Money Stories: Ange Simson

Angela Simson is an integrative nutrition coach, writer, speaker, mama of two gorgeous girls and gratitude is her thing! Ange is passionate about illuminating the path to abundant health and happiness for the women she works with. She’s kind of like your cheerleader for wellbeing.

What started out as a personal blog about wellness, gratitude, and nourishing recipes has grown into two thriving businesses - the Health Hub, a worldwide online health program as well as the Gratitude Gang, helping women to make income from home. 

Ange is funny, smart and super huge hearted. She has coached and inspired thousands of women around the globe to live a healthier, happier life. She’s also my cousin and my latest guest sharing her money story.

What’s one of your earliest money memories?

My earliest money memory is actually a funny one. We used to get given $100 for every $100 we could save. We would earn money from doing jobs around the house. I remember mum would have this little notebook that she would keep on her bedside table. We would write down what we had saved in the book and Mum would track it for us. I remember the highest number I ever got to was $1200. I can’t remember much beyond that but I just recall the excitement of saving enough to get something I really wanted. I loved it!

How would you describe your relationship with money?

I would describe my relationship with money as bipolar? I love money. I think money is amazing! It’s probably more what I do with my money that’s a little bipolar. Sometimes I’m really good with it and I’ll save really well. Other times I’ll just have months where I just want to buy some new clothes or perhaps pick up some new furniture in the house and I’m just not as responsible with it. What I can say is that when I do save I save hard!

Was there a particular moment or event where you decided to make your financial wellbeing a priority?

I don’t think there was a particular moment rather it just happened over time. In my early 20s I saved really well but in my late 20s I didn’t so much when kids came along. More recently, however, as I’ve been making more money but not keeping it I’ve realised the effect that has on stress. In the last 12 months I’ve really begun to prioritise and focus on financial wellbeing. When you realise how much your finances actually affects your happiness and your stress level suddenly you want to start looking after your money. It makes life so much nicer!

Biggest money regret?

Not getting educated around my finances earlier. I wish I knew in my 20s what I know now. I kind of just had this view of, you know, I’ll make money when I’m older and I’ll buy a house then. I just thought I didn’t need to think about it until then.

I wish I could say that I had all these investments now and a couple of hundred grand saved in the bank. I know that if I had been more organised then I definitely would have done that. So, again, I wish I knew then what I know now but there’s no time like the present to start, right?!

Best piece of money advice you’ve ever received?

Probably, everything Betsy has ever told me! Lol. Definitely having more structure around my finances and having everything automatically transfer to specific accounts has been really helpful. Basically, I just follow everything Betsy says. That’s all the advice you’ll ever need.

Favourite thing to splurge money on?

Clothes and Furniture! I would love to say ‘travel’ but I haven’t done it enough over the past few years whilst the kids have been little. So, yeah, definitely clothes, furniture and homewares.

“I think my proudest money moment has been in the last few years since I became a financially independent Mum. ”

— Ange Simson

Proudest money moment?

I think my proudest money moment has been in the last few years since I became a financially independent Mum. 

I always, my whole life, thought I would just be a wife and go back to part time work in retail. Obviously, there’s nothing wrong with that because Mums work harder than anyone but I just never really thought I would get to the point where I could say that I was multiple six-figure earner and possibly on my way to possibly earning more than $1million one day. I just never thought I would be able to say that!

So, whilst I don’t regularly talk about what I earn, when I do or when I think about that I get really excited and I’m really proud that I’ve done that, you know? I think that’s really cool.

Where or who do you go to when you wanna learn about money?

When I want to learn about money I just go straight to Betsy. End of story. I’ve got nothing else to say there. Just go to Betsy. Yep, do that.

What would you do if you won $100,000?

 I would probably be really boring. I would probably get advice as to what to do with it. I’ve always thought, even before I knew about money, that if I ever won the lotto I would put the money in a bank account earning high interest and just leave it be for at least 12 months. I would tell absolutely no one because I believe that when people win money all these other people come out of the woodworks and suddenly ask you for money. Like, ‘hey can you pay my rent and buy me a car?’ or something. I don’t know if that actually happens but I think it would happen. 

So, yeah, I’ve always said if I won or got given a large some of money I would just put it away for a year. I would just let it sit and earn interest. I would spend time figuring out what I really wanted to do with it, get advice and just be smart with it. 

I’ve observed that when most win money or get given money they spend it really fast and end up with less than what they started with. Kinda like when you go on a crash diet and rapidly lose lots of weight, you often regain it and then some more. 

So I would hold onto it and be really smart with it.

How do you use your money as a force for good?

I use my money as a force for good usually by donating to causes that are close to my heart. I felt really happy that when the bushfires were on I was able to make a contribution every few days or so. I think it’s great to be able to do that. 

I also think that when we as women have financial security we are able to show up in the world as better people - we are not as scared and stressed. We really crave security and so when we do have that it’s a really good feeling and it turns us in to better people. I can only encourage other women to find a way to create that financial security so they can better serve their families, their friends, the people that they are around because you can serve them better when you feel good, secure and safe!

You can learn more about Ange, the Gratitude Gang and the Health Hub or even be coached by her by checking out her website. For daily inspiration on gratitude, great hair, cute kids and lust worthy interiors check out her instagram @gratitude_project. You won’t be disappointed.