Want to get the most out of your 401(k)? Learn the key guidelines on how you can choose the best investment options for you! 

Want to get the most out of your 401(k)? Learn the key guidelines on how you can choose the best investment options for you! 

Making the Most of Your 401(k)

Chances are if you’re investing for your retirement, the bulk of that money is stashed away in your 401(k).

For those whose employers offer them, they’re an easy option to sign up for and contribute towards.

But are how comfortable are you with how it is doing?

To help sort things out, Jonah Kaufman is joining me for this episode.

Jonah is a financial advisor at Coastal’s Wealth Management Services.

These will give you some starting points and ideas on what you need to talk about.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

• Why your 401(k)s are a great foundation for retirement savings
• What factors to consider when you’re investing
• Understanding some of the different options that your 401(k) may offer

Hope you enjoy!

Just to make sure we’re on the same page, this episode is NOT about specific investment advice.

You would need to consult a qualified financial professional who can evaluate your unique circumstances.

Resources to Stay on Top of Your 401(k)

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

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Master Your 401(k): How Much Do We Need to Contribute?
• Master Your 401(k): Why You Need to Keep an Eye Out for Fees
• Robots Can Manage Your Money. But Even They Need Humans
• A Smarter Way to Think About Financial Decisions

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.

If you want to be better prepared financially for retirement, please check out Coastal’s 401(k) Planning Calculator.

Key Takeaways on Optimizing Your 401(k)

Before we wrap up I want to focus on some key takeaways I got from speaking with Jonah and preparing for this episode:

• Understand yourself as an investor.
• Performance isn’t tied to cost with your investments.
• Don’t check your investments too frequently.

If you’d like to chat more about your financial goals,  please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families.

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.

Today we’re talking about how you two can really review the big picture and make sure you hit YOUR big money goals!

Financial Check-ups  

The first half of this year is about over, so how are you guys doing right now?

It’s funny how time seems to speed up and slow down.

Looking back we have had some big ups and downs in the past four or so weeks, both financially and in our lives.

Last month our adorable cat had some seisures and other issues and in a span of week – if that – he went from sick to passing away.

It was so fast, the vets were trying to figure out what happened.

And because a few issues, we just got his remains last week and paid his final expenses.

Thankfully we have savings, but between emergency hospital exam, tests, and his vet visits, it definitely was pricey.

Besides that weight, we had good things to celebrate.

We were invited to two baby showers and then last weekend we went to two graduation parties. And of course, they are bunched together.

But that’s life, right?

At least for us.

And I find it so easy to let certain things slip by because there are more pressing or immediate things happening.

The danger is by focusing only on the thing right in front of you, that you miss important stuff. 
I don’t think money is the most important thing. I do however realize that much of our day to day and long term goals need us to be on top on our finances.

We should have a game plan for our money and a system that allows us to put in place so when things come up – and they will- our finances keep chugging along.

Which is why I’m so glad Cathrine Bryant is joining in today’s episode.

She’s a financial advisor at Coastal Wealth Management.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

• Getting a financial snapshot and prioritizing which goal or two is your focus
• Setting up a system to both track your money and getting into a habit of money dates
• Finding a financial planner when you need a check-up with a professional

Let’s get started!

Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money

Want some help staying on top of your money? Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Find the Right Financial Advisor for You
• 5 Powerful Financial Goals for Couples to Build Their Marriage and Wealth
• How to Find a Financial Planner You Can Trust
• Making Sure Your Family Financial Goals Fit You
• Build Your Marriage & Wealth with Money Dates

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.

If you want to be better prepared financially, please consider Coastal’s Retirement Planning Program!

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.

Today we’re going to show you how to get the best deal when buying a car!

What You Need to Know About Car Loans

Cars and car payments are a way of life for many couples.

According to the latest data I could find, there’s a record 2.5 million auto loans originated.

Average monthly payments for new vehicles are $530 for new vehicles and for used cars, it’s around $381.

That’s certainly a big chunk of their budget going to cars.

We’re a bit different.

Once we paid off our car loan with the Jetta, we’ve bought our cars outright.

As a personal and financial decision, we choose to go debt free with cars.

And if you’re curious about how that works, then you’ll want to read our guide on buying cars with cash, which takes you through how we save up and buy our cars.

It’s helped us skip having a car payment for the past 10 years.

And personally, I feel like going debt free on cars is the best option, but every couple is different.

Maybe you have a car that’s having to have repairs and because you’ve been throwing money to keep it going you don’t have much of a down payment?

Or you’d like to go for a used car, but your spouse is hesitant and isn’t willing to go that route?

Throughout the seasons, I’ve put out the offer to you to send in your money questions. I did a call for this season as well. And guess what?

Car loans came up. A lot.

Which isn’t surprising, considering that 85% of new car purchases and 53% of used car purchases use a loan.

But if you get a car loan, is there a way to make sure it’s extremely affordable and if you decide to pay it off sooner, would the numbers work in your favor?

It’s a challenge that I want to tackle today.

By examining the numbers and pushing away the hype and ads, I think you can get a clearer picture of the real costs and then figure out what’s the best option for you.

I’m extra excited because one of you lovely listeners is the guest. And Maggie actually pitched this topic to me in person.

Yep, a Raleigh listener.

Maggie and her husband Ben are trying to figure out what their options are for buying a car. And they were kind enough to share their situation and questions.

What’s cool to me about is that David Jacobs VP of Consumer from our sponsor and partner this season, Coastal Credit Union is going to give us some insights on the lending side.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

• How to figure out how much car you really can afford
• Getting the Best Rate on a Car Loan
• Running the numbers to uncover some loan traps – like if those 0% deals on new cars are really a good deal

I want you two to be able to feel confident that you’re getting the best deal you can.

Let’s get started!

Essential Resources for Buying a Car

If you two are thinking about buying a car soon, here are some handy resources to help you get the best deal on them!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Zeta
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• How to Raise Your Credit Scores
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• 5 Days to $5K Course
• The 3 Biggest Myths About Credit Scores That Can Ruin Your Finances

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.

If you are hunting for a car loan, take a minute to review competitive rates and deals Coastal is offering now to make buying a car easier!

Key Takeaways on Car Loans

Before we close up I want to focus on some key takeaways I got when researching for this episode:

• Run the numbers before you start car hunting
• Save up for a down payment
• Ignore the hype

If you’d like to chat more about saving more,  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!

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.

Double Your Savings

This week in the community newsletter I asked a question – can you really save half your income?

Think about that for a second.

Why is this important?

Whether you’re paying off debt, saving up to buy a house, start family, travel, or invest more for your future – all of these goals have something in common.

They need money.

How much you save of your income can have an incredible impact on how fast you reach your big financial goals.

Now unless you have a stash of cash under in house or an inheritance, that money is probably coming out of your budget.

Now another quick question – do you know the average savings rate in the U.S. now?

Take a guess.

It’s around 6%.

As you probably guess that’s not going to cut it if you want to knock out any of those big goals soon.

There’s no way around it. If you want to hot those goals fairly quickly, you have to master the art of saving.

But half your income?

That’s a bit much, right?

Don’t let anyone tell that’s not a huge deal because it is.

However, it is possible to start working on bumping up that savings rate and one of my goals this summer is getting you to double yours.

We’re bringing back the summer of savings. 
I want this summer to be your best ever. Today on the podcast and throughout the season on this site, I’ll be sharing strategies to help you grow your stash while still enjoying things.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

• A simple path to notching up your savings rate
• Psychological hacks to save more
• Tools that will make your life much easier

Oh and stay tuned until because we’re also bringing back the summer of savings giveaway!

Let’s get started!

Handy Tools to Increase Your Savings Rate

If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are key resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Manage Your 401(k) Easily: blooom
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Simplify and Enjoy: Financial Freedom for Families

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.

They have competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.

Wedding planner Megan Gillikin as plenty of insider tips to help you plan a fantastic wedding (and still stick to your budget)! 

Even though it’s about 13 years ago, I remember being stressed at times when planning our wedding.

Just like we heard at the top of the show, as soon as you announce your engagement it can feel like you’re being swarmed with questions about the big day.

But as much as your loved ones mean well, it can be easy to forget how personal this is.

For some, it’s something they planned and dreamed for years while others are looking for a very laid back and casual affair.

It’s a celebration and a promise that you to make to each other in front of your loved ones depending on the wedding you have.

There can be plenty of moving parts which can be overwhelming and stressful.

The two of you need to sit down and start talking about which things you’d like to have and which things are must-haves

You also may have family members who want to help out.

You have venues, vendors, and maybe some out of town guests to make arrangements for.

Oh, and of course paying for it.

Which is why I’m happy Megan Gillikin is on the podcast today.

She’s the owner and lead consultant for A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning so she has plenty of insider tips to help you have a fantastic wedding!

In this episode we get into:

• Establishing your must-haves and wedding budget
• What to do when the family wants to help pay for your wedding
• Ice breakers to get the ball rolling

Hope you enjoy!

If you want to hear from another bride who had a beautiful wedding on a small budget, listen to my interview with Jessi Fearon.

She and her husband Pat managed a sweet and special wedding for $500!

Resources to Plan Your Wedding

If you’re getting married, please check out these resources so you can plan out your special day without going into debt.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Pulling Off A $5,000 Wedding in NYC
• The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer: Checklists, Worksheets, and Essential Tools to Plan the Perfect Wedding on a Small Budget
• Planning Your Dream Wedding on a Budget
• Wedding Planning: My Ultimate Lesson in Budgeting
• The Best Kept Secrets to Planning a Wedding on a Budget
• Have a $50,000 Wedding on a $3,000 Budget

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.

They have competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Meet Megan Gillikin 

Megan is the owner and lead consultant for A Southern Soiree Wedding and Event Planning. I also do wedding and hospitality business consulting.

She’s also the host of the fantastic and informative podcast Weddings for Real.

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.

Need to talk about money, but worried about starting a fight? Learn easy and stressless ways you two can have the money talk and get on the same page with your finances! 

How to Talk About Money (without Starting a Fight)

While it makes for good TV drama, finding out your spouse has been hiding massive debt is so not the way to start talking about money.

But how do you do that – how do you start talking about money? Certified Financial Planner and NY Times best-selling author Carl Richards is on today to share some ways you can begin.

In this episode we get into:

• Why it’s hard for most couples to talk about money
• How money dates can keep things light and fun
• Ice breakers to get the ball rolling

Hope you enjoy!

If you’d like to hear more from Carl, please listen to our first interview about creating a one-page financial plan!

Resources to Help the Money Talk Go Easier

If you two are ready, here are some fantastic resources to make talking about (and managing) money much less stressful!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal!

Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today!

Meet Carl Richards

Carl Richards is a Certified Financial Planner™ and creator of the Sketch Guy column, appearing weekly in the New York Times since 2010.

Carl has also been featured on Marketplace Money, Oprah.com, and Forbes.com. In addition, Carl has become a frequent keynote speaker at financial planning conferences and visual learning events around the world.

Through his simple sketches, Carl makes complex financial concepts easy to understand.

His sketches also serve as the foundation for his two books, The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money and The Behavior Gap: Simple Ways to Stop Doing Dumb Things with Money.

Keep Takeaways for Talking About Money

Before we close up I want to focus on some key takeaways I got:

• Make talking about money a normal part of your conversations.
• Focus on the WHY before the HOW
• Keep it simple

If you’d like to chat more about getting on the same page with your spouse about money, please join us in our private and free FB group – Thriving Families.

We’re families looking to support and help one another out. We’re over at couplemoney.com/fb

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.

Need to reset your money? Learn how to do some spring cleaning with your finances to start building momentum with your biggest goals!

For some reason, I like to use April is a sort of reminder to review our financial progress. Maybe because of the deadline for taxes.

Or maybe it’s because it’s financial literacy month.

Anyways, during April I’ll poke around all our accounts, including investments to make sure we’re moving in the right direction.

I’ll also review our goals for the year and see if we need to adjust anything.

If you’ve signed up for the community newsletter you got a look at a few of our goals for this year.

We’re looking to:

• Make a dent on our mortgage with extra payments
• Have enough saved up to replace a car
• And for me, I’m working on getting in shape to tackle a 5k obstacle course

And if you haven’t, go ahead and take a little extra time checking your goals and numbers.

Things can be going smoothly, which is awesome.

But it’s not – like you’re behind on a goal or you two can’t seem to make any headway on something, this episode is for you.

We’re going to look at how you can reset things, do some financial spring cleaning, and build up some momentum.

In this episode we get into:

• Why finances are a lot like fitness
• Best resources to get on the same page as a couple and
• How to start paying off debt faster, saving more, and creating your own path to financial freedom and independence

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money

Want to learn more about getting a redo on your money? Here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Debt Pay off Worksheet
• Change Your Habits and Own Your Finances
• Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You?
• 3 Steps to Staying Motivated While Paying Off Debt
• 50 Ways to Give Your Finances A Fresh Start
• How to Start Investing (with $1,000 or Less)Paying Off Your Debt Faster as a Couple
• How to Build Wealth While Raising a Family
• Using Snowflakes to Pay Off Debt Faster

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.

Today we’re going to see how you can prepare your finances so you can buy a house without going broke!

Things are about to get hectic around here.

We just heard from our neighbor that the developer is going to start building the townhouses across the street from us starting next week.

Buying a House – Always a Smart Move?

Here in Raleigh if there’s a sliver of land, they’ll develop it.

It’s a hot market right now and homes are going up at a rapid pace.

Our property value has been rising since we bought our house three years ago.

We’ve received mail from realtors and have seen upticks with estimates from real estate sites like Realtor, Zillow, and Redfin.

We take these estimates with a grain of salt, but they are a reflection of the home value growing.

Seeing this growth you might think we’re firmly in the camp of every one needs to buy a house.

But we’re not.

And here’s the kicker – not every couple benefits from becoming a home owner.

In this episode we get into:

• how to know if buying a home is right for you
• real and total costs of home ownership
• how to figure out how much you can afford so you can buy a house and still pursue financial independence

Hope you enjoy!

Resources on Buying a House

If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find an affordable place you love!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• My friend was about to buy a million-dollar house with no research
• The Fallacy of Homeownership
• What You Need to Know About Mortgages
• 9 Questions to Ask Before Buying a House
• Is It Better to Rent or Own a Home?

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. 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.

Interested in knocking out your debt faster, saving for a big goal (like a house down payment), or pivoting your career path? Use these tips to not only start a business but grow a sustainable side hustle!

Launching a Side Hustle

Starting a business, work from home, side hustle - you don’t have to be online for 5 seconds before you see an ad, site, or read someone saying how easy it is to get started.

It’s kind of half-true.

I would say there are more low-cost ways to get started with making money on the side, but free? No.

Whether you’re working on the side through an app like Uber, Wag, or GrubHub, flipping furniture and other yard sale treasure for profit, or working strictly online, starting a business is probably the easiest part.

Running and growing one? That’s the work.

I know some of you are interested in knocking out your debt faster or you’re to save up for a big goal.

Maybe a buy a house or bump up your savings for your little one’s arrival and you’re thinking, could a side business be what I need?

Honestly, it could.

There is a flexibility that you have when you’re in charge.

But it’ no cakewalk.

So today I want to share my chat with Marc over at Vital Dollar about his journey from working in an office, starting a side hustle, to working from home full-time.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• Why he made this transition from employee to an entrepreneur and when he knew he was ready
• Tips to help you use that income to reach your goals faster
• And if do become a full-time entrepreneur, how to live on an income that can fluctuate

Let’s get started!

Resources

Here are some fantastic resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• 7 Tips for Living On an Inconsistent Income

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on 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.

Do you want to go on a fabulous family vacation, but you’re still paying down debt? Learn how you can save big on your next getaway while still knocking out your debt!

Saving Up for a Fun and Frugal Family Vacation

When’s your spring break?

Our oldest has hers next month, but she’s already counting down the days.

There’s something we love about having a little getaway as a family.

The challenge for families that are on their debt free journey is how to make it work.

‘How do we take family vacations while we’re still paying off debt?’

I totally get it.

You’re not going to put your life on hold just because you’re in debt.

That said, you’re going to have to get savvy with how you plan your trip.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• Setting up a vacation fund (and an easy way to build your stash)
• Tips to help you save some serious cash and still have a fantastic, debt-free getaway
• Whether or not travel hacking is the best option for you

Let’s get started!

Resources for Cheap Family Trips

Looking for ways to save on your next family getaway? Here are some fantastic resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Which hotels give dinner for free
• 3 reasons “budget” hotels DESTROY nice ones
• 7 Tips for Traveling with Kids
• How to Travel Like a Rock Star on the Cheap
• Better Bidding: There are forums and sites online that can help you figure out what it will take to your bid for a hotel accepted.
• Best Travel Apps to Snatch Last Minute Deals

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets 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.

Learn how you can protect your loved ones financial abuse and how to minimize the damage if it happens!

Financial Scams and Protecting Your Family

A few years ago, my husband’s nana had sent over money to a scammer pretending to be him.

She had thought he needed help and so she generously sent it in.

It was a wake call for us . After looking into this and talking with others, our family isn’t the only one who’s had to deal with this.

Last year, a record 24,454 suspected cases of elder financial abuse were reported to the US Treasury Dept by banks.

I can’t tell you for certain why they’re being targeted, but there are two key factors to consider.

By 2030 US Census Bureau estimates 1 in 5 people will be 65 or older.

Two, there’s a significant amount of money tied to our older friends and family.

According to the American Bankers Association, 70% of bank deposits are with people over 50.

So you have a growing and market that is appealing to scammers.

So what can we do to protect our grandparents, parents, and other older loved ones?

Today Joe Mecca from Coastal Credit Union is back.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• What financial scams are out there
• Warning signs and What to look out for with your loved ones
• How your bank or credit unions should be protecting you

Hope this helps!

If you want to hear more from Joe and find out more about credit unions please check out my interview here.

We discuss how credit unions can be a better option for couples looking to grow their wealth.

Resources to Win with Your Money

Want to go ahead and tackle your big marriage and money goals? Here are the resources we mentioned in today’s episode along with some extras!

• 3 Critical Ways to Prevent Elder Financial Abuse
• Scamming Grandma: Financial abuse of seniors hits a record
• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money

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.

Learn how you can prepare and save for the costs of retirement!

How Much Do We Need to Save for Retirement?

If you’ve used those free online calculator to find your retirement number, you probably were amazed at how much they say you need.

A million, two million, maybe more for just one of you.

How do you feel when you see those numbers?

Considering that 1 in 3 Americans has less than $5,000 saved for retirement, chances are there’s room for improvement.

Unless you’re living in denial about retirement, you’re probably dealing many of the hurdles couples deal with when it comes to saving and investing for retirement.

1- You have a full plate right now. As parents with two little ones, we always have something to do. We’re not complaining – this is really a fun season of life right now – but realistically our time and attention are focused around them.

2- Bills and debts. You may not be able to save more because there’s not much to give right now. If you have to pay credit cards, car loan, student loans and have a mortgage, your money is pretty much spent already.

3 – You’re not a financial planner. Hop online and you’’ll quickly see that there is endless free advice about what you should be doing. And it can be overwhelming at best and wrong for you at worst. Sifting through all that can be a mess.

Running the numbers is also difficult. Especially with one area of retirement that we have to deal with now – healthcare costs and insurance.

How do you know how much you’ll need years, decades down the line?

The answer is there is no way to perfect predict how much you need. But there are ways you can start drawing a plan that fits your circumstances and your goals.

Which is I’m happy Danielle Kunkle Roberts is here on today’s episode.

Danielle is the co-founder of Boomer Benefits. Boomer Benefits specializes in Medicare supplement and Medicare Advantage insurance.

Which you may be thinking, I’m too young for Medicare, but I think she’s perfect because she has a close up of view of how prepared people really are for retirement.

She’s going to offer suggestions, ideas, and tips on what you can do now so you can be better equipped to handle the costs of retirement.

And how your health insurance choices now can help or harm you later.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• Prioritizing your finances
• How HDHP and HSAs work and when they are right for you
• How HSAs can help with healthcare costs during retirement

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Win with Your Money

Want to go ahead and tackle your big marriage and money goals? Here are the resources we mentioned in today’s episode along with some extras!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom <- Great way to make sure you’re not getting hit with needless fees with your 401(k)
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Rock Your Retirement
• HSA and Medicare

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.

Today I’m answering your biggest tax questions. We’re doing a quick and easy take covering what you need to know this year when you file, how to maximize your refund, and set yourselves up with your finances for next year!

How to Maximize Your Tax Refunds with Credit and Deductions

There are some people in this world who are giddy right now because it’s tax season.

Yeah, this is like the SuperBowl for some money nerds.

And while I admit to being a number cruncher at times, I have to say taxes aren’t really that exciting for me.

Yep, guilty as charged.

However, I’ve seen how important getting our tax done has been for our finances. Both with planning throughout the year as well as using our refunds to reach our financial goals faster.

And I want you to see taxes in a better, maybe less stressful light so today I’ll tackle the big questions.

Heads up, even though I enjoy covering personal finances, I’m not a tax expert. There will be plenty of resources in today’s show notes for sure.

But this episode I will do my best to break things down and talk like a normal, non-money nerd.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• The difference between tax deductions and credits
• Major difference we noticed with the new tax law
• Making the most of your tax refund

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Tackle Your Taxes

Looking to make taxes less stressful? Here are some of my favorite resources!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• TurboTax <— We use them for our taxes
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Your 2019 Taxes: What You Need to Know About the Tax Reform Bill

Support the Podcast

Thank you so much for listening!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. I’d love for more couples to work together to dump their debt and pursue their dreams together! Please leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• 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!

I appreciate your help. Let’s make talking about marriage and money fun!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere

Can you have nice things when you're paying off debt? What millionaire habits can you pick up today? Personal finance author and money expert Anthony O'Neal shares his tips and thoughts!

Busting Common Money Myths

Many times we mismanage our money because we’ve developed ideas and habits that are harmful to our financial health.

If we want to change or help our spouse to change, it means we have to examine those money myths and habits.

And it can be hard to change.

That's why I’m really happy to have personal finance author and millennial money expert Anthony O'Neal on today. He’s made the leap himself.

At age 19, Anthony ONeal was deep in debt and short on hope with no direction of where his life was headed. But after hitting rock bottom, he turned his life around and committed to helping students find and pursue their passions.

We met up over at the NC State University's bell-tower before his Smart Money event last week for a chat about money myths and habits.

In this episode we get into:

• how you can have nice stuff while paying off debt
• what millionaires do differently
• how to financially prepare your kids for the real world

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Build Good Money Habits

Looking to become debt free and build wealth? Here are some resources to help you build smart money habits.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Smart Money and Smart Parent events
• The Graduate Survival Guide: 5 Mistakes You Can't Afford To Make In College

Support the Podcast

Thank you so much for listening!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. I’d love for more couples to work together to dump their debt and pursue their dreams together! Please leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• 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!

I appreciate your help. Let’s make talking about marriage and money fun!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere

Think your home is an investment? For most people, it's not. 

Learn how to rethink real estate so you can build your wealth and become financially independent!

Buying a house is usually the biggest purchase we make.

Right now in the United States, the median price of homes that sold is $225,900.

For those living in high cost of living areas like California and DC, you’re looking at closer to 350k to $400k respectively.

Just considering the numbers, you can see that you really need to do your homework when it comes to buying your house.

A misstep or mistake can cost you a significant amount of money.

I don't want that to happen to you. When \ever you buy your home I want it to feel like a blessing and a burden.

We’ve had several episodes about the house hunting, getting a mortgage, and finding the best home for you.

Today, though, I want to get into the root of every bad decision we made when it comes to real estate - how we approach it.

I can’t even count how many people had such strong opinions when we were house hunting.

And not all of them were right.

There so many justifications for buying any house.

• ‘You’re throwing away money when you rent’
• ‘Take advantage of the tax savings’
• And my favorite - ‘real estate is an investment’

People were saying this and they no idea what kind of house or neighborhood we were looking at.

That’s not to say buying a house is a mistake.

It can actually be a smart move when done right. And if you’re looking at investing and are willing to put in the work, real estate can be an income stream.

But how you approach it makes all the difference.

Which is why I asked Julien and Kiersten, the creators and the couple behind Rich and Regular to come on today.

They are not only are homeowners, but they are also real investors who are working towards financial independence.

Their properties are a part of their plan so I thought they would be perfect to talk about how to approach real estate wisely.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

• Why they don’t consider their home an investment
• How they got into investing in real estate
• Their strategy around real estate to reach financial independence

Hope you enjoy!

Resources for Buying a House

If you two are ready to get the balll rolling with buying a house or start looking at real estate investing, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Why our new home is NOT a real estate investment
• The “other” skills you need to be a real estate investor
• 5 Key Ways to Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster
• 5 Reasons to Choose a 15-Year Mortgage
• Which is Better for You – a 15 Year or 30 Year Mortgage?
• What You Need to Know About Mortgages

Support the Podcast

Thank you so much for listening!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. I’d love for more couples to work together to dump their debt and pursue their dreams together! Please leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• 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!

I appreciate your help. Let’s make talking about marriage and money fun!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere

Today Grant Sabatier, the author of Financial Freedom, goes through how he was able to become a millionaire and financially independent by 30.

More importantly, he also discusses how you can create your own path based on your goals and priorities.

Get on the Path to Financial Freedom

It’s almost the end of January, how are things going for you?

Over at our FB group, Thriving Families, I've been keeping an eye on some of the goals you’ve been sharing and I’m really impressed.

We some tackling debt, many mentioning their student loans. Meal prepping is also on the list. That’s a fantastic money saver and will help you tremendously with your health goals.

Quite a few talked about earning more, both through their regular 9-5 job as well as side hustles.

On the surface, these goals seem to go in different directions, but when we chat in the group and get into the whys behind the goals, I noticed a recurring theme.

Having more flexibility and security for our families.

And for many, that path includes reaching financial independence.

But when you’re deep in debt or just starting out, it can seem overwhelming and in some cases out of reach.

However, you can take steps now to get your finances in a great spot and open up more options for your family.

Today Grant Sabatier, the author of Financial Freedom and the creator of Millennial Money, goes through how he was able to become a millionaire and financially independent by 30.

More importantly, he also discusses how you can create your own path based on your goals and priorities.

In this episode, we get into:

• Defining what financial independence and freedom means to you
• Why simply cutting expenses won’t get you to where you want to go
• How side hustles can enrich your lives and get you close to your FI dreams

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Get on the Path to Financial Freedom

If you two are ready to make some real progress on your big goals, here are helpful resources to check out.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The Secret Sauce to Financial Independence & Early Retirement
• Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities
• The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement
• DIY and the Financially Independent Lifestyle

Connect with Grant and Millennial Money

Dubbed “The Millennial Millionaire” by CNBC, Grant Sabatier went from $2.26 to $1 million in 5 years through entrepreneurship, side hustling and investing.

After reaching financial independence at the age of 30, Grant founded Millenial Money, where he writes about making and investing money and co-hosts the Millennial Money Minutes podcast.

Since launching in 2015, Grant has reached over 10 million readers and listeners through his blog and podcast.

Grant is also the author of Financial Freedom: A Proven Path to All the Money You’ll Ever Need.

Grant has been featured in over 200 international media outlets including The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, National Public Radio, Money Magazine, ABC Nightline, Chicago Tribune, USA Today, Inc. Magazine, Forbes, The Sydney Morning Herald, and many others.

Support the Podcast

Thank you so much for listening!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. I’d love for more couples to work together to dump their debt and pursue their dreams together! Please leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• 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!

I appreciate your help. Let’s make talking about marriage and money fun!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere

Does your family budget feel tight? Learn 3 key ways on how you can save hundreds of dollars each month while raising your kids and still having fun!

Saving More as a Family

I know that financial independence is a buzzword in the personal finance sphere. You got stories where people are saving 60, 70% of and retiring in 5, 10 years.

I commend anyone is who simplifies their lives and removes the needless excess so they can achieve the goal.

What I do see missing in some of these dramatic stories are the numbers, details, and well, relatability.

Saving 70% of a $200k income is an achievement, but so is saving 20% of a $50,000.

And to be helpful to families of different incomes, we need to look at the principles behind and it really comes down to mastering the art of living well on less.

Notice I didn’t say living on less. You do have to spend less than you earn- that’s a core financial principle - but the other is living well.
This is about a financial diet where you deprive yourself just to save more. This is about a lifestyle where you nail what truly matters to you, cut out the noise, and move your money towards your dreams.

Now, before you can pay off your debts, have an emergency fund, or invest for your future you have to have some money, right?

We have to develop our muscle with saving more.

Which is why we have Ansley Fender on today. She’s a Personal Finance Coach and Writer.

Ansley helps people make sense of their money by designing spending plans that align with their goals and lifestyle preferences.

She also understands firsthand what it’s like to accumulate $100,000 in student loan and consumer debt while climbing her way out as a new mom.

In this episode, we get into:

• How to pursue financial freedom when you want to have a life
• Ways to have fun as a family without breaking the bank
• How you can earn some extra cash by doing things you already enjoy

I hope you enjoy!

Resources to Save Money

Want to start boosting your savings rate? Here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• 5 Days to $5K: It’s my free weeklong course to show you how to find, save, and make extra money so you can dump debt and save more! 
• 17 Money Saving Strategies We Used to Triple Our Savings Rate
• How We Went From Earning a Living to Building Wealth, Together
• 3 Money Tips to Best Afford Luxuries

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.

Today we’re wrapping up the season with how to overcome setbacks and plan for your best year! 

Financial Wins, Overcoming Setbacks, and Planning for Your Best Year

How has this year been treating you? To be honest, things have been a real roller coaster. 

We've made several trips this year to visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing homes, or just to check in on them. 

We've also had a dear friend lose her battle with cancer this past week (hence the delay on the finale). 

I appreciate having this option because I know years ago when we were in debt, this wouldn't have seemed possible. 

It's made me more determined to continue helping families be in a better spot with their money so they can have more options like stepping back.

I hate when money is a source of stress when you have bigger things to think about.

With that in mind, today’s show is focused on how to do a year-end review.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• Our progress on our goals for the year and doing a year end revie
• What to do when you have a set back with finances
• Why families need to simplify and enjoy

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Having Your Best Year with Finances

Want to learn more? Here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Simplify and Enjoy
• 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster
• 5 Money Books for Couples Looking to Become Financially Independent

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.

Today we’re going over to figure out the best money goals for you and how to tackle them together!

Tackling Your Big Money Goals

It's December, can you believe it?

What are your plans for this month?

Last weekend we went up to visit family and friends in Virginia. We had a wonderful time, but we're a bit drained seeing so many people at once. This weekend we're relaxing.

Now that we took care of the last bit of stuff for health insurance and investments that my husband's employer needed for next year, we should have time to chat a bit more on what we want to do overall.

Typically we both have ideas on what we like to knock out and usually, we end up with 2 or 3 big goals for the year. Last year we focused on the basement renovation (1st phase done!), family trips (2 bigger and several weekend trips), and paying more towards the mortgage (upped our monthly mortgage payments).

Proud of what we did and we'd like to build on that momentum. And based on the emails and messages I got it looks like you're thinking the same thing. So today we're going over how to reach your money goals together.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• Why people fail with their goals
• Choosing the right goal for you
• Setting up a system that makes it easy for you to knock out your goal

You’re ready? Let’s go!

Resources to Knocking Out Your Money Goals Together

Want to learn more? Here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The Smart Way to Build Your Emergency Fund
• 3 Keys to Knocking Out Your Big Money Goals Together
• Why Most People Fail with Their Goals
• 10 Personal Finance Goals To Help Your Family Build Wealth This Year
• How Setting Financial Goals Will Get You To Financial Freedom with Michael Kay

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you 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.

Today we’re answering your marriage and money questions - how to earn extra money on the side, figuring out your retirement number, and how to make the most of year-end bonus!

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

It's that time again - our community mailbag! 

It's a chance for me to answer your burning money questions. with the year wrapping up have some good ones today. 

In this episode we’ll get into:

• How to make extra money when you don’t have time for a second job
• How to make your bonus go far
• Figuring out how much you two need to retire

Let’s get started!

Resources to Win with Your Money

Want to go ahead and tackle your big marriage and money goals? Here are the resources we mentioned in today's episode along with some extras!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Rock Your Retirement
• The 4% Rule
• Your Side Hustle Is Worth A Lot More Than You Think
• Kevin's Side Hustle Reports (These side hustles helped him pay off over $87000 in less than 3 years!)

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.

You’ve probably heard how giving not only benefits the recipients but the giver. However, what do you do when you’re in debt? Learn how you can pay off debt and give more to the causes that matter most to you!

Giving While in Debt?

When people ask this, two things jump out at me.

First, they have a generous spirit. That’s fantastic.

Second, their current budget isn’t working for them. That's something that needs to be adjusted.

What if I told you there’s a way you can take care of the essentials, make progress on paying off your debts, and still give?

Today Certified Financial Educational Instructor and The Money Speakeasy founder Wilson Muscadin is here to discuss how.

In this episode we get into:

• Why we struggle with money
• A counter-intuitive way to think about how you budget
• How giving can help be wiser with your money

Let’s get started!

Resources to Give Back More

If you're looking to create a budget that reflects your values while still taking care of the essentials, here are some resources to check out.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Partners in Wealth
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Total Money Makeover
• Giving USA 2018: Americans Gave $410.02 Billion to Charity in 2017
• Charitable Giving in America: Some Facts and Figures

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. 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.

Part of protecting your finances means managing your accounts, both online and offline. Today we’ll share how you can arm yourself against fraud and scams!

Keeping an Eye Out for Scams and Fraud

With so many people shopping in stores and online, scammers are all too happy to grab your data and financial information.

While there’s nothing you can do to completely eliminate these scams, there ways you can protect yourselves. 

Joe Mecca from Coastal Federal Credit Union is back to wrap up this two-parter.

In this episode we get into:

• Big offline scams and online phishing to watch out for
• Protecting yourself with strong passwords
• Apps and resources to protect you and your finances

We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

Resources to Protect Your Identity and Finances

If you’ve had your wallet or purse stolen or lost, here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out:

• IdentityTheft.gov
• Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
• FBI Futurist Shares His Top 5 Tips For Protecting Your Identity Online
• How to Fight Back Against Identity Theft
• The Equifax Data Breach: What to Do if You’re Affected
• Coastal Federal Credit Union
• Credit Union Locator
• Annual Credit Report: Free way to review each of your credit reports

For freezing your accounts or putting an alert you need to contact the credit bureaus.

• Equifax: 1-888-766-0008
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-72892

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or 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.

Protect yourself from identity theft and minimize damage with this handy guide on what to do when your wallet or purse is stolen! 

My Wallet was Stolen, Now What?

If you’re subscribed to the community newsletter you may remember that in July I mentioned that my purse got stolen in Denver.

We were over in Colorado to celebrate my cousin getting married. Beautiful weekend and celebration, but yeah that was a sour note for sure.

We spent a good chunk of time on the phone and online to get things squared away.

As we were working to avoid getting hit with any unauthorized charges and sort out things with TSA since our flight back was only a few days away, I wished I had a handy and quick guide on what I needed to do.

I hope you never have your wallet or purse stolen, but if you do I want to make things easier.

That’s why I have Joe Mecca from Coastal Credit Union on. Here’s joining me today to discuss on what you need to know to protect yourself against identity theft and what steps you need to take to recover or replace what was stolen.

I want to help to minimize the damage and stress so you can get back to your routine and focus on the important things.

Resources to Protect Your Identity and Finances

If you've had your wallet or purse stolen or lost, here are some resources we mentioned in the episode as well as some other handy articles to check out:

• IdentityTheft.gov
• Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
• FBI Futurist Shares His Top 5 Tips For Protecting Your Identity Online
• How to Fight Back Against Identity Theft
• The Equifax Data Breach: What to Do if You’re Affected
• Coastal Federal Credit Union
• Credit Union Locator
• Annual Credit Report: Free way to review each of your credit reports

For freezing your accounts or putting an alert you need to contact the credit bureaus.

• Equifax: 1-888-766-0008
• Experian: 1-888-397-3742
• TransUnion: 1-800-680-72892.

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a 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.

How much do we need to save for a baby? How do we handle medical expenses and finances with a disability? We answer your biggest marriage and money questions! 

Marriage and Money Q&As

Welcome to another edition of our community mailbag show!

This is where we take a break from our regular episodes which usually deal with one topic and instead tackle several of your marriage and money questions in smaller bites.

Today we have Phillip and Julia Olson as well as Brynee Conroy here on the podcast to help answer them

In this episode we get into:

• How to handle the costs of having a baby
• Dealing with disabilities and finances
• What to do when the traditional advice does not apply

Let’s dive in!

Resources Mentioned

Want to dig in some more? Here are some of the resources we mentioned in our episode plus more!

• The Art of Finance 
• Two Cents
• The Feminist Financial Handbook
• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 4 weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.

Tired of getting hit with fees from your bank? Today we’re going to see how you can find the best place to stash your cash to save and earn more money!

Best Banks for Your Money

All this month we’ve been talking about big decisions you need to make about health insurance and investing that will have an impact not only on your finances next year, but beyond.

These are things you should care about for sure, but I want to cover pretty much a crucial decision you don’t want to ignore - your bank accounts.

Where and how you bank can either help you reach your financial goals faster if you got a great banking partner or it can hinder you and drain your wallet if you have a dud.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• why / where/ and how you bank matters
• 3 alternatives to the big banks that can save and make you more money
• How to easily set up and automate your money

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Get the Most Out of Your Bank Accounts

Are you two ready to master your joint accounts? Do you want to create a system that fits your priorities and styles?

Here are some resources to check out:

• Coastal Federal Credit Union <- We bank with them
• Want a Happier Marriage? Combine Bank Accounts
• Finding the Best Banking and Investing Accounts
• Optimize Your Bank or Credit Union Accounts
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Track These 2 Key Numbers to Master Your Money
• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or 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.

Smart Retirement Moves for Your 401(k)

Last week we look at retirement planning from a high level - figuring out a ballpark of what you’d like your retirement to look like as well as how it fits in with what you’re doing now.

This week we’re focused on a very specific part - figuring out what to invest in when there are plenty of options.

Since I’m not a financial planner and I have no idea of your very specific finances, this episode will cover the process.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• Prioritizing your investments
• Look at whether index funds are really a smart move
• Optimizing your 401(k) 

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Rock Your Retirement

Ready to invest for retirement? Here are some fantastic resources to set things up and help you plan for your retirement together.

• Rock Retirement
• Investing Made Simple
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• The Secret Sauce to Financial Independence & Early Retirement
• Retirement Answer Man Podcast 
• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Financial Independence and Parenthood
• Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools
• How to Get on the Same Page with Financial Independence

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your 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.

Feel like you have a full plate and not enough time (or money!) to plan for retirement? Learn step by step how you two can rock retirement and still have fun now! 

Real Retirement Planning for Real Life

Gotta love analytics. You all that data floating about.

Once a week I look over things including what people searching when they discover Couple Money. And you know what I found?
Believe or not, I noticed pretty much every day people discover my site with some variation of this one question.

How much do we need to retire?

It’s a big question for sure, but I don’t think it’s the right question.
At least not to start with.

As you probably discovered with that first question I asked, retirement can be completely different things to everyone.

And sometimes you two can have differing opinions.

So how do you figure what you need to do? You have to look at it at two different angles. Of course, there’s the technical part with the specific investments in your portfolio.

But you before you do that you need a game plan. One that is robust and at the same time, can adjust as your life changes.

Which is why I brought the Retirement Answer Man himself - Roger Whitney!

Not only is he is a Certified Financial Planner who’s worked for over 25 years and he’s the author of Rock Retirement.

His mission is to shift people’s mindset from investing in a portfolio to investing in what they love.

Because this is a huge deal, we’re having a two-parter.

In this episode we’re discussing:

• The problem with traditional retirement planning and calculators
• Striking that balance between taking care of things down the line while still loving your life now
• How to rethink and plan your retirement as a couple

Let’s jump right in!

Resources to Rock Your Retirement

Ready to prepare for retirement while ill having some fun now? Here are some fantastic resources to set things up and help you plan for your retirement together.

• Rock Retirement - Roger has written an incredible book that breaks down how you can plan and save not just for retirement, but a life you love now!
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• The Secret Sauce to Financial Independence & Early Retirement
• Retirement Answer Man Podcast 
• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Financial Independence and Parenthood
• Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools
• How to Get on the Same Page with Financial Independence

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your 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.

This post contains affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure for more info.

Trying to sort through all the health insurance plans HR has given you? Find out how you can choose an affordable health insurance plan that covers your family's needs! 

Affordable Health Insurance for You

Health insurance is a huge expense.

Last year when we reviewed the health plan options, we found out that premiums were going up. again.

No surprise there, but the amount did catch us off guard.

If we were to stay with the 'basic' family plan we had, our monthly premiums would be almost the same as our mortgage payment!

That seemed ridiculous.

If you're in the same boat - looking for an affordable health insurance plan that will cover your family's needs, save this episode.

Michael Dinich is back to help decipher and decode health plans so you two will be armed to make the best choice for you and your situation.

In this episode we discuss:

• exactly how copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and more work so you know what coming out of your pocket and what's covered
• compare how typical base plans work versus high deductible health plans
• the ins and outs of health savings accounts

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Save Money on Healthcare

Are you looking for more help with keeping health care within your budget? Here are some resources:

• Work with Michael: He's a certified financial planner who specializes in assisting families to navigate their health care options.
• How to Save Money on Your Health Insurance and Expenses
• Why We’re Switching to a High Deductible Health Plan
• Hack the Affordable Care Act Guide
• How to Spend Less on Insurance
• Save Money on Health Insurance
• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to 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.

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my full disclosure for more info.

We open up the community mailbag again and answer your biggest marriage and money questions. Today we're discussing how to build your credit and raise your score, winning your spouse over with finances, and how to do a money date! 

Raise Your Credit Score, Money Dates, and More

Today’s episode is kind of brought by..... you.

Yep, it's community mailbag again and this time we have quite a varied plate on our hands!

I appreciate you sending your questions in.

In this episode we get into:

• The biggest myths and bad advice about credit score
• How to work together on tackling money
• How money dates work for us

If you’d like your question to be a part of the next mailbag, send it here moneyqa@couplemoney.com

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Build Your Credit and More

Here are some resources we shared on today's show to build your credit, become a team with finances, going on a money date, plus more. 

• Self Lender
• Your Money, Your Marriage by Cherie and Brian Lowe
• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Talk About Money Without Starting a Fight

We’re going to discuss the ins and outs of merging finances and personalities in our private Facebook group over at Thriving Families. It’s free and fun – please join us!

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher.
• Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in 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.

Are you two frustrated because you're financial opposites? Learn strategies and conversation starters so you can get on the same page and win with money! 

When Financial Opposites Attract

Money fights are an incredible source of stress with marriage when left unchecked.

it doesn't have to be that way.

There are couples who have achieved huge goals - like paying off massive amounts of debts, buying their dream home, or travel together by harness the advantages of their differences.

The key is learning how to work together even when they are financial opposites.

I usually don’t do two guests, but I wanted to show how 1 - there are certain principles that can help every couple and 2 - there are times when you have to carve your own path.

Her Money Matters author Jen Hemphill and Zeta CEO and founder Aditi Shekar join the show today.

In this episode we get into:

• Creating your goals and money take
• Finding a budget you’re both on board with
• How to deal with tricky situations - like lending money to family - without straining your marriage or money

Think you’ll hear a lot of familiar stuff and get some new ideas with this episode. Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Combine Your Finances

Here are some resources to dive deep into how you two can work together as a team with your finances. 

• How to Talk About Money Without Starting a Fight
• Managing Financial Conflicts as a Couple
• How to Use Money Fights to Strengthen Your Marriage with Jayson Gaddis
• Build Your Marriage & Wealth with Money Dates
• Three Toxic Habits to Stop When Talking About Money
• Jen Hemphill's Money Coaching

We’re going to discuss the ins and outs of merging finances and personalities in our private Facebook group over at Thriving Families. It’s free and fun - please join us!

Zeta: Helping Couples Master Their Money Together

So happy Aditi could join us on this episode. If you two are looking for a customizable solution with your finances, please check out Zeta.

Zeta helps you stay on top of your finances together by helping you understand where your money is going. Track all of your accounts in one easy to use spot.

Stay on the same page about money! Drop memos on specific transactions, add monthly notes to remember what happened, or split spending as needed. Go to Zeta to get more info!

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.

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Want your kids to leave the house money savvy? Learn easy techniques and ways on how to teach your children how to save and invest like a pro!

Teaching Kids to Save and Invest

Do you remember how you handled money growing up?

I can’t recall when I got my allowance, but I remember being in second or third grade going around the neighborhood collecting bottles and cans to recycle and earn some extra money.

And as grateful as I am for learning what I did, from how I mismanaged money later on and got into debt in college, I can see there were some gaps in my financial knowledge.

My husband and I both want our girls to know the value of a hard-earned dollar and how to use it wisely.

That won’t happen by accident. It’s going to take a plan.

If you two want to help your little ones, make sure you save this episode.

Bill Dwight, creator of the amazing family banking app famZoo is here today on the show.

Besides being a tech whiz, he’s a father of five who’s had plenty of experience with the ups and downs of raising kids to become adults.

In this episode we get into:

• When to start introducing finances
• Getting your kids comfortable with saving and investing
• Why your kids need to get a loan from you

I think we’ll have plenty of comments on this one. :)  Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Teach Your Kids about Money

If you're looking for ideas and resources to prepare your kids to be money-savvy, here are some to check out!

• FamZoo
• Thriving Families
• How to Teach Your Kids About Money (w/o Being Boring!)
• Cash Crunch Junior
• Goalsetter
• Collegebacker

We’re going to discuss this in our private Facebook group over at Thriving Families. It’s free and fun.

Support the Podcast!

Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest 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.

Dream of quitting your job, but worried about your finances? Learn how one couple saved 70% of their income, quit their jobs, and pursued their dreams of financial freedom!

Quitting $250K Jobs to Travel the Country Together

September is here which means this week we're nailing down what we like to do before 2018 closes out.

How about you? What goal or two do you want to knock out these next few months? There’s still time to do something big.

Today Alison and Matt from Owen Your Future are here to break down how they’re pursuing financial freedom on the road after they quit their jobs.

Whether you want to pivot your career, travel more, or just want to have some more options in your life, there are some wonderful strategies and tactics you can use.

• Why they wanted to pursue financial independence (and what that means to them)
• The process and steps they took to save 70% of their income
• why they shifted and quit their jobs early, even though they did not reach their FI number

 Let’s see if we can get you a few steps closer to your big goal. Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Get on the Path to Financial Freedom

If you two are ready to make some real progress on your big goals, here are helpful resources to check out.

• Couple Money Toolkit
• Owen Your Future - Site | YouTube | Instagram
• Why We Quit Our $250k Per Year Jobs
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The Secret Sauce to Financial Independence & Early Retirement
• Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools
• How to Get on the Same Page with Financial Independence
• Retired at 30 on $56,000/year

Connect with the Owens 

Matt and Alli Owen saved 70% of their incomes for 4 years and are now enjoying a "mini-retirement" traveling the Americas in their self-converted bright red Sprinter van, Clifford.

While they haven't yet reached their "FI" number, they chose to leave their jobs early with the confidence that they will make up the rest with the skills they acquired through pursuing FI.

It is their hope to help more people to get out of debt and maximize their savings so that they can pursue their own version of financial freedom. Download this checklist to follow the exact process they used to ramp up their savings in 10 minutes a week or less!

Support the Podcast

Thank you so much for listening! 

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. 
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. 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!

I appreciate your help. Let's make talking about marriage and money fun! 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere 

Today I'm opening up the community mailbag and answering your biggest marriage and money questions!

How do you maximize your paychecks while still making sure you don't owe the IRS come tax time?

How do you tackle multiple goals and make real progress on them? 

Marriage and Money Mailbag

We're here - the summer of savings finale!

It's been an incredible and fun six weeks. I hope you got inspired with ways you can save money while still having a good time now.

And I thought the best way to wrap things up is to chat with you and answering marriage and money questions.
In this episode we go over:

• maximize your paychecks
• knocking out several goals
• best money tools for busy couples

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Help You Tackle Marriage and Money

Want to jump in and get your finances squared away? Here are some cool tools and resources to make mastering your money easier!

• Get More Money in Your Paycheck: How to Calculate Your W-4 Withholding
• TurboTax W-4 Withholding Calculator
• 5 Tips for Adjusting Withholding Allowances
• 5 Days to $5K 
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Focus and Prioritize Your Goals
• Where Should Our Money Go? Prioritizing Your Goals
• Trim: With Trim, you can cancel subscriptions and negotiate your bills.
• Billshark: They contact your service providers and negotiate the best price on your behalf.
• Paribus: Bought something and a week later the price drops? Paribus can get you back the difference.

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere.

School's out - what are you up to? Today we're talking about frugal and fun summer activities for your kids and for you!

Fun and Frugal Summer Activities for Kids

Summer break is here and so far, it's been a blast.

As school was finishing up with my little one we headed over to Denver.

My cousin's wedding was beautiful. We took the girls to the park to play and relax.
Got to go downtown, explore.
Eat.
We tried some local brews.
Thanks to my mom, we had some extra date nights.

the next week was a bit more low key at home, but still fun.
with a couple of weeks left before our oldest goes back to school, we're mixing things up so it'll be a memorable summer and won't break our budget.

if you're in the same boat, I have some good news.

Today we have two guests to give some ideas. Aja from Principles of Increase and Paul Vassey of Cash Crunch Games are here to help make things easier.

In this episode, we get into:

• how to find enriching and frugal activities around town
• giving your kids skills and knowledge to handle money like a pro
• getting out for date night for just the two of you

Hope you enjoy!

Helpful Resources on Kids and Money

If you’re trying to figure out a system that can work for your family, here are a few resources to check out:

• Cash Crunch Games Jr: Our girls love it!
• FamZoo: Fantastic solution for families. We not only use it to handle allowances but track our oldest's progress for her big savings goals. You can customize it to your family's situation.
• Chicago EcoHouse
• The Opposite of Spoiled
• 6 Tips for Building the Charitable Giving Muscle with Your Kids
• 5 Reasons I Don’t Buy Toys for My Kids
• Tips For Giving Kids an Allowance
• Boost Your Kid’s Money IQ with a Simple Spreadsheet
• 29 Tips for Teaching Your Kids to Stack Benjamins

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

While it may seem doctors have it easy with their healthy incomes, the reality is much more down to earth as many are also dealing with massive amounts of debt. Learn how to balance dumping debt, saving, and having some fun now! 

Financial Residency with Allison and Curtis 

A few years ago when we were like trying to dig out of debt I thought they would be so much easier if we had a healthy income. And yes having a certain amount does make a big difference but that's only part of the equation.

That's why I bought Ryan here to co-host. He's not only familiar with the technical stuff as a financial planner over at Physician Wealth Services, he has practical knowledge and real-life experience as a husband to a physician. 

Today he's talking to Dr. Allison Webster, an ER physician, and her husband Curtis, creator of Dads Married to Doctors. They're going to discuss:

• the financial challenges (and massive amounts of debt) that come with becoming a physician
• working through their difference when it comes to handling money
• whether or not you can retire when you're dealing with a massive amount of debt

Hope you enjoy! 

Resources to Dump Debt and Save Together

Want to make talking about money less stressful? Are you ready to tackle that massive amount of debt? Here are some resources to make it easier to stay on top of your money! 

• How to Define Your Financial Priorities Together: Ryan shares how he helps his clients get onthe same page with their finances
• Financial Residency: Ryan's excellent podcast 
• Money Tracking and Budgets: Personal Capital, Mint, and Tiller are fantastic options
• Qapital: Free tool that makes saving automatic and fun
• How to Pay Off Your Student Loans Faster: Kevin shares how he paid Off $87,000 in 2 1/2 years

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

The Debt Free Story Behind Popcorn Finance

One of the first things I ask when you join the community is to share what goal you're tackling. By far, the two biggest goals are dumping debt and having some savings for emergencies.

And that makes sense, seeing as the average household that has credit card debt, has a balance of just under $16,000. The average American under 35 has about $1500 in savings.

That can be a real burden on a marriage. But you two can get out of your financial rut and start making real progress.

My buddy Chris, creator and host of Popcorn Finance is on the show to share his story.

We get into:

• how Chris and his wife 'K' got into debt
• the system they use to budget and knock out their debts
• what's his favorite money app

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Get on the Same Page with Your Finances

Want to make talking about money less stressful? Here are some fantastic resources to motivate and nudge you to debt freedom faster!

• What’s Your One Page Financial Plan?
• Our $27,000 Debt Story
• How to Successfully Budget as a Couple
• 2018 Listener Goals on Popcorn Finance

Handy Tools to Save More Money

Here are a few of my favorite tools that make saving money much easier!

• Money Tracking and Budgets: Personal Capital, Mint, and Tiller are fantastic options
• Qapital: Free tool that makes saving automatic and fun
• iBotta: Redeem cash while shopping
• Camel, Camel, Camel: Free Amazon price tracker
• Honey: Free browser extension that searches for coupon codes for you during check out
• Paribus: Checks for price drops and works to get you a refund

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Does your food bill blow your budget? Today you'll learn how to master meal planning to save you a ton of time and money! 

How to Save with Meal Planning

One of the biggest bills couples have - especially busy ones - is their food.

Between eating out and buying food for the family, there doesn't seem to be enough money to cover everything. 

We discussed saving money when eating out a few episodes ago. Now we're looking at the other side -mastering your groceries and meals at home.

I asked my buddy Jen Smith to come on board. She's the creator of Saving with Spunk and the author of the new book Meal Planning on a Budget.

In this episode we discuss:

• how meal planning doesn't mean leftover every night
• the magic of slow cookers
• how seasonal and sales eating is lower your bills and be better health wise

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Save Money While Eating Well

Want to cut your spending on food without sacrificing quality? Here are some resources to check out.

• Grocery Price Books: Slash Your Food Bill and Save Time!
• Easy and Smart Ways to Eat Well and Cut Your Food Bill
• Kill your $1,000 Grocery Bill
• Frugal Friends Podcast 

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Do you two have several dreams you want to achieve, but not making any real progress? Today I'll share how you can save for your big goals together! 

How to Save for Your Biggest Goals

Today we're going to tackle the three biggest hurdles to saving and achieving your goals:

• Getting your spouse on board with saving
• Getting on the same page with your goals
• Finding money to save

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Define Your Priorities and Big Goals

Whether it’s a joint or personal goal, there are handy resources available to help you two achieve your dreams.

• 20 Ways to Have Fun This Summer and Still Save a Ton of Money
• How Our Financial Goals Followed Our Family
• What’s Your One Page Financial Plan?

Handy Tools to Save More Money

Here are a few of my favorite tools that make saving money much easier!

• Money Tracking and Budgets: Personal Capital, Mint, and Tiller are fantastic options
• Qapital: Free tool that makes saving automatic and fun
• iBotta: Redeem cash while shopping
• Camel, Camel, Camel: Free Amazon price tracker
• Honey: Free browser extension that searches for coupon codes for you during check out
• Paribus: Checks for price drops and works to get you a refund

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Looking to kick things up a notch? Learn how you can have fun this summer and still save some serious money! 

Summer Saving Fun

I'm so ready for summer!

The tricky part of summer, especially if you have little ones, is making sure you don't go broke while still having fun.

So to wrap up this season, I challenged myself. Today I'm going to share how you can save a grand this summer!

• Getting the Best Deals
• Boost Your Savings 
• Frugal Foodie
• Vacations/Getaways

Hope you enjoy! 

Getting the Best Deals 

If you're out shopping make sure you're getting the best deals! Some of my favorite apps and sites are:

• iBotta
• Camel, Camel, Camel
• Honey
• Paribus

Your family's smartphone plan shouldn't cost you a fortune. There are some fantastic deals out there. I use Republic Wireless and love them. They have an incredible line of phones. I have two lines with them and pay less than $50/month! 

You may also want to look at providers like Ting, Freedom Pop, and StraightTalk. 

When shopping online, hold off on those impulse buys you may be able to score a better deal by leaving before the purchase. I had a site send me an email afterward with a cheaper price. You may also want to switch to incognito mode. 

Boost Your Savings

If you're looking to ramp up savings here are some great apps and services to try out. 

• Tiller
• Personal Capital
• Mint

They can help you track your money quickly and easily. 

You also want to make sure you're keeping a visual reminder of what you're saving towards. It can keep you motivated when you're in the middle of things. 

And of course, automate your savings. It's not doing you any good until it's stashed away. 

Frugal Foodie

I've been writing for Couple Money for almost nine years and I will tell you that one of the biggest budget busters that couples have is eating out. Break this cycle by:

• Plan Your Meals for This Week
• Prep a Meal Ahead
• Have Go-to Meals
• Think Global with Your Dishes
• Have a Potluck

Vacations/Getaways

Summer is a fantastic time to get out of town and explore someplace new. Using sites and apps like Skyscanner and CheapOair can make your money go further next trip! 

• Be Flexible
• Learn How To Bid
• Stay Like a Local
• Budget for your Trip

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Want to help your kid graduate college debt free? Learn the strategy and tactics one mom used to snag her son $700,000 in scholarships! 

The Scholarship Shark

College is expensive.

I don't think that's news to you, but did you know that graduates in the class of 2017 are on average carrying student loan debt of just over $39,400?
And that the student loan delinquency rate of 11.2%?

If you're a parent, you're probably worried about how that can affect your child's financial future.

You need to hunt down as many scholarships as you can.

That's why I'm grateful Pam Andrews is here on the show. She's not only the College Admissions Coach and Scholarship Strategist behind The Scholarship Shark, she's a mom.

A mom who managed to help her son snag $700,000 in scholarships.

Yep.

So if you are interested in helping you kid minimize or skip those student loans, you'll want to really pay attention to this episode.

Today Pam and I discuss:

• how they worked together to find which schools to apply to
• the strategy of getting scholarships
• out of the box ways to make college affordable

Hope you enjoy!

Tips on Paying for College

If you two are looking to help your kid skip out on student loans, here are some resources to help you save up.

• Tips on Paying for College Without Going Into Debt
• A Simple Guide to College Financial Aid
• Paying for Your Kid’s College (without Going Broke)
• 9 ways to pay for college without student loans
• Is College Worth It?

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Do you two have a couple of dreams you'd love to get started on but right now the money isn't working? Today we're going to discuss how to pursue your dreams without going broke!

Working Together to Pursue Your Dreams

Real life isn't that smooth.
There are a dozen and more ways things can go sideways with the business. If you're married, you have to work as a team.

Today Alex Grodnik from Wall Street Oasis' podcast Moving Up and founder of Payclub is here to share his story and offer from tips from the trenches. His career has a had a few shifts. He and his wife are working together to a find a flow that allows them to pursue their dreams, pay their bills, and prepare for the arrival of their daughter this summer.

In this episode we discuss:

• why he choose to get an MBA and the unexpected pivot he made
• how they went to from living off two incomes to one
• the real truth and finances of being a startup entrepreneur

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Help You Launch a Side Hustle

If you’re ready to make the leap, here are some more resources to help you build another income stream.

• 79 Side Hustle Business Ideas You Can Start Today
• Developing a Money Making Hobby
• The 5 Step System to Quit Your Job In the Next 12 Months
• Launching a Business as a Creative Entrepreneur
• Building a Location Independent Business of Freedom and Travel — Even With a Family

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Want to become debt free, but you haven't figured out how to do it together? Here's what you need to know to knock out your debt faster! 

Debt Free Together

I've yet to meet a couple who became debt free by accident.
I mean it's kind of easy to slip into credit card debt or take on loans because that's considered normal.

But to move away from that mentality takes effort.
And being a couple, you have two minds to shift.

There are things to consider together.
Like your approach.
Do you gravitate towards earning more money to knock out that debt or do you find it easier to slash your expenses?
How fast do you do it?
How do you two work as a team and use your personal talents to knock this debt off?

Every couple has their approach, so what worked for us might not work for you.
Which is why I love chatting with others and hearing how they did it.

John Wedding, the creator of Mighty Bargain Hunter, is on the show today to offer his take. He and his wife are debt free except the house.

In this episode, we get into:

• how things shift from being solo to a couple
• why debt free was an important goal to them
• how they work as a family to be smart with their money

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Dump Your Debt Faster

Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it.

• Debt Free Charts
• Attacking Debt: Which One First?
• The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community
• Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You?
• 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster

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Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Want to stop living paycheck to paycheck, but not sure where to start? Learn how to create a budget together so you can have fun now and some savings later! 

Create a Budget You Both Love

How do you feel about your budget?

Be honest.

Chances are you're not exactly thrilled about it.

A survey conducted by Experian found that nearly half – 42% to be exact – don’t use one because they feel like they're ineffective and unnecessary.

In this episode we'll discuss:

• how a budget can fit into your life and grow with you through your marriage
• how to fit your personal hobbies into your budget
• why there is no one size fits all budget

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Budget Together

Do you two want to get on the same page with budgets? Here are some helpful resources mentioned in the episode and more.

• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The Total Money Makeover
• Real Life on a Budget: 17 Practical Challenges to Live and Thrive on a Budget
• How to Successfully Budget as a Couple
• Track These 2 Key Numbers to Master Your Money
• Six Tips for Newlyweds to Manage Finances

Budget Templates to Try Out

• The Net Worth Tracker Spreadsheet
• The Weekly Expense Tracker

Thank You to Our Partners

Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place.

Did I mention it’s free? Why don’t you give Personal Capital a try today?

Today on the podcast we're going to be talking about the connection between your hobbies and having a rich life!

Do Your Hobbies Move You Closer to Financial Independence?

So today's topic - this connection between the hobbies you have and whether or not you're having a rich life -  is fascinating to me. It's kind of a continuation of this past Tuesday's episode where we were talking about breaking the switch with mindless spending. 

there focus there was making sure we were breaking that habit of unconsciously spending more and turning that into something more productive. 

One way is through hobbies we take on. However, are there certain hobbies that can make a real difference with getting to financial independence faster and having a rich and fulfilling life? 

In this episode, we'll get into:

• different hobbies between high earning and low earning households
• how your hobbies can help you on the path to financial independence
• aligning your hobbies to a richer life

Hope you enjoy! 

Financial Independence and Hobbies

If you want to explore and pick up some new hobbies, here are some resources to check out:

• The Value of Hobbies
• American Time Use Survey
• FI subreddit discussion: What are your hobbies/what do you do for fun? 

Thank You to Our Partners

Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place.

Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place.

Did I mention it’s free? Why don’t you give Personal Capital a try today?

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. I also want to thank Lee Rosevere for music in this episode.

Do you feel like you've hit a wall with your money? Learn how to find your financial blindspots and break the mindless spending twitch!

How to Break the Mindless Spending Cycle

We all do it.

It might be small amounts every day perhaps driving by to grab coffee and breakfast on the way to work or going out for lunch with colleagues. It could be those Amazon deliveries that show up at our doors, tucked away from necessities that we ordered.

Some people call it the spending leaking, impulse buying, mindless spending. The label doesn't really matter - what does is understanding that we all have blind-spots. Little places in our finances where we know we're spending something, but we're not aware of just how much it is.

Inspired by the incredible site and story of Break the Twitch, I want to share some personal about how easy it was for us to slip into mindless spending and how we found a way to make sure they don't sabotage our finances.

In this episode we get into:

• finding your financial blind spots
• breaking the mindless spending twitch
• developing habits that can enrich us and allow us to spend better

Hope you enjoy!

Resources for More Intentional Living

Are you ready to have your spending more aligned with what really matters to you? Here are some great resources to shift your mindset and create better habits!

• Break the Twitch: An Intentional Living Philosophy
• Is Impulse Spending Ruining Your Financial Goals?
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The Ground Up Show by Matt D'Avella
• The More of Less
• 10 Simple Ways to Beat Impulse Buying
• The Year of Less
• No couch, one car: How these Minnesotans are living with less

Thank You to Our Partners

Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place.

Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place.

Did I mention it’s free? Why don’t you give Personal Capital a try today?

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. I also want to thank Lee Rosevere for music in this episode.

Want to be completely debt free, including your house? Find out the key changes one couple made to pay off their mortgage in less than 5 years! 

Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster

What would you do if you owed your home free and clear like Andy does now?

With no mortgage payment what options would open up?

There's a good chance you'd love to get rid of your mortgage, but the idea of getting rid of such a huge amount makes it seem impossible.
Forget paying it off in 5 years, you may struggle to even see a way to reduce it in half.

Right now median purchase price of a home here in the United States is $235,000, with 10% down. Now if you live in D.C. you're looking at $400,000 with my buddies in Cali close behind at around $350,000.

Not cheap. Probably the biggest purchase you'll make.

Which is why I asked my buddy and Marriage, Kids, and Money creator, Andy Hill, to come on. He's an awesome guy, really excited to get couples closer to their debt free goals. We both know that not everyone can replicate what Andy and his wife Nicole did - we all have different circumstances - but there's a lot to their process that could make all the difference with you and your home.

In this episode, we discuss:

• why they were adamant about knocking out their mortgage so fast
• steps that were crucial to paying off their mortgage
• tools to help you be debt free faster

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Dump Your Mortgage Faster

If you’re looking to dig in deeper for ways to pay your mortgage off faster, here are some resources to check out:

• Mortgage Payoff Calculator
• Paying Your Mortgage Off Early
• Paying Off The Mortgage Wasn’t Our First Priority (but we did it anyway)
• 5 Reasons to Choose a 15-Year Mortgage

And if you two are looking of more ideas on how to find, save, and make extra cash to pay down or debt or use for whatever gal you have, please sign up for my free 5 Days to $5K course. It's a week-long special email series that will help you get some extra money in.

Thank You to Our Partners

Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place.

Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place.

Did I mention it’s free? Why don’t you give Personal Capital a try today?

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. I also want to thank Lee Rosevere for music in this episode.

With money fights being the main cause of divorce, many couples could use some financial therapy. Learn habits and techniques you can use to make money talks less stressful and more productive!

Is Financial Therapy Right for You? 

Money problems are usually symptoms of a much deeper issue. It can be within our relationship - how we communicate or it can an issue we ourselves have like anxiety or depression.

From our personal experience and hearing from other couples, it can be more common than you think.
And that matters because if you don't get to the root, it can keep popping up.
And in some cases cause damage.

Financial education is crucial, but sometimes you need to a specialist. I'm not a therapist, but I do know one and she's here to help.

Kine Corder is here on the podcast to cover some problems and bumps couples experience when dealing with money.

In this episode, we get into:

• common issues couples have when they come to her for financial therapy
• ways to communicate better so things are less stressful with your relationship and money
• habits to help you two move forward

Hope you enjoy! 

Resources to Get on the Same Page with Money

Learning how to work as a team isn't automatic. Here are resources to give you the tools to stop fighting about money and win. 

• Top Sites and Podcasts for Marriage and Money
• Prosperity Report: Love and Money Podcast 
• How to Shift Your Money Mindset and Finally Knock Out Your Goals Together
• Build Your Marriage & Wealth with Money Dates
• 3 Habits to Grow Your Wealth and Strengthen Your Marriage
• How to Connect and Develop Financial Intimacy in Your Marriage

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Have you ever been frustrated with how long it was going to take to get out of debt? Learn how to handle setbacks, define your family's path, and knock out your goals together! 

Defining Your Family's Financial Success

Do you ever feel frustrated with how things are going? You read these awesome stories like This Couple Paid Off $72,000 in Debt in 22 Months or Couple shares how they wiped out $162K debt in less than 3 years.

You're thinking, 'wow we're working at a snail's pace'.
That can be discouraging.

I want to highlight a different story. 

Today Steve Goodwin from My Family on a Budget shares his family's more down to earth journey to becoming debt free.

In this episode we discuss:

• how financial Peace University transformed their finances
• Steve's big mistake with investing and how he fixed it
• making the transition to being a stay at home dad

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Help You Get Out of Debt

Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it.

• Money for Meaning
• Attacking Debt: Which One First?
• The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community
• Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You?
• 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster
• Best Strategies to Get Out of Debt
• Should You Use Peer to Peer Lending To Get Out of Debt?
• Knock Out Your Credit Card Debt

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

How would your life change if you were debt free? No credit cards, car or student loan to worry about. Not even a mortgage.

Today one couple shares their journey and advice to a happy and debt free life!

Living Debt Free

Living debt free can seem like an impossible dream depending on where you're starting from. For some couples and families taking on debt seems to be just a normal thing you do.

But just because this is common and going on with your neighbors and friends even with yourself does it mean that that's the path you have to go on.

Mark and Milhila, the couple behind Money for Meaning, are here to share their journey and how they refocused their lives and are now live debt free. They wrote a guest post early this year about how they live on cash.

Yep, they have no mortgage. 

In this episode we get into:

• why they wanted to get into this debt free lifestyle
• how to build wealth as a side effect
• how they figure where to spend and where to save

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Help You Get Out of Debt

Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it.

• Money for Meaning
• Attacking Debt: Which One First?
• The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community
• Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You?
• 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster
• Best Strategies to Get Out of Debt
• Should You Use Peer to Peer Lending To Get Out of Debt?
• Knock Out Your Credit Card Debt

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Frustrated with your credit card, car payments, and student loans? Learn how you two can come together to dump your debt faster and retire early! 

How You Can Retire Early

• Where are you guys right now? 
• Where do you want to be in five years? 

The good news is that the skills you use to get out of debt are transferable. Instead of sending in those extra payments to your credit cards and student loans, you can direct to savings and investments.

Deacon Hayes, personal finance author and Well Kept Wallet founder, is on today and we're getting into how he and his wife Kim made this transition.

In this episode, we talk about:

• how they managed to pay off $52,000 in debt in 18 months
• the system they used to keep one another in the loop with money
• planning and following through financial independence

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Dump Debt and Retire Early

If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are more resources to check out!

• Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities
• Financial Independence Through Big Wins
• Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools
• The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Do you feel like you guys are kind of stuck with your finances? Have you hit a wall and don't know the next move? Today I'll share how you can find the best financial advisor for you! 

Finding the Right Financial Advisor

What do you think about when you hear financial advisor?

You may have been to one of those luncheons where you get some information about investing or maybe insurance but the financial advising piece really isn't there.

It's left a bad taste in your mouth and you're wondering if it's really a smart move to hand over money to someone to manage your money.

From personal experience, there are some great financial advisers out there, ones that are not only looking at what's in your portfolio but the real big picture. sometimes, though, it takes a little bit of effort upfront to find a just the right person for the job. 

Today Michael Kay is sharing his expertise along with some tips to make the process less stressful. He's a fee-only financial planner at Financial Life Focus. 

In this episode we get into: 

• questions to ask your financial advisor (including the red flag to run!)
• looking at your finances in a holistic way
• finding the best advisor to build wealth

Hope you enjoy! 

Resources to Find the Right Financial Planner

Want some help with your money? Here are some resources to find the best advisor for your money. 

• GuideVine
• 6 Dangerous Myths About Financial Planning, Debunked
• How to Review a Financial Advisor: The Definitive Checklist
• How to Find a Financial Planner You Can Trust

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Do you feel like all of your paycheck plus some is going towards your bills and making no headway on your goals? Today we'll cover 5 ways you can get caught up and begin getting out from under your debts!

Struggling to Make Ends Meet?

I've been getting your emails and I want to say thank you. Sharing your wins and questions has been wonderful and I'm grateful that I can help in some small way.

I try to find positive stories and offer practical ways to save more, get out of debt, and start investing for your future, but we're all at different points in our financial journey.

Some of us are working paying off that debt ASAP while others are saving for their home, baby, or business. You might be working hard towards that dream of traveling together or exploring the possibility of financial independence.

Or you might just be starting your journey. perhaps you've heard some of the stories here or on other personal finance sites and you want to join in.

However, currently, you're in a really tight spot with money.

there's no wiggle room in your budget so it's hard to get ahead with your payments. you could be trying to just make the minimums. It's like you're a doctor dealing with multiple injured patients, trying to triage things with little equipment.

It's stressful and you feel like you're just dealing with one crisis after another.

Today I want to give you some relief.

The first step is getting caught up on your bills and begin creating a positive gap between what you're making and your expenses.

America's Money Answers Man - Jordan Goodman is on the show to share some ways you can get the ball rolling to becoming debt free.

In this episode we get into:

• getting better rates credit cards and in some cases, settle them
• how to get out from medical debt
• what to do when you can't afford your car payments

Hope this helps!

Resources to Get Out from Under Debt

If you two are struggling to pay your bills, here are some handy resources to check out.

• AnnualCreditReport.com
• Disputing Errors on Credit Reports
• GuidetoCreditCard.com
• Cambridge Credit Counseling
• Medical Bills Are the Biggest Cause of US Bankruptcies: Study
• Healthcare Advocates.com
• What to Do When You Can't Make the Minimum Payments

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Are you a parent of a child with special needs? We share some of the essential conversations and resources that help you cope and succeed! 

Taking Financial Care of Your Child with Special Needs

Being a parent is an incredible gift and responsibility. Even though the most important things in life are free, I think we also know there are expenses with raising kids.

When you have a child with special needs, those expenses can skyrocket. It can be a challenge to keep things manageable, but it's not impossible.

Today we'll get into the essentials and conversation to have so you two can get started.

Since this is something I'm not qualified to speak on, I'm grateful that Michelle Gershfeld is here today.

Michelle is a certified financial counselor and attorney. Michelle also a mother who has had to work hard to make sure her daughter's special needs was taken care of.
So this isn't an academic exercise, it's something she understands well.

In this episode we discuss:

• putting together a team to help make sure your child's needs are provided for
• financial and legal considerations to keep in mind when planning
• dealing with the unique financial scenarios that come up

Hope this helps! 

Resources

If you two are looking to speak with Michelle, you can reach out through her law firm. 

• AFCPE: Special thanks to them for connecting me to Michelle. AFCPE® is the nationally recognized leader in financial counseling, coaching, and education. 
• Benefits For Children With Disabilities - Social Security
• List of Grants and Resources for Families with Special Needs
• Financial Assistance | |Autism Speaks

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Have you ever felt stressed and limited with options because of an emergency that came up? 

Today we're going to share how you can prepare and protect yourselves from financial disasters!

Keys to Avoid Financial Disasters

While we can't predict every curve ball thrown at us, we can improve our chances of minimizing the damage done with a little bit of work upfront.

Shannon Harvey is here to offer up some ways you can be better prepared.

He has over 15 -years of experience as a Trusted Risk Advisor, and owns an insurance agency in Greenville, South Carolina.

In this episode we get into:

• what financial disasters you need to be on the lookout for
• why cheaper is not always better with insurance
• how to prepare your family should the worst happen

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Avoid Financial Disasters

If you two want to be better prepared dealing with financial disasters and bumps in life, here are some resources to get you started.

• How To Avoid Financial Disaster: Protect Yourself From The 7 Biggest Risks You Face Daily
• Covering Your Family’s Needs with Life Insurance
• Life Insurance for Stay at Home Parents
• How to Spend Less on Insurance (While Still Getting the Coverage You Need)!
• Insurance Coverage Families Need with Matt Becker

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Do you feel like your health care costs have exploded? Get the tips you need and learn how you can save money on your health insurance!

Working to Lower Healthcare Costs

I remember not too long ago, it used to be that the three biggest expenses we had were rent, food, and the car.

We then paid off the car loan early and now avoid loans on them. We worked hard and were grateful to get a good deal on our mortgage on this current house.

Food, well it's food. We're smarter about what we spend.

But there is one expense that has shot up since we got married and Im almost sure you have seen it explode as well - health insurance.

We actually had to switch out

Though we have had some wins dealing with insurance, Michael Dinich is here to offer his expertise. He's a financial Advisor who helps hardworking people get the retirement they deserve.

Part of that includes making sure they're getting good deals with health insurance.

In today's episode we get into:

• the trend of shifting costs from the insurance companies to us
• how to decide if those high deductible plans are really a good deal
• getting the coverage you need at a more affordable price

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Save Money on Health Insurances Expenses.

If you two want to dig deeper into finding ways to save on your healthcare costs, here are some resources to check out.

• Your Money Geek - Connect with Michael to see if he can help you out with your specific needs
• Why We’re Switching to a High Deductible Health Plan
• How to Spend Less on Insurance
• Save Money on Health Insurance
• New pharmacy discounts may lower your prescription drug bill

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Essentials on Wills and Choosing Guardians

In this episode we discuss:

• the essentials of a will
• choosing guardians to take care of your loved ones
• whether or not those do it yourselves will online kits are worth it

Hope you enjoy!

Resources on Estate Planning

If you want more information about setting things up for your loved one, here are some posts to check out:

• Estate Planning for Young Families
• Wills, Guardianship, and Estate Planning
• Five Essential Items for Your Estate Plan
• Choosing Legal Guardians for Our Baby
• Estate Planning Lessons We Can Learn From Cinderella

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Overwhelmed by paying down debt, saving for emergencies, and investing for retirement? Learn how to prioritize where your money should go to maximize returns!

How's this year going for you?

For us, it's pretty good. We made some big goals at the beginning of the year including saving up to finish our basement, planning a family trip outside the country, and paying down our mortgage faster.

If you're trying to tackle several goals at once, you probably understand how slow progress feels sometimes. 

Today financial advisor and Family Inc author Doug McCormick and I chat about how to prioritize your goals. 

Hope you enjoy! 

Resources to Define Your Priorities and Big Goals

Whether it’s a joint or personal goal, there are handy resources available to help you two achieve your dreams.

• What is It Like to Be Married to a Financial Planner? 
• How Our Financial Goals Followed Our Family
• What’s Your One Page Financial Plan?

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Want to stop living paycheck to paycheck and start moving towards financial independence? Learn the process the Frugalwoods took to retire early together! 

What are you two working towards, big picture wise? How often do you guys talk about it?

Talk can be cheap or it can be the start of an incredible journey. Four years ago a conversation Liz had with her husband Nate was a trigger to achieving their huge dream of becoming financially independent and retiring early.

Working as a Team to Retire Early Together

What would you do if you were retired right now? 

You might expect me to say you too can retire early with just a few easy steps. But the truth is it's much more complicated than that to break the cycle of consuming and working. It's going to take something very powerful a change in your mindset your finances and your lifestyle.

Today Liz, author of Meet the Frugalwoods: Achieving financial Independence Through Simple Living, is here to share their journey and hopefully inspire you to examine where you can start setting that path up towards financial independence.

In this episode, we get into:

• what moved Liz and Nate to go from dreaming about financial independence to making it a reality
• how they build a sustainable and enjoyable frugal lifestyle
• why do it yourself is not only good for your wallet but your marriage before their dream became a reality

Hope you enjoy! 

Resources to Retire Early & Money Hacks

If you two are looking at early retirement or to become financially independent, check out these resources.

• Uber Frugal Challenge
• Why We Don’t Micromanage Our Money
• Financial Independence and Parenthood
• The Joy That Comes When Less Is Enough
• The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement
• Seven Characteristics of The Millionaire Next Door
• How To Score a $50 Car Payment For Life

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Are you a foodie? Is eating out killing your budget? Learn insanely smart ways you two can eat well while slashing your food bills!

Slashing Your Food Bills

Since this America Saves Week, I thought that this would be a perfect time to tackle a typically huge expense - food. Whether it's groceries, lunch out at work, or going out as a family, this is something that can snowball quickly.

It's tricky because food at the essential level is a true need. Many of us go, though, beyond the essentials and if we truly evaluate how we're eating and spending, there's much room for improvement.

However, this is not an episode of roughing it or deprivation. I personally find food to be an awesome part of my social life and we enjoy eating.

Just like fad diets rarely lead to anything meaningful, seriously slashing and burning your groceries to their bare minimum can backfire.
I'd like to share a way to be balanced and to disprove this myth that clean eating and delicious meals are expensive.

Amy and Tim Rutherford, the couple behind Go with Less, are here to help out. They were big spenders and that included a lot of eating out and living it up.
Today we'll discuss:

• what triggered them to change how they were spending
• ways they're able to enjoy eating out and eating well without killing their budget
• coming up with go-to meals that rock and don't require you to become a chef

these changes helped them to retire early so take what you can and try them out.
You could very well find yourselves having a good time and growing your bank accounts.

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Save Money While Eating Well

Want to cut your spending on food without sacrificing quality? Here are some resources to check out.

• Free Frugal Foodie Challenge
• Grocery Price Books: Slash Your Food Bill and Save Time!
• Kill your $1,000 Grocery Bill

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Ready to merge finances? Find how you can master your bank accounts together and get the most out your hard earned money! 

Master Your Bank Accounts Together

Does it seem like you two keep having the same argument over and over? Do you feel like you're spinning your wheels with money? You're not alone.

Today we're going over how we form our money habits and how we can change them for the better to finally achieve your big goals together! 

Mindsets and Money Stories 

It's funny how unaware we can be about our money habits. When we first began talking about money, it was a real eye-opener and not just because of the numbers.

Here we were ready to spend our lives together and we realized that we had completely different views when it came to money. 

But digging into how we pick up those habits and figuring a way to work with what we have so to speak is somewhat tricky - which is why I'm really happy Jen Hemphill here.
She's an accredited financial coach and author of her new book, Her Money Matters: The Missing Truths From Traditional Money Advice.

It's a fantastic book and one aspect I really appreciated is how Jen dives into mindsets and money stories.

In this episode we discuss:

• how your past can influence how you handle finances now - for better or worse
• how to help your spouse to open up and understand their money mindset
• a tip for getting them onboard

Hope you enjoy! 

Resources to Understand and Change Your Money Mindset 

If you two are looking to improve how you talk and work together with your finances (and lives), please check out these resources.

• Her Money Matters
• Conversation Starters and Ice Breakers with Money and Marriage

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Do you want your wedding day to be beautiful, memorable, and meaningful without spending a ton of money or getting into debt? Learn how you can plan your dream wedding on a budget! 

How to Plan Your Dream Wedding on a Budget

Right now in the United States, the average wedding costs over $35,000!

Thankfully the Budget Savvy Bride, Jessica Bishop is here to help. In this episode we discuss:

• defining your dream wedding
• ways you can splurge and where you can save
• a handy resource to help you plan your dream wedding without breaking your budget

Hope you enjoy!

If you want to hear from another bride who had a beautiful wedding on a small budget, listen to my interview with Jessi Fearon. she and her husband managed a sweet and special wedding for $500!

Resources to Plan a Fantastic Wedding

If you're getting married, please check out these resources so you can plan out your special day without going into debt.

• The Budget-Savvy Wedding Planner & Organizer: Checklists, Worksheets, and Essential Tools to Plan the Perfect Wedding on a Small Budget
• Planning Your Dream Wedding on a Budget
• Wedding Planning: My Ultimate Lesson in Budgeting
• The Best Kept Secrets to Planning a Wedding on a Budget
• Have a $50,000 Wedding on a $3,000 Budget

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Today we're answering your big marriage and money questions. We'll discuss lending money to family, getting the best deal on insurance, and seeing if those high deductible health insurance plans really save you money! 

This week we're doing a community mailbag show where I answer what's on your mind with marriage and money. In today's episode we cover quite a few things:

• how to save money on insurance
• finding out if those high deductible health plans are really good
• whether or not you should love to family

Hope you enjoy! 

Thank you for sending these in. 

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Ready to dump the debt and build wealth together? Here are three crucial questions to discuss to achieve financial security together! 

Finding Financial Security 

Ryan Inman from Physician Wealth Services and Financial Residency is on the show to share three crucial questions to help you two build financial security together. 

In this episode we discuss: 

• how you two can approach talking about money
• how Ryan helps his clients hone in on their priorities
• conversation starters you can use on your next money date

Hope you enjoy! 

Want to hear from another couple working together on their finances? Check out my interview with Tai and Talaat McNeely from His and Her Money! 

Resources to Define Your Priorities and Big Goals

Whether it’s a joint or personal goal, there are handy resources available to help you two achieve your dreams.

• How Our Financial Goals Followed Our Family
• What’s Your One Page Financial Plan?

Ryan asked three crucial questions on the podcast. 

1. I want you to imagine that you are financially secure, that you have enough money to take care of your needs, now and in the future. The question is, how would you live your life? What would you do with the money? Would you change anything? Let yourself go. Don’t hold back your dreams. Describe a life that is complete, that is richly yours.
2. This time, you visit your doctor who tells you that you have five to ten years left to live. The good part is that you won’t ever feel sick. The bad news is that you will have no notice of the moment of your death. What will you do in the time you have remaining to live? Will you change your life, and how will you do it?
3. This time, your doctor shocks you with the news that you have only one day left to live. Notice what feelings arise as you confront your very real mortality. Ask yourself: What dreams will be left unfulfilled? What do I wish I had finished or had been? What do I wish I had done? What did I miss?

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

It's 2018 for some reason that beginning of a new year, Everyone is excited and thrilled this week making some big goals.

Unfortunately, the majority don't reach them. I don't want that to happen to the two of you especially with your big money goals.

So in today's episode, we'll get into:

• what are the top three money goals that people have
• how you can get your spouse on board with money this year 
• how to achieve the right money goal for the two of you.

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Reach Your Big Money Goals

Whether you're dumping debt, saving more, or investing for your future, here are some resources to help make managing your money easier this year! 

• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Budget Tools: Mint | Honeyfi | Tiller | Honeydue 

Whether you have a 9-5 job, are self-employed, or run a business, burn-out can be a real problem. Learn how you can avoid it ad setting up your finances to take the time off you need! 

Wrapping Up a Big Year at FinCon

LLast week, I went to Dallas to attend FinCon, a conference of independent personal finance publishers, fintech companies, and media focused on a positive money message.

I had an incredible week chatting with buddies in the personal finance space. We've chatted throughout the year via Zoom or Skype, but it's special to hang out in person. Many of us got started because we were getting out of debt or saving for a dream.

I also got to see what was going on with fintech. There are so many developments and right now, apps are coming out that are designed for couples. Got to enjoy some time with the HoneyFi team as well as a few others.

And I was especially honored and grateful that Couple Money won best family finance blog for the second year in a row!

But besides taking home a sweet trophy I also brought back a bug and I'm finally feeling more like myself. My voice is a little weak, but I didn't want to miss another week.

It's the season finale and I want to talk about a few things that have been on my mind and some of what I heard on yours.

In this episode, I want to discuss with you:

•  tackling big goals while avoiding burnout
• budgeting for time off
• upcoming plans for the podcast and this site

Hope you enjoy! 

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

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

Think you can avoid money fights by not talking about it? Learn and use these conversation starters to develop financial intimacy, get on the same page with money, and have an extraordinary marriage! 

Financial Intimacy and Marriage

Normally people associate intimacy with physical or emotional, but a long-lasting marriage takes more.

You two can connect with intellectual activities, spiritual moral values, having fun and relaxing, and yes, financial intimacy.

If you been listening to the show for a bit, you know that the money itself is usually not the issue, but a symptom. To a degree, once the bills are paid, how we spend or use money is a reflection of our priorities.

It's all connected.
And we neglect or ignore talking and working through things, our marriage can suffer.

What if you've been married for some time, can you turn things around? Not only fix your finances but become more open as a couple.

Fortunately, Tony and Alisa DiLorenzo are on the show to share their story and help make things easier. They're the dynamic duo behind One Extraordinary Marriage where they explore developing a stronger marriage.

In this episode we get into:

• the challenges Tony and Alisa faced with debt
• how they started those conversations about money
• creating a system with their family finances they're both happy with

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Building Your Marriage and Financial Intimacy

Looking to connect as a couple with money and more? Here are some wonderful resources to get you started!

• Connect Like You Did When You First Met
• Dave Ramsey's 7 Baby Steps to Financial Peace
• Money Matters
• Money in the Bank
• 6 Forms of Intimacy to Build a Strong Marriage

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Want to retire early, but your spouse isn't ready? Learn how Jamila and her husband got on the same page with financial independence and saved over $80,000 last year! 

Getting on the Same Page with Financial Independence

You're making a good income, but... you're not getting anywhere. It's frustrating.

Somehow, though, maybe through this podcast, some personal finance sites, or books, you've started running the numbers.

While there would certainly need to be some changes, you can see a path forward. You can get out of debt, save more, and invest towards retirement. Maybe even retire early.

But there's just one problem.

It's not just about you. You're in this with your spouse. And you're not quite sure how to get them on board.

As you heard at the top, today's guest Journey to Launch founder Jamila has been down this path.

In this episode, we get into:

• how she and her husband first handled their money and paid down debt
• discovering financial independence and winning him over
• how they work together with money and created a system that respects both their styles

Hope you enjoy!

Want to hear about another couple who worked out their differences? Check out my interview with Tai and Talaat from His and Her Money.

We discuss how they dumped their debt even though they are financial opposites! 

Working Towards Financial Independence

Special thanks to Jamila. Connect with her on Twitter and Facebook and learn more about their journey.

If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are more resources to check out!

• Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities
• How We Saved $85,000 in 2016
• Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools
• The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement

Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money Course

Want to give your marriage and bank account a boost? Pick up Jumpstart Your Marriage and Money course.

Jumpstart focuses on the big wins including earning more. Get LIFETIME access to a four-week course design to help you:

• Stop fighting about money and create a budget that you BOTH LOVE
• Automate your money
• Pay off your debt faster
  Plus more!

You can get lifetime access here. 

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Looking to get off the treadmill and finally dump your debt? Learn how you can set your money to win and reach your goals faster! 

Have you ever been frustrated with your money? I know when we were first starting out, there were times where I felt like we knew where we wanted to go, but we weren't making the progress we hoped for.

Or maybe you're looking at that big pile of debt and it looks like it's impossible to tackle with the income you have.

Perhaps you'd love to retire early, but it's such a far off goal. 

Live Save Spend Repeat

Kim Anderson has been there. She's the creator of Thrifty Little Mom and the author of Live Save Spend Repeat.

She and her husband Cressel have been tackling some big dreams, including living a debt free life.

In this episode we get into:

• Why Kim prefers  cash over credit
• the changes needed to pay off $90k in 2 years
• why and how she and her husband are creating the life they want

Hope you enjoy! 

Resources to Simplify Your Finances and Dump Your Debt

Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it.

• Attacking Debt: Which One First?
• The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community
• Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You?
• Best Strategies to Get Out of Debt
• Should You Use Peer to Peer Lending To Get Out of Debt?
• Knock Out Your Credit Card Debt

Free 5 Days to $5K Course

You can sign up here!

Thank You to Our Partners

Support for this podcast comes from Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Masterclass.

This self-paced course is designed to help you get on the same page with money, dump your debt faster, and build wealth as a team.

Give Yourselves Margin with a Side Hustle

• why a side hustle can be a wonderful option
• how you can start one in less than a month
• why and how a sustainable side hustle can also build your legacy

Hope you enjoy! 

Debt can be an enormous burden for many couples. Learn how you two can work together and get the resources you need to deal with depression and debt. 

This episode is part of the Suicide Prevention Awareness Month blog and now podcast tour in partnership with Debt Drop.

This is a heavier than normal topic, but I'm afraid too many people and couples suffer in silence. My focus today is giving you some jumping points and ideas.

You two can then discuss them and work out what's best for you.

I want to clear upfront - I've never had to deal with depression and debt, but I've dealt with both.

I remember clearly the anxiety and stress I had over debt.  Sleepless nights trying to figure which bill to pay with a limited income.

I've had periods in my life where depression robbed me of joy.  There was no specific trigger, but it was a win to get out of bed some days.

That said - I am not a medical professional.

I just want to share some encouragement and tips that have helped me and others. 

Resources to Fight Debt and Depression

If you two are looking for resources to not only knock down your debt but take care of yourselves, here some to check out: 

• If you are feeling suicidal, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741741.
• Depressed About Debt? Expert Advice on How to Overcome Financial Anxiety 
• National Foundation for Credit Counseling 
• Dealing with Depression
• Recognize the Warning Signs of Suicide 
• The scary link between credit card debt and depression 
• Debt & Suicide: I Tattled Big Time And I Violated A Lot Of Things But I’m Still Proud 

Millions of Americans want to start a business, but where do you begin? Entrepreneur and start up co-founder Will DeShazo shares how you can find the right gig along with balancing marriage and entrepreneurship!

Finding Balance with Marriage and Entrepreneurship

We've had a quite a few shows about being a happily married entrepreneur I've been sharing my ups and downs working from home.

I've also interviewed couples who are running a business together like Justin and Rebekah Rhodes with Abundant Permaculture, couples who ventured on their own career paths like LaTisha Styles who explained how she and her husband successfully support each other.

And hearing them, you get this sense that's they're well-oiled machines. Things working out.

But what about that beginning stage?

How does a side hustle fit in with your current job and your marriage?

In this special episode Millennovator co-founder Will DeShazo and I discuss:

• how you can start earning some cash while exploring career options
•  the framework that will help you find the right gig
• opportunities for you to give yourself a raise at your current position using a side hustle

Hope you enjoy!

Resources for Entrepreneurs

Want to become an entrepreneur? Here are some more resources to check out!

• LaTishaTV on Facebook
• Your First $500
• Launch by Jeff Walker
• The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich
• Launching a Business as a Creative Entrepreneur
• Developing a Money Making Hobby
• Starting and Building a Side Hustle with Fiverr

Thank You to Our Partners

Support for this podcast comes from partners like Personal Capital. Easy to set up & easy to use. You can have all your investments, income, and expenses all pulled into one place.

Did I mention it’s free? Why don’t you give Personal Capital a try today?

Ready to take a last minute getaway or weekend trip? Use these travel apps and get the best deals!

Going away for the weekend doesn't mean you break your budget. With a little planning and the right resources, you two can score some nice trips and still save money.

So if you're looking at getting away from it all for a few days, save this post.

Travel Sites to Bookmark for Your Weekend Getaways

There are more sites than ever for travelers. Besides snagging last minute deals on popular tourist spots, you can also discover some awesome destinations.

• Airbnb: If you want to live like a local, Airbnb can help you find a bed or whole house for your next trip. We used the site when we went away for an anniversary trip and had a beautiful riverfront apt in Wilmington, NC for a fraction of the price of a hotel.
• Priceline: I'm a huge fan of their Name Your Own Price feature, which has helped us score plane tickets, hotel rooms, and car rental half off the advertised prices.
• Better Bidding: Speaking of bids, there are forums and sites online that can help you figure out what it will take to your bid accepted.

You might also want to keep an eye for flash deals with airlines like Southwest where you can score huge discounts on flights for select cities.

Apps to Help Score Great Deals and Keep Organized

With smartphones everywhere, apps have been developed to help travelers. Download these apps to help you get the best deals and explore your destination.

• Localeur: (iOS only) Locals share some of their favorite spots in 14 major U.S. cities.
• TripIt: With two kids in tow, I love to have one app to handle and organize all of the travel arrangements.
• Hopper: If you like to double check the deals on flights, Hopper is great. The app analyzes tons of flight prices and can suggest when it's a good time to purchase a ticket.
• Hipmunk: An all in one solution where you can find last minute deals and book them.

Even though you might not think of it as a travel app per se, GasBuddy can tremendously helpful if you're taking a road trip.

Thoughts on Weekend Getaways

I'd love to hear your ideas and stories. What has been your favorite getaway destination?

What has been your most recent travel deal you've taken? What travel apps are your favorite for planning?

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

Can you really have big wins from changing tiny, but key habits? Learn the critical key steps Chris Reining took to retire at 37!

Big Wins Through Tiny Habits

Going for the big wins is smart.

Too many times, though, those big wins mean big changes and for most, it's enough not to move.

But what if I told you there are certain tiny changes that can have a huge impact?

Today's guest Chris Reining has made those tiny habits stick and he's been able to retire at 37!

In this episode, we get into

• what pushed him to change his habits
• how he was able to slash his expenses without feeling he was missing out
• his system to build wealth

You can connect with Chris on his site. Don't forget to grab his free investment guide.

Hope you enjoy!

Early Retirement Links and Resource

If you want to learn more about early retirement, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The One Tiny Habit That Leads to Wealth
• Why We Don’t Micromanage Our Money
• Financial Independence and Parenthood
• The Joy That Comes When Less Is Enough
• The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement
• How To Be Frugal: One Month At A Time
• The New Parents’ Guide to Financial Independence