• Home
  • Work With Me
    • Online Better Body Coaching
    • 1:1 Coaching
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop My Favourites
  • Nav Social Icons

  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Home
  • Work With Me
    • Online Better Body Coaching
    • 1:1 Coaching
  • About
  • Blog
  • Contact
  • Shop My Favourites
  • Mobile Menu Widgets

    Connect

    Search

Health - Mindset - Life

How To Manage Your Money & Stop Being Broke

April 20, 2022 · In: Lifestyle

Being £50,000+ in debt, self-employed and watching our finances drop off a cliffs edge when the pandemic first hit, was certainly a severe reality check. Living month to month with no savings in the bank, credit card debt, mortgages and loan repayments coming out of our ears. And no way in which to repay them, was really scary shit!

It was one of those wake-up moments where I got to the point where I said, enough is enough. The constant cycle of debt and living month to month has to stop! There has to be a better way and I am going to do something about this, for us and the future of our family.

During the very start of the pandemic in 2020, in what feels like a lifetime ago and yet only the other day all at the same time. I decided I wanted to learn more about financial stability. We were in a rut after selling up and moving to a new country in 2016, starting a business that was a massive error in judgment and sucked up the majority of our life savings. We had got in deep and we wanted out!

I have to preface this piece by saying I am in no way giving financial advice or pretending to be an expert. I am simply sharing the steps that have felt incredibly empowering after being in a really scary place financially when the pandemic first hit.

In my search for answers on where to start, I stumbled across Dave Ramsey and his baby steps. The steps become pretty infamous and have helped many people.

Dave Ramseys Baby Steps are:

  1. $1000 emergency fund
  2. Pay off debt using the snowball method
  3. Work on 3–6 months of living expenses
  4. Invest 15% of household income in pensions/retirement funds
  5. College/University funds
  6. Pay off home early
  7. Choose to be generous and give

I love the idea of this systematic approach, but at the same time it felt so ridged as you must follow the first 3 steps in order. As though I would have to be completely frugal and basically live just to save up every penny. It didn’t fully align with my own values for how I want to live my life.

Youtube’s algorithm lead me to later discover UK based finance expert and her Youtube channel Mama FurFur AKA Jennifer Kempson. Jennifer not only being from the UK, a woman, but also a little more down to earth and her videos’ resonated with me so much more.

I devoured hours of her Youtube videos and was determined that I was going use this advice to get out of the financial hole that we had dug ourselves into.

At the time Jennifer was still working in a corporate job and her Youtube channel had around 10k followers. I was desperate to know more and so I decided to reach out and request an interview from her. I was delighted when she accepted, leading to an incredibly insightful conversation.

Since the interview, Jennifer has gone on to grow her channel to over 92k subscribers, retired from her corporate job and is now a full time multiple 6 figure content creator in the finance sector.

I caught her just as she was on the rise and am grateful to have been able to get this one-on-one time with her. And thanks to the tools that I took from this powerful conversation, two years later we are indeed in a much better place with our finances.

If you prefer to watch in video format, you can watch part one of the interview below, or read on as I summarise some of the key steps that helped me the most on my financial journey and my own application of the steps

My financial goals are still very much a work in progress, we still have a long way to go but some significant progress has been made over the last two years. We are no longer crippled by the fear or the debt that was hanging over our heads.

The steps that I’ll be sharing are Jennifer’s top tips for managing your money during times of crisis which we discussed two years ago. But let’s face it, the world as we know it now seems to be one crisis after another. If it’s not a global pandemic, it’s a potential world war, the rising cost of living and escalating fuel prices. Even two years on, this conversation is still incredibly relevant.

So I hope that this information can help you as much as it’s helped me over the last few years.

Steps For Managing Your Money During Times Of Crisis

1. Know Your Bare Bones Budget

How much do you need for the bare essentials? To keep a roof over your head, the lights on and food in your belly. Your most basic outgoings only. What is your survival mode amount?

Then work out your total household income, exactly yhow much do you have coming in each month? If there is a surplus you know you can breathe and manage it by making a few cutbacks on luxuries.

If there is a deficit, you have more going out than you have coming in, then go on to step two.

2. List 25 Ways To Solve It

Write out 25 ways in which you could bring in more income right now? List out as many ideas as you can that could bring in some extra cash as quickly as possible.

These could be things like reselling old items on ebay or any re-sale site, getting another job, creating or selling courses, writing on Medium, Deliveroo driver, Amazon flex, look for any job or offer your services. Leave your ego at the door and look at what options you have. List out as many ideas as you can.

When you have your list, pick one that feels most relevant to you and action them. If you are already working for yourself, look at what’s working and double down on that, look at what you can amplify.

What worked for me

I had a clear-out and sold things, cashing in on anything that was lying around in my house unused and cluttering up space. From a camera I never got around to learning how to use, a pair of Louboutins (as gorgeous as those shoes were, they are completely useless in my new life in the mountains), an old phone, books, clothes that no longer fit. Anything that wasn’t serving my life anymore, I got rid of. It wasn’t huge amounts, maybe just over £500, but it was cash in my pocket, rather than items cluttering up my house. This money could then be used to support the weekly essentials.

I also started writing here on Medium. Though it’s certainly not a get quick rich scheme, the monthly income has been welcomed. Though it has been up and down, my highest earning month at $1,350, it certainly has potential.

Author Image, Screen Shot From Dashboard

If you want to consider waiting on Medium then use my referral link and join below. I get a small referral fee if you join and you get unlimited access to many amazing writers, plus the opportunity to use medium to create your own side hustle. Join Medium with my referral link – Emma Colsey-NichollsAs a Medium member, a portion of your membership fee goes to writers you read, and you get full access to every story…emmacolseynicholls.medium.com

3. Pay Down Long-Standing Debt

Get specific on what your exact amounts are, even if that means having to phone up the companies and have a clear number of that balances, interest rates and the minimum monthly payments.

From there you can calculate how long it will systematically take for you to pay off that debt. You can find calculators with a quick google search that will help you do that. Know your debt-free date and have that goal date as your driving reason. I know looking at my debt-free date, it was way too far in the future and it was the severe kick up the backside to shake me into action.

This is about taking ownership of your debt and deciding that it’s done, you are not going to make yourself feel bad about it, but are committing to getting it down and not going back to it ever again.

I made the decision to cut up all of my credit cards and closed the accounts as they got paid off. I now only have one card for emergencies only.

Avalanche v’s Snowball method

Jennifer recommends the avalanche method as appose to the snowball. This can be quicker and more cost-effective as it looks at paying off your most costly debts first and foremost. Reducing the amount of interest you pay overall and potentially shortening the repayment period depending on how much debt you have.

We still have a few loans outstanding for some property improvements and vehicles but they are due to be paid off within the next 12 months.

4. Know Your Numbers

This one really relates to all of the previous other steps. Get to know your numbers. Know what’s coming in versus what’s going out and commit to running a tighter ship with your numbers.

This one is certainly a work in progress, I seem to have some aversion to spreadsheets and being too frugal. But I do slow down when considering purchases and have stopped impulse buying. Now if I find myself wanting to buy something I wait at least 48 hours before purchasing, I’ll even journal on it to really consider if it’s something that I really need. If I decide it is, then I have to be able to pay cash for it. If I can’t, then I have to earn the money first before I can purchase the thing. No more sticking it on the credit card.

Track your spending for a week, write everything down and see where the money leaks could be and where you could put a plug in those leaks.

5. Practice Your Best Money Habits Now

Think about all of the best practice money habits that you would love to be practising. Start doing them now rather than waiting.

For me personally, I knew I wanted to be saving regularly and also investing.

I now have an emergency fund in savings as my safety net and have tentatively started the route of investing.

I set up a standing order to go from my everyday account into a savings account. I started out with a really small amount of just £5 per week. I didn’t really notice it going out and it was just adding to my savings on autopilot. I would then top it up as often as I could which allowed me to get to my £1000 savings buffer much quicker. As you earn more you can start adding more, but having it on automation was such a game-changer for me to just get started.

Next, I also added the ‘save spare change’ setting on my Revolut card (note this is a refer a friend link). So every time I spend on that card it puts 10 x the change of my purchase into a savings vault. I love this card as it’s so easy to use and can spend in multiple currencies. This vault would then help me pay for things like kids birthdays and Christmas without having to go onto credit.

Starting Investing

I had been putting off investing for such a long time as I feel I don’t know enough about it. I still don’t know enough about it but have committed to learning the basics and starting small with low-cost index funds.

I choose to use the Freetrade app as it’s pretty easy to use and you get a free share when signing up. (Again this is a referral link and we both get a free share if you decide to join and it’s free to get going).

I know it feels a little risky to be investing right now. But when you look at it from the other point of view, the markets have taken a bit of a dip, it could also be the best time to start investing.

This one shouldn’t be stepped into lightly as you do have the potential to lose money. So start learning about investing from as many places as you can and prioritise investing in your future now.

Some of my favourite Youtube accounts for learning more about investing are:

MamaFurFur Youtube
Damien Talks Money
Sorelle Amore Finance

If you are feeling the pressure of challenging finances right now I hope this gives you the information and motivation to know you can change your current circumstances with the grit and determination to make a difference in your life.

If you have had any of your own financial breakthroughs let me know in the comments as it’s an area I am constantly open to learning more about.

Emma

By: admin · In: Lifestyle · Tagged: beginner finance tips, how to earn more money, how to get out of debt, how to stop being broke, money management

you’ll also love

is the body positivity movement good (1)Body Positivity Kept Me Fat! Is The Body Positivity Movement Good?
6 Body Confidence Essentials For Your Summer Holiday Preparation
oprah weight loss drugUnravelling Oprah Ozempic Weight Loss Controversy

Join the List

Get access to the free 5-day Better Body kickstart plan

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Next Post >

7 Simple Weight Loss Habits That Don’t Require You To Give Up Your Entire Life

Primary Sidebar

Meet Emma

Meet Emma
hello!

Hey, I'm Emma. I help 40+ women eat better, move better and live happier. Start your Better Body journey today by joining the 5 day kickstart challenge!

Join Now

Connect

Coaching With Emma

Featured Posts

Easy Turmeric Ginger Shot Recipe (Immune Boosting Morning Tonic)

Healthy High-Protein Dessert: No-Bake Vanilla Cheesecake Bites

happy mammoth weight loss

Happy Mammoth Weight Loss Protocol Review: Real Results After 90 Days

Categories

  • Fitness
  • Lifestyle
  • Nutrition

Search

Archives

Follow Along

@emmacolseynicholls

emmacolseynicholls

Full body session 💥 This one’s all about sta Full body session 💥

This one’s all about stability, control and quality movement.

We’re mixing things up with slightly higher reps and a lighter load — a great way to build endurance, joint control and improve your mind–muscle connection. 💪

👉 Eccentric chin-ups for building pull-up strength
👉 Bosu squats for balance and ankle stability (perfect ski-season prep!)
👉 Hip thrusts for glute power and lower body endurance
👉 Marching side planks for core control and adductor strength (strong knees)

Remember — not every session needs to be heavy. Alternating rep ranges helps reduce plateaus, build strength through different phases and keep your body adapting.

Stronger. More stable. Ready for the slopes. 

Locals book your sessions for this block, or if you want to join DM me. Non locals save this workout for your next session. Let’s go 🙌

#FullBodyWorkout #SkiSeasonPrep #StrengthTraining #MidlifeFitness #WomenWhoLift
As soon as the temperature drops and the sniffles As soon as the temperature drops and the sniffles make their rounds I like to make a little back up batch. I’m using a juicer but you can easily use a blender and squeeze the bits out through a cheese cloth. I’ll link the full recipe in the comments. 

 #Tumericgingershot #immuneboost #naturalremedies #WellnessRoutine #healthylivingtips
I tried Happy Mammoths Weight Loss Protocol 3.0 an I tried Happy Mammoths Weight Loss Protocol 3.0 and in my latest blog post I share my full and honest thoughts on the product. Did it work? Is it worth the money?? I spent my money so that you don’t have to

If you want the full review comment ‘happy’ and I’ll send it over

#weightloss #wellness #weightlossstruggles #happymammoth
Workouts are way more than just building muscle or Workouts are way more than just building muscle or maintaining fitness. Fitness is for the mind just as much as the muscle. It becomes your you time, a moment when everything slows and you get to tune in with your own body. 

Use fitness as your moments of self care. When you look at it as self care you somehow want to do it more often.  #fitnesstips #fitnessmindset #fitnessover40
If you don’t have motivation to workout. Remembe If you don’t have motivation to workout. Remember this quote. 

And share it with a friend 😂

Are you training or resting today??

#workoutmotivation #fitnessover40 #fitnesshumor
Strong legs = strong life 💪 Building leg streng Strong legs = strong life 💪 Building leg strength and stability not only powers up your workouts but also supports balance, bone health, and everyday movement — especially in midlife. 

Finished off with some core work for total body strength and stability 🔥 

For locals new training block is starting next week. Use the app to book. Or if you want to get started training with me. Drop me a mesg and we can get you started. 

#MidlifeStrong #WomenOver40 #StrengthTraining #FunctionalFitness #FullBodyWorkout
I’m embarking on a skipping challenge to help ma I’m embarking on a skipping challenge to help maintain my cardio fitness now that HYROX is over

I’m using @everjumpfit app and their Bluetooth skipping ropes it even comes with a weighted rope to really challenge the workouts. 

I love my first skipping session and excited for this challenge to give my cardio fitness a little boost.
Consistency because quitting is not an option and Consistency because quitting is not an option and fitness isn’t just for dropping a dress size, it’s for you high vibe old lady lifestyle 

#fitnessmotivation #fitnessover40 #midlifehealth
I tried Shilajit, a natural mineral containing ful I tried Shilajit, a natural mineral containing fulvic acid and I was really supprised most of all at the caffeine free energy boost it gave. I did a full review on Shilajit and the science behind it. I’ll put the link in the comments.
How I’m growing stronger daily in midlife — an How I’m growing stronger daily in midlife — and how you can too 

Strong isn’t just about lifting weights — it’s about building the daily habits that support your body and your mindset.

Here are 7 things I’m focusing on to feel stronger, healthier and more energised every day 👇

1️⃣ Set goals & intentions
I write down my goals every month and check in weekly. It keeps me focused, accountable, and moving forward — even when motivation dips.

2️⃣ Fuel your mind while you move
I listen to podcasts, affirmations or mindset activations on my walks. It’s such a simple way to strengthen both body and mind.

3️⃣ Strength train 3x per week
Three sessions is my sweet spot for building strength, keeping hormones balanced and feeling confident through midlife.

4️⃣ Progressive overload is key
You don’t need to crush yourself — just aim to improve. One more rep, a little more weight, better form. That’s how progress happens.

5️⃣ Optimise your protein
Protein is the foundation for muscle, recovery and hormone health. I aim for around 30g per meal to stay full, energised and strong.

6️⃣ Prioritise recovery & sleep
Rest isn’t lazy — it’s essential. Sleep, stretch, walk, unwind. Strength builds when you give your body time to recover.

7️⃣ Sign up for new challenges & events
Having something on the calendar — a race, fitness challenge or event — keeps me motivated, pushes me harder, and helps me grow in new ways.

Stronger isn’t just physical — it’s how you show up for yourself every single day.

Which do you need to give a little focus to?

#WomenOver40Fitness #MidlifeHealth #HealthyHabits #fitnessover40 #fitnessmotivaton
Come train full body with me. This is the exact se Come train full body with me. This is the exact session iv been doing with my group clients as we get ready for ski and snowboard season. 

Combining strength with single leg stability and explosive power work. 

#fitnessover40 #fitness #fitnessmotivation #strengthforlife #strengthandbalance
Last week had sow moments of arghhhhhh!! When fee Last week had sow moments of arghhhhhh!!

When feelings of stress hit there is nothing like some girly chats in the sauna followed by cold dips to allow your stresses to feel a little less big and overwhelming

Moments of self care are a must. Take a moment for yourself this week in some way shape or form. 

I like to walk, read, meditate or do breath work as my too tools for stress relief. What works best for you???

#selfcare #mindfullifestyle #coldtherapy
For those that don’t know I used to own a pole f For those that don’t know I used to own a pole fitness and fitness studio in my previous life in Blackpool. 

But I haven’t touched a pole since I moved here 9 years ago!!!! Turns out it’s just like riding a bike and I can still (just about) get my chunky butt upside down

LOVED it, though I now remember the pain. Need to toughen up my skin again and I probably won’t be able to move my arms tomorrow 😂

Gonna dig out some old vids and combos and see what I can get back. This was lots of fun. 

#polefitness
I hate to break it to you, but workouts alone aren I hate to break it to you, but workouts alone aren’t going to get you the results you want

80% will come from the foods you eat. You simply cannot out train a bad diet. Believe me, iv tried

#healthtips #fitnesstips #fitnessover40
First Hyrox in the bag. Got a target time to beat First Hyrox in the bag. Got a target time to beat for the next one. 

Amazing event and I totally get the hype. 

Thanks to my awesome partner @mrsjochard who defo did more than her fair share of the leg work. And to Ian and all the @project_performance_morzine team 🙌

#hyroxworld #hyrox #hyroxgeneva
Sweaty Betty leggings reviews. Iv been on a bit if Sweaty Betty leggings reviews. Iv been on a bit if a mission to find the best workout clothes for older women

Sweaty betty have been high on my list for some time. But they are expensive, so is sweaty betty worth the price??

The full length review is on my YT channel comment down below if you want to see it, or head over there

#activewear #workoutclothes #activewearhaul #sweatybetty #fitnessover40
If you are a women over 40 and want to start seein If you are a women over 40 and want to start seeing and feeling better results from your workouts then check out this workout format

This is a full body Dr Stacy Sims Program. I followed the plan for 90 days and am feeling the strongest I have in some time and hit some new pb’s

If you want my full review of this program comment ‘sims’ and I’ll send it over. 

#fitnessover40 #fitness #workoutsforwomen
Today is a great day to go again. You can and yo Today is a great day to go again. 

You can and you are strong enough

Keep believing in the healthiest, strongest, best version of you and keep on showing up as her. 

#fitness #fitnessover40 #fitnessmotivation
This is so funny sped up 😂 SIT — Sprint Inte This is so funny sped up 😂

SIT — Sprint Interval Training 🔥
Dr. Stacy Sims style. This was done post strength session as a finisher. 

Short, sharp bursts of effort followed by full recovery.
Perfect for midlife women who want to:
Boost metabolism
Maintain muscle
Improve cardiovascular health
Increase energy & confidence

You don’t need to spend hours training — just train smarter.
Less stress. More results.

If u want to see the full review on this program let me know and I’ll send it over. 

#StacySims #SprintIntervalTraining #MidlifeFitness #WomenOver40 #StrongNotSkinny
Hyrox training session, and no lie this was disgus Hyrox training session, and no lie this was disgusting. I’m not sure I ever want to do it again. 

The skipping should have really been a run but it was raining and I didn’t want to!!

Still an incredibly tough workout

#hyrox #workout #fitnessmotivation #fitnessover40
Follow on Instagram

Footer

Shop

Info

  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy
  • Website Terms Of Use

stay in the know

Copyright © 2025 · Theme by 17th Avenue

Manage Cookie Consent
We use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. We do this to improve browsing experience and to show personalized ads. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behavior or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes. The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Manage options Manage services Manage {vendor_count} vendors Read more about these purposes
View preferences
{title} {title} {title}