringing Parblo into our home. Who is my little prince, 208 00:11:45,679 --> 00:11:50,000 Speaker 1: Prince Pablo Giuseppi. And I will admit it is absolute 209 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:54,640 Speaker 1: chaos with three kids and three dogs, and Pablo has 210 00:11:54,679 --> 00:11:58,240 Speaker 1: a lot of energy, as do all labrador puppies, but 211 00:11:58,440 --> 00:12:02,200 Speaker 1: he has brought us so much laughter, so much healing, 212 00:12:02,400 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: and so much love back into our home. You know, 213 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:08,720 Speaker 1: we were all feeling an emptiness within us once Giuseppe passed. 214 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:11,160 Speaker 1: And there's something I'm going to sound like a complete 215 00:12:11,200 --> 00:12:14,640 Speaker 1: and utter crazy dog lady, but I don't care, because 216 00:12:14,679 --> 00:12:16,040 Speaker 1: I know there's a lot of dog listening to the 217 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:18,640 Speaker 1: dog owners and lovers out there. But there were some 218 00:12:18,720 --> 00:12:23,000 Speaker 1: really quirky habits that Giuseppe had. He would like, for example, 219 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:27,079 Speaker 1: eat this particular root in the grass in our front yard. 220 00:12:27,679 --> 00:12:30,880 Speaker 1: He would always try and find particular items of clothing 221 00:12:31,360 --> 00:12:34,120 Speaker 1: of mine and go and lie on it. He had 222 00:12:34,120 --> 00:12:36,720 Speaker 1: this very unique position on the sofa and no one 223 00:12:36,720 --> 00:12:39,000 Speaker 1: else was allowed to take this spot on the sofa. 224 00:12:39,400 --> 00:12:41,319 Speaker 1: He would have this certain way of sort of tilting 225 00:12:41,320 --> 00:12:45,160 Speaker 1: his head and looking at me and weirdly Pablo does 226 00:12:45,400 --> 00:12:47,920 Speaker 1: the exact same things, and these are things that the 227 00:12:47,960 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: other dogs do not do at all. And there are 228 00:12:50,520 --> 00:12:52,760 Speaker 1: times where I look at Pablo and think there's a 229 00:12:52,800 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 1: little bit of tiny, little bit of Giuseppe has found 230 00:12:56,280 --> 00:13:00,280 Speaker 1: his way back to us through Parblo. So yes, okay, 231 00:13:00,280 --> 00:13:02,640 Speaker 1: I'm sounding completely crazy, but I feel like there's a 232 00:13:02,640 --> 00:13:05,600 Speaker 1: little bit crossed over. And Pablo was born two days 233 00:13:05,679 --> 00:13:09,959 Speaker 1: before Giuseppe crossed over. And for me, you know, I 234 00:13:10,080 --> 00:13:12,360 Speaker 1: really realized that, and this is something I really want 235 00:13:12,400 --> 00:13:14,120 Speaker 1: to share with you in case you're someone who has 236 00:13:14,160 --> 00:13:17,480 Speaker 1: lost their soul dog, but in having Pablo in our 237 00:13:17,520 --> 00:13:19,600 Speaker 1: lives and that I will admit there are times I think, 238 00:13:19,600 --> 00:13:21,079 Speaker 1: oh my god, what have I done, especially when I 239 00:13:21,120 --> 00:13:23,920 Speaker 1: come home and find all the destruction by Pablo. But 240 00:13:24,120 --> 00:13:26,200 Speaker 1: there has been a reminder for me, or I guess 241 00:13:26,440 --> 00:13:28,840 Speaker 1: a message or a lesson for me to realize you 242 00:13:28,880 --> 00:13:31,360 Speaker 1: don't just get one soul dog. You will get as 243 00:13:31,400 --> 00:13:35,240 Speaker 1: many soul dogs as your heart is ready and willing 244 00:13:35,320 --> 00:13:40,520 Speaker 1: to accept. And sometimes the best investment is love, even 245 00:13:40,559 --> 00:13:46,400 Speaker 1: in its messy, noisy, chewed up pieces wonderful way. So 246 00:13:46,720 --> 00:13:50,199 Speaker 1: Pablo has definitely helped so much in healing our hearts 247 00:13:50,200 --> 00:13:52,760 Speaker 1: from the loss of Giuseppe. And I'm so grateful for 248 00:13:52,840 --> 00:13:55,160 Speaker 1: firm A Labradors for reaching out and letting us know 249 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:57,360 Speaker 1: what was going on so we could use this opportunity. 250 00:13:57,400 --> 00:13:58,839 Speaker 1: And I will admit, if you ever will pass my 251 00:13:58,920 --> 00:14:01,720 Speaker 1: house and see you walking my dogs, it is chaos. 252 00:14:02,440 --> 00:14:07,479 Speaker 1: Next thing is professional help with home. So we finally 253 00:14:07,840 --> 00:14:11,439 Speaker 1: got a DA approved to renovate our home. And I'm 254 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:14,360 Speaker 1: really embarrassed to admit this, but naively I thought, awesome, 255 00:14:14,360 --> 00:14:17,240 Speaker 1: we've got the DA. Let's get cracking, like we can 256 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:20,440 Speaker 1: do this, And oh my goodness, I was so incredibly wrong, 257 00:14:20,520 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: and it's so incredibly stupid. And I guess I've never 258 00:14:22,800 --> 00:14:24,720 Speaker 1: renovated before, so I should be kind to myself. But 259 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:27,600 Speaker 1: turns out, once you get your DA, that's just approvable 260 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,120 Speaker 1: of what you can do. You actually need a construction certificate. 261 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:33,560 Speaker 1: And to get the construction certificate you need so many 262 00:14:33,600 --> 00:14:38,800 Speaker 1: detailed reports, so many further approvals, and it turned out 263 00:14:38,840 --> 00:14:41,400 Speaker 1: that the original architects that we use to get our 264 00:14:41,480 --> 00:14:47,400 Speaker 1: DA had missed critical details. Now I've found myself completely 265 00:14:47,480 --> 00:14:50,760 Speaker 1: overwhelmed trying to work out how to fix this, let 266 00:14:50,760 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: alone how to actually get understand the actual process involved 267 00:14:55,080 --> 00:15:00,480 Speaker 1: to get a construction certificate. Wow. Okay, So so this 268 00:15:00,680 --> 00:15:02,680 Speaker 1: month's months kept on passing by, and I kept on 269 00:15:02,720 --> 00:15:05,960 Speaker 1: getting more and more concerned and upset at myself because 270 00:15:06,120 --> 00:15:10,760 Speaker 1: it was like a foreign language to me. So after 271 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: going around around in circles and just analysis, paralysis, and 272 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,840 Speaker 1: just beating myself, I reached beating myself up. I reached 273 00:15:18,840 --> 00:15:22,240 Speaker 1: out to my friend's firm had an architect firm, but 274 00:15:22,280 --> 00:15:24,800 Speaker 1: also had like a sort of consulting business on the side, 275 00:15:24,840 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: and they stepped in and handled everything, liaising with the council, 276 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:35,800 Speaker 1: organizing soil and geotech reports, speaking with the engineers, all 277 00:15:35,880 --> 00:15:39,280 Speaker 1: the documentation, even to the extent where we even got 278 00:15:39,320 --> 00:15:42,440 Speaker 1: a landscape architect to help make sure that everything was 279 00:15:42,480 --> 00:15:44,480 Speaker 1: done properly and buy the book. And the council was 280 00:15:44,480 --> 00:15:48,280 Speaker 1: happy with the ratio of natives to you know, different 281 00:15:48,280 --> 00:15:52,280 Speaker 1: types of plants. Now, not only did this firm fix 282 00:15:53,120 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: what was missing by the previous shoddy architects, they actually 283 00:15:58,240 --> 00:16:02,800 Speaker 1: elevated our designs, allowing more light, a greater flow in 284 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:07,440 Speaker 1: the design, a far greater sense of sophistication and style 285 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:10,840 Speaker 1: Like I couldn't even have possibly done this myself. My 286 00:16:10,880 --> 00:16:12,880 Speaker 1: imagination couldn't even do that, and I think I would 287 00:16:12,880 --> 00:16:15,680 Speaker 1: a good imagination. Like the level of detail was unbelievable, 288 00:16:15,720 --> 00:16:20,200 Speaker 1: the touches, the angles, they just took the bland designs 289 00:16:20,200 --> 00:16:23,160 Speaker 1: and just really elevated to a whole new level. And 290 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 1: even though this has been an expensive exercise and we 291 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:28,960 Speaker 1: actually wasted a huge amount of money with the previous architects, 292 00:16:29,760 --> 00:16:34,200 Speaker 1: this investment in this additional service has hopefully going to 293 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:36,600 Speaker 1: help add a lot of money or value I shouldn't 294 00:16:36,600 --> 00:16:40,360 Speaker 1: say not value money to our home and the home 295 00:16:40,400 --> 00:16:43,040 Speaker 1: that we're building, though more importantly because we plan on 296 00:16:43,080 --> 00:16:46,160 Speaker 1: living in this as our forever home, is way more 297 00:16:46,200 --> 00:16:49,200 Speaker 1: aligned to our personal styles and tastes, but also our 298 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,240 Speaker 1: practical needs as a family of five. And it has 299 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: really reminded me that sometimes, more often than not, paying 300 00:16:56,400 --> 00:16:59,400 Speaker 1: for that expertise is not an expense, It's not a cost. 301 00:16:59,880 --> 00:17:04,000 Speaker 1: It is an essential investment where you are leaving it 302 00:17:04,000 --> 00:17:07,760 Speaker 1: to the experts to work their magic, use their skills, 303 00:17:07,840 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: their experience, and their absolute talent to turn something into 304 00:17:13,560 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: something not something done or something good, but something spectacular, 305 00:17:17,320 --> 00:17:20,320 Speaker 1: something beautiful, something you were going to love and admire 306 00:17:20,760 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: for many, many years to come. You know, it also 307 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:27,520 Speaker 1: has reminded me that I got back my time. I 308 00:17:27,560 --> 00:17:29,080 Speaker 1: didn't have to worry about this anymore. So it's no 309 00:17:29,119 --> 00:17:32,480 Speaker 1: longer stressed and lying awake at night not understanding what's 310 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:34,240 Speaker 1: going on and what I needed to do. And it's 311 00:17:34,240 --> 00:17:37,840 Speaker 1: also saved us thousands of mistakes that I definitely would 312 00:17:37,840 --> 00:17:41,640 Speaker 1: have made. And when you work with people who absolutely 313 00:17:41,680 --> 00:17:44,040 Speaker 1: love what they do, which is my friend's architect firm 314 00:17:44,080 --> 00:17:46,439 Speaker 1: and their consultancy business, and if you want the details 315 00:17:46,480 --> 00:17:48,359 Speaker 1: of who I've used, send me a DM on Instagram 316 00:17:48,400 --> 00:17:49,639 Speaker 1: and I'll give you the details and put you in 317 00:17:49,640 --> 00:17:52,840 Speaker 1: touch with They're amazing, but you cannot help but be 318 00:17:53,160 --> 00:17:58,639 Speaker 1: inspired by their passion, the level of care, their eye 319 00:17:58,680 --> 00:18:01,800 Speaker 1: for detail. It has been expensive, but it has been 320 00:18:02,040 --> 00:18:05,280 Speaker 1: every single dollar has been so well worth it. And 321 00:18:05,320 --> 00:18:08,800 Speaker 1: we're so close to getting our construction certificate and we're 322 00:18:08,800 --> 00:18:10,720 Speaker 1: gonna renovate the home. We'll have to do it in 323 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 1: stages because obviously the costs of building expenses have changed 324 00:18:13,920 --> 00:18:16,399 Speaker 1: so much, but we'll do it in two stages, with 325 00:18:16,480 --> 00:18:19,639 Speaker 1: the first one being our backyard, and I'm so excited. 326 00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,960 Speaker 1: So definitely been a brilliant investment. The last one, which 327 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 1: I've shared with before. Is Anna our beautiful neighbor, and 328 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:29,880 Speaker 1: she's a bit of a guardian angel. You may remember 329 00:18:29,960 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: I mentioned this probably and maybe my two thousand and 330 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:36,760 Speaker 1: four Best Investment Non Financial Investments episode. But Anna is 331 00:18:37,040 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: our old neighbor and she looks after our kids for 332 00:18:41,280 --> 00:18:45,400 Speaker 1: two hours every Saturday morning. She's in her eighties. When 333 00:18:45,440 --> 00:18:48,439 Speaker 1: she turns up to my front door, she tells me go, 334 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:51,040 Speaker 1: just go, and she literally pushes me out the door 335 00:18:51,119 --> 00:18:53,360 Speaker 1: and I get a mental break. I go to the gym. 336 00:18:53,520 --> 00:18:55,239 Speaker 1: If Tom is home, he'll come to the gym with 337 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:58,280 Speaker 1: me and we get two hours or I get two 338 00:18:58,359 --> 00:19:02,440 Speaker 1: hours to reset, to catch my breath, to hear myself think, 339 00:19:03,160 --> 00:19:05,879 Speaker 1: and to remove my body. And this involves you know, 340 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,680 Speaker 1: doing a workout, but then also jumping into icebergs pool 341 00:19:09,200 --> 00:19:12,399 Speaker 1: and you know having a sauna as well. Now, Anna 342 00:19:12,640 --> 00:19:16,520 Speaker 1: cared for her husband for seventeen years as his full 343 00:19:16,520 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: time care as he battled dementia. After he passed, she 344 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:24,880 Speaker 1: wanted some purpose again. It wasn't about earning extra money 345 00:19:24,960 --> 00:19:27,040 Speaker 1: or having a side hustle. She just wanted to get 346 00:19:27,080 --> 00:19:30,200 Speaker 1: out of the house. And I guess find meeting again. 347 00:19:30,440 --> 00:19:33,639 Speaker 1: And she found some of that with me, and not me, 348 00:19:33,720 --> 00:19:36,879 Speaker 1: but with my three kids. Now when Anna turns up, 349 00:19:37,080 --> 00:19:39,680 Speaker 1: particularly this put up a lady coming from this generation. 350 00:19:39,800 --> 00:19:41,720 Speaker 1: She doesn't turn up and put a TV on or 351 00:19:42,359 --> 00:19:45,120 Speaker 1: give the kids screens like they're not allowed to touch 352 00:19:45,160 --> 00:19:48,800 Speaker 1: anything electronic at all. Instead, she's like a grandmother. She 353 00:19:48,920 --> 00:19:52,680 Speaker 1: bakes with them, she reads books with them, she plays 354 00:19:52,920 --> 00:19:55,439 Speaker 1: games outside with them. She'll kick a ball, do a 355 00:19:55,440 --> 00:20:01,440 Speaker 1: skipping rope, plays board games, cards, drawing in, making lotions 356 00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,600 Speaker 1: and potions with them. You know, she has this amazing 357 00:20:04,640 --> 00:20:08,560 Speaker 1: sense of warmth and belonging and we don't have any 358 00:20:08,600 --> 00:20:11,520 Speaker 1: family who can actually provide this type of love and care. 359 00:20:11,960 --> 00:20:16,840 Speaker 1: So she is absolutely amazing and we absolutely adore her 360 00:20:16,840 --> 00:20:18,879 Speaker 1: and it is so incredibly grateful to have her in 361 00:20:18,880 --> 00:20:21,000 Speaker 1: her life and the help that she gives us and 362 00:20:21,040 --> 00:20:23,399 Speaker 1: for us, she's now part of our extended family, in 363 00:20:23,400 --> 00:20:25,880 Speaker 1: our circle of love. And you know, for me, when 364 00:20:25,920 --> 00:20:29,720 Speaker 1: I pay her, it is the easiest, most enjoyful investment 365 00:20:29,800 --> 00:20:33,600 Speaker 1: that I make. And because she doesn't just give me time, 366 00:20:33,800 --> 00:20:38,040 Speaker 1: she gives my children love. She gives them stories, and 367 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:41,160 Speaker 1: she gives them memories that hopefully they're going to carry forever. 368 00:20:41,400 --> 00:20:43,880 Speaker 1: And they realize how lucky they are to have her. 369 00:20:44,320 --> 00:20:46,560 Speaker 1: And I think there's something really interesting about this and 370 00:20:46,600 --> 00:20:50,959 Speaker 1: important because we have a loneliness epidemic in this country 371 00:20:51,040 --> 00:20:54,760 Speaker 1: right now. You know, Anna is in her eighties. I 372 00:20:54,840 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: wonder how many other people are in their eighties out 373 00:20:58,000 --> 00:21:01,200 Speaker 1: there that are lonely, that looking for company, looking for 374 00:21:01,240 --> 00:21:04,600 Speaker 1: something to do, looking for some meaning, some purpose, some direction, 375 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,880 Speaker 1: and they might be able to help out other families 376 00:21:07,920 --> 00:21:10,200 Speaker 1: like mine. Give them an hour break or a two 377 00:21:10,240 --> 00:21:12,760 Speaker 1: hour break. Yes, they might earn some extra cash, which 378 00:21:12,800 --> 00:21:15,920 Speaker 1: is great. Of course that goes without saying. But how 379 00:21:15,960 --> 00:21:18,600 Speaker 1: many problems do we have that could be really easily 380 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:23,800 Speaker 1: fixed and actually help everybody involved? The children, the elderly, 381 00:21:24,200 --> 00:21:27,919 Speaker 1: the overwhelmed, exhausted mother and father. There's just there's so 382 00:21:28,040 --> 00:21:31,600 Speaker 1: much that hasn't been explored with this gap between these 383 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 1: two generations. So there you have it, My five best 384 00:21:37,000 --> 00:21:40,920 Speaker 1: non financial investments of twenty twenty five. As you realize now, 385 00:21:40,960 --> 00:21:45,120 Speaker 1: these are not about spreadsheets, passive income, or status. They're 386 00:21:45,160 --> 00:21:48,640 Speaker 1: really about soul and meaning. And each of one has 387 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: definitely made me calmer, stronger, and happier and way more present, 388 00:21:52,960 --> 00:21:55,119 Speaker 1: particularly Anna, because when I come home from the gym 389 00:21:55,560 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: I've had those two hours to myself, I am a 390 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:00,399 Speaker 1: lot happier and a lot more willing and open and 391 00:22:00,440 --> 00:22:03,640 Speaker 1: ready to embrace the chaos of my kids again. So 392 00:22:03,800 --> 00:22:06,920 Speaker 1: maybe this episode inspires you to reflect on your own 393 00:22:06,960 --> 00:22:09,040 Speaker 1: best investments of two thousand and five, that is, the 394 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,399 Speaker 1: non financial ones, and you know, ask yourself, what are 395 00:22:12,400 --> 00:22:14,679 Speaker 1: the things that you paid for invested this year that 396 00:22:14,760 --> 00:22:17,560 Speaker 1: really have paid off and added amazing value to a life. 397 00:22:17,600 --> 00:22:20,919 Speaker 1: Perhaps it was therapy, Perhaps it was investing in a 398 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,360 Speaker 1: new hobby or a sport, or a new morning routine, 399 00:22:24,400 --> 00:22:27,000 Speaker 1: or perhaps, like me, you got another pet as well, 400 00:22:27,600 --> 00:22:29,679 Speaker 1: what are the things that have really helped improve your 401 00:22:29,720 --> 00:22:34,119 Speaker 1: life for twenty twenty five? Because wealth isn't just about money, 402 00:22:34,240 --> 00:22:37,359 Speaker 1: It's about everything that helps us all live in a 403 00:22:37,400 --> 00:22:42,760 Speaker 1: far more meaningful, balanced, and authentic way. Now, thank you 404 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:45,320 Speaker 1: so much for listening to this very special episode which 405 00:22:45,320 --> 00:22:48,640 Speaker 1: I am I share every single year, and I'm honored 406 00:22:49,000 --> 00:22:50,879 Speaker 1: that I can share this with you and that you 407 00:22:50,920 --> 00:22:53,520 Speaker 1: have listened to this episode because it's obviously not a 408 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:57,919 Speaker 1: traditional financial episode. So once again, everyone, thank you so 409 00:22:58,040 --> 00:23:01,080 Speaker 1: much for being a part of Sugar Mama's fireplay. And 410 00:23:01,440 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: as we get closer and closer towards the end of 411 00:23:04,000 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 1: this year. I'm so excited to be able to share 412 00:23:06,320 --> 00:23:08,399 Speaker 1: with you all the exciting things that I have in 413 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:12,600 Speaker 1: store for you. We are just touching the surface. There 414 00:23:12,640 --> 00:23:14,199 Speaker 1: are so many more things that you are going to 415 00:23:14,280 --> 00:23:17,720 Speaker 1: learn about, be inspired from, and fuel your motivation with 416 00:23:17,760 --> 00:23:21,080 Speaker 1: your own financial goals and dreams. So in the meantime, 417 00:23:21,680 --> 00:23:25,600 Speaker 1: always keep that financial fire burning bright within. This is 418 00:23:25,760 --> 00:23:50,360 Speaker 1: Sugarbama's fireplay. Thank you for listening.