Tue, February 13, 2024

How to Use Vision Boards to Achieve More

Are you looking for a way to stay motivated with your goals for the year? Michelle Jackson walks us through how vision boards can help you achieve more!  How to Use Vision Boards to Achieve More t's the second day of the 2017 and I'm betting that you're probably flooded with a ton of goal setting tips, hacks, and trips. On one hand, I think taking a step back and having some clarity on what you want to accomplish is a wonderful first step, but I'm not a New Year's Resolutions woman. Whenever you decide to build your marriage and wealth, go for it. However with so many people's attention focused on goals I think now's a good opportunity to jump-start things. So for today's episode we're going to be focused on that first-step – defining your what and why for the year. And my guest for today is Michelle Jackson, host of Girl Gone Frugal, creator of Colorado Love Hub, and Shop My Closet Project. She's also the co-founder of the New Year, New You Financial Summit. We're going to talk a little about how you can achieve more using Vision boards. Today Michelle Jackson, creator  Michelle is Money Hungry , is here to discuss: what vision boards are and how they can help you how to create a productive vision board setting yourself up for success Resources for Vision Boards and Goals Want to learn more about building up your finances so that it fits you and your goals? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Empower ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grab a copy of  my book :  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Reach Your Money Goals with my FREE course:  5 Days to $5K How To Create A Vision Board Stay the Course If you’d like to chat about your money moves for this year, you can join us in the  Thriving Families  Facebook community. We're a fun and supportive group. We swap ideas, questions, stories, advice. When we try to help one another out with our family and financial goals. We'd love to see you there!

Tue, February 13, 2024

Life After Debt: Rebuilding After a Short Sale

Stressed and overwhelmed by debt? Learn how you can rebuild your finances and life. Miss Mazuma shares how she overcame $500k of debt, short sales, and found happiness!   Rebuild Your Finances It's the beginning of a new year and while so many right now are all jazzed up about knocking down their debts, saving more, or spending less, that enthusiasm will die down. And if you still have a huge amount of debt or just a big goal you want to tackle when that happens, you can discourage. And in some cases, understandably depressed. It's normal. But what do you then? How can you stay focused and climb out? Today's guest, Miss Mazuma, is kind and brave enough to share her story. In this episode we get into: how she got into so much debt, have a look into the painful and frustrating process of a short sale see how she work through this and came to a healthier spot Her story is both encouraging and real. If you want to hear from someone else who has dug out from a mountain of debt, please check out my interview with  Toni Husbands . She shares how she and her husband  got on the same page and paid off over $100,000 of debt . Resources for Paying Off Debt Want to learn more? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Empower ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grab a copy of  my book :  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Reach Your Money Goals with my FREE course:  5 Days to $5K The Rise and Fall of My Empire…and How I Struck Back (Pt 1) The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community <img class= "lazyloading" src= "https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=couplemoney-20&l=am2&o=1&a=1511906162" alt="" width="1" height="1" border="0" data-src= "//ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=c

Wed, February 08, 2023

How to Master Your Small Business Finances (Even If You're Busy!)w to Master Your Small Business Finances (Even If You're Busy!)

Looking for a less stressful way to handle your business' finances? Learn what mistakes to avoid and the tools that will help you master money even if you're a busy entrepreneur! Small Business Finances Around 27 million working-age Americans began or are running a business you may be one of them. I remember when I started freelancing it was a supplemental income. Eventually, though, it transitioned into my main work. I knew I needed to step it up and run it like a business. So I took care of the paperwork and started educating myself. <p data-birdsend-par

Wed, November 02, 2022

Merging Finances? Skip the Money Talk, Go on a Date Instead!

Are you two stressed over money? Do your talks more often than not end up in fights? Learn how money dates can be effective and fun way you get on the same page and talk about money! The Money Talk vs Money Dates One of the most popular questions I get is, when should we talk about money? Having THE money talk is not only intimidating but unproductive. Find out a better, less stressful option in today's episode. In this episode, we'll get into: why talking about money matters how you two can make money talks less stressful how money dates can help you build up your marriage and money Let's ge

Mon, October 03, 2022

Best Travel Apps to Snatch Last Minute Deals

Ready to take a last minute getaway or weekend trip? Use these travel apps and get the best deals! Going away for the weekend doesn't mean you break your budget. With a little planning and the right resources, you two can score some nice trips and still save money. So if you're looking at getting away from it all for a few days, save this post. Travel Sites to Bookmark for Your Weekend Getaways There are more sites than ever for travelers. Besides snagging last minute deals on popular tourist spots, you can also discover some awesome destinations. Airbnb : If you want to live like a local,  Airbnb  can help you find a bed or whole house for your next trip. We used the site when we went away for an anniversary trip and had a beautiful riverfront apt in Wilmington, NC for a fraction of the price of a hotel. Priceline : I'm a huge fan of their  Name Your Own Price  feature, which has helped us score plane tickets, hotel rooms, and car rental half off the advertised prices. Better Bidding : Speaking of bids, there are forums and sites online that can help you figure out what it will take to your bid accepted. ou might also want to keep an eye for flash deals with airlines like Southwest where you can score huge discounts on flights for select cities. Apps to Help Score Great Deals and Keep Organized With smartphones everywhere, apps have been developed to help travelers. Download these apps to help you get the best deals and explore your destination. Localeur : (iOS only) Locals share some of their favorite spots in 14 major U.S. cities. TripIt : With two kids in tow, I love have one app to handle and organize all of the travel arrangements. Hopper : If you like to double check the deals on flights, Hopper is great. The app analyzes tons of flight prices and can suggest when it's a good time to purchase ticket. Even though you might not think of it as a travel app per se,  GasBuddy  can tremendously helpful if you're taking a road trip. Thoughts on Weekend Getaways I'd love to hear your ideas and stories. What has been your favorite getaway

Sat, September 24, 2022

Blended Family Finances: How to Thrive Together!

Merging families and finances can be especially tricky with blended families, but you two can succeed and thrive. Get tips on how you can make this big transition go a lot smoother!  Blended Families and Finances Anytime you're merging lives, there are so many things to talk about and discuss. When you're blending your families that's another layer of complexity. If you have kids, you two are figuring out what the house rules apply now with things like curfew, chores, that you're under one roof. But you also have your exes. They may have rules which are completely opposite of yours. As you're juggling things as a family, it can be tricky navigating things. And finances can be just as messy. Thankfully, Melissa Brown, creator of  Blended Family Podcast , is on the show today. She going to discuss her own family's transition and how they manage things plus offer practical tips to make the transition smoother. Hope you enjoy! Special thanks to Melissa for coming on and share her thoughts and story! Please reach out her on  Twitter  or  join her Facebook group  to hear from others in the blended family community. If you’re looking tips, stories, and advice to make merging finances easier, here are a few to check out! Resources on Merging Finances Special thanks to Melissa for coming on and share her thoughts and story! Please reach out her on  Twitter  or  join her Facebook group  to hear from others in the blended family community. If you’re looking tips, stories, and advice to make merging finances easier, here are a few to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom How to Win Your Spouse Over When They Hate the Budget <a href= "h

Mon, September 05, 2022

Dumping $200k of Debt By Right Sizing Into a Tiny House

Tired of your debt restricting your options? Learn how Claudia & Garrett from  Two Cup House  dumped $200k in two years by simplifying their lives and moving into a tiny house! Achieving Financial Freedom By Dumping Debt <img class= "wp-image-18697 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled ls-is-cached lazyloaded" src= "http://couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview-1024x512.png" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" srcset= "https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview.png?w=1024&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview.png?resize=300%2C150&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview.png?resize=768%2C384&ssl=1 768w" alt= "Tired of your debt restricting your options? Learn how Claudia & Garrett from Two Cup House dumped $200k in two years by simplifying their lives and moving into a tiny house!" width="1024" height="512" loading="eager" data-attachment-id= "18697" data-permalink= "https://couplemoney.com/podcast/dumping-debt-two-cup-house-financial-freedom/attachment/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview/" data-orig-file= "https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview.png?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1" data-orig-size="1024,512" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-meta= "{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}" data-image-title= "financial freedom couple money marriage finances podcast two cup house dumping debt interview" data-image-description="" data-image-caption="" data-medium-file= "https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview.png?fit=300%2C150&ssl=1" data-large-file= "https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview.png?fit=1024%2C512&ssl=1" data-src= "http://couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage-finances-podcast-two-cup-house-dumping-debt-interview-1024x512.png" data-srcset= "https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/financial-freedom-couple-money-marriage

S1 E20 · Tue, June 07, 2022

The Opposite of Spoiled: Teaching Kids About Money

Ron Lieber,  NYTimes columnist and author of  The Opposite of Spoiled , discusses how to raise money smart kids who are generous.  Talking About Money with Our Kids Whether we plan to or not our  kids will pick up their financial habits  based on what we say and do around them. We can look back at our parents and get an idea of how they shaped us. So how can we make sure we’re giving our kids a good start with money? In this episode Ron Lieber, NY Times columnist and author of the newly released  The Opposite of Spoiled , will share the latest research to help parents raise kids who generous and smart about money. As a bonus, Ron offers listeners a special opportunity to make a difference and show your kids the power of giving. The first 20 listeners who purchase his book and email him a copy of the receipt to ron@ronlieber will get a free  $27  DonorsChoose  gift card. Resources and Links from the Episode If you want to learn more, I highly recommend that you check out  The Opposite of Spoiled  as it does a thorough job of tackling some of the trickier situations of raising a financially savvy kid. You may also want to check out: Too Young for Finance? Think Again  – Elmo and Lieber discussin

S2 Enull · Tue, June 07, 2022

Teaching Kids About Money: Allowances

Tue, May 31, 2022

Marriage and Money Q&A: Better Bank Options Plus Loaning Money to Family

We're doing a listener Q and a, and we're answering two big marriage and money-related questions: finding better banking options and how to decide whether or not to loan money to friends or family! Answering Your Marriage and Money Questions Last Q&A we covered getting back on track with financial goals, raising credit scores, and jumpstarting your financial cushion.  So what’s on your minds now?  For one, it looks like you’re looking for a better banking option. That’s a smart move as many of us realize how key our checking and savings are in family finances. Getting hit with needless fees not only is draining your account, but most times it’s not for your benefit, but instead about growing their profit.  We’ll also look at how to help out a friend financially without hurting your own finances. We got a lot to cover, so let's get started! Resources to Tackle Your Money Together Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Should We Loan Money to Family? How to Master and Maximize Your Bank Accounts Together Join Our  Thriving Families  Community on Facebook Thanks to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. See how Coastal can help you with  your mortgage needs  and  Daymark Realty  has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!  Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like  Capitalize . Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.    Did you k

Bonus · Tue, May 24, 2022

Family Adventure: Year-long RV Trip Across the Americas

Ever dream of getting away from it? Learn how to prepare and plan your own adventure as Mike shares how he and his wife took their family on an RV trip across the Americas! Family Adventure: How to Plan for an Epic RV Trip We've been talking in a series of episodes about travel all this month- how to plan these different types of trips for your family that you'll enjoy and remember for a long time. But have you thought about doing something bigger?  Something where you don't just go away for a week on a vacation or a cruise, but actually take a break from your job, your house, and explore a different part of the world for a while? Sounds pretty crazy, right? I think most people would have a few things. That immediately come to mind about why it wouldn't work. How would we pay for this? Would we be able to find a job after we return? Could we sell your house? If you have kids, how would they deal with things? They're normal questions and concerns to have. I'd take it as a sign that you're someone who thinks things through. But wouldn't it be fun to shake up things a little? Mike Heroux of  Dividend Guy  is on the show to help you go from dream to reality by sharing his story and take on things. He and his wife are wrapping a trip they took as a family five through the Americas. In this episode, we look into: how they prepare their finances and themselves for their RV trip dealing with difficulties on the road how you can start building some income on the side for your own adventure Hope you enjoy it!   Resources to Travel More Thinking about traveling more this year? Here are some resources to check out to get you up and running with travel hacking: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to Be a Travel Hacker Credit Cards and Airline Miles – Can You Really Get Free Flights? F

Bonus · Tue, May 17, 2022

Family Travel Hacking with Points with a Crew

Want to see more of the world, but are limited by budget? Learn how one couple used travel hacking so their entire family could take fantastic trips!  Travel Hacking as a Family While, I know many families are eager to get out there and traveled to summer. I also know that one of the holdups they have is their budget. Whether you're flying, renting cars. Staying at an  Airbnb  hotel. Everything has gotten more expensive. Traveling as a couple can be pricey, but still feasible. But it can be a financial challenge when you add kids to the mix. That's why I want to share from the archive and interview I had with Dan Miller, founder of  Points With a Crew . Dan's managed to score some wonderful deals on his trips including getting plane tickets for his entire family to lake Tahoe and a cross country train ride. Did I mention they're a family of eight? Hopefully we'll show how you can keep more money in your pocket and still have your family seeing the world around them. In today's episode he shares: how to choose the right credit cards to maximize rewards staying out of debt while staying on top of their credit cards tricks and tips on getting kids ready for traveling Hope you enjoy!   If you're looking for more travel tips from a couple with kids, please check out  my interview with early retiree Justin  from  Root of Good . Travel Hacking Resources and More Want to learn more about travel hacking? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Connect with Dan:  Points with a Crew |  Twitter How to Be a Travel Hacker Budget v

Bonus · Tue, May 10, 2022

Planning and Taking Cross Country Road Trip

Want to Take Cross Country Road Trip Together? How many times have you guys thought about traveling? Not just a weekend getaway or a vacation, but really seeing another place? What's stopping you?  These last few years with the pandemic have been..well, alot. We’ve had lockdowns, restrictions, and having to adjust work for the norm. On top of that, if you have kids, school looked completely different.  While we’re understandably cautious and keeping an eye on things, I believe many of us are also hoping not just to travel like before but want to try something different.  That Trip Advisor survey I mentioned last week about travel trends highlighted that more people wanted to explore different locations. It was less about visiting tourist traps and more about embracing their destination’s uniqueness. That’s why I’d think you enjoyed my interview with  Derek and Carrie Olsen . Years ago, they, along with their then toddler, took a cross-country trip with their trusty travel trailer.  Even now, it’s one of my favorite interviews. They’re a sweet couple but they also had some fantastic tips and thoughts on how to simplify things and have a true family adventure.  So whether you’re thinking about taking an epic trip or pivoting in your career or life, I think you’ll enjoy this chat.  In this episode, we get into:  how Derek and Carrie prepare for this trip how you can purge and shed your stuff to either get rid of the clutter or make some money  how you stay motivated so you can achieve your goal  I hope you enjoy! Resources to Have a Memorable and Affordable Trip  Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Travel Hacking Essentials How to Travel Like a Rock Star on the Cheap Travel Hacks: Couples Edition Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast

Bonus · Tue, May 03, 2022

Travel Hacks: Couples Edition

Want to get out and travel more this year without breaking your budget? Learn how you can use travel hacking as a couple to get great deals on your trips!   Travel Hacking Together As we move into May, I’m hearing more and more couples talk about travel. With better weather and after an unprecedented - yeah I said it - two years, many are looking for a change in scenery.  According to Trip Advisor, 68% of Americans are looking to travel domestically and 29% are considering a trip abroad . Travel can be a fantastic way to shift our perspectives and rest a bit.  Because many in our community are trying to work toward financial goals as well, it’s even more important to find ways to get deals on vacations.  That’s why I want to pull from the archives and share an interview I had with Peter and Ruby, from  A Journey We Love . They had some wonderful travel hacking tips on how to keep your trips low stress, fun, and affordable.  During our chat, we got into:  their process for finding deals with their trips how they budget during their travels tips for first-time travelers Hope you enjoy it! Travel Hacking Resources and More Want to learn more about travel hacking? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Travel Hacking Essentials How to Travel Like a Rock Star on the Cheap Travel Hacks: Couples Edition Pro Travel Hacks for Every Aspect of Your Next Trip Best flight search tool:  Google Flights Quick Money Tips for Travelers How To Find Mistake Fares And Fly For Cheap Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! <a href=

Bonus · Tue, April 26, 2022

How to Get Top Dollar When Selling Your House

Thinking of selling your house? Today we’ll go over how to prepare your place so you can get the best price for it! What You Need to Know to Sell Your House for More So far this month, we’ve been focused on buying a house. We looked at mortgages last week, discussed how to find some hidden gems in your city, and what mistakes to avoid during your house hunt. Now we’re looking at the other side: selling your place.  Right now in Raleigh, it’s a seller’s market. On the plus side, houses are selling faster and for more. Still, it can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re also trying to find your next place at the same time.   So how can you prepare your place to maximize your sales price? Which updates can attract more interest and which can hurt? Is there a good time to list your house? These are a few questions that can pop up so that’s why I’m thrilled to share from the vault an interview I had with  Mariella Guillama  is here today. She’s an award -winning Real Estate Broker at  Daymark Realty . We used Daymark when we sold our first home and for buying our current place. We’re super happy with the experience.  In this episode, we’ll get into: finding the best price to list it  what mistakes to avoid so you’re not wasting time or money how to prepare your place so it wows potential buyers and you get top dollar offers  We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started! Resources to Get Top Dollar When Selling Your House Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Free 5 Days to $5K Course Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Quick and Essential Guide to Sell Your House for More Money Real Estate Agent, Broker, Realtor: What’s the Difference? Thank You to Our Sponsor Coast

Bonus · Tue, April 19, 2022

Mortgages: How to Find the Best Rates

Buying a house  is typically the biggest purchase couples make so you want to have your numbers line up with your goals and budget. Learn how you can find the best mortgage rates when you house hunt!  Finding the Best Mortgages Rates Are you two getting ready to start house hunting? Congratulations! When we were looking for our now current house, I remember the excitement of visiting and touring places. I also remember the other side of the house hunt: getting paperwork for the preapproval letter, running the numbers to figure out our budget, and reviewing mortgage documents.  At the time, it was a bit intimidating. Knowing that this was a huge purchase, we really wanted to get it right.  Thankfully we had a great team that answered all of our questions. Now years later, we are still happy with how things turned out. We have a home that we love that's also affordable enough that we can take care of other goals and dreams. I want you to feel the same way about the home you buy and a key part of that is finding the mortgage option for your family’s budget.  This is why I’m thrilled to pull from the archives an enlightening chat I had with  Wendy Dawson . She’s the Vice President of Mortgage Lending over at  Coastal Credit Union . She decodes a lot of the jargon and gives some fantastic tips on finding the right mortgage. In this episode we get into: what mistakes to avoid as a first-time homebuyer typical costs of being a homeowner (beyond the mortgage payment) what exactly are Mortgage Interest Rates, APRS, Origination Fees, and Points Hope you enjoy it!   Resources on Getting a Great Deal on Your Mortgage If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find a great deal with your mortgage Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Free 5 Days to $5K Course Basic Mortgage Terminology Buying a Hous

Bonus · Tue, April 12, 2022

House Hunters: How to Find a Hidden Gem (and Not a Money Pit!)

Looking to buy a house you can comfortably afford? Today we’re going over how you can find a hidden gem and not a money pit!  How to Find and Buy a House You Can Afford I don’t know how things are in your area, but here in the Triangle, the housing market is hot. Prices have shot up. The median price of homes currently listed in Raleigh is $379,000 .  To give you some context, a townhouse on our street went for more than double what we paid for our single-family house a few years ago. Just the other week, I caught a story on the local news about how unaffordable the Raleigh Durham area is getting.  If you want to buy a house you have to be a savvy house hunter.  Now you may have heard that you can snag a deal with a fixer-upper, but how do you know which houses are diamonds in the rough and which ones are money pits?   If you’re thinking of or are planning on buying a house soon, you may be facing these same questions and challenges. That’s why I’m pulling from the archives my interview with   Louis Guillama .  He's the Vice President of Real Estate Operations over at  Coastal Credit Union . He has decades of experience with the real estate agent side as well as home renovations.  In this episode, we're going to discuss: the differences between buying new construction versus resale  spotting great (and still affordable) neighborhoods, and then  finding a fixer-upper instead of a money pit We have so much to cover, so let’s get started!  Resources on Buying a House If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find an affordable place you love! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money My friend was about to buy a million-dollar house with no research What You Need to Know About Mortgages Buying a Home: From Contemplation to Closing Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! <a hr

Bonus · Tue, April 05, 2022

Most Common Home Buying Mistakes to Avoid

Are you house hunting or about to start? Learn how you can buy the right house for you and your budget.  Mistakes Home Buyers Make Buying a house is usually one of the biggest purchases you can make and the financial paperwork of getting a mortgage gets complicated quickly.  Besides having a down payment ready, you have other costs like  Home inspection Lender fees Appraisal Title search and insurance fees And so forth If you’re buying a $300,000 home, you’re looking at  paying anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000 in closing costs . If you’re living in an HCOL area, those numbers leap up.  It's really important to make sure you're ready for this leap before you signed the papers. You rush into it and you’re stuck with a mortgage you can’t comfortably afford, making your home a burden, not a blessing.  If you live in a hot real estate market it’s even more of a challenge. You’re dealing with multiple bids, some of them being much higher than the listing price. Here in Raleigh, it’s not uncommon to be competing with all-cash offers.  In the middle of 2020, my mom moved to be closer to us in Raleigh and we helped her with the home buying process. It was stressful because there were so many more buyers than houses. It took some patience, reflecting on what features she needed and truly wanted, and honing in on the budget, but thankfully she bought a great place for herself.   Whether you’re a first-time buyer or not, my advice is to detach yourself emotionally from the process. That’s easier said than done.  That’s why I want to share from the archives an interview I did with Jonathan White. He’s the author of  A Tale of Two Houses : Our journey of buying a home the right way after buying one the wrong way.  As you can guess from the title, Jonathan understands some of those house-buying traps many of us fall into. He made In this episode we get into: Some of those home-buying myths that can get you into trouble Unexpected expenses that come up as a homeowner Why you need to run your own numbers Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources on Getting a Great Deal on Your Mortgage If you’re looking to

Bonus · Tue, March 29, 2022

How to Build a Profitable Side Hustle from Home

Carla Titus shares the realities of running a profitable business from home and how she and her husband created a system that fits their goals and family life! The Realities of Starting a Side Hustle from Home Nowadays it’s become more common for couples and families to diversify their income. Whether it’s because they looking to knock out some debt, save up for a house or another goal, or they want to pivot their career, couples are looking at side hustles.  We’ve had several episodes about the essentials of starting a side business, but one of the biggest struggles many have is sustaining it.  Whether it’s working around your family or day job, the reality is you only have so much time. How do you make it work? How can you start and build a business?  Carla Titus is on the show today to share her expertise and her story.  She is the CEO of  Wealth and Worth  where she uses her over ten years of corporate financial planning, analysis, strategy, and startup CFO experience to help entrepreneurs take control of their finances and level up their business. In this episode we’ll get into: Finding not that balance, but the flow between family and your side hustle When to outsource  how to get the pricing right – many entrepreneurs struggle with this Hope you enjoy! Resources for Launching a Side Hustle Here are some fantastic resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money 5 Days to $5K  Wealth & Worth Within How to Diversify Your Income with Side Hustles Being Productive as a Work from Home Parent Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on  c

Bonus · Tue, March 22, 2022

How to Side Hustle Your Way Out of Debt

Feeling trapped by debt? Get the strategies, tactics, and resources to help you pay yours off faster!  Using Side Hustles to Pay Off Your Student Loans and Other Debts Faster Depending on where you are with your financial journey you may be dealing with debt. In some cases, a mountain of it.  Right now people are keeping an eye out on student loans and understandably so. It’s been estimated that  62% of college seniors who graduated from nonprofit colleges in 2019 had student loan debt . It’s a burden on many budgets and can feel even heavier if you have other debts like car payments and credit cards. Did you know that the  average payment for a used car is over $400 ?  It may be that earning more is a necessity if you’re trying to get out of debt as soon as possible.  This is why I wanted to share from the archives a discussion I had with Kevin, attorney, side hustler, and the creator of  Financial Panther . Years ago, he used side hustles to pay off $87,000 in student loans in less than 3 years! In this episode we'll get into: what motivated him to pay them off ASAP the real work involved with different side hustles  how your phone can help you earn cash Hope you enjoy! If you want to get the ins and outs of repaying your student loan, please check out  my interview with Jay Fleischman . Resources to Pay Off Debts Faster If you're ready to dump your student loan debt, here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money 5 Days to $5K  How I Paid Off $87,000 Of Student Loans In 2.5 Years The Secret To Paying Off Debt  Consumer Help Central  – If

Tue, March 15, 2022

Marriage & Money: Finding Your Work-Life Balance

Looking to balance work and family? LaTisha Styles shares her take and story on being a happily married entrepreneur! Entrepreneurs + Marriage One of the ways the pandemic has reshaped things is by seeing  how many more people are working from home .  I’ve seen different reports and  estimates give ranging from 25 -32%.  Working from home offers many benefits, but has its challenges. I’ve been working from home for years and had a flow. When my husband went full-time remote and the kids did the virtual academy with school, we knew we had reconfigured a few things to make it work.  We created spaces for school and work and had to adjust our schedules and routines. As working parents, we have to be careful that work doesn’t spill over to family time.  It’s especially hard as an entrepreneur, where you have a huge impact on your business’s bottom line.  This is why I’m pulling from the archives an interview I had with  LaTisha Styles . She’s the Founder & CEO of You’ve Got Clients®, a marketing consultancy. When I first met her she created Young Finances to help millennials build better habits with their money.  During our chat, Latisha shared her thoughts, experiences, and tips on being an entrepreneur and being fully engaged with her family. In this episode we get into:  what made Leticia start her own business creating boundaries for her family and business how she and her husband support one I hope you enjoy it!  Resources to Help You Launch a Side Hustle If you're ready to make the leap, here are some more resources to help you build another income stream. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money 5 Days to $5K  Launch  by Jeff Walker <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0307465357/ref=as_li

Bonus · Tue, March 08, 2022

How to Diversify Your Income with Side Hustles

Looking to boost your income? Learn how to find and launch a side hustle so Are you thinking of starting a side hustle, but you're afraid of burnout? Learn how you can have the best of both worlds – diversify your income and earn money on the side while keeping it sustainable and fit around your schedule! Boost and Diversify Your Income All this month we’re focusing on ways to earn more.  The concern though is about the time and effort involved with building up another stream of income. Most of us are busy and we're not looking to take on a second job at night or the weekends, especially if we have other responsibilities, including kids. This is where a side hustle can be a practical solution. First, though, let's talk about some of the worries people have about starting a side hustle. Type in ‘side hustle' on the web and you'll get some pretty ridiculous claims. Too many times it's this empty promise of getting rich quick. Or it's all about the grind, where people brag about the crazy hours they put in. When I say side hustle, I'm referring to part-time entrepreneurship that is built around your schedule. I know there are those who push the grind, but I’m not interested in sharing ways you can burn-out. I want you to find and launch a sustainable business on the side. Today's show is designed to help you figure out if this is the right option for you.  From the vault, I found a gem of conversation with Nick Loper. He’s the creator of  Side Hustle Nation  and author of multiple books.  One thing I respect about Nick is how open he is about when things work and when they don’t. If you decide to pursue a side hustle, I want you to have a clear view of challenges that can come up and resources that can make things easier.  In this episode we get into: Why it’s important to diversity your income give you some tips on how to be productive How to use your side hustle money to speed your way to financial freedom Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Help You Launch a Side Hustle If you're ready to make the leap, here are some more resources to help you build another income stream. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money <a h

Bonus · Tue, March 01, 2022

How to Launch a Profitable Side Hustle

Want to make extra money to help you pay down debt or explore a new career? Chris Guillbeau shares how to launch a profitable side hustle in 27 days! Want to Launch a Side Hustle? One of the biggest hurdles I see and hear from couples in the community about why they're not able to pay down their debt, save or invest more is that they don't really have a lot of buffer in their budget. They just don't have that extra cash to put towards their goals. Typically, when you look at the numbers, there are a few ways that you can optimize your budget and cut down on some expenses, maybe negotiate some better deals on some bills. Sometimes, though, it isn't just a spending issue. It's an income issue. After your worked a full-time job, Most people I know aren't necessarily looking to take on a second one and being tied down to another fixed schedule for so-so pay. Is there a way for you to earn more, maybe on the side, that caps into one of your talents and can you use that income to either grow your emergency fund, knock out some of, knock out some or all of your debt, and explore a new career? If you've been online for any amount of time, you've probably heard the idea of  starting a side hustl e. But I'm not talking about what you see typically in social media where people are practically bragging about how many hours they are putting in. If that works for them. Great. Today I'm going to be talking about starting a side hustle that is sustainable. That means that you're not focused just on the hours you're putting in, but you're thoughtfully planning out the process so that you're making an impact, building some income, and still have a life. Which is why I'm so happy to pull from the archive in interview I had with  Chris Guillebeau . He's a serial entrepreneur, host of the  Side Hustle School Podcast , and author of several books. In this episode, we get into how you can figure out what a good side hustle would be for you. The process of starting one and launching in about a month. And how has sustainable side hustle? Can also help you build your legacy. Are you ready let's get started In this episode we get into: why a side hustle can be a wonderful option how you can start one in less than a month why and how a sustainable sid

Bonus · Tue, February 22, 2022

Marriage & Money Mailbag: Financial Goals, Raising Credit Score, and Starter Emergency Funds

oday we’re answering your marriage and money questions – choosing financial goals, raising credit scores, and how to start an emergency funds! Answering Your Marriage and Money Questions Welcome to another community mailbag episode, where we tackle your marriage and money questions. And we have some great ones today. These past two years have been challenging for many in our community because of the uncertainty. For some couples, the big goal is to get back to their financial goals because they've hit the pause button for a while. Not getting any worse with their finances, but not making the progress that they want to. Today, we're going to focus on how to get back on track by honing in on key goals to tackle this year. We also have some couples looking forward to buying a house in the near future so something that they want to do now is to raise their credit scores to hopefully qualify for uh, competitive mortgage rate. Finally one lesson that's really sunk in these days is the importance of having a financial cushion. The first step with that is getting a starter emergency fund up. How do you jumpstart that process? We have so much to cover today. So let's get started! Resources to Win with Your Money Want to go ahead and tackle your big marriage and money goals? Here are the resources we mentioned in today's episode along with some extras! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money 5 Days to $5K  Annual Credit Report : Free way to review each of your credit reports Credit Report Dispute Templates Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on  checking  and  savings  accounts!   Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize <a href= "https://i

Bonus · Tue, February 15, 2022

How One Couple Saved Over $80k in a Year!

Want to retire early, but your spouse isn't ready? Learn how Jamila and her husband got on the same page with financial independence and saved over $80,000 last year!  Getting on the Same Page with Financial Independence Wouldn't it be fantastic if the two of you were instantly on the same page with your finances? Even though we’re at a place where we’re on the same page with major goals, there’s still times where we have to sit down and figure out the details about how to go about. We try to find solutions that we’re both happy with.  It could be one of persuading the other or it could be putting together a third option. In other words, don’t be surprised when two of you aren’t instantly on the same wavelength.  I believe that’s a strength with marriage – you two are seeing and testing ideas out from different perspectives.  That’s why I really connected with what Jamila said at the top of the show. You can sometimes be enthusiastic about tackling your debt, saving more, or investing towards retirement and your spouse….ehh..not much.  Since you’re in this together, how do you get your spouse on board, especially when it's a huge shift with your finances?  That’s why I’m excited to share from the archives an interview I had with  Journey to Launch  creator Jamilia Souffrant since she’s been down this path. She has gotten her husband on board with drastically increasing their savings so they could pursue financial freedom and independence. In this episode, we get into: how she and her husband first handled their money and paid down debt discovering financial independence and winning him over how they work together with money and created a system that respects both their styles Hope you enjoy!  Handy Resources for FI Couples If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are more resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Manage Your 401(k) Easily:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Simplify and Enjoy:  Financial Freedom for Families <a href= "http://couplemoney.com/podcast/re

Bonus · Tue, February 08, 2022

6 Strategies to Save and Lower Your Rent

Fast rising rents can break a couple’s carefully planned budget. Learn six strategies that can help lower your rent and keep more money in your pocket!  Getting a Deal on Your Rent One of the biggest expenses for couples is housing, especially when it comes to renting in a high cost of living area. According to Realtor.com's Monthly Rental Report, on average the cost of rent was 10.1% higher in 2021 than in 2020.  Living in the Triangle area of North Carolina, we’re seeing rents rise fast . We’ve heard from multiple friends how quickly their rents have jumped.  There have been plenty of news stories about it. Rents in Durham 20.1% and here in Raleigh going up 22.1% . Since our theme this month is about saving you money, I’m glad to highlight my chat with Justin Pogue. He's an asset & property management professional and the author of Rental Secrets . Justin shared with me some strategies that can help you get a better deal on your rent and save some serious cash.  In this episode we get into: Six strategies to lower your rent Biggest mistakes he sees renters make  What to look to for when apartment hunting Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Boost Your Savings Rate Want to start boosting your savings rate? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint 5 Days to $5K : It's my free weeklong course to show you how to find, save, and make extra money so you can  dump debt and save more!  17 Money Saving Strategies We Used to Triple Our Savings Rate Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on  checking  and <a href= "https://couplemoney.co

Bonus · Tue, February 01, 2022

How to Save More Than Half Your Income

Looking to hit your money goals faster? Today we’ll share one couple’s best tips that allowed them to save half their income!  How to Save More Than Half Your Income Did you know that ‘saving more’ was one of the top three goals for finances for 2022? Actually as I’ve been reviewing the data from  Fidelity’s Financial Resolutions Study , I’ve noticed it’s been there for several years.  Understandably so because there are plenty of goals families are saving up for.  You have specific goals: an emergency fund, vacations, down payment for a home or money to start a business. You could be stashing away money towards your 401(k) or IRA so you can have something for retirement. Or you want to help out your kids with college or wedding expenses.  Wait, maybe 50% isn’t enough.  Sometimes it does feel that way.  Hopefully it does highlight why it’s so important for all of us to get into the habit of saving.  The good news is all this month we’re going to examine different stories and ways you can not only save money, but still have a life.  By looking at how other families manage their money, you can test them out and see which ones work best for you.  Which is why I’ve pulled this conversation I had with Matt of  Distilled Dollar  from the archive. He’s definitely someone I’d consider a super saver, but that wasn’t always the case.  As you’ll hear he and his now wife had over six-figures of student loan debt.  In our chat, Matt breaks down what motivated him to pursue financial independence and become a super saver how they approach their spending (it’s not a traditional budget) some hacks they do to keep their expenses low living in Chicago Are you ready? Let’s get started!  It’s not your typical millennial money story.   Hope you enjoy!   Elle Martinez          How to Save More Than Half Your Income with Distilled Dollar           How to Save More Than Half Your Income with Distilled Dollar                          

Bonus · Tue, January 25, 2022

Why and How to Pay Your Mortgage Off Early

Want to pay off your mortgage early, but don't know how? Learn how you can find the money so you can own your home free and clear! Pay Your Mortgage Off Early? Have you ever wondered how it would feel to be rid of your mortgage payment to own your house free and clear?    Even though we got a really good deal on her place, I would love to not see that huge chunk of money leave our accounts every month.   Right now, we’re on a plan to knock out our mortgage early and we’re excited about the process. Of course, this isn’t an overnight thing, so something what’s been motivating and encouraging is listening to others share how it felt to get rid of that debt. I think that's going to be the frustrating piece for everybody. Who's thinking they're gonna pay off their mortgage early. That there's going to be some big parties, Guess I’ll just send that payment online and celebrate at home, noted.  By the way, that’s Steve Stewart . He’s the talented editor behind some of fantastic podcasts like Stacking Benjamins, ChooseFI, and Financial Grownup.  A few years ago, Steve and his wife went to their lender with cash and paid off their mortgage. Today, we’re pulling from the archive my chat with Steve about hitting that huge milestone.  In this episode, we’ll get into: Why Steve and his wife chose to focus on paying off their mortgage Building momentum and payments How you can create a mortgage free plan that fits your goals and budget Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Dump Your Mortgage Faster If you’re looking to dig in deeper on mortgages, here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint YNAB Mortgage Payoff Calculator   Total Money Makeover Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Mortgage Payoff Calculator Paying Off Your Mortgage Early Paying Off The Mortgage Wasn’t Our First Priority (but we did it anyway) <a h

Tue, January 18, 2022

How to Get Out of Your Financial Rut and Become Debt Free!

Do you feel frustrated with how slow things are going with your debt free plan?  Maybe you have credit cards, it seems like you’re barely making a dent on them.  Today we’ll go over ways the two of you can have more wins with your money and knock out your debts!  Dumping Debt with Popcorn Finance Nothing is more demotivating than putting a lot of effort into something and not seeing any real results.  For many families, debt – especially credit cards – can be especially stressful. Judging by some reports, it’s a big financial issue. Bankrate recently surveyed thousands of Americans and  they found that the balance of 42% of U.S. adults with credit card debt have increased since the pandemic started .  One huge hurdle is how high the interest rates tend to be with credit cards. Now if you  have an excellent credit score 13% while those who have fair credit care looking at an average just under 23% . It’s almost like being in quicksand unless you're making some significant payments. This is why I’m happy to share from the archive, my chat with Chris Browning. He’s the creator and host of  Popcorn Finance  is on the show to share how he and his wife “K’” had to work together to pay off their debts.  We get into: how they got into $14k of credit card debt the system they use to budget and knock out their debts Handy books to motivate you to become debt free faster Hope you enjoy!   Elle Martinez          Working Together to Dump Debt and Save with Popcorn Finance           Working Together to Dump Debt and Save with Popcorn Finance                             Resources to Dump Debt and Save Together Want to make talking about money less stressful? Here are some fantastic resources to motivate and nudge you to debt freedom faster! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta <

Bonus · Tue, January 11, 2022

Dumping $30k in Less Than Year!

Feeling trapped at a job because you're dealing with debt? Find out how you can pay off your debt faster. Whitney Hansen shares how she eliminated $30,000 in less than a year!  Feeling trapped at a job because you're dealing with debt? Find out how you can pay off your debt faster. Whitney Hansen shares how she eliminated $30,000 in less than a year!  So financial independence in the truest sense is for me when you are officially at a point where you don't have to work anymore, you're officially retired if you so choose. But the goal of that is, is that you can start to have a lifestyle that kind of mimics financial independence earlier on. If you're very careful and you are paying off debt and you're intentional with your spending, and if you're not letting it get out of control, I think you can actually live some of those benefits sooner. And so that's kind of what I what I believe is that you can have this really cool life if you are willing to do the hard work. Now, you can actually have that life sooner than 65 years old. Whitney Hansen Paying Off Debt Faster I've been noticing a shift lately when the topic of money and paying off debt comes up. I hear from friends, family, neighbors and work buddies is this idea of having more options. It's not about a specific amount in the bank or retiring by a certain date. It's about being drawn to financial freedom because people to want to be stuck at a career they don't like or in a situation because they are just overwhelmed with debt. My guest today, Whitney Hanson, knows all about that desire to have more options and less debt. My guest today, Whitney Hansen, knows all about that desire to have more options and less debt. Today we'll get into: why motivated her to fast track paying off her student loans how she was able to get rid of $30,000 in less than a year what first steps she suggests if you want to be debt-free sooner than later Hope you enjoy! [smart_track_player url="http://traffic.libsyn.com/couplemoney/More_Options_Less_Debt_Paying_off_30k_in_10_Months.mp3" ] Want to hear more from Whitney? Connect through her awesome podcast The Money Nerds , Twitter , and Instagram!  Resources to Help You Dump Debt and Start Building Wealth Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it and start saving more! Best Budget and Money Apps: <a href=

Bonus · Tue, January 04, 2022

Dump Your Debt Faster Through the Power of Community

Looking to dump your debt faster? See how you can find a community to support you on your debt free journey! The Power of Community with Dumping Your Debt Faster This month is all about paying off debts. Instead of talking about debt snowballs and avalanches, apps or sites, we're going to look at the community; specifically the support network you may or may not have and how it can affect your success.  Toni Husbands is joining us today. She’s the creator of debt free divas and author of the book,  The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community. Besides knowing the stats and studies about getting out of debt. Toni has personal experience with becoming debt free. If her voice sounds familiar it's because Toni was on the podcast before when she shared her family’s story of dumping six figures of debt. She had an added challenge because her husband Colin wasn’t on board at first. So if you're in a similar boat, I think you’ll enjoy this conversation where Toni discusses how to find and build up a community to support one another with dumping debt! Resources to Dump Your Debt Faster Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Debt Free Charts Attacking Debt: Which One First? The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You? 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please

Bonus · Wed, December 15, 2021

Stacking Benjamins in 2022 (End of Year Bonus Episode!)

In today’s bonus episode, we’re diving into hitting your money goals while still having fun!  Ready to Stack Some Benjamins in 2022?  Welcome to this end of year bonus episode!  As we’re winding down and wrapping things up for 2021, one of the best things we can do is setting things up to make it easier to achieve our family and financial goals. For us, it’s doing a review of the numbers to see what’s worked and what’s not. We’re also spending time now deciding on what we really want to do in 2022 while of course keeping some flexibility because COVID is still a thing.   A big challenge many families face is creating and sticking with a plan that allows them to pay down their debts, save for priorities, and invest more.  Today’s episode has something that I think will be a huge help.  I had the pleasure of chatting with Joe Saul-Sehy of the award winning Stacking Benjamins and personal finance author Emily Guy Birken about their new book, Stacked: Your Serious Guide to Modern Money Management .  Which is a mouthful of a title, but I got to tell you, the thing that jumped out at me about the book was how fun it was to read ! Joe and Emily do an incredible job not just explaining key financial points, but they weave it in with game references (Oregon Trail, Tetris, and Monopoly are included in the first few chapters), but they have inside jokes, comics, and more.  It’s all about making personal finance accessible and well, not boring.  So if you’re looking for a reset, reboot, whatever you want to call it, I think you'll enjoy our conversation!  Stacked Giveaway To celebrate having an incredible 2022 and the release of Joe and Emily's book, we're hosting a giveaway! I'll be doing a random drawing to reimburse 5 listeners who pre-order  Stacked  as well as give them Amazon gift cards! Just enter here ! Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on  checking  and 

Bonus · Wed, November 10, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Creating SMART Family and Financial Goals

Today we’ll go over key steps on how to make and achieve your big family financial goals for next year!  How to Set Up (And Achieve) Your Family’s Financial Goals As 2021 winds down, now is a great time to set up some pieces with your finances so you can knock things out of the ballpark in 2022.    Last week I went into how we’ve done year end reviews. They’ve been a wonderful way for us to get a snapshot of the progress we made and identify areas where we may want to adjust.    Most of the numbers reviewed are automated. There are some fantastic options out there like Personal Capital, Mint, Tiller, and You Need a Budget that can pull the numbers from your accounts into one neat dashboard.    However a year end review is just that - a review. If we want to level up for the next year, we have to have some blueprint or plan.    Here’s where it’s key for us to create our family financial goals. They give us a guide on how to allocate or prioritize our money for the year.    Today I want to walk you through some critical parts of that process so you can craft a game plan for next year and beyond.    In this episode, we’re going to look at how you can tackle some major hurdles families have with creating and reaching their financial goals. We’ll discuss: Creating better family and financial goals by taking the three most popular money goals families set and turning them into SMART goals Crafting a plan so you develop key habits that make it easier to hit your goals Finding time to adopt these new habits and systems Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Join Our  Thriving Families  Community on Facebook Tiny Changes with Big Results The Power of Habits Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better,

Bonus · Wed, November 03, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] How to Run a Year End Review for Your Financial Goals

Get a peek into how we did with our goals for this year and see how you can do your year review and set yourself up for an incredible 2022! Why You Need to Do a Year-End Review with Your Money It's November, aka the time of the year where I usually start winding down.  As you may or may not know, I take December off from the podcast to recharge and rest things. We also have our anniversary then. With those things in mind, these last two episodes of the season are focused on helping you set things up for a fantastic year in 2022 and beyond. Besides our monthly money review, one of the things we do is a year end review. It’s a way for us to review the numbers, celebrate wins, and see what we need to work on.  We then take that information and use it to plan out the next year.  Today I want to walk you through the process. We’ll go through our goals we made for the year, finding the money to reach them, and whether we’re on track with them or not.   Next week, we’ll then look at how to create goals in a way so you can make progress.  Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield

Bonus · Thu, October 28, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Dealing with Awkward Money Conversations as a Couple

Today we’re going to look at three common and awkward arguments married couples have around money  and how you can tackle them together!  Awkward Money Conversations When You’re Married Marriage and money isn’t always easy. Chances are the two of you have different personalities and approaches to finances.  Those differences can be a wonderful thing as you two can lean on each other’s strengths and shore up weaknesses.  But finding your financial footing as a couple is not automatic. If you don’t have some way to work on it, it can hurt your marriage and money.  One of the first things to realize about why couples fight or argue over money is how frequently it’s actually  NOT  about the money. Seriously.  From personal experience, writing and speaking about this for over a decade, the most common reason couples fight about money is that they are not in sync with each other in either their expectations, values, or priorities. Usually it’s a combo of them.  While you two aren't always going to see eye to eye on everything – again those differences can be fantastic- there are  some ways you can work as a team and use those differences to your advantage .  Today we’re going to talk about how you can use that knowledge to untangle some awkward money conversations that can come when you’re married.  In this episode we’ll get into questions like: figuring out what counts as a big purchase whether to loan money to family coming clean about debts Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grab Your Copy:  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Join Our  Thriving Families  Community on Facebook Her Dinero Matters Podcast His and Her Money Show How to Loan Money to Family (and Not Regret It) How to Deal with (and Overcome) Financial Infidelity 7 Common Money Arguments in Marriage Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! <a href= "https://i2.wp.com/www.simplifyandenjoy.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Coastal-Credit-Union-Simplify

Bonus · Wed, October 20, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Bank Better: How to Switch Your Checking Accounts

How happy are you with your current banking situation? Are you getting real value out of your checking and savings accounts? Or do you feel like you’re getting nickeled and dimed?  Today we’ll go over how to find a better banking option and how to seamlessly move your money!  Why It Matters Where You Bank These are all important to your financial health and making progress on your goals, however we left the biggest piece of the puzzle last – your day to day bank accounts.  Your check and savings accounts are the backbone to your family’s financial system, but for most of us, it's almost like an afterthought. Much of this goes back to how we chose our accounts in the first place. For my husband and I, with our first accounts, it was based on who we were already banking with. And at the time we had bank accounts with two of the major banks, we had opened student checking accounts. When I say they were basic accounts, that's exactly what they were. Honestly, we just settled with it for way too long. After getting frustrated with the horrible customer service, ridiculous fees. And not seeing any real progress with our financial goals. We decided it was time to change. We moved our money to an online bank and credit union and i have to say we are so much happier for it. We feel that our banking partners are actually partners that they're helping us reach our financial goals faster. And make our lives easier with managing our money. So if you feel that way about your bank or credit union, fantastic. However, there are plenty of families that feel like they're banking options are hurting them rather than helping. According to a recent Magnify Money survey,  68% of consumers are frustrated and feel like their savings isn’t growing . When you consider that 18% of those said they get less than .05% APY, it’s understandable. What makes it worse are those minimum balances and fees added on their accounts.  Bankrate reported that the  average maintenance fee on a checking account that earns interest totaled $196.20/year .  So if you’re feeling squeezed, you probably are. That doesn’t have to be the case though.  With 2021 winding down, now is a great time to set the pieces up for you to have an incredible year in 2022. In this episode, we’ll go over:  What to look for in your next bank or credit union How to move your money and switch accounts (and deal with a reluctant spouse) How to set up your new accounts for your best year ever Are you ready?  Let’s get started!  Resources to Easily Manage Your Money Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital

Bonus · Fri, October 15, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Keeping Your Financial System Simple and Effective

Get a sneak peek at how we handle our money system and our accounts. So that we are working towards our goals, even if we have more pressing or urgent things to take care of on the family front or with work! Easy Way to Manage Your Money A financial system that requires you to constantly check and worry about your money isn’t going to cut it for most families. It doesn't for us.  With two kids, work, hobbies, and friends, we have a full life and we love it. Quite simply we see money as a tool, not the goal. It’s to help us to care of our kids and lother loved ones,  So while I respect those highly detailed spreadsheets with line by line breakdowns of every cent, I save that for quarterly reviews. Instead, budget monthly and do weekly checks on Fridays that usually are five minutes just to make sure everything is running smoothly.  It took some time, but we’re grateful to have a financial system that allows us to focus on the big stuff. We love even more considering these past 18 months.  If you’re looking to make managing your money much easier, while still hitting your family’s financial goals, this is your episode.  Today, we’re discussing: Quick overview of how our financial goals and system shifted to fit the season of life we’re in What principles give the framework to our financial system so we can hit our goals How to keep lifestyle inflation in check while still enjoying some fun Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Easily Manage Your Money Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grab Your Copy:  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Join Our  Thriving Families  Community on Facebook Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. Did you know that Coastal offers a  Health Savings Account ? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA. Find out more about what  Coastal offers here ! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening

Bonus · Wed, October 06, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] 401(k)s: What Couples Need to Know to Maximize Their Retirement

For most couples, their 401(k)s are an important part of their retirement plans. Learn how you can avoid making big mistakes and make the most out of your 401(k)! Making the Most of Your 401(k) It's just there's a huge information overload and it's easy to get caught in the mess and not be sure how to actually do it. Today we're going to give you a leg up. Usually during this time of year, I pull in the experts like certified financial planners where we dive into the nitty gritty details of the different benefits and options that may be available.  I’m grateful for those experts who took the time to share some of their knowledge and will have those episodes up on the homepage so you can listen to them because much of it is still incredibly helpful.  Today, I’m doing what I did last week, which is to go over those FAQs that typically come up. Again, these questions are the ones I see on my side, from discussing through the newsletter, in the Facebook group  Thriving Families, or those Google searches.  In this episode we’re discussing: The biggest mistakes couples make with their 401(k)s Figuring out how much you need to contribute What to do with your 401(k) at your old job Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources for Smarter Investing If you want to learn more about investing and staying on top of your money, here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to Start Investing: A Simple Guide for Busy Couples How to Maxim

Bonus · Wed, September 29, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Open Enrollment: Keeping Health Insurance, Dental, and Disability Affordable

It's that time again... open enrollment season and with it, a lot of decisions to make for the upcoming year. Today, we're going to go over how you can maximize your benefits, especially when it comes to health, dental, and disability insurance! Choosing Your Health Insurance, Dental, and Disability If there's one area of finances where families have a hard time -either they're not maximizing or they misunderstand it- it's open enrollment season. It's that time of year where HR sends you a packet of information about your benefits. One of the big things that I want families to focus on- especially busy ones- is going for the big wins. Yes. It is beneficial to get better financial habits and cutting those unnecessary expenses, maybe five or $10 here and using that money towards more impactful family and financial goals. But going for the big wins means that for a little bit of time and effort, you can have reoccurring winds or see a significant drop in your expenses or increase your savings. This is where open enrollment fits in. For this limited window that you get this information, you're going to be making some significant financial decisions for the upcoming year. The biggest one for most families, health insurance. What makes us extra challenging is we're doing this in the midst of still dealing with COVID. All this week and next, I want to make things easier for you so that you can focus on the key discussions you need to have so you can make the best choices for your family's particular needs. I'll be releasing on the site previous episodes where I've talked with certified financial planners about the ins and outs and details about your options. Today we're going to focus more on a Q and a style approach. Based on your feedback, along with what I'm seeing on my side with Google search in the community chat, I'm going to go over those questions that families often have as they're sorting through the paperwork. Our focus today will be on: weighing the pros and cons of health insurance plans why disability insurance doesn't get the credit it deserves how tax advantage accounts like HSAs and FSAs can help you save a significant amount of money Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Save serious Money Are you looking for more help with maximizing your benefits and saving more money? Here are some resources: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller , Zeta,  HoneyFi , and  Mint

Bonus · Wed, September 22, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Keeping Your Budget Flexible and Fun

How are you feeling about your progress this year with your financial goals? Are you frustrated because you're not hitting them as fast as you had hoped? Do you feel like managing money is a chore? Believe it or not, these problems are connected. Today, I'm going to break down and show you how to build a flexible financial system that will get you to your goals faster! Keeping Your Budget Flexible and Fun Recently I had a chat with rich Jones for the   Paychecks and Balances Podcast . The  theme of our discussion was managing finances when undergoing a life transition , but it quickly widen out and scope. After my chat with Rich, our discussion stuck with me. Having written about personal finance for 12 years and podcasting, a little over half that time, I noticed a certain rhythm with people in their interests and finances. Beginning of the year, it's all about setting up these big goals, paying off debt, saving up for a huge house down payment. For some, it truly is the beginning of an awesome year. They get these new habits set up. They have their systems in place. Others though, they're already having a hard time keeping up those habits, part of it is life shifts. Between January and to about April when I look on my side of things with site traffic, And Google searches, that's when people are most interested in their finances. Further into the year, no matter what camp you're in the seasons change and life rolls on. With September zooming by and the last quarter coming up. I find it's another point in the year where we reflect. We have this many awareness that the year's wrapping up. We're reviewing how much we've accomplished. Now on top of the regular seasonal changes in the year. We still have the COVID pandemic that we're dealing with. Rather than fight the seasonal shifts or craft these perfect on paper budgets, but they fall apart during real life pivots, we have to address a fundamental issue -building a sustainable and flexible system for handling your finances so that you can live your life and if something happens adjust as needed. Instead of chasing money as the target or the goal really should be using it as a tool. In this episode, we're going to break that down so that you can create a financial system that is easy to maintain and adjust and have a sustainable budget that's flexible and fun. Are you ready? Let's get started! Handy Tools to Build Your Financial System Quickly and Easily Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grab Your Copy

Bonus · Wed, September 15, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] How to Negotiate with Debt Collectors

Are you frustrated with your debt and feel like you’re stuck in this rut? Today we’re going to see how you can negotiate your debts to lessen the stress and get you closer to your debt free goals!  Dealing with Debt Collectors Paying off debt is usually one of the top three goals people make for the year, but struggle to achieve. Depending on where the pandemic caught you on your financial journey, you may have had an extra harder struggle. Perhaps a drop in income meant slowing down or even pausing your debt pay off plan.  That can be a real burden on a marriage because those balances are lingering, or worse growing.  If it makes you feel better, you’re not alone. Debt is weighing down a lot of families.  According to  Experian, 90% of adults in the US have at least one credit card on their report , and of those, 75% carry a balance month to month. The average balance for that group is $5,315. Then consider that the average balance on a car loan is $19,703. Then you have student loans. In 2020, the average balance was $38,792. While there is some relief for federal loans with the pause in payments, if you have private loans, you’re still dealing with them on top of everything.  Hopefully things have improved, but you’re not trying to figure out how to jump back in, which debts to tackle first, what payment makes the most sense.  Which is why I’m happy to have attorney  Taylor Kosla  be a part of this episode. Taylor is a partner at  Agruss Law Firm , a team that’s focused on helping people deal with debt collection.  In this episode we’ll look at: Ways to work with and negotiate with your debt collectors Protections available to you through the Fair Debt Collections Act How you can get have an attorney assist without you paying out of pocket Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Dump Your Debt Faster If you’re looking to create a debt free plan that fits your family, budget, and timeline here are some helpful resources to review.  Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0998805157/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativ

Bonus · Wed, September 08, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] The Power of Community When Pursuing Fi

Today we’ll go over how you can set up your finances so you’ll have more options and time for the things people and projects you love!   Pursuing Financial Independence on Your Terms As a kid one of my favorite genres of books to read was those choose your own adventure stories. Remember those? You always began the same, but based on the choices you made, you could find buried treasure. Or your plane crashes. (Wait, not sure that was a thing in a kids book. Anyways…) Fast forward and now my absolute favorite type of video games to play are RPGs. Why? Because you have room to craft out your own adventures. Guess some things don't change. What does this have to do with financial independence? Glad you asked! I feel like financial independence is just like those books and games – you decide on how you're going to go through it. You have flexibility to make it fit you and your family. But it doesn't always feel that way. There's this narrative that gets pushed that there's a certain way to FI. Specifically as fast as possible. If you've been turned off by that segment of FI or you want to have more flexibility with your plan, I think you'll enjoy today's episode.   And to help me out is Diania Merriam. She's the founder of  EconMe  who knows firsthand the joys of and challenges of carving out your own FI path. In this episode, we're jumping into: how Diania paid off $30k of debt and jump started her FI path how FI opened up options and allowed her to take risks how you can create a plan that fits your and your family Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Craft Your FI Path If you're looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are some resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities <

Bonus · Thu, July 08, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] 5 Biggest Myths Around Financial Independence and Parenthood

Can parents pursue financial independence with kids at home? Today we’ll go over the five biggest myths and show how to enjoy parenthood and FI! Are Financial Independence and Parenthood Compatible? Even before we were familiar with the term financial independence, we were intrigued about this idea of gaining flexibility and freedom. When we were first married, we had two immediate financial goals – getting rid of the car loan and building our emergency fund. Our car payment wasn’t a huge burden, but seeing that money going out month after month..ugh.. Not having that weighing our budget down was one benefit, but then there was also this what if. What if we used that money for things we actually enjoyed and really wanted – travel, a house, or starting a business? So I started digging into personal finance blogs and found books like Total Money Makeover, Automatic Millionaire, and The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke. Taking what I learned, we came up with a plan to pay off our debts and grow our financial cushion. Don’t get me wrong, seeing our net worth go from negative $30,000 to the positive side felt great. The real pull for us, though, was not how much money we can stash away or how fast we can hit. We loved being in a position of having options. Like leaving a bad job. Becoming an entrepreneur. During this time, we discovered financial independence, with that classic book – Your Money or Your Life. There are some wonderful benefits with discovering the FI community. Many in the space love swapping ideas about what’s worked for them. Hopefully like you’re doing now, we listened to stories and picked a few ideas to try out. Some worked really well, some needed to be adjusted for our circumstances, and some didn’t work. Either our situation was too different or honestly, we didn’t enjoy it. The ones that didn’t resonate with us usually came from this segment in the community who had very specific ideas about financial independence. Both with what it was and what it wasn’t. One complaint I kept seeing was how hard or in some cases impossible for parents to hit FI. I believe that belief is not just discouraging to parents, but really misses the actual resource financial independence is about – time.   Finances are the tool to help you get there, not the goal. We were more focused on quality of life and having options. <p data-birdsend-p

Bonus · Wed, June 23, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Real Estate Investing: Is It Right for You?

Real estate investing can be a way to build up a passive income, but is it the right move for you? Learn about some of the different options you have and what you need to discuss before jumping in!    Is Real Estate Investing Right for Us?  We've been talking a lot this season about building and diversifying your income streams.  Part of it is in reaction to the past year or so we’ve had. With some industries being hit hard with job losses and hours cut, having another source of income – even if not full-time- can soften the blow.  We spoke about  working from home  with Modern Frugality creator Jen Smith. We also talked about  entrepreneurship and building a portfolio of income streams  with author Michelle Jackson. Today we’re talking about another opportunity to build an income stream – real estate investing. If you’ve ever watched shows on HGTV or followed DIY influencers on social media, it looks fun and exciting, right?  These transformations can be dramatic and then when they go ahead and sell those houses, sometimes those numbers look tempting. Or the idea of owning properties and having rental income looks like a passive way to earn more.  But is that really the case? What does real estate investing really involve? How can we get started? How can we be smarter with how we invest?  I’m happy that  Rachel Richards  is joining this episode. She’s an author and  real estate investor with over 30 properties . With the income their properties are generating, she and her husband are able to be financially free.  In this episode we get into: different ways to invest in real estate Understanding what’s really involved with investing and finding properties A peek of how one couple got into investing and how they grew it  Are you ready?  Let’s get started!  Resources on Real Estate Investing Are you thinking about getting started with real estate investing? Here are some handy resources to get your finances in shape and learn more about it! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller , <a href= "https://couplemoney.co

Bonus · Wed, June 16, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Mid-Year Reviews: How to Keep tabs on your Investments

It's June. The year is halfway over. Now is the perfect time to hit pause and do a midyear review to see how you're progressing with your goals and make sure that your accounts are moving in the right direction ! Why Financial Reviews Matter While we automate much of our finances, especially the tedious parts. It really does pay to have these times where you sit down. In review the numbers. And having a financial checkup mid year is a fantastic opportunity. Not just to look at your day to day accounts, like your checking and savings but your investments. Having these more in-depth conversations. Can be beneficial to both your marriage and finances. For us, this is an opportunity to hit pause and to really sit down and talk. I don't know how this year has gone for you but it really has flown by for us. In overall, it has been good, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been some struggles and challenges that we face. Second, it gives us a chance to talk about what's been working and what's not working with our family finances. Life comes up and maybe we had to shift some things for a month or two. This is a pause where we can see. Is this a trend that we should start planning for, or is this. A one-time deal? Knowing that ahead of time can relieve the stress going forward. Finally, it's a great reminder to reflect on the big picture. What are we really working towards and how are we aligned towards that? And yes, it does involve looking at the finances, but also schedule wise work choices that we make. Time with the girls, all these things are connected to each other. Having a set period where we can reflect on that big picture is a huge help. This past year and a half can be especially challenging for families as we are navigating through this unprecedented time. Which is why I'm glad  Kevin Matthews  is a part of this episode. He's a former financial advisor and a number one bestselling author. He just had a new book from  Burning the Blueprint  that's out that you should definitely grab. Today, we're going to be talking about that connection between your family and financial goals and making sure that your investments are moving in the right direction. In this episode, we'll get into:  Community & Get Your Free Money Toolkit! Quickl

Bonus · Wed, June 09, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Should We Invest in Bitcoin and Ethereum?

Cryptocurrency is part of the mainstream conversation and in the news, but should it be a part of your investment plan? We decode the terminology and go over the difference between speculation and investments.  Should We Invest in Cryptocurrency? We’re talking about a topic that’s been popping up all over – cryptocurrency.  Just this year alone, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others are on a roller coaster ride. Coinbase  went public just this April.  I’ve gotten questions first about exactly how these currencies work and second, if it’s something to invest in. In some cases, one of you is all excited to jump in this new opportunity while the other is skeptical or against it.  Like any major decision, it’s important for your marriage and money to discuss your options and see if it fits in with your goals and financial plan.  In this episode, we get into:  the essentials about blockchain technology, NFTs, and some of the biggest currency Why you should  what to consider as you two discuss whether crypto currency is right for you We got plenty to cover so let’s get started! Resources to Learn More About Cryptocurrencies and Keep Tabs on Your Money Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System  by Satoshi Nakamoto Ethereum.org Ethereum Whitepaper  by Vitalik Buterin DogeCoin NFTs, Explained Blockchain and Money  – MIT Open Courseware Like it or not, you should probably start paying attention to bitcoin The blockchain catalyst for change How blockchain can

Bonus · Wed, June 02, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] How to Diversify Your Income

Learn how you can protect your family’s finances and open up more opportunities by diversifying your income!  Why You Need to Diversify Your Income Diversifying income is something every family should consider. It can not only give you a bigger safety net, but it does give you some more options no matter what stage you are in your financial journey.  Here are a few scenarios where diversifying and increasing your income can be helpful. We're still not out of the woods when it comes to the financial impact of COVID. In April, 9.4 million people reported that they were unable to work because their employer either close or lost business due to this pandemic. As you can probably guess the more income you get, the higher your chances of saving. In 2019, the median bank account balance for American households was 5,300. What's interesting is when you break it down by income, how drastically that changes. For a family that's in the 40 to 59 percentile of income, the median savings was 4,400. You moved to the next bracket, 60 to 79%. You're looking at 10,000. The next one 20,000 and then finally 69,000. Having income to take care of essentials means you can then take that so-called extra income and put it towards financial goals, including savings. Finally, if your family is on the financial independence path. Then increasing your savings rate can speed things up for you when you'll hit your FII number. For example, if your savings rate is 15% then you have 43 working years until you retire. If you bump that up to 30%, then that drops down to 28. You move up to 45% and it becomes 19 years. You're literally buying back your time when you're increasing your savings rate. So hopefully it’s clear why you need to diversify your income. The question is now about finding the right ones for your family.  Side hustles are a popular recommendation, especially online, but they're not your only option. Which is why I’m so happy to have  Michelle Jackson  on today. She’s an author, podcaster, and entrepreneur.   Not only has she developed these business and income streams, but she’s found a bit of balance with juggling them.  In this episode, we get into: different types of income you can earn Pros and the cons of them how to decide which income path is right for you Let’s get started!</p

Bonus · Wed, May 26, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] 2021 Summer of Savings

We're all looking to reconnect and have fun this summer. Today, we're going to go over ways to enjoy family barbecues, give some ideas on great outdoor ventures you can go on, and offer tips on how to grow your savings this season! Make This a Fun Summer of Savings For many families, summer is the season. Especially after the year we had in 2020, many of us are eager to embrace the warmer weather and be outside and go on vacation. As we mentioned last week, it's possible to have fun and still save. Today, we're going to dive in with how you can have a wonderful and memorable time this summer, while still building up your stash. In this episode,  we get into: Leveling up your barbecue game Exploring the great outdoors is perfect for your happiness and wallet 10 ways you can boost your savings  Let’s get started!  Handy Tools to Boost Your Savings If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are key resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Frugal and Fun Summer Activities for Your Family How to Double Your Savings Rate Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless.   If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like

Bonus · Wed, May 19, 2021

The Art of Being Frugal: How to Live Well While Spending Less

We’re all looking to get the best value, but how can you balance saving money, hitting your financial goals, while still having fun? Today we’ll go over how you can master the art of being frugal! Can Being Frugal Make You Rich? Whether you’re pursuing a  debt-free path ,  financial freedom , or independence, there’s one skill that can help you hit your goal faster – being frugal.  I’m not talking about being cheap.  I’m talking about  living a rich life  without spending a ton of money. When I say frugal, I’m talking about living a rich life without spending a ton of money. It’s about maximizing your dollars for the best value.  I’m going to talk about three areas where you can do this – budget, tech, and travel. To help show the ways you can live well while spending less, I have two guests.  First off,  Joel Larsgaard from  How to Money  is sharing ways couples can work together so they’re spending on what matters to them. Second, we have Joel Kades of Republic Wireless. We’re going to look at how technology opened up some options so you can get an affordable smartphone plan. Finally we’ll wrap things up with how to make frugality fun with tips on how to save on travel. We got a lot to cover so let’s get started! Resources to Maximize Your Dollars Being frugal is really about optimizing your expenses so you’re getting the best value. Here are a few resources to help you significantly save without    Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Republic Wireless Root of Good : Justin retired at 33 and just this year, his wife joined him. He lays  how a frugal lifestyle helped them . <a href= "http://www.amazon.com/Your-Money-Life-Transforming-Relationship/dp/0143115766/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=12850

Bonus · Wed, May 12, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] How to Protect Your Finances and Identity From Credit Card Fraud and Data Breaches

With credit card fraud and identity theft happening more frequently, we all have to step up our game. Learn keys ways to protect your finances and identity! Fraud Protection I hope you never have to deal with identity theft, data breaches, or fraud but chances are you will. There were  4.8 million identity theft and fraud reports received by the FTC in 2020 , an increase of 45 percent from 2019. The Ascent from Motley Fool reported that credit card fraud was the  most common type of identity theft last year – over 270,000 reports . Another unfun stat – identity theft doubled from 2017 to 2019. Finally in 2019 almost 165 million records containing personal data were exposed through data breaches. The point?  Cyber crimes aren’t going away anytime soon. In fact last year, I got it.Twice. The first one, I received a call from Coastal about suspicious activity on my card. Thankfully that was quickly resolved.  Second time, I discovered it when doing my monthly review. I saw a $140 charge from California. I called and explained this wasn’t me.  It took a month of back and forth, but I got it cleared. I was a headache. One I hope you avoid.    Which is why I’m so glad Joe Mecca is back on the show.  In this episode we get into: Practical ways we can protect our finances when you're offline or online What you need to do if your card is compromised Hope you enjoy it! Resources to Protect Your Finances If you're getting more proactive with protecting your identity and money, here are some handy resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money IdentityTheft.gov Protecting Yourself from Identity

Bonus · Tue, May 11, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] What You Need to Know to Prepare For Retirement

Around 82% of Americans said their finances were affected by the pandemic and the fallout according to a recent Fidelity survey. If you’re planning on retiring in a few years, that can be a really scary thing. Today I want to share a resource that can help you get back on track with your retirement plan!  The 5 Years Before You Retire: Retirement Planning When You Need It the Most How comfortable do you feel about your retirement?  You’re not alone if you’re worried about it.  36% of Americans are more concerned now than at the start of the pandemic on their ability to maintain a nest egg in retirement.  The good news for most of us is that there is time to get back on track. Today’s bonus episode is focused on helping you reset things and worry less about retirement.  Thrilled to have  Emily Guy Birken  on. She is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. She’s also the author of several wonderful books including End Financial Stress Now and The Five Years Before You Retire, which has been updated and released today. I got an advanced copy and really enjoyed it. I actually ordered a copy for my mom. Emily covers everything you need to do in the next five years to maximize your current savings and create a realistic plan for your future. During our chat, we get into: The two biggest mistakes people make when it comes to retirement planning How to assess where you are with your finances now Understanding social security  Hope you enjoy!  Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and helps gets the word out about the podcast

Bonus · Wed, May 05, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Fun and Memorable Family Vacation Ideas to Try This Year

Many families are looking for a getaway this year, but also want to stay on budget. We'll go over some great family vacation ideas and ways to plan a wonderful trip! Planning a Family Vacation in 2021 How do you plan for a year where you don't know exactly what to expect?  I think that's been the unofficial theme this season. We've been talking about how to create a budget that's flexible enough? How do you figure out your schedule?  Now I'm hoping maybe a little cautiously optimistic, how do we plan some family fun, maybe a few family trips sprinkled throughout the year if possible? Summer is coming up, people are getting vaccinated and while we’re not out of the woods just yet, I’m looking to travel more.  It seems I'm not the only one. A recent VRBO survey found tha t 65% of Americans plan on traveling more in 2021 than they did pre COVID . We rolled over a chunk of our vacation money into this year. I’m looking forward to going to the beach, whitewater rafting, taking a trip with just the two of us, and maybe going for a longer trip. At the same time, I want to be reasonable and keep some flexibility in case things change.  This is why I’m so happy  Karen Cordaway  is here. She’s the author of  The Everyday Bucket List.   In this episode we’re going to look at: How you can build and cross off your bucket list Creating a flexible plan for travel this year Affordable vacation ideas Let’s get started!  Resources to Save on Your Next Family Vacation If you're looking to start planning and saving for your next family trip, here are a few handy resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money The Everyday Bucket List Book  by Karen Cordaway <a href= "https://www.simplifyandenjoy.com/how-to-have-a-safer-summer-fam

Bonus · Wed, March 10, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Boosting your Income with Side Hustles

Need a boost with your income? Learn how to find the best paying side hustles for you!  Finding the Best Side Hustles That Pay Well Sometimes to hit your goal faster, you just have to earn extra mone. Of course that’s not the only thing you’re doing. If you’ve taken my Free  5 Days to $5K course , then you know we look at three pillars when it comes to ‘finding’ money.  First we optimize your budget, evaluating expenses to see if they are necessary or they bring you joy.  Second, we uncover ways to save when you have to spend. But finally we also look at the other side of the coin – earning more money.  Now the easy advice to give is to get a second job, but that’s usually not the best solution, especially if you have kids or other limitations with time or location. This is where side hustles can help. You can earn more with a bit more flexibility. However it can be tricky because the ones usually advertised are not that well paying.  You have to be strategic when finding a side hustle that allows you to earn more without burning you out.  Which is why I’m so glad Jen Smith is on today.  Jen has done it all. Seriously.    From T-shirts to writing to Airbnb, she’s tried out different avenues to earning more.  On her site  Modern Frugality  and  Frugal Friends Podcast , she’s all about helping others to pay down their debt through better money habits and building their income.  In this episode we’ll get into: The differences between side hustles vs side jobs Explore options to earn more  Building your income sustainably Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Build Up Your Income If you’re looking to boost your income, here are some helpful resources to earn more money and manage it better!  Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint TurboTa

Bonus · Wed, March 03, 2021

Thinking of Buying a House? Here’s What to Expect

Getting ready to start house hunting? Get tips on how you find and buy a house you love that is still affordable!  Are You Ready to Buy a House? Right now with the  national median listing price in December was $340,000 , chances are buying a house – it’s typically the biggest purchase a family makes. Depending on where you live it can be a hot seller’s market, making it even more difficult to find a place that you love. That’s why it’s so important to go in prepared not financially, but with an understanding of what home ownership truly looks like.  Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor® Adam Hagerman  is here to help sort through things including the whole rent vs buy debate.  Before you start house hunting, you want to make sure this is the best move for you and your family.  In this episode, we’ll get into: How the buying process work – qualifying for a mortgage, finding an agent, house hunting, and closing Bad advice and myths people hear about buying a house What you truly need to focus on when you’re buying so you’ll be happy and not house poor Let’s get started! Resources on Buying a House If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find an affordable place you love! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Buying a Home   How to Snag a Great Deal When Buying a House What You Need to Know About Mortgages Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from <a href="https://

Bonus · Wed, February 24, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] How to Get Top Dollar When You Sell Your House

Thinking of selling your house? Today we’ll go over how to prepare your place so you can get the best price for it! What You Need to Know to Sell Your House for More Selling a house, especially when it is your first place, can be overwhelming. Even in a seller’s market like we have here in Raleigh, you have work to do.   You have to fix up your space, stage your house, and have it ready for showings.  Let’s not forget this added layer of social distancing and safety we need to practice while we deal with the coronavirus.  However, selling your house at the best price can also be a huge boost to your finances and bring you closer to your goals.  The difficult part can be getting to that point Which is why I’m glad  Mariella Guillama  is here today. She’s an award -winning Real Estate Broker at  Daymark Realty . We used Daymark when we sold our first home and for buying our current place. We’re super happy with the experience.  In this episode, we’ll get into:   finding the best price to list it  what mistakes to avoid so you’re not wasting time or money how to prepare your place so it wows potential buyers and you get top dollar offers  We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!   Resources to Get Top Dollar When Selling Your House Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Quick and Essential Guide to Sell Your House for More Money Real Estate Agent, Broker, Realtor: What’s the Difference? Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in

Bonus · Wed, February 17, 2021

Weekend DIY Home Projects What You Need to Know to Tackle Them

Who doesn’t love a good DIY home project? But how do you take what you see online or on television and translate that into your home, especially when you are not naturally handy? Today, we’ll look at what you need to know to get started and build up your DIY skills! Getting Started with DIY home Projects Last week we were talking about being a frugal foodie, home brewing,  and having a garden at your place. These are some of my favorite topics. I enjoy talking about  how to save money  and put it towards  goals that matter to you  but I also love learning new things.  As I mentioned last week, I wasn’t a natural gardener.  My first attempts are pretty bad keeping plants alive. I ended up going with cacti and fake plants inside the house for a few years.  By starting off small with a little front patio garden. I began to get some practice and to learn some skills. And I would not call myself a garden expert.  Now I’m really proud that we have a space out back where we can grow the vegetables that we enjoy and love. I feel the same way about DIY. Neither one of us are naturally handy people, but when we became homeowners, we out of necessity had to learn some skills. Not only so that we can save some money, but turn our house into our home.   If you’re thinking of taking on some home projects, but you don’t know where to start, then this is your episode.  Whitney Hansen, who’s the creator and host of  The Money Nerds  podcast is here today.    Besides her financial skills, she also has some serious DIY talents. She loves to jump into projects whether it’s  painting her house ,  building a fireplace , or  flipping furniture . In this episode, we’ll get into: why and how she got started with her home projects how to save money when you’re doing DIY, and where she finds resources to learn new skills.  <p da

S3 E6 · Thu, February 11, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Frugal Foodie: Homebrewing and Gardening

Just because we’re at home doesn’t mean we can’t still be frugal foodies. Today, we’ll look at how you can jumpstart a garden and start making craft brews at home! Frugal Foodie at Home Frugal foodie is back! If you’re new to this series, it’s where we explore ways you can eat well without breaking the budget. For some though, when you hear frugal. It means cheap. I get it. Maybe, you know, someone who brags about getting the absolute lowest price on everything. Whether it’s good or bad. While you can save money being frugal, the real focus is getting the best value. When it comes to food and really life, he don’t want to settle for less just because it’s the cheapest. You want to get the most out of what you have. With this series, we look at ways that you can make your dollar go further. We’ve talked about getting great deals on food, whether it’s grocery hacks, meal planning, or even going out to eat. Today, we’re going to look at another way you can enjoy fantastic meals and still keep things affordable. We’re talking about gardening and home brewing. What was interesting was how incredibly relaxing these hobbies, where especially last year. Many of us had more time at home in the usual options weren’t always available. Family trips, checking out the museums or festivals were all off the table. We had to find ways to keep ourselves busy and have some creative outlets. For us that included making home brews and being out in the garden. We had home brewed years ago, but when we had two toddlers at home, it became more of a hassle so we took a hiatus.   Thankfully, we still had the equipment in our basement so when we felt like starting that back up last year, it was fairly simple. The other hobby gardening is something we’ve been working on year after year, especially with this house. We have our main space Outback, where we grow hot peppers, tomatoes, different green strawberries and more. 2020 was still. You know, 20, 20, but it was good to have a project to work on. While, I don’t think all of our Happy’s have to be productive or optimize, I do feel like there are some great benefits. With making and growing your own food. If you’re really looking to make meals at home, more enjoyable and special, it’s hard to beat something that you grew or made yourself. <p data-birdsend-par

Bonus · Wed, February 03, 2021

[simplify & Enjoy] How to Make Taxes Less Stressful

Tax season is here. How prepared are you? Today we’ll go over how to make filing your taxes easier and less stressful!  How to Make Taxes Less Stressful Between the paperwork you need to track, tax terms that are dry, and the eye-opening nature of going through your finances for the year, taxes can understandably make you anxious.  If you’re looking to optimize your finances, you have to get your taxes done right.  Today, I want to give you a quick and easy guide on preparing for your taxes.  In this episode: We take a step back to look at essentials of taxes We examine the tax deductions and credits parents should know Examine ways you can plan and set yourselves up for big wins on next year’s taxes Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Tackle Your Taxes Looking to make taxes less stressful? Here are some of my favorite resources! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint TurboTax   Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Mastering Your Taxes This Year How to Tackle Your Taxes Like a Pro and Maximize Your Refund Income Tax Brackets for 2020 Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on  checking  and  savings  accounts! Support the Podcast! <p data-birdsend-par-index

Bonus · Wed, January 27, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] How to Tackle Your Student Loans in 2021

How can you plan and budget for a year when there are so many things up in the air? Today we’ll go over how the two of you can create a plan and budget so you can hit your goals while being flexible enough to switch gears if needed! How to Hit Your Money Goals During a Uncertain Year This first month of 2021 is just about wrapped up and already it's been an eventful year! A huge challenge we faced in 2020 and it looks like for a good part of this year, it's going to be creating plans when there's no firm idea of what to expect. Heard from many of you, the frustration and the stress of having plans started at the beginning of the year, and then getting hit with the pandemic or the financial fallout from it and it throwing everything off. It's understandable if you are not looking to repeat that in 2021. While we can't prepare for every single situation and emergency, there are steps we can take to shore up our finances and give us more options. Our goals and our budgets need to have flexibility built in so that we can pivot for whatever comes up. But how do you do that? How do you plan in budget when you don't know what to expect? That's going to be our focus for today. We're going to look at the big picture and talk about how to approach your goals for this year and your budget. Then We're going to drill down with a goal that many couples have- paying off their student loans - and coming up with a plan when there's still certain decisions that haven't been made yet. There was an announcement last week with federal student loans, but are we going to have anything forgiven? Certified student loan professional Meagan Landress from Student Loan Planner is here to talk about your options and what the two of you need to discuss to come up with a plan that fits your needs. We got a lot to cover, so let's get started! Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money  If you’re looking to build up your finances, here are some handy resources we mentioned in the episode plus more!  Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital , Tiller , Mint Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check

Bonus · Tue, January 19, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] How to Build a Family Budget That Actually Works

For many families, 2020 threw us for a loop. Today we’ll look at how you can revamp and build your budget so you can hit your financial goals faster! Revamping Your Budget I think it’s fair to say that last year did not go as any of us planned. I’m not going to recap the year – we were all there- but honestly, we had a lot curve balls thrown at us.  Because we had to make so many changes with how we worked, did school, and more, our day to day routines changed and our budgets did as well. While I’m happy that there are vaccines being produced now, there’s still much ahead of us. It’s going to be a while before things get back to a more normal routine.  Which means more than ever, we  create a plan for our finances. One of the best ways you can pivot your finances is by creating a roadmap for your money. For most families, that means creating a better budget. Some challenges that couples face can include:  sinking up on what goals you want to tackle this year Building a budget that is flexible enough to deal with adjustments Finding ways to both save for your goals and for some fun So we’re going to dig into this today one by one.  Rob Bertman is on the podcast.  He’s a certified financial planner and the creator of  Family Budget Expert . He’s worked with families on reconfiguring their budgets so that it reflects them and their specific goals. We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!  Resources to Build a Better Budget Together Looking to create a budget? Here are some helpful resources:  Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Family Budget Transformation System   Is the 50/20/30 Budget Right for You? The 50/50 Rule to Avoid

Bonus · Tue, January 12, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] Creating a Debt Free Plan That Fits You

Dealing with debt can be a grind, especially if you have a ton of debt or if it is high interest. Today we’re going to see how the debt lasso method can speed things up with credit card debts and we’ll get tips on how to pay off over six figures of debt without sacrificing fun! Creating a Plan to Pay Off Your Debts One of the most popular goals families make when it comes to money is paying off their debts and with good reason.    Even before the pandemic, debts were a considerable chunk of an average American family’s budget.    The median household consumer debt was $67,000 according to data in New York Fed's quarterly Household Debt and Credit Survey .   Getting rid of that debt is not always so easy.    You need something that is realistic so you can stick with it as well as a way to speed things up if you’re deep in debt.    We’re going to look at how you can create a debt free plan that fits your family and budget.    Today’s financial experts are John and David Auten-Schneider and Toni Husbands.    In this episode we get into: Deciding which plan would work best Getting your spouse on board finding that balance between hitting your financial goals still enjoying your life Let’s get started! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts , Spotify , Android , or on your favorite podcast platform. Resources to Dump Your Debt Faster If you’re looking to create a debt free plan that fits your family, budget, and timeline here are some helpful resources to review.    Money Apps for Families: Personal Capital , Tiller , Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Debt Lasso Debt Free Guys <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/151190616

Bonus · Tue, January 05, 2021

[Simplify & Enjoy] How to Set Great Habits for Your Home, Home and Life ( and Actually Keep Them This Year)

Most parents have their hands full and too many times our finances, health, and homes don’t get the attention they should.  We go over how you can reset your habits so you simplify your finances, home, and lives to enjoy some big wins this year!  Reworking Your Habits For multiple reasons, 2020 was a challenging year.  Even if you weren’t directly affected by the pandemic or managed to avoid the financial fallout of it, chances are you were impacted by what was happening.  If you’re a parent, you had this gargantuan task of working from home, staying productive, while corralling your kids with their remote learning.  But we made it here.  Understandably, you’re probably looking forward to resetting a few things, including your finances. Peter Polson, the founder of Tiller , is joining me in this episode to discuss how to shift your financial habits and more.  It may seem these are too small to matter or make a difference, but from our personal experience and learning from others, habits are really the building blocks to pivoting towards your goals, whether it’s with money, at home, or our health.  In this episode, we’re looking at: Why Habits Are Better Than Relying on Just Willpower Essential Daily Habits to Add Into Your Routine How to Design Your Schedule and Finances Around Who and What Matters Most to You Ready? Let’s get started!  Key Resources to Help You Change Your Habits Looking to reset a few things to get some family and financial wins this year?   Here are some fantastic resources to help you!  Money Apps for Families: Personal Capital , Tiller , Mint Tiller’s 30 Days of Financial Wins . Tiny Changes with Big Results Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on  checking  and <a href="https://co

S10 E30 · Thu, November 26, 2020

2020 Year End Review: Reflect, Refresh, and Pivot

Get a peek into how we did with our goals for this year and see how you can do your year review and set yourself up for an incredible 2021!  Year-End Review and Planning for 2021 What a year, what a year! We still have another month, but most people I know are kind of winding down. As we wrap up this 10th season, I thought I’d share a bit of our year-end review. We started 2020 with three big goals. The first two happened at the same time – no the original plan- but we worked with it.  Hopefully, it’ll give you some ideas with your own year-end review and how to best prepare for the next steps.  Speaking of next steps, I have some exciting news about the podcast that I want to share. Love to get your take on it.  You ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Make Money Less Stressful If you’re overwhelmed and looking to smooth out your money system so you can focus on the big wins, here are some helpful resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Why You Should Design Your Life  Before  Reaching Financial Independence How Much is Enough Money? The Levels of Financial Autonomy Designer Kitchen on an IKEA Budget? Buying a Car: What You Need to Know to Get the Best Deal! Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! <img class="wp-image-24983" src= "https://i1.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/coastal-credit-union-bank-better-couple-Money-banner_1.jpg?resize=1024%2C853&ssl=1" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" srcset= "https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/coastal-credit-union-bank-better-couple-Money-banner_1-scaled.jpg?resize=1024%2C853&ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/coastal-credit-union-bank-better-couple-Money-banner_1-scaled.jpg?resize=300%2C250&ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/coastal-credit-union-bank-better-couple-Money-banner_1-scaled.jpg?resize=768%2C640&ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/coastal-credit-union-bank-better-couple-Money-banner_1-scaled.jpg?resize=1536%2C1280&ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-

S10 E29 · Wed, November 18, 2020

Financial Wellness: Why Personal Finance Should Be More Holistic

How well is your money working for you? Today we’re looking at how personal finance can be more holistic and reflective of what most to you through financial wellness! Financial Wellness: A Holistic Approach to Money How did this year go for you?  I have not met one person yet who has had it go as they expected.  Even if you were financially prepared – emergency fund, debts are paid off are in the process of being knocked out, things shifted. As I talked about in the last episode, we had expenses like transportation, travel, and eating out drop to pretty much zero or drastically cut while others like family entertainment and charitable increased.  A big reason why is that our finances – to a degree – reflect what’s going on in our lives and our priorities.  This is not exclusive to 2020.  However, I’ve been hearing from so many people here in the community and in my personal circle about how they took a step back and reviewed their finances.  They looked beyond the numbers and had some conversations about where they really want their money to go.  They’re looking at the next year when hopefully things will shift back at some pace to ‘more normal.  I was just discussing with a friend how having to stay at home more and in a sense slow down from her regular routine with the family gave her a chance to weed out unnecessary things. That, in turn, is fueling her plans for 2021 and beyond.  Maybe you’re at the point too.    That’s why I’m looking forward to today’s show. We’re wrapping up this year with how you can set up your finances more holistically and make it more reflective of your family.   Jason Vitug is here to help me out. He is the founder of  Phroogal  and financial wellness expert empowering a generation to live their dream life through financial knowledge. Jason’s also the author of the best selling book,  You Only Live Once.   In this episode, we’ll get into:  Why tracking your numbers is so powerful Why financial wellness matters How to start planning for a richer life beyond the numbers Ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to

S10 E28 · Thu, November 12, 2020

Community Mailbag: 2020 Budget Shifts, Financial Cushions, and More

We’ve brought back the reader mailbag. Today we’re answering your questions about marriage and money!  Reader Mailbag One of my favorite parts of Couple Money is the community. Having you be a part of this has definitely made the work more enjoyable. Whenever I hear from you about what you’re working on, questions you have, or ideas you think will be helpful, I’m happy.   When I started Couple Money 11 years ago, it was basically a journal of us and our journey of paying off debt. Then you came in and other couples sharing your stories and it’s really been a blast.  So today’s episode will be a bit of fun, I’m answering the most popular questions I’ve received this year along with one covering a new topic I haven’t really got into before.  In this episode, we’re answering your questions such as:  How our spending has shifted this year with everything going on Quick wa

S10 E27 · Thu, November 05, 2020

How to Seamlessly Switch to a New Bank or Credit Union

Learn how you can move your money and switch to a new bank or credit union! Ready to Switch to a New Bank? A bad bank or credit union can not only be a headache, but it can also slow you down as you try to build your finances.  Between the excessive/hidden fees, bad customer service, and low-interest rates on savings, it’s understandable if you’re frustrated.  You may be wondering, what’s the point of keeping your money there?  That’s basically how we felt when we dealing with our old banks.  When my husband and I first got married in 2006 we decided to open joint checking and savings accounts and keep most of our money there. We both had free checking with two of the big banks (Bank of America and Wachovia at the time) that we opened when were in college. Since they were student checking accounts they had no maintenance fees which was a plus. However, they didn’t offer much else so neither account stood out. Because I would be taking care of the day to day budget and bills, we opened our joint accounts with Bank of America. I never had a problem with them so I figured it would be alright to use them. I was wrong. Within 6 months of opening the joint accounts, we were having problems with them. Besides getting hit up with bank fees (now we had a monthly minimum to keep), wrong accounts being debited (bills came out of my account instead of the joint), and rude customer service (don’t even want to talk about that). We had a decision to make – keep dealing with this nonsense or move our money. Guess which one we picked?  Looking back, I’m so glad we switched. Our money is actually earning something – even in this low-interest environment. Fees have dropped significantly, money is coming out of the right accounts, and if a mistake comes up – no one is perfect – it’s quickly resolved.  Actually resolved by a person and not someone reading from a script or switching us from department to department.  I wish we had done it sooner, but like most people, we hesitated because of the hassle.  Making sure paychecks were moved over, having bills come out of the new account, avoiding fees while switching – these were all things we wanted to avoid.  Maybe you’re in this boat – you’re not happy with where you’re banking, but

S10 E26 · Thu, October 29, 2020

Crucial Conversations to Have With Your Aging Parents (and How to Make It Easier on Everyone)

If you think talking about money with each other is hard, try talking to your parents. Today we’re getting into one of the money sensitive situations when it comes to marriage and money – making sure your parents are in a good spot during their golden years.  Taking Care of Parents Family and finances can be stressful. But typically makes it so difficult is how easily our emotions get involved. Talking with your parents about money. Is red at the top of the list. It can definitely be awkward, but it’s not something you want to put off. If anything, this year especially has been a clear reminder that we need to be prepared. Stuff happens. While we can’t anticipate everything. Having these conversations and making sure our money’s in a good spot can make stressful things a little more bearable Last year,  Cameron Huddleson shared a story  from her book  Mom and Dad: We Need to Talk : As uncomfortable as it seems to have these conversations, in a way, it”s the loving thing. You’re looking out for your parents. Let’s be honest, there are a lot of moving parts. There’s the two of you and then your parents and theirs, siblings, so it can sometimes be tricky communicating with everyone.  On top of that, you have to deal with your own finances and schedules and those factors will affect what you’re able to contribute. So to make things easier, we’re going to break things down into some key steps you can take and some conversation starters to get the ball rolling.  In this episode we’ll get into: Opening up the conversations with your parents to see where they’re at How to discuss together what you’re able to do for your parents Drafting a plan so your parents are in a better spot for retirement and beyond and your finances are in a good spot Ready? Let’s get started!  Resources for Parents and Retirement Here are some fantastic resources to help you two get more comfortable talking about retirement and more with your parents. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving: <a href= "htt

S10 E25 · Thu, October 22, 2020

Marriage & Money: How Can We Afford to Live on Money Income?

One of the biggest game-changers with our finances was shifting things so we could live on one income. However, that’s not always an easy thing to do. Today I’ll break down strategies and tactics that we and other couples have used to make it easier!  Living on One Income I’m serious; if we had to identify the one habit that changed the trajectory of our finances, it’s moving finances in such a way that we could live with just one income.  Here’s the thing – when we started it was out of practicality.  When we were first married, our income was much tighter. My husband had his first post-graduation and I was wrapping up my final year in college. I was attending full time and I had a paying part-time internship.  Because of the nature of the internship, we didn’t know if it would be extended beyond the semester or not. We sat down and decided we needed to keep our essential expenses under his income.  My income would be used for building our financial cushion, paying off the debts we had, and yes, some fun money.    At that time it didn’t seem like a big deal, but that mindset and system was a tremendous help. We were able to goals like paying off debts. We were able to move to Raleigh when I got a job offer and having our expenses covered by it meant Rob could hunt for a job he was happy with.  When I began working for myself we had less stress because I could reinvest what income I was making back into the business. We were able to build up our down payment faster. When we became parents I had some flexibility in adjusting my work and yes, I took time off too.  We’re grateful for those opportunities and realize how fortunate we are to have made that decision early in marriage.  But even in those circumstances, it wasn’t easy. There were limits we had to place on our finances in certain areas.  Looking back though, we’re happy we did.  You may be in a situation where making this transition would be a real benefit for you.  Like us, it could be out of necessity or because of circumstances.    You may have seen a reduction of income either because your hours have been cut or you’ve been laid off.  It could also be a voluntary thing.  When I asked in our Thriving Facebook group the main motivation for moving to a single income. The biggest reason was more time with kids.  I’ve seen families on the path to financial independence shift their finances so that they use one income to take car

S10 E24 · Wed, October 14, 2020

Brokerage Accounts: What You Need to Know to Get Started

Have you paid off your debts and are looking to grow your money beyond savings? Learn how to create a strategy and plan so you can open and invest in your brokerage account! Ready to Open and Invest in a Brokerage Account? If you would’ve met us when we were first married and told me that we’d get to a point where we were investing besides for retirement, I probably would’ve laughed at you.  Considering at that time we were start off with over $30,000 of debt living in our tiny apartment right by the beach, it would’ve seemed unbelievable.  We were just trying to find our footing and create a budget that worked for both of us.  Fast forward to paying off our debts except for the mortgage and that’s where we found ourselves. Funny thing (maybe just to us) was that we hesitated a bit before opening that brokerage account.  We had become super savers and have been putting money into our retirement accounts, but somehow that next step was a bit scary.  What helped us was taking some time to step back and discuss our why behind this account. What was our hope or plan for this money?  For us, being on the path to financial independence meant freeing up options, whether it’s to spend more time with the kids, explore career pivots, or volunteer more. Having money invested in this account would be helpful.  With that in mind, we then worked out an investing plan we felt comfortable with. While I wouldn’t say it’s been a smooth ride – especially this year – having those pieces in place has made investing easier.  You might be at this stage. You’ve paid off debts, saving, and now you’re looking to diversify your income and investing is one of those options on the table. How do you create a plan together for that money?  Today we’re going to be covering that and Kevin L. Matthews is here to discuss the essentials you need to know before you start investing. He’s a number one bestselling author and former financial advisor who has helped hundreds of individuals plan for their retirement in addition to managing more than $140 million in assets during his advisory career. Now he’s focused on teaching millennials about investing, making it more simple and helping them craft their own plans.  In this episode we’ll get into: When you should open a brokerage account how to approach research with before you invest in stocks how to create a financial and investing system that works for both of you Let’

S10 E23 · Thu, October 08, 2020

Top 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Investing

‘All Investment Mistakes Are Investor Mistakes’ Is that really true? Today we’ll dig in and see how to avoid making the most common mistakes with your investments!   Avoiding Big Mistakes with Investments ‘ All Investment Mistakes Are Investor Mistakes ’ I saw that headline in an older article in The NY Times. Based on personal experience when I first started out, speaking with others on the podcast, and hearing from the community, there’s some truth to that.  I’ve gotten emails and heard from others about what they should do with their portfolios.  It’s one thing to have a plan on paper on what you’re going to do; it’s another to watch the volatility on the news or follow along on your phone and actually stick with the plan.   Whether you’re investing for retirement or another goal, I’m guessing you’re looking to get some good returns.  Today we’re looking for how you can become wiser, less stressed out investors.  In this episode, we’ll discuss: The biggest mistakes couples make when starting to invest Traps that can derail your investments Creating a system that works for you as a team Let’s get started!  Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money A Smarter Way to Think About Financial Decisions 401(k) Basics: Everything You Need to Know Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. If you want to be better prepared financially for retirement, please check out Coastal’s  401(k) Planning Calculator<

S10 E22 · Thu, October 01, 2020

How Much Should We Contribute to Our 401(k)

Want to maximize your 401(k) this year? The first step to doing that is figuring out how much to contribute. Today we discuss how much you need to put in to retire!  Getting the Most Out of Your 401(k) We’re wrapping our open enrollment series. The past couple of episodes we’ve discussed what you need to know with your benefits so you can make the right choices for you and your family.  Health insurance is a huge one, but the other big one is your 401(k). Last week Matt Miner, a certified financial planner talked a bit about how to walk through and review your benefits including your 401(k)s so if you haven’t already, please listen to that.  You can check -in with your 401(k) throughout the year, but for many, this is a popular time to check and review their portfolio.  Since it’s an important part of your finances, today we’re answering the biggest questions couples and families have with their 401(k), specifically how much should we contribute?  In this episode we’re discussing: How 401(k)s work and benefits of having one Whether or not you should contribute when you’re in debt Figuring out how much you need to contribute Let’s get started!  Resources to Stay on Top of Your 401(k) Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier!   Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money A Smarter Way to Think About Financial Decisions Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. If you want to be better prepared financially for retirement, please check out Coastal’s  401(k) Planning Calculator . Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a budd

S1 E1 · Thu, September 24, 2020

Paying Off Your Debt Faster as a Couple

Are you two dealing with a ton of debt? Hear how Brian and his wife have managed to pay off $100,000 in debt while raising their three kids! How to Pay Off a Ton of Debt Together After all the prep, sweat, and tears, the first episode of the  Couple Money Podcast  is up! For the premiere show, it’s all about debt, specifically  getting out of debt faster and getting rid of massive amounts of debt. The guest on today’s episode is Brian from  Debt Discipline . He and his wife have managed to pay off $100,000 in debt while raising their three kids. In this episode, we get into: how they accumulated their debt what immediate steps they needed to take to free up money in their budget how they worked as a team to pay it all off Hope you enjoy! Resources to Become Debt Free Together Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Trim:  With Trim, you can cancel subscriptions and negotiate your bills. Billshark:  They contact your service providers and negotiate the best price on your behalf. Paribus:  Bought something and a week later the price drops? Paribus can get you back the difference. Total Money Makeover Free Debt Snowball Template         Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, ple

S10 E21 · Wed, September 23, 2020

Open Enrollment: How to Maximize Your Benefits

Learn how you can navigate open enrollment season and maximize your benefits to their fullest potential! Making the Most of Your Benefits When we began our series about open enrollment last week, we got into some key things to consider when weighing the pros and cons of different health insurance options.  While health insurance is typically the biggest decision couples and families make during open enrollment, it’s not the only one.  There are so many benefits that can save you some serious money, protect your family’s finances, and give you some significant tax benefits.  I don’t want you leaving money on the table which is why I’m glad Matt Miner is here today on the show.  He’s a fee-only, fiduciary advisor with  PLC Wealth Management, LLC  who specializes in helping families to make sure their finances align with their goals, priorities, and values.  In this episode we’re discussing: the biggest mistakes couples make with their benefits How to protect yourself with disability insurance what to look out for with your 401(k) Let’s get started!   Resources to Save serious Money Are you looking for more help with maximizing your benefits and saving more money? Here are some resources: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller , Zeta, HoneyFi, and  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. Did you know that Coastal offers a  Health Savings Account ? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA. Find out more about what  Coastal offers here ! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, he

S10 E20 · Wed, September 16, 2020

Open Enrollment: Finding Affordable Health Insurance

Feel like your premiums are too expensive? Learn how you can significantly save money and find an affordable health insurance plan for your family! Choosing an Affordable Health Insurance Plan Like many families, we want affordable health insurance. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy. In 2019, the average  annual premium for a family was over $20,000 !  That’s quite a bit of money so it’s absolutely crucial that you’re 1) getting the most out of it and 2) if there is a more affordable option, you can make that transition easier.  The good news is with open enrollment, you can have some big wins with your benefits for next year. I want to make sure that when you two sit down, I want you to feel comfortable and confident about tackling your benefits. Of course, every couple is different, I’m grateful Andy Hill, the creator of  Marriage, Kids, and Money  and the co-founder of  Thriving Families  Facebook Group is here to chat with me about his and Nicole’s process with choosing a health plan.  We’re going to compare how each of us approached finding the best health insurance plan for our families.  In this episode we’ll get into: The differences between the most common options given What to consider when deciding if a high deductible plan is right for you Maximizing your available health care benefits Let’s get started!  Resources to Save Money on Healthcare Are you looking for more help with keeping health care within your budget? Here are some resources: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Simplify and Enjoy:  Financial Freedom for Families 5 Days to $5K Course <a href= "https://couplemoney.com/insurance/how-to-save-money-on-your-health-insurance-and-e

S10 E19 · Wed, September 09, 2020

How to Boost Your Savings Rate (While Still Having Enjoy Life!)

Today we’ll go over how the two of you can boost your savings rate while still enjoying some fun now!  Why Your Savings Rate Matters Last week we talked about  three key numbers to track and master your money  and one of them was your  savings rate .  How much you save on your income can have an incredible impact on how fast you reach your big financial goals. Here’s the thing, though, unless you have a stash of cash under in house or an inheritance coming up soon, that money is probably coming out of your budget. So how do you become a super saver without deprivation? Can you boost your savings rate and still have some fun?  I believe you can find that balance, but you need a plan and a system to set things up.  This is why I’m glad  Joe Mecca  from Coastal Credit Union is back. He’s the quintessential saver and today he’s sharing how he’s grown his savings while still having some fun.  In this episode, we’ll dig into: Finding out your current savings rate Tax-advantaged ways to save more to give you a double win path to notching up your savings  Let’s get started! Handy Tools to Increase Your Savings Rate If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are key resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Manage Your 401(k) Easily:  blooom Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Simplify and Enjoy:  Financial Freedom for Families 5 Days to $5K Course How to Achieve Financial Independence Through Big Wins Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from <a href=

S10 E18 · Wed, September 02, 2020

Three Key Numbers for Tracking (and Mastering) Your Money

If tracking your money is so important, what are the key numbers couples need to know? We’ll get into the three to keep an eye on, and the real deal about credit scores!  Why Tracking Your Money is Key to Mastering It You hear these stories of couples who got out of debt, became financially independent, travel the world, started a business..basically enjoying life. They all have different paths they take to get there – debt snowball, avalanche to become debt free.  They’re saving 20, 30, or even half their income. Maybe they’re going all in with FIRE with their dual income and are investing 70% of their income.  One of the things I love about personal finance when hearing from others is how varied it can be. Each couple has their own advantages and struggles on their journey.  However, having written about personal finances and interviewed others for the podcast I do notice that there are certain crucial things they did to create a system that worked for them.  I wrote about it in detail in my book Jumpstart your Marriage and Your Money, but I want to hone in on one component today  – they became aware of their money.  And how they did it was by tracking it.  Once they had that down, they began shifting it towards what mattered most to them.    Money stopped being a source of stress and instead became a tool they could use together.  The best part is that you don’t have to track a ton of numbers or worry about every penny. It can be something you check in on once a month.  In this episode, we’ll get into: Which three numbers matters most for gauging your financial health The real deal on credit scores Creating an easy system to track your numbers Let’s get started! Resources to Easily Stay on Top of Your Money Here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money 5 Days to $5K Course Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from <a href="h

S10 E17 · Thu, August 27, 2020

How to Reset and Knock Out Debt Together Before The Year Wraps Up

Debt can be a huge weight on any couple’s budget. We cover three major ways you can start paying it off faster. We also get into how to open up if you’re carrying debt and haven’t told your spouse! Getting Back To Dumping Debt As if the pandemic isn’t enough stress, millions of families have to deal with the financial fallout.  And If you’ve had to deal with job loss, reduced hours at work, or uncertainty at your job about its stability, these past few months you’re hyper aware of your cash flow.  And because of that, any debt that you carry (maybe with the exception of federal student loans) feels like it has a bigger impact than normal.  During our mini-series about financially dealing with the coronavirus, we discussed that building up that financial cushion is key.  And hopefully, things have stabilized somewhat and you have those savings available should you need it.  However you may be wondering is there a way to get some breathing room and knock out some debt before the year wraps up.    I think you’ll enjoy today’s show then!  In this episode we’ll get into: A system to pay your debt off ways to you can start paying it off faster how to open up if you’re carrying debt and haven’t told your spouse Let’s get started! Resources to Dump Your Debt Together If you two are ready to pay off your debt, here are some handy resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta Free 5 Days to $5K Course Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Trim:  With Trim, you can cancel subscriptions and negotiate your bills. Billshark:  They contact your service providers and negotiate the best price on your behalf. Paribus:  Bought something and a week later the price drops? Paribus can get you back the difference. Total Money Makeover Free Debt Snowball Template How to Diffuse Money Fights <

S10 E16 · Wed, August 19, 2020

How to Build a Budget That Actually works for You

If 2020 has proved anything, it’s that we need to have a budget that actually works. Today we’ll dive in to see how you two can build a budget that fits you and your goals! Build a Better Budget Together I think a lot of people can appreciate why budgets matter because now more than ever, we’re seeing like our finances are reflecting our lives. For those of us who’ve been hit hard by the pandemic, either directly or indirectly, the budget has had to be completely redone. But even if things are relatively stable job-wise, we’re still reflecting on how we could do better.  A budget is not going to fix all of our problems, but a good budget – the one we actually enjoy and can stick with – that can be a huge help and stress relief.  But how do you make a budget that fits your family’s circumstances and goals? How do you make one that still allows some room for fun?  While I enjoy helping couples figure out their budget, I brought in someone who understands and enjoys budgeting.  Get Your Free Money Toolkit Learn how you can quickly & easily set your money up to dump your debt faster!  Join our community to get the free toolkit and newsletter! Get Instant Access We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our  Privacy Policy BirdSend  Email Marketing Tool Peter Polson the founder of  Tiller , a fantastic and customizable budgeting tool, he’s also a husband who understands firsthand that it takes effort to find a budget that fits your goals. But it’s so worth it.  In this episode we discuss: Defining your budget’s priorities The two biggest obstacles couples face  with budgets How to build a better budget together Let’s get started!  Resources to Easily Stay on Top of Your Money Here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank <

Bonus · Thu, June 04, 2020

Coronavirus and Your Money: What Need to Do Now to Gain Financial Stability and Thrive

Here are some key takeaways to help you get through and start building some financial stability! Pivoting Your Finances Through New Habits I hope you are doing well, are safe, and healthy.  We’re just starting June but I think Jason Vitug pointed out on Twitter, “This is indeed the longest shortest year ever.” I started this mini-series after the pandemic created a hard stop on so many things. Things are starting open up, but many couples in our community are still dealing with the financial fallout.  Depending on where we were on our financial journey, our experiences can seem tremendously different.  With the mini-series, I wanted to address a few of those different scenarios. The first episode was geared for those who had seen their income drop due to fewer hours or loss of a job.  The next episode was those of us who are treading water to speak – still have their jobs, but no safety net if that changed.  This episode I want to talk about what you can do if you were further ahead in your finances. How can you use this experience and turn this into something positive?  How can we pivot our finances? And bigger picture – can we use these lessons learned not just help us, but in a position to help others too? Certified Educator in Personal Finance (CEPF®) Bob Lotich is on today to share what habits he and his wife Linda changed on his and eventually their journey together towards becoming debt-free.    Joe Mecca from Coastal is back on to share some takeaways on shifting our finances and coming up with a plan during these tumultuous times.  In this episode we’ll get into: Crucial steps you can take to shift habits and your money We’ll also dive into how to get your spouse on board Lessons we can take from this crisis to use to better prepare ourselves and help others Let’s get started!  Resources to Easily Stay on Top of Your Money Here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Honeyfi Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money <a h

Bonus · Thu, May 21, 2020

Mastering the Art of Saving During a Crisis

We know we need an emergency fund, but how can we do that in the middle of the coronavirus crisis? Today we’ll share the strategies you can use now to get a jumpstart on saving! How to Save Money  Right now  many states are opening up , but we’re still encouraged to stay home as much as possible.  And that’s most likely affected you on several levels, including your finances.  Last episode, we discussed  steps you can take to shore up your budget and handle the bills when you’re dealing with a job loss  or significantly reduced hours.  This week, we’re switching gears and digging into one of the fundamental things you need to have – savings.  We’ve heard it so many times, we  need to have an emergency fund . Now it’s really both a necessity with routines, work schedules, and budgets being in flux for at least the next few months.  But can you save and build up your financial cushion during a time like this? How can you create a plan when you’ve been thrown into the middle of all this?  On the podcast, I have Jeff Anzalone from Debt Free Doc here to share how he and his wife got to that point.  As you just heard in the teaser, when he first started things, they looked like a mess. The job he had planned on taking fell through. So here he was dealing with a massive amount of debt, no job, and a wife and baby to take care of.  So in this interview, we’ll get into how they came up with a plan quickly. We’ll also get into not just the process he used to get out of debt, but what changes they had to make with their budget and more to start building savings and more.    We also have Joe Mecca from Coastal back on the podcast. He’s a natural saver so he is sharing tips on how to make the process easier and less stressful.  In this episode we’ll get into: Why and how much you need to save Creating a plan on the fly Ways you can build up that financial cushion ASAP Let’s get started! Resources to Easily Stay on Top of Your Money Here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital , <a h

Bonus · Wed, May 06, 2020

Coronavirus and Your Money: Dealing with Losing Your Job and Income

Many families are dealing with the financial fallout from the coronavirus, including losing their income and jobs. See how you can adjust your budget and get the resources you need to ride out these tough times!  How to Cope with Job Loss  As of right now, around 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past six weeks . Besides the health risk of coronavirus – which should NOT be ignored or downplayed – a huge concern of this crisis is the financial fallout.   How do we keep going through these tough times?  Which is why I wanted to do this mini-series.  Part of the challenge – at least to me as I’m putting this together – is reading, hearing, and seeing how different things play out depending on many factors. Yes, we’re in this together, but for a couple who’s lost one or both incomes, or one that’s seen their retirement savings seemingly crash, those are completely different ball games than a couple who’s trying to balance taking care of their kids at home while working remotely for example.  Each has its own challenges and so what I decided to do is break up the mini-series episodes based on different situations families may find themselves in.  There are key takeaways, I think all of us can learn from and pick up, but I did want to highlight some scenarios so this mini-series can be helpful and relevant as possible.  And they are based on what you’ve sent in about what you’re dealing with right now.  So thank you, I’m grateful to have your input on this.  Today I want to talk about one of the biggest ways many couples are being financially affected by this – loss of income.  Whether it’s being furloughed, seeing your hours drastically cut, or losing it altogether – it can be a heavy weight on you.  Ani is sharing her story about how she’s dealing with it.  We also have some fantastic experts like  personal finance author Toni Husbands ,  Coastal Credit Union ’s  Joe Mecca , and  small business consultant Sylvia Inks . They’re offering tips and resources to help make ends meet and steps you can take to shore up your finances not j

S10 E15 · Wed, April 08, 2020

How to Handle Your Finances During the Coronavirus Crisis

Today we’re going to jump in on ways you can adjust your finances during the coronavirus crisis to get through these tough times! Getting Your Finances Stabilized During the Coronavirus Crisis Even though it’s been less than a month since schools closed here in Raleigh, it feels like a lifetime ago.   And chances are things can feel that way to you.  Right now it’s  estimated that over 300 million here in America are under stay at home orders .  I truly hope that you’re doing well and that you’re able to work remotely or at least have some steady income coming in. However, I know from emails that some have seen their hours drastically reduced, they’ve been furloughed, or they’ve been laid off.  It’s tough to figure out the next steps when we’re in the middle of things, but there are ways we can prepare and pivot to get through these financially tough times.  Joe Mecca, VP of Communication at  Coastal Credit Union  has been out there letting those in the community know what resources out there.  Today he’s on the show to discuss things you can do now and over the next few months.  In this episode, we’ll get into: Figuring out how to reprioritize your budget How much of a financial cushion should you have with these certain times Where to look for relief programs (more than just the CARE Act) Let’s get started!  Resources to Easily Stay on Top of Your Money Here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Honeyfi Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Your Money: A Hub for Help During the Coronavirus Crisis  via The NY Times Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re liv

S10 E14 · Wed, April 01, 2020

Quick and Essential Guide to Sell Your House for More Money

For many couples, getting their house to sell for top dollar can help them hit crucial financial goals. Today we’ll go over what you need to know to get a great price when selling your home!   Selling Your House for Top Dollar Before we begin, I want to give a disclaimer that this episode’s topic and interview were done before the volatile landscape we find ourselves with the stay at home order in NC due to the coronavirus.  I’m releasing it now for a few reasons: At some point in the future, these restrictions will be lifted and so now could be a time to start taking steps around your place to get it ready for sale I just saw a house in the neighborhood put a for sale up this week (dozens of listings new – or within the last 24 hours)- so people are trying to move on as best they can With things shifting including jobs, many couples in the relatively near future may have to move  So while there may be an immediate pause on house tours, with this time many of us have at home, I thought it would be practical to get into ways to prepare so if you do sell when it’s time, you have what you need to get it done.  I’m very grateful to have one of my favorite real estate experts back.  Louis Guillama  is the Vice President of Real Estate Operations over at Coastal Credit Union.  In this episode we get into:   The biggest mistakes couples make when selling How to Stage Your House to Sell  How to decide if you should fix and update your place to able to sell it for more Let’s get started!  Handy Money Resources for Selling Your House (and More!) Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money When is the Best Time to Sell Your House? For Sale by Owner (FSBO) vs. Real Estate Agent Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from <a href="https://couplemoney.c

S10 E13 · Wed, March 25, 2020

Essential Things You Need to Know About Wills and Estate Planning

No one likes to think about it, but preparing for the unexpected can give you some peace of mind now and protect your loved ones later! This is the essential guide to will s and estate planning for busy parents! Creating or Updating Your Will So heads- this episode’s topic and interview was planned and done before things changed these last few weeks due to co-vid 19. I say this because I’m not trying to add to the anxiety. I actually believe that if you are staying home and you’re healthy, now would be a good time to take care of certain matters that maybe have been on the back burner because you haven’t had much time. And taking care of your wills, picking legal guardians, and making life insurance is up to date – these are important. So I decided to stick with the schedule on this episode. There are so many we can’t control, it can be empowering in a way to focus energy on the things we can. But when you making or updating your will, it may seem that’s too big of an issue to tackle. Today I want to break it down into manageable chunks so you can make some progress on that. Alison Kade from  Fabric  is here on the show today to decode and explain the essentials of how wills work.    In this episode we’ll discuss:  Why you need to plan now Basic terminology every couple should know How parents can prepare for the unexpected Let’s get started!  Resources on Estate Planning If you want more information about setting things up for your loved ones and mage your money now, here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Honeyfi Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Fabric : Fabric makes term life insurance simple for busy parents. Apply in 10 minutes, and find a policy to help protect your family! Do it Yourself Will: Pros and Cons Estate Planning for Youn

Bonus · Fri, March 20, 2020

4 Tips to Help You Reprioritize Your Money Through Tough Times

While things are really fluid right now and some big decisions are still up in the air, it's important to review and if necessary reprioritize things with your finances. Today I'm sharing 4 tips to help you prepare your finances to weather out the tough times! Resources to Manage Your Money Easier Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Honeyfi Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to Financially Prepare Your Family for Tough Times 5 Days to $5K Course Her Dinero Matters Her Dinero Matters is a bilingual podcast for women who want to become reinas of their money and love their money more.  Join Jen Hemphill, a former extreme frugalist turned reina of your money advocate each week for your dose of money confidence. You will hear down-to-earth interviews and panel discussions from Latina community as well as solo episodes sharing simple actionable tips and strategies which you can implement right away.  The best part is, Jen also offers some premium perks, such as special access to a community of like-minded women for a deeper discussion on latest episodes, monthly bonus mini-episodes, as well as a monthly PDF worksheet for that month’s money challenge, available exclusively through the Himalaya app. The best part is, if you sign up now, you can use promo code DINERO at checkout for your first 30 days, free! So head over to the Himalaya app and check out Her Dinero Matters now.  Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! <img class= "wp-image-23624 jetpack-lazy-image jetpack-lazy-image--handled" src="https://i1.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/Coastal-Credit-Union.png?ssl=1" sizes="(max-width: 302px) 100vw, 302px" srcset= "https://i1.wp.com/couplemoney.com/wp-content/uploads/Coastal-Credit-Union.png?w=302&ssl

S10 E12 · Wed, March 18, 2020

How to Loan Money to Family (and Not Regret It)

One of the stickiest situations with couples is dealing with lending money to family. Find out different ways you can help without putting your own finances in jeopardy! Should We Loan Money to Family and Friends? Lending money to friends and family can be a tough situation. No matter how objective you think you are or want to be, emotions can run high.  As you just heard with Jen, she and her husband weren’t seeing eye to eye on how they could help their loved ones.  I totally get it – we’ve been there ourselves. Maybe you’ve gone through that situation too.  Or with how things are going with Covid-19 and families being affected by these closings, some of your family and close friends will need some help soon, including financial.   Now for most of us, we want to help. And if we have the means, we do.  However, there are times when things are a bit more…messier. What if you want to help, but you’re just finding your financial footing yourself?  What if you have a relative who keeps on having problems with their finances, where you are constantly bailing them out?  Those are the types of situations where we tend to stress over and sometimes get into arguments.  Family and money can put a strain on a marriage; which is why I’m happy Jen Hemphill is here on the show. She’s an accredited financial counselor, author, and the host of  Her Dinero Matters podcast . In this episode we’ll get into:   how to decide whether lending loved ones is really helping them or enabling ways you can assist them without loaning money how you can work out a loan with less stress Hope this episode helps! Resources to Deal with Family and Finances If you two want to make managing your money easier, here are some helpful tools, books, and apps available. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Honeyfi Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! <p data-birdsend-par-index="

S10 E11 · Thu, March 12, 2020

Digital Banking and Finances for Couples

Learn how you can stay on top of your money with some of the best apps while also protecting your finances, privacy, and data! Finding the Best Money Apps for Couples Chances are if you’re listening to this podcast you do a lot of your banking and finances digitally.  In a survey by Federal Reserve Bank, they found that  71% of bank customers regularly use online banking and 43% use mobile .  For us, the convenience is hard to beat. I can do pretty much everything I need from home or my phone, including depositing checks, scheduling payments, and transfers.  I believe the last time I had to step into a branch was for the notary a few years ago. The other side of living in a world with digital banking is that we have to be savvy about securing our finances and data.  Data breaches, phishing, and more sophisticated scammers happen and are out there, so how do you take advantage of the new apps and options out there? There’s a lot to cover so today I’m happy to have two experts on.  We have  David Jamshid , Vice President Of Software Development at  Coastal Credit Union . We also have  Sam Shutz  co-founder of  Honeyfi  on.    In this episode we’ll get into: Key ways you can secure your accounts so you can guard your data and finances The pros and cons of free and paid apps Top apps out there for couples to manage their money as a team Hope you enjoy!  Resources to Bank Digitally Here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Honeyfi Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money LastPass CardNav App:  Android  |<

S10 E10 · Thu, March 05, 2020

How to Build a Profitable Side Hustle

Carla Titus shares the realities of running a profitable business from home and how she and her husband created a system that fits their goals and family life! The Realities of Starting a Side Hustle from Home Nowadays it’s become more common for couples and families to diversify their income. Whether it’s because they looking to knock out some debt, save up for a house or another goal, or they want to pivot their career, couples are looking at side hustles.  We’ve had several episodes about the essentials of starting a side business, but one of the biggest struggles many have is sustaining it.  Whether it’s working around your family or day job, the reality is you only have so much time. How do you make it work? How can you start and build a business?  Carla Titus is on the show today to share her expertise and her story.  She is the CEO of  Wealth and Worth  where she uses her over ten years of corporate financial planning, analysis, strategy, and startup CFO experience to help entrepreneurs take control of their finances and level up their business. In this episode we’ll get into:   Finding not that balance, but the flow between family and your side hustle When to outsource  how to get the pricing right – many entrepreneurs struggle with this Hope you enjoy! Resources for Launching a Side Hustle Here are some fantastic resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union . If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They also have competitive rates on their  business checking and savings accounts ! Support the Podcast!

S10 E9 · Thu, February 27, 2020

How to Work as a Team When You're Financial Opposites

Most couples marry their financial opposite, which can be a blessing or a recipe for disaster. Learn how you two can become a team and create a budget and money system you both love! Marrying Your Financial Opposite Did you know that 75% of divorced couples cite money as the cause of their marital issues? With something causing that big of any issue, you’d think we’d try to become more proactive with making sure that finances But for many couples, the conversations don’t happen. There’s a tendency in a lot of marriages to not talk about money until something goes wrong. The budget is broken or you’re struggling to hit a goal you made for the year. One reason couples don’t talk about money is that they’re trying to avoid a fight. Maybe they’ve had a blow-up in the past about certain spending and they rather not hash that out again. Perhaps they couldn’t come to an agreement on something that should be simple like the budget. This can especially be the case when you’re financial opposites. However just because you’re financial opposites don’t mean you can’t work as a team with your money. In fact, for some couples, their differences became an advantage as they tackle goals like dumping debt, saving up for a house or investing in their future. How do you get there though? How do you mesh those differences into strengths? Scott and Bethany Palmer,  The Money Couple  are on the podcast today to chat about how to get started with talking about and working through your financial issues and goals.   They were financial advisors and noticed how their married clients were struggling with money. They’ve been focused since on helping spouses work with their different approaches to finances and become a team. In this episode we’ll get into: how money differences show up in our daily lives understanding and respecting one another’s different perspectives how to approach money talks so that they’re productive Hope you enjoy! Resources to Help You Merge Your Finances If you’re looking to get better with your finances together, here are some helpful posts to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint  <- Absolu

S10 E8 · Thu, February 20, 2020

How to Deal With and Overcome Financial Infidelity in Your Marriage

It’s not uncommon for a spouse to have a secret credit card or have more debt than they’ve told. Financial infidelity can ruin a marriage. Learn how you can set up a financial system that allows you to be open and honest with your finances and work together with money! Financial Infidelity in Your Marriage In this episode we’ll get into: Red flags or signs that financial infidelity might be an issue  Working to regain trust after financial infidelity Creating an open and transparent system for your money together Resources to Help You Merge Your Finances If you’re looking to get better with your finances together, here are some helpful posts to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint  <- Absolutely crucial you two have a w

S10 E7 · Wed, February 12, 2020

Yours, Mine, and Ours: Dealing with Debt and Marriage

Merging finances is more than combining bank accounts. It’s working together with the good, bad, and awkward, including dealing with debt. Today we’re discussing the legalities of who’s responsible for what, credit scores, and how to dump debt together! Marriage and Debt Marriage is about two lives coming together. It can be a wonderful feeling to know you have someone to watch your back through thick and thin.  Part of coming together is dealing with your finances together and for many couples debt is a chunk of it. Between credits cards, car and student loans, and maybe a mortgage, the two of you could be  starting your marriage in the negative .  As a couple you know paying down is the way to go, but you have other concerns on your mind. If one or both of you come in with debt, who’s legally responsible?  What about the debt you take on after you’re married? What if you two have drastically different credit scores? How will that affect plans that you have – perhaps buying a house down the line?  Which is why I’m happy  Leslie Tayne  is here today. Leslie is an attorney who specializes in debt resolution. With almost twenty years of experience, she helps clients get debt relief and resolution.  She’s sharing her expertise on how debt can affect your finances and marriage.   In this episode we’ll get into: Who’s responsible for what legally when it comes to debt Dealing with common situations that can come up when one spouse has a higher credit score than the other Ways to talk about debt and work as a team to get rid of it. Let’s get started!  Resources to Dump Your Debt Together If you two are ready to pay off your debt, here are some handy resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta Free 5 Days to $5K Course Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Total Money Makeover Free Debt Snowball Template <a href= "http://couplemoney.com/book-reviews

S10 E6 · Wed, February 05, 2020

How to Diffuse Money Fights

Getting on the same page with finances can be tricky. Learn how you can communicate better with your spouse about money and more! Why We Fight About Money No one wants to have money be this source of stress in their lives, not in a strictly financial sense where you’re worried about the bills and definitely not in your marriage.  And yet, it is usually listed as  one of the top reasons spouses have fights .  And if you have debt? It’s even more of an issue. In one study, with couples who carried debt, they found that 48% of those with over $50,000 of debt listed money as stress point compared to 23% of those with less than $10,000. It makes sense, right – if you have the more debt you have, the more your current income is tied up to pay it.  So then couples usually want to come up with some plan to pay off their debt, but they hit a wall when it comes to making and executing that plan. There’s too much tension and blame to get things rolling.  But if you’ve listened to this for a while, you’ve heard stories of couples who have overcome some huge issues like massive amounts of debt, being hit with financial infidelity, or being on the brink of bankruptcy yet they managed to come out stronger paying off massive amounts of debt. How do you get there though?  Through better conversations about money and more. It’s not easy to get started so today  Traci Philips  is going to share how we can better communicate.    As a Leadership & Performance Strategist, Traci assists her clients in identifying core challenges with her unique strengths in translating both verbal and non-verbal language.  Into this episode, we get into: Better Understanding Where Our Spouse is Coming from with Money Common mistakes couples make when talking about money How to work through disagreements to diffuse a potential money fight Let’s get started!  Resources on Marriage Fights & Finances Want to learn more and become more productive with your money dates? Here are some resources to check out: 10 Agreements BEFORE You Get Into An Argument With Your Partner Use The Power Of Community To Improve Your Marriage  <a href= "http://couplem

S10 E5 · Wed, January 29, 2020

Tax Guide for Busy Couples

Tax season is here and with it the stress of getting your taxes done right. We’ll look at some ways you can simplify, organize, and maximize your tax deductions and credits this year and set yourselves up for big wins next! Tax Tips for Making Filing Easier Now before we jump into this episode I want to be clear about one thing.   I’m not a tax expert . Not a CPA. Not an EA (that’s an enrolled agent).  But even if I was, I cannot give tax advice to you on this podcast because every family is different.  And that means so are your taxes. However, there are several key areas where many of us -especially busy couples, couples who are juggling so many things like kids, work, finances, side projects, and more  -should be paying attention to because they have a huge impact on how things go for us when it comes to taxes.  And I got some good news - I’m keeping this episode on the shorter side.  Why?  If you’re a regular person like me, taxes are not the most exciting thing.  However we have seen how important getting our tax done has been for our finances -both with planning throughout the year as well as using our refunds to reach our financial goals faster. And I want you to see taxes in a better, maybe less stressful light. In this episode we’re looking at:  Decoding key tax items (like tax credits versus deductions) so you can be better prepared when filing How to make sure your paycheck is working you - you may be leaving money on the table Accounts to Maximize Your Finances Now and Later I want to make things less stressful for you so you can knock out your taxes.  Sound good? Let’s get started!  Resources to Tackle Your Taxes Looking to make taxes less stressful? Here are some of my favorite resources! Best

S10 E4 · Wed, January 22, 2020

How to Team Up for Financial Independence

How can you structure your finances so you can have more options and flexibility?  One path that’s helped many families is working towards financial independence. For many families, though, it seems like an unrealistic goal.  They assume that if they’re not making six-figures or if they have kids, they’re unable to achieve it.  What you might not be aware of is how practical the principles behind FI can be for you.  By applying the mindset, habits, and strategies you can not only improve your finances but give yourselves more opportunities to build your life around who and what matters to you.  That’s why I’m excited that today we have Brad Barrett, co-founder of ChooseFI. Brad Barrett went from being a full-time CPA to retiring with complete financial independence by the age of 35.  Now, through ChooseFI, he’s empowering others to live more intentionally and get on the path towards financial independence! In this episode we’re looking at:    How to save on the three biggest expenses  How to persuade your spouse to try to FI  How to get to FI while still enjoying your journey Let’s get started! Resources to Get on the Path to Financial Independence Are you two serious about becoming financially independent? Here are handy resources mentioned in the episode along with extra tools to help you optimize your money together! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money The Secret Sauce to Financial Independence & Early Retirement Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities How One Couple Saved $85,000 in a Year! <a href= "http://www.mrmoneymustache.com/2013/02/22/getting-rich-from-zero-to-hero-in

S10 E3 · Wed, January 15, 2020

How to Build Income Streams to Knock Out Your Money Goals Faster

Are you looking to speed things up with your money goals? We’ll look at how you can earn extra money on the side so you can build your net worth! Earning Money from Side Hustles is Only One Path Many couples want to pay off debt faster, save for a house or start investing and the problem is cashflow is currently tight. Real tight.  One of the things I suggest is looking at your budget, but sometimes the issue is that there isn’t enough income coming in.  Whether it’s through a one time occasional deal like selling your stuff, running a side hustle, or starting a possible career change, it’s going to take work.  So before you make the leap, I thought it would be helpful to get an idea of the different ways you can earn more this year.  My hope is that you’ll get a better idea of what would best for your situation and goals.  Today’s guest  Joseph Hogue is a personal finance author  and creator of  Let’s Talk Money  who has built several income streams into businesses. I also have  Louis Guillama, Vice President of Real Estate Operations at Coastal  Credit Union sharing his take about the pros and cons of getting into real estate.    In this episode we’ll go over: Finding opportunities to earn income when your schedule is tight Breaking into the gig and side hustle economy Thinking long term and get more involved with your  income streams by looking at real estate investing Let’s get started!  Resources to Start Earning More Money on the Side If you’re looking to earn more so you can knock out your big money goal, here are some resources to check out.  Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint 5 Days to $5K : It’s my free weeklong course to show you how to find, save, and make extra money so you can save your goals faster! Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union</a

S10 E2 · Thu, January 09, 2020

How to Become Super Savers This Year

Whether you’re saving for emergencies, a vacation, or a house, you have to have some way to stash away that money. We’ll look at some popular savings hacks and how to find the best savings option for you! Are you saving up for something big this year? If you are, you have plenty of company.  Fidelity released its  2020 New Year Financial Resolutions Study and found that 53% of those surveyed who were planning on working these finances had saving more as their goal .  That’s great news considering on average, we’re not really saving enough.  According to  GoBankingRates when they asked more than 5,000 adults their savings balance,  58% had less than $1000 saved and 32% admitted to not having anything at all in their savings.  That is a really vulnerable position to be in.  So if you want to turn things around and really ramp up your savings, I think you’ll enjoy today’s episode.  I’m sharing the best tips and stories from one of the super savers and favorite guests I’ve had on this podcast.     Financial educator and Journey to Launch creator Jamila Souffrant and her husband  saved over $80k  one year while living in NYC !  More interestingly is how she was able to get him on board. Great ideas on how to approach not just the process, but enjoy the journey together.  Joe Mecca from Coastal Credit Union and another super saver is also back on to break down his goals for this year and how he’s saving for them.  In this episode we’re looking at:  why your savings rate matters Where and how to get started with savings in your budget how to set things up so you’re automatically saving more while still enjoying life Let’s get started!  Want to start boosting your savings rate? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital , <a h

S10 E1 · Wed, January 01, 2020

How to Get Out of Debt This Year as a Couple

One of the top three financial goals people have is getting out of debt, but few actually knock it out. Today we’re diving into key money systems couples have used to become debt-free! Best Strategies for Couples to Dump Debt Faster How are you doing?! I hope you’re having a wonderful week. We’re back. New Year, a new season of the podcast. I want to start off by saying thank you. Your support has been incredible and because of it, we’re here for season 10! When I started the site Couple Money and even the podcast a few years, my goal was pretty simple. Help couples not only get their finances in a good spot but find a way for money to be a way to work together instead of being a source of stress. Whether you’re paying down debt, saving for a dream, or going down the path of financial independence, the main focus is doing it as a team. We’ll definitely be covering that this season again, but there’s another issue I’ve been seeing that has added a layer of unnecessary stress when it comes to finances. As I look at my newsfeed on my phone or catch some stories that get picked up, I just see this trend of HUGE stories. Debt-free stories where the couples have paid massive amounts of debt – six-figures- in a crazy short amount of time. Couples who have saved 60%, 70% of their income in a year. These are incredible stories and I’ve found them at times to be motivating and challenging us to look at how we spend money. I’ve even had a few of them on the podcast. However, when these are the stories that get picked up again, and again, you kind of get a bit fatigued and when the headlines only tell part of the story – like the fact they were making incredible amounts of money, then you can feel discouraged. Add on that many of these stories don’t talk about that key step –  aligning your goals  and  getting on the same page . If you’re not there, then you almost can feel like throwing up your arms and just giving up. I don’t want to give up. I would love for you to tackle those big goals, but more importantly, I want you two to feel comfortable and excited about the plan you two carved out for yourselves. How? By acknowledgin

Bonus · Wed, October 30, 2019

5 Easy Ways to Simplify and Reboot Your Money

Money can be a huge source of stress, but it doesn’t have to be. Today I’m going to share 5 ways you can simplify your finances so you two can enjoy your marriage and money! Simplify and Reboot Your Money How do you feel about the progress you’ve made this year with your finances? If you’re not quite happy with where you are right now, don’t panic. There’s still plenty of time to reset and reboot things with your money. Since my Dump Debt Together session aired last Monday as part of the Mamas Talk Money Summit, I have been keeping busy answering some of your questions about changing things up for the better. I’ve noticed that the biggest concern is getting the ball rolling. You’re more than welcome to dig around the site and podcast. With over 1,000 articles and 300+ episodes, we cover a lot here on Couple Money. But I know that approach can make you feel overwhelmed so today I want to wrap up this special series on the podcast with how you can get started. In this episode we’ll look at: habits to develop that will make your finances much easier to handle key numbers to track (and which to pass on) An easy way to reboot your money Hope you enjoy! Resources to Hit Your Money Goals If you two are looking to improve how you talk and work together with your finances (and lives), please check out these resources. Reboot Your Money Course : Get it half off (only $10!) by using discount code PODCAST Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta , and  Honeyfi Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Why Most People Fail with Their Goals (And How You Can Win!) If you want to discuss talking with your spouse about money, ask questions, or share your own tips please  join us over at Thriving Families  on Facebook. 5 Ways to Simplify Your Finances Whether you’re the spreadsheet king or queen or more the big-picture person, I think we can all agree that we want to streamline our finances so you can focus on the people and things that matter to us. You can really dive into the weeds with finances and debate the minut

Bonus · Wed, October 23, 2019

Mindset, Micro Habits, and Mamas Talking About Money

Today we’re into how you can shift into your debt-free journey with one question! Dump Debt Together It’s on! All this week the  Mamas Talk Money Summit  is hosting sessions about family finances, investing, career, and kids.  My session was out Monday night – Dump Debt Together (When You Can’t Agree How).  I had a fantastic time! While the session was on, I was live in the chat speaking and answering questions about how to get your spouse on board with knocking out this debt.  People had some wonderful questions and were kind enough to share their biggest money challenges.  We got into creating a budget when one spouse has irregular income, secrete debts, and conversation starters for those initial chats about money.  But I’m not the speaker in this event. There are about 40 amazing mama speakers that are a part of the summit and their sessions cover not only the ‘essential’ goals like paying off debt, saving, and investing but also topics they may not have as much exposure or have accessible resources. Brynne Conroy is one of the speakers. She’s going to be this Friday as part of the kids and money sessions.  I’ve had her on the podcast when she released her book,  The Feminist Financial Handbook . She’s also the creator of Personal Finance By Women.  Her session is Managing Your Finances With a Special Needs Child.  In this episode we’ll look at: Why Brynne’s session is needed One activity you can do to get your spouse on board with becoming debt-free Hope you enjoy! Resources to Hit Your Money Goals If you two are looking to improve how you talk and work together with your finances (and lives), please check out these resources. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Why Most People Fail with Their Goals (And How You Can Win!) If you want to discuss talking with your spouse about money, ask questions, or share your own tips please  join us over at Thriving Families  on Facebook. Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spr

Bonus · Wed, October 16, 2019

How to Work Through Your Money Issues as a Couple

Can’t agree on how to tackle your finances? Learn how you work together on some of your biggest money issues! Working Through Money Issues Together Last month, in the newsletter I mentioned that for October I was going to be focused on the theme of r resetting and rebooting your finances so you can hit your goals before 2019 ends. I’m doing a special mini-series this month on the podcast, but that’s not the only project I’m doing. I’m also a part of a big event happening next week that follows this idea of pushing through on your financial goals –  The Mama Talk Money Summit . The event is happening  next week  –  October 21st through 25th . All week during the summit, there will be sessions from over 40 incredibly financially savvy mamas and speakers. We’re talking all about: Family Finance Investing, Retirement & Estate Planning Career & Business Teaching Kids About Money And much, MUCH more! So whether you’re trying to knock that credit debt, get some savings stashed away, or are looking to invest for long term goals, this summit will have at least a few sessions that can help you make it happen. And 2019  Mamas Talk Money Summit is a FREE conference that’s 100% online ! This was an important point for me because I know we’re all at different points in our financial journey, so having it be free to register was one of the reasons I wanted to join in. The reason I’m bringing this summit up is 1) I think it’s an incredible event and resource and 2) my session is going to be about a specific hurdle that we as couples can sometimes have when we’re trying to improve our finances, such as paying off debt. In fact, my session is called Dump Debt Together (When You Can’t Agree How). So you’re all ready to knock debt out, but your spouse….not so much. I’ll be sharing some ways you can dig into the real reason they’re hesitating and some ways you can use that to come up with a debt-free plan they’d want to join in on. So if you’d like to grab your free pass, catch that session and more, please just head  over here . So the session will be a deep dive on the topic, but I want to touch on today this idea of trying to get on the same page. Adam Kol is joining me today. He’s a former Tax Attorney and a Certified Mediator who is now focusing on helping couples working through some of their issues. Today we’re going to take a situation and question from someone in the community. In this episode we’ll look at: Questions to ask to get your spouse to open up How to use what-if scenarios to work through issues Working to keep things open and honest so that you’re making the progress you want together

Bonus · Wed, October 09, 2019

How to Set (and Reach!) Your Big Financial Goals

Learn how you can create goals to achieve your big financial goals while avoiding burn out! Knocking Out Your Big Financial Goals When we started this mini-series last week about rebooting your money, I talked about how to hit those goals you have to change things up a bit. Karen Cordaway went over how we could reframe things around the quality of our lives. It’s not paying off debt, it’s about having money to travel more. You’re not just saving money in the bank, you’re giving yourself a building a sizable downpayment to buy a house. This can be a powerful way to motivate yourself. There’s another side to that puzzle – creating the goals themselves. Since most people don’t achieve those big results that they hope for, is there a way to make them work for you so that you do make them happen? I think so. I believe there’s a way to achieve those ambitious goals without burning out. And I think Joseph Hogue is the perfect person to break it down. Since I’ve met Joseph at a conference a few years ago, I’ve seen how well he’s done with following through on his plans and goals. Joseph Hogue worked in private wealth management and venture capital for more than a decade before freelancing as an investment analyst. He now teaches regular people how to beat debt, make more money side-hustling and invest. So I thought having him break down his approach would be helpful. In this episode we’ll discuss: Creating goals that fit your season so you’re not burnt out Avoiding the yo-yo diet cycle with your finances Uses challenges to grab big wins Hope you enjoy! Mama Talk Money Summit Speaking of hitting those money goals, next week we’re talking about a special event that I’m a part of to help you do just that – Mama Talk Money Summit. Chelsea Brennan from  Smart Money Mamas  has put everything together. For 5 WHOLE days, the Mamas Talk Money Summit is bringing you presentations from over 40 incredibly financially savvy mamas who have TONS of valuable advice to share with you all about finding your financial swagger, raising kids who are money masters, and connecting with a tribe of moms who are getting smart with their money. We’re talking all about: Family Finance Investing, Retirement & Estate Planning Career & Business Teaching Kids About Money And much more! So whether you’re trying to knock that credit debt, get some savings stashed away, or are looking to invest for long term goals, this summit will have at least a few sessions that can help you make it happen. Along with the session, there will be a live Q&A with each speaker. For example, for my session – Dump Debt Together (When You Can’t Agree How) – I’ll be online in th

Bonus · Thu, October 03, 2019

Reboot Your Money with an Everyday Bucket List

Today we’re looking at how you reboot your money by not focusing on the finances! It’s now October. The year is officially wrapping up and for many, it’s a busy season. Do you have any plans coming up?  This month we have a family trip planned to see some of our friends and family for Virginia.  We're looking forward to it.  But I also know that this time of year can also be one of reflection and review.  We've knocked out some goals like saving up for my husband's next car, but we're still working on our big goal for the year - paying an extra $11k on our mortgage.  How about you? How close are you to hitting your goals?  If you’re behind on them, it’s okay. There is still time for you to reset and reboot your finances.  And I want to help out.  So this month I want to turn things around by doing a mini-series on the podcast. Each week we’re going to be tackling some of the big hurdles you might be having with your goals.  One reason I’ve noticed people get behind is that they’ve lost that some of that momentum and motivation.  Let's be honest if you’re dealing with something big - like trying to become debt-free, you could be in it for a while depending on how much debt you have now.  So how can you not only keep on making progress but actually enjoy yourself?  Something that can help you is reframing your goals.  And today, Karen Cordaway is here to talk about how. She’s the author of The Everyday Bucket List . If you subscribe to the newsletter - and you really should ;) - you’ll remember it’s one of three books I recommended this summer.  In this episode we’ll discuss:  Move away from making financial goals to more holistic ones How you can create a bucket list that fits your season of life now Tools to make it easier to incorporate more fun into your routine Let’s get started!   

S9 E11 · Fri, August 30, 2019

How To Dump Debt Before The Year Wraps Up

Today we’re looking at how you can knock out a debt or two before this year wraps up! Knock Out a Debt Quickly Who doesn’t want to unload a debt before this year wraps up? Paying off debt is usually one of the top three goals people make for the year, but struggle to achieve. That’s not going to happen with you. I want you to make some headway with your debt-free goals which why we’re finishing up with season with a call to action – we’re going to knock out debt. Of course, to do this we need money. There are three ways you’re going too free up money so to speak to pay off those debts faster: Optimize your current budget Consolidate your debts Earn extra cash We’ve talked about different ways you can save this season, with housing, cars, and how to bake in automatic savings so today I want to look at the other two options. David Jacobs, VP of Consumer Lending at Coastal Credit Union, is going to talk about the differences between HELOCs and home equity loans. If you going that route, you really need to understand how they work. We’re also looking at using side hustles to earn that extra money. Can you really knock out your debts with a side gig? Kevin is a member of our community and was kind enough to reach out to me about his experience. He’s done both delivery driving with GrubHub and ride-sharing. What’s cool – at least to me – is that he’s an accountant in his day job. So when he did the side hustles he was tracking not only his earnings but expenses. I think you’ll enjoy hearing his take on whether it’s a viable way to earn some extra cash. In this episode we’ll discuss: Understanding debt consolidation options with your home equity Whether side hustles can be a smart way to earn extra cash to pay those debts Ways to stay motivated Let’s get started! Resources to Pay Off a Mountain of Debt If you two are ready to pay off your debt, here are some handy resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Total Money Makeover Free Debt Snowball Template Trim:  With Trim, you can cancel subscriptions and negotiate your bills. Billshark:  They contact your service providers and negotiate the best price on your behalf. <a href= "https://couplemone

S9 E10 · Thu, August 22, 2019

Best Plans to Pay for Your Kids’ College Expenses

No parent wants their kids to go deep in debt, but whether it’s college or trade school, education can be pricey. Learn what options are available and how to best save up for your kid’s college expenses! Paying for Your Kid’s Education and College Expenses With student loans seeming like a weight on many college grads, I think most parents who kids are thinking about either college, trade school, or vocational schools are trying to find ways to ease the burden. And the advice typically given is to save ahead. But the price of getting an education is rising pretty quickly. How do you do that when you juggling your current family expenses and saving up for other goals? To help me out today is Drew Snider. He’s a director in Financial Planning at Coastal Wealth Management. He’s also a parent of a 12-year-old daughter and yes, he’s been thinking about this as well. So he’s looking at this from both sides. In this episode, we’ll get into: The rising costs of college and why its harder for kids to work through college What options you have to save to and invest How you can start saving now Let’s get started! Tips on Paying for College If you two are looking to help your kid skip out on student loans, here are some resources to help you save up. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 5 Days to $5k Course  – Learn how to find, save, and make more money! How to Help Your Kid Graduate College Debt Free Key Takeaways on Paying for Your Kid’s College Expenses Before we close up I want to focus on some key takeaways I got: Start early. Don’t go on autopilot. Have your kid have skin in the game. If you’d like to chat more about ways to save for your kid’s college and education expenses, please join us in our private and free Facebook group, Thriving Families! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/couple

S9 E9 · Thu, August 08, 2019

How to Talk with Your Parents About Their Finances

Learn how you can talk to your parents about money, their retirement, and beyond with less stress! Helping Your Parents Prepare for Retirement and Beyond We talk about how to discuss money as a couple and make those conversations less stressful. And I hope you two feel more relaxed when you’re talking about your goals and finances. I also know that just because you two can talk about money, doesn’t mean that you’re cool with those money chats with everyone. Especially when it comes to your parents. My mom is getting closer to retirement I want to make sure that she’s in a good spot. Healthwise things look alright, but I also know that’s not given. We’ve other relatives have some significant health issues, including dementia and injury and it does make us wonder, how prepared are we to make sure our parents are taken care of? It’s easy to put it off, but do we really want to? So how do you start those conversations? How do you prepare for when you need to step in and help out your parents? Journalist and personal finance author Cameron Huddleston had to deal with it firsthand when helping her mother who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Her latest book is  Mom and Dad: We Need to Talk  is a fantastic guide on how to come together as a family now so down the line, everyone is on the same page. So I’m we have her on today. We also have financial advisor Jonah Kaufman sharing his take as he’s had to help families navigate through these delicate conversations. In this episode we’ll discuss: Why you don’t want to wait to talk to your parents about money Key conversations you should have and how to get started with them Crucial documents that will protect your parents and their wishes Let’s get started! Resources for Parents and Retirement Here are some fantastic resources to help you two get more comfortable talking about retirement and more with your parents. Mom and Dad: We Need to Talk Rock Retirement  – Roger has written an incredible book that breaks down how you can plan and save not just for retirement, but a life you love now! Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast come

S9 E8 · Thu, August 01, 2019

Best Mortgage Tips for Home Buyers

When you’re buying a house, there is a ton of paperwork and terminology thrown at you.  Today we’re going to decipher and explain all the essentials you need to know to get a great deal on your mortgage!  Getting a Great Mortgage When Buying a House Even if you’re excited and ready to buy a house, it can still be stressful. Last week I mentioned that my mom is moving into the Raleigh area after getting a job offer. She’s getting all that paperwork done for work and keeping her current home in tiptop shape since it’s on the market to sell. And whenever she’s in town to take care of her work stuff, we’re also driving around looking at places and neighborhoods. Being with her reminds me of our own house hunt and I remember how at times things seemed overwhelming. Buying a home is a huge purchase and while you’re trying to make sure it’s the right fit for you, you’re also sorting through all this paperwork. When you’re getting a mortgage, your lender is combing through your finances and it feels like they request every scrap of information they can get. And then when you do find a home, you make the offer – hopefully they accept. You have a home inspection, have the house appraised, and get paperwork like title insurance done. It’s a lot. And the first time around, we knew we paid a fair price, but we were a little lost. The second time, though, we felt confident about buying the house. One part that made a huge difference for us was getting our loan officer to walk us through. Having your loan officer in your corner, along with a great agent makes the process enjoyable and rewarding. We’re so grateful to have had that. And I want you to feel the same way. So if you’re in the market to buy or you know in the future you’d want to buy a home, I think you’ll enjoy this episode. I’m sharing one of my favorite interviews on the topic, my chat with  Wendy Dawson . She’s the Vice President of Mortgage Lending at Coastal. In this episode we’ll discuss: What you need to keep in mind about mortgages All the fees and expenses that typically come with buying a house – its more than just the down payment How to decipher the paperwork I want you to feel comfortable and confident you’re getting a great deal with your mortgage. I hope you enjoy! Resources on Getting a Great Deal on Your Mortgage If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find a great deal with your mortgage Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings wi

S9 E7 · Thu, July 25, 2019

House Hunters: Home Buying Tips for Finding Your Dream House

Today we’re going over home buying tips so you can snag a great deal on your dream house!  What You Need to Know About Buying a House This summer is wrapping up, but things are about to get busier for us.  My mom was recently offered a job in the area and so she’s asked me to help her with buying a house.  The problem is that here in the Raleigh/Triangle area, it’s very much a seller’s market.  Since we bought our house three years ago, prices have gone up on homes.  The median price of homes currently listed in Raleigh is $330,000 . Which means we need to be savvy house hunters.  I’m excited about this, but it’s going to be a challenge for sure.  And if you’re looking to buy a house, you might be facing the same challenges.  Which is why I’m so happy to have  Louis Guillama  on today to offer his expertise.  He’s the Vice President of Real Estate Operations over at  Coastal Credit Union . He has decades of experience with the real estate agent side as well as home renovations.  In this episode we’ll discuss:  differences between buying new construction vs resale spotting great and still affordable neighborhoods finding a fixer-upper (instead of being stuck with a money pit) Hope you enjoy! Resources on Buying a House If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find an affordable place you love! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money My friend was about to buy a million-dollar house with no research What You Need to Know About Mortgages Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. If you need an agent,  Daymark Realty  has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!  Support the Podcast! Thank

S9 E7 · Fri, July 12, 2019

How to Automate Your Money: A Guide for Busy Couples

How do you feel about managing money? Is it something you enjoy doing or do you see paying the bills, knocking out debt, saving for your future, etc. a bit much? When we were first married it was honestly a little overwhelming. We had the bills to pay, a car loan, and eventually student loans that were going to come due.  The idea of getting a financial system seemed complicated. The good news is it wasn’t. With a little organization so we had our acct info in front of us. It was a one evening thing.  And it’s made a huge difference for us.  We’ve paid off over $30,000 of debt, bought our cars with cash, started investing for retirement, and giving more. Through the years, we’ve had to take a step back to help out loved ones and deal with our family. With two little ones as our priority, we sometimes have put money conversations on the back burner. The automated system allowed us to still take care of the essentials and not miss a beat.  But I also know that the idea of setting up a system sounds like a ton of work. Truth is the initial set up typically isn’t as difficult as you think and the benefits are more than just the money.  To make this easier we’re going over:  Peek into Our System so You Have a Real Life Example Setting Up Your Financial System Tools and Apps to Make it Easier to Set up and Track Your Money I hope you enjoy!  Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. T

Bonus · Sat, July 06, 2019

Reaching Financial Independence With Kids

With the FIRE (financial independence/retire early) movement growing, many families are wondering if it's an option for them. Today we look at the key numbers parents need to consider when pursuing financial independence while raising kids!  What choices do we need to make as a family now to become financially independent? Helping me to dig into this is  Jonah Kaufman . He’s a financial advisor at Coastal Wealth Management.  And while he’s not here for specific financial advice – that’s something you need to do one on one since everyone has unique financial circumstances – we are going over some things to consider and talk about as a family. In this episode we’ll discuss:  5 big myths and misconceptions people have about financial independence Two key numbers to keep an eye on for early retirement (and income is not one of them!) How you two can create a FIRE plan that fits you Hope you enjoy! Handy Tools to Start Your FI Journey If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family by pursuing financial independence, here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Manage Your 401(k) Easily:  blooom Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Is Financial Independence with Kids Possible? FI Community Too many to number, but here are just a few of my favorites! Marriage, Kids, and Money Root of Good Rich and Regular ChooseFI City Frugal The Fioneers Financial Panther WalkingtoFIRE If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group –  Thriving Families .  We’re families looking to support and help one another out. Hope to see you there! Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! <a href

Bonus · Wed, July 03, 2019

Simplify and Enjoy Preview: How to Manage Your Money as a Busy Family

Looking to raise kids while pursuing financial independence? Here are some tips from Simplify and Enjoy to help you reach your goals and enjoy the journey! How to Simplify Your Finances and Enjoy Your Family As I mentioned in the last episode, this week is going to be a bit different. I’m going on vacation with my family soon but I wanted to leave you with some bonuses. As you already heard, I started a new podcast – Simplify and Enjoy . While here on Couple Money we talk about getting on the same page with money as a couple, Simplify and ENjoy is more focus on families especially with young kids who are interested in pursuing financial independence. Besides looking at the numbers, of course, we’re going to be looking at how to design your life around your family. How do you make the finances work so you are hitting your goals but you’re also enjoying the journey? So this week I’m going to share the first two episodes from the series – easy ways to manage your money when you’re busy and then the second episode is finding your path to financial independence when you’re raising young kids. I hope you enjoy these episodes and that they help you with your own journey to financial freedom and independence as a family! Handy Tools to Save More If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are key resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint ,  Zeta Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Manage Your 401(k) Easily:  blooom Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Simplify and Enjoy:  Financial Freedom for Families 5 Days to $5K Course How to Achieve Financial Independence Through Big Wins Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. They have competitive rates on  checking  and  savings  accounts! Support the Podcast! <p

S9 E6 · Thu, June 27, 2019

Mastering Your 401(k): Finding the Best Investment Options for You

Want to get the most out of your 401(k)? Learn the key guidelines on how you can choose the best investment options for you!  Want to get the most out of your 401(k)? Learn the key guidelines on how you can choose the best investment options for you!  Making the Most of Your 401(k) Chances are if you’re investing for your retirement, the bulk of that money is stashed away in your 401(k). For those whose employers offer them, they’re an easy option to sign up for and contribute towards. But are how comfortable are you with how it is doing? To help sort things out,  Jonah Kaufman  is joining me for this episode. Jonah is a financial advisor at Coastal’s Wealth Management Services. These will give you some starting points and ideas on what you need to talk about. In this episode we’ll discuss: Why your 401(k)s are a great foundation for retirement savings What factors to consider when you’re investing Understanding some of the different options that your 401(k) may offer Hope you enjoy! Just to make sure we’re on the same page, this episode is NOT about specific investment advice. You would need to consult a qualified financial professional who can evaluate your unique circumstances. Resources to Stay on Top of Your 401(k) Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Master Your 401(k): How Much Do We Need to Contribute? Master Your 401(k): Why You Need to Keep an Eye Out for Fees Robots Can Manage Your Money. But Even They Need Humans <a href= "https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/23/smarter-living/financial-decisions.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2F401(k)%27s%20and%20Similar%20Plans&action=click&

S9 E5 · Thu, June 20, 2019

Financial Planning: How Are We Doing With Money?

Today we’re talking about how you two can really review the big picture and make sure you hit YOUR big money goals! Financial Check-ups   The first half of this year is about over, so how are you guys doing right now? It’s funny how time seems to speed up and slow down. Looking back we have had some big ups and downs in the past four or so weeks, both financially and in our lives. Last month our adorable cat had some seisures and other issues and in a span of week – if that – he went from sick to passing away. It was so fast, the vets were trying to figure out what happened. And because a few issues, we just got his remains last week and paid his final expenses. Thankfully we have savings, but between emergency hospital exam, tests, and his vet visits, it definitely was pricey. Besides that weight, we had good things to celebrate. We were invited to two baby showers and then last weekend we went to two graduation parties. And of course, they are bunched together. But that’s life, right? At least for us. And I find it so easy to let certain things slip by because there are more pressing or immediate things happening. The danger is by focusing only on the thing right in front of you, that you miss important stuff.  I don’t think money is the most important thing. I do however realize that much of our day to day and long term goals need us to be on top on our finances. We should have a game plan for our money and a system that allows us to put in place so when things come up – and they will- our finances keep chugging along. Which is why I’m so glad Cathrine Bryant is joining in today’s episode. She’s a financial advisor at  Coastal Wealth Management . In this episode we’ll discuss: Getting a financial snapshot and prioritizing which goal or two is your focus Setting up a system to both track your money and getting into a habit of money dates Finding a financial planner when you need a check-up with a professional Let’s get started! Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money Want some help staying on top of your money? Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to Find the Right Financial Advisor f

S9 E4 · Thu, June 13, 2019

Car Buying Tips: Getting the Best Deals on Car Loans

Today we’re going to show you how to get the best deal when buying a car! What You Need to Know About Car Loans Cars and car payments are a way of life for many couples. According to the latest data I could find, there’s a record 2.5 million auto loans originated. Average monthly payments for new vehicles are $530 for new vehicles and for used cars, it’s around $381 . That’s certainly a big chunk of their budget going to cars. We’re a bit different. Once we paid off our car loan with the Jetta, we’ve bought our cars outright. As a personal and financial decision, we choose to go debt free with cars. And if you’re curious about how that works, then you’ll want to read our guide on  buying cars with cash , which takes you through how we save up and buy our cars. It’s helped us skip having a car payment for the past 10 years. And personally, I feel like going debt free on cars is the best option, but every couple is different. Maybe you have a car that’s having to have repairs and because you’ve been throwing money to keep it going you don’t have much of a down payment? Or you’d like to go for a used car, but your spouse is hesitant and isn’t willing to go that route? Throughout the seasons, I’ve put out the offer to you to send in your money questions. I did a call for this season as well. And guess what? Car loans came up. A lot. Which isn’t surprising,  considering that 85% of new car purchases and 53% of used car purchases use a loan . But if you get a car loan, is there a way to make sure it’s extremely affordable and if you decide to pay it off sooner, would the numbers work in your favor? It’s a challenge that I want to tackle today. By examining the numbers and pushing away the hype and ads, I think you can get a clearer picture of the real costs and then figure out what’s the best option for you. I’m extra excited because one of you lovely listeners is the guest. And Maggie actually pitched this topic to me in person. Yep, a Raleigh listener. Maggie and her husband Ben are trying to figure out what their options are for buying a car. And they were kind enough to share their situation and questions. What’s cool to me about is that David Jacobs VP of Consumer from our sponsor and partner this season, Coastal Credit Union is going to give us some insights on the lending side. In this episode we’ll discuss: How to figure out how much car you really can afford Getting the Best Rate on a Car Loan Running the numbers to uncover some loan traps – like if those 0% deals on new cars are really a good deal I want you two to be able to fe

S9 E3 · Thu, June 06, 2019

How to Double Your Savings Rate

Double Your Savings This week in the community newsletter I asked a question – can you really save half your income? Think about that for a second. Why is this important? Whether you’re paying off debt, saving up to buy a house, start family, travel, or invest more for your future – all of these goals have something in common. They need money. How much you save of your income can have an incredible impact on how fast you reach your big financial goals. Now unless you have a stash of cash under in house or an inheritance, that money is probably coming out of your budget. Now another quick question – do you know the average savings rate in the U.S. now? Take a guess. It’s around 6%. As you probably guess that’s not going to cut it if you want to knock out any of those big goals soon. There’s no way around it. If you want to hot those goals fairly quickly, you have to master the art of saving. But half your income? That’s a bit much, right? Don’t let anyone tell that’s not a huge deal because it is. However, it is possible to start working on bumping up that savings rate and one of my goals this summer is getting you to double yours. We’re bringing back the summer of savings.  I want this summer to be your best ever. Today on the podcast and throughout the season on this site, I’ll be sharing strategies to help you grow your stash while still enjoying things. In this episode we’ll discuss: A simple path to notching up your savings rate Psychological hacks to save more Tools that will make your life much easier Oh and stay tuned until because we’re also bringing back the summer of savings giveaway! Let’s get started! Handy Tools to Increase Your Savings Rate If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are key resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Manage Your 401(k) Easily:  blooom Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Simplify and Enjoy:  Financial Freedom for Families Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. They have competitive rates on  checking  and <a href="https://coupl

S9 E2 · Thu, May 30, 2019

Wedding Budget Tips: How to Plan, Save, and Pay for Your Special Day

Wedding planner Megan Gillikin as plenty of insider tips to help you plan a fantastic wedding (and still stick to your budget)!  Even though it’s about 13 years ago, I remember being stressed at times when planning our wedding. Just like we heard at the top of the show, as soon as you announce your engagement it can feel like you’re being swarmed with questions about the big day. But as much as your loved ones mean well, it can be easy to forget how personal this is. For some, it’s something they planned and dreamed for years while others are looking for a very laid back and casual affair. It’s a celebration and a promise that you to make to each other in front of your loved ones depending on the wedding you have. There can be plenty of moving parts which can be overwhelming and stressful. The two of you need to sit down and start talking about which things you’d like to have and which things are must-haves You also may have family members who want to help out. You have venues, vendors, and maybe some out of town guests to make arrangements for. Oh, and of course paying for it. Which is why I’m happy Megan Gillikin is on the podcast today. She’s the owner and lead consultant for  A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning  so she has plenty of insider tips to help you have a fantastic wedding! In this episode we get into: Establishing your must-haves and wedding budget What to do when the family wants to help pay for your wedding Ice breakers to get the ball rolling Hope you enjoy! If you want to hear from another bride who had a beautiful wedding on a small budget, listen to  my interview with Jessi Fearon . She and her husband Pat managed a  sweet and special wedding for $500 ! Resources to Plan Your Wedding If you’re getting married, please check out these resources so you can plan out your special day without going into debt. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Pulling Off A $5,000 Wedding in NYC <a href= "https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1623159857/ref=as_li_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=1623159857&l

S9 E1 · Thu, May 23, 2019

How to Talk About Money Together (without Starting a Fight)

Need to talk about money, but worried about starting a fight? Learn easy and stressless ways you two can have the money talk and get on the same page with your finances!    How to Talk About Money (without Starting a Fight) While it makes for good TV drama, finding out your spouse has been hiding massive debt is so not the way to start talking about money. But how do you do that – how do you start talking about money? Certified Financial Planner and NY Times best-selling author Carl Richards is on today to share some ways you can begin. In this episode we get into: Why it’s hard for most couples to talk about money How money dates can keep things light and fun Ice breakers to get the ball rolling Hope you enjoy! If you’d like to hear more from Carl, please listen to our first interview about  creating a one-page financial plan ! Resources to Help the Money Talk Go Easier If you two are ready, here are some fantastic resources to make talking about (and managing) money much less stressful! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from  Coastal Credit Union ! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come  check out Coastal today ! Meet Carl Richards Carl Richards is a Certified Financial Planner ™ and creator of the  Sketch Guy column, appearing weekly in the New York Times  since 2010. Carl has also been featured on Marketplace Money,  Oprah.com , and  Forbes.com . In addition, Carl has become a frequent keynote speaker at financial planning conferences and visual learning events around the world. Through his simple sketches, Carl makes complex financial concepts easy to understand. His sketches also serve as the foundation for his two books, The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money and The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money. Keep Takeaways for Talking About Money Before we close up I want to focus on some key takeawa

S8 E11 · Fri, April 05, 2019

How to Reset Your Money with a Financial Spring Cleaning

Need to reset your money? Learn how to do some spring cleaning with your finances to start building momentum with your biggest goals! For some reason, I like to use April is a sort of reminder to review our financial progress. Maybe because of the deadline for taxes. Or maybe it’s because it’s financial literacy month. Anyways, during April I’ll poke around all our accounts, including investments to make sure we’re moving in the right direction. I’ll also review our goals for the year and see if we need to adjust anything. If you’ve signed up for the community newsletter you got a look at a few of our goals for this year. We’re looking to: Make a dent on our mortgage with extra payments Have enough saved up to replace a car And for me, I’m working on getting in shape to tackle a 5k obstacle course And if you haven’t, go ahead and take a little extra time checking your goals and numbers. Things can be going smoothly, which is awesome. But it’s not – like you’re behind on a goal or you two can’t seem to make any headway on something, this episode is for you. We’re going to look at how you can reset things, do some financial spring cleaning, and build up some momentum. In this episode we get into: Why finances are a lot like fitness Best resources to get on the same page as a couple and How to start paying off debt faster, saving more, and creating your own path to financial freedom and independence Hope you enjoy! Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money Want to learn more about getting a redo on your money? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Debt Pay off Worksheet Change Your Habits and Own Your Finances Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You? 3 Steps to Staying Motivated While Paying Off Debt 50 Ways to Give Your Finances A Fresh Start <a href= "ht

S8 E10 · Fri, March 29, 2019

How Much House Can We (Really) Afford to Buy?

Today we’re going to see how you can prepare your finances so you can buy a house without going broke! Things are about to get hectic around here. We just heard from our neighbor that the developer is going to start building the townhouses across the street from us starting next week. Buying a House – Always a Smart Move? Here in Raleigh if there’s a sliver of land, they’ll develop it. It’s a hot market right now and homes are going up at a rapid pace. Our property value has been rising since we bought our house three years ago. We’ve received mail from realtors and have seen upticks with estimates from real estate sites like Realtor, Zillow, and Redfin. We take these estimates with a grain of salt, but they are a reflection of the home value growing. Seeing this growth you might think we’re firmly in the camp of every one needs to buy a house. But we’re not. And here’s the kicker – not every couple benefits from becoming a home owner. In this episode we get into: how to know if buying a home is right for you real and total costs of home ownership how to figure out how much you can afford so you can buy a house and still pursue financial independence Hope you enjoy! Resources on Buying a House If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find an affordable place you love! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money My friend was about to buy a million-dollar house with no research The Fallacy of Homeownership What You Need to Know About Mortgages 9 Questions to Ask Before Buying a House Is It Better to Rent or Own a Home? Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Hones

S8 E9 · Thu, March 21, 2019

Tips for Starting and Building a Sustainable Side Hustle

Interested in knocking out your debt faster, saving for a big goal (like a house down payment), or pivoting your career path? Use these tips to not only start a business but grow a sustainable side hustle! Launching a Side Hustle Starting a business, work from home, side hustle - you don’t have to be online for 5 seconds before you see an ad, site, or read someone saying how easy it is to get started. It’s kind of half-true. I would say there are more low-cost ways to get started with making money on the side, but free? No. Whether you’re working on the side through an app like Uber, Wag, or GrubHub, flipping furniture and other yard sale treasure for profit, or working strictly online, starting a business is probably the easiest part. Running and growing one? That’s the work. I know some of you are interested in knocking out your debt faster or you’re to save up for a big goal. Maybe a buy a house or bump up your savings for your little one’s arrival and you’re thinking, could a side business be what I need? Honestly, it could. There is a flexibility that you have when you’re in charge. But it’ no cakewalk. So today I want to share my chat with Marc over at  Vital Dollar  about his journey from working in an office, starting a side hustle, to working from home full-time. In this episode, we’ll discuss: Why he made this transition from employee to an entrepreneur and when he knew he was ready Tips to help you use that income to reach your goals faster And if do become a full-time entrepreneur, how to live on an income that can fluctuate Let’s get started! Resources Here are some fantastic resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money 7 Tips for Living On an Inconsistent Income Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on <a href= "https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/couple-money-podcast-build-your-ma

S8 E8 · Fri, March 15, 2019

How to Go on a Fabulous and Frugal Family Vacation

Do you want to go on a fabulous family vacation, but you’re still paying down debt? Learn how you can save big on your next getaway while still knocking out your debt! Saving Up for a Fun and Frugal Family Vacation When’s your spring break? Our oldest has hers next month, but she’s already counting down the days. There’s something we love about having a little getaway as a family. The challenge for families that are on their debt free journey is how to make it work. ‘How do we take family vacations while we’re still paying off debt?’ I totally get it. You’re not going to put your life on hold just because you’re in debt. That said, you’re going to have to get savvy with how you plan your trip. In this episode, we’ll discuss: Setting up a vacation fund (and an easy way to build your stash) Tips to help you save some serious cash and still have a fantastic, debt-free getaway Whether or not travel hacking is the best option for you Let’s get started! Resources for Cheap Family Trips Looking for ways to save on your next family getaway? Here are some fantastic resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Which hotels give dinner for free 3 reasons “budget” hotels DESTROY nice ones 7 Tips for Traveling with Kids How to Travel Like a Rock Star on the Cheap Better Bidding : There are forums and sites online that can help you figure out what it will take to your bid for a hotel accepted. Best Travel Apps to Snatch Last Minute Deals Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets

S8 E7 · Thu, March 07, 2019

Protecting Your Older Loved Ones from Financial Scams

Learn how you can protect your loved ones financial abuse and how to minimize the damage if it happens ! Financial Scams and Protecting Your Family A few years ago, my husband’s nana had sent over money to a scammer pretending to be him. She had thought he needed help and so she generously sent it in. It was a wake call for us . After looking into this and talking with others, our family isn’t the only one who’s had to deal with this. Last year, a  record 24,454 suspected cases of elder financial abuse were reported to the US Treasury Dept by banks . I can’t tell you for certain why they’re being targeted, but there are two key factors to consider. By 2030 US Census Bureau estimates 1 in 5 people will be 65 or older. Two, there’s a significant amount of money tied to our older friends and family. According to the American Bankers Association, 70% of bank deposits are with people over 50. So you have a growing and market that is appealing to scammers. So what can we do to protect our grandparents, parents, and other older loved ones? Today Joe Mecca from  Coastal Credit Union  is back. In this episode, we’ll discuss: What financial scams are out there Warning signs and What to look out for with your loved ones How your bank or credit unions should be protecting you Hope this helps! If you want to hear more from Joe and find out more about credit unions please  check out my interview here . We discuss  how credit unions can be a better option for couples looking to grow their wealth . Resources to Win with Your Money Want to go ahead and tackle your big marriage and money goals? Here are the resources we mentioned in today’s episode along with some extras! 3 Critical Ways to Prevent Elder Financial Abuse Scamming Grandma: Financial abuse of seniors hits a record Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpst

S8 E6 · Thu, February 28, 2019

How to Prepare for the Costs of Retirement and Healthcare

Learn how you can prepare and save for the costs of retirement! How Much Do We Need to Save for Retirement? If you’ve used those free online calculator to find your retirement number, you probably were amazed at how much they say you need. A million, two million, maybe more for just one of you. How do you feel when you see those numbers? Considering that  1 in 3 Americans has less than $5,000 saved for retirement, chances are there’s room for improvement . Unless you’re living in denial about retirement, you’re probably dealing many of the hurdles couples deal with when it comes to saving and investing for retirement. 1- You have a full plate right now. As parents with two little ones, we always have something to do. We’re not complaining – this is really a fun season of life right now – but realistically our time and attention are focused around them. 2- Bills and debts. You may not be able to save more because there’s not much to give right now. If you have to pay credit cards, car loan, student loans and have a mortgage, your money is pretty much spent already. 3 – You’re not a financial planner. Hop online and you’’ll quickly see that there is endless free advice about what you should be doing. And it can be overwhelming at best and wrong for you at worst. Sifting through all that can be a mess. Running the numbers is also difficult. Especially with one area of retirement that we have to deal with now – healthcare costs and insurance. How do you know how much you’ll need years, decades down the line? The answer is there is no way to perfect predict how much you need. But there are ways you can start drawing a plan that fits your circumstances and your goals. Which is I’m happy Danielle Kunkle Roberts is here on today’s episode. Danielle is the co-founder of  Boomer Benefits . Boomer Benefits specializes in Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance. Which you may be thinking, I’m too young for Medicare, but I think she’s perfect because she has a close up of view of how prepared people really are for retirement. She’s going to offer suggestions, ideas, and tips on what you can do now so you can be better equipped to handle the costs of retirement. And how your health insurance choices now can help or harm you later. In this episode, we’ll discuss: Prioritizing your finances How HDHP and HSAs work and when they are right for you How HSAs can help with healthcare costs during retirement Hope you enjoy! Resources to Win with Your Money Want to go ahead and tackle your big marriage and money goals? Here are the resources we mentioned in today’s episode along with some extras! Best Budget an

S8 E5 · Thu, February 21, 2019

How to Tackle Your Taxes and Maximize Your Refund This Year

Today I’m answering your biggest tax questions. We’re doing a quick and easy take covering what you need to know this year when you file, how to maximize your refund, and set yourselves up with your finances for next year! How to Maximize Your Tax Refunds with Credit and Deductions There are some people in this world who are giddy right now because it’s tax season. Yeah, this is like the SuperBowl for some money nerds. And while I admit to being a number cruncher at times, I have to say taxes aren’t really that exciting for me. Yep, guilty as charged. However, I’ve seen how important getting our tax done has been for our finances. Both with planning throughout the year as well as using our refunds to reach our financial goals faster. And I want you to see taxes in a better, maybe less stressful light so today I’ll tackle the big questions. Heads up, even though I enjoy covering personal finances, I’m not a tax expert. There will be plenty of resources in today’s show notes for sure. But this episode I will do my best to break things down and talk like a normal, non-money nerd. In this episode, we’ll discuss: The difference between tax deductions and credits Major difference we noticed with the new tax law Making the most of your tax refund Hope you enjoy! Resources to Tackle Your Taxes Looking to make taxes less stressful? Here are some of my favorite resources! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint TurboTax  — We use them for our taxes Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Your 2019 Taxes: What You Need to Know About the Tax Reform Bill Support the Podcast Thank you so much for listening! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. I’d love for more couples to work together to dump their debt and pursue their dreams together! Please leave your review on  Apple  or  Stitcher . <str

S8 E4 · Thu, February 14, 2019

Busting Money Myths with Anthony O'Neal

Can you have nice things when you're paying off debt? What millionaire habits can you pick up today? Personal finance author and money expert Anthony O'Neal shares his tips and thoughts! Busting Common Money Myths   Many times we mismanage our money because we’ve developed ideas and habits that are harmful to our financial health. If we want to change or help our spouse to change, it means we have to examine those money myths and habits. And it can be hard to change. That's why I’m really happy to have personal finance author and millennial money expert Anthony O'Neal on today. He’s made the leap himself. At age 19, Anthony ONeal was deep in debt and short on hope with no direction of where his life was headed. But after hitting rock bottom, he turned his life around and committed to helping students find and pursue their passions. We met up over at the NC State University's bell-tower before his Smart Money event last week for a chat about money myths and habits. In this episode we get into: how you can have nice stuff while paying off debt what millionaires do differently how to financially prepare your kids for the real world Hope you enjoy! Resources to Build Good Money Habits Looking to become debt free and build wealth? Here are some resources to help you build smart money habits. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money <a href="https://www.an

S8 E3 · Wed, February 06, 2019

How to Rethink Real Estate as an Investment to Build Wealth

Think your home is an investment? For most people, it's not.  Learn how to rethink real estate so you can build your wealth and become financially independent! Buying a house is usually the biggest purchase we make. Right now in the United States, the median price of homes that sold is $225,900 . For those living in high cost of living areas like California and DC, you’re looking at closer to 350k to $400k respectively . Just considering the numbers, you can see that you really need to do your homework when it comes to buying your house. A misstep or mistake can cost you a significant amount of money. I don't want that to happen to you. When \ever you buy your home I want it to feel like a blessing and a burden. We’ve had several episodes about the house hunting, getting a mortgage, and finding the best home for you. Today, though, I want to get into the root of every bad decision we made when it comes to real estate - how we approach it. I can’t even count how many people had such strong opinions when we were house hunting. And not all of them were right. There so many justifications for buying any house. ‘You’re throwing away money when you rent’ ‘Take advantage of the tax savings’ And my favorite - ‘real estate is an investment’ People were saying this and they no idea what kind of house or neighborhood we were looking at. That’s not to say buying a house is a mistake. It can actually be a smart move when done right. And if you’re looking at investing and are willing to put in the work, real estate can be an income stream. But how you approach it makes all the difference . Which is why I asked Julien and Kiersten, the creators and the couple behind Rich and Regular to come on today. They are not only are homeowners, but they are also real investors who are working towards financial independence. Their properties are a part of their plan so I thought they would be perfect to talk about how to approach real estate wisely. In this episode we’ll discuss: Why they don’t consider their home an investment How they got into investing in real estate Their strategy around real estate to reach financial independence Hope you enjoy! Resources for Buying a House If you two are ready to get the balll rolling with buying a house or start looking at real estate investing, here are some reso

S8 E2 · Wed, January 30, 2019

Finding Financial Independence and Freedom as a Family

Today Grant Sabatier, the author of Financial Freedom , goes through how he was able to become a millionaire and financially independent by 30. More importantly, he also discusses how you can create your own path based on your goals and priorities. Get on the Path to Financial Freedom It’s almost the end of January, how are things going for you? Over at our FB group, Thriving Families, I've been keeping an eye on some of the goals you’ve been sharing and I’m really impressed. We some tackling debt, many mentioning their student loans. Meal prepping is also on the list. That’s a fantastic money saver and will help you tremendously with your health goals. Quite a few talked about earning more, both through their regular 9-5 job as well as side hustles. On the surface, these goals seem to go in different directions, but when we chat in the group and get into the whys behind the goals, I noticed a recurring theme. Having more flexibility and security for our families. And for many, that path includes reaching financial independence. But when you’re deep in debt or just starting out, it can seem overwhelming and in some cases out of reach. However, you can take steps now to get your finances in a great spot and open up more options for your family. Today Grant Sabatier, the author of Financial Freedom and the creator of Millennial Money, goes through how he was able to become a millionaire and financially independent by 30. More importantly, he also discusses how you can create your own path based on your goals and priorities. In this episode, we get into: Defining what financial independence and freedom means to you Why simply cutting expenses won’t get you to where you want to go How side hustles can enrich your lives and get you close to your FI dreams Hope you enjoy! Resources to Get on the Path to Financial Freedom If you two are ready to make some real progress on your big goals, here are helpful resources to check out. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money The Secret

S8 E1 · Thu, January 24, 2019

How to Save More Money as a Family

Does your family budget feel tight? Learn 3 key ways on how you can save hundreds of dollars each month while raising your kids and still having fun! Saving More as a Family I know that financial independence is a buzzword in the personal finance sphere. You got stories where people are saving 60, 70% of and retiring in 5, 10 years. I commend anyone is who simplifies their lives and removes the needless excess so they can achieve the goal. What I do see missing in some of these dramatic stories are the numbers, details, and well, relatability. Saving 70% of a $200k income is an achievement, but so is saving 20% of a $50,000. And to be helpful to families of different incomes, we need to look at the principles behind and it really comes down to mastering the art of living well on less. Notice I didn’t say living on less. You do have to spend less than you earn- that’s a core financial principle - but the other is living well. This is about a financial diet where you deprive yourself just to save more. This is about a lifestyle where you nail what truly matters to you, cut out the noise, and move your money towards your dreams. Now, before you can pay off your debts, have an emergency fund, or invest for your future you have to have some money, right? We have to develop our muscle with saving more. Which is why we have Ansley Fender on today. She’s a Personal Finance Coach and Writer. Ansley helps people make sense of their money by designing spending plans that align with their goals and lifestyle preferences. She also understands firsthand what it’s like to accumulate $100,000 in student loan and consumer debt while climbing her way out as a new mom. In this episode, we get into: How to pursue financial freedom when you want to have a life Ways to have fun as a family without breaking the bank How you can earn some extra cash by doing things you already enjoy I hope you enjoy! Resources to Save Money Want to start boosting your savings rate? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom 5 Days to $5K : It’s my free weeklong course to show you how to find, save, and make extra money so you can  dump debt and save more!  <a href="https://www.youtube.com/wat

S7 E15 · Wed, December 19, 2018

Year End Financial Reviews, Overcoming Setbacks, and Simplifying

Today we’re wrapping up the season with how to overcome setbacks and plan for your best year!  Financial Wins, Overcoming Setbacks, and Planning for Your Best Year How has this year been treating you? To be honest, things have been a real roller coaster.  We've made several trips this year to visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing homes, or just to check in on them.  We've also had a dear friend lose her battle with cancer this past week (hence the delay on the finale).  I appreciate having this option because I know years ago when we were in debt, this wouldn't have seemed possible.  It's made me more determined to continue helping families be in a better spot with their money so they can have more options like stepping back. I hate when money is a source of stress when you have bigger things to think about. With that in mind, today’s show is focused on how to do a year-end review. In this episode, we’ll get into: Our progress on our goals for the year and doing a year end revie What to do when you have a set back with finances Why families need to simplify and enjoy Hope you enjoy! Resources to Having Your Best Year with Finances Want to learn more? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Simplify and Enjoy 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster 5 Money Books for Couples Looking to Become Finan

S7 E14 · Thu, December 06, 2018

How to Win With Your Money Goals in 2019

Today we’re going over to figure out the best money goals for you and how to tackle them together! Tackling Your Big Money Goals It's December, can you believe it? What are your plans for this month? Last weekend we went up to visit family and friends in Virginia. We had a wonderful time, but we're a bit drained seeing so many people at once. This weekend we're relaxing. Now that we took care of the last bit of stuff for health insurance and investments that my husband's employer needed for next year, we should have time to chat a bit more on what we want to do overall. Typically we both have ideas on what we like to knock out and usually, we end up with 2 or 3 big goals for the year. Last year we focused on the basement renovation (1st phase done!), family trips (2 bigger and several weekend trips), and paying more towards the mortgage (upped our monthly mortgage payments). Proud of what we did and we'd like to build on that momentum. And based on the emails and messages I got it looks like you're thinking the same thing. So today we're going over how to reach your money goals together. In this episode we’ll get into: Why people fail with their goals Choosing the right goal for you Setting up a system that makes it easy for you to knock out your goal You’re ready? Let’s go! Resources to Knocking Out Your Money Goals Together Want to learn more? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money The Smart Way to Build Your Emergency Fund 3 Keys to Knocking Out Your Big Money Goals Together Why Most People Fail with Their Goals 10 Personal Finance Goals To Help Your Family Build Wealth This Year How Setting Financial Goals Will Get You To Financial Freedom with Michael Kay Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you

S7 E12 · Wed, November 28, 2018

Marriage and Money Mailbag: Extra Income, Your Retirement Number, and More

Today we’re answering your marriage and money questions - how to earn extra money on the side, figuring out your retirement number, and how to make the most of year-end bonus! Marriage and Money Mailbag: Extra Income, Your Retirement Number, and More It's that time again - our community mailbag!  It's a chance for me to answer your burning money questions. with the year wrapping up have some good ones today.  In this episode we’ll get into: How to make extra money when you don’t have time for a second job How to make your bonus go far Figuring out how much you two need to retire Let’s get started! Resources to Win with Your Money Want to go ahead and tackle your big marriage and money goals? Here are the resources we mentioned in today's episode along with some extras! Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grow Your Stash Faster:  High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Rock Your Retirement The 4% Rule Your Side Hustle Is Worth A Lot More Than You Think Kevin's Side Hustle Reports (These side hustles helped him pay off over $87000 in less than 3 years!) Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on  Apple  or  Stitcher . Grab a copy of  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money . My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together! Music Credit Like the musi

S7 E12 · Wed, November 21, 2018

Should You Give While Getting Out of Debt?

You’ve probably heard how giving not only benefits the recipients but the giver. However, what do you do when you’re in debt? Learn how you can pay off debt and give more to the causes that matter most to you! Giving While in Debt? When people ask this, two things jump out at me. First, they have a generous spirit. That’s fantastic. Second, their current budget isn’t working for them. That's something that needs to be adjusted. What if I told you there’s a way you can take care of the essentials, make progress on paying off your debts, and still give? Today Certified Financial Educational Instructor and The Money Speakeasy founder Wilson Muscadin is here to discuss how. In this episode we get into: Why we struggle with money A counter-intuitive way to think about how you budget How giving can help be wiser with your money Let’s get started! Resources to Give Back More If you're looking to create a budget that reflects your values while still taking care of the essentials, here are some resources to check out. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Partners in Wealth Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Total Money Makeover Giving USA 2018: Americans Gave $410.02 Billion to Charity in 2017 Charitable Giving in America: Some Facts and Figures Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on  Apple  or  Stitcher . Grab a copy of  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money

S7 E11 · Wed, November 14, 2018

How to Protect Yourselves from the Most Common Financial Scams and Fraud

Part of protecting your finances means managing your accounts, both online and offline. Today we’ll share how you can arm yourself against fraud and scams! Keeping an Eye Out for Scams and Fraud With so many people shopping in stores and online,  scammers are all too happy to grab your data and financial information . While there’s nothing you can do to completely eliminate these scams, there ways you can protect yourselves.  Joe Mecca from Coastal Federal Credit Union is back to wrap up this two-parter. In this episode we get into: Big offline scams and online phishing to watch out for Protecting yourself with strong passwords Apps and resources to protect you and your finances We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started! Resources to Protect Your Identity and Finances If you’ve had your wallet or purse stolen or lost, here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out: IdentityTheft.gov Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft FBI Futurist Shares His Top 5 Tips For Protecting Your Identity Online How to Fight Back Against Identity Theft The Equifax Data Breach: What to Do if You’re Affected Coastal Federal Credit Union Credit Union Locator Annual Credit Report : Free way to review each of your credit reports For freezing your accounts or putting an alert you need to contact the credit bureaus. Equifax: 1-888-766-0008 Experian: 1-888-397-3742 TransUnion: 1-800-680-72892 Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on  Apple  or  St

S7 E10 · Wed, November 07, 2018

What to Do If Your Wallet or Purse was Stolen

Protect yourself from identity theft and minimize damage with this handy guide on what to do when your wallet or purse is stolen!  My Wallet was Stolen, Now What? If you’re subscribed to the community newsletter you may remember that in July I mentioned that my purse got stolen in Denver. We were over in Colorado to celebrate my cousin getting married. Beautiful weekend and celebration, but yeah that was a sour note for sure. We spent a good chunk of time on the phone and online to get things squared away. As we were working to avoid getting hit with any unauthorized charges and sort out things with TSA since our flight back was only a few days away, I wished I had a handy and quick guide on what I needed to do. I hope you never have your wallet or purse stolen, but if you do I want to make things easier. That’s why I have Joe Mecca from Coastal Credit Union on. Here’s joining me today to discuss on what you need to know to protect yourself against identity theft and what steps you need to take to recover or replace what was stolen. I want to help to minimize the damage and stress so you can get back to your routine and focus on the important things. Resources to Protect Your Identity and Finances If you've had your wallet or purse stolen or lost, here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out: IdentityTheft.gov Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft FBI Futurist Shares His Top 5 Tips For Protecting Your Identity Online How to Fight Back Against Identity Theft The Equifax Data Breach: What to Do if You’re Affected Coastal Federal Credit Union Credit Union Locator Annual Credit Report : Free way to review each of your credit reports For freezing your accounts or putting an alert you need to contact the credit bureaus. Equifax: 1-888-766-0008 Experian: 1-888-397-3742 TransUnion: 1-800-680-72892. Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a r

S7 E9 · Wed, October 31, 2018

Marriage and Money Q&As: How Much to Save for a Baby, Dealing with a Disability and Medical Expenses, Plus More

How much do we need to save for a baby? How do we handle medical expenses and finances with a disability? We answer your biggest marriage and money questions!  Marriage and Money Q&As Welcome to another edition of our community mailbag show! This is where we take a break from our regular episodes which usually deal with one topic and instead tackle several of your marriage and money questions in smaller bites. Today we have Phillip and Julia Olson as well as Brynee Conroy here on the podcast to help answer them In this episode we get into: How to handle the costs of having a baby Dealing with disabilities and finances What to do when the traditional advice does not apply Let’s dive in! Resources Mentioned Want to dig in some more? Here are some of the resources we mentioned in our episode plus more! The Art of Finance  Two Cents The Feminist Financial Handbook Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on  Apple  or  Stitcher . Grab a copy of  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money . My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by  Lee Rosevere .

S7 E8 · Thu, October 25, 2018

How to Bank Better: Finding the Best Places for Your Hard Earned Money

Tired of getting hit with fees from your bank? Today we’re going to see how you can find the best place to stash your cash to save and earn more money! Best Banks for Your Money All this month we’ve been talking about big decisions you need to make about health insurance and investing that will have an impact not only on your finances next year, but beyond. These are things you should care about for sure, but I want to cover pretty much a crucial decision you don’t want to ignore - your bank accounts. Where and how you bank can either help you reach your financial goals faster if you got a great banking partner or it can hinder you and drain your wallet if you have a dud. In this episode we’ll get into: why / where/ and how you bank matters 3 alternatives to the big banks that can save and make you more money How to easily set up and automate your money Hope you enjoy! Resources to Get the Most Out of Your Bank Accounts Are you two ready to master your joint accounts? Do you want to create a system that fits your priorities and styles? Here are some resources to check out: Coastal Federal Credit Union   Want a Happier Marriage? Combine Bank Accounts Finding the Best Banking and Investing Accounts Optimize Your Bank or Credit Union Accounts Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Track These 2 Key Numbers to Master Your Money Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on  Apple  or <a href="https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/elle-martinez/cou

S7 E7 · Fri, October 19, 2018

Smart Retirement Moves for Your 401(k)

Smart Retirement Moves for Your 401(k) Last week we look at retirement planning from a high level - figuring out a ballpark of what you’d like your retirement to look like as well as how it fits in with what you’re doing now. This week we’re focused on a very specific part - figuring out what to invest in when there are plenty of options. Since I’m not a financial planner and I have no idea of your very specific finances, this episode will cover the process. In this episode we’ll get into: Prioritizing your investments Look at whether index funds are really a smart move Optimizing your 401(k)  Hope you enjoy! Resources to Rock Your Retirement Ready to invest for retirement? Here are some fantastic resources to set things up and help you plan for your retirement together. Rock Retirement Investing Made Simple Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom The Secret Sauce to Financial Independence & Early Retirement Retirement Answer Man Podcast  Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Financial Independence and Parenthood Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools How to Get on the Same Page with Financial Independence Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on  Apple  or  Stitcher . Grab a copy of  Jumpstart Your Marri

S7 E6 · Wed, October 10, 2018

How to Rock Your Retirement with Roger Whitney

Feel like you have a full plate and not enough time (or money!) to plan for retirement? Learn step by step how you two can rock retirement and still have fun now!  Real Retirement Planning for Real Life Gotta love analytics. You all that data floating about. Once a week I look over things including what people searching when they discover Couple Money. And you know what I found? Believe or not, I noticed pretty much every day people discover my site with some variation of this one question. How much do we need to retire? It’s a big question for sure, but I don’t think it’s the right question. At least not to start with. As you probably discovered with that first question I asked, retirement can be completely different things to everyone. And sometimes you two can have differing opinions. So how do you figure what you need to do? You have to look at it at two different angles. Of course, there’s the technical part with the specific investments in your portfolio. But you before you do that you need a game plan. One that is robust and at the same time, can adjust as your life changes. Which is why I brought the Retirement Answer Man himself - Roger Whitney! Not only is he is a Certified Financial Planner who’s worked for over 25 years and he’s the author of Rock Retirement. His mission is to shift people’s mindset from investing in a portfolio to investing in what they love. Because this is a huge deal, we’re having a two-parter. In this episode we’re discussing: The problem with traditional retirement planning and calculators Striking that balance between taking care of things down the line while still loving your life now How to rethink and plan your retirement as a couple Let’s jump right in! Resources to Rock Your Retirement Ready to prepare for retirement while ill having some fun now? Here are some fantastic resources to set things up and help you plan for your retirement together. Rock Retirement - Roger has written an incredible book that breaks down how you can plan and save not just for retirement, but a life you love now! Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom The Secret Sauce to Financial Independence & Early Retirement Retirement Answer Man Podcast  Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving: <a href= "https://

S7 E5 · Wed, October 03, 2018

Getting Affordable Health Insurance for Your Family

Trying to sort through all the health insurance plans HR has given you? Find out how you can choose an affordable health insurance plan that covers your family's needs!  Affordable Health Insurance for You Health insurance is a huge expense. Last year when we reviewed the health plan options, we found out that premiums were going up. again. No surprise there, but the amount did catch us off guard. If we were to stay with the 'basic' family plan we had, our monthly premiums would be almost the same as our mortgage payment! That seemed ridiculous. If you're in the same boat - looking for an affordable health insurance plan that will cover your family's needs, save this episode. Michael Dinich is back to help decipher and decode health plans so you two will be armed to make the best choice for you and your situation. In this episode we discuss: exactly how copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and more work so you know what coming out of your pocket and what's covered compare how typical base plans work versus high deductible health plans the ins and outs of health savings accounts Hope you enjoy! Resources to Save Money on Healthcare Are you looking for more help with keeping health care within your budget? Here are some resources: Work with Michael : He's a certified financial planner who specializes in assisting families to navigate their health care options. How to Save Money on Your Health Insurance and Expenses Why We’re Switching to a High Deductible Health Plan Hack the Affordable Care Act Guide How to Spend Less on Insurance Save Money on Health Insurance Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumpi

S7 E4 · Wed, September 26, 2018

How to Raise Your Credit Score and More Marriage and Money Questions

We open up the community mailbag again and answer your biggest marriage and money questions. Today we're discussing how to build your credit and raise your score, winning your spouse over with finances, and how to do a money date!  Raise Your Credit Score, Money Dates, and More Today’s episode is kind of brought by..... you. Yep, it's community mailbag again and this time we have quite a varied plate on our hands! I appreciate you sending your questions in. In this episode we get into: The biggest myths and bad advice about credit score How to work together on tackling money How money dates work for us If you’d like your question to be a part of the next mailbag, send it here  moneyqa@couplemoney.com Hope you enjoy! Resources to Build Your Credit and More Here are some resources we shared on today's show to build your credit, become a team with finances, going on a money date, plus more.  Self Lender Your Money, Your Marriage by Cherie and Brian Lowe Best Budget and Money Apps:  Personal Capital ,  Tiller ,  Mint Automatic Saving:  Qapital Free 401(k) Analysis:  blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to Talk About Money Without Starting a Fight We’re going to discuss the ins and outs of merging finances and personalities in our private Facebook group over at  Thriving Families . It’s free and fun –  please join us ! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on  Apple  or  Stitcher . Grab a copy of  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money . My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in

S7 E3 · Wed, September 19, 2018

Marriage and Money: Working Together as Financial Opposites

Are you two frustrated because you're financial opposites? Learn strategies and conversation starters so you can get on the same page and win with money!  When Financial Opposites Attract Money fights are an incredible source of stress with marriage when left unchecked. it doesn't have to be that way. There are couples who have achieved huge goals - like paying off massive amounts of debts, buying their dream home, or travel together by harness the advantages of their differences. The key is learning how to work together even when they are financial opposites. I usually don’t do two guests, but I wanted to show how 1 - there are certain principles that can help every couple and 2 - there are times when you have to carve your own path. Her Money Matters  author Jen Hemphill and Zeta CEO and founder Aditi Shekar join the show today. In this episode we get into: Creating your goals and money take Finding a budget you’re both on board with How to deal with tricky situations - like lending money to family - without straining your marriage or money Think you’ll hear a lot of familiar stuff and get some new ideas with this episode. Hope you enjoy! Resources to Combine Your Finances Here are some resources to dive deep into how you two can work together as a team with your finances.  How to Talk About Money Without Starting a Fight Managing Financial Conflicts as a Couple How to Use Money Fights to Strengthen Your Marriage with Jayson Gaddis Build Your Marriage & Wealth with Money Dates Three Toxic Habits to Stop When Talking About Money Jen Hemphill's Money Coaching We’re going to discuss the ins and outs of merging finances and personalities in our private Facebook group over at Thriving Families . It’s free and fun - please join us ! Zeta: Helping Couples Master Their Money Together So happy Aditi could join us on this

S7 E2 · Wed, September 12, 2018

Beyond Allowances: How to Teach Your Kids to Save and Invest Money

Want your kids to leave the house money savvy? Learn easy techniques and ways on how to teach your children how to save and invest like a pro! Teaching Kids to Save and Invest Do you remember how you handled money growing up? I can’t recall when I got my allowance, but I remember being in second or third grade going around the neighborhood collecting bottles and cans to recycle and earn some extra money. And as grateful as I am for learning what I did, from how I mismanaged money later on and got into debt in college, I can see there were some gaps in my financial knowledge. My husband and I both want our girls to know the value of a hard-earned dollar and how to use it wisely. That won’t happen by accident. It’s going to take a plan. If you two want to help your little ones, make sure you save this episode. Bill Dwight, creator of the amazing family banking app famZoo is here today on the show. Besides being a tech whiz, he’s a father of five who’s had plenty of experience with the ups and downs of raising kids to become adults. In this episode we get into: When to start introducing finances Getting your kids comfortable with saving and investing Why your kids need to get a loan from you I think we’ll have plenty of comments on this one. :)  Hope you enjoy! Resources to Teach Your Kids about Money If you're looking for ideas and resources to prepare your kids to be money-savvy, here are some to check out! FamZoo Thriving Families How to Teach Your Kids About Money (w/o Being Boring!) Cash Crunch Junior Goalsetter Collegebacker We’re going to discuss this in our private Facebook group over at Thriving Families. It’s free and fun. Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! Spread the word!  If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Leave a review.  Honest feedbac

S7 E1 · Wed, September 05, 2018

How One Couple Quit Their Jobs to Pursue Financial Freedom

Dream of quitting your job, but worried about your finances? Learn how one couple saved 70% of their income, quit their jobs, and pursued their dreams of financial freedom! Quitting $250K Jobs to Travel the Country Together September is here which means this week we're nailing down what we like to do before 2018 closes out. How about you? What goal or two do you want to knock out these next few months? There’s still time to do something big. Today Alison and Matt from Owen Your Future are here to break down how they’re pursuing financial freedom on the road after they quit their jobs. Whether you want to pivot your career, travel more, or just want to have some more options in your life, there are some wonderful strategies and tactics you can use. Why they wanted to pursue financial independence (and what that means to them) The process and steps they took to save 70% of their income why they shifted and quit their jobs early, even though they did not reach their FI number  Let’s see if we can get you a few steps closer to your big goal. Hope you enjoy!   Resources to Get on the Path to Financial Freedom If you two are ready to make some real progress on your big goals, here are helpful resources to check out. Couple Money Toolkit Owen Your Future - Site | YouTube | Instagram Why We Quit Our $250k Per Year Jobs Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money The Secret Sauce to Financial Independence & Early Retirement Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools <a href= "https://couplemoney.com/podcast/marriage-financial-ind

Wed, July 18, 2018

Marriage and Money Q&A: Bigger Paychecks, Best Money Tools, and More

Today I'm opening up the community mailbag and answering your biggest marriage and money questions! How do you maximize your paychecks while still making sure you don't owe the IRS come tax time? How do you tackle multiple goals and make real progress on them?  Marriage and Money Mailbag We're here - the summer of savings finale! It's been an incredible and fun six weeks. I hope you got inspired with ways you can save money while still having a good time now. And I thought the best way to wrap things up is to chat with you and answering marriage and money questions. In this episode we go over: maximize your paychecks knocking out several goals best money tools for busy couples Hope you enjoy! Resources to Help You Tackle Marriage and Money Want to jump in and get your finances squared away? Here are some cool tools and resources to make mastering your money easier! Get More Money in Your Paycheck: How to Calculate Your W-4 Withholding TurboTax W-4 Withholding Calculator 5 Tips for Adjusting Withholding Allowances 5 Days to $5K  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to Focus and Prioritize Your Goals Where Should Our Money Go? Prioritizing Your Goals Trim:  With Trim, you can cancel subscriptions and negotiate your bills. Billshark:  They contact your service providers and negotiate the best price on your behalf. Paribus:  Bought something and a week later the price drops? Paribus can get you back the difference. Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music C

Wed, July 11, 2018

Frugal and Fun Summer Activities for Your Family

School's out - what are you up to? Today we're talking about frugal and fun summer activities for your kids and for you! Fun and Frugal Summer Activities for Kids Summer break is here and so far, it's been a blast. As school was finishing up with my little one we headed over to Denver. My cousin's wedding was beautiful. We took the girls to the park to play and relax. Got to go downtown, explore. Eat. We tried some local brews. Thanks to my mom, we had some extra date nights. the next week was a bit more low key at home, but still fun. with a couple of weeks left before our oldest goes back to school, we're mixing things up so it'll be a memorable summer and won't break our budget. if you're in the same boat, I have some good news. Today we have two guests to give some ideas. Aja from Principles of Increase and Paul Vassey of Cash Crunch Games are here to help make things easier. In this episode, we get into: how to find enriching and frugal activities around town giving your kids skills and knowledge to handle money like a pro getting out for date night for just the two of you Hope you enjoy! Helpful Resources on Kids and Money If you’re trying to figure out a system that can work for your family, here are a few resources to check out: Cash Crunch Games Jr : Our girls love it! FamZoo : Fantastic solution for families. We not only use it to handle allowances but track our oldest's progress for her big savings goals. You can customize it to your family's situation. Chicago EcoHouse The Opposite of Spoiled 6 Tips for Building the Charitable Giving Muscle with Your Kids 5 Reasons I Don’t Buy Toys for My Kids Tips For Giving Kids an Allowance Boost Your Kid’s Money IQ with a Simple Spreadsheet 29 Tips for Teaching Your Kids to Stack Benjamins Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpsta

Wed, June 27, 2018

The Finances of Being Married to a Doctor with Financial Residency

While it may seem doctors have it easy with their healthy incomes, the reality is much more down to earth as many are also dealing with massive amounts of debt. Learn how to balance dumping debt, saving, and having some fun now!    Financial Residency with Allison and Curtis  A few years ago when we were like trying to dig out of debt I thought they would be so much easier if we had a healthy income. And yes having a certain amount does make a big difference but that's only part of the equation. That's why I bought Ryan here to co-host. He's not only familiar with the technical stuff as a financial planner over at Physician Wealth Services , he has practical knowledge and real-life experience as a husband to a physician.  Today he's talking to Dr. Allison Webster, an ER physician, and her husband Curtis, creator of Dads Married to Doctors . They're going to discuss: the financial challenges (and massive amounts of debt) that come with becoming a physician working through their difference when it comes to handling money whether or not you can retire when you're dealing with a massive amount of debt Hope you enjoy!  Resources to Dump Debt and Save Together Want to make talking about money less stressful? Are you ready to tackle that massive amount of debt? Here are some resources to make it easier to stay on top of your money!  How to Define Your Financial Priorities Together : Ryan shares how he helps his clients get onthe same page with their finances Financial Residency: Ryan's excellent podcast  Money Tracking and Budgets:  Personal Capital,   Mint , and  Tiller  are fantastic options Qapital:  Free tool that makes saving automatic and fun How to Pay Off Your Student Loans Faster : Kevin shares how he paid Off $87,000 in 2 1/2 years Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here.  Music Credit Like the musi

Wed, June 20, 2018

Working Together to Dump Debt and Save with Popcorn Finance

The Debt Free Story Behind Popcorn Finance One of the first things I ask when you join the community is to share what goal you're tackling. By far, the two biggest goals are dumping debt and having some savings for emergencies. And that makes sense, seeing as the average household that has credit card debt, has a balance of just under $16,000 . The average American under 35 has about $1500 in savings . That can be a real burden on a marriage. But you two can get out of your financial rut and start making real progress. My buddy Chris, creator and host of Popcorn Finance is on the show to share his story. We get into: how Chris and his wife 'K' got into debt the system they use to budget and knock out their debts what's his favorite money app Hope you enjoy! Resources to Get on the Same Page with Your Finances Want to make talking about money less stressful? Here are some fantastic resources to motivate and nudge you to debt freedom faster! What’s Your One Page Financial Plan? Our $27,000 Debt Story How to Successfully Budget as a Couple 2018 Listener Goals on Popcorn Finance Handy Tools to Save More Money Here are a few of my favorite tools that make saving money much easier! Money Tracking and Budgets:  Personal Capital,   Mint , and  Tiller  are fantastic options Qapital:  Free tool that makes saving automatic and fun iBotta:  Redeem cash while shopping Camel, Camel, Camel:  Free Amazon price tracker Honey : Free browser extension that searches for coupon codes for you during check out Paribus:  Checks for price drops and works to get you a refund Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week c

Wed, June 13, 2018

Meal Planning Essentials for Busy Couples

Does your food bill blow your budget? Today you'll learn how to master meal planning to save you a ton of time and money!  How to Save with Meal Planning One of the biggest bills couples have - especially busy ones - is their food. Between eating out and buying food for the family, there doesn't seem to be enough money to cover everything.  We discussed saving money when eating out a few episodes ago. Now we're looking at the other side -mastering your groceries and meals at home. I asked my buddy Jen Smith to come on board. She's the creator of Saving with Spunk and the author of the new book Meal Planning on a Budget . In this episode we discuss: how meal planning doesn't mean leftover every night the magic of slow cookers how seasonal and sales eating is lower your bills and be better health wise Hope you enjoy! Resources to Save Money While Eating Well Want to cut your spending on food without sacrificing quality? Here are some resources to check out. Grocery Price Books: Slash Your Food Bill and Save Time! Easy and Smart Ways to Eat Well and Cut Your Food Bill Kill your $1,000 Grocery Bill Frugal Friends Podcast  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

Fri, June 08, 2018

How to Save for Your Biggest Goals Together

Do you two have several dreams you want to achieve, but not making any real progress? Today I'll share how you can save for your big goals together!    How to Save for Your Biggest Goals Today we're going to tackle the three biggest hurdles to saving and achieving your goals: Getting your spouse on board with saving Getting on the same page with your goals Finding money to save Hope you enjoy! Resources to Define Your Priorities and Big Goals Whether it’s a joint or personal goal, there are handy resources available to help you two achieve your dreams. 20 Ways to Have Fun This Summer and Still Save a Ton of Money How Our Financial Goals Followed Our Family What’s Your One Page Financial Plan? Handy Tools to Save More Money Here are a few of my favorite tools that make saving money much easier! Money Tracking and Budgets: Personal Capital,   Mint , and  Tiller are fantastic options Qapital: Free tool that makes saving automatic and fun iBotta:  Redeem cash while shopping Camel, Camel, Camel:  Free Amazon price tracker Honey : Free browser extension that searches for coupon codes for you during check out Paribus:  Checks for price drops and works to get you a refund Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

S6 E28 · Thu, May 31, 2018

20 Ways to Have Fun This Summer and Still Save a Ton of Money

Looking to kick things up a notch? Learn how you can have fun this summer and still save some serious money!  Summer Saving Fun I'm so ready for summer! The tricky part of summer, especially if you have little ones, is making sure you don't go broke while still having fun. So to wrap up this season, I challenged myself. Today I'm going to share how you can save a grand this summer! We're going to look at 4 areas and show you 5 ways to save.  Getting the Best Deals Boost Your Savings  Frugal Foodie Vacations/Getaways Hope you enjoy!  Getting the Best Deals  If you're out shopping make sure you're getting the best deals ! Some of my favorite apps and sites are: iBotta Camel, Camel, Camel Honey Paribus Your family's smartphone plan shouldn't cost you a fortune. There are some fantastic deals out there. I use Republic Wireless and love them. They have an incredible line of phones. I have two lines with them and pay less than $50/month!  You may also want to look at providers like Ting, Freedom Pop, and StraightTalk.  When shopping online, hold off on those impulse buys you may be able to score a better deal by leaving before the purchase. I had a site send me an email afterward with a cheaper price. You may also want to switch to incognito mode.  Boost Your Savings If you're looking to ramp up savings here are some great apps and services to try out.  Tiller Personal Capital Mint They can help you track your money quickly and easily.  You also want to make sure you're keeping a visual reminder of what you're saving towards. It can keep you motivated when you're in the middle of things.  And of course, automate your savings. It's not doing you any good until it's stashed away.  Frugal Foodie I've been writing for Couple Money for almost nine years and I will tell you that one of the biggest budget busters that couples have is eating out. Break this cycle by: Plan Your Meals for This Week Prep a Meal Ahead Have Go-to Meals Think Global with Your Dishes Have a Potluck Vacations/Getaways Summer is a fantastic time to get out of town and explore someplace new. Using sites and apps like Skyscanner and <a href= "https://couplemoney.com/cheapoa

S6 E27 · Thu, May 24, 2018

Helping Your Kid Graduate College Debt Free with The Scholarship Shark

Want to help your kid graduate college debt free? Learn the strategy and tactics one mom used to snag her son $700,000 in scholarships!  The Scholarship Shark College is expensive. I don't think that's news to you, but did you know that graduates in the class of 2017 are on average carrying student loan debt of just over $39,400 ? And that the student loan delinquency rate of 11.2%? If you're a parent, you're probably worried about how that can affect your child's financial future. You need to hunt down as many scholarships as you can. That's why I'm grateful Pam Andrews is here on the show. She's not only the College Admissions Coach and Scholarship Strategist behind The Scholarship Shark , she's a mom. A mom who managed to help her son snag $700,000 in scholarships. Yep. So if you are interested in helping you kid minimize or skip those student loans, you'll want to really pay attention to this episode. Today Pam and I discuss: how they worked together to find which schools to apply to the strategy of getting scholarships out of the box ways to make college affordable Hope you enjoy! Tips on Paying for College If you two are looking to help your kid skip out on student loans, here are some resources to help you save up. Tips on Paying for College Without Going Into Debt A Simple Guide to College Financial Aid Paying for Your Kid’s College (without Going Broke) 9 ways to pay for college without student loans Is College Worth It? Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by <a href= "https://leerosever

S6 E26 · Thu, May 17, 2018

How to Pursue Your Dreams Without going Broke

Do you two have a couple of dreams you'd love to get started on but right now the money isn't working? Today we're going to discuss how to pursue your dreams without going broke! Working Together to Pursue Your Dreams Real life isn't that smooth. There are a dozen and more ways things can go sideways with the business. If you're married, you have to work as a team. Today Alex Grodnik from Wall Street Oasis' podcast Moving Up and founder of Payclub is here to share his story and offer from tips from the trenches. His career has a had a few shifts. He and his wife are working together to a find a flow that allows them to pursue their dreams, pay their bills, and prepare for the arrival of their daughter this summer. In this episode we discuss: why he choose to get an MBA and the unexpected pivot he made how they went to from living off two incomes to one the real truth and finances of being a startup entrepreneur Hope you enjoy! Resources to Help You Launch a Side Hustle If you’re ready to make the leap, here are some more resources to help you build another income stream. 79 Side Hustle Business Ideas You Can Start Today Developing a Money Making Hobby The 5 Step System to Quit Your Job In the Next 12 Months Launching a Business as a Creative Entrepreneur Building a Location Independent Business of Freedom and Travel — Even With a Family   Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by  Lee Rosevere  and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

S6 E25 · Fri, May 11, 2018

How to Become Debt Free Together

Want to become debt free, but you haven't figured out how to do it together? Here's what you need to know to knock out your debt faster!  Debt Free Together I've yet to meet a couple who became debt free by accident. I mean it's kind of easy to slip into credit card debt or take on loans because that's considered normal. But to move away from that mentality takes effort. And being a couple, you have two minds to shift. There are things to consider together. Like your approach. Do you gravitate towards earning more money to knock out that debt or do you find it easier to slash your expenses? How fast do you do it? How do you two work as a team and use your personal talents to knock this debt off? Every couple has their approach, so what worked for us might not work for you. Which is why I love chatting with others and hearing how they did it. John Wedding, the creator of Mighty Bargain Hunter , is on the show today to offer his take. He and his wife are debt free except the house. In this episode, we get into: how things shift from being solo to a couple why debt free was an important goal to them how they work as a family to be smart with their money Hope you enjoy! Resources to Dump Your Debt Faster Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it. Debt Free Charts Attacking Debt: Which One First? The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You? 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster [thrive_leads id='2682'] Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a bud

S6 E24 · Thu, May 03, 2018

How to Budget Together for Savings and Fun

Want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, but not sure where to start? Learn how to create a budget together so you can have fun now and some savings later!  Create a Budget You Both Love How do you feel about your budget? Be honest. Chances are you're not exactly thrilled about it. A survey conducted by Experian found that nearly half – 42% to be exact – don’t use one because they feel like they're ineffective and unnecessary. So how do you create a budget that you both love?   Peter Polson from Tiller , one of the coolest money apps out there, is joining me today to offer some fantastic suggestions and ideas. In this episode we'll discuss: how a budget can fit into your life and grow with you through your marriage how to fit your personal hobbies into your budget why there is no one size fits all budget Hope you enjoy! Resources to Budget Together Do you two want to get on the same page with budgets? Here are some helpful resources mentioned in the episode and more. Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money The Total Money Makeover Real Life on a Budget: 17 Practical Challenges to Live and Thrive on a Budget How to Successfully Budget as a Couple Track These 2 Key Numbers to Master Your Money Six Tips for Newlyweds to Manage Finances Budget Templates to Try Out The Net Worth Tracker Spreadsheet The Weekly Expense Tracker Thank You to Our Partners Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all p

S6 E23 · Fri, April 27, 2018

The Key to a Rich Life? Your Hobbies

Today on the podcast we're going to be talking about the connection between your hobbies and having a rich life! Do Your Hobbies Move You Closer to Financial Independence? So today's topic - this connection between the hobbies you have and whether or not you're having a rich life -  is fascinating to me. It's kind of a continuation of this past Tuesday's episode where we were talking about breaking the switch with mindless spending.  there focus there was making sure we were breaking that habit of unconsciously spending more and turning that into something more productive.  One way is through hobbies we take on. However, are there certain hobbies that can make a real difference with getting to financial independence faster and having a rich and fulfilling life?  In this episode, we'll get into: different hobbies between high earning and low earning households how your hobbies can help you on the path to financial independence aligning your hobbies to a richer life Hope you enjoy!  Financial Independence and Hobbies If you want to explore and pick up some new hobbies, here are some resources to check out: The Value of Hobbies American Time Use Survey FI subreddit discussion: What are your hobbies/what do you do for fun?  Thank You to Our Partners Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place. Did I mention it’s free? Why don’t you  give Personal Capital a try today ? Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . I also want to thank  Lee Rosevere  for music in this episode.      

S6 E22 · Tue, April 24, 2018

How to Break the Mindless Spending Twitch

Do you feel like you've hit a wall with your money? Learn how to find your financial blindspots an d break the mindless spending twitch! How to Break the Mindless Spending Cycle We all do it. It might be small amounts every day perhaps driving by to grab coffee and breakfast on the way to work or going out for lunch with colleagues. It could be those Amazon deliveries that show up at our doors, tucked away from necessities that we ordered. Some people call it the spending leaking, impulse buying, mindless spending. The label doesn't really matter - what does is understanding that we all have blind-spots. Little places in our finances where we know we're spending something, but we're not aware of just how much it is. Inspired by the incredible site and story of Break the Twitch, I want to share some personal about how easy it was for us to slip into mindless spending and how we found a way to make sure they don't sabotage our finances. In this episode we get into: finding your financial blind spots breaking the mindless spending twitch developing habits that can enrich us and allow us to spend better Hope you enjoy! Resources for More Intentional Living Are you ready to have your spending more aligned with what really matters to you? Here are some great resources to shift your mindset and create better habits! Break the Twitch: An Intentional Living Philosophy Is Impulse Spending Ruining Your Financial Goals? Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money The Ground Up Show by Matt D'Avella The More of Less 10 Simple Ways to Beat Impulse Buying The Year of Less No couch, one car: How these Minnesotans are living with less Thank You to Our Partners Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place. Did I mention it’s free? Why don’t you  give Personal Capital a try today ? Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by <a href="https://www.youtube.com/user/gen

S6 E21 · Thu, April 19, 2018

5 Key Ways to Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster

Want to be completely debt free, including your house? Find out the key changes one couple made to pay off their mortgage in less than 5 years!  Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster What would you do if you owed your home free and clear like Andy does now? With no mortgage payment what options would open up? There's a good chance you'd love to get rid of your mortgage, but the idea of getting rid of such a huge amount makes it seem impossible. Forget paying it off in 5 years, you may struggle to even see a way to reduce it in half. Right now median purchase price of a home here in the United States is $235,000, with 10% down . Now if you live in D.C. you're looking at $400,000 with my buddies in Cali close behind at around $350,000 . Not cheap. Probably the biggest purchase you'll make. Which is why I asked my buddy and Marriage, Kids, and Money creator, Andy Hill, to come on. He's an awesome guy, really excited to get couples closer to their debt free goals. We both know that not everyone can replicate what Andy and his wife Nicole did - we all have different circumstances - but there's a lot to their process that could make all the difference with you and your home. In this episode, we discuss: why they were adamant about knocking out their mortgage so fast steps that were crucial to paying off their mortgage tools to help you be debt free faster Hope you enjoy! Resources to Dump Your Mortgage Faster If you’re looking to dig in deeper for ways to pay your mortgage off faster, here are some resources to check out: Mortgage Payoff Calculator Paying Your Mortgage Off Early Paying Off The Mortgage Wasn’t Our First Priority (but we did it anyway) 5 Reasons to Choose a 15-Year Mortgage And if you two are looking of more ideas on how to find, save, and make extra cash to pay down or debt or use for whatever gal you have, please sign up for my free 5 Days to $5K course . It's a week-long special email series that will help you get some extra money in. Thank You to Our Partners Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all p

S6 E20 · Tue, April 17, 2018

How to Fix Your Relationship and Money with Financial Therapy

With money fights being the main cause of divorce, many couples could use some financial therapy. Learn habits and techniques you can use to make money talks less stressful and more productive! Is Financial Therapy Right for You?  Money problems are usually symptoms of a much deeper issue. It can be within our relationship - how we communicate or it can an issue we ourselves have like anxiety or depression. From our personal experience and hearing from other couples, it can be more common than you think. And that matters because if you don't get to the root, it can keep popping up. And in some cases cause damage. Financial education is crucial, but sometimes you need to a specialist. I'm not a therapist, but I do know one and she's here to help. Kine Corder is here on the podcast to cover some problems and bumps couples experience when dealing with money. In this episode, we get into: common issues couples have when they come to her for financial therapy ways to communicate better so things are less stressful with your relationship and money habits to help you two move forward Hope you enjoy!  Resources to Get on the Same Page with Money Learning how to work as a team isn't automatic. Here are resources to give you the tools to stop fighting about money and win.  Top Sites and Podcasts for Marriage and Money Prosperity Report: Love and Money Podcast  How to Shift Your Money Mindset and Finally Knock Out Your Goals Together Build Your Marriage & Wealth with Money Dates 3 Habits to Grow Your Wealth and Strengthen Your Marriage How to Connect and Develop Financial Intimacy in Your Marriage Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Cre

S6 E19 · Thu, April 12, 2018

Finding Your Own Path to Financial Success

Have you ever been frustrated with how long it was going to take to get out of debt? Learn how to handle setbacks, define your family's path, and knock out your goals together!  Defining Your Family's Financial Success Do you ever feel frustrated with how things are going? You read these awesome stories like  This Couple Paid Off $72,000 in Debt in 22 Months or  Couple shares how they wiped out $162K debt in less than 3 years . You're thinking, 'wow we're working at a snail's pace'. That can be discouraging. I want to highlight a different story.  Today Steve Goodwin from My Family on a Budget shares his family's more down to earth journey to becoming debt free. In this episode we discuss: how financial Peace University transformed their finances Steve's big mistake with investing and how he fixed it making the transition to being a stay at home dad Hope you enjoy! Resources to Help You Get Out of Debt Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it. Money for Meaning Attacking Debt: Which One First? The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You? 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster Best Strategies to Get Out of Debt Should You Use Peer to Peer Lending To Get Out of Debt? Knock Out Your Credit Card Debt Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up <a href="http://marriageandmoney.teachable.

S6 E18 · Tue, April 10, 2018

Here's What You Need to Know to Be Debt Free and Happy

How would your life change if you were debt free? No credit cards, car or student loan to worry about. Not even a mortgage. Today one couple shares their journey and advice to a happy and debt free life! Living Debt Free Living debt free can seem like an impossible dream depending on where you're starting from. For some couples and families taking on debt seems to be just a normal thing you do. But just because this is common and going on with your neighbors and friends even with yourself does it mean that that's the path you have to go on. Mark and Milhila, the couple behind Money for Meaning , are here to share their journey and how they refocused their lives and are now live debt free. They wrote a guest post early this year about how they live on cash . Yep, they have no mortgage.  In this episode we get into: why they wanted to get into this debt free lifestyle how to build wealth as a side effect how they figure where to spend and where to save Hope you enjoy! Resources to Help You Get Out of Debt Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it. Money for Meaning Attacking Debt: Which One First? The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You? 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster Best Strategies to Get Out of Debt Should You Use Peer to Peer Lending To Get Out of Debt? Knock Out Your Credit Card Debt Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up <a href="http:/

S6 E17 · Thu, April 05, 2018

How You Can Dump Debt and Retire Early

Frustrated with your credit card, car payments, and student loans? Learn how you two can come together to dump your debt faster and retire early!  How You Can Retire Early Let me ask you two questions.  Where are you guys right now?  Where do you want to be in five years?  Does it seem like there is a huge gap between today and five years from now?    If you would've told me five years ago we'd be out of debt (except for the mortgage) and be on our way towards financial independence I'd think you'd be a little crazy. Sure, I was optimistic, but it wouldn't feel possible with all that we were juggling at the time.    But when you break down your goal into chunks and you work out a system which for us includes automating, you can see huge results. The good news is that the skills you use to get out of debt are transferable. Instead of sending in those extra payments to your credit cards and student loans, you can direct to savings and investments. Deacon Hayes, personal finance author and  Well Kept Wallet founder, is on today and we're getting into how he and his wife Kim made this transition. In this episode, we talk about: how they managed to pay off $52,000 in debt in 18 months the system they used to keep one another in the loop with money planning and following through financial independence Hope you enjoy! Resources to Dump Debt and Retire Early If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are more resources to check out! Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities Financial Independence Through Big Wins Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit

S6 E16 · Tue, April 03, 2018

How to Find The Best Financial Advisor for You

Do you feel like you guys are kind of stuck with your finances? Have you hit a wall and don't know the next move? Today I'll share how you can find the best financial advisor for you!  Finding the Right Financial Advisor What do you think about when you hear financial advisor? You may have been to one of those luncheons where you get some information about investing or maybe insurance but the financial advising piece really isn't there. It's left a bad taste in your mouth and you're wondering if it's really a smart move to hand over money to someone to manage your money. From personal experience, there are some great financial advisers out there, ones that are not only looking at what's in your portfolio but the real big picture. sometimes, though, it takes a little bit of effort upfront to find a just the right person for the job.  Today Michael Kay is sharing his expertise along with some tips to make the process less stressful. He's a fee-only financial planner at Financial Life Focus .  In this episode we get into:  questions to ask your financial advisor (including the red flag to run!) looking at your finances in a holistic way finding the best advisor to build wealth Hope you enjoy!  Resources to Find the Right Financial Planner Want some help with your money? Here are some resources to find the best advisor for your money.  GuideVine 6 Dangerous Myths About Financial Planning, Debunked How to Review a Financial Advisor: The Definitive Checklist How to Find a Financial Planner You Can Trust Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by  Lee Rosevere  and Logan from <a href= "https://musicformakers.

S6 E15 · Thu, March 29, 2018

What to Do If You’re Struggling to Pay Your Bills

Do you feel like all of your paycheck plus some is going towards your bills and making no headway on your goals? Today we'll cover 5 ways you can get caught up and begin getting out from under your debts! Struggling to Make Ends Meet? I've been getting your emails and I want to say thank you. Sharing your wins and questions has been wonderful and I'm grateful that I can help in some small way. I try to find positive stories and offer practical ways to save more, get out of debt, and start investing for your future, but we're all at different points in our financial journey. Some of us are working paying off that debt ASAP while others are saving for their home, baby, or business. You might be working hard towards that dream of traveling together or exploring the possibility of financial independence. Or you might just be starting your journey. perhaps you've heard some of the stories here or on other personal finance sites and you want to join in. However, currently, you're in a really tight spot with money. there's no wiggle room in your budget so it's hard to get ahead with your payments. you could be trying to just make the minimums. It's like you're a doctor dealing with multiple injured patients, trying to triage things with little equipment. It's stressful and you feel like you're just dealing with one crisis after another. Today I want to give you some relief. The first step is getting caught up on your bills and begin creating a positive gap between what you're making and your expenses. America's Money Answers Man - Jordan Goodman is on the show to share some ways you can get the ball rolling to becoming debt free. In this episode we get into: getting better rates credit cards and in some cases, settle them how to get out from medical debt what to do when you can't afford your car payments Hope this helps! Resources to Get Out from Under Debt If you two are struggling to pay your bills, here are some handy resources to check out. AnnualCreditReport.com Disputing Errors on Credit Reports GuidetoCreditCard.com Cambridge Credit Counseling Medical Bills Are the Biggest Cause of US Bankruptcies: Study Healthcare Advocates.com What to Do When You Can't Make the Minimum Payments Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank a

S6 E14 · Tue, March 27, 2018

How Financially Take Care of Your Child with Special Needs

Are you a parent of a child with special needs? We share some of the essential conversations and resources that help you cope and succeed!  Taking Financial Care of Your Child with Special Needs Being a parent is an incredible gift and responsibility. Even though the most important things in life are free, I think we also know there are expenses with raising kids. When you have a child with special needs, those expenses can skyrocket. It can be a challenge to keep things manageable, but it's not impossible. Today we'll get into the essentials and conversation to have so you two can get started. Since this is something I'm not qualified to speak on, I'm grateful that Michelle Gershfeld is here today. Michelle is a certified financial counselor and attorney. Michelle also a mother who has had to work hard to make sure her daughter's special needs was taken care of. So this isn't an academic exercise, it's something she understands well. In this episode we discuss: putting together a team to help make sure your child's needs are provided for financial and legal considerations to keep in mind when planning dealing with the unique financial scenarios that come up Hope this helps!  Resources If you two are looking to speak with Michelle, you can reach out through her law firm .  AFCPE : Special thanks to them for connecting me to Michelle. AFCPE® is the nationally recognized leader in financial counseling, coaching, and education.  Benefits For Children With Disabilities - Social Security List of Grants and Resources for Families with Special Needs Financial Assistance | |Autism Speaks   Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional

S6 E13 · Thu, March 22, 2018

How to Protect Yourselves and Avoid Financial Disasters

Have you ever felt stressed and limited with options because of an emergency that came up?  Today we're going to share how you can prepare and protect yourselves from financial disasters! Keys to Avoid Financial Disasters While we can't predict every curve ball thrown at us, we can improve our chances of minimizing the damage done with a little bit of work upfront. Shannon Harvey is here to offer up some ways you can be better prepared. He has over 15 -years of experience as a Trusted Risk Advisor, and owns an insurance agency in Greenville, South Carolina. In this episode we get into: what financial disasters you need to be on the lookout for why cheaper is not always better with insurance how to prepare your family should the worst happen Hope you enjoy! Resources to Avoid Financial Disasters If you two want to be better prepared dealing with financial disasters and bumps in life, here are some resources to get you started. How To Avoid Financial Disaster: Protect Yourself From The 7 Biggest Risks You Face Daily Covering Your Family’s Needs with Life Insurance Life Insurance for Stay at Home Parents How to Spend Less on Insurance (While Still Getting the Coverage You Need)! Insurance Coverage Families Need with Matt Becker Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by  Lee Rosevere  and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

S6 E12 · Tue, March 20, 2018

How to Save on Health Insurance and Medical Expenses

Do you feel like your health care costs have exploded? Get the tips you need and learn how you can save money on your health insurance! Working to Lower Healthcare Costs I remember not too long ago, it used to be that the three biggest expenses we had were rent, food, and the car. We then paid off the car loan early and now avoid loans on them. We worked hard and were grateful to get a good deal on our mortgage on this current house. Food, well it's food. We're smarter about what we spend. But there is one expense that has shot up since we got married and Im almost sure you have seen it explode as well - health insurance. We actually had to switch out Though we have had some wins dealing with insurance, Michael Dinich is here to offer his expertise. He's a financial Advisor who helps hardworking people get the retirement they deserve. Part of that includes making sure they're getting good deals with health insurance. In today's episode we get into: the trend of shifting costs from the insurance companies to us how to decide if those high deductible plans are really a good deal getting the coverage you need at a more affordable price Hope you enjoy! Resources to Save Money on Health Insurances Expenses. If you two want to dig deeper into finding ways to save on your healthcare costs, here are some resources to check out. Your Money Geek - Connect with Michael to see if he can help you out with your specific needs Why We’re Switching to a High Deductible Health Plan How to Spend Less on Insurance Save Money on Health Insurance New pharmacy discounts may lower your prescription drug bill Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by <a href= "ht

S6 E11 · Fri, March 16, 2018

What You Should Know About Wills and Choosing Guardians

Want to make sure your loved ones are taken care of should something  happen to you? Learn the essentials about wills and choosing a guardian for your kids!    Essentials on Wills and Choosing Guardians So this topic - creating your will and making sure you have your guardians in place if you have kids - is one of those areas of finances we tend to shy away from.   I get it.   It's boring at best and depressing.  So today I want to give you the essentials to wills and choosing guardians for your kids without weighing you down.   Thankfully I'm not alone. Jean Dillion is here to help. She's a certified financial planner at  Freedom Financial Counseling and an Accredited Financial Counselor.  In this episode we discuss: the essentials of a will choosing guardians to take care of your loved ones whether or not those do it yourselves will online kits are worth it Hope you enjoy! Resources on Estate Planning If you want more information about setting things up for your loved one, here are some posts to check out: Estate Planning for Young Families Wills, Guardianship, and Estate Planning Five Essential Items for Your Estate Plan Choosing Legal Guardians for Our Baby Estate Planning Lessons We Can Learn From Cinderella Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by  Lee Rosevere  and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

S6 E10 · Tue, March 13, 2018

Where Should Our Money Go? How to Prioritize and Maximize Your Goals

Overwhelmed by paying down debt, saving for emergencies, and investing for retirement? Learn how to prioritize where your money should go to maximize returns! How's this year going for you? For us, it's pretty good. We made some big goals at the beginning of the year including saving up to finish our basement, planning a family trip outside the country, and paying down our mortgage faster. If you're trying to tackle several goals at once, you probably understand how slow progress feels sometimes.  Today financial advisor and Family Inc author Doug McCormick and I chat about how to prioritize your goals.  Hope you enjoy!  Resources to Define Your Priorities and Big Goals Whether it’s a joint or personal goal, there are handy resources available to help you two achieve your dreams. What is It Like to Be Married to a Financial Planner?  How Our Financial Goals Followed Our Family What’s Your One Page Financial Plan? Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by  Lee Rosevere  and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

S6 E9 · Thu, March 08, 2018

How to Become Financially Independent and Retire Early Together

Want to stop living paycheck to paycheck and start moving towards financial independence? Learn the process the Frugalwoods took to retire early together!  What are you two working towards, big picture wise? How often do you guys talk about it? Talk can be cheap or it can be the start of an incredible journey. Four years ago a conversation Liz had with her husband Nate was a trigger to achieving their huge dream of becoming financially independent and retiring early. Working as a Team to Retire Early Together What would you do if you were retired right now?  You might expect me to say you too can retire early with just a few easy steps. But the truth is it's much more complicated than that to break the cycle of consuming and working. It's going to take something very powerful a change in your mindset your finances and your lifestyle. Today Liz, author of Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving financial Independence Through Simple Living , is here to share their journey and hopefully inspire you to examine where you can start setting that path up towards financial independence. In this episode, we get into: what moved Liz and Nate to go from dreaming about financial independence to making it a reality how they build a sustainable and enjoyable frugal lifestyle why do it yourself is not only good for your wallet but your marriage before their dream became a reality Hope you enjoy!  Resources to Retire Early & Money Hacks If you two are looking at early retirement or to become financially independent, check out these resources. Uber Frugal Challenge Why We Don’t Micromanage Our Money Financial Independence and Parenthood The Joy That Comes When Less Is Enough The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement Seven Characteristics of The Millionaire Next Door How To Score a $50 Car Payment For Life   Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up <a href="h

S6 E8 · Thu, March 01, 2018

How to Eat Well While Slashing Your Food Bills

Are you a foodie? Is eating out killing your budget? Learn insanely smart ways you two can eat well while slashing your food bills! Slashing Your Food Bills Since this America Saves Week, I thought that this would be a perfect time to tackle a typically huge expense - food. Whether it's groceries, lunch out at work, or going out as a family, this is something that can snowball quickly. It's tricky because food at the essential level is a true need. Many of us go, though, beyond the essentials and if we truly evaluate how we're eating and spending, there's much room for improvement. However, this is not an episode of roughing it or deprivation. I personally find food to be an awesome part of my social life and we enjoy eating. Just like fad diets rarely lead to anything meaningful, seriously slashing and burning your groceries to their bare minimum can backfire. I'd like to share a way to be balanced and to disprove this myth that clean eating and delicious meals are expensive. Amy and Tim Rutherford, the couple behind Go with Less, are here to help out. They were big spenders and that included a lot of eating out and living it up. Today we'll discuss: what triggered them to change how they were spending ways they're able to enjoy eating out and eating well without killing their budget coming up with go-to meals that rock and don't require you to become a chef these changes helped them to retire early so take what you can and try them out. You could very well find yourselves having a good time and growing your bank accounts. Hope you enjoy! Resources to Save Money While Eating Well Want to cut your spending on food without sacrificing quality? Here are some resources to check out. Free Frugal Foodie Challenge Grocery Price Books: Slash Your Food Bill and Save Time! Kill your $1,000 Grocery Bill Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by <a href

S6 E7 · Thu, February 22, 2018

How to Master Your Bank Accounts Together

Ready to merge finances? Find how you  can master your bank accounts together and get the most out your hard earned money!  Master Your Bank Accounts Together How are things going with your money? Do you feel like the two of you have a strong handle on things? When we were first married, it took some time for us to find our footing. Besides figuring how to manage money as a team, we had to move our money because the bank we were with gave us more hassle than help. Fast forward now and we're much happier because we found a system and banking options that work for us. Today we're looking at how you can master your bank accounts together and get the most bang for your buck! Joe Mecca from Coastal Credit Union is here today to help out. In this episode, we get into how to find the best way to manage your money as a couple stashing your cash in the best place possible managing your money like a boss Hope you enjoy! Resources to Get the Most Out of Your Bank Accounts Are you two ready to master your joint accounts? Do you want to create a system that fits your priorities and styles? Here are some resources to check out. Want a Happier Marriage? Combine Bank Accounts Finding the Best Banking and Investing Accounts Optimize Your Bank or Credit Union Accounts Finding a Bank That Treats You Fairly and Earns You Money Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

S6 E6 · Thu, February 15, 2018

How to Change Your Money Mindset and Habits to Finally Dump Debt and Build Wealth Together

Does it seem like you two keep having the same argument over and over? Do you feel like you're spinning your wheels with money? You're not alone. Today we're going over how we form our money habits and how we can change them for the better to finally achieve your big goals together!  Mindsets and Money Stories  It's funny how unaware we can be about our money habits. When we first began talking about money, it was a real eye-opener and not just because of the numbers. Here we were ready to spend our lives together and we realized that we had completely different views when it came to money.  But digging into how we pick up those habits and figuring a way to work with what we have so to speak is somewhat tricky - which is why I'm really happy Jen Hemphill here. She's an accredited financial coach and author of her new book, Her Money Matters: The Missing Truths From Traditional Money Advice. It's a fantastic book and one aspect I really appreciated is how Jen dives into mindsets and money stories. In this episode we discuss: how your past can influence how you handle finances now - for better or worse how to help your spouse to open up and understand their money mindset a tip for getting them onboard Hope you enjoy!  Resources to Understand and Change Your Money Mindset  If you two are looking to improve how you talk and work together with your finances (and lives), please check out these resources. Her Money Matters Conversation Starters and Ice Breakers with Money and Marriage Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

S6 E5 · Thu, February 08, 2018

How to Plan Your Dream Wedding on a Budget

Do you want your wedding day to be beautiful, memorable, and meaningful without spending a ton of money or getting into debt? Learn how you can plan your dream wedding on a budget!  How to Plan Your Dream Wedding on a Budget Right now in the United States, the average wedding costs over $35,000! Thankfully the Budget Savvy Bride , Jessica Bishop is here to help. In this episode we discuss: defining your dream wedding ways you can splurge and where you can save a handy resource to help you plan your dream wedding without breaking your budget Hope you enjoy! If you want to hear from another bride who had a beautiful wedding on a small budget, listen to my interview with Jessi Fearon . she and her husband managed a sweet and special wedding for $500 ! Resources to Plan a Fantastic Wedding If you're getting married, please check out these resources so you can plan out your special day without going into debt. The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer: Checklists, Worksheets, and Essential Tools to Plan the Perfect Wedding on a Small Budget Planning Your Dream Wedding on a Budget Wedding Planning: My Ultimate Lesson in Budgeting The Best Kept Secrets to Planning a Wedding on a Budget Have a $50,000 Wedding on a $3,000 Budget Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by <a href="https://www.youtu

S6 E4 · Fri, February 02, 2018

Answering your Big Marriage and Money Questions (Pt 1)

Today we're answering your big marriage and money questions. We'll discuss lending money to family, getting the best deal on insurance, and seeing if those high deductible health insurance plans really save you money!    This week we're doing a community mailbag show where I answer what's on your mind with marriage and money. In today's episode we cover quite a few things: how to save money on insurance finding out if those high deductible health plans are really good whether or not you should love to family Hope you enjoy!  Thank you for sending these in.    Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by  Gentle Regime . Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from  Music for Makers  in this episode.

S6 E3 · Fri, January 26, 2018

How to Achieve Financial Security as a Couple

Ready to dump the debt and build wealth together? Here are three crucial questions to discuss to achieve financial security together!    Finding Financial Security  Ryan Inman from Physician Wealth Services and Financial Residency is on the show to share three crucial questions to help you two build financial security together.  In this episode we discuss:  how you two can approach talking about money how Ryan helps his clients hone in on their priorities conversation starters you can use on your next money date Hope you enjoy!  Want to hear from another couple working together on their finances ? Check out my interview with Tai and Talaat McNeely from His and Her Money !  Resources to Define Your Priorities and Big Goals Whether it’s a joint or personal goal, there are handy resources available to help you two achieve your dreams. How Our Financial Goals Followed Our Family What’s Your One Page Financial Plan? Ryan asked three crucial questions on the podcast.  I want you to imagine that you are financially secure, that you have enough money to take care of your needs, now and in the future. The question is, how would you live your life? What would you do with the money? Would you change anything? Let yourself go. Don’t hold back your dreams. Describe a life that is complete, that is richly yours. This time, you visit your doctor who tells you that you have five to ten years left to live. The good part is that you won’t ever feel sick. The bad news is that you will have no notice of the moment of your death. What will you do in the time you have remaining to live? Will you change your life, and how will you do it? This time, your doctor shocks you with the news that you have only one day left to live. Notice what feelings arise as you confront your very real mortality. Ask yourself: What dreams will be left unfulfilled? What do I wish I had finished or had been? What do I wish I had done? What did I miss? Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jump

S6 E2 · Fri, January 12, 2018

How to Get the Most from Your 401(k)

S6 E1 · Thu, January 04, 2018

How to Get Your Spouse on Board with Money!

It's 2018 for some reason that beginning of a new year, Everyone is excited and thrilled this week making some big goals. Unfortunately, the majority don't reach them. I don't want that to happen to the two of you especially with your big money goals. So in today's episode, we'll get into: what are the top three money goals that people have how you can get your spouse on board with money this year  how to achieve the right money goal for the two of you. Hope you enjoy! Resources to Reach Your Big Money Goals Whether you're dumping debt, saving more, or investing for your future, here are some resources to help make managing your money easier this year!  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Budget Tools: Mint | Honeyfi | Tiller | Honeydue 

S5 E23 · Sun, November 05, 2017

How to Avoid Burnout By Giving Your Finances and Lives Margin

Whether you have a 9-5 job, are self-employed, or run a business, burn-out can be a real problem. Learn how you can avoid it ad setting up your finances to take the time off you need!  Wrapping Up a Big Year at FinCon LLast week, I went to Dallas to attend FinCon , a conference of independent personal finance publishers, fintech companies, and media focused on a positive money message. I had an incredible week chatting with buddies in the personal finance space. We've chatted throughout the year via Zoom or Skype, but it's special to hang out in person. Many of us got started because we were getting out of debt or saving for a dream. I also got to see what was going on with fintech. There are so many developments and right now, apps are coming out that are designed for couples. Got to enjoy some time with the HoneyFi team as well as a few others. And I was especially honored and grateful that Couple Money won best family finance blog for the second year in a row! But besides taking home a sweet trophy I also brought back a bug and I'm finally feeling more like myself. My voice is a little weak, but I didn't want to miss another week. It's the season finale and I want to talk about a few things that have been on my mind and some of what I heard on yours. In this episode, I want to discuss with you:  tackling big goals while avoiding burnout budgeting for time off upcoming plans for the podcast and this site Hope you enjoy!  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

S5 E25 · Sun, October 22, 2017

Teaching Kids Money and Budgets

Not sure how to get your kids to understand budgets without boring them? Learn how a trip to the zoo gave our six-year-old a (fun) crash course on money! 

S5 E24 · Fri, October 13, 2017

Creating an Extraordinary Marriage with Financial Intimacy

Think you can avoid money fights by not talking about it? Learn and use these conversation starters to develop financial intimacy, get on the same page with money, and have an extraordinary marriage!    Financial Intimacy and Marriage Normally people associate intimacy with physical or emotional, but a long-lasting marriage takes more. You two can connect with intellectual activities, spiritual moral values, having fun and relaxing, and yes, financial intimacy. If you been listening to the show for a bit, you know that the money itself is usually not the issue, but a symptom. To a degree, once the bills are paid, how we spend or use money is a reflection of our priorities. It's all connected. And we neglect or ignore talking and working through things, our marriage can suffer. What if you've been married for some time, can you turn things around? Not only fix your finances but become more open as a couple. Fortunately, Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo are on the show to share their story and help make things easier. They're the dynamic duo behind One Extraordinary Marriage where they explore developing a stronger marriage. In this episode we get into: the challenges Tony and Alisa faced with debt how they started those conversations about money creating a system with their family finances they're both happy with Hope you enjoy! Resources to Building Your Marriage and Financial Intimacy Looking to connect as a couple with money and more? Here are some wonderful resources to get you started! Connect Like You Did When You First Met Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps to Financial Peace Money Matters Money in the Bank 6 Forms of Intimacy to Build a Strong Marriage Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up  Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE Automate your money Pay off your debt faster Plus more! You can  get lifetime access here! Music Credit

S5 E23 · Fri, October 06, 2017

How to Get on the Same Page with Financial Independence

Want to retire early, but your spouse isn't ready? Learn how Jamila and her husband got on the same page with financial independence and saved over $80,000 last year!  Getting on the Same Page with Financial Independence You're making a good income, but... you're not getting anywhere. It's frustrating. Somehow, though, maybe through this podcast, some personal finance sites, or books, you've started running the numbers. While there would certainly need to be some changes, you can see a path forward. You can get out of debt, save more, and invest towards retirement. Maybe even retire early. But there's just one problem. It's not just about you. You're in this with your spouse. And you're not quite sure how to get them on board. As you heard at the top, today's guest Journey to Launch founder Jamila has been down this path. In this episode, we get into: how she and her husband first handled their money and paid down debt discovering financial independence and winning him over how they work together with money and created a system that respects both their styles Hope you enjoy! Want to hear about another couple who worked out their differences? Check out my interview with Tai and Talaat from His and Her Money . We discuss how they dumped their debt even though they are financial opposites !  Working Towards Financial Independence Special thanks to Jamila. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook and learn more about their journey. If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are more resources to check out! Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities How We Saved $85,000 in 2016 Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course . Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you: Stop fighting about money and creat

S5 E22 · Fri, September 29, 2017

Living the Life You Want with the Money You Have

Looking to get off the treadmill and finally dump your debt? Learn how you can set your money to win and reach your goals faster!    Have you ever been frustrated with your money? I know when we were first starting out, there were times where I felt like we knew where we wanted to go, but we weren't making the progress we hoped for. Or maybe you're looking at that big pile of debt and it looks like it's impossible to tackle with the income you have. Perhaps you'd love to retire early, but it's such a far off goal.  Live Save Spend Repeat Kim Anderson has been there. She's the creator of Thrifty Little Mom and the author of Live Save Spend Repeat . She and her husband Cressel have been tackling some big dreams, including living a debt free life. In this episode we get into: Why Kim prefers  cash over credit the changes needed to pay off $90k in 2 years why and how she and her husband are creating the life they want Hope you enjoy!  Resources to Simplify Your Finances and Dump Your Debt Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it. Attacking Debt: Which One First? The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You? Best Strategies to Get Out of Debt Should You Use Peer to Peer Lending To Get Out of Debt? Knock Out Your Credit Card Debt Free 5 Days to $5K Course I’m offering a free email course to help you boost your income. It’s called 5 Days to $5K. It’s launching Monday and it will walk you through how to save, find, and make more money.    Hopefully, you can use that money to pay down debt, grow that emergency fund, or

S5 E21 · Fri, September 22, 2017

How to Launch a Profitable Side Hustle in 27 Days

Want to make extra money to help you pay down debt or explore a new career? Chris Guillbeau shares how to launch a profitable side hustle in 27 days!   Give Yourselves Margin with a Side Hustle One of the biggest objections to not saving or paying down debt I keep hearing is  “We don’t have any extra cash.”   Makes sense. If you don’t have any extra cash, it’s hard to pay down that debt or build and emergency fund.   Typically there are few ways you can save money on your expenses or negotiate better deals with certain bills like cable or insurance.    But sometimes it's not just a spending issue.  It's an earning one.    After spending 40 hours or so working,  you're not necessarily looking to take a second job and being tied down to another fixed schedule for so-so pay.     So is there a way for you to earn more on the side? Perhaps tapping into one of your talents?    And what if that income stream can give you margin or a buffer so you can finally grow your emergency fund, knock out some of that debt, and maybe explore a new career? How would you feel then?   Excited? Thrilled? Ready to go? Or are you a bit skeptical and tired of the hype you see online about side hustles?    Let's be real. If it was really that easy to drum up such an income stream, then most people would be all over that.    However, that doesn't mean it's not doable. It means you have to be smart about the time you invest when launching.  ever   Chris Guillbeau, author of Side Hustle from Idea to Income in 27 Days , is here to share his expertise and story.    In this episode we get into: why a side hustle can be a wonderful option how you can start one in less than a month why and how a sustainable side hustle can also build your legacy Hope you enjoy!   

S5 E20 · Fri, September 15, 2017

How to Deal with Debt and Depression Together

Debt can be an enormous burden for many couples. Learn how you two can work together and get the resources you need to deal with depression and debt.    This episode is part of the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month blog and now podcast tour in partnership with Debt Drop . This is a heavier than normal topic, but I'm afraid too many people and couples suffer in silence. My focus today is giving you some jumping points and ideas. You two can then discuss them and work out what's best for you. I want to clear upfront - I've never had to deal with depression and debt, but I've dealt with both. I remember clearly the anxiety and stress I had over debt.  Sleepless nights trying to figure which bill to pay with a limited income. I've had periods in my life where depression robbed me of joy.  There was no specific trigger, but it was a win to get out of bed some days. That said - I am not a medical professional. I just want to share some encouragement and tips that have helped me and others.  Resources to Fight Debt and Depression If you two are looking for resources to not only knock down your debt but take care of yourselves, here some to check out:  If you are feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741. Depressed About Debt? Expert Advice on How to Overcome Financial Anxiety   National Foundation for Credit Counseling  Dealing with Depression Recognize the Warning Signs of Suicide   The scary link between credit card debt and depression   Debt & Suicide: I Tattled Big Time And I Violated A Lot Of Things But I’m Still Proud    

Fri, September 08, 2017

Finding the Best Money System for Couples with HoneyFi

S5 E18 · Fri, September 01, 2017

Finding Balance with Marriage and Entrepreneurship

Millions of Americans want to start a business, but where do you begin? Entrepreneur and start up co-founder Will DeShazo shares how you can find the right gig along with balancing marriage and entrepreneurship!   Finding Balance with Marriage and Entrepreneurship We've had a quite a few shows about being a happily married entrepreneur I've been sharing my ups and downs working from home. I've also interviewed couples who are running a business together like Justin and Rebekah Rhodes with Abundant Permaculture, couples who ventured on their own career paths like LaTisha Styles who explained how she and her husband successfully support each other. And hearing them, you get this sense that's they're well-oiled machines. Things working out. But what about that beginning stage? How does a side hustle fit in with your current job and your marriage? In this special episode Millennovator co-founder Will DeShazo and I discuss: how you can start earning some cash while exploring career options  the framework that will help you find the right gig opportunities for you to give yourself a raise at your current position using a side hustle Hope you enjoy! Subscribe  to Couple Money Podcast  via  iTunes ,  Stitcher , or copy  this link to use  with a podcatcher of your choice. Resources for Entrepreneurs Want to become an entrepreneur? Here are some more resources to check out! LaTishaTV on Facebook Your First $500 Launch  by Jeff Walker The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich Launching a Business as a Creative Entrepreneur <a href= "http

S5 E17 · Mon, August 28, 2017

Best Travel Apps to Snatch Last Minute Deals for Getaways

Ready to take a last minute getaway or weekend trip? Use these travel apps and get the best deals! Going away for the weekend doesn't mean you break your budget. With a little planning and the right resources, you two can score some nice trips and still save money. So if you're looking at getting away from it all for a few days, save this post. Travel Sites to Bookmark for Your Weekend Getaways There are more sites than ever for travelers. Besides snagging last minute deals on popular tourist spots, you can also discover some awesome destinations. Airbnb : If you want to live like a local, Airbnb can help you find a bed or whole house for your next trip. We used the site when we went away for an anniversary trip and had a beautiful riverfront apt in Wilmington, NC for a fraction of the price of a hotel. Priceline : I'm a huge fan of their Name Your Own Price feature, which has helped us score plane tickets, hotel rooms, and car rental half off the advertised prices. Better Bidding : Speaking of bids, there are forums and sites online that can help you figure out what it will take to your bid accepted. You might also want to keep an eye for flash deals with airlines like Southwest where you can score huge discounts on flights for select cities. Apps to Help Score Great Deals and Keep Organized With smartphones everywhere, apps have been developed to help travelers. Download these apps to help you get the best deals and explore your destination. Localeur : (iOS only) Locals share some of their favorite spots in 14 major U.S. cities. TripIt : With two kids in tow, I love to have one app to handle and organize all of the travel arrangements. Hopper : If you like to double check the deals on flights, Hopper is great. The app analyzes tons of flight prices and can suggest when it's a good time to purchase a ticket. Hipmunk : An all in one solution where you can find last minute deals and book them. Even though you might not think of it as a travel app per se, GasBuddy can tremendously helpful if you're taking a road trip. Thoughts on Weekend Getaways I'd love to hear your ideas and stories. What has been your favorite getaway destination? What has been your most recent travel deal you've taken? What travel apps are your favorite for planning?

S5 E16 · Sun, August 20, 2017

More Options, Less Debt: Knocking Out $30,000 in Less Than a Year!

Feeling trapped at a job because you're dealing with debt? Find out how you can pay off your debt faster. Whitney Hansen shares how she eliminated $30,000 in less than a year! 

S5 E15 · Sat, August 12, 2017

Early Retirement Hacks: Big Wins Through Tiny Habits

Can you really have big wins from changing tiny, but key habits? Learn the critical key steps Chris Reining took to retire at 37! Big Wins Through Tiny Habits Going for the big wins is smart. <p data-birdsend-par-inde

S5 E14 · Sat, August 05, 2017

Dumping Over $100,000 of Credit Card Debt Together!

Wed, February 08, 2017

Dealing with a Mountain of Debt Together

Stressed over a huge amount of debt? Learn how you two can survive and thrive as you pay it off together!  Dealing with Debt Together Whenever I'm reading stories about marriage and money, things can easily become a caricature. I read about couples who've had their lives torpedoed after they said I do. On the web, there seem to be plenty of gurus who apparently have made all the right money moves. But on the podcast, I want to share real stories from couples who have been there or are working through things now like Lindsay and her husband Zach are. They made a choice they felt was a smart move. It didn't turn out the way they hoped. They're now on a journey to pay off over $100,000 of debt. Resources to Help You Get Out of Debt Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it. Best Budget and Money Apps:  Empower ,  Tiller ,  Mint Grab a copy of  my book : <a href= "https://www.simplifyande

Tue, January 03, 2017

Jumpstart Your Money with the New Year New You Financial Summit

Watch the New Year, New You Financial Summit Live I'm finishing up a fourth season with the biggest event I've ever done - New Year, New You Financial Summit . And it's happened in large part because of you - your support, ideas, and questions have made this possible! This summit has been a work in progress for the past few months and I'm so thrilled with the response so far. I've gotten to chat with some of you during the sessions which has made this all the more special to me. In this episode, we'll get into: what goes behind the scenes to put together a summit what goes behind the scenes to put together a summit highlights from the summit so far some honest and personal answers we had in our Q&A sessions from a couple of our speakers Hope you enjoy! New Year New You Partners & Giveaways In addition to the sessions, we partnered up with some wonderful companies. Special Shout out to Proactive Budgets , Republic Wireless , iBotta , and HoneyFi ! Besides offering really great service to help you save your money, they are sponsoring some incredible giveaways. Republic Wireless is offering credit for a free smartphone and three months service with them   HoneyFi  gave away  $100 through PayPal/Amazon gift card   iBotta will be doing a few drawings including one for $250 credit which can be cashed out   ProActiv is giving lifetime subscriptions to their app every day of the summit Check out all the detai

Wed, October 22, 2014

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