Friends That Invest

This week, Sim kicks off her three part wedding budget series and shares 24 practical ways she saved nearly $10,000 on her own wedding, including the exact email that helped her negotiate $4,000 off one vendor. She breaks down the biggest wedding expenses like venue, catering, photography, and outfits, and explains how small tweaks like e-invites, fewer vendors, buffet or family style food, renting suits, and skipping wedding favors can save thousands without sacrificing the vibe. Sim also shares mindset shifts around what guests actually remember, why a detailed wedding budget spreadsheet is essential, and how to spend intentionally on what matters most while cutting the rest.

This week, Sim breaks down why birth rates are falling across developed countries and why it matters, from aging populations to bigger pressure on government spending, productivity, and tax revenue, using Japan as a real world example. She pushes back on the podcast bro take that women are “to blame” and shares the data that most people still want kids, but financial stress, job insecurity, and housing costs are the biggest barriers. Sim wraps by explaining what actually helps, like making parenthood more affordable through housing, decent work, paid parental leave, and reproductive health services, so having kids feels like a real choice instead of a financial gamble.

This week, Sim breaks down the biggest investing mistakes she made in her first year, from underinvesting in a global index fund that ended up being her best performer to panic selling her first shares and paying fees just to buy them back minutes later. She explains why simple investing usually wins long term, like sticking to broad market index funds instead of trying to stock pick, being realistic about IPO hype, and understanding where bonds or high interest savings can fit in your portfolio. Sim also shares a mistake many beginners make with retirement accounts, staying with a high fee bank default fund for years, and reminds listeners that learning through small missteps is part of building confidence with investing.

This week, Sim shares a practical guide to money and relationships, including how modern couples can handle finances when women earn the same or more than their partners and often act as the household CFO. She breaks down smart ways to structure joint and separate accounts, how to talk through mismatched spending habits and shared goals, and the key money questions to ask before moving in together like income, debt, budgeting style, and how to split bills fairly. Sim also explains when a prenup makes sense, why financial transparency matters, and how the right conversations early can protect both partners and reduce money stress later.

This week, Sim breaks down the classic personal finance question of whether you should invest or pay down your mortgage, using real numbers to show how interest rates and repayments affect your cash flow. She explains how paying extra on your home loan can save you big on interest and boost peace of mind, but how investing a lump sum in a broad index fund could grow more over the long term if your mortgage rate is lower than expected market returns. Sim finishes with a simple decision framework based on your interest rate, income stability, and risk tolerance, plus the reminder that you can often do both by splitting the money and avoiding paralysis.

This week, Sim shares a simple, stress free way to rebuild your emergency fund after you have had to use it, and she reminds you to drop the guilt because that money did its job. She walks through taking stock of your situation, setting realistic mini targets like $500 to $1,000 first, and then using automation and a separate account so you are not relying on willpower. Sim also explains how small weekly transfers add up fast and how having even a basic buffer can make you feel calmer, more confident, and ready for whatever life throws at you.