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5 simple super and money lessons to try today

From super check-ups to saving on groceries, these money lessons from The Brighter Side will help you protect your finances and future.

  • Jess Irvine showed how a quick five-step super check can give small business owners more confidence about retirement.
  • Adam Liaw turned veggie scraps and limp herbs into delicious soup and garlic bread, proving waste-free meals save dollars.
  • Entrepreneurs in Noosa revealed how turning a snack into a business baby became a viral success.
  • Matty J and Laura Byrne shared how teamwork and honest money chats keep their family thriving.

From tasty side hustles to future-proofing finances, episode five of The Brighter Side was packed with practical hacks for saving, spending and protecting what matters most.

1. Super made simple

For florist and grandmother Mercedes, superannuation always felt too hard and too far away—until CommBank personal finance expert Jess Irvine helped her break it into five easy checks: balance, performance, fees, investment strategy and contributions. By finally logging in to her super account, Mercedes discovered the process was easier than she thought. “Your super account is like a parcel of land,” she said. “It’s time now to start building my dream super account.”

Mercedes discovered the process of checking her super was easier than she thought.

2. Waste less, save more

In the kitchen, Adam Liaw showed how common throwaways—wobbly carrots, broccoli stems, leftover herbs—can become a hearty roasted veggie soup and garlic bread. His tip? Freeze herbs before they go bad and use scraps creatively. The result: less waste, more flavour and money saved on groceries.

3. Turn passions into business opportunities

Narelda Jacobs met the team behind Chip ‘n’ Mix, a world-first self-serve chip shop in Noosa. What started as a craving for loaded fries became a viral business, with 60 investment offers in their first week. As co-founder Rhiannon Pearce put it: “The idea literally came from me wanting the product and it not existing.” It’s proof that if you’re passionate about solving a gap you see, others will likely want it, too.

The Chip 'n' Mix team with Narelda Jacobs.

4. Talk money as a team

For parents Matty J and Laura Byrne, juggling businesses, kids and renovations means money is always part of the conversation. From setting budgets for their home makeover to planning for baby number three, they keep communication open and decisions family-focused. Their advice is to always ask the question: “How does this affect our family?”

Matty J and Laura Byrne on The Brighter Side.

5. Stop. Check. Reject.

Scams don’t just target strangers; they can reach anyone. CommBank scams and fraud expert James Roberts explained how remote access scams trick people into handing over control of their devices. His golden rule is simple: “Stop—don’t give remote access to anyone. Check—call the company back on their official number. Reject—never share your passwords or codes.” A short pause before you click could be all it takes to keep your money safe.

Watch and stream The Brighter Side, Fridays at 8:30pm on 10.

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Published: 7 October 2025

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