Interview: Moneymum.
Pernille Oldgaard once failed her math exam but went on to become a bank branch manager — and today, she’s the founder of Moneymum, where she helps families and entrepreneurs get their finances in order. Read why she chose pensopay as her payment solution.
Moneymum: Where Dream Homes Meet Financial Reality
The founder of Moneymum is Pernille Oldgaard, who, despite failing her high school math exam, became a branch manager at one of Denmark’s largest banks just seven years later. Today, she works full-time as an independent financial mentor.
The idea for Moneymum began when Pernille and her family started planning to build a house. As she researched, she followed various home-building accounts on Instagram. While she found plenty of design inspiration, there was little to no talk about the financial side of building a home.
From Casual Tips to a Committed Community
A conversation with a friend — who was already earning a living through Instagram — inspired Pernille to create a blog alongside her Instagram account to explore topics more in depth. In just six months, Moneymum had gained 15,000 followers. A year later, that number had doubled. Today, Moneymum has around 76,000 Instagram followers.
How Covid-19 Boosted Moneymum’s Reach
When Covid-19 hit Denmark — and the world — many began worrying about their financial security. Fears of job loss and uncertainty about whether people could stay in their homes became real concerns.
Wars, inflation, and rising interest rates have only increased financial anxiety, making personal finance more relevant than ever. As Danes became more financially conscious, Moneymum's community grew. Today, about 90% of Pernille’s audience are women — women who are eager to understand how money works, when and how to invest, and how to build a stable financial future.
Making Finance Relatable with Real-Life Examples
By being transparent, Pernille helps make finance more tangible and relatable.
She was on maternity leave from summer 2021 to summer 2022. When the leave ended, she was faced with returning to the bank job she had held for 12 years — but she chose a different path. Pernille resigned and went full-time with Moneymum. One reason: she wanted to offer financial coaching and mentorship, which required her to operate independently of the banking system. In August 2023, she proudly celebrated her first full year as a self-employed entrepreneur.
In addition to financial guidance, Moneymum offers mentorship programs. Pernille begins by reviewing each client’s financial situation — budget, bank accounts, and spending habits — and then creates a savings plan based on their goals. Together, they review loans, pensions, insurance policies, debt management plans, and take the first steps toward investing.
Finance in the Classroom: Moneymum’s National Mission
Moneymum is in daily contact with individuals, freelancers, and aspiring entrepreneurs looking for financial guidance — whether it’s to assess if they’re ready to start a business or simply to create more financial freedom. She also receives inquiries from couples going through separation who need help dividing their finances.
Many Danes are uncertain about their budgets, don’t understand the purpose of a child savings account, or are unsure when and how to begin investing. Financial confusion is widespread — which is why Pernille has submitted a public proposal to make personal finance a mandatory subject in schools. Her bigger mission is to help Danes feel confident and in control of their financial lives.
Sleepless Over Money? Here's How to Launch Your Business
"Figure out what it actually takes to afford your entrepreneurial dream. There’s nothing worse than lying awake at night, anxious about money. My best advice: make a financial plan and be realistic about what’s required to make it work.
If you start out afraid that everything will go wrong, it blocks you. Just go for it — don’t spend years overthinking it. It’s such a shame when a great idea never gets off the ground," Pernille Oldgaard, Moneymum.
Pernille also recommends doing as much prep work as possible while still employed. Consider picking up a side hustle to boost savings — but be mindful to avoid conflicts of interest or anything that limits your ability to eventually go full-time with your business.
Why Moneymum Recommends pensopay to Entrepreneurs
"I started with one of your competitors because I thought it was the only option. It was way too complicated. I asked a friend — who’s also self-employed — what payment solution he used. He said ‘pensopay.’ I applied, got approved, and I’ve been with pensopay ever since. It just works," Pernille Oldgaard, Moneymum.
"It really matters that I can call and speak to someone right away — and that you reply to emails in Danish and follow up when I have questions. That makes a huge difference," Pernille Oldgaard, Moneymum.
The recommendation originally came from a friend — but now, Pernille regularly recommends pensopay herself when asked which payment solution she prefers.
Thank you so much, Pernille, for the inspiring conversation and for sharing your journey with us. We wish you and Moneymum all the best in the future.
