Simplify and Enjoy: Recent Episodes

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Not happy with the service you’re getting from your bank? It may be time to switch. Learn how credit unions work and see if they’re a better banking option for you!

Move Your Money to a Better Banking Option Where you bank matters. For most families, their checking and savings accounts are the foundation of their financial system. When it's not working, it just makes everything harder.

We know because we’ve had some really bad experiences with a few of the big banks.

Whether it was poor customer service, needless fees, and minimum balances requirements (even though the interest rates they were offering were abysmal), we just felt like it was a headache and chore dealing with them.

Years ago we decided to move our money to where we could get great service and get perks like better rates with savings. One of the places we picked was a credit union, specifically Coastal Credit Union. We’ve been happy with switching over, but the focus today is not on us, but on you.

It doesn’t matter to me whether you choose a community bank, credit union, online, or yes, one of the big players. I just want you to be happy where you bank. Seriously.

Which is why I’m happy to have Emily Nails, VP of Cooperative Strategies and Executive Director of the Coastal Credit Union Foundation on the show today.

Not only are they a sponsor of this podcast, but they’ve also been our credit union for over ten years.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• how credit unions work
• the benefits that credit union members can enjoy
• how credit unions benefits their communities

Let’s get started!

Resources to Easily Manage Your Money Your money should be working as hard as you, but managing it should be easy. Here are some of my favorite tools and resources to stay on top of your finances!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Coastal Federal Credit Union <- Our bank 😉
• Credit Unions vs. Banks: How to Decide
• Send in your family and financial questions here!

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out. Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

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Open enrollment season is here and I want you to be prepared. Learn what you need to know so that you can choose an affordable healthcare insurance plan that covers your family's needs!

Finding Affordable Health Insurance How would you like to help set up your finances for this next year so that it runs smoother and that you are gonna be hitting your money goals faster?

That might very well be the case if you take time to carefully to go over your options with Open Enrollment.

I know it might not seem like the most exciting thing when you get that packet, but you can have a huge and significant win with your finances if you take the time to really research your options and make sure that you're maximizing your benefits.

With open enrollment, there are going to be so many Health insurance is typically the biggest decision families worry about, and understandably so.

Health insurance can be expensive.

A recent health employer benefits survey found that the average premium for family coverage is $22,463 per year. That includes what your employer pays. However, most only a percentage. On average, employees are paying $6,106 year for premiums for their family plans. Now you add in copays and your deductible and it can be pricey, well you can see how important it is to find the right health insurance plan for you.

You might feel like we did – trying to strike a balance.

On one hand, handing over that much money month after month when we basically use it for annual well visits seemed like such a waste.

But we didn’t want to be under covered either. Have you’ve seen those bills from the doctor’s office or hospitals?

If you’re fortunate, your HR department will have prepared a side by side analysis, comparing the major components of your different options.

Still, depending on your family’s particular needs such as dealing with a chronic health issue, you may have dig through that digital or paper packet to find answers about whether or not a specific things is covered.

So how do you sort through things? Today we’re dive into some of essential things you need to know so you can work together as a family and find the best option for you.

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

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

Resources to Build Better Family Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Are High Deductible Health Plans and Health Savings Accounts an Affordable Option for You?
• How to Maximize Your Work Benefits During Open Enrollment
• Send in your family and financial questions here!

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

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Teaching kids about money doesn't have to be boring! Discover how to make learning about finances fun and engaging for your children!

Teaching Kids Smart Money Habits As parents we want to prepare out kids so when they decide to go off on their own, they’re equipped with not just the essential life skills, but also have wisdom on knowing when and how to use those skills.

Believe it or not, part of showing them the ropes is teaching them about money.

Because if we don’t, they’ll have a much harder time pursuing their goals because they’ll be weighed down by the consequences of bad money habits such as carrying a massive amount of debt.

Sadly carrying debts seems to the case for many Americans as I was reviewing some numbers from The Motley Fool about average debts.

• Average credit card debt $5,733
• Average personal loan debt $11,281
• Average monthly new car payment $736
• Average monthly used car payment $523
• That’s a lot of baggage to carry

Here’s the thing, though – how do you start those lessons?

It really is a family project. We have a big role as parents, but others in our circle can also be a wonderful help with getting our kids smarter with their money.

Paul Vasey is on the show to talk about how. He’s financial educator and the creator of Cash Crunch Games which is all about helping families have a fun time learning about finances through games. He also recently published a book – Raising Money-Smart Grandkids.

As you can guess from the title is focused on the grandparents, but most of those topics apply to parents as well.

In this episode we get into:

• the power of conversations and games in shaping your child's financial mindset
• how to navigate discussions about budgeting, saving, and making choices within a limited budget
• creative ways to engage your kids in hands-on experiences that make learning about money fun and relevant to their lives

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

Resources to Build Better Family Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Cash Crunch Games
• Raising Money-Smart Grandkids
• Nuts and Bolts of Creating a Budget That Works
• Cashing Out: Creating a Flexible Financial Plan That Fits Your Family
• How to (Actually) Make Managing Your Money Fun
• FamZoo
• Kids and Money: How to Teach Them About Bank and Investing Accounts
• Financial Wellness: Tracking More Than Just the Numbers
• Send in your family and financial questions here!

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Are you a parent trying to juggle your family's budget while still enjoying life? We’re going to walk you through how to find a balance with raising your kids, managing your money, and have fun!

Parenting on a Budget: Strategies for Juggling Kids, Money, and Happiness When you’re a parent, it can sometimes feel like there are so many demands on your finances and times. As we raise our kids, we may have to deal with daycare, school trips, extra curricular activities, family vacations, saving for college or trade, the list goes on and on.

Oh wait, you’re also expected to save for your own retirement.

It feels like a lot, right?

The pressure we feel from others or that we put on ourselves can make it seem like the price of parenthood is too much.

While we do have more responsibilities as we raise our kids, there are some real joys with it. The trick is find a way to identify your family’s particular priorities and manage your money in a way that balanced and fits the particular season of life you’re in.

Which is why I’m so glad Melissa McCollough from Coastal Credit Union is here to join us.

Not only is she the Digital Marketing Manager behind Coastal’s blog, but she’s also a mom who knows firsthand the juggling act of parenthood.

I love someone in the trenches chatting with me about making this work well.

In this episode we get into:

• common challenges parents and families face when it comes to budgeting, and how to get through them
• effective strategies for saving money on kid-related expenses without sacrificing quality or experiences
• tools and resources, both online and in your community, that can make it easier to stay on top of your money so you have more time with your kids

So, whether you're a parent looking to navigate the complexities of family finances or simply curious about the art of budgeting, this podcast episode is a must-listen.

We have a lot to cover, so let’s dive in!

Resources to Build Better Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Finding the Best Paying Side Hustles for You
• Why and How You Need to Diversify Your Income
• 18 Money-Saving Challenges To Save More Money!
• Send in your family and financial questions here!

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Are you looking to have some fun while saving up for your goals? We'll explore ten monthly money challenges that you and your family can try out!

Taking On Monthly Money Challenges As I mentioned last week, there's a wonderful opportunity for you to reset things with your finances and have a big win with your family and financial goals. There's three full months or 15 weeks, depending on how you want to look at it left in the year.

You can knock out some really big goals in that time. One thing that can help you out with that is monthly money challenges.

We got a variety of challenges that we're going to cover today that can help you develop new habits and routines. You can use that money to put towards whatever goal you're working on.

There are some great challenges you can do throughout the year like the 52-Week Savings Challenge and the 365-Day Nickel-Saving Challenge, which I’ll include in the show notes. There are also wonderful weekly challenges you can take on too.

However for this episode, I want to focus on monthly goals. I feel like that's a big enough chunk of time where you can effectively knock out something. And it gives you enough flexibility that if you're having a bad week, you can still finish up on a high note.

In this episode, I’m going to cover:

• the psychology monthly money challenges
• go over the different types of money challenges you can take on
• highlight ten money challenges

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

Resources to Build Better Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Where Can I Find the Money to Build Emergency Savings?
• Send in your family and financial questions here!

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. It’s a group Andy, Andrew from Family Money Plan, and myself run as a team.

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photo Credits: Othmar Vigl

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Today we’ll go over five steps on how to reset and achieve your big family money goals for before the year wraps up!

How to Reset and Reach Your Family and Financial Goals It’s the first full week of September. How are things going of you this year so far?

Looking back at 2023 so far, it’s honestly been a year of ups and downs for us.

Summer break for example had us taking two family trips around North Carolina which we certainly needed. Unfortunately my mom was in the hospital in the first part of July so our focus was on her for a few weeks. Thankfully she’s doing better now.

Honestly, though, I cut back on projects and some work I had planned here on the site and podcast. I also feel a bit weird saying this on the podcast, but yeah, I wasn’t as diligent as I usually am with finances.

Here’s the thing though – for the most part we’re still on track for our goals.

How?

As we have tackled our family and financial goals like saving down debt, saving for emergencies, and investing, we’ve developed habits and a financial system that has made it easier to stay on our goals. Cause I really do believe that there are times you need to give your family attention. If you have your financial system up, you can feel less stressed and better able to handle life’s curveballs.

I’d like to show you some ways you can manage your goals if you ‘re in a similar situation, where your focus hasn’t been on your finance because of family obligations.

The good news? You still have sixteen full weeks before this year is over. There is still plenty of time for you to make progress on your family and financial goals!

Resources to Build Better Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Where Can I Find the Money to Build Emergency Savings?
• Send in your family and financial questions here!

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. It’s a group Andy, Andrew from Family Money Plan, and myself run as a team.

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photo Credits: George Milton, Taryn Elliott, and Max Andrey

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Are you curious about real estate investing? Today, we're going to hear from two people who have made that leap and started building up their income streams through real estate!

Getting Started in Real Estate Investing in real estate can be profitable and exciting, but it can also seem daunting, especially if you haven't got started yet.

One of the favorite things I like to do, here on the podcast is to share stories from people in real life. What was it like to achieve their financial goals?

Real estate investing is no different. I've had already done some interviews through the years.

Even this year, I've shared stories from Alan, Crystal and Rachel about their own financial journeys into real estate and they each had different avenues that they took that were successful for them.

Today I want to add two more stories to that list. Toni from debt-free divas and Aja from principles of increase are going to be discussing each of their journeys into real estate.

In this episode, we're going to get into:

• how they acquired their first properties
• the mistakes they made with real estate investing and the wins that they've had with their properties
• their advice they would give now for those looking to jump into it.

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

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

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Debt Free Divas
• The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community
• Principles of Increase
• How to Talk Money With Our Daughters
• Roofstock <- Easy and simple way to invest in single-family rental properties

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Today we’re going over essential house hunting tips so you can find your dream house!

The Dos and Don'ts of House Hunting: Expert Advice from a Real Estate Agent Welcome back! These past few weeks, we’ve been focused on our home buying series. We started off with preparing finances to handle becoming a homeowner and building your credit.

Next, we got the inside scoop on what lenders are looking for to make it easier to get a great deal on your mortgage.

Now we’re talking about the last key step – house hunting. For many this both the fun part of the process, but also the most stressful, especially if you’re buying in a market. One concern families have is trying to find that hidden gem of place and avoid getting with a money pit.

Which is why I’m happy to have Real Estate Agent/Broker Liz Mary Caban from Daymark Realty on. She’s sharing her expertise to make the process easier.

In this episode we get into:

• how to navigate with your house hunting and find your dream home
• how to be prepared to move quickly while still staying objective and within your budget
• what red flags to watch out for when you’re checking out homes

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

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: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Daymark Realty | Work with LizMary Caban
• Buying a Home <- Want to save thousands of dollars while buying your dream home? Adam’s course takes you through contemplation to closing
• How To Get Your Finances Ready to Buy a House
• House Hunting: Tips to Buy a Home in a Seller’s Market

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! 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're thinking of buying a home here in the Triangle, take a look at Coastal's mortgage options and rates!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Are you thinking of buying a home soon? Get the inside scoop on what lenders are looking for so you can get a great deal on a mortgage!

How to Find the Best Rates for Your Mortgage It's home buying season and depending on where you live, it could be a hot market. It’s certainly that here in Raleigh, NC.

As a buyer that can be additional pressure on finding the right place for you, but if you’re prepared and you snag a great deal on your mortgage, you’ll have a leg up.

This is why to have Wendy Dawson on the show today. She’s the Vice President of Mortgage Lending over at Coastal Credit Union. She’ll be sharing her expert insights on how to shop around and snag a great deal on your mortgage.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• What lenders look for when assessing a potential borrower's financial position
• potential down payment assistance programs for first-time homebuyers
• how to stay level-headed during your house hunt your new place is a blessing and not a burden

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

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: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Buying a Home <- Want to save thousands of dollars while buying your dream home? Adam’s course takes you through contemplation to closing
• How To Get Your Finances Ready to Buy a House
• House Hunting: Tips to Buy a Home in a Seller’s Market

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! 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're thinking of buying a home here in the Triangle, take a look at Coastal's mortgage options and rates!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photo by PNW Production

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Buying a house can be overwhelming. Learn how to get your finances ready for homeownership so your new home is a blessing and not a burden!

Preparing Your Finances to Buy a House Buying a house is a huge personal and financial milestone for many families, but it can also be a stressful and complicated process.

One part of the stress is buying a house that’s affordable. You want to be financially prepared

There’s plenty of advice on buying a house and not all of it is good. Have you heard ‘buy as much house as you afford’? I mean sounds good on paper, but the reality is if someone is telling you that you’re probably pushing your house budget in a direction that could be a huge problem once you sign those papers.

Or how about the suggestion of building your credit by getting a credit card?

I don’t want you to fall into a trap where your finances are so tight that the house you buy makes your miserable.

Today we’re going over some key areas of where you needed to pay attention and prepare your finances so that when you a buy a house, it’s a blessing and not a burden.

Which is why I’m happy to have Steve Stewart on the show today.

In this episode we’re going to look at:

• preparing your finances so you can comfortably buy a house
• the role credit scores play and how to raise it
• building credit without accumulating debt with alternative ways to report credit history to lenders

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

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: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Buying a Home <- Want to save thousands of dollars while buying your dream home? Adam’s course takes you through contemplation to closing
• eCredable
• StellarFi
• ExperianBoost
• How to Snag a Great Deal When Buying a House
• How to Buy a House as You Pursue Financial Independence

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! 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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photos by Lukas Hartmann and Daniel Frank

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Are you looking to have a true vacation where you can relax and enjoy, but are afraid it’s going to break your budget? Learn how to score amazing deals and travel hack on your next trip!

Finding the Best Family Vacation Deals During the last two episodes, we talk about building a better budget. We wanted to see how you can create a budget that allows you to pay the bills, but balances your future financial goals with some fun here and now.

We’ve found that you’re more likely to stick to your budget if you include room for things and experiences you enjoy.

For many families, travel falls into that category. It does for us. Actually we recently took a trip to Florida and had an incredible time relaxing and catching up with some loved ones in the area.

I know some families though are worried about the rising costs of trips. I just saw recently that rental cars have skyrocketed over 20%! Then you factor in service industry staff issues, it also almost seems like you’re getting less, but paying more.

However, with some planning you can take a wonderful vacation affordably.

I’d like to share a few of the highlights so you can see how you can snag some travel deals for your next vacation.

I’m also happy to have Zac Hood of our partner Travel Freely on the show. He’s going to share how travel hacking works and how to approach searching for the right rewards card for you.

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

Resources to Optimize Your Travel Rewards and More Looking for ways to save on your next family getaway? Here are some fantastic resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Travel Freely
• Simple Family Travel Tips and Tricks
• How We Do Low-Key Travel with Kids
• 17 Essential Tips for Finding the Perfect Airbnb

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! 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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photo by Pixabay and Julia Kuzenkov

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Are you ready to start building a budget that works and you actually love? Learn the nuts and bolts on how to quickly and easily make a flexible family budget!

Creating a Budget That Actually Works for You Last week I mentioned that one report found 73% of millennials are living paycheck to paycheck. When you’re in that situation you can be an added weight on shoulders because if one thing goes wrong – and it will- it can make a mess of your finances.

For this week, I want to go from the big picture view we took on the potentials with budgets and get into the nuts and bolts. How do you build a budget?

Which is why I’m happy to have Warren Murray on the show today. Warren works Financial Well Being Manager over at Coastal Credit Union where he and his team help members live better by managing their money more efficiently.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• why having a financial snapshot your finances is important and how to do it
• how building your budget around financial wellness is more efficient and sustainable
• creative ways to include fun into your budget while still working towards your financial goals

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

Resources to Build Better Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Where Can I Find the Money to Build Emergency Savings?

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. It’s a group Andy, Andrew from Family Money Plan, and myself run as a team.

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photo by Karolina Grabowska

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Budgets don't have to feel like deprivation. Learn how to create a flexible family budget that fits in what you love while hitting your financial goals! Why Your Family Needs a Flexible Budget Raise your hand if the first time you made your budget it was exactly what you needed and was a perfect for your situation.

Yeah, I don’t personally know anyone who got their budget right the first try and there’s a few reasons for that.

Chances are what you put down on paper doesn’t match real life. Either you have a money leak you’re not aware of or like what you just heard in the teaser, you get thrown for a loop.

It’s enough to make you just want to trash the ideas of budgeting, but that would be a mistake.

Right now more families are living paycheck to paycheck.

I was reading a recent report from Lending Tree which highlighted overall 60% of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck. Millennials, though, seem to be in worse shape as that number jumps to 73%.

That can be pretty scary. One hiccup or an emergency can totally throw off your finances.

If you ready to break the cycle then please listen in. Personal finance author and podcaster Allison Baggerly from Inspired Budget is not just sharing her story, but some fantastic tips on how to create a flexible budget that works for your family's unique needs and circumstances.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• how shifting her mindset about budgets transformed her finances and life
• why having a flexible budget is key to long-term success and financial stability
• practical tips on how to get started if you hate budgets

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

Resources to Build Better Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Inspired Budget
• Allison’s Book: Money Made Easy
• Getting Good with Money and Dumping Debt

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. It’s a group Andy, Andrew from Family Money Plan, and myself run as a team.

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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We’ve brought back the listener's mailbag. Today we’re answering your family and finance questions about keep your grocery bills manageable, deciding on how to travel with kids, and getting started with real estate!

Listener Mailbag: Spring 2023 One of my favorite parts of creating Simplify and Enjoy is the community.

While I’m happy to share our journey as a family, it’s fun when you chime in with your wins, stories, and questions.

Today we’re going to be diving into your family and finance questions.

First, we’ll look at how to save money on your grocery bill.

Next, we’ll talk about how to adjust or if needed, revamp your budget. There’s still plenty of time to have some big wins with your family and financial goals.

Finally, we’re following up from last week’s episode about different options in real estate. There are so many different paths.

Which is why I’m so glad to share a fun and informative conversation I had with Stacking Deeds Podcast Hosts Crystal Hammond and Alan Corey. We get into their own journeys and they have advice on what to consider if you’d like to get started with real estate investing.

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

Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money If you’re ready to jump into the year and knock out some of your health and wealth goals, here are a few of my favorite resources and includes what we covered in the podcast.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Stacking Deeds Podcast
• Connect with Crystal: Twitter
• Connect with Alan: Twitter
• Alan's Books: A Million Bucks by 30 |House FIRE [Financial Independence, Retire Early]

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Are you interested in getting started in real estate investing but don't know where to begin? We’ll uncover some opportunities and niches out there that could be a good fit for you!

Adventures in Real Estate Investing In our community we have families at different points in their financial journeys.

This year we have some who are focused on knocking out debts that have been weighing them down.

We also have families who building up their financial cushion or saving up for a huge goal including starting a family, maybe starting a business, or buying a house.

Then some, including us are in the CoastFI phase of things. That foundation is in place and we’re considering options that can give us more flexibility with our schedule while still producing income.

Real estate investing can be a great way to be a solid path towards that and financial freedom. By investing in a property, you can generate passive income through rent.

However there’s more to it than what you see on HGTV, Magnolia, or those real estate flip channels on YouTube.

Buying property takes money and finding good tenants and contractors takes time. You may also worry about being trapped with a money pit.

Which is why I’m happy to have Rachel Hernandez on the show. Rachel is an award-winning mobile home investor with over ten years of experience and author of several books about real estate including Adventures in Mobile Homes.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• her journey into real estate investing and what made her choose to hone in with investing in mobile home
• different options out there besides flipping and buying holding property
• an honest look at the good and the bad with real estate so you have a clearer idea of what to expect

Hope you enjoy!

Resources If you’re ready to achieve your family and financial goals and want to explore real estate, here are a few of my favorite resources, including what we covered in the podcast.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Mobile Home Gurl
• Connect with Rachel : Twitter | Instagram
• Adventures in Mobile Homes and Rachel's other books on real estate investing

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photo by Mikhail Nilov

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Do you want to start a garden this year, but are you worried that you can't keep the plants alive? I'm going to share how you can create an easy to maintain garden that's fun!

Learning to Grow a Garden Before we get into gardening, I want to be upfront about something- I used to be the person who kept cacti around because it was the only plant I could keep alive.

It's true.

I am not someone who naturally has a green thumb. This is something that I had to build up from and learn.

Good news, though, is now I'm hunting through seed catalogs each season, picking out what we're going to grow. I enjoy seeing how much of our own food we can grow from the garden.

Obviously, this was not an overnight process, but surprisingly, it wasn't as hard as I thought.

A key part of me enjoying gardening is by starting off small and going with easy to grow plants. With some small, but powerful wins I was motivated to dive into this new hobby that I love.

The good news is if I can do it, you can do it.

If you are thinking of starting a garden, but you're worried about your skills or if it's gonna be a lot of work, I want to help you out.

I want you to have an incredible and awesome year of gardening without a ton of hassle. So in this episode, we're gonna get into how to design your garden so that it's productive. Yet easy to How to decide which plants to grow.

And some of my favorite garden tips to get you started on the right foot. We have a lot to cover. So let's get started!

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• how to design your garden so that it’s productive yet easy to maintain
• how to decide what to grow
• some of my favorite garden tips to get you started on the right foot

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Easily Jumpstart Your Garden If you’re ready to start growing your garden, here are a few of my favorite resources and includes what we covered in the podcast.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• 20 Easy Plants to Grow in Your Food Garden
• Frugal Foodie: How to Level Up with Homebrewing and Gardening
• 4 Keys to Maximizing Your Food Forest or Permaculture Garden’s Productivity
• Permaculture Gardening: How Companion Planting Helps
• How to Start a Garden in 2023
• Organic Gardening 101: Building Up Your Soil with Wood Chips
• Stunning TINY Permaculture Backyard Kitchen Garden (With 30 Fruit Trees!)
• Simplify Gardening: How to Start a Compost Pile
• Send In Your Family and Finance Questions for the Listener Mailbag episodes HERE!

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photos by Huy Phan and cottonbro studio

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Want to have more work-life balance in your life? Today we’ll explore how the principles of FI can help you make the transition to part-time work!

Finding Work-Life Balance as Parents Work- life balance can be a struggle for parents, especially if your kids are young.

You wand to have this time with them, but you also have to take care of the essentials like bills. Or maybe you have a job you really enjoy, but it’s very demanding of your time. You want some flexibility so you can work, but still be there with your little ones.

What if you want to work, but just not the traditional full-time?

Our culture and the way office work is structure makes that difficult. Family first employers can be hard to find. It’s an all or nothing approach.

Part-time work is regulated to lower paying work, which may not be viable for families.

It’s almost easier to just have one stay home while the other works full-time.

If you want something different, in most cases, you have to carve out your own path.

We had to do that and so have other families.

Which is why I’m thrilled to have Marriage, Kids, and Money creator and my buddy Andy Hill on the show. Andy and his wife Nicole have carved out that path of family and work that’s flexible and allows them to work part-time and hang out with their kids.

In this episode we get into:

• conversations you two need to have create a plan you’re both happy with
• how to use principles from FI to build flexibility so you can switch to part-time work
• key financial milestones to help prepare you for the transition

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Pivot Your Career If you’re ready to jump into the year and knock out some of your health and wealth goals, here are a few of my favorite resources and includes what we covered in the podcast.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Marriage, Kids, and Money: Andy’s fantastic podcast and site dedicated to building family wealth and happiness.
• Part-Time Work at 40 (Our Mortgage Free, Worry Free Plan)
• Living On One Income: How Families Can Make the Switch
• Send In Your Family and Finance Questions for the Listener Mailbag episodes HERE!

If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. It’s a group Andy, Andrew from Family Money Plan, and myself run as a team.

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Learn how you can get back into the swing of things and effectively network!

Effective Networking Tips for Busy Parents For better and worse the pandemic has shifted how we work. For some families, working from home has now become an option. That’s blessing for sure.

Some companies have shifted how they communicate, with in-person meeting being replaced with chats, emails, and video conferencing.

However, there’s benefits for in-person events like conferences and team strategy sessions for a big project or to connect with coworkers.

With in-person events opening back up, you may feel a bit rusty with essential skills like networking.

Whether you’re an entrepreneur, remote worker, or back full time in the office, it’s vital that you

That’s why I’m thrilled to have Michelle Jackson on the show today. She’s an author and content creator and the founder of The Brand Building Lab where she helps entrepreneurs dial in and design a profitable and authentic business that positively impacts their community.

I’ve known her for probably 10 years now and I can tell you she has a gift for connecting with people and networking.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• why the old model of networking doesn’t work
• where and how you can organically connect with people
• how to develop a strategy that’s a effective and fun

Hope you enjoy!

Resources If you’re ready to jump into building your career and finances, here are a few of my favorite resources that we covered in the episode plus more.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The Brand Building Lab
• Connect with Michelle: Twitter
• Small Business Finance for the Busy Entrepreneur: Blueprint for Building a Solid, Profitable Business
• Finding the Best Paying Side Hustles for You
• How to Master Your Small Business Finances
• Career Advice from Conan O’Brien

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook. We’d love to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Want more flexibility with your budget and life? Learn how master your cash flow brings you closer to financial freedom!

How to Have More Options with Cashflow FI It can be a challenge to break out of the paycheck to paycheck cycle. One recent survey found that 64% of Americans are in that cycle; that's nine and half million more than 2021.

You might be thinking that it is because of income and for sure that’s a major issue, but your income is only part of the equation.

Fortune reported that over half of Americans earning $100,000 or more are living paycheck to paycheck.

Again there are various reason why people are struggling even with a healthy income and we’ll cover a few of them here in future episodes, but one big factor is they haven’t taken the time to prioritize their spending.

Whether you’re looking to pursue financial independence or something in the more traditional time frame, you have to master your cash flow.

When you have a gap between what you’re spending and earning while still enjoying life, you’re giving yourself more options and flexibility with your budget and schedule.

It’s not automatic though, it’s skill you have to learn.

That’s why I’m happy to have Cody Berman on today’s show.

He's the co-founder of the Financial Independence Show and the co-founder of Gold City Ventures.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• why financial independence is more than just leaving the rat race
• diversifying your income in a way where you’re not trading your time for money
• why Cody is focused on cash flow FI vs waiting to hit a more traditional FI number

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

Resources to Hit Your FI Number Faster Ready to knock out your debt? Check out these tools and resources to easily manage your family’s finances!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Reach Your Money Goals with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5K
• Cody’s Podcast: The FI Show
• Gold City Ventures
• Four Hour Work Week by Tim Ferris
• Mr. Money Mustache
• Root of Good: Another fantastic FI blog
• Frugalwoods

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook. We’d love to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Do you have a huge financial goal you’re chasing, but you’re not sure how to fit it in with everything you have going on right now?

Learn how you can be happy with your money and your life!

Finding a Healthy Balance with Your Money and Your Life I find one of the biggest challenges when you’re working on family and financial goals is finding that balance.

It can be easy to go from one extreme to the other without even realizing it.

Before we started knocking out our debts, I wouldn’t say I gave much attention to finances.

However there’s this other extreme where you’re completely focused on your financial goals. It can get to the point where you say, ‘We’re going to do this when we pay this debt off, or have this much invested, or XYZ‘, you get the idea.

This approach can rob you of joy of the journey and can add undue stress to your family.

Taking care of your family and financial goals can be enjoyable and fun. It can also be more holistic, where you also improving different areas of your life including being more social, mental health, and more.

That’s why I’m thrilled Jason Vitug is on the show today. He’s the author of You Only Live Once, and his new one one, Happy Money Happy Life.

In this episode we’ll:

• look at finances through a holistic lens
• share how you can make sure that you're enjoying the journey
• how to take care of yourself and your family

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

Resources to Find More Balance with Your Health and Wealth If you’re ready to jump into the year and knock out some of your health and wealth goals, here are a few of my favorite.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Jason's Books: Happy Money Happy Life and You Only Live Once
• Connect with Jason: Twitter and Instagram
• Start with Your Why
• Noom Weight: Unlike other programs, Zoom’s psychological focus uses small goals to help users create lasting habits and lose weight for good. You'll get fitness tips, recipes, a coach, and more to stay motivated.
• What’s the #1 habit Peter would suggest every person add to their daily regimen?

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Photos by Daniel Torobekov and Tatiana Syrikova:

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How do you translate your wish list into an actual to do list? Learn how you can create an everyday bucket list and an incredible year!

Why You Need an Everyday Bucket List for Your Family One of my hopes for you and other families listening is show you how pursuing your financial goals doesn’t mean you have to put your life on hold.

There is a certain amount of intensity you need in that initial phase to knock out things like high interest debt. That doesn’t mean you completely sacrifice fun in your schedule.

There are ways you can enjoy trips, achieve some personal goals, and just have fun while you’re working towards those financial goals.

It takes some creativity, but it’s not overly complicated.

Everyday Bucket List author Karen Cordaway is on the show to show us how. As a busy working parent, she spent years struggling to find free time for herself.

Karen figured out how to reclaim her schedule and infuse more exciting bucket list experiences into her family’s everyday life.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• how you can create your everyday bucket list
• creative ways to travel more without breaking your budget
• strategies to help you

Let’s get started!

Resources to Create and Knock Out Your Everyday Bucket List * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Everyday Bucketlist * The Ultimate Language Learning Guide

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

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Has the last few years been a much for you and it’s taken a toll on your health? Today we’re focusing on how you can have a rich life by getting fit!

The Challenge: Fit at 40ish These past three years have been quite the ride. The pandemic has definitely affected me.

Nothing dramatic, but when you put it together I can see how things have shifted. Good and bad.

I have family and friends who are vulnerable to COVID because of health issues they already had, so I’ve been more cautious and that’s translated to me worrying a bit more.

On the plus side, I knew that social isolation wouldn’t be good for me or my family we started meeting up with others outdoors. I believe that was real helpful with keeping in touch with our friends and getting that fresh air.

Same thing with eating. On the plus side we cooked and ate more at home, but looking at the meals we picked, comfort foods topped the list.

Again, nothing crazy, but you stack these together for a few years and it starts. I see it on the scale, with my energy levels, and more.

So I’m turning that around this year and I’m prioritizing my health. Because I think it’s a core component to that rich life we talked about last week.

I want to enjoy hanging with our kids, become more active, and maybe find a new activity or hobby.

Besides the obvious physical benefits of getting fit, there’s also a mental and an emotional boost when you’re taking care of yourself that spills over to other areas of your life.

Which is why I’m thrilled to have Rich Jones on the podcast. He’s the award-winning creator founder of Find More Balance and the Mental Wealth Show where he discusses holistic health for high achievers.

A few years ago, Rich had his own transformation. By focusing on his mental and physical, Rich had some incredible personal and professional wins.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• Rich’s amazing journey of sobriety to becoming a national track champion
• healthy habits you can adopt to have meaningful improvements to your health
• how to take and make your health goals into reality

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

Resources to Get Healthy If you’re ready to jump into the year and knock out some of your health and wealth goals, here are a few of my favorite resources and includes what we covered in the podcast.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The Mental Wealth Show: Rich’s podcast focused on holistic wellness for high achievers
• How I FINALLY Found Some Balance in My Life: Hear from Rich about his journey with finding balance.
• How to Keep a Gratitude Journal for Self-Care & Mental Health: This habit can be an eye-opener and a way to reset how you view things
• What’s the #1 habit Peter would suggest every person add to their daily regimen?

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more!
• 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 four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

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Ready to rest and fresh your family and financial goals? This year we’re exploring how to have a rich life!

The Challenge: Make 2023 A Rich Life Okay, that’s a pretty bold statement – have a rich life.

Let first back track on how I came up with this theme for the season and then we can talk about what a rich life looks like.

Even before we wrapped up this last season in November, something had been nagging me about the podcast.

Besides Simplify and Enjoy, I also write and run Couple Money which is focused on helping married couples get on the same page with their finances. I’ve really loved it.

As we were paying off debts, stashing and growing our financial cushion, and eventually becoming a CoastFI family, it’s been fantastic to hear from you and other families on the milestones you’re reaching.

Between the two, I’ve been writing and or podcasting about personal finance for over 12 years and it’s been incredible.

However as important as getting your finances squared away, it’s just one piece of the puzzle. So I took time off throughout last year including one in October where I just disconnected from the work. I allowed myself to explore and read other topics besides finances to see if I could add something to this podcast that would help you and other families have not just an amazing year with your finances, but really allow you to enjoy things.

The first think that clicked for me was a quote from Cal Newport. It served as a jumping-off point for me as I looked at 2023 and what I wanted to do.

Do less. Do better. Know why.

Instantly, I knew I wanted to dig into this. Initially, I thought about how it would in with podcast.

Do less. Families are stressed out because they’re doing so much. There’s always this list of a million things you need to do to get your money straight. Or here’s how you work, be a FT parent, and have a side hustle. It’s too much noise and nonsense. I want to keep things simple and flexible so you can build and design your life as needed.

Do better. With time and energy freed up because we’re no doing a ton of things, how can we use that to create something special? Let’s put energy into building up our relationships, levelling up on skills with work, and taking on a projects and hobbies that are meaningful to us.

Know why. Productivity culture almost elevates being busy like it’s a virtue, but the real challenge is having and knowing your purpose for what you’re doing. This definition can then be used so you can gauge when you have enough.

Resources If you’re ready to jump into the year and knock out some goals, here are a few of my favorite resources and includes what we covered in the podcast.

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• More on Cultivating a Deep Life: Mindset
• Our Financial System That Help Us Hit CoastFI
• How Reading – Not Scanning, Not Scrolling – Opens Up Your Mind

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

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Is pursuing CoastFI a smart move for families? Looking for the best personal finance book for you? We dive into these questions and more in this mailbag episode!

Listener Q&A: CoastFI Questions and More We’re wrapping up this season of the podcast by focusing on one of my favorite parts of Simplify and Enjoy: our community.

While I’m happy to share our journey as a family, it’s fun and inspiring to hear your stories, ideas, and questions.

I usually come away with something to explore and I hope you do too.

In this episode, we’ll get into

• Which personal finance books to read
• Whether or not CoastFI is a good goal to pursue
• Which numbers should you track

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

Handy Tools to Start Your FI Journey If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family and look at pursuing financial independence, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Find the Best Personal Finance Books for Your Family
• How Your Family Can Become Financially Free
• Coast FI: A Better Path to Financial Independence
• 10 Lessons Learned from Accidental Slow F.I.R.E.
• How Much is Enough Money? The Levels of Financial Autonomy

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

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 Spotify, or Apple.
• 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!

Photo by nappy

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Is pursuing CoastFI a smart move for families? Looking for the best personal finance book for you? We dive into these questions and more in this mailbag episode!

Listener Q&A: CoastFI Questions and More We’re wrapping up this season of the podcast by focusing on one of my favorite parts of Simplify and Enjoy: our community.

While I’m happy to share our journey as a family, it’s fun and inspiring to hear your stories, ideas, and questions.

I usually come away with something to explore and I hope you do too.

In this episode, we’ll get into

• Which personal finance books to read
• Whether or not CoastFI is a good goal to pursue
• Which numbers should you track

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

Handy Tools to Start Your FI Journey If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family and look at pursuing financial independence, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Find the Best Personal Finance Books for Your Family
• How Your Family Can Become Financially Free
• Coast FI: A Better Path to Financial Independence
• 10 Lessons Learned from Accidental Slow F.I.R.E.
• How Much is Enough Money? The Levels of Financial Autonomy

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

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 Spotify, or Apple.
• 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!

Photo by nappy

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With the year wrapping up soon, now is a wonderful time to do a year-end review of your money goals and set yourself up for an incredible year ahead!

Reviewing Your Money Goals for the Year It’s that time of year again!

Besides our monthly money reviews, one of the things we do is a deeper dive year-end review. It’s a way to review the numbers, celebrate wins, and adjust our system as needed to achieve our goals.

Everyone has their own system, but the bones of the process are usually the same.

• We start by pulling up the goals we made for the year.
• We review all our accounts – top to bottom – to see where we stand.
• We discuss what worked and what didn’t for us.
• We then take that information and use it to plan out the next year.

On paper, it’s a fairly straightforward process, but believe it or not, it can be fun and empowering, which may sound a bit crazy to you, but I hope to show how you can enjoy it.

In this episode, I want to:

• take you through a high-level view of how it works
• point out ways you can make the review run smoothly so you’re not scrambling to see all of your accounts
• talk about how you can use your review to set things up for big wins next year

I hope you enjoy!

Resources to Easily Stay on Top of Your Family’s Finances * Money Apps to Track Your Progress: Tiller, Personal Capital * Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster: Mortgage Free Masterplan * Financial Independence with Kids: Figuring Out Your Path * Why You Should Design Your Life Before Reaching Financial Independence

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

View Details

With the year wrapping up soon, now is a wonderful time to do a year-end review of your money goals and set yourself up for an incredible year ahead!

Reviewing Your Money Goals for the Year It’s that time of year again!

Besides our monthly money reviews, one of the things we do is a deeper dive year-end review. It’s a way to review the numbers, celebrate wins, and adjust our system as needed to achieve our goals.

Everyone has their own system, but the bones of the process are usually the same.

• We start by pulling up the goals we made for the year.
• We review all our accounts – top to bottom – to see where we stand.
• We discuss what worked and what didn’t for us.
• We then take that information and use it to plan out the next year.

On paper, it’s a fairly straightforward process, but believe it or not, it can be fun and empowering, which may sound a bit crazy to you, but I hope to show how you can enjoy it.

In this episode, I want to:

• take you through a high-level view of how it works
• point out ways you can make the review run smoothly so you’re not scrambling to see all of your accounts
• talk about how you can use your review to set things up for big wins next year

I hope you enjoy!

Resources to Easily Stay on Top of Your Family’s Finances * Money Apps to Track Your Progress: Tiller, Personal Capital * Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster: Mortgage Free Masterplan * Financial Independence with Kids: Figuring Out Your Path * Why You Should Design Your Life Before Reaching Financial Independence

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

View Details

Data breaches and identity theft are becoming a regularly part of our lives. Learn how you can protect and secure your personal information!

How to Secure Your Info from Data Breaches  Identity theft, data breaches, and scams are something that many of us are dealing with way too frequently.

Recently, I got a letter from the medical system that we use for doctor's appointments and, it, went a little, something like this:

Dear Valued Patient:

We're committed to improving the health and well-being blah blah blah

Earning and maintaining the trust of our patients is paramount and reflected in demonstrating transparency, accountability more stuff to soften what we have to admit

In support of these principles we are writing to let you know that information related to your use of our health portal may have been transmitted to a completely different and unrelated company in error.

Ooops

Crazy thing is this isn't the first or worst notification we received about our data being possibly compromised or shared.

If you've ever shopped at a Target, been a T-Mobile user, or used Facebook, chances are you got notified about one.

I just named a few big ones, but basically you can check out sites like Wired to find what new data breach is in the news.

Protecting our personal information and identity is getting harder. You have scammers, and identity thieves getting smarter going beyond phishing emails.

They could be using skimming devices when you shop. Then there are hackers breaching company's databases or an employee illegally accessing and dumping data like with what happened with Capital One.

It's a lot to worry about.

While nothing is foolproof and guaranteed, there are relatively simple steps you can take to make it harder for them to steal your information.

In this episode we'll get into:

• how you can secure your information offline
• protecting yourself online
• resources to help you if you're a victim of identity theft

Alright, let's get started!

Resources to Protect Your Personal Information and Finances If you're looking to stay on top of your money and protect your personal information, here are some helpful resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• IdentityTheft.gov
• Annual Credit Report: Free way to review each of your credit reports
• LastPass
• How to Spring Clean Your Digital Clutter to Protect Yourself
• 10 Biggest Data Breaches in Finance
• OptOutPrescreen: Submit a form to get out of the junk mail
• Identity Theft & Credit Card Fraud: How to Protect Your Money

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: 1-833-395-6938

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

Photo Credits: Markus Spiske and Mikhail Nilov

View Details

Data breaches and identity theft are becoming a regularly part of our lives. Learn how you can protect and secure your personal information!

How to Secure Your Info from Data Breaches  Identity theft, data breaches, and scams are something that many of us are dealing with way too frequently.

Recently, I got a letter from the medical system that we use for doctor's appointments and, it, went a little, something like this:

Dear Valued Patient:

We're committed to improving the health and well-being blah blah blah

Earning and maintaining the trust of our patients is paramount and reflected in demonstrating transparency, accountability more stuff to soften what we have to admit

In support of these principles we are writing to let you know that information related to your use of our health portal may have been transmitted to a completely different and unrelated company in error.

Ooops

Crazy thing is this isn't the first or worst notification we received about our data being possibly compromised or shared.

If you've ever shopped at a Target, been a T-Mobile user, or used Facebook, chances are you got notified about one.

I just named a few big ones, but basically you can check out sites like Wired to find what new data breach is in the news.

Protecting our personal information and identity is getting harder. You have scammers, and identity thieves getting smarter going beyond phishing emails.

They could be using skimming devices when you shop. Then there are hackers breaching company's databases or an employee illegally accessing and dumping data like with what happened with Capital One.

It's a lot to worry about.

While nothing is foolproof and guaranteed, there are relatively simple steps you can take to make it harder for them to steal your information.

In this episode we'll get into:

• how you can secure your information offline
• protecting yourself online
• resources to help you if you're a victim of identity theft

Alright, let's get started!

Resources to Protect Your Personal Information and Finances If you're looking to stay on top of your money and protect your personal information, here are some helpful resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• IdentityTheft.gov
• Annual Credit Report: Free way to review each of your credit reports
• LastPass
• How to Spring Clean Your Digital Clutter to Protect Yourself
• 10 Biggest Data Breaches in Finance
• OptOutPrescreen: Submit a form to get out of the junk mail
• Identity Theft & Credit Card Fraud: How to Protect Your Money

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: 1-833-395-6938

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

Photo Credits: Markus Spiske and Mikhail Nilov

View Details

Are you frustrated with your bank? Are you getting hit with needless fees? Or feeling like you have to fight to get some good customer service?

Today, we're going to look at credit unions and we're going to see why they may be the right option for you.  

Why Where You Bank Matters One of the most important decisions you can make with your money is choosing where you bank because it's the foundation of your family's finances.

Ideally, you want a banking system that allows you to take care of your essential bills, save up for important goals, and set aside something for fun, like vacations.

As you heard in the teaser, though – that can be difficult when your bank is working against your best interest.

The good news is that those banks that are on the news aren’t your only option.

You can get better services and competitive rates by moving your money. One overlooked option that can give you both is switching to a credit union.

Joe Mecca from Coastal Federal Credit Union and I are discussing and answering some big questions families typically have about credit unions.

Now, if you’ve been a part of this community, you already know Coastal Credit Union is a sponsor. However, you may not know that we have been members of Coastal years before they came on board here.

I’ll include a link so you can hear the details, but a very long story short, we had been burned and were frustrated by our old bank, which happened to be one of the big banks. I’m almost embarrassed at how long we waited, but finally, we had enough, so we looked for other options.

Eventually, I discovered Coastal and yeah, it’s been like night and day. We've been happy with their service. I’d like you to have the same win.

Whether you're in this area and you use Coastal, some other credit union, or a different banking option, the key thing is I want you to review your finances and make sure you're happy with whoever you decide to bank with.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• How credit unions work
• Benefits of being a credit union member
• How Coastal works for the community

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

Resources to Easily Manage Your Money Your money should be working as hard as you, but managing it should be easy. Here are some of my favorite tools and resources to stay on top of your finances!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint

• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money

• Coastal Federal Credit Union <- Our bank 😉

• Credit Unions vs. Banks: How to Decide

• I Found the 5 Worst Banks Ever

• Bank of America closes woman's account without explanation, despite her needing money for surgery
• Wells Fargo To Pay $3 Billion In Settlement For Fake Accounts Scandal | NBC Nightly News
• At Wells Fargo, a Quest to Increase Diversity Leads to Fake Job Interviews
• Are credit unions better than big banks?

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

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Are you frustrated with your bank? Are you getting hit with needless fees? Or feeling like you have to fight to get some good customer service?

Today, we're going to look at credit unions and we're going to see why they may be the right option for you.  

Why Where You Bank Matters One of the most important decisions you can make with your money is choosing where you bank because it's the foundation of your family's finances.

Ideally, you want a banking system that allows you to take care of your essential bills, save up for important goals, and set aside something for fun, like vacations.

As you heard in the teaser, though – that can be difficult when your bank is working against your best interest.

The good news is that those banks that are on the news aren’t your only option.

You can get better services and competitive rates by moving your money. One overlooked option that can give you both is switching to a credit union.

Joe Mecca from Coastal Federal Credit Union and I are discussing and answering some big questions families typically have about credit unions.

Now, if you’ve been a part of this community, you already know Coastal Credit Union is a sponsor. However, you may not know that we have been members of Coastal years before they came on board here.

I’ll include a link so you can hear the details, but a very long story short, we had been burned and were frustrated by our old bank, which happened to be one of the big banks. I’m almost embarrassed at how long we waited, but finally, we had enough, so we looked for other options.

Eventually, I discovered Coastal and yeah, it’s been like night and day. We've been happy with their service. I’d like you to have the same win.

Whether you're in this area and you use Coastal, some other credit union, or a different banking option, the key thing is I want you to review your finances and make sure you're happy with whoever you decide to bank with.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• How credit unions work
• Benefits of being a credit union member
• How Coastal works for the community

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

Resources to Easily Manage Your Money Your money should be working as hard as you, but managing it should be easy. Here are some of my favorite tools and resources to stay on top of your finances!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint

• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money

• Coastal Federal Credit Union <- Our bank 😉

• Credit Unions vs. Banks: How to Decide

• I Found the 5 Worst Banks Ever

• Bank of America closes woman's account without explanation, despite her needing money for surgery
• Wells Fargo To Pay $3 Billion In Settlement For Fake Accounts Scandal | NBC Nightly News
• At Wells Fargo, a Quest to Increase Diversity Leads to Fake Job Interviews
• Are credit unions better than big banks?

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

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Open enrollment season is here and I want you to be prepared. Learn how you can avoid some of the biggest mistakes and instead maximize your workplace benefits to their fullest potential!

Open Enrollment FAQs  How would you like to help set up your finances for this next year so that it runs smoother and that you are going to be hitting your money goals faster?

That might very well be the case if you take time this weekend to go over your options with open enrollment.

I know it might not seem like the most exciting thing when you get that packet, but you can have a huge insignificant one with your finances if you take the time to really research your options and make sure that you're maximizing your benefits.

With open enrollment health insurance is typically the biggest decision families worry about an understandably. You're trying to strike that balance of getting the best coverage for your family at an affordable price, which can be a struggle. However, that's just one piece.

There are other benefits that I want to make sure you are maximizing as much as possible. How do you know where to start and which workplace benefits you should focus on?

That's why I want to share a discussion I had with Matt minor awhile ago about which areas to give your attention to and what essential conversations you should be having as a family to get a clearer picture of optimizing your workplace benefits.

Matt is a fee only fiduciary advisor with Miner Wealth Management and he specializes in helping families make sure that their finances are aligned with their goals, priorities, and values. He's also the creator and host of the work pants, finance podcast.

In this episode, we're going to be covering:

• some of the most common and biggest mistakes families make when they go through open enrollment with their benefits
• how disability insurance works and why you should consider it, even if you are young and healthy
• what to look out for for other possible benefits and keeping an eye on your 401(k)

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Maximize Your Family's Finances * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Build Up Your Travel Fund Faster with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5K * Making the Most of Your Workplace Benefits * Insurance Coverage Families Needs with Matt Becker

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

View Details

Open enrollment season is here and I want you to be prepared. Learn how you can avoid some of the biggest mistakes and instead maximize your workplace benefits to their fullest potential!

Open Enrollment FAQs  How would you like to help set up your finances for this next year so that it runs smoother and that you are going to be hitting your money goals faster?

That might very well be the case if you take time this weekend to go over your options with open enrollment.

I know it might not seem like the most exciting thing when you get that packet, but you can have a huge insignificant one with your finances if you take the time to really research your options and make sure that you're maximizing your benefits.

With open enrollment health insurance is typically the biggest decision families worry about an understandably. You're trying to strike that balance of getting the best coverage for your family at an affordable price, which can be a struggle. However, that's just one piece.

There are other benefits that I want to make sure you are maximizing as much as possible. How do you know where to start and which workplace benefits you should focus on?

That's why I want to share a discussion I had with Matt minor awhile ago about which areas to give your attention to and what essential conversations you should be having as a family to get a clearer picture of optimizing your workplace benefits.

Matt is a fee only fiduciary advisor with Miner Wealth Management and he specializes in helping families make sure that their finances are aligned with their goals, priorities, and values. He's also the creator and host of the work pants, finance podcast.

In this episode, we're going to be covering:

• some of the most common and biggest mistakes families make when they go through open enrollment with their benefits
• how disability insurance works and why you should consider it, even if you are young and healthy
• what to look out for for other possible benefits and keeping an eye on your 401(k)

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Maximize Your Family's Finances * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Build Up Your Travel Fund Faster with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5K * Making the Most of Your Workplace Benefits * Insurance Coverage Families Needs with Matt Becker

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

View Details

Traveling as a family can be a fantastic way to connect and to experience new things together. If you have little ones, it can also be stressful.

Today we're going to go over some travel tips and hacks that parents can use to make things less stressful and still snag a great deal on your next family trip!

Taking a Trip with Children Are you guys planning to travel this season? We are.

These past few years, we’ve developed a rhythm where we travel to catch the changing of the leaves.

I will say with the girls now 11 and 7, trips are a lot more fun. We get to have some great conversations in the car. We explore new places to eat or hike together. My kids have gotten really good with recording pictures and videos of our trips.

Now rewind a few years, and things felt different. We still enjoyed traveling when they were babies and toddlers – got the pics to prove it – but it was a little challenging.

Vacations were a bit of work at that stage and maybe you feel the same. The good news is that there are different tricks that can make family vacations more enjoyable for everyone.

We’re about to enter a busy season of travel, so today I want to help you save money and have fun together as a family.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• Travel tips if you have young kids to make it less stressful
• Snagging last-minute deals
• Some ideas on affordable and fun family trips this season

Alright, let’s get started!

Resources for Affordable Family Vacations 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
• Grab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Build Up Your Travel Fund Faster with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5K
• Check Out the Best Rewards Card Offers Out Now on Travel Freely
• Travel Hacking Your Family Vacations: Discovering Epic Deals
• Travel Hacking Your Family Vacations: Credit Card Rewards
• 11 Essential Tips For Flying With A Toddler
• 7 Big Mistakes To Avoid When Renting A Vacation Home
• 17 Expert Travel Tips for Families Traveling With Toddlers & Babies
• 3 reasons “budget” hotels DESTROY nice ones
• Can You Really Get Free Flights? Travel Hacking Essentials
• 5 Rules for a Really Good Trip With the Kids

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

View Details

Traveling as a family can be a fantastic way to connect and to experience new things together. If you have little ones, it can also be stressful.

Today we're going to go over some travel tips and hacks that parents can use to make things less stressful and still snag a great deal on your next family trip!

Taking a Trip with Children Are you guys planning to travel this season? We are.

These past few years, we’ve developed a rhythm where we travel to catch the changing of the leaves.

I will say with the girls now 11 and 7, trips are a lot more fun. We get to have some great conversations in the car. We explore new places to eat or hike together. My kids have gotten really good with recording pictures and videos of our trips.

Now rewind a few years, and things felt different. We still enjoyed traveling when they were babies and toddlers – got the pics to prove it – but it was a little challenging.

Vacations were a bit of work at that stage and maybe you feel the same. The good news is that there are different tricks that can make family vacations more enjoyable for everyone.

We’re about to enter a busy season of travel, so today I want to help you save money and have fun together as a family.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• Travel tips if you have young kids to make it less stressful
• Snagging last-minute deals
• Some ideas on affordable and fun family trips this season

Alright, let’s get started!

Resources for Affordable Family Vacations 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
• Grab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Build Up Your Travel Fund Faster with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5K
• Check Out the Best Rewards Card Offers Out Now on Travel Freely
• Travel Hacking Your Family Vacations: Discovering Epic Deals
• Travel Hacking Your Family Vacations: Credit Card Rewards
• 11 Essential Tips For Flying With A Toddler
• 7 Big Mistakes To Avoid When Renting A Vacation Home
• 17 Expert Travel Tips for Families Traveling With Toddlers & Babies
• 3 reasons “budget” hotels DESTROY nice ones
• Can You Really Get Free Flights? Travel Hacking Essentials
• 5 Rules for a Really Good Trip With the Kids

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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!

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Not sure how to start talking to your kids about money? One mom shares how she's teaching her teens about budgets, investing, giving, and more!

Guiding Your Teens with Finances One of parenthood's joys (and responsibilities) is guiding your kids and teens into adulthood. We all want them to live happy and meaningful lives.

That’s a huge goal to work towards, and it takes all 18 years (and then some!) to build them up.

One essential skill set they need to get a handle on is their finances. We know money isn’t the goal, but it is a handy tool to help them take care of their bills, save up for big goals, and yes, have a bit of fun.

The huge question, however, is where do we start? How do we teach our kids, especially teens, about finances? How do we show them the ropes of budgeting, investing, and giving? How can we help them feel comfortable with handling finances and make wise choices?

This is why I’m glad Aja, creator of Principles of Increase and author of How to Talk Money With Our Daughters. She’s also a mom of two teens.

In this episode, we get into:

• When to begin those conversations and ways you can make them meaningful and interesting
• Introducing teens to investing whether it’s funds or real estate
• Involving them with the finances so they’ll be prepared and confident with their skills

Let's get started!

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!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Join Our Community and Get Free Our Newsletter!
• FamZoo
• How to Teach Your Kids About Money (w/o Being Boring!)
• The Opposite of Spoiled: Teaching Kids about Money (and More)
• Cash Crunch Junior: Have fun while learning about money with this board game!
• Goalsetter: Rally your family and friends together to support your kids' gifts. Goalsetter allows them to give meaningful gifts that support their dreams!

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Become a Member.

Photo Credits: Karolina Grabowska and Vanessa Loring

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Want to maximize your money? Find the best time in the year to buy electronics, other big purchases, and find travel deals!

The Best Time to Buy Even though autumn has just started, we’re taking a bit of time and looking ahead to next year. We’ve found that approaching it in smaller chunks makes it easier to manage our money and hit our family and financial goals.

Good news - this doesn’t mean pulling out the spreadsheets and running projections for the next five to ten years. Instead, you can build enthusiasm for planning next year’s budget by looking at things you’re excited about, such as trips, new tech, or home improvement projects.

Because these are typically big purchases outside your regular budget, you want to start saving ahead of time to keep your cash flow smooth. You can also try to time things to have the money ready to buy when it is on sale.

I want to help with both sides of the planning. After scouring resources like Consumer Reports, Wirecutter, NerdWallet, and more, I’ve compiled a list of the best times to buy things for the year.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• Each season and month so you know when a good time to snag a deal
• Tools that can help you get rebates or find the lowest prices
• How to make room in your budget for those big purchases

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

Resources to to Stay on Top of Your Money * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Consumer Report’s Best Time to Buy Things * What to Buy Every Month in 2022 * 20 Money Saving Tips * The Best Time to Buy Flights * CamelCamelCamel * The Best Time to Buy Anything

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Become a Member.

Photo Credit: cottonbro and Sam Lion

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Financial infidelity is more common than you think. Learn red flags to look out for as well as how to become more proactive with your finances!

Why You Need to Talk About Money Openly Marriage and money aren’t typically something that people love talking about, but if you want to have a strong relationship you have to find to communicate with each other that's transparent, productive, and respectful.

I was looking at a survey, and one had recorded 39% of adults just avoid even talking about the numbers.

Think about it for a moment. We're not even talking about hiding anything.

We may think we’re avoiding a fight by brushing off or keeping chats about money superficial, but that’s not usually how it works.

Finances, money, budgets – they’re necessary topics, and the more comfortable we get about it, I think that actually leads to a better relationship, a better marriage.

That’s Tracy Coenen who you also heard at the top of the episode. She’s on the show today because she’s quite familiar with how things can unravel those financial issues can snowball into something much bigger.

Tracy has seen that happen in her work. She’s a forensic accountant and fraud investigator with Sequence Inc where she investigates embezzlement, securities fraud, divorce, white collar criminal defense, insurance fraud, and civil litigation matters.

But let’s look at that side- financial infidelity. How would you define it?

“Financial infidelity is hiding financial information, financial transactions, from your partner in a situation where you have a reasonable grasp of knowing what they want to know,” said University of Minnesota law professor Jill Hasday. “And, keeping the information is harming them.”

A study from the Journal of Financial Therapy, found 76% of married couples involved in financial infidelity say the experience negatively impacted their relationship, and 10% got divorced over it.

One reason why it can cause such damage to your marriage is that it breaks trust, which is such a critical piece in your relationship. It’s hard to rebuild that trust. It takes time.

I hope you never have to deal with financial infidelity, but if it happens, how would you know?

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• Causes or underlying issues behind financial infidelity and red flags to look out for
• Ways to start working as a team to either prevent or repair the damage
• How to financially protect yourself

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

Resources to to Stay on Top of Your Money * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * How to Deal With and Overcome Financial Infidelity in Your Marriage * Dealing with Awkward Money Conversations as a Couple * Ask the Readers: Hiding Money from Your Spouse * Divorce Money Guide

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.
• Become a Member.

Photo Credit: Photo by Milada Vigerova and Karolina Grabowska

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Today we're going over 5 major money mistakes families make and how you can pivot things to hit your financial goals faster!

5 Major Money Mistakes Families Make (and How to Fix Them) It’s funny how we perceive time and seasons. Like right now, we’re moving towards autumn, which means the year will technically wrap up in a few short months.

However, fall is also a bit of a reset or a do-over for many.

Maybe it’s because we’re in back-to-school season, and we see kids preparing and gearing up for classes. Or we’re excited about the upcoming breaks and trips we’ve planned to see family and friends.

Either way, over these past 13 or so years I’ve been writing about finances, I’ve noticed that September seems to be when people get a bit of a second wind.

Which is great and I want to be right here to cheer you on.

I like to embrace the energy and use it, so you have a win or two with your family finances before the year finishes.

To start off, I want to discuss some ways we sabotage ourselves when reaching our money goals.

How we approach finances almost always fails because it’s either – let’s be honest – boring. Or, it’s so rigid you immediately want to escape because life happens as these past two and half years prove.

Of course, there are many ways it can go wrong, but in the 13+ years I’ve been writing and covering family finances, I see some mistakes come up again and again.

I want to go over these five major mistakes and cover habits and strategies that speed things up if you’re doing well or can help turn things around if you’re not happy with your current strategy.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• The five major money mistakes families make
• What you should be doing instead that will make managing your money so much easier
• Share a few tips on how to make it a lot more fun. Seriously

So much to cover, so let’s get started!

Resources to Manage Your Money Easier * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * How to Hack Your Habits to Achieve Your Financial and Fitness Goals * Inaction is a Slow Death

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.

Photo Credit: Guy Kawasaki

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We’ve brought back the listener's mailbag. Today we’re answering your family and finance questions about saving up for multiple goals, revamping your budget, and travel planning tips!

Family and Finances: Better Budgets and More One of my favorite parts about Simplify and Enjoy is the community.

While I'm happy to share our journey as a family: the projects that we're taking on, the goals we're trying to reach, it's always fun to get your take on things to hear your questions, stories, and celebrate your wins.

Today, we're going to wrap up this set of episodes by answering three questions from you.

First, we're going to get into how to save from multiple goals. This is a challenge for a lot of families because not only are they trying to save for retirement, maybe put aside something for their kids, college expenses. They also have to make sure there's enough money to replace the cars, take family vacations, get gifts for others and so forth. So, how do you juggle it all?

Next we'll talk about how to adjust or if needed, revamp your budget. We're halfway through the year. So I knew a lot of families are looking at things that are working and what's not.

They want to finish this year strong, so they want to redo their budget. We'll go over some tips on what you need to adjust and surprisingly, some things to avoid when working with your budget.

Finally we'll examine how to plan and budget for family vacations. I think it's something that we all need, and many of us are excited about getting back to. And at the same time, we want to stick with some of our other financial goals and keep that on target.

I'm going to share some tips that have helped us manage family vacations and still stay on budget. We got a lot to cover today. So let's get started!

Resources to Manage Your Money Easier * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Living On One Income: How Families Can Make the Switch * Getting Good with Money and Dumping Debt * How to Easily Create a Flexible Financial System * How to Snag a Great Deal When Buying a House * Travel Hacking Your Family Vacations: Discovering Epic Deals * Flexible and Affordable Family Vacation Ideas for This Year

If you want to chat more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips, please join us at Thriving Families on Facebook.

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit of an IRA is choosing how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.

Photo by Torsten Dettlaff

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Cryptocurrencies, NFTs, DeFi, seem like they're quickly becoming part of our conversations, but what's behind it all? Today we’ll look at how crypto works!

Should We Get Into Crypto? In the last episode, I mentioned that I did a money experiment. If you're subscribed to the newsletter, you got a sneak peek of what we're talking about: cryptocurrencies.

While crypto isn't anything new. In the last few years, especially within the last year. I've just noticed a dramatic shift in promoting them. I've also noticed that there's been a lot more noise and big promises and not much in the way of education.

I see companies spreading the word about crypto focused on how revolutionary it is and how we can close the wealth gap. But I don't see enough discussion about the underlying technology behind it, and how it actually works.

I'm a big believer in educating yourself and understanding things before you go invest in them.

Based on the feedback I've been seeing with you guys in the community. I see that some of you are dabbling in crypto, but you wanna know more.

I decided I was going to do six-month experiment to learn a little bit more about the ins and outs of crypto.

This isn't the first time I learned about cryptocurrency. But it is the first time I dedicated myself to sitting down reading the articles, and talking within the community to understand how the technology works itself.

I wanted to learn how easy was it to buy, sell and mine the crypto coins.

Man, what a time I jumped in! Just in the past six months, we've seen:

• cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Solana have their value slashed by over half
• Fidelity announced that its customers could add Bitcoin to their retirement accounts
• just recently Terra stablecoin collapsed

So there were a lot of things happening, but for me, this was an opportunity to understand the pros and cons up close.

Even with everything down and people questioning whether crypto is here to stay, there are plenty of people who are saying now is a great time to get into it because it's so cheap. But is that really true or is it just hype?

That's why I made this episode. It's not a deep dive into crypto but instead, it's meant to give you a lay of the land. So you can decide if it's something that you want to explore further.

In today’s episode, we’ll get into:

• How exactly do cryptocurrencies work
• Decoding crypto terms that are thrown about
• How you can buy, sell, and yes, mine some

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

Resources to Understand Crypto If you're looking to explore crypto and the tech behind it, here are some really helpful resources to learn and stay on top of your money!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Crypto Series <– sign up and get updates on a video series I'm preparing about crypto
• Line Goes Up – The Problem With NFTs
• How Does Bitcoin Mining Work?
• Blockchain-based systems are not what they say they are
• How Crypto will Change the World (or Not)
• Crypto Crash Widens a Divide: ‘Those With Money Will End Up Being Fine’
• The Future is Not Only Useless, It’s Expensive
• Planet Money Summer School 6: Crypto & Commencement
• The promise and peril of crypto for Black investors

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

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

See how Coastal can help you with your mortgage needs!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

Photos by Alesia Kozik and RODNAE Productions

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Worried about how your investments are doing right now? We'll look at how to do a investment portfolio review so that you'll not only feel less stressed but take productive steps to help you invest better!

Why Investment Portfolio Reviews Are a Smart Move If you've been following the news, especially finances. It can be pretty scary right now. It seems like all the headlines are focused on high gas prices, how inflation is affecting basic goods, and how volatile the market is right now.

We're in a bear market, which if you're not familiar with the term means that there's been a decline of 20% or more from recent highs.

While staying on top of the big threads of what's going on is good, being too tuned into the news can backfire. Look, I've been writing about personal finance for almost a decade and a half and I can still get a bit anxious about it.

This is where doing a portfolio review can help. When we're doing our monthly reviews for our money dates, we get a snapshot of what's going on with our accounts to make sure everything's moving along well. But a few times a year. Around once a quarter for us. We'll also look at our investments more closely.

It's like a financial checkup. That's beneficial for finances for sure, but believe it or not, our marriage. For us, this is an opportunity to hit pause. Just sit down and really talk about what's been working and what's not working with our family finances.

We can also take a step back and discuss the big picture about what we want to do in the near future and then longterm. It's a low key, but productive way for us to stay on top of things.

And I want to show you how you can do it too.

In this episode, we'll dive into:

• why less is more when it comes to portfolio reviews
• what questions to ask to make sure you're on track
• things you can do to improve your portfolio

We have a lot to cover. So let's get started!

Resources to Stay on Top of Your Investments Whether you're new to investing or looking to level up, here are some resources to get your there faster!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook
• How to Avoid 4 Bad Investing Habits That Can Destroy Your Nest Egg
• Unconventional Success A Fundamental Approach to Personal Investment
• The Simple Path to Wealth
• What Happens When Stock Markets Become Bears
• Your 5-Step Guide to Navigating a Scary Stock Market

Don't forget you can always send your questions in either through private voicemail or the form here for an upcoming episode!

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE. Yes, that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

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Looking to pursue financial freedom on your terms? See how Rich and Regular founders Kiersten and Julien Saunder's new book Cashing Out can help you lay out a path!

Why Your Family Needs a Financial Plan When I mention this idea of having a financial plan, people tend to imagine is only for those who already have some money. But that’s not true.

There are many families that can benefit from creating a financial plan.

Here are a few that come to my mind:

• you’re feeling under-appreciated and underpaid at work
• you want to have flexibility, leverage, and options when it comes to how you work
• the pandemic really threw your finances for a loop and you’re looking to get back on track
• you’re sick and tired of the opportunities (or really the lack of them) that are out there for your family
• the idea of financial freedom and independence is something that excites you because it means you’ll have more time for the people and projects that matter most to you

These are all situations where having a flexible financial plan makes sense. The trouble is that financial plans seem complicated, unattainable, and well, boring.

Here’s the thing – you can create one that reflects you. Your situation, your priorities, and your goals.

Kiersten and Julien from Rich and Regular are on the show to share some thoughtful points and stories from their new book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away.

It offers a framework and path based on key principles in financial independence and retiring early on how to build your family’s finances in a way that opens up options.

In today’s episode, we get into:

• Why money matters and how to use it in a meaningful way for your family
• The challenges and triumphs of changing financial habits and mindset
• Aligning your finances to your priorities

Hope you enjoy!

Resources for Families Interested in Financial Independence If you're looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are some resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away
• Rich and Regular
• Money on the Table
• Which Financial Independence Path is Right for Your Family?
• Crafting Your Family’s Plan for Financial Independence
• Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities

Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook to chat with other families and swap tips and stories about working towards financial independence.

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start to finish – for FREE. Yes, that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

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Want to help your kids get comfortable and confident with managing their money? Today we’ll talk about giving them a head start by opening up bank and investing accounts with them!

Helping Your Teen Open a Bank Account and Invest Do you remember your first bank account? I think I was in 6th grade and there was a program with a local bank where they would come in every two weeks or so and open up a school branch in the library.

Different grades were assigned a time slot and if your parents had opened an account for you, you could go in to deposit, withdraw, or just check the balance.

It was super basic, but let me tell you, everyone was excited. Why? Because it was their money.

Later when I started working, my mom and I went to her credit union – she’s a teacher – and I opened my checking account.

Each paycheck, I set aside something for savings, something for my checking, and kept the rest for fun.

These early lessons didn’t involve a ton of money or anything complicated, but they gave me confidence when it came to finances.

Earlier this year we had an episode about essential financial lessons to pass on to your kids.

This time I want to move a bit forward from those initial conversations to giving them tools to practice their financial skills such as having a bank and investing account.

Today we’ll dive into how to help your kids become financially savvy.

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

• Why your kid should have a bank account and when to get them started
• Three types of accounts you can use to help your kid get started with investing
• Essential investment lessons to pass on

Hope you enjoy it!

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!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Teach Your Kids About Money (w/o Being Boring!)
• The Opposite of Spoiled: Teaching Kids about Money (and More)
• Cash Crunch Junior: Have fun while learning about money with this board game!
• FamZoo: The family money management system we use
• Goalsetter: Education-based banking for the whole family
• UTMA vs 529: What is the Difference and Which One is the Best?
• Can My 16-Year Old Contribute to a Roth IRA?
• Investing For Kids: How to Give Them a Head Start

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

Photos by mentatdgt and Monstera

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It's house hunting season, which can be an exciting and yes, stressful time. Living in a sellers market, it can seem like an incredible challenge.

Today we'll go over how to financially prepare and give you a map on finding a place that you love that's still within your budget!

Home Buying Tips for a Hot Market If you’re thinking of buying a house, you have to be prepared. Besides being a huge purchase, you have rising interest rates and hot markets that can make it difficult to find a place you love that’s still affordable.

If you’re a first-time homebuyer or it’s been awhile since you’ve had to house hunt, I want to lift some of the burden.

Today I’ll give you a high-level view of the buying process so you’ll have an idea of what to expect along with some tips and resources to keep you on track with your big financial picture.

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

• Ways you can prepare your finances
• What to look for during the house hunt so you’re finding a hidden gem and not a money pit
• Explain what to consider with your offer and the closing process

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

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
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• 5 Days to $5K: Free email course on how to find, save, and earn extra money!
• How to Snag a Great Deal When Buying a House
• What You Need to Know About Mortgages

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

See how Coastal can help you with your mortgage needs!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today! \

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

Photo by Daniel Frank

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Today we’ll see how you can streamline your finances and easily manage your money!

Simplify Your Finances With summer unofficially starting this weekend, I can understand if you’re ready to switch gears and go into vacation mode. However, if you’re willing to set aside an afternoon or evening, you can streamline your finances to have much more time to relax and focus on the big picture.

How?

Last week Bob and Linda shared a framework that I think could be incredibly helpful for busy families. This week I want to break things down so you can go through your finances fairly quickly and arrange things to make it easier to manage for the rest of the year.

I’m also happy to have Gaurav Sharma co-founder and CEO of Capitalize, here to explain how you can have your old 401(k)s work for you.

In this episode, we’ll dive into:

• An easy and effective way to manage your money
• Tools that can help you
• How to get the most out of your investments

Resources for Families Interested in Simplifying Their Finances If you're looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are some resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money

Don't forget we have the free course 5 Days to $5K. It's a week-long email course designed to help you find, save, and earn extra cash so you can reach your family and financial goals faster!

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

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Learn how one couple came together to pay off $400k of debt, become financially free, and give over $1 million!

Simple Money, Rich Life Let’s start off with some good news: You don’t need a complicated plan to achieve financial independence or freedom.

In fact, that’s probably either slowing down your progress or keeping you from even starting.

I’ve seen and personal experiences how a simple plan can be an effective way to keep you moving in the right direction.

Bob and Linda Lotich are on the show today to explain how. They’re the creators of SeedTime and the authors of Simple Money, Rich Life: Achieve True Financial Freedom and Design a Life of Eternal Impact.

Linda and Bob are coming on the podcast to discuss how families can reset things and have a rich life.

I had a chance to read their book and loved how it had s money great takeaways.

I thought Bob and Linda did a really good job of balancing the head and the heart with this. You have this story of getting out of debt and showing the bits and pieces, but more importantly, those conversations they were having about the purpose behind this journey.

Besides working towards financial freedom, the book also examines doing something meaningful with the money, especially on the giving side.

In this episode, we get into:

• how Bob and Linda synced up with their finances and goals
• tactics and strategies they used and recommend to pursue financial freedom
• creating an easy to manage financial system that allows them to live debt-free and be generous givers

Hope you enjoy!

Resources for Families Interested in Financial Independence If you're looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are some resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Connect with Linda and Bob: Seedtime
• Simple Money, Rich Life
• Why We Began Giving Our Age As a Percentage
• Should You Have a Giving Fund?
• Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities
• Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools
• Mortgage Free Master Plan
• The New Family Financial Road Map

Don't forget we have the free course 5 Days to $5K. It's a week-long email course designed to help you find, save, and earn extra cash so you can reach your family and financial goals faster!

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

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How does a summer vacation in multiple countries sound? Road-trip around the US? Month in the Bahamas?

Learn how one family of five plans and travel hack these epic trips so they’re getting an incredible deal!

Ready to Travel Hack an Epic Family Vacation? Last week we discovered the risk and rewards of travel hacking with credit cards. This week we’re diving into planning the actual trip.

This is why I’m thrilled Justin from Root of Good is on the show today. I interviewed him years ago on Couple Money and he shared how he and his wife were able to retire in their early 30s with three kids.

As you heard at the top of the show, he and his family have gone on some incredible family vacations.

Here’s the thing, though – they’re more affordable than you realize. Part of their strategy does include using credit card rewards, but it’s so much more than that.

Justin uses different sites to optimize those details like travel and eating, which adds up quickly.

In this episode, we get into:

• how to plan for family vacations with kids
• finding deals on flights, hotels, and transportation
• getting the most value out of the experience while still relaxing

Are you ready/ Let’s get started!

Resources to Optimize Your Travel Rewards and More 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
• Connect with Justin: Root of Good | Twitter
• Justin's Picks for Credit Cards: Chase Sapphire Preferred | Chase Ink Business Unlimited
• Coastal Credit Union's Reward Cards
• Where to Travel in 2022: 22 locations that should land on your bucket list this year
• 3 Reasons “Budget” Hotels DESTROY Nice Ones
• Can You Really Get Free Flights? Travel Hacking Essentials
• Rome to Rio: Discover how to get anywhere by plane, train, bus, ferry & car

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

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Learn how you can find the best credit card rewards and travel hack so you can save significant money while enjoying a fantastic and memorable vacation!

Travel Hacks to Enjoy Your Family Vacation for Less We typically talk about ‘responsible’ financial goals, like paying off debts, saving for emergencies, vacations and buying a house, investing for retirement, and so forth.

Those are wonderful things to take care of, but money can also be used for fun things as well, including travel.

Look, these past two years have been stressful for so many families and I understand that many of us would like to literally get away from it all.

TripAdvisor did a survey earlier this year to see how people plan to travel this year. They found:

• More people are looking to travel in 2022 than pre-pandemic reported travel levels
• Here’s the interesting takeaway: roughly 3 in 10 Americans (29%) who traveled for leisure in 2019 said it's more important now than before the pandemic to splurge on a big trip
• 41% of Americans said that traveling to a destination they've never been to before would be more important to them now
• The top three most important considerations, across the markets surveyed, in future travel plans to visit a destination was to get immersive by seeing new places, having new experiences and learning about history and culture.

Planning a family vacation can be a way to not just relax, but mentally recharge and reset ourselves a bit.

We’ve changed our destinations and stayed in state for most of our trips. Yeah it was a great money saver, but we also got to rediscover and enjoy some awesome spots here in North Carolina.

We’d love to expand our horizons this year while still keeping safe and staying on budget.

If you’re in the same boat, I think you’ll enjoy these next two episodes. We’re going to look at how to travel hack your family vacations so you can enjoy more for less.

Next week we’ll discuss the logistics of planning an epic vacation on the cheap. This week we’re going to dig in and see if you can really snag a deal with travel hacking and credit card rewards.

That’s why I’m happy to have Daniel Rathfelder on the show. He’s the VP of Card Services over at Coastal Credit Union. He’s going to get into how those regards card programs work and how to get the most out of them.

In this episode we get into:

• Finding the right reward card
• How your credit score is affected
• Optimizing your credit cards to reap the rewards and not get into debt

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

Resources to Optimize Your Travel Rewards and More 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
• Coastal Credit Union's Reward Cards
• 3 Reasons “Budget” Hotels DESTROY Nice Ones
• Can You Really Get Free Flights? Travel Hacking Essentials

Don't forget to join our Thriving Families Facebook group!

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and becoming 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, Spotify, or Audible.
• Buy me a cup of coffee!

View Details

Are you thinking of switching over to become a single income family? Learn the strategies and tactics families can use to make the transition easier on your finances! Switching to a One Income Family There are many great reasons why a family may decide to transition to a single income.

For some they're anticipating kids and one of them will be staying at home to care for them.

Others may be thinking of a career switch and so they're going to go back to school either for a certification or degree.

Or you've decided to start a business and so it's more practical to budget for one income while that business gets off the ground.

For us personally, it was a bit of a necessity. At the time we were married, I was wrapping up my senior year in college and was working as an intern.

The pay was good, but there was no guarantee it would continue beyond the semester. We decided to play it safe and base our budget on one income. Looking back, that decision has been a game changer for us.

We actually decided to use that as the basis for our family finances. We kept that mentality of basing our essentials on one income and then use the second to speed things up, like paying off debt. Savings and yes, having some fun.

Any of these cases may be true for you. So, how do you make this transition work, especially when it comes to your finances?

Joe Mecca from Coastal Credit Union is back on the podcast to share his take as his family recently made the transition to prepare for their daughter’s arrival.

In this episode, we get into:

• Setting up your finances and budget
• What you need to change and update with insurance and other finances
• Doing a test run of the new budget

Even though our conversation is coming from a family, having a stay at home parent. There are a lot of principles that can be used in your family for your particular situation.

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

Resources to Shift to Living on One Income Here are some resources to make managing your money much easier!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Our Financial System That Help Us Hit CoastFI
• Open Up Your Brokerage Account: Vanguard, M1 Finance, Fidelity
• Why We Started Living Off of One Income
• The Completely Achievable Path to Becoming a One-Income Family
• Stacked Book Tour <- See when Joe's coming to your town
• Raleigh Stacked Book Tour Stop: Grab your free ticket!

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

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Photo by Josh Willink from Pexels

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These past few years have been challenging for many families. Today, we chat with the steward Isaacs about how they've worked to pivot and thrive!

Family Finances During the Pandemic Everyone I personally know has been impacted these last two years, financial or otherwise. We’ve had to adapt, pivot, or in some cases push through some challenging times.

If you’ve spent any time in our thriving Families facebook group, you can see we’re supporting one another as we work with what we have and towards our family and financial goals.

Today I want to highlight the Stewart-Issacs, a local family here in the Triangle area (who during a conversation we had are also Coastal CU members).

Michael and Shemekka have had some pretty big shifts to deal with since 2020.

They were featured in the NY Times last year in their money diaries series and shared their numbers as they navigated through life changes such as having a baby, job switch, remote learning for their kids, oh and buying a house.

In this episode, we get into:

• Balancing work from home while having kids doing remote learning
• Buying a house in the middle of a pandemic
• Teaching their kids to be financially savvy and thoughtful

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

Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Our Financial System That Help Us Hit CoastFI * I Am Brillant

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.

View Details

Curious about being an AirBnb host? A superhost shares the scoop about the costs setting up your place, figuring out your price, and how to make money with your space!

The 411 About Making Money as an Airbnb Host One of the big shifts we've had during this pandemic is how we travel.

We've pretty much gone with renting entire spaces on Airbnb if we're doing a family vacation or getaway so far, it's been a really good experience. The value we get from having a place with a kitchen and yard has been a game changer.

Now the personal finance side of me was looking around and. How profitable was it being an Airbnb host? Also how much work was involved as a guest?

Most of our hosts had wonderful local recommendations, and if we needed anything, there were only a text away, but pretty much they were hands off.

It almost seems like the perfect passive income stream, but is that really. What's going on behind the scenes. I wanted to find out and I discovered I didn't have to venture very far.

During our last trip to Asheville we went out to meet up with some good friends we hadn't seen in a while.

While we were catching up with Barb and Don, I discovered she was an Airbnb host.

Knowing her hospitality, I had a sense that she was a natural candidate for hosting . Airbnb also agrees because she's listed as a Superhost. In case you're not familiar with the term. It means she's experienced highly rated and committed to providing great stays for her guests.

I'm happy to have Barb on the show today to share her story about becoming a host.

In this episode, we get into:

• setting her place up,
• figuring out prices, and
• making her guests’ stays fun and relaxing.

We have some fantastic tips and even better stories so let’s get started!

Resources for Managing Your Money and Becoming an AirBnb Host * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Become an AirBnb Host * Barefoot Cabin * AirDNA: Short-Term Rental Analytics

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus. We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

As an added bonus, Coastal also offers business accounts, so you have a way to easily manage your side hustle or income stream.

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.

Photo by Andrea Davis from Pexels

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We’ve brought back the listener's mailbag. Today we’re answering your family and finance questions about best ways to spend your tax refund, refinancing to pay off debt, and more! Tackling your Family and Finance Questions One of my favorite parts of creating Simplify and Enjoy is the community.

While I’m happy to share our journey as a family, it’s fun when you chime in with your wins, stories, and questions.

Today we’re going to be diving into your family and finance questions.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

• How and where to save up for a big goal like a house down payment
• Wise ways to use your tax refunds
• Is refinancing your home to pay off debt a good idea?

We have plenty to cover so let’s get started!

Resources to Manage Your Money Easier * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.

Photo by EKATERINA BOLOVTSOVA from Pexels

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Today we’ll look at how you can teach your kids to be financially savvy!

Teaching Your Kids About Money One of our responsibilities as parents is to teach our kids essential skills they need and finances is part of that.

Good or bad, if you look at how you handle finances, you’ll probably see the impact your own parents had on you.

Our example is a crucial part of teaching them, but we also need to consider those conversations we have with our kids.

What lessons are passing on to them? How can we guide them to not just be financially savvy, but also thoughtful with how they use their money?

It’s something we talk about from time to time. Our two daughters are now ten and seven. They’ve had their allowance for a few years and overall they’re getting the hang of it.

Now we’re trying to figure out how to approach other financial topics like budgets and investing in a way that’s engaging to them.

Thankfully there’s some really good resources out there that can make those conversations easier.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• Creating a flexible game plan of topics and when you want to introduce them to your kids
• Discuss some of the big questions parents have about allowances
• How to introduce them to the family budget

There's a lot to cover, so let’s get started!

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!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Teach Your Kids About Money (w/o Being Boring!)
• The Opposite of Spoiled: Teaching Kids about Money (and More)
• Cash Crunch Junior: Have fun while learning about money with this board game!
• FamZoo
• Goalsetter

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Photo by Pragyan Bezbaruah from Pexels.

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Learn how to find the best personal finance book for you and your family!

Best Personal Finance Books for Your Journey One of the things I love and appreciate about books is how accessible they are and affordable for a lot of people. When you're starting the beginning of your financial journey, chances are your finances aren't in a good spot.

It’s not always clear what your first steps should be or even what type of budget would work for you. Naturally you’re going to want to see what’s out there.

If you’re grabbing a ton of them, like when you’re trying to do a deep dive especially with money, your local library can be a treasure trove.

But then there’s this other challenge, how do you find the right book for you? That can be a struggle because there's always a new book coming out.

Today we’re all about finding that personal finance book that lights a fire and gets that spark going for improving your finances.

Which is why I’m thrilled Kate Moody is joining in today’s episode. She’s a personal financial educator and coach and former librarian.

In this episode, we’ll discuss:

• A way to scan and hone in on helpful personal finance books
• The three different types of experts to consider when choosing your books
• Tips on vetting personal finance podcast and videos

I hope you enjoy!

Resources to Manage Your Money Easier * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Kate Moody * Outsmart Your Money * 5 Books to Motivate and Guide You to Become Debt Free Faster * 5 Money Books for Couples Looking to Become Financially Independent

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Note: Interview is edited for clarity and length.

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music and Photo Credits Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.

View Details

Paying off debt can be an incredibly rewarding journey for families and many times there are challenges. I love to highlight a variety of stories about how the different families face them, both with making the numbers work and with the conversations they have during the process. Getting Good with Money

Last week, Toni Husband shared some of the ups and downs of her debt free journey to pay off over $100,000 of debt.

Knocking out that mountain of debt including getting her husband on board and finding a pace that allowed them to pay it off without sacrificing time with their young kids.

There are other struggles when it comes to becoming free, including making every dollar go further when you’re making closer to the median household income of around $67,000.

Which is why I’m thrilled to have Jessi Fearon on today’s show.

Jessi and her family paid off their debts including their mortgage on about $50,000/year income.

In her new book Getting Good with Money, she talks about some key changes they made as well as offering practical tips on how families can get out of debt.

In this episode we get into:

• Identifying your money type, triggers, and key behaviors to adjust
• How to have more productive conversations about money as a couple
• How to find and make money to hit your financial goals faster

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Dump Your Debt Faster * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Debt Free Divas * The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community * When You Can’t Agree on How to Pay Off Your Debt * Pay Off Your Debt Faster Through the Power of Community

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

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.

As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first including an annual loyalty bonus.

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Note: Interview is edited for clarity and length.

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music and Photo Credits Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio. Photo by olia danilevich from Pexels

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What’s the process really like when you’re paying off a mountain of debt? Today we get into the habits and mindset changes Toni and her family made to pay off over $100k of debt!

How One Family Paid $100K of Debt I love a good debt free story. I enjoy seeing others work hard to get rid of the credit card, student loans, car loans, and other debt that is weighing them down.

I also know personal experience is not always fast or even a smooth process. For us, it began with getting on the same page with how we wanted to tackle it. Then there was the reality of the numbers.

My husband has his first post-grate job and I had a part time internship. With time, we found our rhythm and knocked it out.

I’ve also had quite a few episodes on this podcast and on Couple Money sharing people’s journey, including Toni Husbands.

What I loved about her story is that it wasn’t a ‘We paid off ‘$100,000 in year and half story’.

Which in all honesty, I enjoy watching and reading too, but when that's the main narrative being shared, it’s a bit discouraging because they tend to gloss over key details.

When you dig into the article, you can see that both are earning six figures or I’ve even seen where parents chip in for them to buy a house in an expensive city.

My problem isn’t with those details, but the fact that it gives the false impression of how easy it is to become debt free.

In many cases, it’s a commitment and in that journey not only are you freeing up your finances because you don’t have that debt anymore, but you’re opening up options.

In this episode we are discussing a lot of the nuances and struggles that can come up. We’ll get into:

• Some of the hurdles and challenges she had to overcome
• Which habits helped and what she would do differently
• Opportunities that opened up now that’s she’s dumped her debt

Let’s get started!

Resources to Dump Your Debt Faster Tired of being in debt? Here are some resources to help you dump it faster.

Handy Tools to Pay Your Debt Off Faster * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Debt Free Divas * The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community

• When You Can’t Agree on How to Pay Off Your Debt

• Pay Off Your Debt Faster Through the Power of Community

If you want to chat some more about creating better money habits, questions, or share your own tips please join us over at Thriving Families on Facebook.

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

As I mentioned in the episode, if you're a Coastal member and are thinking of consolidating your debts, check out Coastal's options to refinance!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Note: Interview is edited for clarity and length.

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music and Photo Credits Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.

View Details

How confident do you feel about hitting your goals this year? Today, we're going to be discussing not only how you can set up your habits to hit your financial goals, but also any health goals you're trying to knock out this year!

Habit Hacks to KeepYour Money and Health Goals There's a lot of overlap between fitness and finances.

Not only are these two of the most popular goals people have every year in terms of trying to improve them. They're also the ones that people struggle with and quit before they get to their goal.

Years ago when we were starting to pay off our debt and make some progress with building up our savings. I was thinking about a lot of the parallels between the two.

Even though we're talking about different outcomes. The tools that we need to get to our goals, to reach them are the same. Uh, Many times we have to change our mindset. We have to adapt and adjust our habits. We also have to put in place some kind of system so that we're consistently working towards our goals.

I thought this episode would be really interesting because we're going to be seeing how we can do both. How can we build our finances and get a little bit healthier this year?

Which is why I'm glad Billy Hoff hacker. Occur is here on the show

Not only has Billy and his family paid off over a hundred thousand dollars of non-mortgage debt, an under five years. He's also a gym owner and coach and the author of fitness profits, a simple plan for achieving financial freedom.

So he has a pretty good idea of how to encourage and help others reach both their fitness and financial goals.

In this episode, we're going to get into how Billy slipped into debt but then how he used habits from his fitness to climb out of it. Then we'll talk about how to stick with your goals, even when you're not motivated, because they're going to be times when that happens.

And then how to develop habits in systems. To help you improve your finances. And your health this year.

Are you ready? Let's get started!

Resources to Start (and Stick with) Better Habits * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Fitness Profits * Your Fitness Money Coach

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

As I mentioned in the episode, if you're a Coastal member and are thinking of consolidating your debts, check out Coastal's options to refinance!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.

Music and Photo Credits Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio. Photos by Clem Onojeghuo and Nubia Navarro from Pexels

View Details

Jillian shares how she and her husband creative hacked their housing expenses to pay off their students loans faster!

Housing Hacking to Pay Off Your Debt Faster!

Welcome back! It's the first week of a new year and I have a question to ask you. How many times have you seen the phrase new year, new you already?

How does that make you feel as you're planning out what you're going to do in 2022?

While I hope you're energized and enthusiastic about your family and financial goals that you want to tackle this year. I can also understand if you're a bit frustrated by all the hype about how important it is. To hit the ground running.

Honestly, I kind of feel the same way. I've been writing about that intersection of personal finance with family and marriage for over a decade. Every year as we talk about setting your goals and achieving them, whether it's paying down debt, Saving in general or for a specific goal or investing for your future. There are certain patterns that I see happen over and over again.

The biggest one is how few people are actually hitting and achieving their goals.

Fidelity and a few others in the personal finance space and beyond do annual surveys and reports to track what people are working on how hopeful they are for the future and how many of them are achieving their goals. And while most people start off optimistic about how things are going to go. Many times they burn out before they hit their actual goal.

There are many reasons for that and of course, these last two years have thrown a lot of people for a loop, with COVID in the fallout from that.

However, I think a core reason why people aren't able to tackle their goals is how they approach it. So a few episodes before we wrapped up the year, I was talking about setting up those pieces, building those better habits- making sure that your goals are smart, very specific in that you work backwards to break it down into small steps.

And those are key components. But there's another ingredient when it comes to not just making your goals but sticking with it and being consistent. That's finding a sustainable system. That makes sense for you and your situation.

I see too many families get very focused on this specific. How, for example, when paying off debt. Should we use the debt snowball, avalanche or lasso? And the answer is it depends. It depends how much debt you have. It depends on how much extra income you have right now to put towards that debt. It depends on the type of debt you have is high interest, low interest.

All these different factors mean that different families will have different approaches. So when I have interviews on here, when I talk about these processes, On the podcast. I want to give you models, not necessarily a map.

The map is what you do you create this destination that you want to achieve. Then you take the habits or systems or ideas. From others and hopefully make it or your own. So that you can stick and be consistent with the process and see it through two, you hit that goal.

So all this month, we're going to do things a little bit different. Yes. We're going to be talking about families that have hit some great goals together and get into the process of how they did that. But more importantly, we're going to be digging into how they were able to find a system that fits them and their season of life.

One of the most important steps is to address and acknowledge where you are now with your financial journey. Then you can see which tools would be best for your situation. So that you can achieve whatever goal you're pursuing.

Another piece of that puzzle. Is to find a process that you enjoy.

If you are trying to tackle a big goal, say you have a mountain of debt to pay off. Or you're trying to get a house down payment put together. Chances are it's not going to happen overnight. So again, that consistency's important. But to stick with it, you have to feel motivated. And one of the best things you can do is find a process that you think is enjoyable.

And some ways fun. Which is why I'm so glad Jillian sirianni is on the podcast today

She and her husband had the big goal of paying off their student loans and cashflowing her degree. It took some creativity as you heard in the teaser because they had to find money in their budget somehow.

They went for a big win. And not only were they able to save and pay off debt. They had a little bit of an adventure along the way.

In this episode, we're going to get into:

• why going for big wins in your budget can be a game changer
• some unconventional ways you can slash your housing expenses
• skills that you may already have that can save and make you money.

Are you ready? Let's get started!

Handy Tools to Pay Your Debt Off Faster * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Frugal Friends Podcast * Values Based Budgeting

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

As I mentioned in the episode, if you're a Coastal member and are thinking of consolidating your debts, check out Coastal's options to refinance!

Rollover Your 401(k) Easily with Capitalize We’re grateful for wonderful partners like Capitalize. Not only do they support the podcast, but they help make managing your money so much easier.

Did you know that it’s estimated that there are currently over 24 million “forgotten” 401(k) accounts? In fact, the average American changes jobs every 4 years.

And because of the Great Resignation, you or someone you know might be changing jobs even more

It’s an extreme case of out of sight and out of mind. Is your old 401(k) in there somewhere, left behind at a job you're no longer with?

One huge benefit with an IRA is you get to choose how your money is invested, not your old employer.

If you want to consolidate your old 401(k) and have more options with how you invest, it may be time to roll them over into an IRA.

With Capitalize, they handle the process from start-to-finish – for FREE. They handle the process from start-to-finish, and yes that includes calling the 401(k) provider on your behalf.

Find out how and get started today!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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.

Music and Photo Credits Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.

View Details

In today’s bonus episode, we’re diving into hitting your money goals while still having fun!

Ready to Stack Some Benjamins in 2022? Welcome to this end of year bonus episode!

As we’re winding down and wrapping things up for 2021, one of the best things we can do is setting things up to make it easier to achieve our family and financial goals.

For us, it’s doing a review of the numbers to see what’s worked and what’s not. We’re also spending time now deciding on what we really want to do in 2022 while of course keeping some flexibility because COVID is still a thing.

A big challenge many families face is creating and sticking with a plan that allows them to pay down their debts, save for priorities, and invest more.

Today’s episode has something that I think will be a huge help.

I had the pleasure of chatting with Joe Saul-Sehy of the award winning Stacking Benjamins and personal finance author Emily Guy Birken about their new book, Stacked: Your Serious Guide to Modern Money Management.

Which is a mouthful of a title, but I got to tell you, the thing that jumped out at me about the book was how fun it was to read!

Joe and Emily do an incredible job not just explaining key financial points, but they weave it in with game references (Oregon Trail, Tetris, and Monopoly are included in the first few chapters), but they have inside jokes, comics, and more.

It’s all about making personal finance accessible and well, not boring.

So if you’re looking for a reset, reboot, whatever you want to call it, I think you'll enjoy our conversation!

Stacked Giveaway To celebrate having an incredible 2022 and the release of Joe and Emily's book, we're hosting a giveaway!

I'll be doing a random drawing to reimburse 5 listeners who pre-order Stacked as well as give them Amazon gift cards!

Just enter here!

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

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.

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Today we’ll go over key steps on how to make and achieve your big family financial goals for next year!

How to Set Up (And Achieve) Your Family’s Financial Goals As 2021 winds down, now is a great time to set up some pieces with your finances so you can knock things out of the ballpark in 2022.

Last week I went into how we’ve done year end reviews. They’ve been a wonderful way for us to get a snapshot of the progress we made and identify areas where we may want to adjust.

Most of the numbers reviewed are automated. There are some fantastic options out there like Personal Capital, Mint, Tiller, and You Need a Budget that can pull the numbers from your accounts into one neat dashboard.

However a year end review is just that - a review. If we want to level up for the next year, we have to have some blueprint or plan.

Here’s where it’s key for us to create our family financial goals. They give us a guide on how to allocate or prioritize our money for the year.

Today I want to walk you through some critical parts of that process so you can craft a game plan for next year and beyond.

In this episode, we’re going to look at how you can tackle some major hurdles families have with creating and reaching their financial goals. We’ll discuss:

• Creating better family and financial goals by taking the three most popular money goals families set and turning them into SMART goals
• Crafting a plan so you develop key habits that make it easier to hit your goals
• Finding time to adopt these new habits and systems

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank * Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * + Tiny Changes with Big Results + The Power of HabitsThank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union. If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today!

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts! * Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

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Get a peek into how we did with our goals for this year and see how you can do your year review and set yourself up for an incredible 2022!

Why You Need to Do a Year-End Review with Your Money It's November, aka the time of the year where I usually start winding down.

As you may or may not know, I take December off from the podcast to recharge and rest things. We also have our anniversary then.

With those things in mind, these last two episodes of the season are focused on helping you set things up for a fantastic year in 2022 and beyond.

Besides our monthly money review, one of the things we do is a year end review. It’s a way for us to review the numbers, celebrate wins, and see what we need to work on.

We then take that information and use it to plan out the next year.

Today I want to walk you through the process. We’ll go through our goals we made for the year, finding the money to reach them, and whether we’re on track with them or not.

Next week, we’ll then look at how to create goals in a way so you can make progress.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Mortgage Free Master Plan

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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!

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Today we’re going to look at three common and awkward arguments married couples have around money and how you can tackle them together!

Awkward Money Conversations When You’re Married Marriage and money isn’t always easy. Chances are the two of you have different personalities and approaches to finances.

Those differences can be a wonderful thing as you two can lean on each other’s strengths and shore up weaknesses.

But finding your financial footing as a couple is not automatic. If you don’t have some way to work on it, it can hurt your marriage and money.

One of the first things to realize about why couples fight or argue over money is how frequently it’s actually NOT about the money. Seriously.

From personal experience, writing and speaking about this for over a decade, the most common reason couples fight about money is that they are not in sync with each other in either their expectations, values, or priorities. Usually it’s a combo of them.

While you two aren't always going to see eye to eye on everything – again those differences can be fantastic- there are some ways you can work as a team and use those differences to your advantage.

Today we’re going to talk about how you can use that knowledge to untangle some awkward money conversations that can come when you’re married.

In this episode we’ll get into questions like:

• figuring out what counts as a big purchase
• whether to loan money to family
• coming clean about debts

Resources to Build Up Your Family Finances Together * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Her Dinero Matters Podcast * His and Her Money Show * How to Loan Money to Family (and Not Regret It) * How to Deal with (and Overcome) Financial Infidelity * 7 Common Money Arguments in Marriage

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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!

View Details

How happy are you with your current banking situation? Are you getting real value out of your checking and savings accounts? Or do you feel like you’re getting nickeled and dimed?

Today we’ll go over how to find a better banking option and how to seamlessly move your money!

Why It Matters Where You Bank These are all important to your financial health and making progress on your goals, however we left the biggest piece of the puzzle last – your day to day bank accounts.

Your check and savings accounts are the backbone to your family’s financial system, but for most of us, it's almost like an afterthought.

Much of this goes back to how we chose our accounts in the first place.

For my husband and I, with our first accounts, it was based on who we were already banking with. And at the time we had bank accounts with two of the major banks, we had opened student checking accounts.

When I say they were basic accounts, that's exactly what they were.

Honestly, we just settled with it for way too long. After getting frustrated with the horrible customer service, ridiculous fees. And not seeing any real progress with our financial goals. We decided it was time to change.

We moved our money to an online bank and credit union and i have to say we are so much happier for it.

We feel that our banking partners are actually partners that they're helping us reach our financial goals faster. And make our lives easier with managing our money.

So if you feel that way about your bank or credit union, fantastic.

However, there are plenty of families that feel like they're banking options are hurting them rather than helping.

According to a recent Magnify Money survey, 68% of consumers are frustrated and feel like their savings isn’t growing. When you consider that 18% of those said they get less than .05% APY, it’s understandable.

What makes it worse are those minimum balances and fees added on their accounts.

Bankrate reported that the average maintenance fee on a checking account that earns interest totaled $196.20/year.

So if you’re feeling squeezed, you probably are. That doesn’t have to be the case though.

With 2021 winding down, now is a great time to set the pieces up for you to have an incredible year in 2022.

In this episode, we’ll go over:

• What to look for in your next bank or credit union
• How to move your money and switch accounts (and deal with a reluctant spouse)
• How to set up your new accounts for your best year ever

Are you ready?

Let’s get started!

Resources to Easily Manage Your Money * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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!

Photo by Adrien Olichon from Pexels

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Get a sneak peek at how we handle our money system and our accounts. So that we are working towards our goals, even if we have more pressing or urgent things to take care of on the family front or with work!

Easy Way to Manage Your Money A financial system that requires you to constantly check and worry about your money isn’t going to cut it for most families. It doesn't for us.

With two kids, work, hobbies, and friends, we have a full life and we love it. Quite simply we see money as a tool, not the goal. It’s to help us to care of our kids and lother loved ones,

So while I respect those highly detailed spreadsheets with line by line breakdowns of every cent, I save that for quarterly reviews. Instead, budget monthly and do weekly checks on Fridays that usually are five minutes just to make sure everything is running smoothly.

It took some time, but we’re grateful to have a financial system that allows us to focus on the big stuff. We love even more considering these past 18 months.

If you’re looking to make managing your money much easier, while still hitting your family’s financial goals, this is your episode.

Today, we’re discussing:

• Quick overview of how our financial goals and system shifted to fit the season of life we’re in
• What principles give the framework to our financial system so we can hit our goals
• How to keep lifestyle inflation in check while still enjoying some fun

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Easily Manage Your Money * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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!

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For most families, their 401(k)s are an important part of their retirement plans. Learn how you can make the most out of your 401(k)!

Making the Most of Your 401(k) It's just there's a huge information overload and it's easy to get caught in the mess and not be sure how to actually do it.

Today we're going to give you a leg up.

Usually during this time of year, I pull in the experts like certified financial planners where we dive into the nitty gritty details of the different benefits and options that may be available.

I’m grateful for those experts who took the time to share some of their knowledge and will have those episodes up on the homepage so you can listen to them because much of it is still incredibly helpful.

Today, I’m doing what I did last week, which is to go over those FAQs that typically come up. Again, these questions are the ones I see on my side, from discussing through the newsletter, in the Facebook group Thriving Families, or those Google searches.

In this episode we’re discussing:

• The biggest mistakes couples make with their 401(k)s
• Figuring out how much you need to contribute
• What to do with your 401(k) at your old job

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Resources for Smarter Investing If you want to learn more about investing and staying on top of your money, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Start Investing: A Simple Guide for Busy Couples
• How to Maximize Your Retirement with Your 401(k)s
• How Much Should We Contribute to Our 401(k)?
• Master Your 401(k): Optimizing Your Investments
• Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook
• Capitalize: 401(k) Rollovers made easy

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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!

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It's that time again... open enrollment season and with it, a lot of decisions to make for the upcoming year. Today, we're going to go over how you can maximize your benefits, especially when it comes to health, dental, and disability insurance!

Choosing Your Health Insurance, Dental, and Disability If there's one area of finances where families have a hard time -either they're not maximizing or they misunderstand it- it's open enrollment season. It's that time of year where HR sends you a packet of information about your benefits.

One of the big things that I want families to focus on- especially busy ones- is going for the big wins.

Yes. It is beneficial to get better financial habits and cutting those unnecessary expenses, maybe five or $10 here and using that money towards more impactful family and financial goals.

But going for the big wins means that for a little bit of time and effort, you can have reoccurring winds or see a significant drop in your expenses or increase your savings. This is where open enrollment fits in.

For this limited window that you get this information, you're going to be making some significant financial decisions for the upcoming year. The biggest one for most families, health insurance. What makes us extra challenging is we're doing this in the midst of still dealing with COVID.

All this week and next, I want to make things easier for you so that you can focus on the key discussions you need to have so you can make the best choices for your family's particular needs.

I'll be releasing on the site previous episodes where I've talked with certified financial planners about the ins and outs and details about your options.

Today we're going to focus more on a Q and a style approach. Based on your feedback, along with what I'm seeing on my side with Google search in the community chat, I'm going to go over those questions that families often have as they're sorting through the paperwork.

Our focus today will be on:

• weighing the pros and cons of health insurance plans
• why disability insurance doesn't get the credit it deserves
• how tax advantage accounts like HSAs and FSAs can help you save a significant amount of money

Are you ready?

Let's get started!

Resources to Save serious Money

Are you looking for more help with maximizing your benefits and saving more money? Here are some resources:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Zeta, HoneyFi, and Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Work Pants Finance
• 4 Tips to Make Filing Your Taxes Easier
• How to Find the Best (and Affordable!) Health Insurance Plan for Your Family
• How to Maximize Your Retirement with Your 401(k)s
• Insurance Coverage Families Needs with Matt Becker

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

Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA.

Find out more about what Coastal offers here!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

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How are you feeling about your progress this year with your financial goals? Are you frustrated because you're not hitting them as fast as you had hoped? Do you feel like managing money is a chore? Believe it or not, these problems are connected.

Today, I'm going to break down and show you how to build a flexible financial system that will get you to your goals faster!

Keeping Your Budget Flexible and Fun Recently I had a chat with rich Jones for the Paychecks and Balances Podcast.

The theme of our discussion was managing finances when undergoing a life transition, but it quickly widen out and scope. After my chat with Rich, our discussion stuck with me.

Having written about personal finance for 12 years and podcasting, a little over half that time, I noticed a certain rhythm with people in their interests and finances.

Beginning of the year, it's all about setting up these big goals, paying off debt, saving up for a huge house down payment.

For some, it truly is the beginning of an awesome year. They get these new habits set up. They have their systems in place.

Others though, they're already having a hard time keeping up those habits, part of it is life shifts.

Between January and to about April when I look on my side of things with site traffic, And Google searches, that's when people are most interested in their finances.

Further into the year, no matter what camp you're in the seasons change and life rolls on.

With September zooming by and the last quarter coming up. I find it's another point in the year where we reflect. We have this many awareness that the year's wrapping up. We're reviewing how much we've accomplished.

Now on top of the regular seasonal changes in the year. We still have the COVID pandemic that we're dealing with.

Rather than fight the seasonal shifts or craft these perfect on paper budgets, but they fall apart during real life pivots, we have to address a fundamental issue -building a sustainable and flexible system for handling your finances so that you can live your life and if something happens adjust as needed.

Instead of chasing money as the target or the goal really should be using it as a tool.

In this episode, we're going to break that down so that you can create a financial system that is easy to maintain and adjust and have a sustainable budget that's flexible and fun.

Are you ready? Let's get started!

Handy Tools to Build Your Financial System Quickly and Easily * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

They have wonderful customer service along with competitive rates to make saving easier!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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!

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Are you frustrated with your debt and feel like you’re stuck in this rut? Today we’re going to see how you can negotiate your debts to lessen the stress and get you closer to your debt free goals!

Paying Off Your Debts and Dealing with Debt Collectors Usually when people make money goals for the year, paying off debt is in the top three but many struggle to achieve that goal.

Depending on where the pandemic caught you on your financial journey, you may have had an extra struggle. Perhaps a drop in income meant slowing down or even pausing your debt payoff plan.

That can be a real and huge burden because those balances are lingering or worse, growing. If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. Debt is weighing down on a lot of families.

According to Experian, 90% of adults in the US have at least one credit card on their report And of those 75% carry a balance month to month. The average balance for that group is over $5,000.

The average balance on a car loan is $19,700. And Then you have student loans. In 2020, the average balance was $38,000. While there is some relief for federal loans, with the pause in payments, if you have private loans, you're still dealing with them on top of everything.

Hopefully things have improved in stabilize but now you're at the point where you're trying to figure out how to jump back, in which debts to tackle first, and what payment plan makes the most sense for you.

Which is why I'm happy to have attorney Taylor Kosla be a part of this episode.

Taylor is a partner at Agruss Law Firm, a team that's focused on helping people deal with debt collection.

In this episode, we're going to look at:

• ways to negotiate with your creditors,
• protections available to you through the fair debt collections act, and
• a possible opportunity for you to have an attorney assist you without you paying out of pocket.

Are you ready? Let's get started!

Handy Tools to Pay Your Debt Off Faster * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook * Sample Letter Disputing Errors on Credit Reports

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

As I mentioned in the episode, if you're a Coastal member and are thinking of consolidating your debts, check out Coastal's options to refinance!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

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Want more options and time to do more for the people and projects you love? Learn how to create a path to financial independence that is flexible and fun!

Finding the Right Pace and Path to Financial Independence As a kid, one of my favorite kinds of books to read were those choose your own adventure stories.

Do you remember those? No, it's pretty much began the same, but based on the choices you made you could go on so many different adventures.

Some of them had dozens of different endings. You could discover buried treasure, time travel, go to space, whatever the adventure was.

Fast forward a few years and now my favorite type of video game to play include RPGs. Why? Because you have some room to craft out your own adventures.

I feel like financial independence is like those books and games. You decide how you're going to go through it.

Yes, there is an end point, which is when you hit financial independence or financial freedom but in the middle, you have flexibility not just the goal but also the journey .You want it to make it work for you and your family.

It doesn't always feel that way though. There's this narrative that gets pushed, that there's a certain type of way to fi- specifically as fast as possible.

Yes, sorry, but no thanks.

I think that the journey is just as valuable as the destination. If you've been turned off by that segment of fi, or you just want to have more flexibility with your plan, I think you'll enjoy today's episode.

To help me out is Diania Miriam. She's the founder of EconMe who knows firsthand the joys and challenges of carving out your own FI path.

In this episode, we're going to jump into:

• how Deanna paid off. $30,000 of debt and jump-started her FI path
• how working towards financial independence opened up more options and allowed her to take risks to pivot her career plus more
• we're going to get into how you can create a plan that fits you and your family.

Are you ready? Let's get started.

Handy Tools to Start Your FI Journey If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family and look at pursuing financial independence, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook
• Free 401(k) Analysis: Blooom
• Coast FI: A Better Path to Financial Independence
• 10 Lessons Learned from Accidental Slow F.I.R.E.
• How Much is Enough Money? The Levels of Financial Autonomy

Want to be a part of EconMe this year? Sign up for your ticket!

Because you're a listener, Diania was kind enough to pass on a discount code. Type in SIMPLIFYENJOY to save 10% on your ticket!

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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!

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Can parents pursue financial independence with kids at home? Today we’ll go over the five biggest myths and show how to enjoy parenthood and FI!

Are Financial Independence and Parenthood Compatible? Even before we were familiar with the term financial independence, we were intrigued about this idea of gaining flexibility and freedom.

When we were first married, we had two immediate financial goals – getting rid of the car loan and building our emergency fund.

Our car payment wasn’t a huge burden, but seeing that money going out month after month..ugh..

Not having that weighing our budget down was one benefit, but then there was also this what if.

What if we used that money for things we actually enjoyed and really wanted – travel, a house, or starting a business?

So I started digging into personal finance blogs and found books like Total Money Makeover, Automatic Millionaire, and The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke.

Taking what I learned, we came up with a plan to pay off our debts and grow our financial cushion.

Don’t get me wrong, seeing our net worth go from negative $30,000 to the positive side felt great. The real pull for us, though, was not how much money we can stash away or how fast we can hit.

We loved being in a position of having options. Like leaving a bad job. Becoming an entrepreneur.

During this time, we discovered financial independence, with that classic book – Your Money or Your Life.

There are some wonderful benefits with discovering the FI community. Many in the space love swapping ideas about what’s worked for them.

Hopefully like you’re doing now, we listened to stories and picked a few ideas to try out. Some worked really well, some needed to be adjusted for our circumstances, and some didn’t work. Either our situation was too different or honestly, we didn’t enjoy it.

The ones that didn’t resonate with us usually came from this segment in the community who had very specific ideas about financial independence.

Both with what it was and what it wasn’t. One complaint I kept seeing was how hard or in some cases impossible for parents to hit FI.

I believe that belief is not just discouraging to parents, but really misses the actual resource financial independence is about – time.

Finances are the tool to help you get there, not the goal. We were more focused on quality of life and having options.

So today I want to wrap up this series of episodes before our summer break and discuss how you as a parent can work towards your FI goals while enjoying the journey with your kids.

In this episode, we’ll get into the five biggest myths around financial independence and parenthood.

Are you ready?

   Let’s get started!

Resources for Parents to Pursue Financial Independence If you're looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, 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
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities
• Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools
• The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement
• The New Family Financial Road Map

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.

Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.

Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.

See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Expecting a raise or bonus soon? Learn how to make the most out of any extra money you have coming in!

Couple's Guide to Optimizing Your Raise or Bonus Even though I do believe that diversifying your income is a smart money move, let's not ignore the most common one that most people have – your nine to five job.

This is a steady paycheck for work that you hopefully enjoy.

Besides the paycheck, things like benefits can be a huge plus for you. Depending on where you work, you could also receive bonuses and if things are looking good, raises.

Okay. So you may be getting a raise because you switched jobs and companies still.….

Even if neither of those is the case, you two could be getting money this summer in the form of the advance child tax credit payments.

Today, we're going to show you how to make sure that any extra money you receive helps you achieve your family and financial goals faster.

That's why I'm so glad Joe Mecca is here. He's the vice president of communications over at Coastal Credit Union and our go-to savings guy.

In this episode, we'll get into:

• how these advance payments work with the child tax credit
• a checklist to help make sure that your financial foundation is solid
• t ideas on how you can layer and optimize your money.

Are you ready? Let's get started!

Resources to Maximize and Manage Your Money Want to make sure your dollars go further? Here are resources mentioned in the episode as well as additional handy tools to stay on top of your money!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Advance Child Tax Credit Payments via IRS
• How Credit Unions Can Boost Your Family’s Finances
• How to Seamlessly Switch to a New Bank or Credit Union

If you're still sorting out what goals you want to pursue and plans that you want to set up, please join us in our Thriving Families group on Facebook.

We're all about helping one another out with our family and financial goals.

We'd love to see you there!

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.

Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.

Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.

   See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!

Key Takeaways on Making Your Raise or Bonus Go Further

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

• Hone in on your short and long-term goals. I've seen too many times where extra money comes in, but it goes out just as quickly because there's no purpose for that money. So sit down together and talk about what are things you want to accomplish now and down the road.
• Approach your finances in layers. Most of us have many different goals that we're pursuing, and it's very easy to try to chase everything at the same time. Instead, focus on building it up piece by piece.
• Automate your money. It'll make things so much easier. You're probably really busy with everything going on and this is really tedious stuff.

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Real estate investing can be a way to build up a passive income, but is it the right move for you? Learn about some of the different options you have and what you need to discuss before jumping in!

Is Real Estate Investing Right for Us? We've been talking a lot this season about building and diversifying your income streams.

Part of it is in reaction to the past year or so we’ve had. With some industries being hit hard with job losses and hours cut, having another source of income – even if not full-time- can soften the blow.

We spoke about working from home with Modern Frugality creator Jen Smith. We also talked about entrepreneurship and building a portfolio of income streams with author Michelle Jackson.

Today we’re talking about another opportunity to build an income stream – real estate investing.

If you’ve ever watched shows on HGTV or followed DIY influencers on social media, it looks fun and exciting, right?

These transformations can be dramatic and then when they go ahead and sell those houses, sometimes those numbers look tempting. Or the idea of owning properties and having rental income looks like a passive way to earn more.

But is that really the case? What does real estate investing really involve? How can we get started? How can we be smarter with how we invest?

I’m happy that Rachel Richards is joining this episode. She’s an author and real estate investor with over 30 properties. With the income their properties are generating, she and her husband are able to be financially free.

In this episode we get into:

• different ways to invest in real estate
• Understanding what’s really involved with investing and finding properties
• A peek of how one couple got into investing and how they grew it

Are you ready?

Let’s get started!

Resources on Real Estate Investing Are you thinking about getting started with real estate investing? Here are some handy resources to get your finances in shape and learn more about it!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Passive Income Starter Kit from Rachel Richards
• Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement by Rachel Richards
• The Book on Rental Property Investing
• How to Invest in Real Estate
• Afford Anything Podcast by Paula Pant
• Buy and Hold by Steve Chader
• Bigger Pockets Podcast

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

Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! Thanks to our new sponsor Republic Wireless.

If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.

Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.

Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.

See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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It's June. The year is halfway over. Now is the perfect time to hit pause and do a midyear review to see how you're progressing with your goals and make sure that your accounts are moving in the right direction!

Why Financial Reviews Matter While we automate much of our finances, especially the tedious parts. It really does pay to have these times where you sit down. In review the numbers. And having a financial checkup mid year is a fantastic opportunity. Not just to look at your day to day accounts, like your checking and savings but your investments.

Having these more in-depth conversations. Can be beneficial to both your marriage and finances.

For us, this is an opportunity to hit pause and to really sit down and talk.

I don't know how this year has gone for you but it really has flown by for us. In overall, it has been good, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been some struggles and challenges that we face.

Second, it gives us a chance to talk about what's been working and what's not working with our family finances.

Life comes up and maybe we had to shift some things for a month or two. This is a pause where we can see. Is this a trend that we should start planning for, or is this. A one-time deal? Knowing that ahead of time can relieve the stress going forward.

Finally, it's a great reminder to reflect on the big picture. What are we really working towards and how are we aligned towards that? And yes, it does involve looking at the finances, but also schedule wise work choices that we make. Time with the girls, all these things are connected to each other.

Having a set period where we can reflect on that big picture is a huge help.

This past year and a half can be especially challenging for families as we are navigating through this unprecedented time.

Which is why I'm glad Kevin Matthews is a part of this episode. He's a former financial advisor and a number one bestselling author. He just had a new book from Burning the Blueprint that's out that you should definitely grab.

Today, we're going to be talking about that connection between your family and financial goals and making sure that your investments are moving in the right direction.

In this episode, we'll get into:

     Join the Community & Get Your Free Money Toolkit! Quickly & easily set your money up to hit your goals faster!          Join our community to get the free toolkit and newsletter!  Get Instant Access  We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our Privacy Policy        * why investing matters and how you can come up with a plan that reflects your goals

• how to do a financial review for your investments?
• making sure that they're aligned with your priorities and goals.

Are you ready? Let's get started!

Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money If you’re looking to build up your finances, here are some handy resources we mentioned in the episode plus more!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• From Burning to Blueprint: Rebuilding Black Wall Street After a Century of Silence
• Why Knowing Your Net Worth Matters

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless.

If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.

Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.

Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.

See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin doge coin, and Ethereum are a part of the mainstream conversation and in the news but should it be a part of your investment plan?

We're going to decode the terminology and explore the tech so you can weigh whether or not it's the right option for you!

Should We Invest in Cryptocurrency? We’re talking about a topic that’s been popping up all over - cryptocurrency.

Just this year alone, BitCoin, Etherum, and others are on a roller coaster ride.

Coinbase went public just this April.

There’s a lot of excitement and questions about the crypto space.

I’ve gotten questions first about exactly how these currencies work and second, if it’s something to invest in.

In some cases, one of you is all excited to jump in this new opportunity while the other is skeptical or against it.

Like any major decision, it’s important for your marriage and money to discuss your options and see if it fits in with your goals and financial plan.

In this episode, we'll get into:

• the essentials about the tech and terms used with cryptocurrencies
• what to consider and discuss so you two can decide whether or not it’s the right option for you

We got plenty to cover so let’s get started!

Resources to Learn More About Cryptocurrencies and Keep Tabs on Your Money * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System by Satoshi Nakamoto * Ethereum.org * Ethereum Whitepaper by Vitalik Buterin * DogeCoin * NFTs, Explained * Blockchain and Money – MIT Open Courseware * Like it or not, you should probably start paying attention to bitcoin * The blockchain catalyst for change * How blockchain can solve the payments riddle * Bitcoin Losers

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless.

If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.

Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.

Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

Key Takeaways on Crypto Before we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got from preparing this episode.

• Invest in educating yourself about the tech behind cryptocurrency. Crypto, blockchain – these aren’t going away.
• Make sure that crypto is aligned with your goals and risk tolerance before jumpin in.
• Focus on investing, not speculation. There’s a lot of hype and volatility to sort through so

If you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and maybe discover your strategy– don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook.

We’re all about helping one another out with our family and financial goals.

Hope to see you there!

See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!

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Learn how you can protect your family’s finances and open up more opportunities by diversifying your income!

Why You Need to Diversify Your Income Diversifying income is something every family should consider. It can not only give you a bigger safety net, but it does give you some more options no matter what stage you are in your financial journey.

Here are a few scenarios where diversifying and increasing your income can be helpful.

We're still not out of the woods when it comes to the financial impact of COVID.

In April, 9.4 million people reported that they were unable to work because their employer either close or lost business due to this pandemic.

As you can probably guess the more income you get, the higher your chances of saving.

In 2019, the median bank account balance for American households was 5,300. What's interesting is when you break it down by income, how drastically that changes.

For a family that's in the 40 to 59 percentile of income, the median savings was 4,400. You moved to the next bracket, 60 to 79%. You're looking at 10,000. The next one 20,000 and then finally 69,000.

Having income to take care of essentials means you can then take that so-called extra income and put it towards financial goals, including savings.

Finally, if your family is on the financial independence path. Then increasing your savings rate can speed things up for you when you'll hit your FII number.

For example, if your savings rate is 15% then you have 43 working years until you retire. If you bump that up to 30%, then that drops down to 28. You move up to 45% and it becomes 19 years. You're literally buying back your time when you're increasing your savings rate.

So hopefully it’s clear why you need to diversify your income. The question is now about finding the right ones for your family.

Side hustles are a popular recommendation, especially online, but they're not your only option.

Which is why I’m so happy to have Michelle Jackson on today. She’s an author, podcaster, and entrepreneur.

Not only has she developed these business and income streams, but she’s found a bit of balance with juggling them.

In this episode, we get into:

• different types of income you can earn
• Pros and the cons of them
• how to decide which income path is right for you

Let’s get started!

Resources to Build Up Your Income If you’re looking to boost your income, here are some helpful resources to earn more money and manage it better!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Finding the Best Side Hustle as a Married Entrepreneur
• How to Build Income Streams to Knock Out Your Money Goals Faster
• Brand Building Lab
• Make Money with e-books

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

We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.

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

Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless.

If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.

Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.

Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.

See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

View Details

We're all looking to reconnect and have fun this summer.

Today, we're going to go over ways to enjoy family barbecues, give some ideas on great outdoor ventures you can go on, and offer tips on how to grow your savings this season!

Make This a fun Summer of Savings For many families, summer is the season. Especially after the year we had in 2020, many of us are eager to embrace the warmer weather and be outside and go on vacation.

As we mentioned last week, it's possible to have fun and still save.

Today, we're going to dive in with how you can have a wonderful and memorable time this summer, while still building up your stash.

In this episode, we get into:

• Leveling up your barbecue game
• Exploring the great outdoors is perfect for your happiness and wallet
• 10 ways you can boost your savings

Let’s get started!

Handy Tools to Boost Your Savings 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
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Frugal and Fun Summer Activities for Your Family
• How to Double Your Savings Rate

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

Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless.

If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.

Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.

Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.

See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!

Key Takeaways Before we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got as I was preparing this episode.

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

We swap ideas and tips because our goal is to help one another out with our family and financial goals.

Hope to see you there!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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We’re all looking to get the best value, but how can you balance saving money, hitting your financial goals, while still having fun?

Today we’ll go over how you can master the art of being frugal!

Can Being Frugal Make You Rich? Whether you’re pursuing a debt-free path, financial freedom, or independence, there’s one skill that can help you hit your goal faster – being frugal.

I’m not talking about being cheap.

I’m talking about living a rich life without spending a ton of money.

When I say frugal, I’m talking about living a rich life without spending a ton of money. It’s about maximizing your dollars for the best value.

I’m going to talk about three areas where you can do this – budget, tech, and travel.

To help show the ways you can live well while spending less, I have two guests.

First off, Joel Larsgaard from How to Money is sharing ways couples can work together so they’re spending on what matters to them.

Second, we have Joel Kades of Republic Wireless. We’re going to look at how technology opened up some options so you can get an affordable smartphone plan.

Finally we’ll wrap things up with how to make frugality fun with tips on how to save on travel.

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

Resources to Maximize Your Dollars Being frugal is really about optimizing your expenses so you’re getting the best value. Here are a few resources to help you significantly save without

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Republic Wireless
• Root of Good: Justin retired at 33 and just this year, his wife joined him. He lays how a frugal lifestyle helped them.
• Your Money or Your Life – One of the first personal finance books that I read that showed the possibilities of a frugal lifestyle.
• The Millionaire Next Door – If you're curious to see how millionaires really live, this book is for you. It highlights that looks can be deceiving.

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

Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless.

If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.

Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.

Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.

See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!

Key Takeaways Before we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got as I was preparing this episode.

• Prioritize which expenses matter most to you.
• Focus on big wins and low hanging fruit.
• Redefine what frugal means to you.

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

We swap ideas and tips because our goal is to help one another out with our family and financial goals.

Hope to see you there!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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With credit card fraud and identity theft happening more frequently, we all have to step up our game. Learn keys ways to protect your finances and identity!

Fraud Protection I hope you never have to deal with identity theft, data breaches, or fraud but chances are you will.

There were 4.8 million identity theft and fraud reports received by the FTC in 2020, an increase of 45 percent from 2019.

The Ascent from Motley Fool reported that credit card fraud was the most common type of identity theft last year – over 270,000 reports.

Another unfun stat – identity theft doubled from 2017 to 2019.

Finally in 2019 almost 165 million records containing personal data were exposed through data breaches.

The point?

Cyber crimes aren’t going away anytime soon.

In fact last year, I got it.Twice.

The first one, I received a call from Coastal about suspicious activity on my card. Thankfully that was quickly resolved.

Second time, I discovered it when doing my monthly review. I saw a $140 charge from California. I called and explained this wasn’t me.

It took a month of back and forth, but I got it cleared.I was a headache.

One I hope you avoid.

Which is why I’m so glad Joe Mecca is back on the show.

In this episode we get into:

• Practical ways we can protect our finances when you're offline or online
• What you need to do if your card is compromised

Hope you enjoy it!

Resources to Protect Your Finances If you're getting more proactive with protecting your identity and money, here are some handy resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• IdentityTheft.gov
• Protecting Yourself from Identity Theft
• Annual Credit Report: Free way to review each of your credit reports
• LastPass
• Easy Ways to Prevent Identity Theft
• Report reveals data breaches that could affect millions of Americans <- included in the teaser
• Why credit card fraud hasn't stopped in the US <- included in the teaser

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: 1-833-395-6938

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.

Before we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got as I was preparing this episode.

• Prepare yourself now. It’s not a matter of if, but when. It’s critical that we all become more vigilant.
• Don’t reuse passwords. The way things are now, even if you do a good job on your side. Data breaches can happen so please mix your passwords.
• Become familiar with tools and options available. I love that coastal has redone card nav, giving it more features. Like Joe mentioned, if you bank somewhere else, it’s good to become familiar with whatever features or services that offer.

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

We swap ideas and tips because our goal is to help one another out with our family and financial goals.

Hope to see you there!

It’s a free, private, and positive community where we help one another out. We'd love to see you there!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share.
• Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Around 82% of Americans said their finances were affected by the pandemic and the fallout according to a recent Fidelity survey. If you’re planning on retiring in a few years, that can be a really scary thing.

Today I want to share a resource that can help you get back on track with your retirement plan!

The 5 Years Before You Retire: Retirement Planning When You Need It the Most How comfortable do you feel about your retirement?

You’re not alone if you’re worried about it. 36% of Americans are more concerned now than at the start of the pandemic on their ability to maintain a nest egg in retirement.

The good news for most of us is that there is time to get back on track.

Today’s bonus episode is focused on helping you reset things and worry less about retirement.

Thrilled to have Emily Guy Birken on. She is a former educator, lifelong money nerd, and a Plutus Award-winning freelance writer who specializes in the scientific research behind irrational money behaviors.

She’s also the author of several wonderful books including End Financial Stress Now and The Five Years Before You Retire, which has been updated and released today.

I got an advanced copy and really enjoyed it. I actually ordered a copy for my mom.

Emily covers everything you need to do in the next five years to maximize your current savings and create a realistic plan for your future.

During our chat, we get into:

• The two biggest mistakes people make when it comes to retirement planning
• How to assess where you are with your finances now
• Understanding social security

Hope you enjoy!

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

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 helps gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

View Details

Many families are looking for getaway this year. We'll go over flexible, memorable, and affordable family vacation ideas! Planning a Family Vacation in 2021 How do you plan for a year where you don't know exactly what to expect?

I think that's been the unofficial theme this season.

We've been talking about how to create a budget that's flexible enough? How do you figure out your schedule?

Now I'm hoping maybe a little cautiously optimistic, how do we plan some family fun, maybe some trips if possible?

Summer is coming up, people are getting vaccinated and while we’re not out of the woods just yet, I’m looking to travel more.

I’m looking forward to going to the beach, whitewater raft, and maybe going for a longer trip. At the same time, I want to keep some flexibility in case things change.

Which is why I’m so happy Karen Cordaway is here. She’s the author of the Everyday Bucket List.

In this episode we’re going to look at:

• How you can build and cross off your bucket list
• Creating a flexible plan for travel this year
• Affordable options vacation idea

Let’s get started!

Resources to Save on Your Next Family Vacation If you're looking to start planning and saving for your next family trip, here are a few handy resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The Everyday Bucket List Book by Karen Cordaway
• How to Have a Safer Summer Family Getaway
• How to Vacation with Kids For Free: Travel Hacking 101
• Free Travel Hacking Tracker from Our Rich Journey
• Everyday Bucket List Podcast: Raleigh

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

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 helps gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

View Details

Need a boost with your income? Learn how to find the best paying side hustles for you!

Finding the Best Side Hustles That Pay Well Sometimes to hit your goal faster, you just have to earn extra money.

Of course that’s not the only thing you’re doing.

If you’ve taken my Free 5 Days to $5K course, then you know we look at three pillars when it comes to ‘finding’ money.

First we optimize your budget, evaluating expenses to see if they are necessary or they bring you joy.

Second, we uncover ways to save when you have to spend.

But finally we also look at the other side of the coin – earning more money.

Now the easy advice to give is to get a second job, but that’s usually not the best solution, especially if you have kids or other limitations with time or location.

This is where side hustles can help. You can earn more with a bit more flexibility. However it can be tricky because the ones usually advertised are not that well paying.

You have to be strategic when finding a side hustle that allows you to earn more without burning you out.

Which is why I’m so glad Jen Smith is on today.

Jen has done it all. Seriously.

From T-shirts to writing to Airbnb,she’s tried out different avenues to earning more.

On her site Modern Frugality and Frugal Friends Podcast, she’s all about helping others to pay down their debt through better money habits and building their income.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• Why all side hustles aren’t created equal
• How to explore your options to earn more
• Building your income sustainably

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Build Up Your Income If you’re looking to boost your income, here are some helpful resources to earn more money and manage it better!

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

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

Key Takeaways We covered a lot of info today, so before we wrap up, I want to focus on a few key takeaways from preparing this episode.

• Have a clear goal for your side hustle.
• Be honest about your schedule and requirements.
• Your health > Money

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

We’re all about helping and encouraging one another with our family and financial goals. We swap stories, ideas, and tips.

Please join us! We’d love to see you there!

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Getting ready to start house hunting? Get tips on how you find and buy a house you love that is still affordable!

Are You Ready to Buy a House? Right now with the national median listing price in December was $340,000, chances are buying a house – it’s typically the biggest purchase a family makes.

Depending on where you live it can be a hot seller’s market, making it even more difficult to find a place that you love.

That’s why it’s so important to go in prepared not financially, but with an understanding of what home ownership truly looks like.

Certified Financial Planner and Accredited Financial Counselor® Adam Hagerman is here to help sort through things including the whole rent vs buy debate.

Before you start house hunting, you want to make sure this is the best move for you and your family.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• How the buying process work – qualifying for a mortgage, finding an agent, house hunting, and closing
• Bad advice and myths people hear about buying a house
• What you truly need to focus on when you’re buying so you’ll be happy and not house poor

Let’s get started!

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
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Buying a Home <- Want to save thousands of dollars while buying your dream home? Adam’s course takes you through contemplation to closing
• How to Snag a Great Deal When Buying a House
• What You Need to Know About Mortgages

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

See how Coastal can help you with your mortgage needs!

Key Takeaways on Snagging a Great Deal When Buying a House We covered a lot of information today so before we wrap up, I want to focus on a few key takeaways from preparing this episode.

The first one is please run your own numbers. I want you to own a home and for it to feel like a blessing and not a burden.

Finding an affordable place means that you’re able to be a homeowner and still hit your other financial and family goals.

The second is focus on what matters to you.

I don’t know how it happens, but when you announced that you’re buying a house, There’s a lot of advice that’s thrown at you.

Some of it is well-intentioned and good, but sometimes there are myths that keep getting passed on as a fact.

So you want to make sure that you’ve defined. What kind of house that you want, why you want this house and also again, that the numbers line up for you.

Don’t feel pressured to buy a house simply because you’re supposed to be doing it or it’s that time in your life that everyone else is buying a house and said make sure this is a milestone that you want to hit.

Finally, as you probably picked up based on what we’ve talked about, the more work that you put into it, the better the results.

A lot of this is preparation, getting the pieces in play. And then the house hunt becomes a lot easier and a lot less stressful.

Spending the time upfront, getting your finances in place. Defining your must haves and having your wishlist and knowing which neighborhoods you would love to get a house can make this home buying process a lot more fun.

There is so much to talk about when it comes to house hunting, so if you want to chat more, please join us in our free and private Facebook group, thriving families.

We’re all about helping and encouraging one another with our family and financial goals.

We love to swap stories, ideas, and tips. We can tell you what worked for us, what didn’t, and you can usually find someone in the vicinity or area you’re in which can be great for recommendations for things like real estate agents. Please head over to simplify and enjoy.com/fb.

We’d love to see you there!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Thinking of selling your house? Today we’ll go over how to prepare your place so you can get the best price for it!

What You Need to Know to Sell Your House for More Selling a house, especially when it is your first place, can be overwhelming. Even in a seller’s market like we have here in Raleigh, you have work to do.

You have to fix up your space, stage your house, and have it ready for showings.

Let’s not forget this added layer of social distancing and safety we need to practice while we deal with the coronavirus.

However, selling your house at the best price can also be a huge boost to your finances and bring you closer to your goals.

The difficult part can be getting to that point

Which is why I’m glad Mariella Guillama is here today. She’s an award -winning Real Estate Broker at Daymark Realty.

We used Daymark when we sold our first home and for buying our current place. We’re super happy with the experience.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• finding the best price to list it
• what mistakes to avoid so you’re not wasting time or money
• how to prepare your place so it wows potential buyers and you get top dollar offers

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

Resources to Get Top Dollar When Selling Your House * Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint * Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money * Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank * Quick and Essential Guide to Sell Your House for More Money * Real Estate Agent, Broker, Realtor: What’s the Difference?

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union!

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

We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Key Takeaways for Selling your House

I know we only scratched the surface. There’s so much to talk about and I’d love to chat some more about this. So if you want, please join us in our free and private Facebook group, thriving families. We’re all about helping and encouraging one another.

With our family and financial goals. We love to swap stories, ideas, and tips. Just head over to simplify and enjoy.com/fb. We’d love to see you there.

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Who doesn’t love a good DIY home project? But how do you take what you see online or on television and translate that into your home, especially when you are not naturally handy?

Today, we’ll look at what you need to know to get started and build up your DIY skills!

How to Get Started with Your DIY Home Projects Last week we were talking about being a frugal foodie, home brewing, and having a garden at your place.

These are some of my favorite topics.

I enjoy talking about how to save money and put it towards goals that matter to you but I also love learning new things.

As I mentioned last week, I wasn’t a natural gardener.

My first attempts are pretty bad keeping plants alive. I ended up going with cacti and fake plants inside the house for a few years.

By starting off small with a little front patio garden. I began to get some practice and to learn some skills. And I would not call myself a garden expert.

Now I’m really proud that we have a space out back where we can grow the vegetables that we enjoy and love.

I feel the same way about DIY.

Neither one of us are naturally handy people, but when we became homeowners, we out of necessity had to learn some skills. Not only so that we can save some money, but turn our house into our home.

If you’re thinking of taking on some home projects, but you don’t know where to start, then this is your episode.

Whitney Hansen, who’s the creator and host of The Money Nerds podcast is here today.

Besides her financial skills, she also has some serious DIY talents. She loves to jump into projects whether it’s painting her house, building a fireplace, or flipping furniture.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• why and how she got started with her home projects
• how to save money when you’re doing DIY, and
• where she finds resources to learn new skills.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Make Your Home Projects Easier and Less Stressful If you’re planning on doing a home DIY project and you want to keep it stylish and affordable, here are some resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Designer Kitchen on an IKEA Budget?
• Renovate, Remodel…Relax!
• Save Money, Gain Skills with DIY Home Repairs
• Weekend Home Organization Projects
• DIY vs. professional renovation: What to tackle yourself and what to leave to the pros
• Home DIY 101: Tools Every Couple Needs

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

We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Key Takeaways with DIY Home Projects Here are a few key takeaways from today’s episode!

• Start where you can. With Whitney, flooring was one of her first projects. You may be more along the lines of us, where our project was painting. It may not sound like much but you can always build up. Fixing up furniture you find at yard sales or thrift stores. repairs around the house, including your gadgets are ways to practice and develop skills.
• Run the numbers and outline the project. Whitney mentioned she kind of wings it, but she also mentioned breaking the projects down. Even if you hire a contractor, it is really beneficial to be familiar with the overall process so you can make sure you’re getting a good deal and paying them fairly.
• Safety first. An additional benefit of breaking down and understanding the process is knowing your limits. It’s not worth saving money for your safety in jeopardy. Whitney is comfortable with some electrical work in part because she had an electrician show her the ropes. For us, we’ll do some plumbing, but will call for electrical work.

There’s so much we can chat about, so come join in our Facebook group Thriving Families.

We’re there to support one another with our family and financial goals. I’d love to share any tips I can and I know there are others too.

We’d love to see you there!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Just because we’re at home doesn’t mean we can’t still be frugal foodies.

Today, we’ll look at how you can jumpstart a garden and start making craft brews at home!

Frugal Foodie at Home Frugal foodie is back! If you’re new to this series, it’s where we explore ways you can eat well without breaking the budget.

For some though, when you hear frugal. It means cheap. I get it. Maybe, you know, someone who brags about getting the absolute lowest price on everything. Whether it’s good or bad.

While you can save money being frugal, the real focus is getting the best value.

When it comes to food and really life, he don’t want to settle for less just because it’s the cheapest. You want to get the most out of what you have.

With this series, we look at ways that you can make your dollar go further. We’ve talked about getting great deals on food, whether it’s grocery hacks, meal planning, or even going out to eat.

Today, we’re going to look at another way you can enjoy fantastic meals and still keep things affordable.

We’re talking about gardening and home brewing.

What was interesting was how incredibly relaxing these hobbies, where especially last year.

Many of us had more time at home in the usual options weren’t always available. Family trips, checking out the museums or festivals were all off the table. We had to find ways to keep ourselves busy and have some creative outlets.

For us that included making home brews and being out in the garden.

We had home brewed years ago, but when we had two toddlers at home, it became more of a hassle so we took a hiatus.

Thankfully, we still had the equipment in our basement so when we felt like starting that back up last year, it was fairly simple.

The other hobby gardening is something we’ve been working on year after year, especially with this house. We have our main space Outback, where we grow hot peppers, tomatoes, different green strawberries and more.

2020 was still. You know, 20, 20, but it was good to have a project to work on. While, I don’t think all of our Happy’s have to be productive or optimize, I do feel like there are some great benefits. With making and growing your own food.

If you’re really looking to make meals at home, more enjoyable and special, it’s hard to beat something that you grew or made yourself.

Today, we’re going to look at what it takes to get started so the two of you can level up and become frugal foodies.

In this episode, we’ll go over:

• how you can set up an easy to maintain a garden in or outside your house
• Explore the fun of home brewing craft beers
• look at the numbers and see how they come out.

Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Become a Frugal Foodie If you’d like to try out your handy with gardening or homebrewing, here are some handy resources to help you get started!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• TurboTax <— We use them for our taxes
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money

Gardening * Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co * Parents Should Grow Coronavirus Victory Gardens With Their Kids * The Best Plants for Kids Who Garden

Home Brewing * American Brewmaster * Does Homebrewing beer Save Money? * How To Brew Your First Homemade Beer * Homebrewing as a Couple * Homebrewed Gifts for Your Friends

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

We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Tax season is here. How prepared are you? Today we’ll go over how to make filing your taxes easier and less stressful!

How to Make Taxes Less Stressful Between the paperwork you need to track, tax terms that are dry, and the eye-opening nature of going through your finances for the year, taxes can understandably make you anxious.

If you’re looking to optimize your finances, you have to get your taxes done right.

Today, I want to give you a quick and easy guide on preparing for your taxes.

In this episode:

• We take a step back to look at essentials of taxes
• We examine the tax deductions and credits parents should know
• Examine ways you can plan and set yourselves up for big wins on next year’s taxes

Are you ready?

Let’s get started!

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
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Tackle Your Taxes Like a Pro and Maximize Your Refund
• Income Tax Brackets for 2020

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

We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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How can you plan and budget for a year when there are so many things up in the air? Today we’ll go over how the two of you can create a plan and budget so you can hit your goals while being flexible enough to switch gears if needed!

How to Hit Your Money Goals During a Uncertain Year

This first month of 2021 is just about wrapped up and already it's been an eventful year!

A huge challenge we faced in 2020 and it looks like for a good part of this year, it's going to be creating plans when there's no firm idea of what to expect.

Heard from many of you, the frustration and the stress of having plans started at the beginning of the year, and then getting hit with the pandemic or the financial fallout from it and it throwing everything off.

It's understandable if you are not looking to repeat that in 2021.

While we can't prepare for every single situation and emergency, there are steps we can take to shore up our finances and give us more options. Our goals and our budgets need to have flexibility built in so that we can pivot for whatever comes up.

But how do you do that? How do you plan in budget when you don't know what to expect? That's going to be our focus for today.

We're going to look at the big picture and talk about how to approach your goals for this year and your budget.

Then We're going to drill down with a goal that many couples have- paying off their student loans - and coming up with a plan when there's still certain decisions that haven't been made yet.

There was an announcement last week with federal student loans, but are we going to have anything forgiven?

Certified student loan professional Meagan Landress from Student Loan Planner is here to talk about your options and what the two of you need to discuss to come up with a plan that fits your needs.

We got a lot to cover, so let's get started!

Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money If you’re looking to build up your finances, here are some handy resources we mentioned in the episode plus more!

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

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

We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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For many families, 2020 threw us for a loop. Today we’ll look at how you can revamp and build your budget so you can hit your financial goals faster!

Revamping Your Budget I think it’s fair to say that last year did not go as any of us planned. I’m not going to recap the year – we were all there- but honestly, we had a lot curve balls thrown at us.

Because we had to make so many changes with how we worked, did school, and more, our day to day routines changed and our budgets did as well.

While I’m happy that there are vaccines being produced now, there’s still much ahead of us. It’s going to be a while before things get back to a more normal routine.

Which means more than ever, we create a plan for our finances.

One of the best ways you can pivot your finances is by creating a roadmap for your money. For most families, that means creating a better budget.

Some challenges that couples face can include:

• sinking up on what goals you want to tackle this year
• Building a budget that is flexible enough to deal with adjustments
• Finding ways to both save for your goals and for some fun

So we’re going to dig into this today one by one.

Rob Bertman is on the podcast. He’s a certified financial planner and the creator of Family Budget Expert.

He’s worked with families on reconfiguring their budgets so that it reflects them and their specific goals.

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

Resources to Build a Better Budget Together Looking to create a budget? Here are some helpful resources:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Family Budget Transformation System <- Rob offers helps for couples and families on their specific budget needs
• Is the 50/20/30 Budget Right for You?
• The 50/50 Rule to Avoid Lifestyle Inflation!
• How to Successfully Budget as a Couple

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Credit Union!

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

We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Key Takeaways on Creating a Budget That Fits Your Family and Goals Now that we’re two weeks into our monthly money challenge. Which is simply tracking your money. You’re probably getting a clearer picture of your family’s cashflow.

             With those numbers in front of you, the two of you can start building a budget together that makes sense for you and your goals for the year.

Here are a few things to look out for and discuss.

Which areas of your budgets, are you spending more or less than you had anticipated?

Since many families stayed home more in 2020. It’s natural that your budget’s shifted. In certain areas may have seen an increase while others. Had a decrease. Now that the new year has started, things may have shifted again. If, so which areas of your budget are staying on target? In which ones are unexpectedly higher or lower?

Of course, if you’re going over budget, you immediately need to make changes. But this may be a case of where you need to adjust your budget, to be more realistic for your current and future circumstances. Perhaps you’ve discovered that yes, you’re spending more with food, but you’re eating at home more eating healthier.

And the quality of the food that you’re picking out is much better. So in that case, you may decide going forward that you want to keep the food expenses in that range and cut somewhere else.

The second thing to discuss. And it is related to the first is how much did you enjoy with your spending? I know sometimes in the personal finance space. Spending is seen as a negative, but that’s not necessarily the case. Again, when we’re looking at budget, we’re talking about what we prioritize and what we value.

I know for us, we’ve made some purchases during the pandemic, since we were going to spend more time at home and we do not regret those purchases.

We put some more money into our family garden and got items for the yard, such as a hammock and a telescope and we really enjoyed those purchases.

What about you? What new spending did you have because of the pandemic. Perhaps it was buying games for family game night.

You may be looking at that spending and you’re happy with it. And you might decide that going forward, you want to keep it in your budget. Then make sure that you put it as a new line item in your budget going forward.

Creating a budget. Isn’t all about cutting expenses. It’s really about being more intentional with how you use your money.

Finally looking at your cashflow. What’s a realistic pace for you to hit your goals.

We’re not trying to create the perfect budget. We’re trying to create a budget that actually works for you.

These discussions may seem small, but they can give you a leg up for creating a budget that you can use for the rest of the year!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Dealing with debt can be a grind, especially if you have a ton of debt or if it is high interest. Today we’re going to see how the debt lasso method can speed things up with credit card debts and we’ll get tips on how to pay off over six figures of debt without sacrificing fun!

Creating a Plan to Pay Off Your Debts One of the most popular goals families make when it comes to money is paying off their debts and with good reason.

Even before the pandemic, debts were a considerable chunk of an average American family’s budget.

The median household consumer debt was $67,000 according to data in New York Fed's quarterly Household Debt and Credit Survey.

Getting rid of that debt is not always so easy.

You need something that is realistic so you can stick with it as well as a way to speed things up if you’re deep in debt.

We’re going to look at how you can create a debt free plan that fits your family and budget.

Today’s financial experts are John and David Auten-Schneider and Toni Husbands.

In this episode we get into:

• Deciding which plan would work best
• Getting your spouse on board
• finding that balance between hitting your financial goals still enjoying your life

Let’s get started!

[Podcast Episode]

Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Android, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Resources to Dump Your Debt Faster If you’re looking to create a debt free plan that fits your family, budget, and timeline here are some helpful resources to review.

• Money Apps for Families: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Debt Lasso
• Debt Free Guys
• The Great Debt Dump
• Debt Free Divas
• Debt Free Plan Calculator

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

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

We’ve been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts.
• 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

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Most of us have our hands full. Too many times, our finances, health, and homes don't get the attention they deserve.

We’re going to be talking about how you can reset your habits and simplify finances, home, and life so that you can have some big wins this year!

Reworking Your Habits For multiple reasons, 2020 was a challenging year.

Even if you weren't directly affected by the pandemic or the financial fallout from it, chances are you were impacted by the things that were going on.

If you are a parent, you had another layer on top of that.

You had to not only work from home and stay productive, but make sure that your kids were doing well with remote learning, but we've made it it's a new year.

Many times people use this as motivation to change and pivot the direction they're going with.

One of the best ways you can do that is by shifting your habits.

It may seem like too small of a thing to really make an impact, but we found out from personal experience and talking with other families that that's made all the difference.

By having better habits and having systems in place, it made it much easier to hit the goals that we had and they had.

So we're starting off the season of the podcast by focusing on that- how do we shift things with our habits, how to recreate these systems?

I'm glad that Peter Polson from Tiller is here to talk about building better habits. We're going to be focusing on financial habits, but we're also going to be covering some other topics today.

We're going to be discussing:

• why habits matter, especially with your finances
• how to choose the best goals for you and your family,
• how to break things down and build up a system that will help you hit your goals faster.

Ready? Let’s get started!

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Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Android, or on your favorite podcast platform.

Key Resources to Help You Change Your Habits Looking to reset a few things to get some family and financial wins this year? Here are some fantastic resources to help you!

• Money Apps for Families: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Tiller’s 30 Days of Financial Wins
• Tiny Changes with Big Results
• The Power of Habits

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

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Building Better Habits I really enjoyed my discussion with Peter. Even though our focus there was about improving your finances, there are a lot of key points that you can use in other areas of your life.

Developing habits is absolutely important to that, but before we get into how you can do it, let's talk a bit more.

What is habit? How would you define it?

In essence, a habit is something that you almost do automatically. If you had to break it down, there are three key components to it.

• Cue
• Routine
• Reward

I admit that might sound a little bit dry and boring, but when you understand how these work together, then it's easier to make changes.

Now you might feel like it's impossible to change your habits, or it's almost impossible, but that's not the case.

You already are a habit forming machine.

New York times, reporter Charles Duhigg studied the neuroscience and psychological research behind our routines in his book, The Power of Habit.

He cited a study in his book that was done at Duke University and researchers there found that over 40% of the activities we do on a daily basis is a habit.

Before the pandemic, if you were going to the office, you probably had a set pattern or schedule of what you did and some of it almost felt automated.

Your commute, for example, you may have gaps because you do the same commute to the location it's automated in your brain.

During the pandemic, if you were working from home, you probably had to recreate a new routine to fit your new normal and to continue working and be productive.

It is possible to change and adjust your habits based on your goals and your circumstances.

How do you do that?

Changing Your Habits So let's go back to those three parts, the cue, the routine and the reward.

Your cue is your trigger for the behavior we're talking about, could be a time, for example, your alarm clock, telling you at a certain time, you got to get up and start the routine.

It could be the location when you're at the office and you log on. The first thing you do is you check your email.

It could also be the presence of certain people. It could be emotions, how you feel, or it can be actions that you've taken before.

Most times we're not immediately aware of what our queue is, but if you pay attention as you're doing the routine, you'll start seeing that there are certain things that kind of clue you in and get you started in that habit.

Pay attention the next time you're trying to change that habit and see what is the thing that triggers you to do that habit.

The next part is the routine, which is your actual habit.

Maybe at the beginning of the day, you go to the home or your regular office and you log in and you immediately go to email. You might want to change the routine.

When you sit down, instead of emails, you sit down and write out the most important tasks that you need to accomplish for work that day and have that by the desk so that you know, that that is the must do for the day and that you put that first.

The last thing that you can manipulate is the reward.

For example, you're talking about snacks, swapping out the snacks, that reward of you feel good.

You're taking a break, you're relaxing, but instead of having that processed food, you've picked some fresh fruits, Apple and peanut butter or whatever you like.

You're still enjoying that break. Maybe talking with someone and catching up, but you're not having unnecessary calories added to your diet.

Those are a few ways, but really nailing down those three key points can make it so much easier and just focusing one at a time absolutely makes a huge difference.

When you're able to identify what your trigger is, then you're better able to manipulate and swap things out so that you can change your bad habit and put a better habit in.

Figuring Out Which Habit to Pick Up This can sound a little bit hard to wrap your head around because we're just talking about cues, rewards and habits.

Let's look at some goals that people have or areas in their life that they want to improve. Then we can break that down into habits and goals that they can pick up.

Let's talk about health. Maybe you want to get healthier this year? What does that look like? You can have several different goals.

Maybe you're looking specifically at weight. Maybe you don't feel as strong as you used to or as athletic.

Let's break that down into different areas and see what goals can be there and what habits we can pick up.

It could be a matter of exercising more. It could be making better choices with your meals and snacks throughout the day, or it can be something like drinking, more water.

Since we talked about finances, let's dive into that again. You want to have a better understanding of how your money works, so you start tracking your money

Maybe you're looking to pay down your debt or you're saving for a specific goal, like a house or for your kid's college or whatever it is. You have to develop this habit of paying yourself first.

Now we can transfer that to other areas like your personal wellness. Something that is underrated, but really helpful with improving your mood and your health is making sure that you get good quality sleep.

So whatever that number is six to eight hours that fits you would be a great improvement. Or you want to pursue a passion project? I'm not talking about a side hustle. I'm specifically talking about something that you really enjoy a hobby that enriches your life.

Perhaps you feel overwhelmed with everything so one of your goals for this year is to just have less stress. The best way to do that is to start tracking your schedule and making sure that you're putting the more important things first.

Finally, let's look around the house. A lot of us had to spend much more time around the house and maybe we realized we weren't as happy as we used to be, or that we realized we were with the place.

What are some things that we can improve? We can declutter unnecessary things. We could tackle that list of home projects we had been putting off.

You could do a review of what's already in your home. You could donate and sell those items free up some space and have less things to maintain around your home.

As you can see, there's different ways that you can break down your goals, not just with finances, but you look at your health, your wellness , your family and around the house.

Harnessing The Power of Focus with Your Habits Now a challenge that people have is they want to fix it all. Maybe I've listed several goals that you want to achieve.

One of the best ways you can avoid burnout is by choosing and focusing maybe on one to two goals at a time. Once you get those habits into place, then you can move on to the next.

That's one of the reasons I think, why systems like the baby steps with your finances is so helpful for many is that it gives you one goal at a time to focus on.

As you hit it, then you can move on. You've had a win. You feel good about that. You progress forward. So then how do you figure out which goal or which habit is right for you?

I had mentioned to Peter that one of the goals I had during our time at home was exercising more.

I wanted to make this as easy as possible. The cue is the clothes right there where I can slip into them, get started my workout first thing in the morning. Then I can do my regular routine and that's made a huge difference for me.

We're looking for these Keystone habits that can kind of create this domino effect. Look for a small habit that you can do that can have a significant impact on your goals.

For example, you want to save up for a house down the line. What's one of the best ways you could do that? Paying yourself first could be a great key move. Making sure that at the beginning of the month, once your check is deposited, there's an automatic transfer for a certain amount that goes into savings for that goal.

Let's talk about health. One of the easiest ways you can do that even before you shift your habits is by tracking your meals and snacks.

We mentioned the power of tracking your money when I was chatting with Peter, because it brings us awareness. Tracking your habits currently can be a great first habit to develop.

With your health, when you look at the meals that you're actually eating in the snacks you're having and the amount of them, you may have some motivation right there to say, you know what? I don't need to snack as much, or maybe I can swap out.

Tracking your finances, your meals and snacks, or even your schedule can be a fantastic habit.

To help you hit your goals today. I want to focus on not just a couple of key takeaways, but on a monthly money challenge for you.

Now we've talked about Keystone habits and setting things in place so you're moving in the right direction.

So I thought the best way to start off this year is to focus on tracking your money, both on the income side and on the expenses.

Look, 2020 did a number on us, and we probably had to make some adjustments to our budget and reset a few things. So if we're going to pivot towards these new goals that we have, we should get a good idea of what our baseline is.

Where is our money coming from and where is it going? Moving forward, we can start making adjustments in the right direction.

There's several ways that you can do this. There's some great options out there with apps.

A few that I want to mention include tiller, which we had Peter over there doing that financial wins challenge.

Definitely want to join in on that. If you're looking for a community, I think that's great.

We also have personal capital and mint. And if you're a couple, that specifically is looking for ways to sync up and talk about your finances. There are apps that are specifically designed for that Zeta and honey fi can help you to get on the same page with your finances.

Maybe you don't want to use an app. Spreadsheets can be incredibly helpful. There's some great Google sheet in Excel templates. If you want, I do have on my site, my own like 50, 20, 30 budget template that you can use and adjust as you see fit.

And there's nothing wrong with pen and paper, if that's how you want to do do it. It's more important that you have a tool that fits you and your style, because if you're consistent, that's when you're going to start having the wins.

And a key takeaway I want to focus on are your money dates this year. Let's make them into a habit if you haven't already and make them fun.

This first month we're talking about tracking your money, just set it up. Don't talk about the numbers necessarily, but instead focus - what are the key areas with our finances around the house with ourselves, our health, our family, that we want to hit?

See which ones you can agree on. Sync up on that and start tracking your progress.

As always, if you want to chat with me in our Facebook group, thriving families, please sign up and join. It's free. We're a private Facebook community that's focused on helping each other with our family and financial goals.

We'd love to see you there.

Special, thanks to Peter for being a part of this episode. There is still time. If you want to join up tillers 30 days to financial wins challenge, it's a great way to join a community and start tracking your money. And they do offer a 30 day free trial. Just head over to simplifying, enjoy.com/tiller.

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.

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Most parents have their hands full and too many times our finances, health, and homes don’t get the attention they should.

We go over how you can reset your habits so you simplify your finances, home, and lives to enjoy some big wins this year!

Reworking Your Habits For multiple reasons, 2020 was a challenging year.

Even if you weren’t directly affected by the pandemic or managed to avoid the financial fallout of it, chances are you were impacted by what was happening.

If you’re a parent, you had this gargantuan task of working from home, staying productive, while corralling your kids with their remote learning.

But we made it here.

Understandably, you’re probably looking forward to resetting a few things, including your finances.

Peter Polson, the founder of Tiller, is joining me in this episode to discuss how to shift your financial habits and more.

It may seem these are too small to matter or make a difference, but from our personal experience and learning from others, habits are really the building blocks to pivoting towards your goals, whether it’s with money, at home, or our health.

In this episode, we’re looking at:

• Why Habits Are Better Than Relying on Just Willpower
• Essential Daily Habits to Add Into Your Routine
• How to Design Your Schedule and Finances Around Who and What Matters Most to You

Ready? Let’s get started!

Key Resources to Help You Change Your Habits Looking to reset a few things to get some family and financial wins this year?

Here are some fantastic resources to help you!

• Money Apps for Families: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Tiller’s 30 Days of Financial Wins.
• Tiny Changes with Big Results

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

We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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 Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.

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Has 2020 thrown you off your FI course? Today we’re going to tackle how you can get back on and knock out a goal before the year is over!

Knocking Out a Money Goal Before the Year Wraps Up I’m going to take a guess and say that 2020 has not gone the way you thought it would back at the beginning of the year.

Looking at the first half of the season, you probably remember that we started off the year with some big purchases when we had to replace my husband’s car into we did a kitchen update.

Now, both of these purchases were planned. For instance, we saved up for it. We didn’t incur any debt. But just a couple weeks after we finished the major parts of the kitchen, things were shutting down.

Because there were so many things up in the air and a lot of uncertainty, we’ve made adjustments, definitely got more conservative when it came to any more spending.

We also got a little more cautious with our other goals for the year and put a pause on them until we had a better idea of what’s going on.

From what I’m seeing and hearing from you, you’re kind of in the same boat.

You had a goal that you were looking forward to knocking out this year. But when the pandemic hit, you kind of put pause and you might feel like you’ve just lost your footing a bit and you’re trying to get things back in order.

But with August being almost done, is it too late? Well, the good news is there are 18 weeks left in the year.

So if you want to make the most out of this time, then I think you’ll enjoy today’s show.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• How to get back on n the horse and restart paying down your debts or saving for a specific goal
• Rethinking your investing strategy
• Incorporating more giving into your regular financial routine

Let’s get started!

Handy Tools to Reset and Get Back on Your FI Journey If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family and look at pursuing financial independence, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook
• Free 401(k) Analysis: Blooom
• It’s A Good Time To Save More. Here’s How

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Music in this episode was provided by artists from Audiio.

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Before they leave the house, how can you prepare your teen to be money savvy? Today we go over the five essential skills they need to know!

Teaching Your Teen About Money and the Real World Last week, Kristia shared how she’s helping her girls become more savvy and thoughtful with money.

We also go into how to start the conversations so your kid can begin to pick up crucial money habits and learn how to spend, save, and give wisely.

Because even though money is not the most important thing, understanding how it works can empower your kid to use it as a tool to build a life that they love.

But to help them prepare takes time. Which can be a challenge in itself.

Many of us are living full lives. I mean in our case, this week the new school year has started – virtually for us- and now both of our girls are enrolled.

They have their school schedules, we have our work schedules, and so these next few weeks we’re going to have to test things out and find that rhythm.

And if you have teens in the house, you may feel like time is even further compressed. How do you pass on these lessons while handling your own regular routine and whatever add layers of complexity 2020 has thrown at you?

So today we want to reduce some stress for you.

We’re going to be looking at how you can help your teen prepare for the real-world, specifically finances.

In this episode, we’ll go over:

• Five key money skills they need to know
• Creating their post-graduation budget
• Whether or not they should pay bills while living at home

It’s a lot to cover, but I’m excited. Are you ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Help Your Kid Become Savvy with Their Money Here are some of my favorite tools, apps, and resources to get your family working as a team with money!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Famzoo: Fantastic tool that allows you to create a family ‘bank’ system that can make managing allowances easier while guiding your kid from preschooler to teen to become financially savvy.
• The Opposite of Spoiled
• Cash Crunch Games
• Goalsetter
• How to Talk to Kids About College Costs
• What Should Teenagers Do?

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

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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? It was provided by Lee Rosevere and artists from Audiio.

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How can you help your kids to be thoughtful and master money? We’ll go over key things they need to know about how to save, spend, and give!

Teaching Your Kids About Money Teaching Your Kids About Money In a way, I feel like 2020 has kind of given everyone a sense of how time works with parents. On one hand, you look up at the calendar and are amazed at how quickly things have flown by.

I mean it’s already August!

And yet on a weekly level, there’s this rhythm that somehow makes you think things are barely moving along.

Next week our kids are back in school and we will have a 4th grader and a kindergartener.

With this extra time together at home, we’ve had more conversations with one another. And if you’re around kids, you know that are a big part of those conversations are questions.

Some topics we expected, our kids are 9 and 5 and they are now more aware of what’s going on, but others threw us off or at least me.

And one of those was money.

As you probably guessed, as a personal finance writer I do talk to my girls about money. And as a family, we have our little system for allowances, chores, and savings.

But with the pandemic and the fallout hitting so many families so hard, our girls have asked – are we okay? They’ve wondered about others too.

So we’ve expanded our conversations and included them in the family finances more.

Whether there’s a pandemic ort not, I think if you ask any parent we want our kids ot not only be savvy with money, but more thoughtful and generous.

But there can be a gap between what we like to teach our kids and actually getting started.

Which is why we’re tackling this in two parts. Today we’re going to focus on getting the ball rolling with money talks.

I’m excited because I’ve invited another mom in the trenches to chat – Kristia Ludwick.

She’s not only a mom of two girls but also a half-marathon runner and the creator behind Family Balance Sheet.

In this episode we’re discussing:

• How to open up the conversations with your kids about money
• Adjusting for each of your kid’s specific needs
• Why your example matters

Ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Help Your Kid Become Savvy with Their Money Here are some of my favorite tools, apps, and resources to get your family working as a team with money!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How We Paid off Six Figures of Debt
• Famzoo: Fantastic tool that allows you to create a family ‘bank’ system that can make managing allowances easier while guiding your kid from preschooler to teen to become financially savvy.
• Cash Crunch Jr.
• Goalsetter
• 5 Things I Want To Teach My Kids About Money Fit On A 4 By 6 Index Card
• 21 Back To School Tips For Raising Money Savvy Kids At Each Educational Stage

Thank You to Our Partner Coastal Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Music in this episode is by artists from Audiio.

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Should We Hire a Contractor or DIY This Home Project? If you had to rate yourself on a scale of 1-10 on how handy you are, what would it be?

First off congrats if it’s a seven or higher. However, even if you’re more in the one to three range, chances are you had those moments and conversations about how cool it would be to tackle some projects.

It could be as simple as a splash of paint, switching up the decor, okay sprucing up a room, or even tackling a renovation.

Maybe it’s because you’re stuck at home and you’re thinking, ‘yeah, we need to change this up.

Or it could be the not so subtle influence of that HGTV binge of

But then you hit this wall. Let’s call this wall reality.

And the reality is telling you that updating your kitchen is going to cost you a whole lot of money because you’re going to need a contractor and a team to execute your dream.

Or you hope to save some money and do the work yourself, but you’re the person who just gave themselves a two.

What do you do?

First, take a step back and relax. There’s no rush or deadline.

Second, enjoy this episode because we’re digging into figuring out how to tackle your home projects, big or small!

In this episode we’ll get into:

• How to decide whether or not to DIY
• How to find the best contractor for you and your budget
• Expanding your DIY skills

Ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Make Your Home Renovation Project More Affordable If you’re planning on doing a home renovation project and you want to keep it stylish and affordable, here are some resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Designer Kitchen on an IKEA Budget?
• Renovate, Remodel…Relax!
• 8 Ways to Save on Home Renovations
• Weekend Home Organization Projects
• DIY vs. professional renovation: What to tackle yourself and what to leave to the pros

Thank You to Our Partner Coastal Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and you’re at the stage where you’re planning and saving up for your home project, you really want to check out Coastal.

Besides having competitive rates with savings, they also have loan options for home improvements, including a home equity line of credit (HELOC)!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music and Audio Credit Like the music in this episode? Music is by Staircases, Joshua Luke Smith, and Arms and Sleepers from Audiio. Additional audio comes from FreeSound.org: EnjoyPA and balloonhead.

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With the market not seeming to match what we see around us, how can we invest wisely?

Today we’re digging into what mistakes to avoid and how to be a wise, effective, and efficient investor!

How Not to Stress Out with Investing With so many things going on this year, it is understandable to wonder if right now is a good time to invest.

Back in March, with things shutting down around the country and parts of the world, the S&P dropped more than 30%. While it’s climbing back up, it’s not been a smooth process at all.

Another part that families struggle with is seeing this seeming mismatch between the headlines and the news about the market.

It’s enough to frustrate many investors.

And with the financial fallout still here, some of you may be wondering if it would be better to pull out of the market altogether, shore up things at home, and come back when things aren’t so crazy.

While others might wonder if they need to go all in and try to take advantage of what’s going on.

I get it which is why today we’re going to dig into these questions and concerns head-on.

We’re looking at how to invest in a tumultuous and volatile market.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• The biggest mistakes investor make so you know what to avoid
• how to think approach your investment strategy and plan – you don’t want to go in there blind
• How simplifying may help you improve your investment returns

Ready? Let’s get started!

Resources to Become a Savvy Investor Looking to level up your investing habits? Here are some helpful resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook
• Free 401(k) Analysis: Blooom
• The One Page Financial Plan
• Your Money or Your Life
• Rock Your Retirement
• The Simple Path to Wealth
• How to Beat 80% of Investors With 1% of the Effort

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

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 Spotify, or Apple.
• 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!

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Despite popular opinion, you don’t need a million dollars to be financially free. We’ll go over how you can create a financial independence plan that fits your family and is actually fun!

How Much Do We Need as a Family to Be Financially Free? Simplify and Enjoy is about families working toward financial freedom using core ideas from financial independence and minimalism.

But how does that work in times like these?

Can we take this foundational question we talked about in an earlier episode – finding your FI number – and actually craft a plan for a family now going through the pandemic?

Let’s be honest, depending on where you were in your own financial journey, the pandemic could’ve shifted things in so many directions for you.

I think it’s reasonable to acknowledge that a family who’s carrying debt like car payments or student loan is going to experience things much differently than a family whose paid off their

Non-mortgage debts and are using that money to invest.

So how do you create that path for those families? Is it possible to work towards financial freedom and perhaps independence during times like these?

First off, let’s start off with the good news.

You don’t need a million dollars or more saved to achieve financial freedom. In fact, with some planning, you can really open up a lot of options for your family in a relatively short amount of time. And you know, what it can be rewarding and enjoyable.

I want to show you how.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• Making financial independence approachable by doing it in phases
• The key numbers to watch
• How to craft a plan that fits your family

So we’re going to start with concepts but then go into some real numbers so you can see how the process works.

Ready? Let’s get started!

Handy Tools to Start Your FI Journey If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family and look at pursuing financial independence, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook
• Free 401(k) Analysis: Blooom
• Coast FI: A Better Path to Financial Independence
• 10 Lessons Learned from Accidental Slow F.I.R.E.
• How Much is Enough Money? The Levels of Financial Autonomy

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

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 Spotify, or Apple.
• 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!

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Credit scores have a huge influence on finances, but they’re not an end all be all. Learn how to raise your credit score while building up your finances!

When Your Credit Scores Matter I have to be honest – based on what I know and seeing how people react to them, I’m not a fan of obsessing over your credit score.

However, I also realize that it does have a huge impact on most people’s finances.

Lenders look at your credit score when deciding what rates you qualify for and if you’re looking at a big purchase, like a house, that can mean tens of thousands of dollars (or more) over the life of your mortgage.

Some insurance companies also take a portion from your credit report use it to calculate your premiums.

Depending on what industry you’re working in like banking, your employer may check your credit as a precaution.

So I get the concern on why you’d be interested in your credit score, but the problem comes up when I see people focused on it like it’s THE number that matters.

So much so that they are willing to try bad vice and end up harming their finances just to get a higher score.

I don’t want you to be in that situation.

The truth is if you’re interested in expanding your options, reducing stress, and building financial freedom for your family, then you need to understand how to make your credit report and score work for you.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• How credit scores work
• Ways to raise your credit score (and what bad advice to avoid)
• How to get your money in a situation where your credit score is an afterthought

Ready?

Let’s get started!

Raise Your Credit Score While Growing Your Money Looking to not only improve your credit score, but your finances? Here are some helpful resources!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook
• One Side Effect of the Virus: Free Credit Reports Each Week
• 3 Myths That Can Destroy Your Credit Score
• The Man Without a Credit Score
• Living off of Cash, Not Credit?

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’re improving your score because you’re looking to buy a house, they also have competitive mortgage rates!

How Credit Scores Work First off, what is your credit score?

Quite simply, your credit scores are calculated based on what is on your credit report.

Many people, including myself years ago, use credit reports and credit scores interchangeably. While they are related they are not the same.

At its core, your credit report is a recorded history of your debt payments (credit cards, car and student loans, and mortgages) that allow lenders to determine your creditworthiness.

Whether you get approved for a loan, how much interest you’ll be charged – these are determined by what’s in your reports.

And as weird as it sounds, you have three reports (and scores) because there are three credit bureaus tracking that data- Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax.

Now, what’s in those reports?

• Personal information like home address, Social Security number,
• Loan Accounts, Amounts Owed
• Payment History
• Credit Limits and Utilization

Your credit score is a number between 300-850 that each of the credit agencies assigns based on the information on your credit report.

Now no one gave them permission to collect this data nor are those reports consistently accurate (if you want a quick run of the history, check out this episode of Planet Money), but this is the standard used.

Having a ‘good’ or high credit score can be beneficial because you can qualify for better rates with your loans. This is especially significant with your mortgage.

Which is why a family member reached out to me. With the past year, she had managed to pay off all of her non-mortgage debt.

An amazing accomplishment and I told her how proud I was.

Here’s the kicker though – her credit score went down.

Why in the world would that happen? Because of how credit scores are calculated. When she paid off the last of those loans, that lender closed the account.

That’s why I’m not a fan of credit scores. They’re not really a good indicator of your financial health.

Ways to Raise Your Credit Score (and Level Up Your Finances) I’ve seen some horrible advice given where people are trying to ‘hack’ their score, but in the long run, it ruins their finances.

Such garbage as:

• opening several new accounts -typically credit cards- just so you can raise your score.
• Programs that will wipe away bad credit scores overnight

So if you’re looking to raise your credit score because you’re house hunting, I want to take you through how you can build your credit score without having to hurt or harm your long term finances.

Let’s start with key factors that are in your report and are used to calculate your credit score. I’m going to list them in order of weight.

• Payment History (35%)
• Amount of Debt Owed (30%)
• Length of Credit History (15%)
• New Credit (10%)
• Types of Credit (10%)

So if you want to get the best score possible, you need to focus on those key factors.

Review Your Credit Reports Since your score is based on what’s in those credit reports, you better make sure they got it right!

With credit scores being used by lenders to figure out some one’s creditworthiness, you would think that these reports have a high degree of accuracy, but you’d be wrong.

[More than one in five consumers have a “potentially material error” in their credit file that makes them look riskier than they are.

Now it used to be that you could go to Annualcreditreport.com to get your reports from all three bureaus for free every year.

I don’t know if you call it a bonus, but you now do this for free every week.

If you find a mistake, you can submit a note through the credit bureau, which means creating an account with them. You also want to reach out to that lender. [30-45 days]

Automate Your Payments Okay, so your report looks good, we can now move on to the meat – improving your payment history.

Your payment history by far has the biggest influence on your credit score.

You want a consistent history of paying your bills on time.

If you already have that history, you’ve put yourself in a great spot. If not, don’t worry.

The first step is making sure you are current with your bills and loans. Here’s where bad advice can come in and ruin you. Some may advise you to prioritize your credit cards over your essentials.

Don’t.

Instead, make sure you have the critical bills are taken care of – housing, food, necessary transportation, and health.

We did an episode all about building a better budget so use that to get your finances organized.

You can start building up that history and saving yourself time by scheduling those payments using online bill pay through your bank or credit union.

I know some creditors and bills do auto-draft, but based on personal experience and hearing from others, I like having the control.

Avoid Large Balances

The second factor you want to look at is the amount you owe.

While having regular activity on your cards is important, carrying too much debt can make you appear financially strained, so be sure to pay balances quickly.

Again, scheduling your payments can help you. If you decide to use credit cards, then make sure after you make the purchase you schedule the payment.

Don’t Immediately Close an Account After You Paid It Off*

Related to the amount you owe is your credit utilization ratio – basically how much of your available credit are you using.

If your credit utilization is high, your score will be negatively affected. Lenders like to see low ratios of 30% or less.

Here’s where a family pursuing financial freedom, you’ll want to veer off this common piece of advice.

Some horrible ‘advice’ I’ve seen includes opening new accounts just so you can raise your score.

Don’t do it.

Remember we are looking at raising your score without raising more needless risk or temptation.

Never spend more money just to build your credit – it’s a losing game.

Ideally, you should be paying your balances off each month. Less stress.

Now here’s something to seriously consider when you’re getting a mortgage and going the traditional route with lenders.

If you’ve paid off your debt and you’re focused on a higher credit score for your mortgage, then keep the account open. At least until after the mortgage.

If you close it, your score can go down, which means your lender will probably offer a higher interest rate.

Once you have your mortgage, you can go ahead and close it.

Your score will be affected, but as I’ll talk more about more in a bit, it may not matter. Remember we’re thinking long-term with your finances.

How to Make Your Credit Score an Afterthought So those are the key factors you should be focusing on with raising your credit score.

I do want to mention in terms of giving yourself more options and a bit more freedom is to have a plan to pay off your debts.

Getting rid of your credit card debt can be a huge win as you’re not being sucked into those ridiculous interest rates.

You’ll also put yourself in a position where your credit score isn’t such a big deal.

As you are knocking out your credit debt, car and student loans, and putting extra towards that mortgage, at each step you’ll be less and less dependent on your credit score.

Think about it, when you’re completely debt-free, how important is your credit score now?

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 Spotify, or Apple.
• 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!

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For most families, the school year is over and after being at home for months, there’s this desire to get out and explore. However, with coronavirus cases growing, many families are wondering, can we have a safe summer gateway?

Summer Break (without Travel?) We’re in a strange season. Usually, summer is when families go on vacation, but travel is tricky (to put it mildly).

Different parts of this country are being hit to varying degrees. We have states like Florida, Texas, Arizona, and South Carolina where the cases are leaping up and they’re hitting new records.

You also have some states where the numbers are fairly steady like Virginia and Connecticut.

So the questions become - is there a safe way to have a family trip? Or are we stuck at some for another season?

We’re going to look at a few ways you can have a family getaway - more local for sure- as well as making a staycation truly fun.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• Return of the Family Road Trips, Weekend Getaways, and Day Trips
• Travel tips to minimize your risk while you’re away from home
• The joys of a staycation Yes, you can stay put and enjoy yourself. (At least that’s what my husband Rob thinks. )

Let’s get started!

Travel Tips for Family Vacations Want to enjoy a great family getaway this summer? Here are some resources to help!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• CDC Guide: How to Protect Yourself & Others
• Stick to road trips this summer because of the pandemic, travel expert says
• If you miss travel, road trips could be your key to safer summer getaways
• 30 Fun Family Activities To Do While Social Distancing

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 not only have fantastic customer service but they also have competitive rates on their checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

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

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Today we’re digging into how to live well and enjoy this summer without breaking your budget!

Enjoying Summer as a Family, Staying on Budget Saving money can be a smart and practical move when it comes to your finances. Sometimes though, you can get caught up with savings that it becomes your goal.

In the personal finance space and in particular with the financial independence community, there’s a segment that is intensely focused on how cheap they’re living.

They spend only $25,000 year or save half or more of their income.

First off, I think it’s commendable to look at ways to save. You want your hard-earned money o go further. But I think it misses the point of it all.

Instead of focusing on living cheaply, I think it’s more enjoyable and sustainable to live well.

As parents, we want to enjoy the time we have now with our kids. We can’t get that time back with them.

While working towards financial freedom does take getting our numbers into a good spot, it’s really to serve the bigger goals, savor the more precious resource time.

So today we’re digging into ways we can find that balance that is right for us and whatever season of life we’re in.

This is why I’m happy to have author, speaker, and podcaster Michelle Jackson on the podcast today.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• Defining your priorities and creating a budget that includes those while tackling paying off debt
• Finding ways to live well (foodie, health, and more) while keeping it affordable
• How to remove stress and automate your money

Let’s get started!

Resources to Help You To Reset Your Finances and More If you’re ready to get your budget up and running this summer, here are some handy tools and resources you should check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Honeyfi, Zeta
• 50/20/30 Spreadsheet Template
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money
• How to Talk to Your Spouse About 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!

They not only have fantastic customer service but they also have competitive rates on their checking and savings accounts!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

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

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Since March families have been forced to scramble and readjust their money, homes, and routines to deal with the pandemic.

Today we’ll look at how you can reset, rework, and simplify to reduce the stress and overwhelm this summer!

Summer Plans: Rework Your Money, Home, and Routines Right now 2020 seems to me to be a cross between a disaster movie and a rollercoaster.

The original plan was to return last month to Simplify and Enjoy, but things needed to be adjusted. I partnered up with our sponsor Coastal Credit Union for mini-series focused on dealing with the financial side of the fallout of the coronavirus.

But as happy as I am to have the ability to do that, I also realize how that’s only one piece of the puzzle.

Our finances are something we deal with regularly, but life is more than money. I believe that money is not the goal.

A tool that you can use to build a life around who and what matters most to you.

I think having the stay at home orders really hit home how we don’t need more stuff. Time is the resource to look at.

How are we spending our time? What are our lives focused around? Then build your finances around that.

Little by little. Step by step.

There’s a connection between everything and that’s why this second half of the season is going to look at.

How do you move forward in times like these?

Many of us are resetting and reworking our finances, our homes, and our lives. It’s not easy and in fact, for many families, it can be daunting. We’re still in the middle of the crisis.

So for the next round of episode we’ll peel back these layers on how you can simplify during this summer and beyond so you can have more options and less stress.

Specifically, I want to talk about where you can get some big wins with your money, home, and life.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• How to rework your budget
• Transform your home to fit your family’s current needs
• Adjust your routines so you can feel less stressed and overwhelmed

Let’s get started!

Resources to Help You If you’re ready to get your budget up and running, here are some handy tools and resources you should check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Honeyfi, Zeta
• 50/20/30 Spreadsheet Template
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money
• How to Talk to Your Spouse About 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!

They not only have fantastic customer service, they also have competitive rates on their checking and savings accounts!

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Want to get out and travel more with the kids this year without breaking your budget? Learn how you can use travel hacking to snag fantastic deals for your family trips!

Travel Hacking 101 for Families This week we’re going to have to make a decision – the beach or mountains?

Spring is coming which means we have a big break coming up and we’d like to take a mini-getaway as a family.

As we’ve paid off the non-mortgage debts, we’ve tried to weave in breaks and trips as a way to recharge, reset, and honestly relax.

While we make travel is a part of our budget that doesn’t mean we don’t like to find ways to save.

After all, when you’re a family with kids in tow, expenses can add up quickly.

One popular way I’ve noticed more and more families taking with their trips – especially with long or out of country trips is with travel hacking.

We’ll get into how exactly it works a bit more, but basically you’re using rewards from credit cards to knock down your trip so that it’s cheap or free.

Sounds too good to be true, right?

Actually, you can make it work. But that doesn’t mean it’s for everyone.

This is why I’m happy Doreen Brown Vice President of Cards at Coastal is here today on the show. She’ll share her take on getting the most from credit cards for your trip.

I’m also sharing tips from travel hackers so you can get some ideas of how you can make it work for your family.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• How travel hacking works
• Choosing the right card to maximize your rewards
• Setting up a system to get great deals on hotels, transportation, and more

Whether you travel hack or not, we’re going to find ways you can save big on your next family vacation!

Resources for Affordable Family Vacations 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
• How to Travel the World for FREE! – Our Rich Journey
• Travel Hacking Tracker <-Their tracking sheet you can download!
• 3 reasons “budget” hotels DESTROY nice ones
• Can You Really Get Free Flights? Travel Hacking Essentials

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

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

• 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? Music is by Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

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Besides investing in index funds, many families in the FI space are also investing in real estate. We’ll look at the different avenues involved (flipping, rental properties, REITs) so you can see if investing real estate is right for you!

Is Real Estate Investing Right for Us? Have you ever watched one of those shows on HGTV and DIY where they renovate and then sell the homes – Desert Flippers, Good Bones, and my mom’s favorite – Texas Flip and Move.

The transformation of those places can be incredible, but part the draw too – at least for me – is waiting until the end to see how much they sold it for and seeing the profit they take home.

I don’t know about you, we do think about the potential of real estate.

If you’re a family working towards financial freedom, one of the things to consider is diversifying your income.

For some families investing in real estate has been the way to go, but is that the right choice for you?

That’s something we’re actually considering now. I don’t know about you, but before I put any money in, I want to have a clear idea of how things work so we can see if it’s the best use of our money and fits into the big picture for us.

This is why I’m so happy Louis Guillama is back on the show. He’s the Vice President of Real Estate Operations at Coastal Credit Union and he’s had decades of experience as a real estate investor.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• The various ways you can start investing in real estate
• How to financial prepare so if you decide to go in, you have a solid foundation
• Resources and ways to dig in deeper and learn more

Let’s get started!

Resources on Real Estate 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
• BiggerPockets
• How to Invest in Real Estate: Ultimate Beginner’s Guide

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

If you need an agent, Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

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

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Learn how you can find a great deal on a reliable car that you love!

Car Buying Guide For many families, car payments are a part of their finances and a big chunk of their budget.

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

It doesn’t have to be that way though.

When we switched over to buying our cars with cash, it really freed up so many options.

Besides having more flexibility with our money on a monthly basis, we also found that we tended to save a significant amount on the total purchase price with our cars.

Getting to that point takes a mindset shift and a system. It’s not overnight, but you can set things up where you’re moving in that direction.

And when you keep your car costs affordable you can then redirect your hard earn money towards other goals that matter to you.

I want to help you out with that today.

One of our goals for 2020 was to get a replacement car for my husband Rob. He uses it for his commute. While the Maxima had been a fantastic vehicle for many years, it was becoming obvious that we needed something else.

Originally we were looking at hunting around this summer once we had taken care of the kitchen renovation project. Long story short, we found ourselves last month scouring online and at dealerships for his car.

We found a great one that we love that was well within our budget. I’m going to take you through our process for finding it and buying it outright – which I recommend for sure, but I know that we’re all at different parts of our journey so you may want to look at financing part of your purchase.

How can you make sure that you’re getting the best deal on not only the car but your rate?

Bob Sherwin is here on the show today to answer those questions. He’s the indirect auto underwriting department at Coastal Credit Union so he’s the perfect person to walk us through the process.

In this episode we’re getting into:

• finding a reliable car that going to last
• Preparing to save up as well as how to best prepare if you’re financing the purchase
• Negotiating the best deal – you have more power at the dealership than you think

Sounds good? 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
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• AutoSmart by Coastal
• How to Raise Your Credit Scores
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• 5 Days to $5K Course
• Buying a Car with Cash- Crazy or Crazy Smart?
• How to Get the Best Deal on Your Next Car
• 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!

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!
• 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? Music by Lee Rosevere and Audiio.

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Food is usually one of the biggest expenses families have. We dive right back in with ways you can save a significant amount of money while still being a foodie!

Becoming a Frugal Foodie Frugal foodie is back!

During our first season last year, I did an episode eating well on a budget and becoming a frugal foodie.

It was one of the most popular episodes by far. I had a lot of fun doing it because we not only looking at ways to save on food – which can be a huge expense but how to do it in such a way that you’re still enjoying fantastic meals.

Simply going for the cheapest foods is not a smart option. For one thing, there’s a lot of highly processed food options out there that are cheaper, but not good for you.

Your health can take a dive which can affect your quality of life and really the since the podcast is called Simplify and Enjoy, you can’t take advantage of the second part if you’re unhealthy.

And if you consider yourself a foodie, you probably want your meals to be not just healthy, but tasty and full of flavor.

Now based on the last show, I saw that I missed a critical step for many on their path to becoming a frugal foodie.

It’s that actual transition from regularly enjoying a meal out with friends to becoming someone who can invite buddies over for meals.

What if you love food, but hate to cook? What if your idea of meal prep is ordering in?

So in this episode, we’re going to get into:

• essential kitchen items you need to whip up a fantastic meal with 20 minutes or less of work
• whether grocery delivery services and meal planning services can save you money and quickly level up your cooking
• My favorite resources for quick and easy recipes

Let’s get started!

Resources to Become a Frugal Foodie If you’re looking to eat better while sticking to your budget, 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
• Good and Cheap: How to Eat Well on $4/Day by Leane Brown
• Eating Well on a Budget by Julien and Kristen Saunders
• USDA Monthly Food Reports
• The $5 Foodie
• Eat Like a Foodie at Home, Without Breaking Your Budget
• A World Map of Flavors – 36 Regions, 36 Herb and Spice Combinations
• Bon Appetit’s Basically
• The Kitchn Cooking School
• BudgetBytes

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’re looking for a rewards card that fits you, Coastal has a Signature Premier Rewards Visa Credit Card with some great benefits!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

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

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We’re planning on renovating our kitchen, but we don’t want to break our budget. Is it possible to have a designer kitchen on an IKEA budget? We’ll find out today!

Kitchen Reno on a Budget One of our big goals for 2020 is finally updating our kitchen. When we moved into our house four years ago, we knew there were going to be some projects.

While the house definitely had some great bones and had a timeless quality to them, there were rooms that felt a bit…well dated.

You got the stylish parquet floor in the dining room butting up against the dingy tile in the kitchen.

While a kitchen update is in itself a challenge, there are some factors that came into play to require some more creativity with both the budget and design.

For one, our original plan was to work on the kitchen this winter and then come summer we were going to buy a replacement commuter car for my husband.

There’s a lot to juggle and besides having a kitchen we love, we also want to keep it affordable.

Today Barret Teague, Consumer Lending Analytics Manager at Coastal Credit Union, is going to help us crunch the numbers.

In this episode we’ll look at:

• How to figure your kitchen budget + ways to finance your remodel
• Finding a wonderful contractor
• Ways you can save and make your dollars go further

Let’s get started!

Resources to Make Your Home Renovation Project More Affordable If you’re planning on doing a home renovation project and you want to keep it stylish and affordable, here are some resources to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Renovate, Remodel…Relax!
• 8 Ways to Save on Home Renovations

Thank You to Our Partner Coastal Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and you’re at the stage where you’re planning and saving up for your home project, you really want to check out Coastal.

Besides having competitive rates with savings, they also have loan options for home improvements, including a home equity line of credit (HELOC)!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Music is by Lee Rosevere and Audiio.

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Taxes aren’t fun, but if you’re looking to optimize your finances, you have to get your taxes done right. Learn about key tax deductions and credits available to families!

Mastering Your Taxes This Year Tax season is here.

And despite what TurboTax’s Superbowl ad says, not all of us are tax people.

Most families I know are busy already and having to file taxes seems more like a chore than something fun.

However, TurboTax did have a point – taxes affect all of us.

And when you’re a family pursuing financial freedom, it can be an opportunity to review and optimize your finances, take advantage of tax breaks you qualify for, and if you get a refund, use it to reach your goals faster.

Whether you visit a tax preparer, file online with a service like TurboTax, or do it yourself – kudos to you!- it really does pay to get more comfortable with some key essentials.

Which is why both here and on our sister podcast couple money we’re going over how to make filing your taxes easier.

In this episode we’re looking at:

• Decoding key tax items (like tax credits versus deductions) so you can be better prepared when filing
• How to make sure your paycheck is working you – you may be leaving money on the table
• Accounts to Maximize Your Finances Now and Later

I want to make things less stressful for you so you can knock out your taxes.

Sound good? Let’s get started!

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 have a high deductible health plan, you may be able to open a health savings account with them!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

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

View Details

Not having a mortgage payment sounds like a dream, but is that a realistic goal for a family with young kids?

Andrew shares how his family ‘found’ money to pay their mortgage off early and still have fun together!

Paying Off Your Mortgage Early How did you feel when you bought your home?

After you moved in, got all your stuff inside and arranged, what did you feel?

Were you thrilled? Exited about having a place to call your own? Or did you feel like Andrew- suddenly aware of the long road ahead before you actually own your house free and clear?

Did you know that right now in the U.S. around 37% of homes didn’t have a mortgage on them?

Many homeowners are those who are approaching retirement, but there is a chunk of millenial homeowners – almost 16% – who are mortgage free now.

Let’s just think about that for a bit – how would you feel if you had paid off your house early? How would you feel if you had no mortgage to pay?

Today we’re going to look at that option – paying your mortgage off early.

Is it, one – a realistic goal? And if so, how do you set yourself up to knock it out faster?

Today I’m talking with Andrew Daniels. He’s the co-creator of Millennial Homeowner and one of the founders of Thriving Families about how he and his wife paid off their mortgage early.

And if you’re thinking of buying a home soon, you’ll want to hear what Karen Ashley, who’s the Mortgage Sales Manager from Coastal Credit Union about how you can buy a home you love and can afford.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• Why he and his wife decided to pay off the mortgage early
• The strategies they used to make it happen
• Options you should weigh before your start your debt free plan

Let’s get started!

Resources to Help You Pay Your Mortgage Off Faster Looking to see if paying off your mortgage is the right way to go? Would you like to set up your finances to make it work?

Here are some handy resources to try out and use!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Honeyfi, Zeta
• Free 401(k) Analysis: Blooom
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Mortgage Masterplan
• Millennial Homeowner
• New house checklist

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, Coastal has the people, accounts, and services to help you hit your goals.

They can also walk you through different options you have to make your mortgage more affordable!

Next Week on the Podcast…Mastering Taxes Since we’re on the topic of setting yourself up for big financial wins, have you ever thought about how you can capitalize on your taxes?

Next week we’ll look at some big tax deductions and credits to look into and how to set up things this year to make next year’s taxes less stressful!

So if you haven’t already, make sure you’re subscribed. You don’t want to miss that episode.

We’re on iTunes and wherever you get your podcast from!

Our music today was from Lee Rosevere.

Finally and most importantly, thank you for your support!

If you have any questions or ideas for the show, please email me or join our free and private Facebook group Thriving Families.

We’re all about encouraging one another with our goals. I hope you have a wonderful week, take care!

View Details

Plenty of advice on how to build a basic budget, but how do you strike that balance where you're saving and investing for financial freedom and independence while still having fun now with the kids? We'll find out how today!

What's the Best Budget for You? Budgets, spending plans - whatever you call them, people have strong feelings about them.

Over the past ten years, I've talked to and interviewed couples and families about reaching big goals - financial or otherwise.

I noticed certain patterns or habits that they shared.

One of those is how they handled their money. Here's the strange part that might surprise you.

While they all some spending plan for their money, they had different types of budgets they used.

That's good news in a way because that means there's no one size fits all aproach when it comes to budgets.

The challenege though is discovering which method is right for you.

So how do you do that - how do you find and create a budget that fits your family?

We're going to tackle that today!

In this episode we'll go over:

• Creating a budget you'll love and stick with
• Three effective, yet different budgets to look at
• Choosing the best one

Let's get started!

Resources to Help You Create a Budget Quickly and Easily If you're ready to get your budget up and running, here are some handy tools and resources you should check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Honeyfi, Zeta
• Free 401(k) Analysis: Blooom
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money
• How to Talk to Your Spouse About Money
• Real Life on a Budget: 17 Practical Challenges to Live and Thrive on a Budget

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, Coastal has the people, accounts, and services to help you hit your goals.

How to Create a Budget You'll Love and Stick With What's the point of a budget?

First off a budget isn’t about what you can’t spend or have, it’s about what you can.

Very loosely, a reasonable budget typically cover three areas:

• Essentials & necessities – roof over your head, food in your belly, clothes on your back
• building wealth – saving for retirement, getting of debt, seed money for a business
• fun – quality of life options

When I speak with families who are having a hard time with their budget, one of those three goals are missing or aren’t being addressed properly.

When you can’t pay the bills or they’re late, one or both of you are stressed.

If you don’t have much saved up, or you struggle to pay down the debt, you’re worried about any hiccup that can come up. (And they do!)

And if you don’t have some fun with that money now, you’ll start to resent the spending plan (and the person who came up with it).

If you want to create a budget that you both keep and stick with you have to hit each of those goals.

Why Most People Break Their Budget There are plenty of myths and assumptions people have about budgets that aren't true.

Myth #1: Budgets are time-consuming. Truth: Bugets are time savers.
Intitial setup does take time, but once you have it, it's easy to check.
Most of us have fairly consistent expenses. There might be some shifts here and there, but you easily adjust those bit and pieces.
Automating it through bill pay and transfers makes managing the budget pretty much checking in once a week or paycheck for a minute or two to verify everything went through.
Myth #2: Budgets are about restrictions.
Truth: Budgets are about respecting your time and money.
The key to a budget is hitting those three goals I mentioned earlier and that includes having some money to enjoy.

3 Popular Budgets You Can Try On our YouTube channel, this week's money tip went into detail on the different budgeting methods out there.

I want to share three effective and popular ways families are budgeting to hit their money goals and still have room in the budget for some fun now.

50/20/30 Budget As the name suggests, your money goes into one of three ‘buckets’ of expenses.

• 50% Essentials: This covers your ‘needs’ like rent/mortgage, food, utilities, and necessary transportation.
• 20% Financial Priorities: This money is allocated for your future such as investing for retirement and taking care of important money goals now like having an emergency fund and paying off your debt.
• 30% Wants: These are your lifestyle choices. What do you two enjoy?

It’s encouraging to see at least 20% being devoted to financial goals.

Another plus with the 50/20/30 budget is how easy it is to set up bank transfers and bill payments. You two can set it up one evening, giving you more time for things you enjoy.

Since one of the goals here are Simplify & Enjoy is to share how you can move towards financial freedom, I want to modify this budget just a bit.

Instead of saving for 20% and spending 30%, I'd like you to switch those around.
Save 30% (or use it to pay down debt) and have some fun, guilt-free spending with 20%.

By the way, other bucket system approaches are the 60% solution and balanced budget. The percentages shift, but it's the same idea in that you take your money and out it into buckets.

Pay Yourself First/Reverse Budget Most budgets begin with your expenses - bills, credit cards, student loan payments and so forth.

Once those are plugged in, you go ahead and split up rest to savings and fun money.

The reverse budget is about beginning with you. You take out your savings and whatever key goal you're saving up for first. You then take out the bills and so forth.

This can be really helpful if you really want to or need to hit a particular savings goal. Maybe you want to get that emergency fund up and running ASAP. Or you need to build up that house downpayment pretty fast.

The downside of this approach can be that you may have trouble allocating enough for your other expenses. This can come up especially if you haven't ad much traction with budgets so far.

Zero Based budget You got to admit, at least these budgets are named properly.

So we talked about using a budget to divvy up your money into buckets.

With zero based budget, you're really focused on taking that income that you're bringing in and giving every single dollar a purpose.

This method is used by Dave Ramsey's budget tool - you guess it- EveryDollar.

This can be a great budget for detailed minded families who want or need to track every single dollar. This strength can be a hurdle as well.

One hang-up people have with budgets is that they have to do a line by line review of all their expenses and income.

For those new to budgets or people who are busy already it can seem overwhelming.

How to Choose the Right Budget for You There you have it - three budgets that have worked for other family.
The question is what will work best for you?
As we're went through the different budgets you may have felt drawn or even repeled by one of them.
That's okay. There's more than one way to budget.
If you're trying to figure out what's best, start with where you are now?
Take a look at your current budget or spending plan. Is it more high level buckets or down in the trenches with transcactions?
How well is it working for you? Sometimes you look at the numbers it doesn't seem as bad.
Speaking of numbers let's look at them, but instead of tallying up the expenses, I want you to try out a different approach.
I got to speak with with Carl Richards a few times. He's a Certified Financial Planner and the NY Time columnist.
As a planner, he's worked with couples and many times, the budget is a source of stress.
So to take the tension out he suggests looking at the expenses and asking yourselves, did I get value out of that?
Was eating out out something that made me happy? How much?Go over it together and review your own spending? No judgeing just asking.
What we're tryingt o do here is define those expensesin the context of is it something you need? Is it bringing you closer to your big goals? Or is it something that you're enjoying now?
Because you budget is a mix of that.
When we had Drew Snider the beginning of this season, he talked soccer. That wasn't goingt o get cut out of his budget.
For me, I have to have something set aside for meals with friends. I enjoy it.
Besides discovering your must-haves don't be surprised or feel ashamed if you also realize that some spending doesn't fit any of those categories.
Maybe you see that eating out with friends once a week is valuable, but grabbing something at teh drive-thru isn't.
Being able to see your expenses through this lense allows you to create a values driven budget. And then the budgeting method is less a concern as you now understand it's just the tool to make sure your money is working for you.

Living Debt-Free Speaking of hitting your money goals, have you ever thought about what it would be like to be completely debt-free, including the house?

Next week we’ll look at the pros and cons of paying off your mortgage faster!

So if you haven’t already, make sure you’re subscribed. You don’t want to miss that episode.

We’re on iTunes and wherever you get your podcast from!

Our music today was from Lee Rosevere.

Finally and most importantly, thank you for your support!

If you have any questions or ideas for the show, please email me or join our free and private Facebook group Thriving Families.

We’re all about encouraging one another with our goals. I hope you have a wonderful week, take care!

View Details

Plenty of advice on how to build a basic budget, but how do you strike that balance where you’re saving and investing for financial freedom and independence while still having fun now with the kids? We’ll find out how today!

What’s the Best Budget for You? Budgets, spending plans – whatever you call them, people have strong feelings about them.

Over the past ten years, I’ve talked to and interviewed couples and families about reaching big goals – financial or otherwise.

I noticed certain patterns or habits that they shared.

One of those is how they handled their money. Here’s the strange part that might surprise you.

While they all some spending plan for their money, they had different types of budgets they used.

That’s good news in a way because that means there’s no one size fits all approach when it comes to budgets.

The challenge though is discovering which method is right for you.

So how do you do that – how do you find and create a budget that fits your family?

We’re going to tackle that today!

In this episode we’ll go over:

• Creating a budget you’ll love and stick with
• Three effective, yet different budgets to look at
• Choosing the best one

Let’s get started!

Resources to Help You Create a Budget Quickly and Easily If you’re ready to get your budget up and running, here are some handy tools and resources you should check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Honeyfi, Zeta
• Free 401(k) Analysis: Blooom
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• The One-Page Financial Plan: A Simple Way to Be Smart About Your Money
• How to Talk to Your Spouse About Money
• Real Life on a Budget: 17 Practical Challenges to Live and Thrive on a Budget

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!
If you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, Coastal has the people, accounts, and services to help you hit your goals.

How to Create a Budget You’ll Love and Stick With What’s the point of a budget?

First off a budget isn’t about what you can’t spend or have, it’s about what you can.

Very loosely, a reasonable budget typically cover three areas:

• Essentials & necessities – roof over your head, food in your belly, clothes on your back
• building wealth – saving for retirement, getting of debt, seed money for a business
• fun – quality of life options

When I speak with families who are having a hard time with their budget, one of those three goals are missing or aren’t being addressed properly.

When you can’t pay the bills or they’re late, one or both of you are stressed.

If you don’t have much saved up, or you struggle to pay down the debt, you’re worried about any hiccup that can come up. (And they do!)

And if you don’t have some fun with that money now, you’ll start to resent the spending plan (and the person who came up with it).

If you want to create a budget that you both keep and stick with you have to hit each of those goals.

Why Most People Break Their Budget There are plenty of myths and assumptions people have about budgets that aren’t true.

Myth #1: Budgets are time-consuming.

Truth: Budgets are time savers.

Intitial setup does take time, but once you have it, it’s easy to check.
Most of us have fairly consistent expenses. There might be some shifts here and there, but you easily adjust those bit and pieces.
Automating it through bill pay and transfers makes managing the budget pretty much checking in once a week or paycheck for a minute or two to verify everything went through.
Myth #2: Budgets are about restrictions.
Truth: Budgets are about respecting your time and money.
The key to a budget is hitting those three goals I mentioned earlier and that includes having some money to enjoy.

3 Popular Budgets You Can Try On our YouTube channel, this week’s money tip went into detail on the different budgeting methods out there.

I want to share three effective and popular ways families are budgeting to hit their money goals and still have room in the budget for some fun now.

50/20/30 Budget As the name suggests, your money goes into one of three ‘buckets’ of expenses.

• 50% Essentials: This covers your ‘needs’ like rent/mortgage, food, utilities, and necessary transportation.
• 20% Financial Priorities: This money is allocated for your future such as investing for retirement and taking care of important money goals now like having an emergency fund and paying off your debt.
• 30% Wants: These are your lifestyle choices. What do you two enjoy?

It’s encouraging to see at least 20% being devoted to financial goals.

Another plus with the 50/20/30 budget is how easy it is to set up bank transfers and bill payments. You two can set it up one evening, giving you more time for things you enjoy.

Since one of the goals here are Simplify & Enjoy is to share how you can move towards financial freedom, I want to modify this budget just a bit.

Instead of saving for 20% and spending 30%, I’d like you to switch those around.
Save 30% (or use it to pay down debt) and have some fun, guilt-free spending with 20%.

By the way, other bucket system approaches are the 60% solution and a balanced budget. The percentages shift, but it’s the same idea in that you take your money and put it into buckets.

Pay Yourself First/Reverse Budget Most budgets begin with your expenses – bills, credit cards, student loan payments and so forth.

Once those are plugged in, you go ahead and split up rest to savings and fun money.

The reverse budget is about beginning with you. You take out your savings and whatever key goal you’re saving up for first. You then take out the bills and so forth.

This can be really helpful if you really want to or need to hit a particular savings goal. Maybe you want to get that emergency fund up and running ASAP. Or you need to build up that house downpayment pretty fast.

The downside of this approach can be that you may have trouble allocating enough for your other expenses. This can come up especially if you haven’t ad much traction with budgets so far.

Zero Based budget You got to admit, at least these budgets are named properly.

So we talked about using a budget to divvy up your money into buckets.

With zero-based budget, you’re really focused on taking that income that you’re bringing in and giving every single dollar a purpose.

This method is used by Dave Ramsey’s budget tool – you guess it- EveryDollar.

This can be a great budget for detailed minded families who want or need to track every single dollar. This strength can be a hurdle as well.

One hang-up people have with budgets is that they have to do a line by line review of all their expenses and income.

For those new to budgets or people who are busy already it can seem overwhelming.

How to Choose the Right Budget for You There you have it – three budgets that have worked for other family.
The question is what will work best for you?
As we’re went through the different budgets you may have felt drawn or even repeled by one of them.
That’s okay. There’s more than one way to budget.
If you’re trying to figure out what’s best, start with where you are now?
Take a look at your current budget or spending plan. Is it more high level buckets or down in the trenches with transcactions?
How well is it working for you? Sometimes you look at the numbers it doesn’t seem as bad.
Speaking of numbers let’s look at them, but instead of tallying up the expenses, I want you to try out a different approach.
I got to speak with with Carl Richards a few times. He’s a Certified Financial Planner and the NY Time columnist.
As a planner, he’s worked with couples and many times, the budget is a source of stress.
So to take the tension out he suggests looking at the expenses and asking yourselves, did I get value out of that?
Was eating out out something that made me happy? How much?Go over it together and review your own spending? No judgeing just asking.
What we’re tryingt o do here is define those expensesin the context of is it something you need? Is it bringing you closer to your big goals? Or is it something that you’re enjoying now?
Because your budget is a mix of that.
When we had Drew Snider the beginning of this season, he talked soccer. That wasn’t going to get cut out of his budget.
For me, I have to have something set aside for meals with friends. I enjoy it.
Besides discovering your must-haves don’t be surprised or feel ashamed if you also realize that some spending doesn’t fit any of those categories.
Maybe you see that eating out with friends once a week is valuable, but grabbing something at teh drive-thru isn’t.
Being able to see your expenses through this lense allows you to create a values driven budget. And then the budgeting method is less a concern as you now understand it’s just the tool to make sure your money is working for you.

Living Debt-Free Speaking of hitting your money goals, have you ever thought about what it would be like to be completely debt-free, including the house?

Next week we’ll look at the pros and cons of paying off your mortgage faster!

So if you haven’t already, make sure you’re subscribed. You don’t want to miss that episode.

We’re on iTunes and wherever you get your podcast from!

Our music today was from Lee Rosevere.

Finally and most importantly, thank you for your support!

If you have any questions or ideas for the show, please email me or join our free and private Facebook group Thriving Families.

We’re all about encouraging one another with our goals. I hope you have a wonderful week, take care!

View Details

Financial Independence seems almost impossible when you’re trying to raise kids, but many families are doing it.

Matt Miner shares his family’s journey along with some key takeaways!

Pursuing Financial Independence as Parents While finances are tracked and you are trying to optimize it, the real critical resource you’re seeking is time.

To me, the point of financial independence is to give yourselves enough flexibility to pursue a memorable and meaningful life

When you have kids, there are many conversations about priorities, what you value, and working within you and your kid’s limits.

So what does that look like in the real world? How do you pursue financial independence while raising kids and enjoying the time you have with them?

Today Matt Miner is here to share not only talk about the finances as an advisor over at PLC Wealth but designing your life as a parent.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• How Matt and his family paid off $225k and paid off their mortgage along with how they invest
• Designing FI into your life before hit that number
• Raising your kids where you give them what they need and enjoy without going overboard with spending or stressing yourselves out

Let’s get started!

Resources to Be FI as Parents If you’re looking to become financially free or pursuing FIRE as a family, here are some resources to check out!

• 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
• Design Independence
• Root of Good
• Frugalwoods

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

View Details

Financial Independence seems almost impossible when you’re trying to raise kids, but many families are doing it.

Matt Miner shares his family’s journey along with some key takeaways!

Pursuing Financial Independence as Parents While finances are tracked and you are trying to optimize it, the real critical resource you’re seeking is time.

To me, the point of financial independence is to give yourselves enough flexibility to pursue a memorable and meaningful life

When you have kids, there are many conversations about priorities, what you value, and working within you and your kid’s limits.

So what does that look like in the real world? How do you pursue financial independence while raising kids and enjoying the time you have with them?

Today Matt Miner is here to share not only talk about the finances as an advisor over at PLC Wealth but designing your life as a parent.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• How Matt and his family paid off $225k and paid off their mortgage along with how they invest
• Designing FI into your life before hit that number
• Raising your kids where you give them what they need and enjoy without going overboard with spending or stressing yourselves out

Let’s get started!

Resources to Be FI as Parents If you’re looking to become financially free or pursuing FIRE as a family, here are some resources to check out!

• 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
• Design Independence
• Root of Good
• Frugalwoods

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

View Details

Financial independence is a hot topic, but with so many different paths (FIRE, leanFI, FatFIRE, slowFI, etc), it can be difficult to figure out what's the best path for you.

Today we dive into some of the most popular 'flavors' of financial independence and weigh the pros and cons of them. We’ll also get into how you can begin to calculate your FI number!

Is Financial Independence a Smart Path for Your Family? Be honest with me, what do you think of when you hear the term financial independence?

Do you think of a certain number, maybe when you’d like to be retired by? Maybe travel on your own schedule not having to worry about a 9-5 again?

Do you think of it as the ultimate security blanket - an amount you have tucked away in investments or some income stream where you don’t have to worry about the bills or maintaining a certain lifestyle?

Do you see a family with very good income living a life where they’re depriving themselves of vacations, eating out, and having fun just to retire faster?

Talk to different people and you’ll get different answers.

What I'm curious about is how young families can take key principles from the financial independence space and use them to reach the goals that matter to them personally.

Sure, maybe it’s retiring or maybe it’s making sure the essentials are taken care of so you can spend more time with your family.

Two components to figuring out how it could work for you is know first off how much you need to be financially independent and what is the timeline you're looking for.

In this episode, we’ll go into that. We’ll jump into:

• The different paths to financial independence
• How to begin figuring out how much you need to retire
• Choose an FI path That fits Your family

Let’s get started!

Handy Resources for Families Looking at Financial Independence * 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

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

How Much Do We Need to Retire? One of the things I get to see writing about personal finance and my site are some of the questions people have about money.

Over the years certain topics may come in, depending on if there’s a shift in the big picture like a recession or maybe it’s a certain time of year - summer where you get people asking about getting a good deal on a family vacation.

And then there are topics that perennial - year in, year out different families with of different sizes, backgrounds, and incomes type into google to get an answer to a question that’s weighing on them.

One of those questions is ‘How Much Do We Need to Retire’?

Now there are some solid back of the napkin calculators, but can you really use them for your family’s financial future?

I decided to chat with Drew Snider who’s part of Coastal Credit Union's Wealth management team to see what families need to consider when figuring out how much they need to retire.

More Than One Way to FI Let’s define financial independence because even that gets mixed up with a related idea, FIRE.

Financial Independence:

FIRE: The difference with FIRE is there is a focus, doesn’t have to be the driving one- of leaving or retiring from your work. I’ve noticed that many in the community do point out how FI is the root, however, the RE is what’s the hook.

• leanFIRE: having enough to take care of your essentials
• FatFIRE: ”It's a level where you get to live your life at the same level as your highest-earning years, while not having to work a day job.” - Financial Samurai
• slowFI: As you move towards financial independence you make adjustments for more quality of life choices even if it slows you down towards your FI date. - The Fioneers
• CoastFI: When you reach a threshold, you can slow down as a way to make those years leading up to FI less stressful.
• Barista FI: With health expenses being a concern for many, I’ve seen a take on FI where you maintain a part-time job you enjoy for the insurance benefits.

As you can probably guess from the podcast name Simplify & Enjoy, FatFIRE isn’t really a priority for us.

I recently came across an article online about one family in their thirties looking at financial independence.

One sentence stuck out to me -

Your “FIRE number” can be an age, date, or net-worth amount when you reach financial independence and no longer have to work if you don’t want to.

And I think that can be so helpful when you're deciding on your path - what do you consider to be your FI number?

Choose a FI Path That Fits Your Family So I’ll let you in on a secret- when I was working out the site name, I was sure I didn’t want financial independence in it.

The reason is even though how we manage our finances qualify as taking a financially independent path, it’s not the end goal. It’s simply the tool.

The principles of financial independence that I appreciate include:

• Define Your Essentials and Must-Haves
• Cut Out Noise and Status Symbol Spending
• Pursuing More Options, Typically Fewer or No Debts
• Work Optional (Type/Flexibility)

Next Week's Episode: Kids and Financial Independence Speaking of aligning your money with who and what matters most to you, next week we’re seeing how kids fit in with financial independence.

Matt Miner, a financial advisor and father, shares his take and some practical advice on designing and weaving more options when it comes to finances and advice.

So if you haven’t already, make sure you’re subscribed. You don’t want to miss that episode. We’re on iTunes and wherever you get your podcast from!

Our music today was from Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

And thank you for your support!

If you have any questions or ideas for the show, please email me or join our free and private facebook group Thriving Families. We’re all about encouraging one another with our goals.

I hope you have a wonderful week, take care!

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Financial independence is a hot topic, but with so many different paths (FIRE, leanFI, FatFIRE, slowFI, etc), it can be difficult to figure out what’s the best path for you.

Today we dive into some of the most popular ‘flavors’ of financial independence and weigh the pros and cons of them. We’ll also get into how you can begin to calculate your FI number!

Is Financial Independence a Smart Path for Your Family? Be honest with me, what do you think of when you hear the term financial independence?

Do you think of a certain number, maybe when you’d like to be retired by? Maybe travel on your own schedule not having to worry about a 9-5 again?

Do you think of it as the ultimate security blanket – an amount you have tucked away in investments or some income stream where you don’t have to worry about the bills or maintaining a certain lifestyle?

Do you see a family with very good income living a life where they’re depriving themselves of vacations, eating out, and having fun just to retire faster?

Talk to different people and you’ll get different answers.

What I’m curious about is how young families can take key principles from the financial independence space and use them to reach the goals that matter to them personally.

Sure, maybe it’s retiring or maybe it’s making sure the essentials are taken care of so you can spend more time with your family.

Two components to figuring out how it could work for you is know first off how much you need to be financially independent and what is the timeline you’re looking for.

In this episode, we’ll go into that. We’ll jump into:

• The different paths to financial independence
• How to begin figuring out how much you need to retire
• Choose an FI path That fits Your family

Let’s get started!

Handy Resources for Families Looking at Financial * 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

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

How Much Do We Need to Retire? One of the things I get to see writing about personal finance and my site are some of the questions people have about money.

Over the years certain topics may come in, depending on if there’s a shift in the big picture like a recession or maybe it’s a certain time of year – summer where you get people asking about getting a good deal on a family vacation.

And then there are topics that perennial – year in, year out different families with of different sizes, backgrounds, and incomes type into google to get an answer to a question that’s weighing on them.

One of those questions is ‘How Much Do We Need to Retire’?

Now there are some solid back of the napkin calculators, but can you really use them for your family’s financial future?

I decided to chat with Drew Snider who’s part of Coastal Credit Union’s Wealth management team to see what families need to consider when figuring out how much they need to retire.

More Than One Way to FI Let’s define financial independence because even that gets mixed up with a related idea, FIRE.

Financial Independence:

FIRE: The difference with FIRE is there is a focus, doesn’t have to be the driving one- of leaving or retiring from your work. I’ve noticed that many in the community do point out how FI is the root, however, the RE is what’s the hook.

• leanFIRE: having enough to take care of your essentials
• FatFIRE: ”It’s a level where you get to live your life at the same level as your highest-earning years, while not having to work a day job.” – Financial Samurai
• slowFI: As you move towards financial independence you make adjustments for more quality of life choices even if it slows you down towards your FI date. – The Fioneers
• CoastFI: When you reach a threshold, you can slow down as a way to make those years leading up to FI less stressful.
• Barista FI: With health expenses being a concern for many, I’ve seen a take on FI where you maintain a part-time job you enjoy for the insurance benefits.

As you can probably guess from the podcast name Simplify & Enjoy, FatFIRE isn’t really a priority for us.

I recently came across an article online about one family in their thirties looking at financial independence.

One sentence stuck out to me –

Your “FIRE number” can be an age, date, or net-worth amount when you reach financial independence and no longer have to work if you don’t want to.

And I think that can be so helpful when you’re deciding on your path – what do you consider to be your FI number?

Choose a FI Path That Fits Your Family So I’ll let you in on a secret- when I was working out the site name, I was sure I didn’t want financial independence in it.

The reason is even though how we manage our finances qualify as taking a financially independent path, it’s not the end goal. It’s simply the tool.

The principles of financial independence that I appreciate include:

• Define Your Essentials and Must-Haves
• Cut Out Noise and Status Symbol Spending
• Pursuing More Options, Typically Fewer or No Debts
• Work Optional (Type/Flexibility)

Next Week’s Episode: Kids and Financial Independence Speaking of aligning your money with who and what matters most to you, next week we’re seeing how kids fit in with financial independence.

Matt Miner, a financial advisor and father, shares his take and some practical advice on designing and weaving more options when it comes to finances and advice.

So if you haven’t already, make sure you’re subscribed. You don’t want to miss that episode. We’re on iTunes and wherever you get your podcast from!

Our music today was from Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

And thank you for your support!

If you have any questions or ideas for the show, please email me or join our free and private facebook group Thriving Families. We’re all about encouraging one another with our goals.

I hope you have a wonderful week, take care!

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Today we’re showing you how to create a FI (financial independence) plan even while you’re raising your kids!

Financial Independence and Family In this final episode for the season, I want to go back to a question I asked at the beginning – is it possible to become financially independent while raising kids?

I had gone over some myths people have about the FI movement, including that you had to be high earners or that or that you need to be pinching pennies clipping coupons obsessively.

Today I want to lay out some strategies and ideas on how you can create a path to financial independence that reflects what you value.

Pace it so you’re also enjoying the journey.

To do that though, you need a plan.

Which is why I’m happy Catherine Bryant is here. She’s a Financial Advisor at Coastal Wealth Management.

She’s sharing some crucial things you need to consider when crafting a plan.

I’m also going to share some takeaways I got from speaking with an early retiree here in the Triangle area awhile back that has been incredibly helpful for us on our journey.

Through careful saving and planning, Justin and his wife managed to accumulate enough wealth to retire in their 30s, while raising three kids.

In this episode, we’ll look at:

• big wins to focus on with your budget
• Why your savings rate not income matters more with becoming financially independent
• Some ideas on investing so you can have that during early or otherwise

I don’t want you to put this off anymore.

Let’s get started!

Handy Resources to Start Investing and More Here are some handy resources for your home renovation projects!

• 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
• How to Avoid 4 Bad Investing Habits That Can Destroy Your Nest Egg

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Music is by Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

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With so many different options for investing – 401(k)s, IRAs, taxable accounts, you might be wondering where should we put our money?

Today we’re looking at how you can invest for you and your goals!

Where Should We Invest? How

You talk to most families about investing, whether it’s for retirement or another goal and you get this sense of overwhelm.

Part of it is due to having so many thing you’re working on.

Taking care of the kids.

Saving for emergencies.

Dealing with work.

Paying off debts.

It keeps you busy for sure, but because you’re doing a little here and there, many times, you’re spreading yourself and money thin.

And you’re not making the progress you want to make.

We had a bit of this when we were first got married and were figuring out what our priorities.

It took a bit of time to really nail those down, but once we did it made things so much easier because we could then work on things one by one.

It was less stress and we were actually making progress.

So today I thought we could do with investing – break it down so you can see what options are available to you, like 401(k), Thrift Savings Plan, or IRA and then see how they fit in with whatever season of life you’re in.

Drew Snider is here to help out. He’s the director in Financial Planning at Coastal Wealth Management. He’s also a husband and father so he gets it.

In this episode we get into:

• Conversations to have at certain milestones about finances
• Major investment accounts you need to know about and how they work
• How to align your money including investments with your priorities

Let’s get started!

Handy Resources to Start Investing and More Here are some handy resources for your home renovation projects!

• 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
• How to Avoid 4 Bad Investing Habits That Can Destroy Your Nest Egg

Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union!

If you live in the Triangle area of North Carolina and you’d like someone to work with you on your goals, you really want to check out Coastal’s Wealth Management team.

They’d love to help you start investing for retirement and more!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Music is by Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

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Today we’re talking about how to get an HGTV worthy home on a budget!

Home Renovations on a Budget Last episode we got into the house hunt; finding one of the gems at a great price.

Louis Guillama shared how you can snag a fantastic deal by going up with a fixer-upper with solid bones.

Now we’re getting into the nitty-gritty – turning that house into a home you love.

We love those designs we see on HGTV and Pinterest, but we don’t want to blow thousands of dollars on a renovation.

So how do you get a beautiful home on a budget?

Actually, that’s what my husband Rob and I are tackling with our place. We bought a ranch home with a full basement a few years ago.

We’ve tackled a few projects here and there, but the room that has gotten the most attention by far is the basement.

It’s a great sized space around 900 sqft, but when we first bought it, it was well, a basement.

Now after a few projects, we’re using it as a dual office space for when we work at home and it’s been fantastic.

And so far we’ve been able to do these renovations debt-free.

So today, Rob and I will share our take on the basement renovation as well as tips on how we saved money with it.

I’ll also include tips from home renovator and author Kathi Fleck.

In this episode we’ll get into:

• Coming up with your renovation design and wishlist
• Creating a budget and saving up for your project
• Finding a fantastic contractor who will work with you and keep the project on budget

Hope you enjoy!

Resources to Keep Your Home Renovation on Budget Here are some handy resources for your home renovation projects!

• 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
• Renovate, Remodel…Relax!
• 8 Ways to Save on Home Renovations

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 you’re at the stage where you’re planning and saving up for your home project, you really want to check out Coastal.

Besides having competitive rates with savings, they also have loan options for home improvements. You can find at more at bankbetter.org!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Music is by Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

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We’ve heard how you can snag a deal by going with a fixer-upper, but is that really true? Today we’re digging in on the dos and don’ts with house hunting!

Finding and Buyer a Fixer Upper, Not a Money Tip Buying a house – – it’s probably the biggest purchase you’ll make.

And depending on where you live, it can be a crazy market. I know here in Raleigh everyone is saying it’s a seller’s market. And I believe it. I’ve seen houses get listed and that sold sticker put on the sign in less than a week.

Which is great if you’re a homeowner – property values are going up.

But not so much when you’re trying to buy a house, which is what my mom wants to do.

She’s recently accepted a job here in Raleigh and after she’s sold her current home, she’s looking to buy.

She’s asked me to tag along and help. And I‘m happy to.

It’s just this means we’re going to have to really hunt for a deal.

A fixer-upper would work for her.

And maybe you’re in the same boat – you’re looking for a diamond in the rough that you can buy a great price and then you can fix it up the way that you want.

The tricky part is making sure you don’t get stuck with a money pit.

Which is why I’m glad Louis Guillama is on today to offer his expertise. He’s the Vice President of Real Estate Operations at Coastal Credit Union.

He has three decades of experience with the real estate agent side as well as home renovations.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

• Differences Between buying a house that’s new construction vs resale
• Spotting great and still affordable neighborhoods
• Finding a fixer-upper (instead of being stuck with a money pit)

Let’s get started!

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
• What You Need to Know About Mortgages

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

If you need an agent, Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Music is by Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

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Most parents want their kids to not get stuck with a mountain of student loan debt. Learn the best ways to save now for your kid’s college or trade school!

How to Save for Your Kid’s College / Trade School Education With student loans seeming like a weight on many college grads, I think most parents who kids are thinking about either college, trade school, or vocational schools are trying to find ways to ease the burden by saving ahead.

And the advice typically given is to save ahead.

How do you do that when you juggling your current family expenses and saving up for other goals?

To help me out today is Drew Snider. He’s a director in Financial Planning at Coastal Wealth Management.

He’s also a parent of a 12-year-old daughter and yes, he’s been thinking about this as well. So he’s looking at this from both sides.

In this episode, we’ll get into:

• The rising costs of college and why its harder for kids to work through college
• What options you have to save to and invest
• How you can start saving now

Let’s get started!

Resources to Start Saving and Paying for College If you want to save something for your kid’s education, here are some handy resources to get you started!

• 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
• Why College Is So Expensive In America

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 a Wealth Management team focused on helping you reach your financial goals as well as accounts to help you save for college!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Music is by Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

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Today we’re digging into how to take an awesome and cheap family getaway!

Saving Big on Your Next Family Trip how

We all need to decompress, connect as a family, and have a good time.

Family getaways and vacations can wonderful ways to do that, but when you have young kids, there are challenges and a lot of moving parts.

• Are you doing a road trip or taking a plane?
• Where can you go where you’re all able to have a good time?
• How do you get off the touristy path and discover what makes that place unique and special?
• How do you find time and space to have some date nights where it’s just the two of you?
• How can we sleep in and relax when the kids around?

And of course, how do you keep it affordable?

It took us some time, but we’ve found a rhythm that’s helped make our family trips fun and memorable.

In this episode we’re going to get into:

• how to plan and pay for your trip
• handy tools and tips to help you save serious cash and still have an incredible time
• Ways to enjoy travel when you have little ones

Let’s get started!

Resources for Affordable Family Vacations 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
• 3 reasons “budget” hotels DESTROY nice ones
• Can You Really Get Free Flights? Travel Hacking Essentials

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 also have helpful resources like How Coastal Can Help You Build A Travel Budget. Coastal’s mission is to help you live better by banking better!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Music is by Lee Rosevere and Music for Makers.

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Learn the frugal foodie tactics and strategies on how to slash your food bills while eating well!

The Art of Being a Frugal Foodie How much do you spend on food?

If you’re like most families, chances are it’s a big part of your budget.

The USDA puts together a monthly report that looks into average food expenses.

They break it down into thrifty, low-cost, moderate, and liberal spending plans based on how old your kids are.

And the monthly costs for a family of four vary from $567 – $1296.

Like I mentioned last episode when you’re working as a family towards financial independence, you have to look for big wins.

Mastering your food expenses is a big win, but….

If you think I’m going to tell you to skip eating out or only make these basic dishes, I’m not.

Food is something I don’t like to skimp out on.

We want to eat better and enjoy our meals, whether it’s at home (which is most of the time) or when we’re out.

So if you look at our budget, it’s a big category for us relative to other expenses.

But it doesn’t blow our budget and we’re still able to save for other important goals.

And looking over the past year, our spending is around the USDA’s thrifty and low-cost plan.

The challenge – besides being smarter with money – is also finding ways to get meals up and ready in a relatively short time.

After work it’s tempting to grab some food on the way home.

So we need to have things set up so preparing a tasty meal is a snap.

And when we do it out – because yes, we like to go out sometimes, we try to maximize the experience.

So if you want to get a handle on your food bill and still have a good time, I think you’ll enjoy this episode.

I’ve recruited some others to help.

Besides having a masters in nutrition, author Shanah Bell is also a busy mom of five.

Finding meals are all of her kids enjoy can be tricky, but she has strategies that make meals less stressful, healthy, and fun.

Patrick Livingston is also a foodie and loves trying new things that are off the beaten path.

He also has some creative ideas on how to make those nights out even more special while still sticking to your budget.

We’re going to look at this from two sides:

• How to make tasty, quick and affordable meals
• How to enjoy a meal out so that’s it’s special and you’re not breaking the budget

Let’s get started!

Resources to Become a Frugal Foodie If you’re looking to eat better while sticking to your budget, here are some resources to check out:

• ttps://simplifyandenjoy.com/GoodandCheapBest Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Automatic Saving: Qapital
• Good and Cheap: How to Eat Well on $4/Day by Leane Brown
• Eating Well on a Budget by Julien and Kristen Saunders
• USDA Monthly Food Reports
• The $5 Foodie
• Eat Like a Foodie at Home, Without Breaking Your Budget
• A World Map of Flavors – 36 Regions, 36 Herb and Spice Combinations
• Gourmet Dining on Wake Tech’s Southern Wake Campus

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’re looking for a rewards card that fits you, Coastal has a Signature Premier Rewards Visa Credit Card with some great benefits!

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

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

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Today we’re going to discuss whether or not a high deductible plan with a health savings account is really an affordable option for your family!

When we talk about optimizing expenses here on Simplify and Enjoy there are a few ground rules.

1. Personal finance is personal so your budget will reflect your family’s priority and goals.
2. Find ways to automate the tedious stuff because you have better ways to spend your time.
3. Talk about money regularly and see it as a tool, not the goal.
4. We focus on the big wins. So while I do recommend shifting small habits, I’m not going to spend a ton of time telling you to skip the lattes, avocado toast, or whatever the personal finance police are harping on.

If you’re limited on time and mental bandwidth – which is the default for many parents and families – I highly recommend you focus in on big wins.

Look at those big monthly bills that eat up a good chunk of your paycheck.

Of course, it varies by family, but there are some expenses that typically top many families’ list including:

• Housing
• Transportation
• Food
• Childcare
• Health Insurance

And they each deserve their own episode. Today we’re discussing health insurance.

Finding Affordable Options for Heath Insurance How much are you paying for health insurance?

According to Milliman Medical Index report, a typical family of four’s estimated health insurance costs (including employer contributions) were over $28,000 for 2018.

The average monthly premiums for a family of four is around $1,200.

Now listen, I’m not telling you to skimp or skip on health insurance, because it’s essential.

One trip to the ER can set you back if you’re not covered.

But is there a way to keep it affordable?

One option you may have heard about or seen offered at work is a high deductible plan along with a health savings account.

You see the lower premiums and you might immediately think, ‘this is awesome’, but is that really the case?

When we were looking at our own plans during open enrollment last year I did some digging and chatted the pros and cons with financial planner Michael Dinich.

Joe Meccas from Coastal also was kind enough to share his process for deciding to sign up for the HDHP and HSA.

In this episode we’re looking at:

• How high deductible plans and HSAs work
• Some scenarios to consider before you make the switch
• How to run the numbers and find out if’s right for you

Let’s get started!

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 have a high deductible health plan, you may be able to open a health savings account with them!

Resources to Save Money on Healthcare Are you looking for more help with keeping health care within your budget? Here are some resources:

• 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
• 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
• Hack the Affordable Care Act Guide
• Why We’re Switching to a High Deductible Health Plan
• How to Spend Less on Insurance
• Save Money on Health Insurance

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.

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

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

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Most people would love to become financially independent and have work be optional, but it is that realistic?

Today we’re looking at the real scoop about FIRE and whether it’s the path for you!

Financial Independence with Kids: Is That Really Possible? And while we would say we’re on the FI path, it’s not our focus. It’s more the how.

But is financial independence the right direction for you and your family?

Helping me to dig into this is Jonah Kaufman. He’s a financial advisor at Coastal Wealth Management.

And while he’s not here for specific financial advice – that’s something you need to do one on one since everyone has unique financial circumstances – we are going over some things to consider and talk about as a family.

In this episode we’ll discuss:

• 5 big myths and misconceptions people have about financial independence
• Two key numbers to keep an eye on for early retirement (and income is not one of them!)
• How you two can create a FIRE plan that fits you

Hope you enjoy!

Handy Tools to Stay on Top of Your Money If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family and look at pursuing financial independence, here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Zeta
• 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

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

We’re families looking to support and help one another out.

Hope to see you there!

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

Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast!

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

Music Credit Like the music in this episode? It’s provided by Lee Rosevere.

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Welcome to Simplify and Enjoy, the podcast and community focused on helping families have less stress and more options thru minimalism and financial independence!

I’ve been in the personal finance space for almost 10 years. Besides running Couple Money and now Simplify and Enjoy, I’ve also written for other sites like Business Insider, Turbotax, LendingTree, Entrepreneur,…you get the idea.

When people see this online or maybe a friend finds out what I do, many assume that my husband and I talk about money.

A lot.

But that’s not the case.

For us, money is a tool that we use to reach our goals.

Whether it’s deciding where to live, being able to work from home, having more time with the kids, and saving up enough to become financially free or even independent – all of these require being wise with the money coming in.

The big question we’re personally tackling is how we can work towards becoming financially independent while raising our kids?

We’re grateful that so far we’ve managed to pay off debts like the car loan and student loans, which gives us more options to save and invest our money.

We have been able to explore options like working from home because we have the buffer. A big part of the how is through pursuing minimalism and financial independence.

But as we have taken this journey as parents and as a couple we’ve also had to make some choices that may have skewed from what’s typically shown in the media.

We’re above average savers, but we’ve also pulled back at times because we want to enjoy the now with our little ones.

We cut back on eating out, but we’re still foodies.

Travel is a part of our budget.

While we’ve taken on some DIY projects around the house and our tech, we also have no problem calling in contractors or splurging on some tech we know we’ll use and enjoy.

We’re trying to balance raising our kids while being wise with our time and money.

So if you’re parents looking to give your family more options to design a life that reflects what you love, Simplify and Enjoy is for you!