How To Make 2025 the Year You Actually Get Your Finances in Order

Here’s how a finance insider wants to help you get out of debt and into the green.

Raise your hand if one, two or all of these apply to you.

1. You keep telling yourself you’ll prioritise your finances when life isn’t so hectic.

2. You take a backseat when it comes to money – you leave it up to your partner, parents or the universe.

3. Investing feels scary and risky so you default to the ‘safe’ option of keeping your money solely in a bank account.

My hand is firmly raised!

Now this isn’t about proverbially undressing you and poking fun at your approach to finances. In fact, this is a battlecry for people (especially women) across the world to make 2025 the year you once and for all turn your money situation around. The reality is that women earn approximately $1 million less than men over our lifetimes, so it’s high time we kick things into gear and start fighting for our finances with knowledge (it is power, afterall).

But where to begin? A lack of understanding can keep women (myself included) in a bit of a state of financial paralysation. In order to turn inaction into genuine dollar signs (picture: Rihanna swishing $100 notes into the air) I decided to turn to a professional for advice – look at me already making gains!

I sat down with Molly Benjamin, the founder of Ladies Finance Club, who has helped over 70,000 women turn their finances from red to prosperous green through corporate workshops, live events, courses and partnerships with financial experts to bring advice to the masses. As a self-confessed former “hot mess” when it came to finances, in 2018 Molly decided to put an end to frivolous spending and take charge of her fiscal future.

And so Ladies Finance Club was born, and is now responsible for helping women cut through the jargon – and without sounding gauche – get rich! Here are Molly’s top tips that will get you out of debt, financially dependent and well on the way to getting what you want (and deserve).

Face the elephant in the room: your debt

When it comes to thinking about the debt you have piling up on your credit card, it can feel best to pack it away in the depths of your brain where you hide all of those algebra equations you learnt in school. That is, of course, a band-aid approach, and it certainly won’t keep you from waking up in a cold sweat at 2am. Even though it might seem impossible, Molly says that facing your debt doesn’t need to be an overwhelming prospect – in fact, there are just a few small steps you can make to turn things around.

Firstly, she suggests writing down all of your debt so you have a visual on what you’ll need to tackle: credit cards, loans, parking tickets. Lay it all bare. Then perform some “plastic surgery” and rip up that credit card before rolling out a pay off method that works for you.

“There are two ways to smash debt,” says Molly. “The Snowball Method, where you pay off the smallest debt first while making minimum payments on the rest. Once it's gone, roll that repayment into the next one. This gives you quick wins and keeps you motivated. Alternatively, you can try The Avalanche Method where you pay off the debt with the highest interest rate first (like credit cards) to save the most money long-term.”

Shop smart and set your savings to autopilot

You know what’s fun? Going on a shopping spree and spending all your money the day you’re paid. You know what’s not fun? Squirrelling away a chunk of money into your savings each month. But guess which one is going to serve you better in the long run? That’s right, class – the latter.

Molly reminds us that budgeting certainly doesn't have to mean cutting out everything that brings you joy. It's about choosing wisely and spending intentionally. Financial happiness is all about balance. Diligently saving without leaving any room to enjoy your hard-earned money will leave you miserable, as will making too many impulse purchases with no thought for your financial future.

Whether it's your morning coffee ritual, a regular mani, or a Friday night takeaway, identify the little luxuries that make life sweeter and prioritise them in your budget. Remember, it's not about depriving yourself, but about spending in a way that aligns with your values and happiness. So, what's your non-negotiable splurge that makes you feel good?

When making larger purchases, consider the quality and longevity of the product. It might feel counterintuitive, but it will likely serve you better in the long run to invest in a more premium, well-made product rather than the bargain-bin version. Think about it and be sure you love the item before you commit to buying.

“Choose a fee-free bank account for everyday spending and a high-interest savings account to grow your stash faster,” says Molly. “Then treat your savings like a non-negotiable bill. Set up an automatic transfer the day you get paid, so you’re saving before you even have a chance to overspend. Out of sight, out of mind – but in the best way.”

Get real about your property purchasing goals

Purchasing a property is a hot button topic at the moment with the idea of actually being able to afford a first home feeling perennially out of reach for many young people. But instead of treating buying a home like Migaloo the rare white whale, speak to a professional about where you’re at and where you need to be to make a property purchase. You might just be closer to holding the keys than you think.

“Speak to a mortgage broker sooner rather than later,” says Molly. “Even if you’re not quite ready to buy, a broker can help you understand your borrowing power, what lenders are looking for, and what steps you need to take to get your finances in shape.

And don’t forget, buying your first property isn’t about finding your forever home, it’s about getting your foot in the market. Your first home might be a stepping stone, not a dream home, and that’s okay!”

Audit with a fine tooth comb

Have you ever clocked a totally random deduction on your bank statement and turned a blind eye? Did I purchase a bejeweled 3 litre water bottle in the wee hours of the morning? Do I have a monthly charge for a domain name that I cannot remember purchasing? It’s absolutely not my business to look into it. Except…it is, isn't it.

If we crunch the numbers on our monthly and annual outgoing expenditures, I think we’ll find there’s a lot of unnecessary money flying off into the ether. It’s time to clean house, and audit our fiscal activity. “Go through your bank statements and cancel anything that’s not serving you, including old subscriptions and gym memberships you don’t use,” says Molly. If you’ve finished bingeing the new season of The White Lotus, pop that streaming platform on hold and save yourself some coins.

Speak up and ask for a deal on utilities

There’s a lot of pride tied up in most people’s relationship with money, which can often mean we let ego cloud our ability to get the best bang for our buck. In reality, there’s no shame in speaking up and asking for a discount – it could be the difference between owning a home in the next five years or renting for the next 30.

“Call your electricity, internet, insurance providers and negotiate a better deal,” says Molly. “Most of them will cut you a discount if you ask.”

And while you’re on a roll, why not negotiate a raise, pick up a side hustle or finally get around to selling off all of those shoes you have collecting dust in the cupboard. All of these extra clams will make more of a difference, and you’ll open up a new layer of financial confidence you never knew you had inside of you.

When times are tough – there is light at the end of the tunnel

Let’s not sugar coat it – most of us are experiencing one of the most challenging economic times of our lives. It’s really, really tough out there, so the prospect of saving or even getting out of debt can seem unreachable at the moment. If this is you, Molly says, “just breathe” and focus on what you can control right now.

“If you’re drowning in debt, start by listing everything out and making a plan,” she says. “Definitely speak to a money coach or debt counsellor. Then download a free budgeting app and look at where your money is currently going, then write out your net worth, assets and liabilities – you now have a starting point.

And remember: your financial situation isn’t who you are, it’s just where you are right now. The key is taking action, even if it’s just a baby step.”

I’ll check back in with you all at the end of 2025 – this is going to be our year to clear that debt, take control of our finances and put into plan some long held goals that may have seemed totally unattainable.

* Cue Shania Twain *. Let’s go girls.