Serena Dorothy 'Dot' Ryan is an award winning Entrepreneur, Marathon Runner and Digital Marketing Strategist.
After spending most of her adult life in debt, it wasn’t until Serena started working with Accountants and Cloud Accounting Service Providers that she saw how important it was for her to take control of her finances.
October 2018 she decided to re-write her future, get financial education and become debt free.
Consistent small changes are adding up.
Listen as Serena shares her personal finance journey.
Ep.100 Adding Up - The Power Of Documenting
Welcome to one hundred episodes! I’ve just re-listened to episode one of the Adding Up Podcast. My voice was shaking and I stated that if I could help just one person in the process of recording this podcast it would be a success.
4 years and thousands of downloads later, I am humbled. The power of documenting is something that I completely underestimated.
I started the podcast buoyed by a shred of hope, I had made enough changes to my spending habits to pay off $5,000 off of one credit card. I still had more on that balance plus another 2 cards maxed out, but I could see quite literally little changes could add up.
I have stumbled more than once in 4 years. I have had 2 significant breaks in recording episodes. The first when I was on the verge of burnout during the 2nd lockdown of my local area trying to keep up with running my business and homeschooling my children. Something had to give and thankfully I noticed at the time that I wasn’t prepared to give up my health.
The 2nd time I became bedridden for 2 weeks. I simply didn’t see the warning signs the 2nd time. This time I had no choice but to not record the podcast.
Listening to the first episode of the podcast again today, reminded me of just how far I have come.
Taking stock of my achievements since starting this podcast in May 2019, I have:
As of May 2019 Serena I had reduced my debt by $6,000 (https://serenadotryan.com/accountants-help-me-find-6000/) without increasing my personal budget. By December 2019, I reduced my debt by $11,200 and had $3,046 left on my 3rd and final credit card. My target was to have no more credit cards by June 2020.
As of April 2020 I achieved this goal and had reduced my debt by $17,507.54.
As of March 2023, I have reduced my debt by $47,097.54.
It’s important to note that as of March 2022 I adjust the budget to save for a family holiday as the need to pay down extra debt hasn’t been as important. Interest rates have also been increasing so this has impacted the ability to pay extra as I see the importance of paying debts.
Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au
Also included are my tips and experience on:
- Saving Money Tips
- Interest on savings
- 7-Eleven Coffee
- Having difficult conversations
- Money mindset
Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use this link to share your details and we'll be in contact. (https://form.jotform.com/230260316586857)
17 Feb 2023
Ep.099 Adding Up - What Happens When Interest Rates Go Up, Again
Ep.099 Adding Up - What Happens When Interest Rates Go Up, Again
Deep breath and here we go, again. Another month, another interest rate rise. I’m feeling like it’s groundhog day. It’s getting harder to stay positive and even harder to save money, or, is it? There’s no point crying about it (well at least not all the time). This episode is one where I share the hard feelings, the pity party and then how I’m moving on and getting focused on the future.
Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au
My Budget Highlights:
My Best Saving - Pausing
My Best Learning - Continuing to learn
Money Bravery - Get clear and open to creative solutions
Also included are my tips and experience on:
- Saving Money Tips
- Paying in instalments
- Interest on savings
- Negotiating better rates on a mortgage
- Shop around on insurance premiums
- Service NSW Premium and Savings Vouchers and Rebates
- Shopping Online Vs In Store
- The Convenience Tax
- Reusable Coffee Cups
- 7-Eleven Coffee
- Checking your details are up to date with your insurances
- Having difficult conversations
- Get rid of unnecessary costs
- Money mindset
Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use this link to share your details and we'll be in contact. (https://form.jotform.com/230260316586857)
10 Feb 2023
Ep.098 Adding Up - Learning New Ways To Save Money
Ep.098 Adding Up - Learning New Ways To Save Money
Another month, another interest rate rise. It’s getting harder to stay positive and even harder to save money, or, is it? In this episode it’s about looking for creative and different ways to save money despite the current economic challenges.
Learn more about the Adding Up Podcast and discover more episodes to listen to https://addingup.com.au
My Budget Highlights:
My Best Saving - Raiding The Freezer
My Best Learning - I Can Always Learn
Money Bravery - If You Don’t Speak Up You Don’t Have Opportunity Of A Yes
Also included are my tips and experience on:
- Saving Money Tips
- Paying in instalments
- Interest on savings
- Negotiating better rates on a mortgage
- Shop around on insurance premiums
- Service NSW Premium and Savings Vouchers and Rebates
- Shopping Online Vs In Store
- The Convenience Tax
- Reusable Coffee Cups
- 7-Eleven Coffee
- Checking your details are up to date with your insurances
- Having difficult conversations
- Get rid of unnecessary costs
- Money mindset
Do you want to be my guest sharing your Money Story? Use this link to share your details and we'll be in contact. (https://form.jotform.com/230260316586857)
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