# How They Cut $240,000 Off Their Home Loan in 2 Years | Gemma & Toby | CHANGING LIVES S04 EP64

An episode of [Money Mentor Podcast™](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1632604767), 9 Aug 2026, 43 min.

Audio: https://episode.flightcast.com/ftmjoprq8p11hl3u119ssc9o.mp3

Gemma and Toby were comfortable. Good jobs, a house they'd built on ten acres, a $425,000 mortgage they weren't losing sleep over, which is exactly why doing nothing felt so easy. Then Gemma sat through a free webinar, decided to test what she'd heard about credit cards, and closed hers from the front seat of her car. They talk through the declined card that changed how she spends, Toby's scepticism right through the first strategy meeting, and what a 30-year loan looks like now, with three investment properties, a wedding in Tassie and four months at home with their son. Want to improve your own financial future? Our free webinar is where to start: 👉 https://bit.ly/43V2jKN #ChangingLivesPodcast #PayOffYourMortgage #AustralianHomeowners

## Transcript

[0:00] staring down the barrel of a 30-year home loan, and you're going, this piece of paper says I can do it in two and a half years.
[0:05] Like, this is nuts.
[0:06] Yeah.
[0:07] I think we were comfortable.
[0:08] We were doing well, just we wanted something more...
[0:11] I wanted to do the infinity and when I came to it I was like, I really think we should do it.
[0:15] If it does, it's a good decision.
[0:16] If it doesn't, then I told you so.
[0:18] What did our mortgage start with?
[0:20] Just over $400.
[0:21] Where are we today?
[0:22] $160.
[0:24] Three investment properties.
[0:25] Yeah.
[0:25] And paying off the home loan.
[0:27] Did you think that would even be possible all before you were 40?
[0:30] No.
[0:31] Definitely not.
[0:32] And we've never had to stay our time to stay home.
[0:34] No, not yet.
[0:38] Welcome back to the Money Mentor Podcast.
[0:41] I am your host, Rachel Howlett.
[0:42] We have another episode of Changing Lives Financially.
[0:46] We have today Gemma and Toby.
[0:47] How are we, guys?
[0:48] Good.
[0:48] Thanks, yourself.
[0:49] I am fantastic.
[0:50] It's been a long time coming, getting you guys on the podcast.
[0:53] We finally made it work.
[0:54] Yes, absolutely.
[0:55] Feeling a bit nervous?
[0:57] I'm fine.
[0:57] I'm fine.
[0:58] Sorry?
[0:58] Not.
[0:59] A bit nervous?
[1:00] A little bit nervous.
[1:01] Oh, no.
[1:02] I'm okay.
[1:02] Well, it's your story that we're sharing, so you guys know it better than anyone else.
[1:06] So let's take you back to the beginning, really, before you met Infinity, where you're at financially in your lives and your family dynamics.
[1:14] Tell me everything.
[1:15] I think we were comfortable.
[1:17] Definitely, yeah.
[1:18] built the house and we were doing well.
[1:21] Like financially, it was just we wanted something more.
[1:24] We purchased a block of land.
[1:26] End of 2020.
[1:28] Right before COVID.
[1:29] Yeah, before everything went silly anyway.
[1:31] Yeah.
[1:31] It was the prices.
[1:32] And is this the first house for both of you?
[1:34] Yeah.
[1:35] Yep, yep.
[1:35] So we built then.
[1:38] We don't have the, not struggle story, do you know what I mean?
[1:41] Like as in we weren't having trouble making things work.
[1:44] We were definitely living comfortably, but I guess that...
[1:48] We had goals for ourselves as well.
[1:50] We wanted to have children.
[1:52] We're not naive.
[1:53] We know kids cost money, right?
[1:58] They don't live on air, unfortunately.
[2:01] They're definitely not cheap.
[2:03] So I guess we wanted to set ourselves up so that we
[2:10] we weren't struggling, if you know what I mean.
[2:12] And that's, you know, things had to obviously change for that to happen, but we were definitely comfortable with where we were at.
[2:20] Like if we wanted to go away, we would go away.
[2:22] If we wanted to spend money, we get a new top.
[2:26] And yeah, we did that.
[2:28] There was no saying no.
[2:29] Yeah.
[2:30] Yeah.
[2:31] That's right.
[2:31] Yeah.
[2:32] Yeah.
[2:32] So you've done well, you young couple.
[2:34] So how old are you both now?
[2:36] I'm 30 this year.
[2:37] And I am, why do I have to do the math every time?
[2:40] I'm 33.
[2:41] This is exactly my problem as well.
[2:43] I always shave a few years off and my husband brings me right back to reality and I'm like, I genuinely forgot how old I was.
[2:49] I have to do the math.
[2:50] Honestly, once you hit 30, it's like, oh, okay.
[2:52] You don't care anymore.
[2:53] But you're a young couple.
[2:54] You've done well.
[2:55] You've come together.
[2:56] You've bought your first house together.
[2:58] So you bought a block of land and you've built.
[2:59] Yes.
[3:00] Yes.
[3:00] You've had a mortgage.
[3:01] What did our mortgage start with?
[3:02] I think it was like just over 400, I think.
[3:06] Yeah.
[3:07] Yeah.
[3:07] Yeah.
[3:07] It was like 425, I think.
[3:09] Something like that.
[3:10] Yeah.
[3:11] When we first met.
[3:12] Yeah.
[3:12] Yeah.
[3:12] So you were kind of, you know, you felt comfortable.
[3:14] You were doing, you felt you were doing well.
[3:16] You didn't have to say no to things, budget too hard.
[3:20] And I think something about that story I like is something from a podcast I did yesterday.
[3:24] Somebody said they had the same story as you guys.
[3:26] We were coasting, we were doing well, we were comfortable.
[3:29] But what I think is even if it feels like it's not broken, it doesn't mean that there's not something more you can explore.
[3:34] So I think that's like what you guys resonate with as well.
[3:38] So then bring me to when you did finally meet Infinity and what you were seeing on social media and why it felt like something clicked.
[3:46] Yeah.
[3:46] Well, that was probably all me.
[3:49] I'm pretty bad for doomsday scrolling.
[3:53] And I was going through Instagram and there was like an ad where G was on there talking about, yeah, the debt reduction and things like that.
[4:03] And
[4:04] So it sort of intrigued me and it probably intrigued me from that side of things to start off with.
[4:10] So I signed up for the free webinar and at that point, I don't even know when it was, I think she would run them randomly or something.
[4:18] Yeah, you should do them live on a Tuesday night.
[4:20] Yeah, something like that.
[4:21] Yeah, so for a couple of hours.
[4:22] So...
[4:23] Signed up for that one there.
[4:24] It was just you?
[4:25] No, Toby.
[4:26] I think I mentioned it to you, but you were just like, yeah, whatever you want to do, like you do you.
[4:33] So I stayed up and was on that and I was just like, damn, really?
[4:37] Like you can get your mortgage paid off that quick?
[4:40] Like let's do this.
[4:41] Like let's look more.
[4:42] And I actually think it was in that one that he mentioned about like if you've got a credit card and you pay it back every month, you're paying more, like you're spending more.
[4:50] And I was like, pfft.
[4:51] Yeah, because you wanted to pressure test us on a credit card education.
[4:55] I was like, BS, man.
[4:57] Like, I pay that thing back every fortnight when I get paid.
[5:00] And I was like, whatever.
[5:01] And I was like, nah, you know what?
[5:04] I'm going to do it.
[5:04] I'm going to do it.
[5:05] I'm going to cut it up.
[5:05] I'm just going to, like...
[5:07] Let's see if he's actually telling the truth here.
[5:09] Yeah, absolutely.
[5:10] And it was a real turning point for me.
[5:13] I remember that.
[5:14] Like I remember sitting in my car and like I got home from work that day and I sit in my car and I got the app up and I closed the credit card.
[5:20] Gone.
[5:21] Adios.
[5:22] Chopped it up.
[5:23] I don't even know.
[5:23] I think I left it in the car, chopped up in little pieces for a while.
[5:26] But straight away I was like, I need to fuel my car up.
[5:30] So, and I remember it.
[5:31] And he'd always used to just tap it on the credit card.
[5:34] Tap it.
[5:34] Well, and even you would always be up and he's like, you need to look for the cheapest place for fuel.
[5:38] Like you just, I'm like, I need fuel.
[5:40] Yeah.
[5:41] Just go close the servo.
[5:42] Just go fuel the car up.
[5:43] So you were always a bit like, you know, wanting to look for deals.
[5:46] Or not even just being aware of what something costs, I guess.
[5:50] And if I'd see it and I'd go, no, it's way, you shouldn't be paying that much.
[5:55] Yeah.
[5:56] You're very.
[5:57] Yeah, I'm a saver.
[5:58] savvy with that side of stuff whereas I was just like I need it I get it and I want it yeah like it would just happen that way but yeah I went to the to the server and I was like cool great I'm actually going to use my debit card like it was this this blow the dust off it yeah yeah and I healed up and then I walked inside and I was like I was still going to tap it because you know I'm still my debit card but I was just like tapped it it's like decline I was like what yeah
[6:23] decline.
[6:23] I was like, oh my God, I didn't check to make sure that there was actually money in the account, like the spendings account.
[6:27] I was just so used to it.
[6:28] I was just so used to it.
[6:30] And I was like, oh, this is embarrassing.
[6:31] There was like three people lined up behind me.
[6:33] I was like, oh my God.
[6:34] And like, that was a wake up moment.
[6:35] Cause I was like, that embarrassment just, you know, was a bit of a turning point for me.
[6:39] Cause I'm like, I needed to feel embarrassed in that moment for me to, to realize that sort of stuff.
[6:43] And then I got out my phone and I was
[6:47] And I even like, it was a couple of nights later, I couldn't sleep.
[6:51] I was having a look online, online shopping, and I can't even remember what it was.
[6:55] But I put something in my cart and I went to checkout and I was like, oh, I need to transfer money into the account to check out.
[7:01] So you had to make the conscious decision.
[7:03] Yes.
[7:03] To move it across, to then spend it.
[7:05] Exactly.
[7:06] And I logged online and I went to go transfer it from like the savings into the keycard account.
[7:10] And I went...
[7:11] this is a wand.
[7:13] This is not a need.
[7:14] Do I really need it?
[7:15] Exactly.
[7:15] Whereas when it was my credit card, I was just like, check out.
[7:18] I was like, holy shit.
[7:20] G is on the money with this stuff.
[7:23] He is so serious.
[7:23] Like I was just mind-blowing with that fact.
[7:27] I was like.
[7:27] wow, you really do, you know, spend more subconsciously with a credit card because you're not spending your money.
[7:33] You're spending the bank's money, right?
[7:34] Like, yeah, I was clearing it every fortnight.
[7:36] Like it wasn't, you know, that an issue or anything like that.
[7:38] But yeah, you definitely, when you see the money actually leave your account, like you've got to transfer it to, I'm not saying that you need to transfer it, but you've got to make the effort to make sure there's money there.
[7:47] It's like, do I want to spend a hundred bucks on that?
[7:50] Yeah.
[7:51] So it definitely was a mental shift.
[7:53] So if anyone has a credit card.
[7:56] way up.
[7:57] Were you surprised how simple that was but how big that realisation was?
[8:02] Yeah.
[8:03] It's crazy isn't it?
[8:04] It's just something so small but you're kind of like when somebody actually slaps you in the face with it you're like this actually makes sense because at first like you said you were like bullshit.
[8:12] I don't overspend on my credit card.
[8:15] No I was paid off.
[8:16] Exactly.
[8:17] So it's such a mental shift to be able to see that and I think that that was the first thing like when I did that I was like
[8:24] damn and I was like thinking about everything else that G went through in that that free webinar I was just like I want to know more.
[8:32] If you're enjoying this story and want to set yourself up for financial freedom as well it all starts with our free 45-minute educational webinar.
[8:41] Click the link below this video to begin your journey today.
[8:45] We sort of sat down and talked about doing the um
[8:49] The master's class over the weekend.
[8:50] Yeah.
[8:51] And you were still a bit sceptical.
[8:54] Yeah, what were you feeling at that time?
[8:56] Wasn't sure about it and obviously hadn't had that realisation with the credit card thing because I've never had a credit card.
[9:01] Yeah.
[9:02] So you couldn't really relate to the moment she had with it.
[9:06] That's right.
[9:06] Yeah, and you were a good saver.
[9:07] I remember your savings position when we first met.
[9:10] Yeah, so I've kind of never had to think about it.
[9:13] And, yeah, it was just...
[9:16] You never had debt until we got the home loan, hey, like you were.
[9:18] No, no.
[9:19] I was, I guess, pretty lucky with my job and being paid well from a young age.
[9:25] It's kind of hasn't really bothered me.
[9:27] Yeah.
[9:30] But, yeah, it was more obviously Gemma's idea and I thought, well, I'm not going to crash your dreams.
[9:37] Good man.
[9:38] Yeah, I'll go along with it for now, but it's on you.
[9:41] It doesn't work out.
[9:42] Yeah, like I think I spent probably maybe two hours in the first day of the weekend masterclass and I was like,
[9:49] I've got to get outside because I can't sit still inside.
[9:52] You're an antsy person, yeah.
[9:54] Whereas I was like taking notes the whole weekend.
[9:57] Well, we're used to sitting in front of a computer screen and listening.
[10:00] We can deal with that, whereas Toby's definitely an outdoorsy person.
[10:04] Even with decisions and stuff like that that you make, like I'm very –
[10:09] impulsive.
[10:09] Yeah.
[10:10] Like when it comes to decisions, I would say like, when I'm like, I want to do something, I'm like, yeah, let's do this.
[10:14] Like, let's go.
[10:15] Whereas you sit on stuff for a lot.
[10:18] And it's probably taught me stuff.
[10:20] Yeah, sometimes I sit too long and then I miss it out.
[10:22] But anyway, that's all right.
[10:24] And you research.
[10:25] Like you've definitely taught me to research stuff.
[10:27] Like if there's something that we need, it's not just let's buy it.
[10:30] It's like where can we find it the cheapest?
[10:32] If it's petrol.
[10:33] Exactly.
[10:34] Yeah, well, you introduced me to that fuel app, which is good.
[10:38] Now I'm just like, hey, Tal, the car needs some fuel.
[10:41] So you go fill that up for us.
[10:43] But you've definitely taught me stuff.
[10:46] to change my ways yeah did you take anything away from the masterclass i think the biggest thing that i took away was like the rapid repay yeah and doing the calculations with that like i remember like crunching that in and um i couldn't remember it the other day when i was thinking about it but then i was like no i do remember that now but just yeah you had a phenomenal result yeah like realizing how quickly we could get our home loan paid off like i remember like
[11:11] just us discussing that you're like really you were still like really because did you show him like these are our results like this is how quickly we can do it and it's um a massive eye-opener for that side of stuff and I even remember like when I wanted to do the infinity and when I came to us like I really think we should do it I really really really think that this is what we need to do like we need some guidance we you know need need this um strategy the um
[11:40] I had never really considered the whole investment property side.
[11:43] Yeah.
[11:43] Honestly, like I just went, do we can get this home loan paid off?
[11:46] Like, let's just get the home loan paid off.
[11:47] Like, I was always like, let's just pay it off.
[11:50] Be done.
[11:50] Yeah.
[11:51] See you later.
[11:51] And that's a huge achievement in itself, right?
[11:54] Yeah.
[11:55] Yeah.
[11:55] So, but, you know, as time goes on, it's like, oh, wow, we can actually grow wealth.
[12:00] Like, we can do more than just pay off the home loan.
[12:04] Like, yeah.
[12:05] There's more to this and, you know, the sky's the limit really.
[12:10] Yeah.
[12:12] Especially when you're so young and you can see that number on paper that you could pay your home loan off in less than, I think you guys were at two and a half years when we first met.
[12:19] Yeah, something like that, yeah.
[12:20] And now it's even less.
[12:21] Yeah, it was just nuts when you look at how old you are in that time.
[12:25] This is your first home.
[12:26] You were staring down the barrel of a 30-year home loan and you're going, this piece of paper says I can do it in two and a half years.
[12:32] Like this is nuts.
[12:35] So, yeah, it's quite interesting.
[12:36] But then when you start to look beyond that, past that ceiling where you're like, we can actually do more.
[12:41] Yeah.
[12:42] Yeah.
[12:42] So how did that feel?
[12:43] Like how did you actually get Toby across the line to be like, we're working with this guy?
[12:48] Yeah.
[12:49] I kind of just said, well, if it does, it does, and it's a good decision.
[12:55] If it doesn't, then I told you so.
[12:57] More than anything.
[13:00] And we've never had to say, I told you so, hey?
[13:01] No, not yet.
[13:02] Not yet.
[13:03] Stop it.
[13:05] So you've signed up to work with us.
[13:07] I was your finance strategist.
[13:08] So I worked through your initial strategy.
[13:10] I do remember that first strategy meeting.
[13:12] You were so quiet in that meeting.
[13:13] Yeah.
[13:14] I'm pretty sure that's when I was away.
[13:16] I was in Rockhampton for work.
[13:18] Yeah, I think you were in two different places.
[13:19] Yeah, we were doing Zoom and I was like, I wasn't, yeah, still sceptical.
[13:24] Yeah.
[13:25] How did you feel during that strategy meeting though when I was going through...
[13:29] The out of debt strategy.
[13:30] Yeah.
[13:31] Well, that, that was kind of where I was, that was the thing I kind of took from thinking that this can work sort of thing.
[13:38] Yeah.
[13:38] Yeah.
[13:39] And obviously, yeah, like you said, 30 year, um, mortgage down to two and a half years.
[13:45] You're like, wow.
[13:47] Yeah.
[13:47] Think about the money you can, the money you can save just in interest alone.
[13:51] Yeah.
[13:52] That, um, period.
[13:53] So that's probably what kind of got me across the line.
[13:57] And that monthly repayment's no longer going to the bank.
[14:00] It's back to you guys.
[14:01] Yeah.
[14:01] Yeah.
[14:03] I think that that's probably like the biggest thing, like, you know,
[14:06] when you know how much you're going to pay of interest over the life of your loan, when you just pay the minimum.
[14:11] And that's what we were doing before.
[14:13] Like, yeah, we had some money in the offset accounts, but we really were only paying the minimum repayment.
[14:18] So, you know, things have definitely shifted from there, you know, the way that we work with everything and our, you know, plan and how we attack everything now.
[14:32] Yeah.
[14:34] And we had to make a lot of big changes too because at the time when we first met, you guys had everything separate.
[14:39] You'd had your savings in a separate account.
[14:41] It wasn't on the home loan.
[14:43] You were doing everything that we say not to do basically.
[14:47] So how did it feel in that moment where I basically just did a 180 on your circumstances?
[14:51] Yeah.
[14:52] There was a few silent moments in that meeting.
[14:54] Really?
[14:56] I probably wasn't happy with it at the time.
[14:59] It's what we had to do to make it all work.
[15:03] Work, yeah.
[15:04] I was happy that we did it.
[15:06] I'm happy now.
[15:06] Yeah.
[15:07] Hindsight's amazing.
[15:08] Yeah, that's right.
[15:09] I think it's just when you get set in your ways and like the things that you've been doing for so many years and it's been working, do you know what I mean?
[15:17] Like it's hard to make that change and make that move but –
[15:21] definitely we wouldn't look back now.
[15:23] Yeah.
[15:24] Definitely.
[15:25] And what is it like being on a budget now, that really naughty word budget?
[15:30] Yeah.
[15:31] We actually had to increase it the other day because we, since having our first child, we still had the same budget and we needed to bring that up because, as we said before, kids aren't.
[15:43] Yes.
[15:44] Yeah.
[15:46] So we used to stick to it very, very well.
[15:49] And then when we had our baby, we weren't really sticking to that.
[15:55] So we'll admit to that bit.
[15:56] But we're back on track now.
[15:59] So it wasn't too bad, to be honest.
[16:01] Like, I think it...
[16:04] It makes you realise your spending when you have that budget.
[16:08] Like I don't see it as a bad thing.
[16:11] It's definitely like because when you're looking at the account, you're like, oh, I've only got $30 left for the week sort of thing.
[16:16] It's just like, do I need this?
[16:18] Do I want this?
[16:18] It goes back to that conscious spending and conscious thinking that you were saying before because there's no tapping on a credit card anymore.
[16:24] No, no, definitely not.
[16:26] No more Bangs money.
[16:28] But, yeah, no.
[16:30] Talk to me about the rest of the strategy and what that first 90 days looked like for you guys.
[16:35] It was definitely about the out-of-debt strategy and setting up the budget, but then like you said, we opened your opportunities up to potentially investing as well.
[16:42] What was that like for you guys?
[16:44] Yeah, I remember it was Luke, I think it was.
[16:46] Yeah, your wealth strategist.
[16:48] Yeah, yeah, sat down.
[16:49] It might have been you and Luke maybe, I don't know.
[16:52] And just said, hey, we've got this property for you.
[16:53] We're like, what?
[16:56] Where?
[16:56] What?
[16:57] How?
[16:57] Like, tell us more.
[16:58] And I was like, give me everything.
[17:00] Give me all the information.
[17:01] And you're like, really?
[17:03] Like, you were still a little bit sceptical as well.
[17:06] And I think...
[17:08] Probably because you've never had debt, right?
[17:10] Like as in until you had the home loan, like you've never had any other debt.
[17:14] So I think adding more debt to the equation is probably.
[17:18] Did scare me a bit.
[17:19] Yeah.
[17:19] So I think.
[17:20] Because, yeah, I guess growing up debt was always bad.
[17:23] Like you don't want.
[17:24] That's what your parents always instilled in you.
[17:26] Yeah, I guess like least amount of debt and like even car loans and stuff like that was like, that's why I always paid cash for everything and.
[17:33] Yeah.
[17:34] Knowing what I know now is probably the opposite to what we've been doing, should be doing, but anyway, hindsight.
[17:41] It's a little bit different.
[17:41] I must admit like it's probably a bit different, but like my parents are farmers and I just always, some of their stuff that they've said is that, you know, to get ahead sometimes you need to borrow money.
[17:55] Yeah.
[17:55] You know.
[17:56] Okay, so they had that mentality like that, which is quite opposite to, yeah.
[18:00] Yes, but then they're still very old.
[18:01] school at the same time so I guess when like the the investment property was um you know the idea was given to us I was kind of like no I can see I can see how this you know could work so I was definitely a lot you know
[18:14] more willing to like, yeah, let's go and do this.
[18:17] Then you were just like, we'll do it.
[18:19] Yeah.
[18:21] But no, it's paid off.
[18:23] It's good.
[18:24] Yeah.
[18:24] Yeah.
[18:25] It was very exciting.
[18:26] I still remember when it was halfway through being built, we went, just showed up to the place.
[18:31] Just to look at it.
[18:32] Yeah.
[18:33] It's always a nice thing to do though.
[18:35] Yeah.
[18:35] And then after that, like we've had a second one and it's like, yeah.
[18:41] We have no intention of going and having a look at it.
[18:43] A bit more non-emotional now.
[18:44] The emotional attachment to it is different because I think you then turn to see it as, in the best way possible, like a transactional decision.
[18:54] Like we're doing this for a purpose.
[18:56] Like we're doing this to grow our wealth and things like that.
[18:58] Yeah.
[18:59] And like even when it comes down to like colours and stuff like that, I think you said to me last time, like, did we pick any colours?
[19:03] I'm just like, I don't care.
[19:04] They've picked the colours.
[19:05] Like they know what they're doing.
[19:06] They know what's going to work.
[19:07] Like let's just trust that process.
[19:09] Yeah.
[19:10] I think it's because we had so many nightmares with building our place.
[19:13] Not nightmares, but like as in decision nightmares.
[19:15] Yeah, because you're so much more emotionally involved when it's your own home.
[19:18] So you do want to pick the fixtures and fittings and doorknobs and all that.
[19:22] Yeah.
[19:23] Whereas now it's just like, no, like, and if I got asked for a colour for an investment, I'd be like, I don't care.
[19:27] Like, please don't ask me, please.
[19:29] That's not even a question.
[19:30] That's your area.
[19:32] So how many properties do we have now?
[19:34] So we've got a dual occupancy, a single occupancy, and then it'll be an apartment for the SMSF.
[19:46] Yeah.
[19:47] Yeah.
[19:47] Three investment properties.
[19:49] Yeah.
[19:49] Plus your home.
[19:50] Plus your home.
[19:50] Plus ours, yeah.
[19:51] Yeah.
[19:52] Did you think that that would even be possible all before you were 40?
[19:55] No.
[19:56] And paying off the home loan?
[19:58] Yeah.
[19:58] All before you're 40?
[19:59] No.
[20:00] Definitely not.
[20:01] So how's that scepticism now?
[20:03] Yeah.
[20:04] Hindsight.
[20:06] Yeah.
[20:07] True, true.
[20:07] Silent old line doll.
[20:09] And you guys have been quite fortunate to be able to buy something in a self-managed super fund again at such a young age.
[20:15] Yeah.
[20:16] where they've recently changed the rules around that, which is obviously just a kick in the guts to a lot of Australians who would have liked to use it as a wealth creation strategy.
[20:25] How does that make you feel for people that, you know, maybe coming behind you wanting to do that and they won't be able to do that with residential property?
[20:32] It makes me cranky.
[20:34] Yeah.
[20:34] Actually, like I just think, you know,
[20:38] Growing your wealth for retirement is just, it's a no-brainer, right?
[20:44] Yeah.
[20:45] I just, I have a lot more words.
[20:48] I'm not going to go into it, but it sucks the changes, definitely.
[20:52] Yeah, it's sad.
[20:53] Yeah, it really is.
[20:55] We're very fortunate and everyone else who's been able to do that is very fortunate and just my heart breaks for everybody else who can't have that same sort of opportunity.
[21:03] Yeah.
[21:03] It's just putting a...
[21:06] a roadblock through growing that wealth and having the security for retirement is just, yeah.
[21:13] Yeah.
[21:14] I mean we should want every Australian to be self-funded retirees.
[21:18] Oh, 100%.
[21:18] Absolutely.
[21:19] We shouldn't want people on the old age pension or thinking that their super is their plan to get out of debt, as an example.
[21:25] Yeah.
[21:26] Right.
[21:26] We should want to help build their wealth to the point where they can just fund themselves and their families.
[21:31] So it has something that's been taken away.
[21:33] But what would you say to somebody who's saying, oh, you know what,
[21:37] you know, fuck the government.
[21:39] They've taken away my ability to do this.
[21:40] I'm just going to do nothing.
[21:42] Don't do nothing.
[21:44] Anything's better than nothing.
[21:45] Yeah, absolutely.
[21:47] And, you know, there's, yes, you can't do that anymore, but there's other ways to still, you know, yeah, to still be able to build wealth within your super.
[21:59] So don't give up.
[22:00] Just talk to someone about it and, you know, find out what your options are.
[22:04] Sorry.
[22:05] Talk to infinity.
[22:06] Yeah, exactly.
[22:06] That's our biggest fan now.
[22:08] Absolutely.
[22:09] So, yeah, don't throw your hands up in the air or stick your head in the sand, whatever.
[22:14] Just, yeah, talk about it because there's definitely options and options are good.
[22:17] So you still think it's worth looking into wealth creation strategies despite all the noise with the government and everything?
[22:24] Definitely.
[22:24] Yeah, I definitely agree because I think that's my biggest fear for a lot of people is they'll see this and they'll just do nothing out of fear.
[22:30] Yeah.
[22:30] Right, because we could all have fear at any point at any economic climate or change or, you know, there's been so many cycles and budgets and GFC and COVID but you've always got to do something.
[22:42] Yeah.
[22:43] Otherwise you just stay stuck.
[22:44] Yeah, exactly.
[22:46] Had you guys looked into anyone else prior to Infinity?
[22:49] Had you kind of compared us to anyone else or thought about working with financial planners or?
[22:54] No, we honestly didn't.
[22:57] infinity didn't give us a reason to look elsewhere like okay i definitely after like the the master class and stuff like that i just was like i'm i'm sold like why why look elsewhere you've answered all my questions you've told me what you can do and we're doing it like yeah it just there's no there's no reason to go elsewhere to look honestly you guys make it simple and easy
[23:20] I love that.
[23:21] So we started off with a home loan about 425 or 423, something like that.
[23:25] It was just over 420.
[23:27] Where are we today?
[23:29] Oh, what, like 160 odd?
[23:32] Actually, I think we put money on it this week, didn't we?
[23:34] I'm not sure.
[23:35] I don't know.
[23:36] That's your department.
[23:37] Yeah, I think it's like we are like 160 odd, yeah.
[23:40] Yeah.
[23:42] That is wild.
[23:43] So you've done more than half off the mortgage since you were working with us and you started what, it was late 2023?
[23:50] Yeah.
[23:51] Yeah.
[23:51] Yeah, late 2023.
[23:52] How do you guys feel about that?
[23:54] Yeah.
[23:56] Yeah, good, good.
[23:58] We obviously wish that we were –
[24:00] a lot more closer to being paid off.
[24:04] But at the same time, like we've achieved a lot of other things during that time as well.
[24:10] Like we, we bought, uh, what we were on 10 acres.
[24:15] So we, um, bought, it was essentially a paddock that had cows in it and was growing tomatoes.
[24:21] Before.
[24:22] No infrastructure whatsoever.
[24:24] Absolutely no infrastructure.
[24:25] So, you know, even when we were building, I think about that, like there were so many things like how can we cut costs while we're building?
[24:30] Like how can we, you know, save money here and there and things like that.
[24:34] And one of the things that we –
[24:36] um did which hindsight which we didn't do was that we didn't do any of like the essential landscaping things that we needed to do and it's not like you didn't do that as part of the build no yeah and and it wasn't when i say essential like it was like retaining walls like we actually because we were on a hill like we actually needed to have retaining walls because it was just like a big drop off sort of stuff so like we're like oh we'll do that that later and
[24:59] You know, we did deal with that later and the downside to that is that it cost us more than had we done it at the start.
[25:06] But, you know, we probably, and we put up another shed and solar, we get some blackouts where we are and where our house is actually in a black spot.
[25:15] So if we don't- For a phone reception.
[25:17] For phone reception.
[25:18] So, and with having a baby, we're like, we kind of need to be able to have power and phone service.
[25:23] Yeah, of course.
[25:24] So, we probably have invested of our, you know, cash, what, 50 or 60 grand into our property over that time.
[25:34] So, had we not done that, that would obviously be paid off the home loan.
[25:37] Um, we both were up for long service leave as well.
[25:42] And we went to Tassie for six weeks, uh, two years ago.
[25:48] No.
[25:49] Yeah.
[25:50] Two and a half years ago.
[25:51] I think it was just after you got married.
[25:53] Well, yeah, we actually, um, we got engaged and then I sort of went to Taylor's like,
[25:58] Well, we're going to Tassie.
[25:59] That's just a lot because we also didn't want a big wedding.
[26:02] Yeah.
[26:02] We didn't want us because we, again, with money, I was like, oh, we just can't, you know.
[26:06] I feel more conscious of that as well.
[26:07] Yeah, like I've been to, you know, weddings where they're like, oh, our budget was 60 grand.
[26:11] I'm like, that's a freaking house deposit, man.
[26:13] Like, what are you doing?
[26:14] So we, yeah, we definitely weren't.
[26:18] those people um we were trying to you know do it as cheap as possible so we thought well let's just you know elope with our immediate family down in tassie so uh it's still not obviously it still costs money and you know we could have definitely done it cheaper but like we wanted to you know have the suit and the wedding dress and have the photos and stuff you know yeah you know put in our house and for our kids and stuff like that so you know
[26:40] Yeah, so we still did that, but we were lucky enough to be able to obviously pay for that sort of stuff.
[26:46] So if we didn't do that as well, we would obviously have a lot more.
[26:49] Be further along on the movies.
[26:51] Yeah, but I still see it.
[26:52] We don't regret any of it.
[26:53] Yes, we would be further along, but we've also been able to, you know,
[26:57] enjoy those finer moments and, you know, also increase the value of our property.
[27:01] Like, what we've done is obviously...
[27:04] It's not going to detriment the... Yeah.
[27:05] Yeah, exactly.
[27:06] But that's an important part of that process, right?
[27:08] Like, you've traded in all the spending on the shopping and the doom scrolling, as you said.
[27:14] To now being able to do those really important things like go and have the wedding, go and have a really nice holiday, go and improve your home, have a baby, take some maternity leave.
[27:24] You've done some pretty big things since you've worked with us, but still did more than $200,000 off the home loan.
[27:30] Like that, that's a huge achievement.
[27:34] It's definitely a lot more of you than your conscious decision-making there and your slider stuff.
[27:40] So, yeah.
[27:41] I don't know.
[27:41] I think you two, yeah, both working very much as a team now.
[27:44] Because you were saying that Toby's taught you quite a lot through this process too.
[27:48] What do you think Infinity has been able to teach both of you that's brought you together as a couple?
[27:53] Oh, gosh.
[27:55] A lot of things.
[27:56] We discuss purchases like more often now.
[28:00] Not more often, like all the time, right?
[28:02] Like before it would just be like, oh, I bought this or whatever.
[28:05] Probably more so me than him.
[28:07] But, you know, we discuss those big purchases.
[28:10] Even like some of the little purchases too.
[28:12] Like I'm very guilty when it comes to our baby.
[28:15] I'll be like –
[28:16] oh, he needs this.
[28:17] It's your first baby.
[28:18] And Tony's like, does he need this?
[28:20] Does he need another toy?
[28:23] And I'm like, but it's on sale.
[28:24] And I'm like, I'll keep it for his first birthday.
[28:26] So, yeah, no, we still, I think that's probably the biggest thing is just discussing things because I think when you discuss things like that, you...
[28:36] you can find a cheaper way about it or the other person might have an idea and be like, well, actually, you know, what about this instead?
[28:43] And, you know, I think it creates that communication around stuff and I think that communication is key when you have goals to reach.
[28:52] Yeah, absolutely.
[28:54] So you definitely think it's increased the communication in your relationship around money?
[28:58] Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
[29:00] And do we feel more comfortable now everything's joint?
[29:02] We feel a bit better.
[29:04] Yeah.
[29:05] I think what was really cool too about that whole story is you were actually able to take a few months off as well when your bub came along too, which a lot of people are not fortunate enough to be able to say that, you know, you need at least one of you back at work pretty quickly.
[29:19] Do you think pre-infinity that would have been an option?
[29:21] It was always an option because of my company that I work for, but I guess I just...
[29:27] maybe would have been more stressed to get back to work.
[29:30] But I wasn't at all.
[29:31] Yeah.
[29:32] Having four months off, I wasn't worried about the overtime I was missing or this or that that I was missing.
[29:37] It was like, oh, well, like we're pretty happy and like financially happy.
[29:42] So quite content.
[29:43] Yeah.
[29:44] And we didn't have to worry about that extra.
[29:46] Like my base was like servicing everything.
[29:49] Yeah.
[29:51] We just didn't get those extras.
[29:52] That's what we were giving up during that time.
[29:55] Yeah, like the fact that you have the ability to be able to do overtime and all that sort of stuff and, you know, also you're on call.
[30:02] You weren't on call during that time either when we.
[30:05] Oh, so that's a big blessing too.
[30:07] Yeah, like and I think about that time when we were home with our baby, like we had a bit going on medically wise and stuff as well.
[30:18] And appointments here and there.
[30:20] Yeah, I think we were traveling to Toowoomba every couple of, twice a week for a while.
[30:25] And so I would have probably been lost doing that by myself.
[30:29] Yeah, that would have been very hard.
[30:31] Very, very lucky and very fortunate.
[30:32] And of course, like those things cost money.
[30:34] Sure, like medical appointments cost money.
[30:36] Like the fuel going.
[30:37] Yeah.
[30:37] And sometimes we'd have to stay there for the night.
[30:39] And just like parking at a hospital.
[30:41] Yeah, insane.
[30:42] Yeah.
[30:42] I feel like you shouldn't have to pay for parking at a hospital.
[30:45] Yeah, so but the fact that we could do that and not be stressed, I think that was, you know, that meant everything.
[30:52] Yeah.
[30:53] It gave you a lot of breathing space.
[30:54] Yeah, yeah, absolutely.
[30:56] And what else have you been able to achieve with Infinity?
[30:59] Um, yeah, well, we've gone to REM.
[31:01] When do we, actually we received emails for quite a while about REM.
[31:06] Um, and I was just like, kept pushing it back a bit, pushing it back.
[31:12] Well, I just, I didn't realize it was sort of like part of our, like as in part of our, you know, journey with you guys for that side of stuff like that.
[31:19] We'd sort of chosen to do that.
[31:20] And I was like, Oh no, no, no.
[31:23] And then after a while I was like,
[31:25] Louis actually rang up.
[31:26] Of course he did.
[31:27] He's like, what are you doing?
[31:28] He's like, you need to get to one of these.
[31:30] And I'm like, really?
[31:31] And he's just like, yes.
[31:33] Like, this is what's happening.
[31:34] And I remember you came home from work and I spoke to you about it.
[31:36] You're like, oh.
[31:38] okay and I think he was just along for the ride at this point now so I went to that first yeah that ram and um that was really good just being with in a room with like-minded people yeah honestly um saw a lot of uh testimonials and stuff there as well and um yeah I think that was when um
[32:01] I think that's when he told us about the second investment property that he could look at.
[32:05] Yeah, he gave us two options, yeah.
[32:07] Well, sorry, two different options.
[32:08] Yeah, and the SMSF one.
[32:10] So that, I'm glad we went.
[32:12] Yeah.
[32:14] We usually have a reason for why we want to.
[32:17] Yeah, again, we should have, yeah, gone a lot sooner.
[32:20] So, yeah, don't put that off.
[32:21] Right.
[32:22] Yeah, you have a little bit of a habit of doing that because it took you a bit from webinar to master class.
[32:27] Yes.
[32:27] And then it's taken you a bit from sign up to REM.
[32:29] Yes.
[32:30] Yes.
[32:31] But we don't like to push, right?
[32:33] It's just not in our nature to do it.
[32:34] We're just like, guys, we're here with information.
[32:36] We're always looking at your numbers.
[32:38] We're always looking at your strategy and ready to present.
[32:40] But it's up to you guys.
[32:41] Yeah.
[32:42] Well, I think that's the thing.
[32:42] Like you guys had obviously...
[32:44] crunch the figures, right?
[32:45] Yeah.
[32:45] You knew what we could do and we're just like, oh, maybe next time, maybe next time.
[32:49] So, yeah, don't put that stuff off because I sit there and think about, like, you know, what if we did things a lot sooner?
[32:54] Like even from when we did the masterclass online,
[32:59] I did the webinar and I'm sure that it was months later, like G's ad kept coming up on Instagram and I'm like, yeah, yeah, yeah.
[33:07] And I finally talked to Toby about it.
[33:08] And then we finally did the mask.
[33:09] So I'm like, I just wish that we did everything we've done.
[33:12] I wish we did it sooner.
[33:13] So that's my tip for everyone.
[33:16] Don't sit on your hands.
[33:17] Don't wait.
[33:18] We did like get in and just, yeah, see what Anthony can do because, yeah, we delayed a little bit and I don't know why, honestly.
[33:28] But look, we've still achieved so much.
[33:29] Yes, so true.
[33:30] You definitely should be very proud of yourselves.
[33:32] What was the biggest financial myth that you think we've busted since working with us?
[33:37] I know credit card was definitely one for you.
[33:40] Is there anything else?
[33:41] Yeah, definitely the credit card.
[33:43] Don't keep that bad boy.
[33:46] Probably that, you know, society probably tells you that your home loan is going to be paid off in 30 years and that's just not true.
[33:54] Yeah.
[33:55] And you're in total control of whether you pay it off in 30 years or whether you don't.
[34:02] Like it's up to you.
[34:04] Like no one else is going to make that happen.
[34:05] You need to make that move.
[34:07] And infinity is there to help you do that.
[34:10] So I think that's probably the biggest thing because if I think about where we would be now.
[34:17] Back then, it's, I didn't think that we could do what we've done now.
[34:22] No, definitely.
[34:23] Like, it's insane.
[34:23] Like I said, we only wanted to pay off the home loan, the fact that we have the investment.
[34:28] Yeah, like, that's just mind-boggling, honestly.
[34:34] And, you know, trying to set up a bit of a...
[34:38] legacy for our son and, you know, obviously we hope to have more children and we really want to be role models for them to show, you know, you can, it is, your life is what you make it sort of thing.
[34:48] So if you want this to happen, you can do it.
[34:51] Yeah.
[34:52] Well, what are you hoping for him?
[34:53] What are you hoping this teaches him as he gets older?
[34:57] I hope it teaches him like money smarts and that, you know,
[35:03] you, you can, you can grow wealth, like you can, you know, create the life that you want to create and you don't have to be, you know, living in rock bottom.
[35:15] And I mean, you know, sometimes that does happen, right?
[35:18] Like life just does happen some ways, but don't let it get to you.
[35:21] If it happens, there's a way out.
[35:23] There's always options.
[35:25] You've just got to find those options.
[35:26] And we just hope that we can, you know, instill everything into him that we've learned along the way.
[35:33] And
[35:34] you know, set him up for success, I guess.
[35:35] Like, yeah, that's what we hope to do.
[35:40] Do you think pre-infinity would have been scared for his future?
[35:43] Probably, yeah.
[35:44] Not probably, yeah.
[35:46] I think about the way that just with all the changes and stuff that are happening with the economy and all that sort of stuff, like it is a concern as to...
[35:59] you know, the way that things are costing and all that sort of stuff.
[36:02] Like, you know, you think of how much we have to save for a first-time loan deposit.
[36:07] What's that going to be in 20 years' time, you know, when that's when he could potentially be looking at his first home.
[36:14] So I think, you know,
[36:17] And instilling those, you know, good money values and habits from the get go from once he can understand and learn that sort of stuff, I think will be the best thing for his future as well.
[36:29] Yeah.
[36:30] Does it look brighter?
[36:31] Does it feel brighter for him?
[36:32] Yeah.
[36:32] Oh, definitely.
[36:33] Yeah.
[36:33] Definitely.
[36:33] Yeah, absolutely.
[36:35] And even just to be able to, you know, help him in ways, you know, we want him to be able to be financially independent himself as well and, you know, grow his own wealth and all that sort of stuff.
[36:47] But when things happen, to be able to go, yeah,
[36:50] We can help.
[36:51] Yeah.
[36:51] Like I think that that's a big thing.
[36:53] Like I, you know, friends, things like that, to be able to have like when they've been in situations and they've needed that little bit of a help, but they don't have, you know, people who can help them that way.
[37:05] I see that we want to be able to set him up to be able to be okay in situations.
[37:11] And for us to be able to do that, we feel like.
[37:14] better in ourselves.
[37:15] You know what I mean?
[37:16] Like, yeah.
[37:16] Just to have the ability to help him if he needs it.
[37:19] Yeah.
[37:20] He does more than anything.
[37:21] Because it is very uncertain.
[37:22] Like, who bloody knows what next year it's going to look like?
[37:26] Exactly.
[37:27] And that's why it's so important to take control of what you can control right now.
[37:30] Yeah, that's right.
[37:31] And do it now while you've got the opportunities.
[37:33] Because you're right.
[37:33] We don't know what tomorrow is going to look like.
[37:36] I think that's the biggest thing, like.
[37:38] make your decisions based on what you know now, not the future, because you just don't know what it's going to be like, right?
[37:42] And you can't predict it and you can't try to, and you can't preempt anything.
[37:46] Yeah.
[37:48] And what are you hoping, let's just look 20 years into the future.
[37:50] What are you hoping that he looks at you and says to you about this whole process that you've put yourself through today?
[38:00] I hope that he looks at us and is proud of us.
[38:03] Like, I just really hope that he looks at us as those role models that, you know, he needs and...
[38:12] I just, I think just that proud moment that you made the right decisions, you know, you did it early.
[38:19] You've done the hard yards, right?
[38:22] Like, you know, 20 years from now, how amazing would it be that we're either retired, not working anymore, or we're working because we want to work.
[38:32] And you've got the choice of what you do.
[38:34] Not because we have to work, right?
[38:36] Like how amazing would that be?
[38:37] Like, you know, and especially if he's in his life and he's doing things, like we could be more present in his life too.
[38:43] You know, he might be having a family and things like that.
[38:46] He could be the present grandparents.
[38:47] Exactly.
[38:47] Like there's just, you know, like I said before, options are good.
[38:52] And I just think to be able to have that, you know, in 20 years time and be able to be the people that we want to be for him.
[38:59] And future kids.
[39:00] Oh, I love that.
[39:01] And what are you guys the most proud of, honestly?
[39:04] Everything that Infinity's done for us to reinvest in properties and proud that we've worked together in reducing our own homes mortgage from, yeah, 30 years to two and a half, so...
[39:19] I think it's lower than that too now.
[39:21] Yeah.
[39:21] It would be.
[39:22] Yeah.
[39:22] I think you're well under two years now.
[39:24] Yeah.
[39:24] Yeah.
[39:24] It's crazy.
[39:25] And even with the, like, maternity leave and, yeah, done as well.
[39:29] So I'm proud of everything.
[39:31] It's...
[39:32] We wouldn't be where we are if it weren't for infinity.
[39:35] Oh, definitely.
[39:36] You know, even... We'd be still on the same trajectory of paying our 30-year mortgages.
[39:41] Oh, absolutely.
[39:42] And even if we did look at an investment property, we would have done all of the don'ts.
[39:47] We would have bought an existing house.
[39:48] We would have bought it in the town where we live so that we could do a drive-by and check on it, right?
[39:53] Like, and I think that's one thing that, you know, listening to other podcasts and all that sort of stuff, like...
[39:59] Not doing your research and, you know, buying in places that, you know, aren't having the increase that you're sort of needing.
[40:08] And that's what you guys specialize in.
[40:10] You guys do all of that research for us.
[40:12] Like we would have made every mistake in the other side if we went to do it ourselves, right?
[40:17] I just, we're very thankful for infinity because we definitely would not be where we are without you guys, especially yourself.
[40:23] Oh, thank you.
[40:24] It's been such a pleasure working with you guys.
[40:26] I'm very proud of like where we are today versus where we were when we first started.
[40:31] But you guys, it's all you, you know, we set the foundation out, but you made sure you followed it, which is just incredible.
[40:37] So you should be very, very proud.
[40:38] And do you talk to your friends or your family much about what you've done?
[40:43] Uh, friends we do.
[40:45] Uh, yeah, it's... We've actually, um, Connor, what's the word?
[40:51] Yeah, we've actually got a few friends that we've referred through to in Infinity, um, which is super exciting.
[40:57] And when they come back, like, we could get two properties.
[40:59] We're like so happy for them.
[41:00] Like, it's, it's really exciting.
[41:02] But, um, we don't, we don't, we don't force it on anybody.
[41:07] I think that, you know, we...
[41:10] When it comes up, it comes up organically.
[41:12] Like the conversation comes up organically and then we sort of talk about it and it tends to be like like-minded people who want to do that growth.
[41:19] That's always the best way because you can talk from results.
[41:22] Exactly.
[41:23] And they want to listen too.
[41:24] That's the other thing.
[41:25] Like sometimes if people aren't in the mindset or mind frame to be able to listen to what you're saying, then –
[41:30] They're not going to take it in, right?
[41:32] They need to want to hear the information.
[41:33] And I think that's probably, you know, what's been good with like our friends and stuff like that.
[41:38] Like they just, they want to know more.
[41:40] But our family is very old school.
[41:43] They actually, yeah, don't know that we've done any of this.
[41:47] Well, what are you hoping that they'll think or say once they watch this?
[41:51] I hope that they're proud of us, like honestly.
[41:54] Yeah, I guess so.
[41:55] Yeah, I hope that they just are, yeah, excited for what we've been able to achieve and...
[42:02] In two and a bit years.
[42:03] Yeah.
[42:04] And just, yeah.
[42:05] Crazy.
[42:06] Proud.
[42:06] That's all I'm hoping.
[42:07] How can they not be?
[42:08] Absolutely.
[42:09] No, you guys should be so proud.
[42:11] But what would you say to somebody who might be sitting on the fence about infinity?
[42:14] Don't sit on the fence, man.
[42:15] Don't do it.
[42:16] Just do it.
[42:17] Don't try to find cracks in the system like you guys tried to do.
[42:20] Don't wait.
[42:21] Don't be skeptical.
[42:22] Don't waste your time.
[42:23] Just get into it.
[42:25] Yeah, just do it.
[42:26] Like, honestly, you guys have a strategy.
[42:29] It's proven.
[42:30] It's efficient.
[42:30] It works.
[42:31] Don't second guess anything.
[42:33] Just dive right in.
[42:36] Awesome, guys.
[42:36] So thank you so much for coming in and sharing your story.
[42:39] It's definitely going to help many people who probably are on the fence and just want to know a bit more and might be in the same season of life that you are.
[42:46] So thank you so much.
[42:47] Thank you.

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