# BONUS EP - RM Chantal with Steve & Sharon | Series 4 Ep 29

An episode of [Money Mentor Podcast™](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1632604767), 22 Apr 2026, 20 min.

Audio: https://episode.flightcast.com/d972fqkw0ho0kl8rnmhrcm0x.mp3

In this episode, Chantal sits down with Steve and Sharon to share one of the most powerful transformations yet, from taking over 20 years to not pay off their first home, to completely clearing their next mortgage in just 3 years and 11 months. They open up about their journey before Infinity, including failed investment experiences and a cycle of spending everything they earned. What changed wasn’t their income but their structure, discipline, and mindset around money. Steve and Sharon break down how implementing a clear budget, cutting unnecessary spending, and staying accountable completely shifted their trajectory. From becoming debt free to building a portfolio of four investment properties, they’ve proven what’s possible when you commit to the process. They also share practical tips that made a real difference, like meal planning, fuel budgeting, and regular check-ins to stay on track, while proving you don’t have to sacrifice your lifestyle to get ahead.This episode is a powerful reminder that it’s never too late to change direction, and that the right system can fast-track results in ways most people don’t think are possible. 👉 Watch the free webinar to start your journey: https://bit.ly/43V2jKN

## Transcript

[0:00] For me, paying off the house, that was a big thing for me.
[0:05] I didn't think we'd ever do it.
[0:08] And we probably wouldn't have if we didn't join Infinity, really.
[0:12] Like you said before, when we were talking to G, Steve, and I didn't even realise, we had our first house that we had, we had it for over 20 years and didn't pay it off.
[0:23] And the place we've got now, we've had it for, well, we paid it off in three years and 11 months.
[0:28] Unbelievable.
[0:29] Yeah.
[0:30] Money isn't rude of all evil, the fucking lack of it is.
[0:32] Not money, the lack of understanding money.
[0:35] When I put that into emphasis, when I realise our psychological effect and how it hit our family, I have to be in a fucking way.
[0:41] You are now watching the Money Man Talk podcast with Graeme Homme.
[0:45] Graeme Homme.
[0:46] Graeme Homme.
[0:46] Graeme Homme.
[0:47] Graeme Homme.
[0:50] You're fucking gone.
[0:51] See ya.
[0:51] Hey, Infinity fam, I'm Chantal, team leader of the relationship managers here at Infinity.
[0:56] And I have got a couple of special people here with me, former clients of mine, Steve and Sharon.
[1:01] Say hi guys.
[1:03] And tell us how long you've been with Infinity.
[1:06] We've been with Infinity for about four and a half years.
[1:10] So a long time listener, first time.
[1:13] Podcaster.
[1:14] Fantastic.
[1:16] How's it all going?
[1:17] Great.
[1:17] Good.
[1:18] Yeah.
[1:19] Really happy.
[1:19] Yeah.
[1:20] What have we done?
[1:21] Where are we at?
[1:23] My turn.
[1:24] Okay.
[1:26] Sure.
[1:26] So we have paid off our home late.
[1:29] So we are debt-free in our home late.
[1:32] We have four investment properties with Infinity, which is really great.
[1:37] We've been on some overseas holidays.
[1:39] What else have we done?
[1:41] Some holidays.
[1:42] Sounds like magic.
[1:43] Oh, it's been hard work.
[1:45] It's magic.
[1:45] How did you do it though?
[1:48] Infinity.
[1:50] Yeah.
[1:50] Without Infinity, we couldn't have done any of what we've done.
[1:54] So you guys, I know a bit of your story because I did used to look after you.
[1:58] Before coming to Infinity, you actually had signed up with a couple of other investment type companies.
[2:06] How did that work out?
[2:09] Not very good.
[2:10] No.
[2:11] Without disparaging them.
[2:13] So the first one we were with, we bought an investment property and we had it for 11 years and it went up $70,000 in value in 11 years.
[2:24] So not very good with that one.
[2:26] Was it like three feet underground?
[2:30] I don't understand.
[2:31] Anyway, I guess, well, it's interesting.
[2:34] Obviously, you always wanted to invest and you realised that that would be a good avenue for you.
[2:40] So how did you then decide you were going to trust Infinity?
[2:44] Yeah.
[2:45] I think the biggest thing was the money back guarantee.
[2:48] So, you know, it wouldn't work for you to guarantee it.
[2:52] You know, if you follow these steps, it'll work.
[2:55] If you follow these steps and it doesn't work, he'll give you your money back.
[2:58] So we thought, what have we got to lose?
[3:01] And thought we'd give it a go and it worked.
[3:05] So you can't argue with that.
[3:07] No home loan, four investment properties.
[3:09] No car loan, no credit card.
[3:13] Chop that sucker up.
[3:15] And your mindset before infinity, I know for a fact you used to spend everything that you earned and I'll ask for clarity on who was the spender?
[3:27] Stephen.
[3:30] No hesitation there.
[3:33] You were the bad boy spender, Steve.
[3:35] So how have you come to change your ways and your mindset and how are you at sticking to a budget now?
[3:43] Oh, I think I'm pretty good sticking to a budget now.
[3:46] Was there threats involved?
[3:48] Oh, can't really say.
[3:49] Yeah, no, I mean, yeah, I suppose I used to spend money on a bit of shit and whatnot, but if you know what you want, at the end of the day, you'll...
[4:04] Follow the rules.
[4:06] Someone's rules.
[4:07] I think he got a bit scared, not of me, of having to tell Chantal what he was spending money on as well, which helped.
[4:13] Yeah, you've got to tell Chantal.
[4:15] We're always watching, but it's just about having a plan and being purposeful.
[4:20] I would hope you would say that you haven't actually missed out on anything.
[4:25] No, definitely not.
[4:26] No, not when you have two overseas holidays in there.
[4:31] Our eldest son got married, so we put some money into that.
[4:36] Dental work, put some money into that.
[4:37] So we haven't missed out on anything.
[4:40] Yeah.
[4:41] And being able to do what you've done, has it been like a dramatic increase in income?
[4:46] Or this has just been about structuring correctly?
[4:49] Yeah.
[4:50] Structuring, yeah.
[4:51] And having a budget, sticking to the budget.
[4:56] And purposeful with your money.
[4:58] So you guys live on a farm.
[4:59] You've got 35 acres, which must cost a lot.
[5:03] But I know what your FFF is.
[5:05] Can you share it with me?
[5:07] So our FFF is 650.
[5:10] But?
[5:11] That includes maintenance on the ranch.
[5:13] Yeah.
[5:14] We call it the ranch.
[5:14] Kids call it the dud ranch.
[5:17] Oh, not the dude ranch?
[5:18] No.
[5:19] Come on.
[5:20] No, no E on that.
[5:20] Okay.
[5:21] Dud ranch.
[5:23] So essentially your FFF is $500 and $150 is towards maintaining 35 acres, which is pretty impressive.
[5:34] What else did you tell me about your FFF just before?
[5:38] Drop it.
[5:39] Yep, we're going to drop it again.
[5:41] Yeah.
[5:42] So I work, the office I work out of is Ropside Bullies.
[5:47] And I thought we were always really good with our food, Bill.
[5:53] I did a recheck about six weeks ago.
[5:57] And have started doing a meal plan again.
[6:00] And that's just dropped our food bill dramatically.
[6:03] We were just wasting it, really.
[6:05] Like, we didn't need half the food I was buying.
[6:07] It's only the two of us.
[6:07] So, yeah, we stick to the meal plan now.
[6:11] And I think we can drop our FFF again.
[6:15] That's a good point.
[6:16] You kind of get into a routine and those expenses might sort of start to creep up a little bit.
[6:22] So having a check-in and certainly meal plans, like one of our top two tips and tricks.
[6:29] It's basically shop online and prior to shopping online, have a meal plan for the week so you know what you need to buy.
[6:37] Because going to Woolies every day is...
[6:39] Yeah, all adds up, doesn't it?
[6:40] It's ridiculous.
[6:40] You're going to spend way more.
[6:42] Yeah.
[6:44] What else have you done in terms of FFF?
[6:46] Have you got any other tips up your sleeve?
[6:51] I wasn't ready for that question.
[6:52] No.
[6:55] I guess so some people will, you know, make sure that their food shopping's done, their fuel's put in their cars at the start of the week or whenever their FFF drops in and then the rest of the money is kind of just fun.
[7:10] Like how do you manage it?
[7:11] So with the fuel side of it, we do pull fuel in.
[7:14] We try and put fuel in every week.
[7:16] Steve does carpool when he goes to work, so he's got a bit of a drive to go to work each week.
[7:22] But he carpools.
[7:25] And to make sure we've got that money, because it's, you know, over a week, it does cost quite a bit.
[7:30] But if we make sure the cars fall before he starts the week...
[7:35] then, yeah, it's easier to maintain if you're putting it in regularly rather than in one big go.
[7:41] Yeah.
[7:43] So that's one tip.
[7:44] So, yeah, making sure you keep topping up your fuel tank.
[7:47] Especially now.
[7:50] No comment.
[7:53] I guess the big things are being prepared, having a plan, being prepared, exactly like we said, having a meal plan, shopping online where you can, making sure that car is topped up so you don't have to have a full tank to fill up in one go, in one week is one of the, or definitely some of the biggest tips.
[8:13] So you guys have been with Infinity for a while.
[8:16] I was your relationship manager for a while.
[8:18] You've had a couple along the way, but you still check in regularly.
[8:23] You know exactly what you need to do and have had excellent results.
[8:29] Why are you still sort of checking in regularly?
[8:33] Like what does that do for you?
[8:35] It keeps us in check, really.
[8:39] Yeah, it does keep us on track and it,
[8:45] Sometimes you can start to slip a little bit, like we said with the food there before, even though we're still within our budget.
[8:50] But you can feel yourself starting to slip.
[8:53] And when we paid off the home loan last year, I was really stressed that we would slip back into old habits and start spending more because we didn't have a home loan.
[9:04] But we haven't.
[9:05] And I think that's because we're checking in with Ash now.
[9:09] And even though maybe we don't need to, but it's still good to have that relationship so that if something does come up,
[9:15] we can just ring Ash and say, this has happened and work out a way forward.
[9:20] Yeah, absolutely.
[9:21] We are here.
[9:21] We kind of give you the parameters and the guardrails and they are things that we kind of would pick up for clients that are doing really well like yourselves.
[9:30] It might be, hey, I've just noticed there's this pattern up to you.
[9:36] You're within budget, but we could shave a bit off there if you wanted to because all of those little steps really accelerate your journey.
[9:44] And I think it's interesting that you said you're a bit worried about falling into old habits because I would think my experience with you, you guys are so committed and dedicated.
[9:52] I wouldn't have thought you would have thought along those lines.
[9:55] Yeah.
[9:55] We were at a REM last year and I went up to Megan and I said, how did you not go back into your old habits?
[10:02] And she said, you just don't.
[10:04] And she's right.
[10:06] You've got that mindset now.
[10:07] Yeah.
[10:08] And you challenge yourself to keep adding more each month to whether it's your mortgage or to a savings account.
[10:16] You keep challenging yourself to make sure you've got that sweep in there.
[10:21] So you guys have moved, I guess, from the debt reduction side.
[10:27] It was working in tandem with the wealth creation, but now we're just able to hit that harder and getting ready.
[10:34] You've got a settlement coming up, which will be super exciting, which, yeah, one of those real gold mines that you guys have picked up.
[10:46] What are you most proud of, of your journey?
[10:51] Well, for me, paying off the house.
[10:54] Yeah.
[10:55] That was a big thing for me.
[10:56] Yep.
[10:57] I didn't think we'd ever do it.
[10:59] Paid off.
[11:00] And we probably wouldn't have if we didn't join Infinity, really.
[11:04] Like.
[11:05] Like you said before, when we were talking to G, Steve, and I didn't even realise, we had our first house that we had, we had it for over 20 years and didn't pay it off.
[11:14] And the place we've got now, we've had it for, well, we paid it off in three years and 11 months.
[11:19] Unbelievable.
[11:20] Yeah.
[11:23] One of your sons is also an Infinity member.
[11:28] So obviously, you know, listening to how you talk and seeing your results, how does it feel knowing that he, as a young adult with a family, doesn't need to go through doing things the wrong way, as most of our clients that join us have?
[11:42] Yeah.
[11:44] We're really excited, very proud of both of them.
[11:47] No pressure for the other son who hasn't yet joined.
[11:50] He's going to watch this and no one talking about him.
[11:54] He wants to join.
[11:55] But no, very, very proud of our eldest and his wife and what they've been able to achieve just in, I think they've been with Infinity for six months now, something like that, six or eight months, and have saved more on their own loan than they've ever saved.
[12:10] And they have an investment property as well with Infinity, so they're going really great.
[12:15] So it has become generational.
[12:16] So many clients come to Infinity and say, I want to do this to help the kids.
[12:21] And whilst you might not have directly given them money or done something along those lines, what you have done has now impacted their future.
[12:28] So it is generational and that will be passed on, which is pretty cool.
[12:32] Yeah.
[12:33] Yep.
[12:34] What do you love most about Infinity?
[12:38] I think it's the...
[12:40] family atmosphere you get from it like you hear the word cult being thrown around it's more like culture than than cult but um it doesn't matter who does what there's no one better than anyone else i mean everyone's on their own journey
[12:57] Um, and everyone's happy for everyone else.
[13:00] Like no one tries to, there's no tall poppy as much in, in infinity as, as in others.
[13:07] Um, and you can put a question up on, on the infinity page, the Facebook page, and we get a thousand responses to, to your question.
[13:15] Everyone wants to help.
[13:16] Yeah.
[13:16] But even running into someone down the street, like, um,
[13:20] If they got an Infinity shirt on or something, you just automatically start.
[13:26] Yeah.
[13:28] Everyone pulls up, has a chat, you know, it's good.
[13:30] It's pretty cool.
[13:31] I think our community is unlike anything I've ever seen or experienced anywhere else.
[13:37] Exactly like you said, Sharon, there's no comparison.
[13:40] You've got four investment properties and people are thrilled for you.
[13:44] Some people that are newer might be thinking, oh, you know, can't wait to wear like that.
[13:48] It's not, there's no jealousy around that.
[13:52] And the support, exactly as you say, being able to ask a question and it might be about, hey, need some help with food prep
[14:01] who's buying in bulk, whatever it might be, and just getting some little tips in there.
[14:07] It's pretty special.
[14:08] Yeah.
[14:09] And being rural, some people might think it's harder.
[14:13] I don't think it is.
[14:14] We don't have as many temptations to go out for dinner or to go and do things because we're in a rural community where you don't have those options as much.
[14:22] But yeah.
[14:24] What about, I guess, just came to mind the health side.
[14:27] You did 75 hard.
[14:29] I don't know if it was last year or the year before.
[14:31] I don't know.
[14:32] Time's evaporated.
[14:32] The year before.
[14:33] I did 60 strong last year and 75 hard the year before.
[14:36] Yeah.
[14:36] Yeah.
[14:37] So it's wealth and health.
[14:40] Correct.
[14:41] And I know we had a chat one day and you were saying, I've got to get my steps in.
[14:46] The storm's coming.
[14:47] That's right.
[14:47] Yeah.
[14:47] I was walking down the road and, yeah, we had a call.
[14:51] And, yeah, I had to get my 45-minute walk in before the rain came.
[14:55] Otherwise, I was out in the rain doing it.
[14:57] Would you have done anything like that prior to Infinity?
[14:59] Never.
[15:00] I actually had one of the girls at work ask me.
[15:02] She was going to do 75 hard just randomly.
[15:06] And I contemplated doing it with her.
[15:09] But...
[15:10] Oh, you've said it out loud now.
[15:11] Casey's going to come for you.
[15:14] She's going to find you now.
[15:16] You'll be in the next round.
[15:18] She has my phone number too.
[15:21] Guys, what would you say to someone who's maybe had an experience like you?
[15:25] They've been with another investment company, and we are not just an investment company, debt reduction, wealth creation, but been with someone else who was meant to help them and really didn't deliver.
[15:37] What advice would you give them?
[15:39] Don't give up.
[15:40] Keep trying.
[15:43] Third time lucky for us.
[15:44] Yeah, definitely.
[15:47] It's, you don't know what you don't know and infinity teaches you.
[15:53] They don't just sit and forget.
[15:56] Yeah.
[15:57] Part of what's really important for my team, the relationship managers, is educating and empowering our clients.
[16:02] Like ultimately, you guys don't need to be clients anymore because you know what you need to do, but you obviously love the process and continue to stay.
[16:12] And that's a real testament to what infinity is and who you guys are because you get involved and you want to be a part of it.
[16:19] Yeah.
[16:21] We kind of give you the roadmap, but you guys drive it, and that's the really important piece of the puzzle.
[16:28] You have to be really committed and want to do it, and then, like, what can stop you?
[16:34] Like, what's next for you guys?
[16:36] That's right.
[16:36] Like, we set the budget.
[16:37] We are the ones who live within that budget, and we don't miss out on anything.
[16:44] You know, Steve doesn't buy all his shit anymore, but...
[16:50] Is that a technical term?
[16:54] But it's, I mean, we don't miss out.
[16:56] Like we've got an overseas holiday planned again for this year.
[16:59] So, you know, we wouldn't have been able to do that.
[17:02] A lot of people think that you do miss out.
[17:05] Like I've had blokes at work ask me and, you know, like, no, well, we still do stuff that we want to do.
[17:13] It's just your budget.
[17:15] You know, you're not actually missing anything really.
[17:20] And I'm going to jump backwards because it just popped into mind.
[17:22] What was your reward for paying out your home loan?
[17:27] Haven't really done anything yet.
[17:29] There was a trip.
[17:31] It's still coming, but it may not happen now.
[17:34] Oh.
[17:34] Because we were supposed to stop in Dubai.
[17:36] Oh, no.
[17:38] Terrible timing for that question.
[17:40] But what was the plan?
[17:42] So we were going to go to the Netherlands.
[17:44] Why?
[17:46] Getting to go visit Steve's family because we paid the house off.
[17:49] So that was our little reward.
[17:50] That's pretty special.
[17:51] Yeah.
[17:52] That's a big reward.
[17:53] And I think that's an important part of the process as well.
[17:55] If you really are focused on what your goal is, there will always be room to celebrate.
[18:02] And definitely it's something that G has said countless times to us.
[18:07] We are not budget ninjas or budget Gestapo or whatever.
[18:12] I probably can't say that.
[18:13] Whoops.
[18:15] But we are not here to squeeze you so tight that there is no joy in life.
[18:21] But if you tell us our budget is $6.50, we are going to say, all right, well, it's $6.50.
[18:27] No exceptions.
[18:28] No exceptions.
[18:28] But set little rewards for yourself too once you've paid off a certain amount on the home loan or you've gotten this deposit for another investment, then have a little reward.
[18:39] Include that in your target.
[18:41] So it might be a night out for dinner or a weekend away or something like that, but you can still reward yourself and still have a good time.
[18:50] We've spoken to you guys and you're up on the Sunshine Coast having some time out with friends.
[18:55] So I think you've got a really good balance.
[18:58] Steve, were you going to retire?
[19:00] Oh, I might do in eight years.
[19:04] Did that plan change?
[19:07] Well, gee, gee, we'll drop that down another year.
[19:13] Okay.
[19:14] Yeah.
[19:15] So no, I still want to.
[19:17] Yeah.
[19:18] But ultimately, you know, you see the value in continuing to do what you're doing and continue to progress.
[19:26] And, you know, that work life, whilst it'll be fantastic when it ends, you want to make sure that you've set yourself up really well for that and continuing should hopefully be not as laborious.
[19:37] Yes, definitely.
[19:40] Don't put words in your mouth.
[19:41] I don't know.
[19:42] He loves it.
[19:42] He loves work.
[19:43] Yeah.
[19:45] He's not hiding at the back of Zoom chat at the moment.
[19:51] Yeah, he normally sits at the back and it kind of goes in and out of blur so I can see his face and then I can't.
[19:56] And he'll pipe in something, he'll think.
[19:58] And we come, Zamy.
[20:01] Well, you've done really well.
[20:02] Thank you so much for joining us and sharing your story and really, really appreciate and so excited that you guys are finally here and have been able to share what's worked for you.
[20:14] Thanks, guys.
[20:15] Thank you very much.
[20:15] Thank you.

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