Ah, money: Right now, money – or the lack of it – is a real hot-button topic as New Zealanders battle a cost-of-living crisis. If you’ve found yourself worrying about finances this year, first of all you’re FAR from the only one, in fact, 57% of Kiwis surveyed in recent studies are worried, too.   So in this episode of What Matters Most, you’ll hear Jacqui and Antonia talk openly about budgets, finances and how the rising cost of living is truly impacting so many of us in Aotearoa.   But, as ever, Jacqui is here with tips to lessen some of the psychological aspects of financial strain, including techniques to tackle your response to stress as well as practical advice that’ll help your bank balance anxiety.   Simple steps like opening up to people you trust, knowing what your spending triggers and habits are and removing the stigma of financial strain are all great places to start, Jacqui says – as well as knowing how to actually identify if you need some help.   Jacqui also talks about why we’re not good at talking about money as a society, how to re-prioritise spending, why self-care simply doesn’t cut it when dealing with money worries, how to shift the conversation towards ways of spending less money, and why doing a self-audit is the most important start when it comes to relieving the mental pressure of financial strain.   We’d also like to say a big warm thank you to our wonderful sponsors of this episode: The fantastic folks at Woop, who keep our bellies deliciously full and warm, and the lovely team at Emma who ensure we get a good night’s sleep!