Freshman in Finance

Financial Identity, Entrepreneurship & Owning Your Story with Candice Chirwa
In this episode, I sit down with Candice Chirwa — CEO and Founder of QRATE, Forbes-featured thought leader, and widely known as The Minister of Menstruation. Candice is a powerful voice in South Africa’s gender and youth development space, using innovation and advocacy to drive real social impact.
We unpack the idea of financial identity — how your background, beliefs, and purpose shape the way you earn, spend, and build wealth. Candice shares her entrepreneurship journey, the lessons she’s learned while building QRATE, and how her personal mission influences the way she sees money and success.
This conversation goes beyond numbers. It’s about self-definition, ownership, and alignment — how Candice identifies herself, why that matters in business, and how clarity of identity can unlock both financial and personal growth.
Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur, navigating your own financial identity, or redefining success on your own terms, this episode will leave you inspired to reflect and build with intention.

Nedbank Quiz: https://nedbankmoneysecrets.co.za/financial-archetypes/carer

The Fresh Start Effect: Why Now Is the Best Time to Reset Your Money
Ever noticed how a new month, birthday, or even a random Monday makes you feel motivated to “start over”? That’s not a coincidence — it’s psychology.
In this episode, we unpack The Fresh Start Effect, a powerful mental shift that helps people break old financial patterns and commit to better money habits. You’ll learn why right now is the perfect moment to reset your finances, how this effect actually works in your brain, and why most people waste fresh starts without realizing it.
We’ll also cover the biggest mistakes people make when trying to reset their money, and—most importantly—practical steps you can take immediately after this episode to use the fresh start effect to your advantage. If you’ve been waiting for the “right time” to get serious about your finances, this episode might prove that the moment is already here.

In this episode, we dive into what happens when your needs consume more than 50% of your income and how it can strain your budget. We'll explore smart spending strategies like zero-based budgeting and the 50/30/20 rule to help you balance essentials while still saving for the future. Tune in to learn how to navigate this common financial challenge and come out on top!

In this episode of "Freshman in Finance" we explore practical budgeting strategies that go beyond the 50/30/20 rule, especially when your needs exceed 50% of your income. Learn the 7 simple steps to create an effective budget: setting realistic goals, identifying income and expenses, separating needs and wants, designing your budget, putting your plan into action, managing seasonal expenses, and planning ahead. Tune in for tips to take control of your finances and achieve financial freedom!

Welcome to the Freshman in Finance Podcast