The Balancing Act with Christy Hayes: Recent Episodes
Christy Hayes
Hey there... I'm Christy! Are you feeling overwhelmed with your finances? Maybe you don't know how to get out of debt or start saving for the future. I have a passion for helping people navigate their money, whether it be crafting a plan to pay off debt or planning for retirement. You can bet your bottom dollar I have an opinion on all topics related to finance, debt, saving, retirement and consumerism. I've watched friends, family and clients experience and overcome a variety of financial issues in my career and want to share my wisdom with you so we can learn to better manage our money today and hopefully retire well in the future! Get inspired to take your finances to a whole new level!
Many of us have done it. We have fallen in love with a luxury car or a brand new truck. Whatever revs your emotional engine, you know it's sitting out there on a car lot somewhere and there is a car sales person ready to hand over the keys...with a hefty payment. That hefty payment can really sideline your financial journey for years!
Our income is a powerful tool. When we allow debt into our lives, we give up some of our power. Christy talks about the mindset of an indebted culture and how to make a different choice so you can take back your power.
A lot of parents plan for having a baby, but most don't budget for a baby. Christy is a mm of two and has been down that road. She gives advice to parents-to-be on how to manage all the expected and unexpected financial issues that arise when adding a little one to your family.
Frank Cannon joins Christy to discuss inheritance today. We all joke about a rich uncle leaving us money. There is more to it than that. Whether you are on the receiving-end or on the giving-end of inheritance, Frank shares his experiences of seeing it done well...and not so well.
In this episode, Christy talks about YOLO and FOMO and how it affects millennials and their finances. If you are falling victim to the You Only Live Once or the Fear of Missing Out syndrome and want to get yourself back on track, listen to Christy's advice.
Frank Cannon joins Christy today to talk about the importance of buying life insurance. There are more reasons than we can count, and it's likely you have not thought of many of them. Listen in and make an educated decision about your situation.
Budget, budget, budget! We all know we are supposed to do it...but how many of us really do? The first step of taking control of your finances is to set up a monthly budget and stick to it. If you need a little motivation, Christy talks about getting your numbers together.
Christy talks with her friend Kati about how memberships can mindlessly keep people in debt. Gym memberships, massage memberships, subscription boxes like Stitch Fix and Ipsy, and paid apps can drain your back account each month. Unless you are checking your statement, you might not even notice how much money is automatically disappearing from your account on things you might not even use!
Christy talks with her friend Stacey about her experience with paying off debt and saving. Stacey is a saver and her husband is a spender, which caused tension in their marriage. Fed up with anxiety, Stacey put their finances on paper, cut all unnecessary expenses, sold an extra car to fund their emergency fund, and automated their savings…all while getting her husband on board.
Lifestyle creep happens when you get a raise or a bonus at work, or maybe an expected gift, and the money isn’t saved. Instead, it’s immediately used to expand your lifestyle, such as buying a nicer car or moving to a larger home. These habits can erode your ability to build wealth during your lifetime. Christy talks with a former professional football player about this common financial pitfall in the athletic world. Awareness is the key to saying “no” to lifestyle creep and choosing to save or invest the extra money instead.