Master My Balance

Welcome to Master My Balance, the podcast dedicated to empowering you with the knowledge and tools needed for long-term financial resilience. As a mother, financial educator, and advocate against financial abuse, I am passionate about raising awareness and fostering financial literacy. Whether you're looking to improve your financial situation, protect yourself from financial abuse, or simply want to become more financially savvy, Master My Balance is here for you. Tune in and take the first step towards mastering your balance.

Master My Balance is a education podcast hosted by Unknown Host, with 27 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80. PitchCentric scores this show on Booking Probability, Listen Score, and live audience signals refreshed every 24 hours.

Unknown Host hosts Master My Balance, a education show with 27 episodes published.

Our AI reads these to draft pitches. Use them as grounding for a pitch that cites a real guest and a specific topic.

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  Episode #39

  Ep 39: Barriers to Financial Wellbeing: When Homelessness Shapes Lone Parents’ Financial Lives

  Jul 1, 202628 minS2

  In the second half of the conversation, Sarah and Melissashift from the personal stories to the systemic solutions. They explore the remarkable resilience of lone‑parent families, the glaring gaps in Ireland’s homelessness strategy, and concreterecommendations, from ring‑fencing social housing to trauma‑informed court practices, that could break the cycle of chronic homelessness.

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  Episode #38

  Ep 38: Lone Parents and Homelessness in Ireland: Insightful Findings and Policy Recommendations

  Jun 17, 202626 minS2

  In this episode of Master My Balance host, Melissa, is joined by Dr Sarah Sheridan, an independent researcher, to discuss her recent Focus Ireland report; Lone Parents and Homelessness in Ireland . Lone parents make up the majority of homeless families in Ireland, but the reasons go far beyond individual choices. Together, Melissa and Sarah unpack the scale of lone parenthomelessness, how it is measured, and what every day financial life looks like for families living with housing insecurity. The conversation explores poverty before homelessness, pathways into housing loss, childcare barriers, and the constant trade-offs lone parents are forced to make just to get by, highlighting the structural pressures that shape these experiences. What you’ll learn: • Who is counted in Irish homelessness statistics and why the official monthly figures miss many vulnerable families. • The financial realities of lone parents – from welfare‑benefit cliffs and HAP top‑ups to skyrocketing childcare costs. • How poverty traps and benefit‑income thresholds keep families “stuck”. • The role of child‑maintenance, the recent reforms, and the stress of family‑court processes. • Real‑world barriers: childcare access, activation measures, and the stigma that shapes service interactions. Key take‑aways for anyone interested in financial literacy and well‑being: • Financial insecurity often predates homelessness, not the other way round. • “Financial management” isn’t the issue; the lack of adequate income is. • Effective financial‑well‑being programs must consider benefit‑design, childcare, housing stability, and personal strengths together. 📄 Key Resource Mentioned Full Report: Lone Parents and Homelessness in Ireland https://www.focusireland.ie/knowledge-hub/research/ 🔔Author of Report, Sarah Sheridan, contact details ResearchGate Profile: https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Sarah-Sheridan-2 Contact email: Sarahsheridanresearch@gmail.com #LoneParents #Homelessness #IrelandHousing #FocusIreland #SocialWelfare #Childcare #HousingPolicy #PovertyTrap #MasterMyBalance

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  Master My Balance

  Ep 37: Neurodiversity, Teens & Financial Skills for Life; From Home to the Workplace

  Jun 3, 202620 min

  In **Part 2** we continue the conversation with Áine, focusingon the emotional side of money, the impact of losing work identity, and how the **Work & Access Scheme** can fund workplace assessments and neuro‑inclusion training. ✅ What you’ll learn * When work identity falls away, financial stress spikes –recognise the emotional cues. * Low self‑esteem often triggers impulse‑spending as a short‑term mood‑boost. * “Pause‑before‑spend” rules, budget alerts and automatedspending caps break the impulse loop. * Neuro‑divergent brain wiring (ADHD, dyspraxia, autism) canamplify spending triggers, tailored OT strategies help. * The **Work & Access Scheme** (launched July 2024) provides up to **€20 000** for employer‑funded neuro‑inclusion training and OT workplace assessments – any size business can apply. 🕒 Chapter markers 19:04 – Personal story: loss of work identity & financial fallout 20:30 – Why low self‑esteem fuels emotional spending 22:45 – The vicious cycle: anxiety → impulse buying →financial stress 25:10 – Neuro‑divergent wiring & spending triggers(ADHD, dyspraxia, autism) 28:00 – Practical coping tools (budget alerts, “pause”rules, apps) 30:40 – Overview of the Work & Access Scheme (launchJuly 2024) 31:55 – Funding details: up to €20 k for neuro‑inclusion training & assessments 34:20 – Employee → OT assessment → reasonable accommodations → funding flow 36:45 – Áine’s coaching for professionals, self‑employed& SMB owners 38:30 – Embedding financial literacy in everyday life &early‑year interventions 40:00 – How to contact Áine 💬 Connect with Áine • Áine’s website: https://www.radianceconsultinghub.com • Coaching & assessment contact page: https://www.radianceconsultinghub.com/contact 🔔 Subscribe for more Master My Balance episodes: ▶️https://www.youtube.com/channel/mastermybalance 👍 If the strategies helped you, give this video a LIKE, SHARE it with anyone who could benefit, and let us know in the comments which tool you’ll try first! #FinancialWellBeing #WorkAccessScheme #NeuroInclusion #MasterMyBalance #OT #Financialliteracy

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  Episode #36

  Ep 36: Health, Identity & Money: An Occupational Therapy Perspective on Financial Well-Being

  May 20, 202617 minS2

  In this episode of Master My Balance, Occupational Therapist & coach Áine O’Dea (Radiance Consulting) explains how everyday “occupations” – from cooking a meal to topping‑up a Leap Card, are fundamentally linked to brain‑based executive‑function skills and our money habits.✅ What you’ll learn: * Money management is an **occupational skill** just like dressing or caring for a child. * Executive‑function deficits (planning, self‑monitoring, working‑memory) drive budgeting problems for people with ADHD, dyspraxia/DCD, autism or depression. * Simple OT tools – budgeting boards, handheld scanners, smartphone shopping‑list apps, cut cognitive load and anxiety while shopping. * Early financial‑literacy builds lifelong confidence and self‑efficacy. * The **Work & Access Scheme** (launched July 2024) can fund up to **€20 000** for neuro‑inclusion training and workplace OT assessments – any size organisation can apply. 🕒 Chapter markers 00:00 – Welcome & intro to Master My Balance 00:45 – What “occupation” really means in OT 02:30 – Mental‑health challenges & everyday finances 04:55 – Executive‑function skills → budgeting, planning, self‑monitoring 07:20 – Practical OT tools for adults (budget boards, scanners, apps) 09:45 – Neuro‑divergent adults (ADHD, dyspraxia/DCD, autism, dyslexia) & money 12:10 – Work & Access Scheme – up to €20 k for workplace training/assessments 14:30 – Teaching money skills to kids as young as 3‑5 (self‑efficacy) 16:55 – Áine’s coaching for professionals, self‑employed & SMB owners 19:04 – *End of Part 1* 💬 Want to work with Áine? Website: https://www.radianceconsultinghub.com 👍 If this episode helped you, please LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT with your favourite OT tip! 🔔 Subscribe for regular tips and talks on financial well-being and the various factors that can impact it: ▶️ https://www.youtube.com/channel/mastermybalance #FinancialWellBeing #OccupationalTherapy #NeuroInclusion #MoneyMindset #MasterMyBalance #financialliteracy

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  Episode #35

  Ep 35: New Relationships After Divorce: Cohabitation, Assets & Protecting Your Future

  May 6, 202628 minS2

  In Part 2 of my discussion with Muriel Walls, we continue the deep‑dive into the financial aftermath of divorce , this time focusing on new relationships, co‑habitation, tax, and succession . Key take‑aways: • Cohabitation – who is legally liable after two years together with a child, or after five years without a child • Cohabitation agreements – how a simple written contract can protect your assets, and allocate responsibility for mortgage, home improvements, or pension rights. • Remarriage & inheritance – how divorce automaticallyextinguishes spousal succession rights, why a fresh will is a must, and the minimum legal right share (one‑third) for a spouse who later remarries. • Tax implications – difference between joint assessment vs.single assessment after divorce, the single‑parent child‑care tax credit , and why gifts to a cohabitant are subject to gift‑tax while gifts to a spouse are tax‑free. • Prenuptial agreements for older couples – why they are now enforceable in Ireland when both parties obtain independent legal advice; practical examples (house, pension, children). • Life‑insurance & death‑in‑service benefits – updatingbeneficiaries after divorce, how courts may require policies to secure maintenance, and the impact on the estate. • Trusts & professional trustees – when it makes sense toengage a solicitor or accountant as a trustee and the cost‑benefit analysis beyond the “cost attached”. • Common regrets – not establishing a rainy‑day fund early,ignoring pension contributions, and failing to update wills & insurance policies. Resources Muriel Walls Solicitor – https://www.murielwalls.ie Timestamps / Chapter Markers 0:00 – Recap of Part 1 & intro to Part 2 1:20 – Cohabitation code basics (2 yr + child, 5 yr no child) 4:10 – Redress scheme & rights of cohabitants 7:00 – Drafting a cohabitation agreement – why it matters 10:45 – Remarriage, succession rights & the one‑third rule 14:30 – Tax: joint vs. single assessment, child‑care tax credit 18:15 – Gift tax on cohabitant vs. spouse 21:40 – Prenuptial agreements for older couples; enforceability 26:00 – Updating life‑insurance & death‑in‑service benefits 29:55 – When to use a professional trustee (cost considerations) 33:40 – Common post‑divorce financial regrets 36:20 – Q&A: “What should I have known before divorce?” 39:00 – Closing remarks & teaser for next episode (Collaborative Practice) 👍Like if you found the tax and co‑habitation advice useful. 🔔Subscribe and turn on notifications for the next episode on collaborative practice . 📤Share with anyone starting a new partnership after divorce – the right paperwork saves money and heart‑ache. #MasterMyBalance #cohabitation #prenuptialagreement #financialliteracy #financialwellbeing #divorce #collaborativepractice

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