Proud Gamilaroi woman Brooke Boney has spent more than a decade in the public eye as a radio host, journalist and television presenter. Nowadays, she’s based in Oxford while studying public policy but recently returned to Australia to celebrate the release of her first book, All of It. Brooke’s career journey has exposed her to all kinds of people, with all kinds of money stories, but her childhood values of saving well and prioritising joy have never shifted.
What’s your earliest memory of understanding money?
I don’t think I understood the value of money until I was about 14 and started working at KFC. I think I was paid about $4.80 an hour! We didn’t have very much when I was growing up so I’ve always been careful with the way that I spend. I still love buying myself treats but I’m quite cautious.
Is there a great piece of advice about money that has stuck with you?
I remember when I was younger people would say, “Save 10 per cent of everything you earn” or “Always spend less than you make.” I’ve never followed any of those rules but I have always saved any extra money I’ve had. I think it’s great to have a nice house or car but if it means you’re not going to have enough money left over at the end of the month, it’s not worth it.
Has your career journey influenced the way you see money?
I’ve seen that having money doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re content. When my world got a bit bigger and I began to see how these stories play out around who has money and who doesn’t, it was interesting. For a lot of us, it’s about getting as much of it as you can. But I think it’s about getting as much of it as you can in a way that makes you happy that’s important.
If you weren’t a journalist, what would you be doing?
I think I would have ended up working in some sort of NGO—perhaps in a role aligned with what I’m studying now. The policy side of things is really interesting to me, because you’re on the frontline of helping people. And for me, my career and the decisions I have made have always been centred around the betterment of Aboriginal people.
What have you learnt over the years about advocating for yourself?
This is a tricky one, especially for women, because you don’t want to be seen as someone who is “up themselves”. I don’t know if everyone struggles with that to the same degree I do but I think when you focus on things that are tangible or measurable and you use that to advocate for yourself, it makes it easier—because they’re not negotiable.
What’s something money can’t buy?
A good work ethic, which is going to get you much further than a lump sum of cash.