The Breaking Financial Chains Podcast

Tanya Ibberson

Are you tired of feeling anxious about money despite working hard? Do you avoid opening bank statements, feel trapped by financial decisions you don't understand, or struggle with someone else controlling your access to money? You're not alone. Join chartered accountant and financial coach Tanya Ibberson for Breaking Financial Chains – the podcast that combines practical financial guidance with psychological insights to help you transform your relationship with money and recognise when others are using money to control you. Unlike traditional finance podcasts that focus only on the numbers, Tanya understands that financial freedom isn't just about budgets and spreadsheets. It's about healing emotional barriers, breaking unhealthy patterns, recognising financial abuse, and overcoming the shame that keeps us stuck. Whether you're dealing with a controlling partner who monitors every penny or simply need to understand the warning signs of financial coercion, this podcast provides crucial insights for protection and recovery . Whether you're a successful professional who secretly struggles with money management, someone experiencing or recovering from financial control in a relationship, or ready to break free from generational money patterns, this podcast offers a safe, non-judgmental space to learn, heal and grow. Each week, through solo episodes, expert interviews and transformation stories, you'll discover practical tools and emotional support to help you build genuine financial confidence and independence. Because financial empowerment is possible for everyone – regardless of your starting point or past experiences. Remember: financial freedom isn't just about the numbers – it's about breaking the chains that hold you back from living a life aligned with your values.

  1. 3d ago

    How to Create a Monthly Financial Check-In | Breaking Financial Chains Ep.48

    Financial peace doesn't come from one big "get my life together" moment. It comes from boring, consistent awareness.  In this episode of Breaking Financial Chains, I walk you through exactly how to set up a monthly financial check-in that actually works. Not a three-hour spreadsheet marathon. Not a guilt trip. Just a regular, manageable appointment with your financial life that builds clarity, calm and confidence over time. Most people don't have a money problem, they have a money visibility problem. They don't know exactly what's coming in, what's going out or where things are quietly drifting. And that uncertainty is expensive, both emotionally and financially. This episode gives you a practical checklist you can start using straight away, plus the mindset shifts that make it something you look forward to rather than dread. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Why most people avoid financial check-ins (and how to change that) - The difference between reacting to money and leading it - What to include: income, spending, upcoming expenses, savings and debt - Why an emotional check-in matters just as much as the numbers - How to make your check-in feel like a ritual, not a punishment - Common mistakes that derail people (overcomplicating it, only checking when things go wrong, using it as a stick) - Why confidence comes from clarity, not from having more money - How to turn this into a family habit and strengthen your financial partnership - Why you don't need to be "good with money" to start Today's reflective question: If I gave myself 30 minutes this month to check in with my money, what would I most need to look at first? Breaking Financial Chains is a podcast combining practical money guidance with emotional healing to help you break free from financial limitations. Hosted by Tanya Ibberson, your financial wingwoman. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: creating a monthly financial check-in routine 0:29 - Welcome to Breaking Financial Chains 0:36 - Sometimes you just need a checklist 1:20 - Financial calm doesn't come from avoidance 1:44 - You don't have a money problem, you have a visibility problem 2:17 - Reacting to money vs leading it 2:54 - Financial peace comes from consistent action 3:36 - How small steps rewrite your money stories 4:12 - Why do people avoid financial check-ins? 5:26 - A check-in is not a punishment, it's self-respect 5:36 - What a financial check-in actually is 6:41 - What to include: income review 7:23 - Spending review: where did your money actually go? 8:23 - Upcoming expenses and avoiding being blindsided 9:36 - Savings, goals and debt reduction 10:27 - The emotional check-in: how did money feel this month? 11:29 - Making it a ritual (not a chore) 12:11 - If it feels like shame, you'll avoid it 13:06 - Common mistakes: only checking when something is wrong 13:45 - Common mistakes: making it too complicated 14:02 - Common mistakes: using it as a stick to beat yourself with 14:55 - Why this changes confidence 15:38 - Someone with average income and strong awareness vs high income and chaos 16:10 - The monthly check-in builds self-trust 17:10 - Make this a family habit 18:12 - Money should live in communication, not secrecy 19:01 - Key takeaways 19:28 - You become good with money by paying attention 20:08 - Reflective question 20:43 - Outro Useful Links Website: www.financialwingwoman.com Email: tanya@financialwingwoman.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/financialwingwoman Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefinancialwingwoman Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefinancialwingwoman If this episode brings up difficult feelings, please reach out to appropriate support services in your area. #FinancialAbuse #FinancialFreedom #WomenEmpowerment #MoneyMindset #BreakingFinancialChains #FinancialControl #PersonalStory #PodcastLife #FinancialIndependence #ThinkMedia

    21 min
  2. May 20

    How to Build Financial Options When You Feel Trapped | Breaking Financial Chains Ep.47

    How to Build Financial Options When You Feel Trapped | Breaking Financial Chains Ep.47. Freedom doesn't always arrive with fireworks. Sometimes it starts with a quiet transfer into savings. In this episode of Breaking Financial Chains, I talk about what financial independence really looks like, and it's rarely the dramatic, burn-it-all-down moment people imagine.  For many women especially, real freedom begins with a private decision: I need options. Whether you're in a financially controlling relationship, stuck in a job you've outgrown, running a draining business or living a lifestyle that looks good but feels suffocating, this episode is about building power quietly, safely and strategically. I explore why so many women stay stuck (hint: it's usually a lack of options, not a lack of courage), why building financial awareness can feel disloyal, and how small practical steps can shift everything, not just your bank balance, but your nervous system and your sense of self. In this episode, you'll hear about: - Why real financial independence starts with quiet, private decisions - The difference between choosing to stay and having to stay - How even £500 in savings can change your nervous system - Why women often defer financial responsibility (and how to take it back) - Knowing your numbers: income, debts, savings, mortgage, pensions - Building your own financial buffer and what that does psychologically - Protecting your earning power and staying employable - Why preparation is quieter and far kinder than panic - The difference between peace and permission - Modelling financial independence for your children Today's reflective question: What is one quiet financial step I could take this week that will give me more choice, more confidence or more peace? If you need immediate support, please see the signposted help resources in the show notes below. Breaking Financial Chains is a podcast combining practical money guidance with emotional healing to help you break free from financial limitations. Hosted by Tanya Ibberson, your financial wingwoman. Chapters 0:00 - Introduction: financial independence, safety and quiet empowerment 0:23 - Welcome to Breaking Financial Chains 0:30 - This might hit close to home 1:02 - Freedom starts quietly 1:41 - It starts with a private decision: I need options 2:11 - What true financial independence really means 2:50 - How to build power quietly, safely and strategically 3:16 - Why do people stay stuck? 4:06 - When your finances feel fragile, every decision feels dangerous 5:03 - Building options matters more than building appearances 5:41 - Choosing to stay vs having to stay 6:22 - The smartest moves are the quiet ones 7:03 - Knowing your legal and financial position 8:09 - When quiet preparation changes everything 8:24 - Why women feel guilty for building independence 9:17 - Choosing not to abandon yourself 9:26 - Practical steps: know your numbers 11:31 - Build your own buffer 12:33 - Why women defer financial responsibility 13:27 - Protect your earning power 14:34 - Learn before you need it 15:02 - The difference between peace and permission 15:54 - Why this matters for your children too 17:27 - Freedom doesn't arrive with fireworks 18:45 - Pay yourself first 19:30 - Sometimes the strongest move is the one nobody sees 19:45 - Reflective question 20:12 - Outro #BreakingFinancialChains #FinancialIndependence #MoneyMindset #FinancialFreedom #WomenAndMoney #FinancialEmpowerment #QuietCourage #MoneyOptions #FinancialAwareness #BuildingWealth Useful Links Website: www.financialwingwoman.com Email: tanya@financialwingwoman.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/financialwingwoman Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefinancialwingwoman Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefinancialwingwoman If this episode brings up difficult feelings, please reach out to appropriate support services in your area. #FinancialAbuse #FinancialFreedom #WomenEmpowerment #MoneyMindset #BreakingFinancialChains #FinancialControl #PersonalStory #PodcastLife #FinancialIndependence #ThinkMedia

    21 min
  3. May 13

    What Are You Really Teaching Your Kids About Money? | Breaking Financial Chains Ep.46

    What Are You Really Teaching Your Kids About Money? | Breaking Financial Chains Ep.46. In this episode of Breaking Financial Chains, I explore how we unconsciously pass our money wounds on to our children through the behaviours we model every single day. From the phrases we repeat ("we can't afford that", "money doesn't grow on trees") to how we react when bills arrive, our kids are absorbing financial lessons long before we sit them down for "the money talk". I look at the two extremes most parents swing between - raising children who fear money or who worship it - and why both create adults who struggle. Whether it's the scarcity mindset that breeds under-earning and avoidance, or the achievement-driven identity that leaves high earners feeling emotionally broke, these patterns start in childhood. But this isn't about guilt. It's about awareness and making small, intentional shifts. In this episode, you'll hear about: Why your children learn more from your behaviour than your wordsThe fear-based and worship-based money lessons we accidentally teachHow phrases like "I want never gets" can shape adult financial decisionsPractical ways to talk about money openly without stressTeaching delayed gratification and safe decision-making with moneyWhy presence matters more than presentsSeparating love from spending (and the guilt trap for high earners)The emotional legacy you're leaving your childrenToday's reflective question: What money belief from my own childhood am I most at risk of accidentally passing on to my children? Chapters 00:00 Modeling financial behavior for kids 04:52 Discussing money and parenting 09:24 Cultural beliefs about money 11:08 Understanding childhood money beliefs 16:15 Teaching kids about finances 18:50 Teaching Kids Financial Discernment 22:57 Teaching kids money lessons 26:41 Teaching kids about money beliefs 29:00 Reflecting on generational money beliefs #BreakingFinancialChains #MoneyMindset #FinancialFreedom #ParentingAndMoney #MoneyBeliefs #FinancialEducation #RaisingKids #MoneyWounds #FinancialLegacy #GenerationalWealth Useful Links Website: www.financialwingwoman.com Email: tanya@financialwingwoman.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/financialwingwoman Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefinancialwingwoman Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefinancialwingwoman If this episode brings up difficult feelings, please reach out to appropriate support services in your area. #FinancialAbuse #FinancialFreedom #WomenEmpowerment #MoneyMindset #BreakingFinancialChains #FinancialControl #PersonalStory #PodcastLife #FinancialIndependence #ThinkMedia

    30 min
  4. May 6

    Becoming Your Own Wing Woman: Healing Emotional Wounds and Breaking Free Financially - Ep. 45

    Becoming Your Own Wing Woman: Healing Emotional Wounds and Breaking Free Financially - Ep. 45. Unlock your path to financial freedom by understanding the deeper roots behind your money habits. In this episode, Tanya Riverson dives into the powerful connection between emotional healing and financial independence. The link between being emotionally unmothered and financial challengesHow childhood experiences shape your financial mindset and self-worthRecognising signs of financial control and breaking the cycleSteps to become your own financial wing womanPractical strategies for building both emotional and financial securityChapters 00:00 Becoming your own wingwoman 04:15 Finding Acceptance and Self-Reliance 09:59 Understanding financial control in relationships 13:41 Proving self-worth through spending 16:52 Embracing self-love and empowerment 19:08 Taking responsibility for yourself Useful Links Website: www.financialwingwoman.com Email: tanya@financialwingwoman.com LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/financialwingwoman Instagram: www.instagram.com/thefinancialwingwoman Facebook: www.facebook.com/thefinancialwingwoman If this episode brings up difficult feelings, please reach out to appropriate support services in your area. #FinancialAbuse #FinancialFreedom #WomenEmpowerment #MoneyMindset #BreakingFinancialChains #FinancialControl #PersonalStory #PodcastLife #FinancialIndependence #ThinkMedia

    21 min

About

Are you tired of feeling anxious about money despite working hard? Do you avoid opening bank statements, feel trapped by financial decisions you don't understand, or struggle with someone else controlling your access to money? You're not alone. Join chartered accountant and financial coach Tanya Ibberson for Breaking Financial Chains – the podcast that combines practical financial guidance with psychological insights to help you transform your relationship with money and recognise when others are using money to control you. Unlike traditional finance podcasts that focus only on the numbers, Tanya understands that financial freedom isn't just about budgets and spreadsheets. It's about healing emotional barriers, breaking unhealthy patterns, recognising financial abuse, and overcoming the shame that keeps us stuck. Whether you're dealing with a controlling partner who monitors every penny or simply need to understand the warning signs of financial coercion, this podcast provides crucial insights for protection and recovery . Whether you're a successful professional who secretly struggles with money management, someone experiencing or recovering from financial control in a relationship, or ready to break free from generational money patterns, this podcast offers a safe, non-judgmental space to learn, heal and grow. Each week, through solo episodes, expert interviews and transformation stories, you'll discover practical tools and emotional support to help you build genuine financial confidence and independence. Because financial empowerment is possible for everyone – regardless of your starting point or past experiences. Remember: financial freedom isn't just about the numbers – it's about breaking the chains that hold you back from living a life aligned with your values.