Money & Menopause: What No One Told Us

Money, Menopause, and the Financial Curveballs No One Warns You About

Hot flushes? Sure.
Mood swings? Maybe.
But no one tells you about the career breaks, unexpected medical costs, and retirement gaps that menopause can cause — and how much it can shake up your financial future.

In this powerful Get Rich episode with Molly Benjamin and Peita Diamantidis, Financial Freedom Coach & Financial Adviser, we’re lifting the lid on the hidden money impacts of menopause - from navigating income dips and super shortfalls to the real cost of staying healthy during this phase of life.

Whether you're already in it, approaching it, or just want to future-proof your finances, this conversation will leave you feeling informed, empowered, and ready to take control.

Because when it comes to menopause and money, knowledge isn’t just power — it’s financial security.

To grab the course Peita refers to DM her on Instagram here or visit her site here.

This episode is brought to you by InvestorKit, Australia’s #1 Buyers Agency for 2023 and 2024. They specialise in helping investors find high-growth properties utilising industry leading AI and data driven research process across Australia. 70%+ of the properties they purchase are off-market and they have consistently outperformed national average capital growth rates by over 49%. Whether you’re looking to build your property portfolio or secure your first investment. Check them out here.

CHAPTERS

00:00 - Welcome and Topic Intro
00:23 - What Menopause Actually Is
01:45 - Hot Flushes, Night Sweats, and Other Surprising Symptoms
06:30 - How Menopause Affects Your Career and Finances
12:00 - Short-Term Costs of Menopause
16:00 - Planning Ahead: Why Flexibility in Work Matters
20:00 - Practical Financial Steps to Prepare
22:00 - Why You Might Need a “Mini Retirement Fund”
23:39 - Closing Thoughts: Don't Go Quiet, Share the Wisdom

LINKS AND RESOURSES FROM THE EPISODE 

MetLife’s Study on the Impacts of Menopause
Australian Menopause Society - https://www.menopause.org.au/

CONNECT WITH PEITA DIAMANTIDIS

Website: https://www.caboodlefs.com.au/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iampeitad/
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/peitamd

CONNECT WITH LADIES FINANCE CLUB

Join our free Facebook group - Ladies Finance Club Money Chat
Website: https://www.ladiesfinanceclub.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ladiesfinanceclub/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ladies-finance-club/

TAKEAWAYS

• Menopause is a natural hormonal transition that every woman experiences.
• The average age for menopause is around 51, but it can occur earlier.
• Symptoms of menopause can include hot flushes, night sweats, and brain fog.
• A significant number of women alter their careers due to menopause symptoms.
• Financial planning is crucial for managing the costs associated with menopause.
• Having a supportive GP can make a significant difference in managing menopause symptoms.
• Women should consider flexible work arrangements to cope with menopause.
• Creating an emergency fund can help manage unexpected costs during menopause.
• Investing in a separate fund for potential early retirement can provide flexibility.
• Open conversations about menopause can help reduce stigma and share experiences.

SOUND BITES

"It's just another hormonal transition."
"Every woman goes through menopause."
"The symptom load is quite high."
"Start the hunt for a good GP now."

TRANSCRIPT

[00:00:00] Molly: Welcome back to another episode of Get Rich, the podcast helping you do just that. Get rich and stay rich. Now, today we're diving into a topic that affects every woman at some point, money and menopause. And I am joined by the brilliant Peita Diamantidis to break it all down. Now, if you think menopause is just about hot flushes, think again.

[00:00:23] We are talking the symptoms no one warns you about and also how one in three women change careers because of menopause. And what that means for your finances. So we're also gonna look at some smart financial prep you can do to make sure you protect yourself in the future. I was like amazed by this conversation because I just realized I had never had a conversation about metaphors before in my life.

[00:00:45] So we're gonna be covering this in a whole lot more, and I would love, if you learn something new from this podcast, you will go hit that subscribe button. Let's make it a deal. Are you ready to learn about money and menopause? I hope you enjoy this conversation. Thank you so much for coming onto the show.

[00:01:03] We're very excited to have you on. Thank you, ma'am. I'm excited to be here. This will

[00:01:07] Peita: be so interesting,

[00:01:08] Molly: so interesting because I am gonna say that this is a topic well, I just know nothing about, so let's maybe start with just breaking down. Like for someone going through menopause, what does it actually mean?

[00:01:24] Yeah. Can you expect,

[00:01:25] Peita: yeah, so look, not being a doctor heads up. So, you know, financial advisors have always got caveats, don't we? So, yeah. Not a doctor, not an expert, but it's just another hormonal transition, right? For women, what's interesting and part of the sort of horrifying part of us being less aware is it's something we all go through.

[00:01:45] So, you know, it's a top and tailed of puberty. Like we all go through puberty in a form, right? And, and you know, get our period. Similarly, every woman goes through menopause. Now, that's something that I think surprises everybody. Yeah. Is Oh, I thought it was that thing that once in a while there's a woman that has something that's a bit difficult.

[00:02:02] But it's not that it happens to everybody. It happens to everybody. Okay. All right. It's the severity of it. Really that's, that's the difference is, and just like when we, I mean, it's such a long time for me now, I'm happy to say like I'm 51, right? So the first time I got my period is so long ago. But just like that experience is quite different.

[00:02:22] Molly: Yeah. For

[00:02:23] Peita: each girl then it's the same for each woman. The average age they say is about 51. For menopause, um, the range is sort of 45 to 55 ish. Right. Wow. So that's sort of the broad timing. Yeah. So it can be quite early in that sense. I mean, 45 is pretty young. Um, it's

[00:02:41] Molly: really young. Mm-hmm. What does it mean?

[00:02:44] Does it mean you can't have kids? Does it mean? Yeah, so producing eggs, I know this is a finance chat, not a reproductive

[00:02:52] Peita: chat, but so my understanding, and there's gonna be people that are gonna ring in that know much more about this. I'm sure they're gonna message us, which we love, so that's great. Let's start a conversation.

[00:03:01] My understanding is, is that all of that stops, right? So it's period stops, egg production stops, all those things stop. The thing is, what's interesting, and this is my personal experience, is it's not like that happens on a date. So there's a process your body goes through leading up to that,

[00:03:17] Molly: okay?

[00:03:18] Peita: And that process is the thing that's quite different for everybody.

[00:03:21] Right, so it's the way your body handles this hormone cocktail that's going on. The funniest analogy I heard was a good friend of mine said she feels like what we as women go through for menopause is as extreme and bizarre and strange and random as what boys do. Through puberty where it is quite, things hit you at a funny time and you're angry, but then you're sad, but then you're like all this sort of really extreme stuff that happens to guys.

[00:03:48] Yeah. She feels like we are getting slapped with that in menopause. That's when we

[00:03:53] Molly: that. Right. So into nipple. Exactly. It all women. That's why we think women are just incredible because just the shit they put up with.

[00:04:03] Peita: Oh man. It's so interesting because. There's such a breadth of what they have to put up with.

[00:04:09] So there will be women we are all interacting with. Yeah. In these age groups. Some even younger. It can be younger than that. That, so there's the obvious stuff, right? So some of the symptoms that the usual suspects might be hot flushes, and we'll come back to that. I've got a great hot flush story. Hot flushes, night sweats, trouble sleeping, weight gain.

[00:04:30] That's sort of a. Regular thing. Right? And, and that's connected to a combo of the hormonal changes and metabolism. It sort of all hits in one hit. So that's something that can happen right when you hit menopause? The hot flush thing. Yeah. It's worth talking about because I think it's another one of those things we don't truly understand and somebody, everybody listening will have known somebody.

[00:04:52] It might even be, you know, an auntie or a grandmother or somebody you've known who's had a fan. Like they're just Yeah, sitting there waving. To explain what it feels like. I'm sure, I mean, you, I'm sure, Molly, you've been to, you know what, when you go to like a bootcamp class and you work hard for an hour, and at the end of it there, it feels like your eyeballs are sweating.

[00:05:11] You know, when you're sweating so thoroughly, every inch of your hair is wet, all the clothes you're wearing are wet. Everything's like, it's just sweating every, the bottom of your feet feel like they're sweating. You know that feeling, right? Well, I was. At an industry event. This was early last year, sorry, it was about middle of last year.

[00:05:28] So in winter and I had to be on stage, which was fine, got a bit uncomfortable and I was okay. And then we went for drinks afterwards and it was an outside sort of covered bar, but it was outside. So it was a cool winter's day, so it should have been fine. I'm standing there in what was in 13 degree. Cool.

[00:05:44] On a balcony and I was that hot. Like I'd done a bootcamp. That's what a hot flush is like, right? It is so ludicrous.

[00:05:54] Molly: I think we need a better word for hot flush then, because that kind of makes it sound like it's just like a little Oh, a little bit warm. Yeah. You feel rosy cheek. I've got pink cheeks, I've got rosy cheeks.

[00:06:05] It's actually quite. A nice look. Not like bootcamp sweat. Hi.

[00:06:09] Peita: No. And of course all of that discomfort and like your, your hair or you know, like you don't wanna go into, you see somebody you know really well and like, you'd normally go in for a hug and you're not gonna do that. 'cause the poor thing, like, I don't wanna do that to them.

[00:06:23] Right. So it's that type of thing you are dealing with on a. Not day-today basis. That's not fair. But it's in like anything in life, it's always at the least opportune moments. Right. And does it

[00:06:33] Molly: just last for a period of time or do we have this now for the rest of time?

[00:06:38] Peita: Generally it's for a period of time.

[00:06:40] Okay. Now, it can be for a couple of years is my understanding, but it can be much shorter than that. So some people sort of sail through it. Right. And sort of like, oh, that was a blip. And it's sort of done others, so I'm technically not even in menopause. My doc like, so I've been tested, I'm in perimenopause, which is this lead up.

[00:06:56] It's like this sort of ramp up to the the big day. So, so yeah. So those are the sort of obvious symptoms. The other things that don't get discussed as much, so they're probably things that people have heard about.

[00:07:07] Molly: Yeah,

[00:07:08] Peita: the others could be, some people get like arthritis style aching in their joints. So that can be something that happens for the clumsy people out there.

[00:07:17] Altered spatial awareness can be a thing where you get even clumsier, right? So that can happen, you know, no sharp knives sort of stuff. It can actually, the reverse of what most people think. You can actually get very heavy periods in menopause, which is bizarre, right? You wouldn't think of that in terms of leading up to menopause.

[00:07:35] But that can happen too. So you think you've got it nailed and we're adults and surely this thing is easy. Suddenly it becomes quite intense, um, and overwhelming. But the thing most people talk about is brain fog. I. Yeah, so that's sort of a bit of a universal one that sort of swans in and out. Okay. Yeah.

[00:07:54] It's not really any great. Are there any good symptoms? Good symptoms? Well, I mean, there's an outcome looking for the silver lining here. The silver lining is you come through the valley of difficulty and out the other side, you never have to buy a period product again.

[00:08:09] Molly: Money saver.

[00:08:10] Peita: There's a money saver at the end of this.

[00:08:11] So right at the end of this, all of that is just no longer an issue. Right. Um, which

[00:08:16] Molly: only favor on an item that I think should be free anyway, so.

[00:08:19] Peita: Correct, correct.

[00:08:22] Molly: Well, that's crazy that I'm. 30. I actually had to Google, like do the calculations on my age the day. 'cause I couldn't remember if I was 36 or 37.

[00:08:30] I'm a bit the same. So I'm 37. This is the first time I've ever had a conversation with

[00:08:36] Peita: a woman about menopause. Isn't that crazy? It is. And it's the thing I've actually been contemplating with my girlfriends about this, and it's the thing I think we miss from the being part of a Tribe in Huts thing.

[00:08:49] Yeah. And the thing that they do really well is. Celebrating milestones and getting women together to talk about milestones. Yeah. And it's made to be quite this thing. Like it's part like you celebrate transitions. Yeah. So early ones in life and also later. And I think what we miss out then is, is this conversation.

[00:09:06] Right? Yeah. And, and the wisdom. You're the ones that have been there going, it's all right darling. What you need to do is,

[00:09:11] Molly: yeah. You know? Um, and some kind of celebration around it as well because you know, as we always say, it's a privilege to get old denied to many. Yes. And we need to actually celebrate this as opposed to just like being like, oh God, this thing's about to happen.

[00:09:26] Exactly. Another thing. Exactly. And have to put up with,

[00:09:29] Peita: I love that as an idea too, because the thing that unfortunately the society we have as it stands, and you know what, it's gonna change and I'm sure, we'll, we will all change it, but. You hit that age like where I'm at now. Yeah. And you do progressively become more invisible to society.

[00:09:44] Yeah. So actually having something that sort of almost reawakens you again and, and you know, Hey, I am here and isn't this fabulous. Yeah. I think is a great idea. You know? Yeah. I think that sort of snaps us out of that slow diminishing Yeah. That can happen to women.

[00:10:00] Molly: Absolutely. Yeah.

[00:10:01] Peita: For sure.

[00:10:03] Molly: Wow. So obviously this episode is called Money and Menopause.

[00:10:07] Yeah. So I thought maybe we could start with like how do these symptoms, I guess, affect work life income? Yeah. And any kind of like health costs associated with it.

[00:10:19] Peita: Yes. So let's talk sort of that short term first. So definitely doctor's appointments, ramp up. Yeah. For a couple of reasons. Unfortunately, the number of doctors that have an understanding of this is pretty limited.

[00:10:34] So as a rule, even, and I'm talking GPS here and let alone specialists, as a rule, the gps that you would choose to go through when you go through this are not gonna be bulk billed. Like this is gonna be something you'll have to put some money out for. Well worth it. I might add, but definitely there'll be a cost there.

[00:10:50] The other thing is that often perimenopausal menopause can hide other things that you then need to go and get resolved or get day surgery or other things. So there's sort of, let's call it maintenance, medical maintenance costs. Yeah. That may pop up. So certainly that's the case through this period. You will be.

[00:11:08] Probably going to the doctor a little more, to be honest. Yeah. So that is one cost for me. One of the other day, well, not day-to-day, but sort of short-term costs was you need to rethink your wardrobe a little. So yeah, the hot flush thing means tight dresses or like any of the stuff that, like being a bit younger is just, I just love this thing.

[00:11:27] I'm gonna buy it. That you do need to think about. Okay, but if I'm really hot, am I gonna want to be wearing

[00:11:34] Molly: it? Outfit? Yeah. I'm just staying out.

[00:11:35] Peita: Right. So there's a bit of a, a rethink on your outfits. Don't get me wrong. I think we should all buy what we wanna buy, but you certainly do need to make a bit of an allowance for comfort, not unlike women when they're pregnant, you know, there's certain things they buy.

[00:11:48] 'cause it's like. I'm really uncomfortable. I wanna make sure. Yeah. I can feel better. So that's one of the other costs. One of the things that, in the study that MetLife just did last year, they said that one in three women actually experiencing menopause, say that their spending habits have been impacted.

[00:12:05] So their costs have gone up. Yeah. And that they've hacked to, one of the things that actually they dropped spending was on social activities, which is a shame. So they felt they had to cut back, going out and doing other things, which of course, Hmm. Isn't necessarily a great thing, right? We probably need our community around us more when we're going through transitions.

[00:12:24] So those are the sort of really immediate things. You know, they're the things that I've, I've noticed myself that have been some costs, but you're a hundred percent right. Income is a big issue for women in this area. So the MetLife study pointed out a third of women end up altering their careers because of the symptoms of menopause.

[00:12:42] Molly: Really, because

[00:12:43] Peita: that's a third severe, right? Well, not even severe. It's that handling. The layers of these things happening gets to the point that they either need to reduce work hours or they step down from leadership roles. Like this is significant. You know, it's not something that sort of once in a few have to deal with.

[00:13:01] It's quite significant. There's an expression that I came across that I thought was interesting from medical professions. They call it symptom load, and unfortunately with menopause, the symptom load is quite high because it's not one thing. Most people have a few things. Yeah, and so if you think of your coping capacity, you know that sort of bandwidth we all have for the general rubbish we all deal with on a day-to-day basis, if a whole lot of that has been sucked up by dealing with perimenopausal menopause.

[00:13:28] Yeah. Then if you've got a high tense, stressful leadership job, your ability to cope with that.

[00:13:35] Molly: Not to mention just your day-to-day mental low

[00:13:37] Peita: already. Right. So you've already Exactly. So yeah, so that's some of the challenges for women going through this. And so it's actually, I mean, I think a third is really high, that people are

[00:13:47] Molly: one in three, that's massive,

[00:13:49] Peita: right.

[00:13:49] That are altering their careers. Yeah. One eighth leave the workforce altogether.

[00:13:54] Molly: Mm-hmm.

[00:13:55] Peita: So that's actually like if we all think about the women we know. It's at least a few of them that that's gonna happen to, so these are massive impacts on the retirement money. They may not, they may even be too young to even get access to any super yet.

[00:14:10] Molly: Yeah.

[00:14:10] Peita: Right. And so how do you fund that? And then the fact that if, if they do, they're eating into it earlier and they haven't had all that earning time. So I think the quantum of impact we're talking about is hundreds of thousands of dollars. This is not a small. Few thousand impact as a once off, it could be really significant on somebody's sort of, you know, capital, um, that we all have in life.

[00:14:33] I have to admit the numbers, I mean, I can only speak to my experience, but the numbers were bigger than I expected. 'cause once again, we're not talking about it. So we are less aware of everybody going short.

[00:14:41] Molly: My gosh, these numbers are like. I'm astounded, like I can't believe how high they are. Yeah. Because it's still young, like women are in their

[00:14:51] Peita: fifties and the truth is like people have, you know, as a re retirement, as a date, people sort of have that whole 65 or a roundabout then in their head.

[00:14:58] Yeah. You know, most of us who enjoy the work we are doing and and are plowing ahead, probably it'll be past 70. We're gonna be vibrant and energetic and loving work for much longer than that. Yeah. So to think of that being cut short because of something like. This is heartbreaking. And for me, not good enough.

[00:15:17] You know, I'm like, no, that's not okay.

[00:15:19] Molly: And I think also for a lot of people. They'll need to be working. Yeah. Right.

[00:15:24] Peita: 70 just to afford life. Correct. Correct. I still, you know, there's things I think we can do. So one of the things we, we all need to acknowledge in this and these stats, they represent women going through the historical workforce Right.

[00:15:39] To date. Yeah. You know, and that structure of the workforce has been designed by a predominantly male workforce. So they've not had to adjust for this. So it's not something that they're conditioned to. So I think there's some things as women we can think about. One of the things that stood out for me is, is women did say that the roles, they managed to stay longer and feel more comfortable and confident in their roles if there was work flexibility in them.

[00:16:07] So if there was a woo, okay, today's a bit rough, I'm gonna do the meetings from home, or I'm gonna, you know, so if there was flexibility there. Yeah. So for the listeners to me, really, no matter what age you are. It's worth thinking about your role career in a bigger sense.

[00:16:23] Molly: Yeah.

[00:16:23] Peita: And thinking about how flexible it could be then.

[00:16:26] Molly: Hmm.

[00:16:27] Peita: Do you get what I mean? Like sort of going, Hmm. So have I picked something that There's never gonna be that do, I mean like just thinking that through and understanding it because it's something that most will have some sort of impact. So how, how might that. What might happen? You know what, how might you deal with that?

[00:16:44] The more we can just be cogitating about that, it may mean there's different opportunities that come up. There might be two fabulous new jobs that come up and one of them you think, oh, hold on. They've got a different flexibility approach. Maybe I. Yeah, that's something I should be right. So I think it's, I mean, I hate thinking about restriction.

[00:17:01] I hate that for women, but I think we've also gotta acknowledge what will happen to us.

[00:17:05] Molly: Yeah. Because I always think of like my friends who work in finance and they have very busy jobs and they're just not designed for women or women's lives, or women to have children. There's no flexibility. And I'm like, well then these are the industries where we need more female role models and female leaders yet, yes.

[00:17:23] They just make it so hard. So yeah, hopefully we'll see more

[00:17:26] Peita: workplaces change. And there are, so there are some workplaces that are even, and so MetLife is a good example where they've actually released a menopause policy. Great. So that's an example of that. Yeah, and I think, unfortunately, the challenge is, is this is one of those things that.

[00:17:41] That women generally hide the symptoms of in the workplace, right? Yeah. Because also, you know, brain fog is a thing and so you don't want to be vulnerable and share that because that could impact opportunities or projects you might get put on. Yeah. All that sort of stuff. So time, right. So, and I, so to me, I.

[00:17:58] I think we, you know, searching for those employers that you trust. Mm. Right. And where you do have that sort of partnership in terms of we're in this together, I'm gonna give you all I've got, but you need, like, then I think for women, that's gonna make such a difference because then you can have those conversations and say, this is what I'm dealing with.

[00:18:16] How do we handle it? And they're gonna want to. Keep you, they're gonna want to work with you on that. And no won't see this as an issue. It's just part of what happens, you know?

[00:18:25] Molly: So what are some other steps we can take to financially prepared for menopause? Or maybe that if we are retiring earlier, what are some things we can do now?

[00:18:34] So we're gonna be in a better position? That

[00:18:36] Peita: position

[00:18:37] Molly: at

[00:18:37] Peita: that. Yeah. So no surprises to your listeners. Or your community emergency fund clearly could get tapped into for something like this. So some things could come up at some point. So not just having one, but keeping it up to date and being comfortable at the level in there, um, I think is a must.

[00:18:56] The other thing I'd say too is I can't tell you how long it took me to find a GP that didn't think that menopause was something you just need to take a Panadol for. Yeah. So any woman of any age. Now listening. Start the hunt now. Yeah. Right. Because once you find them, then they often have, the good ones have 12 to 18 month wait lists to get a single appointment with them.

[00:19:25] And this is a gp. This is not even a specialist.

[00:19:27] Molly: Yeah.

[00:19:28] Peita: So that hunt now is well worth it because you can then just be using and you won't be seeing them as much. You know, you're fantastically healthy and you're fit and that's great, but that means you've got them and you're in a practice that. That has some insight and understanding and empathy to this.

[00:19:42] Yeah. So that when it does happen down the track, you're ready. 'cause I probably dealt with C perimenopause symptoms for about six to nine months longer than I would've needed to, had I got to somebody sooner.

[00:19:53] Molly: Wow.

[00:19:54] Peita: Right. It's that serious. And that's a, if you speak to women, that's a very common experience.

[00:19:59] That's really good practical advice, right? It's just get on it, get, get that great person. Now, have the waiting while it's not so bad, while you, you're not torturing yourself. I think the other thing we talked about that mental load, right? And the, yeah, the bandwidth. I think really going hard on scheduling your adulting all of the things that we have to do in a year.

[00:20:21] That I don't know about you, but can be a weight. Oh, I haven't done, oh, I've gotta put my car in for a service and go, I've gotta, you know, those things, we all cope with it, right? And we all live our lives and, and can function, but when you have something else that's taking up some of that bandwidth, yeah, then the more you can have everything else sorted.

[00:20:41] The better you'll be. Yeah. And so all of that stuff, you know, tax return, collation, diarized, everything's just scheduled ready. You've got it organized, you've got folders ready for it. All of that stuff that I think people sort of poo poo a bit. Oh, it's so boring, you know? Yeah. Aren't, you know, only, only retaining people.

[00:21:01] The ones that do that, I'm like, I get it. It's not fun, but do it well once and you'll be thanking yourself over and over and over and over and over again in the future. So I think that's one. The other one I'd say from a really focused money sense is automating your cash flow. So you know, beyond budgeting, having that bucketing strategy set up where big bills or fixed bills just get paid, like your income comes in and it's all just being sorted.

[00:21:27] Having that when you've got something else that's taking up your bandwidth is fabulous too, because you're not second guessing yourself. You're not worried about something coming up. It's all just getting looked after. So I feel like the more you can organize yourself Yeah, the better off you can then be.

[00:21:42] Molly: And then around retirement savings. So our super fund, is this something that you know, we might wanna be putting in extra? Even like 50 or a little bit, just that little bit extra into now. So then that does give it an option if we want to retire early to potentially have a bit more control over that age.

[00:22:02] Peita: Well, in fact, what I'd say is, I mean, I love the idea, so certainly for the like future fund, right? So certainly saving for the future, but what we might want to think about as women is whether there's a. Before formal retirement fund that's invested. So it's not in super, but it's invested and we are putting money in there because what it gives you is flex.

[00:22:21] Yeah. Like, you know what? I feel like my head's gonna explode. I need a sabbatical from work for three months. I have some money. That means I can do that and then I come back and I feel great and I'm off again. So having almost the like a mini, A mini retirement fund. Yeah. To give you that, just that ability.

[00:22:39] Love that to and, and that can investing's. Great. Anyway, this is all part of our wealth building, but sort of thinking about it as giving you that, that flexibility, so that should you be one of the people that gets some crazy, crazy times for a bit, then you've got the option to just sort of. Throw your rounds in the air and go, it's, I'm just gonna let myself heal and, and go through this process or come out the other side ready to kick ass and take names.

[00:23:04] I think that would be a great way to go.

[00:23:06] Molly: Love that. Because again, if you put in your super, you can't access that. Correct.

[00:23:10] Peita: And that's, yes. That's my hesitation. So, and as time progresses, that age will get older. Yeah. Of when we can access it. So Yeah. To me, I mean we've all got, generally we've got super and we've got some money going in.

[00:23:21] Yeah. For this sort of, well what if I need, what if something happens a bit before then I'd be going, you know, investments would be a great way to cover yourself for that.

[00:23:29] Molly: Yeah, absolutely. And again, an episode you can check out is, uh, the one we recorded with equity mates all about ETF. So definitely check that one out.

[00:23:39] If you're listening and you're like, I don't know what that is, where do I start? Do that. Well, this has been a very insightful conversation. Thank you so much for sharing. Very

[00:23:50] Peita: welcome. Very welcome and look, the, the last thing I'll leave the listener with is if you are getting close to this age or you're sort of right in, it is, please don't go quiet.

[00:23:59] So please talk about this with other women. Go bold. Go bright. To be honest, there is another symptom I didn't talk about, which seems to happen across women in this age group, is all of a sudden we all wanna wear sequins. I dunno what that's about, but every woman in this age group suddenly owns a whole lot more sequined outfits.

[00:24:16] So there is something else to look forward to.

[00:24:18] Molly: There you go, sequins. Exactly.

[00:24:19] Peita: We're all gonna be sparkly and shiny, but yeah, please don't go quiet. Please do Reach out to people and collectively share the wisdom. Of how to get through some of these processes.

[00:24:28] Molly: Absolutely, and if you've got any wisdom to share, please head over to our Facebook group, ladies, finance Club, money Chat and Share.

[00:24:35] It would be really appreciated and I'm sure it can help other women maybe going through this or who are about to go through it. Thank you so much. B,

[00:24:42] Peita: thank you for having me.

KEYWORDS

menopause, financial impact, women's health, work-life balance, symptoms, financial planning, perimenopause, healthcare costs, retirement savings, flexibility in work