How to Build the Ultimate Budget.

Sophie’s away this week, so Vic is joined by the brilliant India Leishman, and honestly, she’s making a very convincing case for a permanent seat at the mic. Together they tackle the very un-sexy reality of rising oil prices and what that could mean for flights, groceries, inflation, and basically the cost of existing, before getting into Gap’s unexpected comeback story, the Jo Malone name-drama that sounds too wild to be true, and why Unilever seems to be betting big on beauty and wellness over your pantry staples. There’s also a helpful breakdown of stagflation for anyone who’s heard the word and nodded politely, plus some solid career advice for getting into finance. A slightly chaotic, very informative catch-up on what’s moving markets right now, and what it might mean for you.WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:Stagflation – Slow economy + rising prices. Not a fun combo.Central Bank – Sets interest rates. Runs the money system.Interest Rates – Cost of borrowing. Higher = more expensive.Inflation – Prices go up, your money goes less far.Reporting Season – When companies reveal their results.Revenue – Money a company makes before costs.Share Price – What one share in a company costs.Stock Market – Where shares are bought and sold.Diversification – Spreading your money across investments.Spin-off – A company splitting off part of its business.Non-compete – Stops you starting a similar business.Renewable Energy – Energy that won’t run out (like wind/solar).Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & India LeishmanProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) Welcome India! (00:03:56) Oil prices surge (00:20:41) Gap rebounds (00:27:14) Jo Malone vs Jo Malone (00:32:44) Unilever is side-eyeing its food business (00:39:36) Community Question (00:00:00) Thank you for listening to The Curve Weekly! (00:00:00) Financial DisclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟Budgeting… stay with us 😅 This month on IOU (Some Money Education), Soph and Vic drag Lucy (lovingly) into the world of budgets, aka figuring out where your money goes before it disappears like your Apple charges. You’ll learn the simple “needs, wants, surplus” split, why planning ahead is basically a money superpower, and how having a clear setup can actually reduce money stress (even if you’re allergic to checking your bank account). Plus: we introduce our newest cast member, Reese Witherspoon the piggy bank, play “spending bingo,” and read out the most unhinged “non-negotiable” splurges: think $100 candles, Sims gaming PCs, and “I bought veneers for copywriting” - yes you read that right. If you’ve ever avoided budgeting because it felt restrictive or overwhelming, this is the episode that will change your mind.Check out IOU (The Practical Lessons) here: https://thecurveplatform.com/We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ. There’s an art to starting something new, and like any art form, you need the right tools to make it work. Whether you’re flatting, saving to travel, or making a career move, BNZ has the tools to help you master your money from the get-go.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightGuest: Lucy BlakistonProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) Welcome to IOU (Some Money Education)!(00:00:40) Coming up in this episode…(00:01:26) BNZ x The Curve(00:01:53) In the Red or Green?(00:03:26) Is property still a good investment?(00:09:11) How Lucy budgets(00:18:56) How to craft a budget: needs, wants, surplus(00:23:19) IOU an answer(00:30:57) Cash and Burn(00:36:12) Extra Credit(00:40:58) Thank you for joining us for IOU (Some Money Education)(00:41:20) Thank you BNZ!(00:41:50) Financial DisclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟This week we  get stuck into the rise of prediction markets: the internet’s latest obsession where people are literally putting money on future events and calling it “forecasting.” So… clever investing tool or just gambling in a blazer? 👉 CLICK HERE TO VOTE IN OUR POLL! (https://form.typeform.com/to/fQQYthvs)They also unpack why oil prices are shooting up, what that means for petrol, flights, inflation and basically everything else we spend money on, plus a surprisingly fascinating chat about loneliness as an economic trend and why solo living, solo dining and solo travel are becoming big business.Want to co-host next week’s Curve Weekly with Vic? Apply via the Curve Hotline (https://thecurveplatform.com/pages/the-curve-hotline) and tell us why you’d be a great fit (and where you’re based).Interested in working with Pete? Email us at [email protected] and we’ll put you in touch!WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:Prediction Markets – Platforms where people put money on whether future events will happen. Think betting… but on real-world outcomes.Commodities – Raw materials like oil, gold, or wheat that are traded globally.S&P 500 – An index tracking the 500 biggest companies in the US stock market.Analyst – Someone who studies economic data and companies to predict what might happen next.Insider Trading – Using secret, non-public information to make money in markets. Very illegal.ETF (Exchange Traded Fund) – A bundle of different investments you can buy in one go.Diversification – Spreading your money across different investments to reduce risk.Inflation – When prices go up and your money buys less.Renewable Energy – Energy from sources that don’t run out, like wind or solar.Defense Stocks – Companies that make military equipment or services governments buy.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) What’s coming up this week…(00:01:12) Want to co-host The Curve Weekly?(00:03:38) Prediction markets: investing or gambling?(00:22:32) Why oil prices are suddenly surging(00:34:14) The surprising economics of loneliness(00:40:37) Questions from the Curve Community(00:44:00) Thank you for listening!(00:44:38) Financial DisclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟Tanya Taylor’s story is the kind that makes you want to immediately check your savings account and maybe your insurance policy too. She moved from rural Jamaica to the US at 16 with just $100, built an incredible career, grew a seven-figure investment portfolio, and did everything “right” financially, only for one devastating accident to turn her world upside down. In this episode, Tanya shares how budgeting, goal-setting, and long-term investing helped her build wealth from scratch, why emergency funds matter far more than most of us think, and what she learned after being forced to start again. It’s part money masterclass, part resilience lesson, and part gentle-but-firm reminder to stop treating your emergency fund like it’s there for cheeky little treats.And if this conversation gets you thinking about protecting your income too, we mentioned our insurance episode in the chat, you can listen to that here. (https://open.spotify.com/episode/5rBV0ZoDcNFjVaLhoQAjTk?si=fe362e2a5eaf4d55)Tanya’s links:Grow Your Wealth (https://growyourwealth10x.com/)Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/growyourwealth10x/)LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanya-taylor-cpa-mba-growyourwealth)Credits:Host: Sophie HallwrightGuest: Tanya TaylorProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) Introducing Tanya’s Story(00:02:24) Growing Up in Rural Jamaica(00:05:12) A New Perspective on Wealth(00:08:05) Moving to the US with $100(00:11:06) The Money Habits That Changed Everything(00:15:09) Milestones on the Path to Wealth(00:16:26) The Day Everything Changed(00:21:11) Emergency Funds and Preparing for the Unexpected(00:29:40) Teaching the Next Generation About Money(00:36:03) Thanks for Listening(00:36:28) Financial DisclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

This week, we get stuck right into a gloriously chaotic mix of finance news and media gossip, starting with the very juicy on-air fallout that may have blown up a $200 million radio deal. They also unpack what the latest conflict in the Middle East could mean for oil prices, inflation and the stock market, give the final update in the Warner Bros-Netflix-Paramount saga, and look at whether working from home could actually help solve the fertility crisis. Plus, Berkshire Hathaway drops its first annual update without Warren Buffett at the helm, Soph celebrates her Netflix gains like she’s the Wolf of Wall Street, and we round out with a brilliant community question on starting a business that reminds us that building wealth isn’t just about what you invest in, but what you’re brave enough to start.WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:S&P 500 – The 500 biggest companies in the US stock market.Passive Investing – Investing in funds that track the market automatically.Conglomerate – A massive company that owns lots of different businesses.Share Price – The cost of buying one slice of a company.Shareholder – Someone who owns shares in a company.Cash Reserves – Money a company keeps ready to invest later.Long-Term Investing – Holding investments for years, not days.Core–Satellite Investing – Safe investments at the centre, riskier bets on the side.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠Disclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟This episode is a bit of a hidden gem. It was recorded in New York last January and somehow ended up sitting quietly in the archives… until we recently rediscovered it and realised how good it was. Safe to say, we couldn’t keep it hidden any longer.In this conversation, Sophie sits down with Rachel Beider, founder of Press Modern Massage, (https://www.pressmodernmassage.com/) the business she built and scaled from the ground up, before going on to launch a second venture: The Canopy (https://www.thecanopynyc.com/), an indoor play space for babies and toddlers in New York. We talk about Rachel’s journey into becoming a massage therapist, the early days of building her business, the biggest challenges she faced as it grew, and the lessons she learned scaling in a competitive industry. The conversation also dives into leadership, including her approach to servant-style management, as well as the personal side of entrepreneurship: financial freedom, how she manages her personal finances, and how her priorities evolved as she moved from business owner to mother.Credits:Host: Sophie HallwrightGuest: Rachel BeiderProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode…(00:03:09) How Rachel became a massage therapist (and the unexpected path into business)(00:10:44) The key milestones in building her business(00:12:47) The biggest challenges she faced as a founder(00:19:08) What it took to scale to a million-dollar business(00:20:53) The leadership style that shaped her company culture(00:25:57) Advice for starting a business in a competitive industry(00:28:20) The upside of entrepreneurship and financial freedom(00:32:05) How Rachel approaches her personal finances(00:34:48) Navigating the shift from business owner to mother(00:37:16) Thank you for listening!(00:37:41) Financial disclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟One woman gave away $7 billion in a single year, while most of the richest people in America have donated less than 5% of their wealth. We unpack the billionaire giving gap, why some tech titans are looking a little stingy, and how one woman is quietly raising the bar for what extreme wealth could actually do in the world.Before we got there though, we covered a lot. We dive into Trump’s tariffs being ruled illegal (and the refund chaos that could follow), the cringey US men’s hockey White House moment that sidelined the women’s gold medal team, the Netflix vs Paramount vs Warner Bros takeover drama, and rumours that Stripe might snap up PayPal.We then zoom out to the bigger picture: the cost of being a woman. New data shows women are disproportionately seeking debt advice in the UK, and we talk childcare, pay gaps, and why financial pressure isn’t evenly distributed. And finally, we wrap with a community question on where to invest savings outside KiwiSaver.Billionaires, boardroom battles, misogyny and money, all in one episode. Strap on in…WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:Tariffs – A tax on imports. Businesses pay… you usually feel it.Supreme Court – The highest court. Final legal say.Volatility – Markets going up and down. Fast.Takeover / Acquisition – One company buying another. Corporate hunger games.Shareholder – Someone who owns a slice of a company.Divest – Selling off part of a business.Market Share – How much of an industry a company controls.Fintech – Financial tech. Think Stripe, PayPal, investing apps.Philanthropy – Donating money. Usually when you’re very rich.Net Worth – What you own minus what you owe.Managed Fund – Your money invested alongside others, run by professionals.KiwiSaver – NZ retirement fund. Mostly locked till 65.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) Quick catch up & almost-accidents(00:05:35) Trump’s tariffs ruled illegal(00:16:00) The US hockey White House fallout(00:21:21) Netflix vs Paramount vs Warner Bros(00:27:10) Stripe circling PayPal(00:32:06) The billionaire giving gap(00:40:56) The cost of being a woman(00:49:16) Community questions(00:51:55) Thank you for listening!(00:52:33) Financial DisclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟Content note: this episode discusses fertility challenges.In this episode, Soph sits down with Deirdre (co-founder of Hertility) to unpack what “investing in your fertility” actually means, medically and financially, at a time when many women feel pressure to make big life decisions without clear information. They explore the gap between being told to “just freeze your eggs” and actually understanding your hormone profile, why testing one number (AMH) isn’t the full story, and how tracking your fertility over time can give you far more control than panic-driven decisions. The episode dives into the economics of fertility too: the rising cost of IVF, companies offering egg freezing as a workplace perk, and whether paying for treatment instead of prevention is missing the point entirely. Along the way, they tackle biological clocks, career timelines, societal pressure, medical gaslighting, and the emotional weight of not knowing. This is a candid, thought-provoking discussion about autonomy, trade-offs, and why information, medical and financial, is often the most powerful investment you can make.🌟 Exclusive for The Curve listeners: use code CURVE15 to get 15% off Hertility’s Advanced Tests..Credits:Host: Sophie HallwrightGuest: Deirdre O’NeillProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) Episode Preview(00:01:03) Quick Disclaimer(00:01:16) What Hertility Does (And Why It’s Needed)(00:11:25) The Founder Story(00:17:19) What Testing Actually Tells You(00:21:00) Get 15% off a Hertility Test!(00:21:36) Investing in Fertility(00:42:01) Thoughts on IVF(00:47:39) How to Decide What’s Right for You(00:54:40) Where to Learn More(00:55:52) Thank you for Listening!(00:56:17) Financial DisclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟 In this week’s Curve Weekly, Vic and Soph unpack the AI chip crisis and why soaring demand could mean pricier tech (no, not the potato kind), plus the recent market wobble and why it’s not a cue to panic. They dive into the ongoing Netflix vs Warner Bros vs Paramount drama, reveal the scary stat about people not knowing where their retirement fund is (and how that could cost up to $1 million long term), and explain why groceries in the Southern Hemisphere feel criminally expensive. Add in a quick emergency-fund reality check and the rise of burnout feminism: goodbye girlbossing, hello boundaries!👉 Answer our 10-second retirement poll (https://forms.gle/4ZTRbchUYYgqVmt16)WTF does that mean? A guide to all the jargony bits:Bond – An IOU. You lend money, they pay you interest.100-Year Bond – You get paid back in a literal century. Wild.AI Inference – The “thinking” part when AI answers you.Data Centre – Massive computer warehouses powering the internet.Market Wobble – A small dip. Not a meltdown.Sell-Off – Lots of people selling at once.AI Cannibalisation – AI replacing parts of an industry.Rebalancing – Adjusting your portfolio back to your original plan.Default Fund – Where your retirement money goes if you don’t choose.High-Growth Fund – Higher risk, higher long-term potential.Currency Losses – Exchange rates messing with your returns.Duopoly – When two companies dominate a market.Market Share – How much of the market a company controls.Burnout Feminism – Less hustle, more boundaries.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) Coming up in this episode...(00:01:32) Life updates: events & emergency funds(00:09:18) AI chips, tech hype & the rise of AI girlfriends(00:30:35) Netflix vs Warner Bros vs Paramount update(00:33:44) The $1m retirement wake-up call(00:37:26) Why your groceries are so expensive(00:42:13) Goodbye girlbossing, hello burnout feminism(00:48:03) Community questions(00:55:09) Thanks for listening(00:55:46) Financial disclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.

🌟 WATCH THIS EPISODE ON YOUTUBE 🌟Money isn’t just numbers in a spreadsheet: it’s childhood memories, anxiety, guilt, confidence, and the occasional unhinged purchase you defend forever. In this first episode of IOU (Some Money Education), Soph, Vic and Lucy Blakiston from Shit You Should Care About get honest about their own relationships with money, from how they grew up, to why they spend, save, or stress the way they do now. Expect family voice notes that expose everything, a few rogue spending confessions, and a reminder that if budgeting hasn’t worked for you before, it might not be the spreadsheet, it might be the mindset. Think of this as finance, but with a bit of self-reflection (and no judgement).Check out IOU (The Practical Lessons) here: (https://thecurveplatform.com/)We’re proud to be partnering with BNZ. There’s an art to starting something new, and like any art form, you need the right tools to make it work. Whether you’re flatting, saving to travel, or making a career move, BNZ has the tools to help you master your money from the get-go.Credits:Hosts: Victoria Harris & Sophie HallwrightGuest: Lucy BlakistonProducer & Editor: Emily RigbySocial & Digital Manager: Lucy Munro⁠⁠Leave us a message on The Curve Hotline 💌☎️⁠⁠For more from The Curve:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Website⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠YouTube⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Newsletter⁠⁠(00:00:00) Welcome to IOU (Some Money Education)(00:00:40) Coming up in this episode….(00:01:25) BNZ X The Curve(00:01:51) The idea behind this series(00:04:32) Who is Lucy + Shit You Should Care About?(00:13:13) In the Red or in the Green?(00:19:20) Lucy’s relationship with money(00:28:58) Soph’s relationship with money(00:36:09) Vic’s relationship with money(00:42:48) Some messages from Lucy’s family...(00:51:11) Cash and Burn(00:57:34) Extra Credit(00:59:57) Thank you for joining us for IOU (Some Money Education)!(01:00:21) Thank you BNZ!(01:00:51) Financial DisclaimerDisclaimer: Raising The Curve has been prepared solely for informational and educational purposes. Any information provided and serviced described in this website are intended to be of general nature and provide general information only. The opinions expressed by The Curve do not constitute investment advice.