Wed, 15 December 2021
In today’s bonus episode, we’re diving into hitting your money goals while still having fun! Ready to Stack Some Benjamins in 2022?Welcome to this end of year bonus episode! As we’re winding down and wrapping things up for 2021, one of the best things we can do is setting things up to make it easier to achieve our family and financial goals. For us, it’s doing a review of the numbers to see what’s worked and what’s not. We’re also spending time now deciding on what we really want to do in 2022 while of course keeping some flexibility because COVID is still a thing.
A big challenge many families face is creating and sticking with a plan that allows them to pay down their debts, save for priorities, and invest more. Today’s episode has something that I think will be a huge help. I had the pleasure of chatting with Joe Saul-Sehy of the award winning Stacking Benjamins and personal finance author Emily Guy Birken about their new book, Stacked: Your Serious Guide to Modern Money Management. Which is a mouthful of a title, but I got to tell you, the thing that jumped out at me about the book was how fun it was to read! Joe and Emily do an incredible job not just explaining key financial points, but they weave it in with game references (Oregon Trail, Tetris, and Monopoly are included in the first few chapters), but they have inside jokes, comics, and more. It’s all about making personal finance accessible and well, not boring. So if you’re looking for a reset, reboot, whatever you want to call it, I think you'll enjoy our conversation! Stacked GiveawayTo celebrate having an incredible 2022 and the release of Joe and Emily's book, we're hosting a giveaway! I'll be doing a random drawing to reimburse 5 listeners who pre-order Stacked as well as give them Amazon gift cards! Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! 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.
Music CreditMusic in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.
Direct download: CM_EOY_Bonus_Episode_Stacking_Benjamins_in_2022.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 11:15am EDT |
Wed, 10 November 2021
Today we’ll go over key steps on how to make and achieve your big family financial goals for next year! How to Set Up (And Achieve) Your Family’s Financial GoalsAs 2021 winds down, now is a great time to set up some pieces with your finances so you can knock things out of the ballpark in 2022.
Last week I went into how we’ve done year end reviews. They’ve been a wonderful way for us to get a snapshot of the progress we made and identify areas where we may want to adjust.
Most of the numbers reviewed are automated. There are some fantastic options out there like Personal Capital, Mint, Tiller, and You Need a Budget that can pull the numbers from your accounts into one neat dashboard.
However a year end review is just that - a review. If we want to level up for the next year, we have to have some blueprint or plan.
Here’s where it’s key for us to create our family financial goals. They give us a guide on how to allocate or prioritize our money for the year.
Today I want to walk you through some critical parts of that process so you can craft a game plan for next year and beyond.
In this episode, we’re going to look at how you can tackle some major hurdles families have with creating and reaching their financial goals. We’ll discuss:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together
Direct download: CM_Bonus_Creating_Smart_Family_and_financial_Goals.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 1:40pm EDT |
Wed, 3 November 2021
Get a peek into how we did with our goals for this year and see how you can do your year review and set yourself up for an incredible 2022! Why You Need to Do a Year-End Review with Your MoneyIt's November, aka the time of the year where I usually start winding down. As you may or may not know, I take December off from the podcast to recharge and rest things. We also have our anniversary then.  With those things in mind, these last two episodes of the season are focused on helping you set things up for a fantastic year in 2022 and beyond. Besides our monthly money review, one of the things we do is a year end review. It’s a way for us to review the numbers, celebrate wins, and see what we need to work on. We then take that information and use it to plan out the next year. Today I want to walk you through the process. We’ll go through our goals we made for the year, finding the money to reach them, and whether we’re on track with them or not. Next week, we’ll then look at how to create goals in a way so you can make progress. Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together
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. 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.
Direct download: SEP_S3E29_How_to_Do_a_Year_End_Review_with_Your_Familys_Financial_Goals.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 1:43pm EDT |
Thu, 28 October 2021
Today we’re going to look at three common and awkward arguments married couples have around money and how you can tackle them together! Awkward Money Conversations When You’re MarriedMarriage and money isn’t always easy. Chances are the two of you have different personalities and approaches to finances. Those differences can be a wonderful thing as you two can lean on each other’s strengths and shore up weaknesses. But finding your financial footing as a couple is not automatic. If you don’t have some way to work on it, it can hurt your marriage and money. One of the first things to realize about why couples fight or argue over money is how frequently it’s actually NOT about the money. Seriously. From personal experience, writing and speaking about this for over a decade, the most common reason couples fight about money is that they are not in sync with each other in either their expectations, values, or priorities. Usually it’s a combo of them. While you two aren't always going to see eye to eye on everything – again those differences can be fantastic- there are some ways you can work as a team and use those differences to your advantage. Today we’re going to talk about how you can use that knowledge to untangle some awkward money conversations that can come when you’re married. In this episode we’ll get into questions like:
Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together
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. 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.
Direct download: SEP_S3E28_Marriage_and_Finances_How_to_Deal_with_Awkward_Money_Conversations.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 8:51am EDT |
Wed, 20 October 2021
How happy are you with your current banking situation? Are you getting real value out of your checking and savings accounts? Or do you feel like you’re getting nickeled and dimed? Today we’ll go over how to find a better banking option and how to seamlessly move your money! Why It Matters Where You BankThese are all important to your financial health and making progress on your goals, however we left the biggest piece of the puzzle last – your day to day bank accounts. Your check and savings accounts are the backbone to your family’s financial system, but for most of us, it's almost like an afterthought. Much of this goes back to how we chose our accounts in the first place. For my husband and I, with our first accounts, it was based on who we were already banking with. And at the time we had bank accounts with two of the major banks, we had opened student checking accounts. When I say they were basic accounts, that's exactly what they were. Honestly, we just settled with it for way too long. After getting frustrated with the horrible customer service, ridiculous fees. And not seeing any real progress with our financial goals. We decided it was time to change. We moved our money to an online bank and credit union and i have to say we are so much happier for it. We feel that our banking partners are actually partners that they're helping us reach our financial goals faster. And make our lives easier with managing our money. So if you feel that way about your bank or credit union, fantastic. However, there are plenty of families that feel like they're banking options are hurting them rather than helping. According to a recent Magnify Money survey, 68% of consumers are frustrated and feel like their savings isn’t growing. When you consider that 18% of those said they get less than .05% APY, it’s understandable. What makes it worse are those minimum balances and fees added on their accounts. Bankrate reported that the average maintenance fee on a checking account that earns interest totaled $196.20/year. So if you’re feeling squeezed, you probably are. That doesn’t have to be the case though. With 2021 winding down, now is a great time to set the pieces up for you to have an incredible year in 2022. In this episode, we’ll go over:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources to Easily Manage Your Money
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. 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.
Photo by Adrien Olichon from Pexels
Direct download: SEP_S3E27_Better_Banking_How_to_Move_Your_Money.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 1:40pm EDT |
Thu, 14 October 2021
Get a sneak peek at how we handle our money system and our accounts. So that we are working towards our goals, even if we have more pressing or urgent things to take care of on the family front or with work! Easy Way to Manage Your MoneyA financial system that requires you to constantly check and worry about your money isn’t going to cut it for most families. It doesn't for us. With two kids, work, hobbies, and friends, we have a full life and we love it. Quite simply we see money as a tool, not the goal. It’s to help us to care of our kids and lother loved ones, So while I respect those highly detailed spreadsheets with line by line breakdowns of every cent, I save that for quarterly reviews. Instead, budget monthly and do weekly checks on Fridays that usually are five minutes just to make sure everything is running smoothly. It took some time, but we’re grateful to have a financial system that allows us to focus on the big stuff. We love even more considering these past 18 months. If you’re looking to make managing your money much easier, while still hitting your family’s financial goals, this is your episode. Today, we’re discussing:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources to Easily Manage Your Money
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. 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.
Direct download: SEP_S3E26_How_to_Easy_Manage_Your_Familys_Financial_System.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 9:51pm EDT |
Wed, 6 October 2021
For most couples, their 401(k)s are an important part of their retirement plans. Learn how you can avoid making big mistakes and make the most out of your 401(k)! Making the Most of Your 401(k)It's just there's a huge information overload and it's easy to get caught in the mess and not be sure how to actually do it. Today we're going to give you a leg up. Usually during this time of year, I pull in the experts like certified financial planners where we dive into the nitty gritty details of the different benefits and options that may be available. I’m grateful for those experts who took the time to share some of their knowledge and will have those episodes up on the homepage so you can listen to them because much of it is still incredibly helpful. Today, I’m doing what I did last week, which is to go over those FAQs that typically come up. Again, these questions are the ones I see on my side, from discussing through the newsletter, in the Facebook group Thriving Families, or those Google searches. In this episode we’re discussing:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources for Smarter InvestingIf you want to learn more about investing and staying on top of your money, 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. 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.
Direct download: SEP_S3E25_401k_Tips_for_Busy_Families.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 9:18am EDT |
Wed, 29 September 2021
It's that time again... open enrollment season and with it, a lot of decisions to make for the upcoming year. Today, we're going to go over how you can maximize your benefits, especially when it comes to health, dental, and disability insurance! Choosing Your Health Insurance, Dental, and DisabilityIf there's one area of finances where families have a hard time -either they're not maximizing or they misunderstand it- it's open enrollment season. It's that time of year where HR sends you a packet of information about your benefits. One of the big things that I want families to focus on- especially busy ones- is going for the big wins. Yes. It is beneficial to get better financial habits and cutting those unnecessary expenses, maybe five or $10 here and using that money towards more impactful family and financial goals. But going for the big wins means that for a little bit of time and effort, you can have reoccurring winds or see a significant drop in your expenses or increase your savings. This is where open enrollment fits in. For this limited window that you get this information, you're going to be making some significant financial decisions for the upcoming year. The biggest one for most families, health insurance. What makes us extra challenging is we're doing this in the midst of still dealing with COVID. All this week and next, I want to make things easier for you so that you can focus on the key discussions you need to have so you can make the best choices for your family's particular needs. I'll be releasing on the site previous episodes where I've talked with certified financial planners about the ins and outs and details about your options. Today we're going to focus more on a Q and a style approach. Based on your feedback, along with what I'm seeing on my side with Google search in the community chat, I'm going to go over those questions that families often have as they're sorting through the paperwork. Our focus today will be on:
Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Save serious Money Are you looking for more help with maximizing your benefits and saving more money? Here are some resources:
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.
Direct download: SEP_S3E24_Open_Enrollment_Keeping_Health_Insurance_Dental_and_Disability_Affordable.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 2:24pm EDT |
Wed, 22 September 2021
How are you feeling about your progress this year with your financial goals? Are you frustrated because you're not hitting them as fast as you had hoped? Do you feel like managing money is a chore? Believe it or not, these problems are connected. Today, I'm going to break down and show you how to build a flexible financial system that will get you to your goals faster! Keeping Your Budget Flexible and FunRecently I had a chat with rich Jones for the Paychecks and Balances Podcast. The theme of our discussion was managing finances when undergoing a life transition, but it quickly widen out and scope. After my chat with Rich, our discussion stuck with me. Having written about personal finance for 12 years and podcasting, a little over half that time, I noticed a certain rhythm with people in their interests and finances. Beginning of the year, it's all about setting up these big goals, paying off debt, saving up for a huge house down payment. For some, it truly is the beginning of an awesome year. They get these new habits set up. They have their systems in place. Others though, they're already having a hard time keeping up those habits, part of it is life shifts. Between January and to about April when I look on my side of things with site traffic, And Google searches, that's when people are most interested in their finances. Further into the year, no matter what camp you're in the seasons change and life rolls on. With September zooming by and the last quarter coming up. I find it's another point in the year where we reflect. We have this many awareness that the year's wrapping up. We're reviewing how much we've accomplished. Now on top of the regular seasonal changes in the year. We still have the COVID pandemic that we're dealing with. Rather than fight the seasonal shifts or craft these perfect on paper budgets, but they fall apart during real life pivots, we have to address a fundamental issue -building a sustainable and flexible system for handling your finances so that you can live your life and if something happens adjust as needed. Instead of chasing money as the target or the goal really should be using it as a tool. In this episode, we're going to break that down so that you can create a financial system that is easy to maintain and adjust and have a sustainable budget that's flexible and fun. Are you ready? Let's get started! Handy Tools to Build Your Financial System Quickly and Easily
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 customer service along with competitive rates to make saving easier! 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.
Direct download: SEP_S3E23_Gow_to_Create_a_Fun_and_Flexible_Financial_System.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:15am EDT |
Wed, 15 September 2021
Are you frustrated with your debt and feel like you’re stuck in this rut? Today we’re going to see how you can negotiate your debts to lessen the stress and get you closer to your debt free goals! Dealing with Debt CollectorsPaying off debt is usually one of the top three goals people make for the year, but struggle to achieve. Depending on where the pandemic caught you on your financial journey, you may have had an extra harder struggle. Perhaps a drop in income meant slowing down or even pausing your debt pay off plan. That can be a real burden on a marriage because those balances are lingering, or worse growing. If it makes you feel better, you’re not alone. Debt is weighing down a lot of families. According to Experian, 90% of adults in the US have at least one credit card on their report, and of those, 75% carry a balance month to month. The average balance for that group is $5,315. Then consider that the average balance on a car loan is $19,703. Then you have student loans. In 2020, the average balance was $38,792. While there is some relief for federal loans with the pause in payments, if you have private loans, you’re still dealing with them on top of everything. Hopefully things have improved, but you’re not trying to figure out how to jump back in, which debts to tackle first, what payment makes the most sense. Which is why I’m happy to have attorney Taylor Kosla be a part of this episode. Taylor is a partner at Agruss Law Firm, a team that’s focused on helping people deal with debt collection. In this episode we’ll look at:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources to Dump Your Debt FasterIf you’re looking to create a debt free plan that fits your family, budget, and timeline here are some helpful resources to review.
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! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.
Direct download: SEP_S3E22_How_to_Negotiate_with_Debt_Collectors.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:15am EDT |
Wed, 8 September 2021
Today we’ll go over how you can set up your finances so you’ll have more options and time for the things people and projects you love! Pursuing Financial Independence on Your TermsAs a kid one of my favorite genres of books to read was those choose your own adventure stories. Remember those? You always began the same, but based on the choices you made, you could find buried treasure. Or your plane crashes. (Wait, not sure that was a thing in a kids book. Anyways…) Fast forward and now my absolute favorite type of video games to play are RPGs. Why? Because you have room to craft out your own adventures. Guess some things don't change. What does this have to do with financial independence? Glad you asked! I feel like financial independence is just like those books and games – you decide on how you're going to go through it. You have flexibility to make it fit you and your family. But it doesn't always feel that way. There's this narrative that gets pushed that there's a certain way to FI. Specifically as fast as possible. If you've been turned off by that segment of FI or you want to have more flexibility with your plan, I think you'll enjoy today's episode. And to help me out is Diania Merriam. She's the founder of EconMe who knows firsthand the joys of and challenges of carving out your own FI path. In this episode, we're jumping into:
Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Craft Your FI PathIf you're looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are some resources to check out!
Want to be a part of EconMe this year? Sign up for your ticket! Because you're a listener, Diania was kind enough to pass on a discount code. Type in SIMPLIFYENJOY to save 10% on your ticket! 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!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.
Music by various Artists from Audiio. Photos by Elizabeth Zernetska and Dio Hasbi Saniskoro from Pexels
Direct download: SEP_S3E20_Choose_Your_Own_FI_Adventure_with_Diania_of_EconoMe.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 5:30am EDT |
Wed, 7 July 2021
Can parents pursue financial independence with kids at home? Today we’ll go over the five biggest myths and show how to enjoy parenthood and FI! Are Financial Independence and Parenthood Compatible?Even before we were familiar with the term financial independence, we were intrigued about this idea of gaining flexibility and freedom. When we were first married, we had two immediate financial goals – getting rid of the car loan and building our emergency fund. Our car payment wasn’t a huge burden, but seeing that money going out month after month..ugh.. Not having that weighing our budget down was one benefit, but then there was also this what if. What if we used that money for things we actually enjoyed and really wanted – travel, a house, or starting a business? So I started digging into personal finance blogs and found books like Total Money Makeover, Automatic Millionaire, and The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke. Taking what I learned, we came up with a plan to pay off our debts and grow our financial cushion. Don’t get me wrong, seeing our net worth go from negative $30,000 to the positive side felt great. The real pull for us, though, was not how much money we can stash away or how fast we can hit. We loved being in a position of having options. Like leaving a bad job. Becoming an entrepreneur. During this time, we discovered financial independence, with that classic book – Your Money or Your Life. There are some wonderful benefits with discovering the FI community. Many in the space love swapping ideas about what’s worked for them. Hopefully like you’re doing now, we listened to stories and picked a few ideas to try out. Some worked really well, some needed to be adjusted for our circumstances, and some didn’t work. Either our situation was too different or honestly, we didn’t enjoy it. The ones that didn’t resonate with us usually came from this segment in the community who had very specific ideas about financial independence. Both with what it was and what it wasn’t. One complaint I kept seeing was how hard or in some cases impossible for parents to hit FI. I believe that belief is not just discouraging to parents, but really misses the actual resource financial independence is about – time. Finances are the tool to help you get there, not the goal. We were more focused on quality of life and having options. So today I want to wrap up this series of episodes before our summer break and discuss how you as a parent can work towards your FI goals while enjoying the journey with your kids. In this episode, we’ll get into the five biggest myths around financial independence and parenthood. Are you ready? Get Your Free Love & Money Guide Learn the ice breakers and conversation starters to make talking about money easier!  Let’s get started! Resources for Parents to Pursue Financial IndependenceIf you're looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, 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! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve. Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time. Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value. See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless! 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: SEP_S3E20_Enjoying_Financial_Independence_and_Parenthood.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 9:36pm EDT |
Wed, 23 June 2021
Real estate investing can be a way to build up a passive income, but is it the right move for you? Learn about some of the different options you have and what you need to discuss before jumping in! Is Real Estate Investing Right for Us?We've been talking a lot this season about building and diversifying your income streams. Part of it is in reaction to the past year or so we’ve had. With some industries being hit hard with job losses and hours cut, having another source of income – even if not full-time- can soften the blow. We spoke about working from home with Modern Frugality creator Jen Smith. We also talked about entrepreneurship and building a portfolio of income streams with author Michelle Jackson. Today we’re talking about another opportunity to build an income stream – real estate investing. If you’ve ever watched shows on HGTV or followed DIY influencers on social media, it looks fun and exciting, right? These transformations can be dramatic and then when they go ahead and sell those houses, sometimes those numbers look tempting. Or the idea of owning properties and having rental income looks like a passive way to earn more. But is that really the case? What does real estate investing really involve? How can we get started? How can we be smarter with how we invest? I’m happy that Rachel Richards is joining this episode. She’s an author and real estate investor with over 30 properties. With the income their properties are generating, she and her husband are able to be financially free. In this episode we get into:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources on Real Estate InvestingAre you thinking about getting started with real estate investing? Here are some handy resources to get your finances in shape and learn more about it!
Key TakeawaysBefore we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got from speaking with Rachel and preparing this episode.
We really just scratched the surface today so if you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and talk about your progress for the year– don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook. We’re all about helping one another out with our family and financial goals. 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 have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless!I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve. Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time. Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value. See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless! 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: SEP_S3E18_Real_Estate_Investing.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 9:57am EDT |
Wed, 16 June 2021
It's June. The year is halfway over. Now is the perfect time to hit pause and do a midyear review to see how you're progressing with your goals and make sure that your accounts are moving in the right direction! Why Financial Reviews MatterWhile we automate much of our finances, especially the tedious parts. It really does pay to have these times where you sit down. In review the numbers. And having a financial checkup mid year is a fantastic opportunity. Not just to look at your day to day accounts, like your checking and savings but your investments. Having these more in-depth conversations. Can be beneficial to both your marriage and finances. For us, this is an opportunity to hit pause and to really sit down and talk. I don't know how this year has gone for you but it really has flown by for us. In overall, it has been good, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been some struggles and challenges that we face. Second, it gives us a chance to talk about what's been working and what's not working with our family finances. Life comes up and maybe we had to shift some things for a month or two. This is a pause where we can see. Is this a trend that we should start planning for, or is this. A one-time deal? Knowing that ahead of time can relieve the stress going forward. Finally, it's a great reminder to reflect on the big picture. What are we really working towards and how are we aligned towards that? And yes, it does involve looking at the finances, but also schedule wise work choices that we make. Time with the girls, all these things are connected to each other. Having a set period where we can reflect on that big picture is a huge help. This past year and a half can be especially challenging for families as we are navigating through this unprecedented time. Which is why I'm glad Kevin Matthews is a part of this episode. He's a former financial advisor and a number one bestselling author. He just had a new book from Burning the Blueprint that's out that you should definitely grab. Today, we're going to be talking about that connection between your family and financial goals and making sure that your investments are moving in the right direction. In this episode, we'll get into: Community & Get Your Free Money Toolkit! Quickly & easily set your money up to hit your goals faster! 
Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Stay on Top of Your MoneyIf you’re looking to build up your finances, here are some handy resources we mentioned in the episode plus 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. 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! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve. Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time. Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value. See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless! 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: SEP_S3E17_MidYear_Financial_Review.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 11:38am EDT |
Wed, 9 June 2021
Cryptocurrency is part of the mainstream conversation and in the news, but should it be a part of your investment plan? We decode the terminology and go over the difference between speculation and investments. Should We Invest in Cryptocurrency?We’re talking about a topic that’s been popping up all over – cryptocurrency. Just this year alone, Bitcoin, Ethereum, and others are on a roller coaster ride. Coinbase went public just this April. I’ve gotten questions first about exactly how these currencies work and second, if it’s something to invest in. In some cases, one of you is all excited to jump in this new opportunity while the other is skeptical or against it. Like any major decision, it’s important for your marriage and money to discuss your options and see if it fits in with your goals and financial plan. In this episode, we get into:
We got plenty to cover so let’s get started! Resources to Learn More About Cryptocurrencies and Keep Tabs on Your Money
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve. Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time. Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value. See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless! Get Your Free Love & Money Guide Learn the ice breakers and conversation starters to make talking about money easier! 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio. Key Takeaways on CryptoBefore we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got from preparing this episode.
If you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and maybe discover your strategy– don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook. We’re all about helping one another out with our family and financial goals. Hope to see you there!
Direct download: SEP_S3E16_Should_We_Invest_in_Cryptocurrency.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 2:52pm EDT |
Wed, 2 June 2021
Learn how you can protect your family’s finances and open up more opportunities by diversifying your income! Why You Need to Diversify Your IncomeDiversifying income is something every family should consider. It can not only give you a bigger safety net, but it does give you some more options no matter what stage you are in your financial journey. Here are a few scenarios where diversifying and increasing your income can be helpful. We're still not out of the woods when it comes to the financial impact of COVID. In April, 9.4 million people reported that they were unable to work because their employer either close or lost business due to this pandemic. As you can probably guess the more income you get, the higher your chances of saving. In 2019, the median bank account balance for American households was 5,300. What's interesting is when you break it down by income, how drastically that changes. For a family that's in the 40 to 59 percentile of income, the median savings was 4,400. You moved to the next bracket, 60 to 79%. You're looking at 10,000. The next one 20,000 and then finally 69,000. Having income to take care of essentials means you can then take that so-called extra income and put it towards financial goals, including savings. Finally, if your family is on the financial independence path. Then increasing your savings rate can speed things up for you when you'll hit your FII number. For example, if your savings rate is 15% then you have 43 working years until you retire. If you bump that up to 30%, then that drops down to 28. You move up to 45% and it becomes 19 years. You're literally buying back your time when you're increasing your savings rate. So hopefully it’s clear why you need to diversify your income. The question is now about finding the right ones for your family. Side hustles are a popular recommendation, especially online, but they're not your only option. Which is why I’m so happy to have Michelle Jackson on today. She’s an author, podcaster, and entrepreneur. Not only has she developed these business and income streams, but she’s found a bit of balance with juggling them. In this episode, we get into:
Let’s get started! Resources to Build Up Your IncomeIf you’re looking to boost your income, here are some helpful resources to earn more money and manage it better!
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! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve. Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time. Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value. See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless! 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: SEP_S3_E15_How_to_Build_and_Diversify_Your_Income.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 11:17am EDT |
Wed, 26 May 2021
We're all looking to reconnect and have fun this summer. Today, we're going to go over ways to enjoy family barbecues, give some ideas on great outdoor ventures you can go on, and offer tips on how to grow your savings this season! Make This a Fun Summer of SavingsFor many families, summer is the season. Especially after the year we had in 2020, many of us are eager to embrace the warmer weather and be outside and go on vacation. As we mentioned last week, it's possible to have fun and still save. Today, we're going to dive in with how you can have a wonderful and memorable time this summer, while still building up your stash. In this episode, we get into:
Let’s get started! Handy Tools to Boost Your SavingsIf 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. Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve. Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time. Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value. See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless! Key TakeawaysBefore we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got as I was preparing this episode. 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. We swap ideas and tips because our goal is to help one another out with our family and financial goals. Hope 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: SEP_S3E14_Leveling_Up_Your_Barbecue_Game_Outdoor_Getaways_and_a_Summer_of_Savings.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 11:48am EDT |
Wed, 19 May 2021
We’re all looking to get the best value, but how can you balance saving money, hitting your financial goals, while still having fun? Today we’ll go over how you can master the art of being frugal! Can Being Frugal Make You Rich?Whether you’re pursuing a debt-free path, financial freedom, or independence, there’s one skill that can help you hit your goal faster – being frugal. I’m not talking about being cheap. I’m talking about living a rich life without spending a ton of money. When I say frugal, I’m talking about living a rich life without spending a ton of money. It’s about maximizing your dollars for the best value. I’m going to talk about three areas where you can do this – budget, tech, and travel. To help show the ways you can live well while spending less, I have two guests. First off, Joel Larsgaard from How to Money is sharing ways couples can work together so they’re spending on what matters to them. Second, we have Joel Kades of Republic Wireless. We’re going to look at how technology opened up some options so you can get an affordable smartphone plan. Finally we’ll wrap things up with how to make frugality fun with tips on how to save on travel. We got a lot to cover so let’s get started! Resources to Maximize Your DollarsBeing frugal is really about optimizing your expenses so you’re getting the best value. Here are a few resources to help you significantly save without
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!
Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless!I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve. Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time. Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value. See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless! Key TakeawaysBefore we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got as I was preparing this episode.
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. We swap ideas and tips because our goal is to help one another out with our family and financial goals. Hope 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E13_The_Art_of_Being_Frugal.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 11:31am EDT |
Wed, 12 May 2021
With credit card fraud and identity theft happening more frequently, we all have to step up our game. Learn keys ways to protect your finances and identity! Fraud ProtectionI hope you never have to deal with identity theft, data breaches, or fraud but chances are you will. There were 4.8 million identity theft and fraud reports received by the FTC in 2020, an increase of 45 percent from 2019. The Ascent from Motley Fool reported that credit card fraud was the most common type of identity theft last year – over 270,000 reports. Another unfun stat – identity theft doubled from 2017 to 2019. Finally in 2019 almost 165 million records containing personal data were exposed through data breaches. The point? Cyber crimes aren’t going away anytime soon. In fact last year, I got it.Twice. The first one, I received a call from Coastal about suspicious activity on my card. Thankfully that was quickly resolved. Second time, I discovered it when doing my monthly review. I saw a $140 charge from California. I called and explained this wasn’t me. It took a month of back and forth, but I got it cleared. I was a headache. One I hope you avoid. Which is why I’m so glad Joe Mecca is back on the show. In this episode we get into:
Hope you enjoy it! Resources to Protect Your FinancesIf you're getting more proactive with protecting your identity and money, here are some handy resources to check out!
For freezing your accounts or putting an alert you need to contact the credit bureaus.
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. Key Takeaways on Dealing with credit Card Fraud and Identity TheftBefore we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got as I was preparing this episode. Get Your Free Love & Money Guide Learn the ice breakers and conversation starters to make talking about money easier!
Unfortunately things like these aren’t going away, so 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. We swap ideas and tips because our goal is to help one another out with our family and financial goals. Hope 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: SEP_S3_E12_Theft_Fraud_How_to_Protect_Your_Identity_and_Money.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 12:59pm EDT |
Tue, 11 May 2021
Around 82% of Americans said their finances were affected by the pandemic and the fallout according to a recent Fidelity survey. If you’re planning on retiring in a few years, that can be a really scary thing. Today I want to share a resource that can help you get back on track with your retirement plan! The 5 Years Before You Retire: Retirement Planning When You Need It the MostHow comfortable do you feel about your retirement? You’re not alone if you’re worried about it. 36% of Americans are more concerned now than at the start of the pandemic on their ability to maintain a nest egg in retirement. The good news for most of us is that there is time to get back on track. Today’s bonus episode is focused on helping you reset things and worry less about retirement. Thrilled to have Emily Guy Birken on. She is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors. She’s also the author of several wonderful books including End Financial Stress Now and The Five Years Before You Retire, which has been updated and released today. I got an advanced copy and really enjoyed it. I actually ordered a copy for my mom. Emily covers everything you need to do in the next five years to maximize your current savings and create a realistic plan for your future. During our chat, we get into:
Hope you enjoy! Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today. Support the Podcast!Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: SEP_S3_BONUS1_5_Years_Before_You_Retire_with_Emily_Guy_Birken.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:38am EDT |
Wed, 5 May 2021
Many families are looking for a getaway this year, but also want to stay on budget. We'll go over some great family vacation ideas and ways to plan a wonderful trip! Planning a Family Vacation in 2021 How do you plan for a year where you don't know exactly what to expect? I think that's been the unofficial theme this season. We've been talking about how to create a budget that's flexible enough? How do you figure out your schedule? Now I'm hoping maybe a little cautiously optimistic, how do we plan some family fun, maybe a few family trips sprinkled throughout the year if possible? Summer is coming up, people are getting vaccinated and while we’re not out of the woods just yet, I’m looking to travel more. It seems I'm not the only one. A recent VRBO survey found that 65% of Americans plan on traveling more in 2021 than they did pre COVID. We rolled over a chunk of our vacation money into this year. I’m looking forward to going to the beach, whitewater rafting, taking a trip with just the two of us, and maybe going for a longer trip. At the same time, I want to be reasonable and keep some flexibility in case things change. This is why I’m so happy Karen Cordaway is here. She’s the author of The Everyday Bucket List. In this episode we’re going to look at:
Let’s get started! Resources to Save on Your Next Family VacationIf you're looking to start planning and saving for your next family trip, here are a few 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. Key Takeaways on Making the Most of Your Family VacationI really enjoyed chatting with Karen and hearing all her creative ideas to have some memorable and affordable family fun. Here are a few key takeaways I got while preparing this episode: Bake Vacations Into Your BudgetI’m a big fan of including what matters to you into your budget. Trips for us are not just about escaping, but connecting. Having the budget is really handy for a few reasons.
Go GreenAdd parks- whether’s national, state, local – to your rotation of destinations this year. These can be memorable and affordable trips for your family while still staying relatively safe. This could be an opportunity for your family to try something new. Be FlexibleLast year really hammered in that there were things outside of our control. I’m cautiously optimistic that things will move forward, but I don’t know. There may be smaller lockdowns or increased restrictions on the future in certain areas based on the numbers. To cope with that, we’re taking Karen’s advice and have some backup trips. As I’m making travel plans, I’m also being a bit flexible with dates to get some great deals. And I’m also checking reservations to make sure they have reasonable cancellation policies. Maybe because we’ve been staying more local that I’m really excited about this, but I'm so ready to travel more. If you’d like to chat more, please join us in our free and private Facebook group, Thriving Families. We’re all about helping and encouraging one another with our family and financial goals. We swap stories, ideas, and tips. Just head over there now. 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3E11_Fun_Memorable_and_Affordable_Family_Vacation_Ideas_to_Try_This_Year.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:16am EDT |
Wed, 10 March 2021
Need a boost with your income? Learn how to find the best paying side hustles for you! Finding the Best Side Hustles That Pay WellSometimes to hit your goal faster, you just have to earn extra mone. Of course that’s not the only thing you’re doing. If you’ve taken my Free 5 Days to $5K course, then you know we look at three pillars when it comes to ‘finding’ money. First we optimize your budget, evaluating expenses to see if they are necessary or they bring you joy. Second, we uncover ways to save when you have to spend. But finally we also look at the other side of the coin – earning more money. Now the easy advice to give is to get a second job, but that’s usually not the best solution, especially if you have kids or other limitations with time or location. This is where side hustles can help. You can earn more with a bit more flexibility. However it can be tricky because the ones usually advertised are not that well paying. You have to be strategic when finding a side hustle that allows you to earn more without burning you out. Which is why I’m so glad Jen Smith is on today. Jen has done it all. Seriously. From T-shirts to writing to Airbnb, she’s tried out different avenues to earning more. On her site Modern Frugality and Frugal Friends Podcast, she’s all about helping others to pay down their debt through better money habits and building their income. In this episode we’ll get into:
Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Build Up Your IncomeIf you’re looking to boost your income, here are some helpful resources to earn more money and manage it better!
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. Key TakeawaysWe covered a lot of info today, so before we wrap up, I want to focus on a few key takeaways from preparing this episode.
If you’d like to chat more, please join us in our free and private Facebook group, Thriving Families. We’re all about helping and encouraging one another with our family and financial goals. We swap stories, ideas, and tips. Just head over there now. 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E10_Boost_Income_with_Side_Hustles.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 6:23am EDT |
Wed, 3 March 2021
Getting ready to start house hunting? Get tips on how you find and buy a house you love that is still affordable! Are You Ready to Buy a House?Right now with the national median listing price in December was $340,000, chances are buying a house – it’s typically the biggest purchase a family makes. Depending on where you live it can be a hot seller’s market, making it even more difficult to find a place that you love. That’s why it’s so important to go in prepared not financially, but with an understanding of what home ownership truly looks like. Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor® Adam Hagerman is here to help sort through things including the whole rent vs buy debate. Before you start house hunting, you want to make sure this is the best move for you and your family. In this episode, we’ll get into:
Let’s get started! Resources on Buying a HouseIf you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find an affordable place you love!
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. See how Coastal can help you with your mortgage needs! Key Takeaways on Snagging a Great Deal When Buying a HouseWe covered a lot of information today so before we wrap up, I want to focus on a few key takeaways from preparing this episode. The first one is please run your own numbers. I want you to own a home and for it to feel like a blessing and not a burden. Finding an affordable place means that you’re able to be a homeowner and still hit your other financial and family goals. The second is focus on what matters to you. I don’t know how it happens, but when you announced that you’re buying a house, There’s a lot of advice that’s thrown at you. Some of it is well-intentioned and good, but sometimes there are myths that keep getting passed on as a fact. So you want to make sure that you’ve defined. What kind of house that you want, why you want this house and also again, that the numbers line up for you. Don’t feel pressured to buy a house simply because you’re supposed to be doing it or it’s that time in your life that everyone else is buying a house and said make sure this is a milestone that you want to hit. Finally, as you probably picked up based on what we’ve talked about, the more work that you put into it, the better the results. A lot of this is preparation, getting the pieces in play. And then the house hunt becomes a lot easier and a lot less stressful. Spending the time upfront, getting your finances in place. Defining your must haves and having your wishlist and knowing which neighborhoods you would love to get a house can make this home buying process a lot more fun. There is so much to talk about when it comes to house hunting, so if you want to chat more, please join us in our free and private Facebook group, thriving families. We’re all about helping and encouraging one another with our family and financial goals. We love to swap stories, ideas, and tips. We can tell you what worked for us, what didn’t, and you can usually find someone in the vicinity or area you’re in which can be great for recommendations for things like real estate agents. Please head over to simplify and enjoy.com/fb. 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E9_Smart_Way_to_Buy_a_House.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:10am EDT |
Wed, 24 February 2021
Thinking of selling your house? Today we’ll go over how to prepare your place so you can get the best price for it! What You Need to Know to Sell Your House for More Selling a house, especially when it is your first place, can be overwhelming. Even in a seller’s market like we have here in Raleigh, you have work to do. You have to fix up your space, stage your house, and have it ready for showings. Let’s not forget this added layer of social distancing and safety we need to practice while we deal with the coronavirus. However, selling your house at the best price can also be a huge boost to your finances and bring you closer to your goals. The difficult part can be getting to that point Which is why I’m glad Mariella Guillama is here today. She’s an award -winning Real Estate Broker at Daymark Realty. We used Daymark when we sold our first home and for buying our current place. We’re super happy with the experience. In this episode, we’ll get into:
We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
Resources to Get Top Dollar When Selling Your House
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! Key Takeaways for Selling your House I know we only scratched the surface. There’s so much to talk about and I’d love to chat some more about this. So if you want, please join us in our free and private Facebook group, thriving families. We’re all about helping and encouraging one another. With our family and financial goals. We love to swap stories, ideas, and tips. Just head over to simplify and enjoy.com/fb. 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E8_How_to_Sell_Your_Home_for_More.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 6:28am EDT |
Wed, 17 February 2021
Who doesn’t love a good DIY home project? But how do you take what you see online or on television and translate that into your home, especially when you are not naturally handy? Today, we’ll look at what you need to know to get started and build up your DIY skills! Getting Started with DIY home ProjectsLast week we were talking about being a frugal foodie, home brewing, and having a garden at your place. These are some of my favorite topics. I enjoy talking about how to save money and put it towards goals that matter to you but I also love learning new things. As I mentioned last week, I wasn’t a natural gardener. My first attempts are pretty bad keeping plants alive. I ended up going with cacti and fake plants inside the house for a few years. By starting off small with a little front patio garden. I began to get some practice and to learn some skills. And I would not call myself a garden expert. Now I’m really proud that we have a space out back where we can grow the vegetables that we enjoy and love. I feel the same way about DIY. Neither one of us are naturally handy people, but when we became homeowners, we out of necessity had to learn some skills. Not only so that we can save some money, but turn our house into our home. If you’re thinking of taking on some home projects, but you don’t know where to start, then this is your episode. Whitney Hansen, who’s the creator and host of The Money Nerds podcast is here today. Besides her financial skills, she also has some serious DIY talents. She loves to jump into projects whether it’s painting her house, building a fireplace, or flipping furniture. In this episode, we’ll get into:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Hope you enjoy! Resources to Make Your Home Projects less stressful and on budgetIf you’re planning on doing a home DIY project and you want to keep it stylish and affordable, here are some resources to check out!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union!Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! Key Takeaways with DIY Home ProjectsHere are a few key takeaways from today’s episode!
There’s so much we can chat about, so come join in our Facebook group Thriving Families. We’re there to support one another with our family and financial goals. I’d love to share any tips I can and I know there are others too. 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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E7_Weekend_DIY_Home_Projects_What_You_Need_to_Know_to_Tackle_Them.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:30am EDT |
Wed, 10 February 2021
Just because we’re at home doesn’t mean we can’t still be frugal foodies. Today, we’ll look at how you can jumpstart a garden and start making craft brews at home! Frugal Foodie at HomeFrugal foodie is back! If you’re new to this series, it’s where we explore ways you can eat well without breaking the budget. For some though, when you hear frugal. It means cheap. I get it. Maybe, you know, someone who brags about getting the absolute lowest price on everything. Whether it’s good or bad. While you can save money being frugal, the real focus is getting the best value. When it comes to food and really life, he don’t want to settle for less just because it’s the cheapest. You want to get the most out of what you have. With this series, we look at ways that you can make your dollar go further. We’ve talked about getting great deals on food, whether it’s grocery hacks, meal planning, or even going out to eat. Today, we’re going to look at another way you can enjoy fantastic meals and still keep things affordable. We’re talking about gardening and home brewing. What was interesting was how incredibly relaxing these hobbies, where especially last year. Many of us had more time at home in the usual options weren’t always available. Family trips, checking out the museums or festivals were all off the table. We had to find ways to keep ourselves busy and have some creative outlets. For us that included making home brews and being out in the garden. We had home brewed years ago, but when we had two toddlers at home, it became more of a hassle so we took a hiatus. Thankfully, we still had the equipment in our basement so when we felt like starting that back up last year, it was fairly simple. The other hobby gardening is something we’ve been working on year after year, especially with this house. We have our main space Outback, where we grow hot peppers, tomatoes, different green strawberries and more. 2020 was still. You know, 20, 20, but it was good to have a project to work on. While, I don’t think all of our Happy’s have to be productive or optimize, I do feel like there are some great benefits. With making and growing your own food. If you’re really looking to make meals at home, more enjoyable and special, it’s hard to beat something that you grew or made yourself. Today, we’re going to look at what it takes to get started so the two of you can level up and become frugal foodies. In this episode, we’ll go over:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources to Become a Frugal FoodieIf you’d like to try out your handy with gardening or homebrewing, here are some handy resources to help you get started!
Gardening
Home Brewing
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! Support the Podcast!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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E6_Frugal_Foodie_at_Home_Gardening_and_Homebrewing.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 7:56pm EDT |
Wed, 3 February 2021
Tax season is here. How prepared are you? Today we’ll go over how to make filing your taxes easier and less stressful! How to Make Taxes Less StressfulBetween the paperwork you need to track, tax terms that are dry, and the eye-opening nature of going through your finances for the year, taxes can understandably make you anxious. If you’re looking to optimize your finances, you have to get your taxes done right. Today, I want to give you a quick and easy guide on preparing for your taxes. In this episode:
Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources to Tackle Your TaxesLooking to make taxes less stressful? Here are some of my favorite resources!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! Support the Podcast!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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E5_Make_Taxes_Less_Stressful.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 10:28am EDT |
Wed, 27 January 2021
How can you plan and budget for a year when there are so many things up in the air? Today we’ll go over how the two of you can create a plan and budget so you can hit your goals while being flexible enough to switch gears if needed! How to Hit Your Money Goals During a Uncertain Year This first month of 2021 is just about wrapped up and already it's been an eventful year! A huge challenge we faced in 2020 and it looks like for a good part of this year, it's going to be creating plans when there's no firm idea of what to expect. Heard from many of you, the frustration and the stress of having plans started at the beginning of the year, and then getting hit with the pandemic or the financial fallout from it and it throwing everything off. It's understandable if you are not looking to repeat that in 2021. While we can't prepare for every single situation and emergency, there are steps we can take to shore up our finances and give us more options. Our goals and our budgets need to have flexibility built in so that we can pivot for whatever comes up. But how do you do that? How do you plan in budget when you don't know what to expect? That's going to be our focus for today. We're going to look at the big picture and talk about how to approach your goals for this year and your budget. Then We're going to drill down with a goal that many couples have- paying off their student loans - and coming up with a plan when there's still certain decisions that haven't been made yet. There was an announcement last week with federal student loans, but are we going to have anything forgiven? Certified student loan professional Meagan Landress from Student Loan Planner is here to talk about your options and what the two of you need to discuss to come up with a plan that fits your needs. We got a lot to cover, so let's get started! Resources to Stay on Top of Your MoneyIf you’re looking to build up your finances, here are some handy resources we mentioned in the episode plus more!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union!Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! Support the Podcast!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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E4_Planning_for_an_Uncertain_Year.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 1:13pm EDT |
Tue, 19 January 2021
For many families, 2020 threw us for a loop. Today we’ll look at how you can revamp and build your budget so you can hit your financial goals faster! Revamping Your BudgetI think it’s fair to say that last year did not go as any of us planned. I’m not going to recap the year – we were all there- but honestly, we had a lot curve balls thrown at us. Because we had to make so many changes with how we worked, did school, and more, our day to day routines changed and our budgets did as well. While I’m happy that there are vaccines being produced now, there’s still much ahead of us. It’s going to be a while before things get back to a more normal routine. Which means more than ever, we create a plan for our finances. One of the best ways you can pivot your finances is by creating a roadmap for your money. For most families, that means creating a better budget. Some challenges that couples face can include:
So we’re going to dig into this today one by one. Rob Bertman is on the podcast. He’s a certified financial planner and the creator of Family Budget Expert. He’s worked with families on reconfiguring their budgets so that it reflects them and their specific goals. We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!  Resources to Build a Better Budget TogetherLooking to create a budget? Here are some helpful resources:
If you’d like to chat more about your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. We’re families looking to support and help one another out. Hope to see you there! Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! Key Takeaways on Creating a Budget That Fits Your Family and GoalsNow that we’re two weeks into our monthly money challenge. Which is simply tracking your money. You’re probably getting a clearer picture of your family’s cashflow. Get Your Free Money Toolkit Learn how you can quickly & easily set your money up to dump your debt faster! BirdSend Email Marketing Tool With those numbers in front of you, the two of you can start building a budget together that makes sense for you and your goals for the year. Here are a few things to look out for and discuss. Which areas of your budgets, are you spending more or less than you had anticipated? Since many families stayed home more in 2020. It’s natural that your budget’s shifted. In certain areas may have seen an increase while others. Had a decrease. Now that the new year has started, things may have shifted again. If, so which areas of your budget are staying on target? In which ones are unexpectedly higher or lower? Of course, if you’re going over budget, you immediately need to make changes. But this may be a case of where you need to adjust your budget, to be more realistic for your current and future circumstances. Perhaps you’ve discovered that yes, you’re spending more with food, but you’re eating at home more eating healthier. And the quality of the food that you’re picking out is much better. So in that case, you may decide going forward that you want to keep the food expenses in that range and cut somewhere else. The second thing to discuss. And it is related to the first is how much did you enjoy with your spending? I know sometimes in the personal finance space. Spending is seen as a negative, but that’s not necessarily the case. Again, when we’re looking at budget, we’re talking about what we prioritize and what we value. I know for us, we’ve made some purchases during the pandemic, since we were going to spend more time at home and we do not regret those purchases. We put some more money into our family garden and got items for the yard, such as a hammock and a telescope and we really enjoyed those purchases. What about you? What new spending did you have because of the pandemic. Perhaps it was buying games for family game night. You may be looking at that spending and you’re happy with it. And you might decide that going forward, you want to keep it in your budget. Then make sure that you put it as a new line item in your budget going forward. Creating a budget. Isn’t all about cutting expenses. It’s really about being more intentional with how you use your money. Finally looking at your cashflow. What’s a realistic pace for you to hit your goals. We’re not trying to create the perfect budget. We’re trying to create a budget that actually works for you. These discussions may seem small, but they can give you a leg up for creating a budget that you can use for the rest of the year!  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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E3_The_Art_of_Building_a_Budget_That_Actually_Works.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 9:36am EDT |
Tue, 12 January 2021
Dealing with debt can be a grind, especially if you have a ton of debt or if it is high interest. Today we’re going to see how the debt lasso method can speed things up with credit card debts and we’ll get tips on how to pay off over six figures of debt without sacrificing fun! Creating a Plan to Pay Off Your DebtsOne of the most popular goals families make when it comes to money is paying off their debts and with good reason.
Even before the pandemic, debts were a considerable chunk of an average American family’s budget.
The median household consumer debt was $67,000 according to data in New York Fed's quarterly Household Debt and Credit Survey.
Getting rid of that debt is not always so easy.
You need something that is realistic so you can stick with it as well as a way to speed things up if you’re deep in debt.
We’re going to look at how you can create a debt free plan that fits your family and budget.
Today’s financial experts are John and David Auten-Schneider and Toni Husbands.
In this episode we get into:
Let’s get started! Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Android, or on your favorite podcast platform. Resources to Dump Your Debt FasterIf you’re looking to create a debt free plan that fits your family, budget, and timeline here are some helpful resources to review.
If you’d like to chat more about your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. We’re families looking to support and help one another out. Hope to see you there! Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union!Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! Support the Podcast!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.
Music CreditOur theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3_E2_Paying_Off_Debts_Strategies_to_Staying_Motivated_and_Knocking_Them_Out_Faster.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 11:50am EDT |
Tue, 5 January 2021
Most parents have their hands full and too many times our finances, health, and homes don’t get the attention they should. We go over how you can reset your habits so you simplify your finances, home, and lives to enjoy some big wins this year! Reworking Your HabitsFor multiple reasons, 2020 was a challenging year. Even if you weren’t directly affected by the pandemic or managed to avoid the financial fallout of it, chances are you were impacted by what was happening. If you’re a parent, you had this gargantuan task of working from home, staying productive, while corralling your kids with their remote learning. But we made it here. Understandably, you’re probably looking forward to resetting a few things, including your finances. Peter Polson, the founder of Tiller, is joining me in this episode to discuss how to shift your financial habits and more. It may seem these are too small to matter or make a difference, but from our personal experience and learning from others, habits are really the building blocks to pivoting towards your goals, whether it’s with money, at home, or our health. In this episode, we’re looking at:
Ready? Let’s get started! Key Resources to Help You Change Your HabitsLooking to reset a few things to get some family and financial wins this year? Here are some fantastic resources to help you!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today! We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings 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.
Music CreditMusic in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.
Direct download: S3E1_How_to_Set_Great_Habits_for_Your_Home_Home_and_Life__and_Actually_Keep_Them_This_Year.mp3
Category:personal finance -- posted at: 1:53pm EDT |
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