Overworked, Underpaid, and Burnt Out—Now What?

Hello, my name's Santasha Nabananga Bamblet. I'm a proud yor

Let's get into it.

She's on the Money. She's on the Money.

Hello and welcome to She's on the Money podcast that makes personal finance fun, especially on Fridays. It is our favorite day of the week because we got a new studio and that's really exciting, but also because we get our team together in a more relaxed couch environment now, which is very exciting to celebrate you how incredible She's on the Money community. Miss Jess Ricci is here on her couch and she's going to be sharing her best

I don't like it already. Yeah, I don't like it already.

Like and we're not even slackers that she's on the money, but like overworking canceled.

Absolutely, there's definitely somewhere between overworking and being slack.

Yeah, there's a whole lot of middle ground. There's a whole lot of middle week cover a lot.

But before we get there, guys, how were your weeks?

Yes, you go first, Mimmy's been good. I'm so excited to be here in our new.

Studio, So I feel like we have leveled up. Yeah, it is so so fun. We have a new home and on socials you see it'll look beautiful.

Oh my gosh.

Our videos are going to go to the next level, like that's my week here, basically because we just thought you guys deserve better content.

The couches are company, the cookes crispy. We are so ready, Beck, how's your week being really good? I'm also really happy about this new studio. I know that people won't be able to see, but you'll hear it in our voice. You can just hear how excited we are. Yeah.

Yeah, but it's been a gorgeous week, just full of love, light and laughter.

I love that. Yes, I'm doing a little bit of live laugh, lovy.

I am getting prepared for Harvey's first birthday, which is so exciting. I have finished, thankfully, my golf cart and there are photos online. I will definitely be sharing that, don't you worry, because it's like my pride and joy.

It great.

I completely hyper fixated on it and was like googling every single person who's ever done a diy reno on one of these things, watching their tips and tricks and how they Anyway, I'm very excited about that, and I can at the end of the day. Yes, I did spend more on paint than I did on the actual cozy coop. That's a bit like it's the thought that counts. Also, why spray paint so expensive?

It is actually really expended.

Yeah, I did end up doing a little bit of a budget hack there. I bought the expensive primer and the expensive top coat, and then I.

Got cheap color. Yes much.

I feel like that was a good middle ground because I didn't realize spray paint twenty bucks A can eat twenty bucks a can the two dollar shop.

Oh can the hairspray? I know, a colored hairspray. I didn't use colored hairspray.

It was genuine paint that I'm aware of, But I mean it could technically become colored hairspray. Yeah, that's true. Let's move on from that though. Would you guys like to hear a five star review that we received this week?

Yes?

Please, absolutely, We've been so lucky.

There have been a few of them pop up recently, and I'm not gonna lie every time I read them. My heart is just so happy. This one is from SLP and they say I can't say enough how grateful I am to have come across this podcast As someone who grew up with a mum who lived paycheck to paycheck and wasn't financially smart. I always believed that would

It's been life change. That's cool in the entire world. That's amazing. I was trying to think of, like what FLP would stand for she loves podcasts. That You're like, she loves podcasts. I'm like, yes, so that's Sarah Lee Parkinson.

That so much Sarah Jessica Parker, the Sarah park I know Jay is not the same, but in my brain they look exactly the same.

It's like the automatic kids. Parker was writing in.

Yeah, well, I feel like I'm really excited about this and I feel like our five star reviews they just like set the tone of the week.

Oh, it's such a good finisher.

But my other favorite thing is our money Wins and Confessions thread in our Facebook group, and every single week, Miss just Greci gives us a rap of some of either her favorites or the most popular ones. Suggess, what have you round up for us this week?

All right? This week we're starting with a solid but simple one from Katie. She said she sold her old fridge on Facebook Marketplace when they thought no one was going to buy it. Oh duh, that's a good money win just listening. Never not, because then you don't have to take it anywhere yourself, is what I I was talking to my dad about Facebook Marketplace the other day because he had a whole heap of old tools that he's like, honestly, I want to give them away.

Yeah, but I don't want to give them away because people on Facebook Marketplace as savages. So he listed them for like twenty dollars and then just gave them away when the people arrived.

And I just can't be bothered, like, don't worry. But like, also it was because I didn't want people who just wanted free stuff.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think that's a great idea little strategy, very clever. Someone's day Yeah. Next, I've got a money win from Lynn, who said she set up an automatic savings debit about a year ago. She checked it today and she's got just over fifteen grand. Sorry what, Linda? She was in shock. She was in shock because she didn't miss it. I think so. I think she must have just so good set and forget she wouldn't notice debiting away. And then she had a little squiz and was like, oh my goodness,

Right?

Yeah, how do you live your life? The limit does not exist, just as like anything for free points like colutely. Next, I've got money in from India who said I sent my first invoice for my small side business and also asked for our higher fee for the next booking with the same client after I realized how much prep and post time went into the first job.

Yeah.

Good, yes, queen, I love that, and.

It's good to like reflect and be like, okay, we need to change this. Like in business, you are always changing, you are never staying stagnant all the same.

Especially in the early days, where like she said, she's figuring out how much time and effort goes into things, even just like invoicing, like how long's that taking you? That needs to be taken into consideration one hundred percent. And then lastly, I've got a money win from Tay this week who said, we've been collecting the ten cent cans and models. I've asked my mom to save hers. My fiance brings them home from his employees, and we have been accumulating them so quickly and putting all the

My niece and nephew collect them as well, and now they have a separate bin. So they've got like recycling, they've got their rubbish and like their green waist, but then they have a separate bin and it's just for cans and things.

It's so smart.

Yeah, even if it's just like an old box in the laundry or something that way, you don't have to sort them.

I feel like it's a great way to be teaching kids about money. I feel a really good way to it.

Like I feel like we need to create and like I'm putting the pressure on myself here by publicly sharing this, but I have been thinking for ages about creating like a savings plan for kids. So you know on our website how we have the gold Tracker, Yes, like that, but it's like smaller amounts that kids can do that you can achieve with like collecting bottles.

And cans doing money, Yeah, exactly.

And I feel like kids just need to learn about money earlier, and it's not about how much they get, it's about what they're doing with it and how they feel about it.

It's like a little bit of work ethic in their tree with the cans because they've got to save them up and then yell with them and being like, I think that's quite clever.

And then it teaches them how to budget, like you know, what are you saving for? Like let's talk to them about goal setting, and like what's the difference between short term and long term goals? Like you know, if you wait a little longer, you'll get something a little bit better. I think that's a good lesson to learn, especially early on.

Even like mirrors off cars excited me to take me there because I have a broken part on my What do you have? Well let me tell you? Oh god please, I still own my first car that I bought, yes, because I can't part with it, like and just to like reverse a little bit.

I'm very grateful that I can still afford to keep it. But if I sold it, I maybe would get maximum fifteen hundred dollars, Like.

It's still the money, still a lot of money, but like it's not like I'm I've got like a thirty thousand dollars car sitting in the driveway. Don't want people thinking that.

But there's also like this deep emotional attachment that I have, even my little Mercedes. So it's a Mercedes, she's really old. Yeah, clearly cheap, but there's so many things on it that are broken. But how do you know that that's going to work for all cars? Like do you have to get the same model? Well, that's the thing, VD is that all you have to do is Google. Like if you have like a my one's quite generic. I just have a toilet, so like a lot of things can

So many of my car in a junk yard. Now, yeah, and it doesn't have to be the same year.

A lot of a lot of the time, like a lot of the you know, like even tires and stuff, they have like different measurements and if you just look for roughly the same car and take photos of your car, you can google it as well.

You are so resourceful.

I'm always Yes, it also called so in Melbourne it's called pick up Heart.

I was thinking pick apart, yes, and mix like.

The yeah and oh my god, for like people like me, it is like a lollly shop and it's like, oh, I'm so excited. But even like the thing is, even if you bring home a tire that doesn't fit, you're like, well, now I know exactly what I'm looking for when I go back.

It is this measurement by this measurement. It's very cheap.

I got fuses, I got mirrors, even got like little like those. I can't remember the name of the terminology, but the little lock thing if you open up your car, you look in.

The side on the little lockstick. I can't remember what they called. But I like that you're looking at us so as though we might you guys know what I'm doing.

But I got mostly all of it for free. I feel like it's quite small. They're just like, oh, just take it, like fuse mirrors, and instead of going in to a mechanic, who will it is a lot of labor. I mean, it can be a lot of labor, so I understand. But yeah, just do that and google how to fix it yourself. So I think it's a great

What try finish the broad tip? And I'm so sorry.

My break tip this week of my friend's broad tip, I should say, is first of all, pretend you're not hungry, and second of all, only eat the date other dates food. Third of all, try and find a place that will do a deal. That way, you get to go home with a whole lass meal and a whole family size drink.

Absolutely definitely not a second date a date. There's no second date, right that we never know, like this friend, how did they feel?

Well, it's honestly, I think the majority majority, being just me, was kind of impressed.

I respect that. I kind of respect it. Would I be going on another day with you? Probably not?

That is just you get level a good story to tell, and so I feel like experience chi ching and free pizza chi ching.

Okay, all right, all right, that's a really beautiful broke tip. Thank you. Yeah, that's stunning.

And mine, oh yep, and your Yes, I'm hoping yours is better.

Yeah, well, I don't think it is.

And in fact, maybe it's worse than everything you've ever heard before. But I don't know, if this is bad or not, but I when I drive right now, I've been like kind of broke. I well, what am I talking about right now? Don't feel like I'm always kind of broke, but I have noticed, and I don't know.

If it's okay, Paul.

I don't know if this is like bad for my car or not, but I've noticed that when this is only for manual drivers, when I'm driving, it doesn't matter what speed I'm doing if I can safely be in fifth gear without my car stalling. I'm talking like over fifty meters an hour, and people tend to be on the freeway before they put their car in fifth gear. I know this also doesn't really make a lot of sense.

You guys don't really know right now strictly an auto girl, that's.

So fair for my manual drivers being fifth gear, unless it's like you're about to stall in fifth gear because your engine is not working as hard, and you will say, Pederal, it's my broke tip. Your broke tip is staying fifth gear. If you can't thing to add to that, because I.

Don't even know what my caear does. No, I feel like it's bad my car. It's so embarrassing. Absolutely aimately, no idea. I'm embarrassed because they brought some things that I feel.

Yes, because my sister got to learn in a manual so she can drive a manual and I immediately like, there are rules in life that are just like they're rules, Like no one said that it was a real rule, but it exists, right, Like how the number twenty five that's a pointing number. Yes it is, Yeah, I would agree with you, and twenty six round exactly.

Like I don't make the rules to a rule.

Another rule people who drive manual immediately cooler.

No manualism. Manual car is a big part of my personal law. I don't know what is it true? Oh, we're gonna suggest the law. So my parents insisted that I learned to drive in a manual car because my mom said, like, what if there's an emergency in the only car available, asm manual car, what are you going to do? Die?

Well, my dad used to say, like, what are you going to do if you don't learn your times tables? You're not always going to have a calculator in your pocket.

I sit down, Eric. So I started to learn to drive a manual car. I hated it. I didn't like it. I was not very good at it. And then one day we were driving. We took a long road trip and we drove over train tracks and I stalled and the boom gates started coming down, and I started to have a panic attack, because I'm a normal person would and at the time my anxiety was also undiagnosed, so like I's like it was like curtains for me. I was like, this is it I die by train in

Yea?

And that actually kind of gave me fifth year. Don't know her, like I don't know, I don't Wow. I'm so sorry. An emergency, we're running there, Yeah, get on my back. I'll piggyback you to the hospital, like whatever, run away from the running to death in an emergency. I will admit my face the thought of driving on your car just triggers my anxiety. Something shocking. Now I understand, I understand.

I thought you're also going to say that like manual drivers, it's like the whole identity like people people drink espresso's just.

Look everybody else, manual drivers are cooler, like they're just cooler, like they they've just got their lives together. I can't do that. I am not one of you. I could see Alex now that you say.

Exactly, Sister, Alex is just much cooler than I ever will be. And it's been the way, like that's been the way of the world forever. Jimmy, you will literally say, oh, I see what you were talking both of us. I remember saying to Jess before she met my sister. I was like, my sister is much cooler than I'll ever be. And she's like yeah, sure, sure sure, And then after she's like, yeah, you're right.

You know, when you don't want someone to meet someone because you're like they're you're going to think they're funnier than.

Cool, Like I like having a cool sister. That's good. It's way better than going, oh my sister's weird. Yeah, that's true.

It's like when you're watching maths, like, I would be mortified if my suit maybe she does introduces me as like oh yeah, my sister's controversial, or my sister's.

It's got melancholic music playing in the captions.

Yeah, Like I don't want people to say, oh, I'm so sorry.

Yeah, I wonder what you would be on maps.

All right, let's go to a really quick rate because on the flip side, we're going to be talking about activity statements, very excited. What are you going to do when you get one from the ato? Are you going to call She's on the Money, That's what you're going to call.

And we're also going to be talking about something you slip into our DMS about this week, we're talking about whether you should stay in a job with a culture that overworking is the norm. So guys, don't go anywhere.

Welcome back, everybody. Let's take a listen to this week's money dilemma.

Hi, there, have you got a money dilemma you just can't solve that. She's on the Money team is here to help. Every week we tackle your dilemmas, both big and small, to answer your most burning money, career and life questions. To get involved simply head to our website and leave us a short voice recording, and you might just find yourself on the show. Now, let's take a listen to this week's money dilemma.

Hi, she's on the money. I've just received an activity statement through the ATO. I've never had this before. I'm assuming it's because my bank interest was quite high on my last tax return, which left me owing a fair bit more tax than had been estimated throughout the year. Because I've never had this before, I'm not really sure what it is. I assume it's just to kind of give the ATO tax throughout the year rather than having

I thought it was a business thing. I didn't know it wasn't a business thing. So there you go. Highlighting something today too, because I get activity statements and a business activity statement are two different things, oh, which is exciting, and they are used to kind of report and pay like a number of different tax obligations, but then also

So is it possible that the employer, say, for example, they're paying you one hundred dollars a week and they're like, we're putting thirty dollars a week to sent out a tax but they only sent like fifteen dollars, but they said that they're sending thirty.

Is that sometimes a situation like is that why?

Maybe yeah, they should not be doing that, but is that possibly what?

It's not going to have the same ramifications.

It's business not paying tax, not using like yeah, that's a whole difference. Okay, But it's very important to make sure that your employer is paying their attack and your super and all of that, which is why we need to read our.

Pay slips and understand our pay slips. And I think that there's actually going to be an episode coming up of me just breaking down a pay slip. I know that that's really basic for some people, but for lots of you might be like I don't actually know what these things mean, or like why does it say this many hours here? I felt like I had it, Like we're just.

Going to go through, line by line all the things that could be possibly on your pay slip, and I think that'll be a really good superful.

Yeah, that's very cool.

Also, if the in cases person you know, accepts their fate and it's like, well I gotta pay this, you can pay by installments.

Yeah, you can always just call the ATO up and have a chat with them and even ask them, hey, what was the specific reason I got an active statement? And they might be able to open your file and have a chat with you about it. More often than not, it's literally just because that discrepancy exists. I know she was like, Oh, it might have been because of this or that. It could literally be because you're a good investor.

Sure, it's a good problem to have, Like paying more tax. As much as it hurts and it's not fun, it's a good problem to have, and paying it more regularly means that you're not going to get stune come June thirty.

Yeah, yeah, yeah, should be into the juicy store. Are you ready? Guys?

All right, I have a DM for you high queens. I'm currently doing a job that's draining me. Imagine a consulting job where you were paid for thirty seven and a half hours, but end up working fifty hours a week to make sure the job is done. No one forces you to, but everyone does it and expects you to do it. I'm currently in the process of applying for permanent residency. Exciting, and I can do so thanks to one year working as a consultant.

Although I love my team and currently have.

Financial security, my mental health has never been so low. I have zero work life balance and almost no time for hobbies. When the weekend comes, I'm so tired, I just stay home. Question is, would you quit and prioritize mental health, although it would make it harder for you to find another job as a not yet permanent resident, what would you do?

I really am so strongly against this culture of like it's expected that you stay back and you work late and you work extra hours.

It is so bad. It's gross and where did it come from and why is it there? Why does it exist?

Because if you're paying me for these amount of hours, and you're doing your job that in those hours, if you're severely overworked and you must work over time, that's the problem with the company. It's not a problem with you, it's a problem the company not actually hiring enough people to keep up with all the workless you never ever ever falln any person to ever have to pick up. So I don't like it, and I think you need to get the hell out of there. But did this

What do you mean? What is that? Like? What is why?

Yeah?

Exactly?

Do mean?

I do my job? Exactly? Do you mean I'm efficient? I do my job? And why why should anyone be expected to work late? It's it's so bad. You see our team at work late. There's literally nothing going on except espresso martinis and totally Thursdays totally, and I regret nothing for that decision totally.

It's like some people think that, like I'm shocked that you want to go and live your life outside of these.

And it's up to the managers as well to be enforcing that. Yeah, obviously that's I would assume being driven by management, but like it's also up to management to nip that in the butt and make sure that your team have a good work life balance, because otherwise you're going to burn them out. Like at the end of the day, literally a terrible business decision, you're going to

Yes, exactly right, I'm sorry for you. The only other thing I was going to say was that because it's thirty seven point five hours, I'm assuming that means that you're not getting paid for your breaks, which also means you're still in the area. You're probably still in the office when you're taking your break. So you're giving them x amount of time.

Yeah, fifty hours of a week at least. Yeah, not for your employer. It's ridiculous.

So like, Okay, you're not paying me for this amount of time. So that's the extra time. That's the extra time when I'm still not at home. I'm still not seeing my friends, I'm still seeing my family, it's not doing things that I like to do.

So there's the extra time you have it. You're not paying me for my breaks.

Don't do any even a nano second later than what you.

Have to get out of there, leave asap. What are you doing? I think like there is you have to acknowledge that there is unfortunately a really strong culture of this, particularly incorporate Like I can think of two jobs that I've had specifically that had very money. No, no, no, but very much had the same culture. And similarly, I had a manager talk to me once about the fact that I always left right on time, and I was like, sorry, like what anyway, what I don't think it's right. I

Yeah, I'm the same, And in most situations i'd say absolutely not, like you are not going to stay in this job that you know is depleting you. But there's obviously a bigger picture in mind.

Yeah.

First, never quit a job before having another job, especially when you're in a risky situation. But then the second one is, let's embrace this concept of quiet quitting.

Oh absolutely, Yeah's just.

Start enforcing the fact that, oh, I have to leave early.

You can lie like I'm going to let you lie.

Yes, say that you've got appointment, Say you've taken up a hobby after work. Sorry, on Thursdays, I have to leave it five.

Yes.

And also start taking your sick days because they don't get paid out. Start taking them now.

Yeah, and sick days.

I think lots of people just go, I need to take a sick day because I have a really bad lou when I'm in bed. Your sick days cover your mental health, Like if you need to go, all right, well, I'm actually going to take a sick day today because I just need the space mentally, because I cannot return to the office on Monday without having an extra day this weekend.

That is a sick day to me, and your doctor can give you a certificate to cover that.

If that's quiet, Check your contract, like, this is me maybe not being a good Employees aren't going to like me, but I don't care.

Check your contract.

How often are they going to be asking for six certificates? Like obviously if they're going to ask, And this is not me saying abuse the policy, but sometimes companies are like, oh, any sick days need a six certificate. Some companies will say, oh, six certificates are required if you have more than three days off, so just know that as well, just so that you've got a little bit of flexibility, but using your sick days, asking for some more accommodations. Can you

You go, oh, yep, no worries, Oh yep, no worries. But when are we pushing back? When are we saying, oh, actually, like which ones did you want me to prioritize because like there's actually not enough capacity, Yeah, you should have hired someone else. Totally, I will say, mentally prepare yourself. It goes one of two way with cultures like this.

It is a split, but I feel like the split is really across like being a little bit more conservative than like quitting and focusing on mental health, which, as we all know, like that's a privileged to do in itself, Like not many people are in a position where you can.

Go, oh, just quit my job.

Yeah, Like I'm sorry, Like I wish that we were, And that's why we have emergency funds and stuff totally.

We're going to build towards that.

But I would say ninety nine percent of people can't just quit and prioritize their mental health. We have to have some strategies at play.

Yeah.

Next question we asked was, have you ever worked in a place where overworking was part of the culture.

Surely it's like ninety nine percent of Yeah, sure, No, it's actually eighty one. Eighty one percent of people said yep, I definitely have. Isn't that so sad? So gross? I know thirteen percent of you said no, I haven't worked anywhere like that. You lucky ducks. Lucky. And six percent of you said I'm in that situation right now. Oh no, get out. Yeah. Then we said to the community, give us you two cents. First person said, this.

Is two PARTA too PARTA trust me unless you have another PR pathway see an immigration lawyer.

Wait until you have that visa.

Enjoy your freedom once you can also enjoy the security of the PR.

Yeah. Fair, True, it's true.

Next person said, participating in free labor is what normalized?

Does it stop immediately? True? Easier said than done.

I know, I wish it wasn't, but it is. Next person said that was me. I quit and found another job. PR has taken longer, but it was worth my mental health.

That's great to know that it's worked for someone. Yeah, but also I like that you found someone else that supported it as well. Yes.

Next person said, experiencing work life balance post burnout is wholeheartedly the best thing.

Ever. Another person said, as for me, I'm starting an online course and doing job hunting while I continue working there, So trying to upscale while they're looking for something different. That's a good idea.

Yep.

Another person said, the extra hours aren't worth it. There is no benefit for yourself, only for that company IG exactly. And then I'm just going to give you one more and it was her. I studied, I got a new job. It was so scary, but now couldn't be happier.

Great light of the end of the tunnel so much and I feel like that's a really great place to leave it. Guys. What a week, What a new studio, what a vibe. I love it.

We just sound better sitting on these couches. Yeah, I love it here all right, guys. I hope you have a really beautiful weekend and we will see you bright and early on Monday morning for our Money Diary till then bye bye bye. The advice shared on She's on the Money is generally nature and does.

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