The Pineapple Project

What are you like with money? Reckless? Ignorant? Somewhere in between? This might be why.

With a little look at your daily habits and a bit of negotiation, you can slash your spending in big ways.

Are side-hustles worth it? And how can you ask for a pay rise and actually get one?

Financial worries are one of the biggest causes of relationship problems. So what's best practice when two people come together? And what happens if you have really different ideas about money?

When it comes to getting on top of your debt, the most important thing is to just start.

Deposits, mortgages, auctions, oh my. Want to get your foot into the housing market? Start here.

How much money will you need in an emergency? This is a plan for when the shit hits the fan.

Hint: you don't need chair covers.

It's hard to care about superannuation. But when the sun sets on your work life, what's next?

What’s the going rate for pocket money? And in a cashless generation, how do you teach kids the value of money?

Are you a bit crap with money? Need to get it together but don't know where to start? We're going back in time to bring you the massively popular first season of The Pineapple Project. Let comedian Claire Hooper guide you through all the money lessons you wish you'd learnt at school. From how to save more, to budgeting, superannuation and more. It's the starter's guide to taking control of your money.

No one wants to be called a cheap date. But finding love can cost a lot – there are dating apps, pre-date outfits, grooming, and then the date itself. So how can we spend a lot less, impress a lot more and reinvent the concept of the "cheap date"? Guests Elspeth Blunt, writer and producer, Big hART Dr Gery Karantzas, Associate Professor and Director of the Science of Adult Relationships Laboratory, Deakin University Mel Mason, freelance fashion writer and contributing editor, Grazia Matthew Bowen, head of daily banking, ING

The market is swamped with streaming services and so are you. How many do you have? When we think about where our money goes, we often think of big-ticket purchases like furniture and holidays. Here's how to take charge and stop TV and music streaming services quietly siphoning your hard-earned money away. Guests Brendan Markey-Towler, behavioural economist and credit analyst, Westpac Jana Bowden, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Macquarie University Steven Cuff Tegan Jones, technology journalist, Finder

From snail cream and collagen mascara to mugwort masks and peptide shampoo. Do we really need it all? And if we do, how do we get it for cheap? Join Nazeem Hussein to unearth all the beauty secrets from a chemist, beauty influencer, and frugal mum. No, it's not a bad pub joke, but it is a reveal on how to get frugal and stay glam while you're at it. Guests Angela Dixon, The Budget Millennial, YouTube Michelle Wong, cosmetic chemist and science educator, Lab Muffin Sandya Verduri

The Ill Side of Health Insurance How do you put a price on peace of mind? Well, the health insurance companies seem to know. Is it all just a big waste of money or is it possible to DIY your own health expenses? Could that leave you worse off? Everything about health insurance, if you actually need it, and how we can tailor it exactly to our needs… for cheap. Guests Paul Benson, financial planner, Guidance Jacinta Bowler, health insurance policy holder Jodi Bird, insurance expert, CHOICE

With Australians spending 90 per cent of their time indoors, we need heaps of electricity to power that lifestyle. Should you boil just enough water for your morning cup? Do you still switch off all your electrical outlets? And how do you keep your place warm or cool for cheap? From insulating your home to choosing the right appliances, here are all the small and radical ways to cut those dreaded energy bills, while being kinder to the environment at the same time. Join comedian Nazeem Hussein to get your energy bills out of the red and into the green. Guests: Chris Barnes, journalist and product category manager, CHOICE Danielle King, sustainability consultant, Green Moves Australia Joel Meadows, permaculture practitioner Dr Saul Griffith, engineer and renewable electricity advocate, Rewiring Australia

How much stuff do babies need? It's probably less than you think. We tend to spend big on our little ones, hoping to give them the best start in life. And those tiny socks are just so cute! But what's the stuff we actually need versus what's nice to have? And are we just trying to buy the "best" stuff so we can feel like good parents? Here's how to save more money for those rainy days (hello, teenagers) and still feel like we're raising a happy, healthy bub. Guests Jess and Kate Flood Karen Ferry, creative director and writer Dr Pam Douglas, a general practitioner and researcher with a special interest in perinatal mental health and breastfeeding medicine Veronica Milsom, comedian, mum and host of Zero Waste Baby podcast

Costs of living got you down? Get on board the meal prep train. It'll save you time and money, even if you're the most amateur of cooks. Nazeem Hussein unearths all the best tips, advice and foodie suggestions all in one. And he won't charge an arm and a lettuce for it. All aboard! Guests Alice Zaslavsky, food writer and host of ABC Radio Sunday Drive Karen Ferry, creative director and writer Patrick Matthews, meal prep enthusiast Tegan Jones, technology journalist, Finder

How do you get savvy at buying and selling pre-loved? Buying other people's stuff is not only better for the planet, but it can save you huge amounts of cash. And it's a triple win if you score stuff originally out of your budget. But in the land of no rules, you need some tricks up your sleeve. Here's how to play your cards at the marketplace and score big on every site like it. Guests Isabelle Jones, thrifter Gerard Brody, CEO, Consumer Action Law Centre Jana Bowden, Professor of Marketing and Consumer Behaviour, Macquarie University Marty Smiley, co-host of Housewarming podcast Nat Damena, co-host of Housewarming podcast

Last season, we just got going on how to reduce your spending, without missing out on the good things in life. This season, we're getting even more frugal. Join Nazeem Hussain for sweet tips and hacks on all the spiky parts of life including meal prepping, babies, dating, and home energy.

Work hard, save up, get tired, have a relaxing holiday to get over all that, and then repeat. But the holiday costs so much you have to work more to pay it off. Sound familiar? We meet someone whose jet-setting got her into major debt and we give you some travel tips that should make your next trip cheaper.

Pets bring us great joy, but ever had an unexpected vet bill? They can tear a hole in your budget. A growing pet industry tells us to buy special expensive pet food and toys and services. Is our love for our pets being used against us?

Our health and wellbeing is priceless, right?! Keeping fit can cost so much: gym memberships, active wear, sports equipment, shakes and supplements. Are we being conned into spending too much on stuff that doesn’t make us healthier or happier?

Cars are the most expensive things we buy, unless you have a mortgage. The average price of a new car in Australia is about $40,000, which drops by a third the minute you leave the dealer. We'll meet Ravi who bought a new car hoping to impress his girlfriend and get lots of tips for how to save big on the cash guzzlers.

We cannot live without food, but perhaps we can live without three coffees, a $25 brunch and a takeaway pizza because we couldn’t be arsed cooking. We’re going to save you money on eating out, takeaway and on food at the supermarket.

Every year Australians on average throw out or recycle 27 kgs of clothes. Not pieces, kilograms. And here’s another shocking stat, they replace it with 24 kgs! The whole fashion industry is based on buying new cheap clothes, so what’s the alternative?

Smartphones have become essential in a very short space of time. But do we really need that 64 Megapixel camera, 5G or that must-have upgrade? Won’t that be last year’s model soon enough? We talk about saving you potentially thousands of dollars on the device that’s most likely in your hand right now.

Do you live paycheck to paycheck? Do you keep buying new clothes, or upgrading your phone, or blowing your budget on a holiday? Today we start reclaiming control and ignoring that urge to keep spending. But how do we begin to do that in a world where we are told constantly to 'buy now, pay later' or to 'Treat yourself'?

An astonishing among of Australians are lonely, and it's not who you think. In this special live show, we hear from loneliness expert Dr Michelle Lim, meet Vicky Jacobs who forged connection in the most wonderful way, and get a lesson in cancel culture from comedian Kirsty Webeck.

Good news for introverts: connection doesn't always have to be with people, it can be with things! And those things have a name; hobbies. Jan Fran rediscovers the humble pleasure of doing things for the sheer joy of doing it, learns the mental benefits of being crap at something, and connects with a long lost childhood pastime.

It’s the thing that promises to connect us more than anything; the wonderful majestical phone! But it’s not all good news. Jan Fran learns about a tiny but insidious phone habit that can destroy relationships, and meets an influencer whose enormous online following left her feeling empty. So, is there a way to have a good relationship with our phones? Yes. And it doesn’t involve a detox.

Who are the people in your neighbourhood? A staggering amount of Australians don’t know. But turns out, sticking your head over the fence is hugely beneficial. Jan Fran tracks down social psychologist Hugh Mackay for a lesson in how to be a good neighbour, and we meet people whose connection with their street was life-changing. And after three years of ignoring her neighbours, Jan is convinced to channel her inner Ned Flanders and reach out to the people closest (in proximity) to her.

If you are going to futureproof yourself against some shitty things, there's one thing you need to invest in. It's not money, or the share market, or burying a stash of canned goods and three-ply. It's much, much closer to home. Jan uncovers a key finding from the world's largest study on happiness, and a relationship counsellor gives advice on how to handle tension at home.

Remember the time you thought "yay!" when someone cancelled on you? When we all joked about being too busy and wanting to stay indoors and do nothing? Now, we're socially isolating, distancing ourselves, and longing to connect. If deep human connection is critical to our survival, what do we do now? Join Jan Fran — from her bedroom — for this special series on how to find community and connection amidst coronavirus.

It's the last episode and yeah, we reckon we've gotten pretty good at planning for this whole death malarkey. But, as Jan realises when she tries to talk to her sister about her own wishes, the people who love you can get a bit funny when you ambush them to talk about your inevitable death. We'll learn what it's like having those tricky conversations when the 'hypothetical' side of it all is removed and you're really looking at an imminent death; and Dr Ursula Sanson-Daly gives us a masterclass on having hard convos about death with the people who matter.

How do you balance the death of someone close to you with going into work? Can you show emotion? What if a colleague loses someone? Is it okay to talk about it? And what are your leave rights? Butcher Leanne tells the story about a customer literally dying to make a point about lamb chops. Indigenous comedian and actor Steven Oliver talks about taking time off work for funerals. TED Talker Michelle Knox discusses how her own dad's death led to a more supportive culture in her office. Plus — what NOT to say to a colleague (e.g. "at least (anythin')!" is not advised.

You might have died, but your fb profile hasn't. Our online selves live on after we’ve died, so what are the big decisions we need to make about social media before we face death? Tech journalist Claire Reilly talks us through the digital breadcrumbs of Tinder, Twitter, Tumbler, Bumble, Hinge, Facebook, Grindr and Insty that form the digital sandwich of your afterlife — and how to handle it now so your family won’t get a huge shock when they peer into your DM’s post-mortem. Wait, can they do that? ...

Your sick or ageing loved one is lying in a hospital bed. The doctors are asking for a decision: "What would they want?". What about the advance care directive? Wait, what is that? And how do I make a decision about someone that's not me? Get your wishes in order, and make sure the people around you have theirs in order too. Jacinta talks about being asked in the ICU whether to keep her 97-year-old great uncle alive or not. And Dr Peter Saul talks us through what he calls an 'authentic death' in the chaos of an ICU.

So, who gets your kids if you die? And have they actually agreed to take them? SPOILER ALERT: A will written on the back of a coaster isn't necessarily legit. Here's an easy guide to making a will and keeping it updated. We'll cover all the basics, from the assets you can't forget about, to nominating an executor — or outsourcing to a lawyer. Lawyer Andrew Simpson shows Jan and her husband how to write a will (really CAN you just download one off the internet?); and Jan contemplates telling her sisters they're not getting the apartment. Plus you'll learn what mistakes to AVOID when you're divvying up your earthly possessions.

When someone dies, it's up to the people left behind to piece their lives together using only the clues left behind. What if the person who died was the one who paid the bills? Or, what if you haven't spoken to them in a really long time? Jan Fran meets Kate, who's in her forties and at a complete loss about how to piece together her estranged father's deceased estate. Enter financial advisor Donna Lee Powell, who came out of retirement to help other people navigate their financial woes when her own husband died suddenly. We'll learn how to untangle that dead man admin, and what conversations you and your partner should be having now (and what measures to put in place) to avoid total panic later.

Chances are, you'll have to arrange a funeral at least once. When a loved one dies, and suddenly it falls to you to organise things, where do you even start? It's time to learn all the things most funeral directors don't want you to know. Like: is it gauche to ask how much something costs at a funeral parlour? Jan Fran visits family funeral director Carly to learn about cardboard coffins and meaningful DIY funerals, and is like, totally, completely cool when she sees a real-life deceased person in the process. Saimi Jeong from Choice talks us through the funeral industrial complex and how to navigate it. We also learn what the etiquette is when you have grandma cremated and, ahem, forget to collect her ashes for several years.

Here's what you need to know immediately after someone has died, because a tsunami of decisions is about to hit. How the heck do you get a death certificate? Will there be an autopsy? Um, literally, who are you supposed to call first? That's the quandary Emma Gray found herself in, when she woke one day to discover her husband had died and her entire world had changed. We'll also meet Jodie Leditschke, who talks us through what happens when a deceased person reaches the Victorian Coroner's Office mortuary. NSW Births Deaths and Marriages registrar, Amanda Ianna, has the low-down on how to produce a death certificate. The important thing is, you're not alone.

If you died tomorrow, would the people around you know what to do? Nah, of course they wouldn't! We get it. It's heaps easier to keep the dinner table convo flowing re: your latest TV binge than having an in-depth discussion about which sister inherits your RAV4 after you die. It might be hard, but it's important. That's why The Pineapple Project is tackling death. Because literally everybody is doing it. Get it? Join us as we learn the simple steps to master the logistics of death. Because when you've got your house in order, you can really rest in peace. The first episode drops on February 12.

It's the heart of the home. It's where you eat, cook, plan holidays, store things, stick things on the fridge. And everyone in the house uses it slightly differently. Like Claire Hooper, the kitchen might be your clutter pain point. But yippee ki-yay mutha clutters, that changes today. Claire and her husband Wade are at the mercy of organiser Kelly Bainbridge (so you don't have to be). Put on the cleaning gloves, it's time to learn the power of the 'magic triangle', why grouping food will save you time & money, and how to finally wrangle the third drawer down.

Garages, sheds, junk rooms, this is the space of the house that stores everything ELSE. Don't just shut the door and hope one day it spontaneously combusts; even this place can be a haven for order! Join Claire Hooper and organiser Anita Birges as they help Carly quickly sort through years of stuff (and multiple cake platters). Have you moved or downsized and put all your crap in the garage? We got you! Yes, it can be a wilderness. But with your new 'zoning' method and declutter genie Peter Walsh's wisdom, you'll never misplace your camping, gardening, or secret dress up gear again.

Bills, fines, statements, invitations, newsletters and report cards. Each one comes with a new list of decisions for you to make. Blerrgh! If you're drowning in life admin, Claire Hooper's meeting with decluttering goddess Carol Martyn will help you breathe again. You'll learn what to do with every bit of paper that enters your orbit at the home of Kariyn as she wades through the paperwork spilling out of her office, down the hall and into every crevice in her house. These are the simple systems you need so you'll never be stressed by paperwork again. Or by kids artwork.

Everyone needs clean bodies and clean clothes, but without a game plan in place, bathrooms and laundries can quickly become the grossest rooms in your home. Say goodbye to wet towels, mould and never being able to find an ear bud when you need one! Organiser Susanne Thiebe prefers practical over pretty. She helps stay at home Dad Will Owyong win back some space and peace of mind in his verrrrry crammed rental apartment through smart storage systems and the 'four bucket challenge'. The declutter genie reveals his one golden rule for storage that can be applied to any room.

Walk in. Have a look around. Now take a seat on the couch. Does it feel like your stuff is closing in on you? Books, dishes, bags, shoes, argh! The living room is for living, so here's how to make it worth living in. Claire Hooper takes professional organiser Helen Stanley to the home of Deb, Karl, their three children and one giant cat, to make an overwhelming situation manageable. Don't know what to do with sentimental items? We got you. Is there a golden rule for collecting books? There is! And if you're still feeling like you don't know where to start, declutter genie Peter Walsh takes Claire though some of the biggest stumbling blocks when it comes to organising, especially if objects have been handed down to you.

It should be your sanctuary. The place you go to recharge. So why are we dumping all our stuff in our bedrooms? If you have a floor-drobe (or a chair-drobe) if you're sleeping next to white goods, or you can't remember the last time you made your bed, welcome to your new happy place. Claire Hooper meets organiser Lissanne Oliver who shares a rapid-fire method for getting bedrooms under control at the home of Karen and Gary (they have two sets of twins and weirdly their bedroom isn't the tranquil retreat they've longed for). We learn a couple of fundamental rules for getting kids' rooms in order. And Claire has a few big moments of clarity thanks to declutter genie Peter Walsh. It's time to make the place you sleep and get weird with your partner — or yourself — your favourite place to be.

"Do I feel like have control of the stuff in my life? Why is letting go of things so darn hard? And is clutter basically a dark wizard exercising secret control over my moods and mind?" If you answered no, I don't know, and yes to the above — then welcome aboard! It turns out (surprise) that most of your mess actually starts in your head. And then spreads to your bed! And the rest of the house. WARNING: this episode will make you re-evaluate your relationship with the things you own. Join Claire Hooper as she speaks to researcher, Dr Libby Sander, who studies how clutter changes our behaviour, learns wisdom from an expert so good he decluttered for Oprah (Peter Walsh), and start on your own path, down that messy hallway, to getting Tidy.