Can you still be a spender? Tammy Barton with Toni Street on the We Need to Talk podcast?

Can you enjoy spending and still have a budget that works? Tammy Barton with Toni Street explores that question on We Need to Talk podcast with Toni Street. Their conversation covers the purchases you enjoy, why earning more can still feel like it is not enough, and the relief of getting help with money admin.

You’ve had a long day. There’s a sweatshirt you love. You want to buy it, but you’re not quite sure what that means for the rest of your money. Does getting budgeting support mean someone else gets to say no?

That is exactly the kind of question Toni asks in her conversation with Tammy Barton. Along the way, she admits to confusing subscriptions, giving up on budgets and feeling financially squeezed despite earning more than she did in her twenties.

It is a candid conversation about money stress, everyday choices and getting help with the work of staying on track.

For New Zealand listeners, this Tammy Barton podcast conversation brings budgeting back to everyday life: the subscriptions you forget, the things you want to buy and the goals you want to keep moving towards.

Listen to “Tired of budgeting? Let Tammy Barton handle it” for the full conversation about spending, support and making a budget work in real life.

Earning more can come with more commitments. Tammy points to children, school expenses and the things families want to enjoy, alongside higher everyday costs. A bigger salary does not automatically mean there is more money left at the end of the week.

Toni recognises the frustration of feeling you should be further ahead. Tammy also talks about comparison: looking at other households and wondering why everyone else seems to have their finances sorted.

Those feelings can make it harder to talk about money. But putting the whole picture in front of you gives you somewhere practical to start. What is already committed? What matters most to you? And what could change?

As Tammy puts it: “Budgeting is the thing that sets you free”.

Yes. Tammy explains that clients receive their agreed living money into their own bank account and make their own spending decisions. For a purchase beyond that amount, the useful question is what it means for the rest of the budget.

Toni makes it wonderfully ordinary. What if she has had a bad day and wants a Lorna Jane sweatshirt? Tammy’s answer is about seeing what is available and what is already allocated to bills.

“It’s your money at the end of the day,” she says.

Tammy then uses a bigger example: a weekend in Queenstown might affect a planned trip to Japan. Seeing that trade-off helps you decide which experience matters more. You might still choose the weekend away, or keep the money for the bigger trip.

The point is being able to make the choice with your eyes open. Learn more about how MyBudget works and the visibility available through the MyBudget app.

Looking closely at your finances can feel exposing. Toni talks about payments she cannot easily identify, while Tammy acknowledges that laying everything out takes courage. Her response to the embarrassment is reassuring: “Please do not feel embarrassed about that.”

Tammy recalls an Auckland couple who were anxious before their appointment and emotional with relief afterwards. In her telling, seeing a plan helped them understand a way forward.

You do not need to have everything neatly sorted before starting a conversation. The purpose of the first step is to understand where you are now and what you would like to change.

Toni describes random payments and subscriptions she cannot easily identify, and the time it takes to go through them. Tammy explains how reviewing statements and organising payments can help clients see what is happening with their money. Support can share that ongoing work, with a plan that looks ahead to bills and goals.

This part of the Toni Street podcast gets to the mental load of money. Knowing you need a budget and finding the time and energy to manage one can be two different things.

Tammy explains how MyBudget combines people and technology to help with that work, while looking ahead at future bills and goals. The question becomes what you want your money to make possible, and what needs to happen to get there.

You can read more about personalised budgeting support, or explore Personal budgeting 101 for a practical introduction to planning your money.

• Earning more does not automatically remove money pressure when commitments also grow
• A budget can include the things you enjoy when they fit alongside bills and goals
• Clients make their own spending decisions, with visibility over the trade-offs
• Plans can be reviewed as circumstances and priorities change
• Getting help starts with an honest conversation, even if your finances feel messy
• Caring Money Coaches and budgeting technology can help share the ongoing admin.

If budgeting apps and spreadsheets show where your money went but do not help you stay on track, you may need more than another tool. MyBudget combines a personalised plan, caring human support and technology that helps do the heavy lifting, giving you greater visibility and structure around your money.

Start with a free 10-minute chat so a MyBudget Money Coach can understand your financial situation, what is weighing on you and what you would like to achieve. They can explain the next steps and help determine whether MyBudget may be the right fit.

Call 09 849 6285