Lucy Percy

soda water, coffee, and champagne.

Most Saturday and Sunday mornings are spent at kids’ sport. I love watching them play, and I enjoy catching up with other parents over a coffee at the same time. If I can also fit in a walk with a good podcast, some batch cooking for a Sunday reset, and relaxed time with family and friends, I feel very happy and the week ahead looks good.

Expert advice. Over the past year I’ve been very intentional about investing in professional help, even when I felt tempted to DIY or just “make do”. I use other law services, financial planning, accounting, and see it as an investment, not an expense. At home, that’s meant working with a professional organiser — a really lovely gift to myself as we’ve transitioned from the toddler and baby years to having all our kids in primary school (and high school from 2026). Our home feels calmer, more workable, and much easier to live in. I’ve also invested in interior design consults. We moved into our current home in 2024 and it has a few quirks, but a renovation isn’t on my wish list right now. Design advice has helped me understand my style, stop buying pieces that don’t quite work together, and create a home that feels thoughtful and settled. And on a simpler level — good coffee beans (I prefer to make at home and there are no good cafes where I live), quality meat from our local butcher, and my favourite Mecca products. I’ve tried the dupes, but I can always tell the difference.

I often joke that I’m such an open book there aren’t many surprises left. That said, people are usually pretty taken aback to learn that I have eight siblings. Growing up in a family that size taught me a lot about navigating different personalities, communicating clearly, and keeping relationships respectful; skills that have stayed with me and absolutely shape how I work with clients today.

The idea that financial security is simply a matter of “having a go” or pulling yourself up by the bootstraps. While self-determination and personal responsibility absolutely matter, the reality is far more complex than that. As Rick Morton describes in On Money, there is a very real “poverty tax” at play; where the people with the least financial flexibility often pay more for essentials, have fewer choices, and carry greater risk. That broader structure shapes outcomes in ways that individual effort alone can’t always overcome. I believe in empowering people with knowledge and good advice, but I also think we need to be honest about the systems we’re operating within. Compassion, context and good planning matter just as much as motivation.

Bulk and batch cooking, hands down. As a mum of three (two with multiple allergies), being organised and efficient with food isn’t a luxury, it’s a necessity. The bonus is that it saves time, supports our budget, and makes it much easier to keep everyone well fed and healthy.

Be proactive in the things that matter. Whether it’s relationships, money or estate planning, giving matters thoughtful attention early almost always leads to better outcomes and far less stress. Small, considered steps taken before things become urgent can make an extraordinary difference.