The SavvyCast

Before you say "I do," there are some important financial questions to ask before marriage and avoiding them now can lead to painful surprises later. In this episode, I'm joined by my husband, Zane, to talk through the money conversation every engaged or newly married couple needs to have. After nearly 39 years of marriage and years of counseling couples together, we've seen how deeply money can affect trust, unity, peace, and even the spiritual health of a marriage. We're getting honest about debt, separate vs. shared accounts, financial transparency, saving, investing, and the money stories we each bring from childhood. We also share what worked for us, what we learned the hard way, and why Zane believes living on less than you earn is one of the most important financial habits a couple can build. Whether you're dating, engaged, newly married, or simply ready to have a healthier conversation about money with your spouse, I think this episode will give you plenty to talk about together! What to Expect in This Episode: Why you're not only marrying a person, you're also marrying their financial habits The financial questions every couple should answer before getting married Why full honesty about credit, debt, spending, income, and family obligations is essential to financial intimacy "Our money" vs. "my money": how couples' shared accounts work differently than separate business accounts  Why living on less than you earn is the financial principle Zane considers non-negotiable How to decide together which expenses are essentials and which are luxuries Why saving early matters so much and how compound growth rewards time The importance of contributing to a workplace retirement plan and taking advantage of an employer match when available How each spouse's upbringing can shape fear, security, expectations, and conflict around money Why couples need to define what "enough" means before the pursuit of more becomes endless Links & Resources Die With Zero: Getting All You Can from Your Money and Your Life by Bill Perkins Investor.gov Compound Interest Calculator IRS Information About 401(k) Plans IRS Information About Roth IRAs Official Trump Accounts Information Where to Listen If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to take a few minutes to rate and review The SavvyCast! It means so much to me and helps more people find these conversations and resources. Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube Enjoyed This Episode? Check These Out! How We're Investing in Our Grandchildren: Trump Accounts, 529s, & Family Traditions Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube The Marriage Check-In That Reveals More Than You Expect Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube  

You've found the house you love, but have you thought about what it will cost to furnish it? From sofas and beds to drapery and delivery fees, there's a lot more to plan for than most of us realize! In this episode, I'm joined by Ellie Stein of Stein Studio, the talented interior designer who helped bring our lake home to life. We're talking honestly about the cost to furnish a home with quality pieces that will last, where it makes sense to invest, and where you can save without giving up a beautiful, pulled-together look. We're using our lake home as a real-life example, walking through everything from our TWOPAGES drapery and Quince bedding to the art, rugs, and custom touches that made it feel like home. From there, Ellie shares how to layer color and texture for a collected, timeless look.  Whether you're furnishing a new home or simply refreshing a room, I think you'll come away with some very savvy ideas!   WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: What it really costs to furnish a home with a designer, plus the delivery, freight, tax, and design fees that are easy to overlook Where Ellie recommends saving, splurging, and finding a middle ground (with real examples from our lake home) Why we love our Rowe sofas and recliners, and which other pieces Ellie believes are worth the investment How we got a custom look for less with TWOPAGES drapery and Quince bedding Ellie's rug-sizing rule and how we mixed different rug sources throughout the house Where to find quality wood furniture for less, including secondhand pieces How to mix artwork, family photos, and mirrors so your home feels cohesive How layers of color, texture, and timeless pieces create a collected look (and the decorating habit that can lead to regret) Simple ways to make your entryway more welcoming   LINKS & RESOURCES Stein Studio — Connect with Ellie Stein Studio on Instagram Shop Our Lake Home Watch Our Full Lake-Home Tour on YouTube Our Lake-Home Drapery TWOPAGES Curtains — Use code SAVVY22 for 22% off! Lake Bedroom Details — Beds, Bedding & More Elizabeth Fields Designs — Custom Designer Pillows Helix Midnight Luxe Mattress Leesa Sapira Chill Hybrid Mattress — Medium-Firm - Use code FAMILYSAVVY75 for $75 off! Ruggable — Use code SAVVY15 for 15% off! Oushak & Oak Rugs Porter Rivers Art Debra Hewitt Art Framebridge Gallery Wall Frames Our Lake-Home Entryway — Mirror, Rug & More   WHERE TO LISTEN If this episode helped you, I'd love for you to take a moment to rate and review The SavvyCast! It means so much to me and helps more people find these conversations and resources. Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT! Everything We Put in Our Lake House Bedrooms (Affordable Finds + Luxury Touches) Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   A Life Update: The Story Behind Our New Lake Home Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

I turned sixty last November, and it forced me to get honest about what's actually working for my body, and what isn't. This is a solo episode where I'm walking you through the five intentional wellness habits I've been building and the four things I quit completely because they stopped serving me. I'm determined to be the best version of myself I can be in my 60s, and these are the intentional steps I'm taking to get there. Whether you're already in this stage of life or you're younger and want a head start, I think you'll benefit from these savvy wellness habits!   WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: Why muscle strength training has become completely non-negotiable for feeling my best at 60 The protein and creatine routine Zane and I never skip The simple one-minute balance exercise from Dr. Vonda Wright's book Unbreakable that's already making a real difference for me Why I gave up the pressure of 10,000 steps a day and started sneaking in movement instead (stairs, parking farther away, walking Tucker) How guarding an earlier bedtime became one of the biggest keys to feeling my best at 60 Why I haven't had a drink since the week before my 60th birthday, and what's changed since How Zane and I traded nightly mint chip ice cream for a healthier swap Why routine hormone testing has become a necessity for my wellness   LINKS & RESOURCES Unbreakable: A Woman's Guide to Aging with Power by Dr. Vonda Wright, MD  The Mel Robbins Podcast episodes with Dr. Vonda Wright: Look, Feel, & Stay Young Forever: #1 Orthopedic Surgeon's Proven Protocol Do THIS for 8 Weeks and Look & Feel 10 Years Younger: Dr. Vonda Wright's Proven Protocol Ninja Creami Swirl Thorne Creatine Pause Life Nutrition Creatine (Use code SAVVY for 10% off!) The Peachie Spoon Protein Powder (Use code FAMILYSAVVY for a special discount!)   WHERE TO LISTEN If this episode encouraged you, I'd love for you to take a few minutes to rate and review The SavvyCast! It means so much to me, and it helps more women, just like you, find the show! Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT! Stop Dreading Getting Older. This 77-Year-Old Changed Everything I Thought About Aging! Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   My Honest Convo with The Peachie Spoon on HRT, Protein Goals, Weight Obsession, & Her Life Behind the Scenes Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

My friend Meredith Mann, better known as The Peachie Spoon, is back on The SavvyCast for the fourth time, and we talk about it all! Since her last visit, her supplement business has taken off, and this time she gets real about her journey with HRT in perimenopause, from her first symptoms at 43 to the testosterone treatment she eventually stopped. It's also a personal life update as her teens get closer to leaving the nest. Plus, she walks through her current strength training routine. And of course, she shares her favorite high protein recipes for fall, along with the wellness without obsession philosophy that guides how she eats, moves, and thinks about the number on the scale. If you are pursuing a more balanced relationship with wellness, eating habits, and workout routines, and just need a little more grace in how you talk to your body, this conversation is for you. Meredith has a way of making it all feel tangible and obtainable!   WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: Meredith's honest journey with HRT in perimenopause, from her first symptoms at 43 to why she quit a testosterone cream after only three weeks How Peachie Spoon has grown since her last visit, from her first cookbook to a full supplement line with protein, collagen, and creatine Her advice for pregnant and postpartum women who cannot stomach protein but still need to fuel their bodies The story behind her most-requested high protein recipes, from her Balanced Baked Spaghetti to her Ninja Creami treats What a typical strength training week looks like for Meredith, plus the kettlebell move she cannot stop doing Why she is choosing wellness without obsession over chasing a number on the scale   LINKS & RESOURCES Follow Meredith Mann on Instagram: @thepeachiespoon Follow her business on Instagram: @thepeachiespoon.nutrition Shop the Peachie Spoon Protein Powders, Creatine, & Collagen (Code: FAMILYSAVVY for a special discount!) Check out The Peachie Spoon's recipes   COOKBOOKS The Blood Sugar Balance Cookbook  Well Made Cookbook   RECIPES MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE Balanced Baked Spaghetti Chicken Corn Chowder High Protein Rotel Queso Dip Queso Chicken High Protein Alfredo Chocolate Cheesecake Smoothie Strawberry Cheesecake Smoothie Cookies and Cream Smoothie High Protein Oreo McFlurry Ninja Creami (Cookies & Cream) Mint Chocolate Chip Smoothie  Balanced Meal Chili   OTHER RESOURCES MENTIONED Koia (pre-made protein drinks) HerScan (mobile breast ultrasound screening) — mentioned as an alternative Meredith is considering   WHERE TO LISTEN If this episode encouraged you, we would love it if you took a few minutes to rate and review The SavvyCast! It means so much and helps more women (just like you) find the show! Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT! Blood Sugar Balancing Recipes with Meredith Mann Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   How to Establish a Healthy Relationship with Food with Meredith Mann from The Peachie Spoon Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   A Talk with Meredith Mann About Her Balanced Eating Cookbook "Well Made" Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube

In early marriage, intimacy is effortless. You don't have to plan it, think about it, or work at it. Midlife is a different story, and in this episode, Zane and I get honest about sex and intimacy after 50. Zane and I talk honestly about the real challenges of intimacy in midlife, from menopause and hormones to feeling attractive and getting out of a rut. From there, we get into what men really find attractive in their wives, why confidence matters so much, and how taking care of yourself changes the way you show up in your marriage. After nearly forty years together, Zane and I don't have all the answers. But we've learned that intimacy isn't about looking like you did at twenty-five. It's about choosing each other, respecting each other, and making room for this part of your relationship to keep growing.   WHAT TO EXPECT IN THIS EPISODE: Why intimacy changes in your 50s and 60s, and why it can become more meaningful than ever My honest experience with hormone replacement therapy and what changed when I found my balance. Plus, why Zane is now open to testosterone for the first time. What Zane says men actually find attractive in their wives (and it has nothing to do with your appearance) How decades of trust, love, and shared history create a kind of intimacy you simply can't have in a young marriage How to communicate about intimacy, get out of a rut, and understand what each other needs as your bodies and seasons of life change Why intimacy in your 50s and 60s can go deeper than it ever did in your 20s and 30s   LINKS & RESOURCES Listen to Part 1: What Kills Romance in Your Marriage in Your 50s and 60s (And How to Get It Back When It Feels Hopeless) Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   WHERE TO LISTEN If this episode encouraged you, we would love it if you took a few minutes to rate and review The SavvyCast! It means so much and helps more women (just like you) find the show!  Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube   ENJOYED THIS EPISODE? CHECK THESE OUT! The Marriage Check-In That Reveals More Than You Expect (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, & Threats) Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube 38 Years of Marriage: What We Got Right (& What We'd Do Differently) Apple Podcasts Spotify YouTube