Couple Money Podcast

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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