Couple Money Podcast

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!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

learn more about our podcast 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!

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 from Artists at Audiio.

Direct download: S10E30_2020_Year_End_Review_Pivoting_for_2021_and_Beyond.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 10:43am EDT

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 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!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

learn more about our podcast 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!

Key Takeaways

Before we wrap up, I want to focus on a few key takeaways I got from preparing this episode.

  • The real power of tracking your money is not in the amounts, but the awareness. 
  • A rich life includes financial wellness. 
  • Budgets should reflect YOUR priorities and values. 

I know switching can seem to be a bit tricky. If you have any questions or are stuck, please come chat with us and our Thriving Families Facebook group.

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 from Artists at Audiio.


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 way to figure out how much you need to retire
  • How defined benefit plans work 

Ready? Let’s get started! 

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

learn more about our podcast 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!

Resources to Get the Most Out of Your Money

Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier!

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 from Artists at Audiio


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 you don’t want to deal with the hassle. 

So today, I’ll take you through how you can seamlessly switch to a new bank or credit union. 

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

  • How Much Bad Banking Really Costs You
  • How to find a better banking option for your money
  • How to seamlessly switch your deposits, bills, and more

Are you ready? Let’s get started! 

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.

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!

  • 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 from Artists at Audiio

Direct download: S10E27_How_to_Seamlessly_Switch_to_a_New_Bank_or_Credit_Union.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:27pm EDT

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.

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, please consider Coastal’s Retirement Planning Program!

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 from Artists at Audiio


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 care of the general living expenses and use the second to save and invest for goals. 

So many couples and families can benefit from this mindset. I’d like to offer some help with getting started. 

I can’t cover every single situation. For the purpose of this episode, I’m going to be focused on your single income stream being able your essentials, some savings, and enjoy a bit.  

In this episode, we’ll go over: 

  • the process to scale back your expenses to fit under one income
  • common challenges that can come up
  • Benefits of living on one income

Ready? Let’s get started! 

 

Resources to Shift to Living on One Income

Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

learn more about our podcast 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!

Key Takeaways

Before we wrap up, I want to focus on a few key takeaways I got from preparing this episode.

  • Be clear on your motivation and goal. The better you define these, the easier it is to make the transition. You’ll be in a better position to know which expenses to cut back first. Or even eliminate. And you can find ways to shore up your savings before you make this leap.
  • Take it bit by bit. I know that they’re going to be circumstances with some families where you have to make the transition as soon as possible because there is a ready reduction in income. But if you’re doing this voluntarily, You don’t have to rush this. Approaching it bit by bit allows your family to adjust. To the new finances. And hopefully, it makes it easier to stick with a plan.
  • Have a plan for that second income. Even if you don’t need it to survive. You do want to use that money wisely? For example, you can pay down your debts. Build up some savings for a specific goal, or if you want to save and invest it. For long-term goals, then you know, that money is right there for you.

This is definitely a topic that we can go more into. And if you’re thinking about making the transition, come chat with me.

You can join us in the thriving 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.

You can just head over to couple money.com/f B. We’d love to see you there.

Get Your Free Love & Money Guide
Learn the ice breakers and conversation starters to make talking about money easier! 
Featured Image
 

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 from Artists at Audiio

 
Direct download: S10E25_How_Can_We_Afford_to_Live_on_One_Income.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:44am EDT

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’s get started!

Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money

Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

learn more about our podcast 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!

Besides offering competitive rates on check and savings accounts, Costal has a wealth management team ready to work with you to create a financial plan that fits your specific needs!

Meet Kevin L. Matthews

Kevin L. Matthews II is a number one bestselling author and former financial advisor.

He has helped hundreds of individuals plan for their retirement in
addition to managing more than $140 million in assets during his advisory career.

By 2017, he was named one of the Top 100 Most Influential
Financial Advisors by Investopedia.

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 from Artists at Audiio


‘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!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

learn more about our podcast 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.

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 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 from Artists at Audiio

Direct download: S10E23_Top_6_Mistakes_to_Avoid_to_Protect_your_Portfolio.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:27pm EDT

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!

 

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

learn more about our podcast 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.

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 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.

 
Direct download: S10E22_How_Much_Should_We_Contribute_to_Our_401k.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:13am EDT

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.

       

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 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!
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Direct download: CM_001_Paying_Off_Debt_Faster.mp3
Category:money -- posted at: 7:25am EDT

Learn how you can navigate open enrollment season and maximize your benefits to their fullest potential!

Making the Most of Your Benefits

Learn how you can navigate open enrollment season and maximize your benefits to their fullest potential!

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:

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, 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 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.

Direct download: S10E21_Maximizing_Your_Benefits_During_Open_Enrollment.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 5:00am EDT

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:

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!

Key Takeaways on Finding an Affordable Option for Healthcare

Before we wrap up, I want to focus on a few key takeaways I got from speaking with Andy and preparing this episode. 

  • Invest time in choosing your healthcare plan. Health care can be expensive, but simply going with the cheapest option can hurt you in several ways. 
  • High deductible health plans aren’t for everyone. We have an HDHP and so far love it and so do many in the FI space, but that doesn’t mean it’s the best option for you. 
  • Use tax-advantaged accounts to maximize your money.

If you want to discuss this more, please come chat with us on Facebook in the Thriving Families Group. We’re supportive. We’d love to see you there!

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 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 and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Direct download: S10E20_Open_Enrollment_Affordable_Health_Insurance.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 5:00am EDT

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!

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!

Key Takeaways on Growing Your Savings Rate

Before we wrap up, I want to focus on a few key takeaways I got from preparing this episode. 

  • Start as early as possible. Don’t worry about being about to sock away 20, 30, 40% of your income. Joe said it was closer to 3-5%, which is about where we began. 
  • Pay yourself first. Automating those transfers makes it easier on you and you’re more likely to stay on target. 
  • Minimize lifestyle inflation. Take any raises, bonuses, windfalls, or tax refunds and set aside a portion of that to go towards savings. You can still enjoy some fun now and save more, without missing that money. 

If you want to discuss this more, please come chat with us on Facebook in the Thriving Families Group. We’re supportive. We’d love to see you there!

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


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:

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 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!

  • 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

Direct download: S10E18_Three_Key_Numbers_for_Mastering_Your_Money.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:54pm EDT

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:

Thank You to Our Partner Coastal

Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

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 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!
Direct download: S10E17_How_to_Tackle_Debt_Before_the_Year_Wraps_Up.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 10:36am EDT

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!
Featured Image
 

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:

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 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!

  • 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

Direct download: S10E16_Building_a_Budget_That_Reflects_You_and_Your_Goals.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:11am EDT

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:

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.

If you’re a member and you’ve been financially affected by the coronavirus, Coastal has a member assistance program to ease the burden.

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 and Audiio.


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:

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.

If you’re a member and you’ve been financially affected by the coronavirus, Coastal has a member assistance program to ease the burden.

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 and Audiio.

Direct download: How_to_Master_the_Art_of_Saving_During_The_Coronavirus_Crisis.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 9:00pm EDT

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 HusbandsCoastal 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 just now but in the long run. 

In this episode, we’re discussing:

  • Dealing with losing your job and what you can do get some income coming in
  • Adapting your finances 
  • Smart ways you can spend your stimulus check

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:

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.

If you’re a member and you’ve been financially affected by the coronavirus, Coastal has a member assistance program to ease the burden.

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 and Audiio.


Today we’re going to jump in on ways you can adjust your finances during the coronavirus crisis to get through these tough times!

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:

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.

If you're a member and you've been financially affected by the coronavirus, Coastal has a member assistance program to ease the burden.

How to Reprioritize Your Budget

Let’s jump right in to the big issue that is stressing out many families – how are we going to pay our bills?

We’re grateful to still be able to work remotely, but that isn’t the case for all. Some industries like restaurants, hospitality, and service have seen been hit hard, with many losing their main source of income. 

I was reading that in the week that ended March 28, over 6.6 million people filed for unemployment

So if you’re in that situation where you are looking at struggling to budget, how do you prioritize what bills get paid?

When things were closing down and the Cares Act hadn’t passed, Any Hill from Marriage Kids and Money and I shared  our thought process in a video on the Thriving Families group. 

It was about focusing on two goals for the month – pay your essentials (roof over your head, food, utilities) and building up your emergency fund if you didn’t have at least 3 months stashed away already. 

And I do believe that they should be your priorities, but with some relief options being offered by lenders, protections from states and the Cares Act, Joe points out a path you can use in your budget.  

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

 

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:

  1. 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
  2. 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
  3. 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!)

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 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.

 
Direct download: S10E14_How_to_sell_Your_Home_for_Top_Dollar.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:11am EDT

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

No like 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!

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:

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.

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.


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

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!

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.

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.

Direct download: Tips_to_Financially_Prepare_for_Tough_Times.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:11pm EDT

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.

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.

Meet Jen Hemphill of Her Dinero Matters

Her Dinero Matters is a bilingual podcast for women who want to become reinas of their money and love their dinero more.

You will hear down-to-earth interviews and panel discussions from la comunidad Latina as well as solo episodes sharing simple actionable tips and strategies which you can implement right away!

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 and Audiio.

 

Direct download: S10E12_How_to_Loan_Money_to_Family_and_Not_Regret_It.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:00am EDT

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:

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!

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.

 

Direct download: S10E11_Digital_Banking_and_Finances_for_Couples.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:34pm EDT

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:

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!

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.

Direct download: S10E10_How_to_Build_a_Profitable_Side_Hustle.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:39am EDT

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:

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 checking and savings accounts!

Meet Scott and Bethany Palmer

With 50 years of combined experience as financial advisors, Scott & Bethany Palmer (aka “The Money Couple”) have witnessed these conflicts firsthand.

After watching so many couples struggle over money, Scott & Bethany set out to find out why. After a decade of research with a Stanford scientist, they cracked the code to stop the money issues that so often lead to divorce.

They discovered that money “issues” aren’t really about dollars and cents — the real problem is a couple’s struggle to communicate about and agree on money.

They developed The 5 Money Personalities to help couples understand their own unique perspectives and behaviors when it comes to money, learn more about their partner’s money personalities, and better communicate in a way that builds rich relationships

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.

Direct download: S10E9_How_to_Work_as_Team_When_Your_Financial_Opposites.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 9:29pm EDT

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:

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 checking and savings accounts!

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.

 

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:

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 want to help you achieve your biggest goals faster and as a team!

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.

 

 

Direct download: S10E7_Yours_Mine_Ours_Debt.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:14am EDT

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:

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 checking and savings accounts!

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.

Direct download: S10E6_How_to_Diffuse_Money_Fights.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 10:09am EDT

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!

And if you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and maybe get a debt-free strategy set up – don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook.

Our goal is to help one another out. Hope to see you there!

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 want to help you achieve your biggest goals faster and as a team!

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.

 
Direct download: S10E5_Tax_Guide_for_Busy_Couples.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 10:11am EDT

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!

And if you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and maybe get a debt-free strategy set up – don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook.

Our goal is to help one another out. Hope to see you there!

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 want to help you achieve your biggest goals faster and as a team!

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.

Direct download: S10E4_Teaming_Up_for_Financial_Independence.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:09am EDT

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. 

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 have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts!

Support the Podcast! 

If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

  • Spread the word. If you have friends who could boost their savings, please share this episode with them on social media or just email the link!  
  • Leave a review. Every review helps! Please share your honest feedback on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher
  • Visit our Couple Money Toolkit for more info on available apps, tools, and services to master your money together.
  • Become a Patron. 

Special Thanks! 

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.

 

Direct download: S10E3_Build_Income_Streams_to_Knock_Out_Your_Goals_Faster.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 6:44am EDT

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:

Support the Podcast! 

If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

  • Spread the word. If you have friends who could boost their savings, please share this episode with them on social media or just email the link!  
  • Leave a review. Every review helps! Please share your honest feedback on Apple Podcasts or Stitcher
  • Visit our Couple Money Toolkit for more info on available apps, tools, and services to master your money together.
  • Become a Patron. 

Special Thanks! 

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.

Direct download: S10E2_How_to_Become_Super_Savers_This_Year.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:27pm EDT

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 acknowledging while there are certain financial principles that are incredibly helpful, we all have different approaches to how we tackle our goals.

Today we’re going to do that with one of the most common goals families have with their finances – paying off their debts.

Today I want to share some guests we’ve had on the show who have become debt-free, but had different amounts and time tables.

In this episode we’re looking at:

  • The step by step process of how to set up a system to pay off your debt faster
  • Some of the most common hangups couples have with becoming debt-free
  • Tools and apps to make it easier

Let’s get started!

If you’re looking for some more inspiration, tactics, and encouragement about becoming debt-free together, please check out my interview with Chris Browning.

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:

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 want to help you achieve your biggest goals faster and as a team!

Your Debt-Free Plan

And if you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and maybe get a debt-free strategy set up – don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook.

Our goal is to help one another out. Hope to see you there!

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.

Direct download: S10E1_How_to_Get_Out_of_Debt_This_Year_as_a_Couple.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:36am EDT

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