Have you ever felt stuck on whether to buy something? Maybe it sits in your Amazon cart for weeks—or you hit “order” and later regret it. In this episode, I’m joined by Abigail Roe of Downsize Upgrade, who created the Deliberation Station: a set of quick questions that help you decide if a purchase is worth your money, space, and energy. We talk about: The simple two-scale method she uses to filter how she spends her timeHow the Deliberation Station can stop impulse spending in its tracksMy o...
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” with money but still stuck living paycheck to paycheck, you’re not alone. More often than not, it’s not the math that’s holding you back—it’s the money lies you’ve come to believe. In this episode, I’m calling out five lies that might be keeping you broke (yes, even the ones I used to believe myself!). You’ll hear the truth behind each one and the simple steps you can take to finally move forward with your money. Whether you’ve believed...
What if downsizing your home could actually upgrade your life? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jacqueline from Home Reimagined, who shares how she and her husband left behind a high-cost lifestyle in Austin, Texas to live full-time in a luxury RV. They cut their expenses by 45% and gained so much more in the process! Jacqueline opens up about what it was really like to let go of stuff, how their spending habits shifted, and how this big change positively impacted her business, marriage,...
It’s back-to-school season, which means schedules are packed, evenings fly by, and the to-do list never ends. If you’ve ever felt like you’re just trying to keep your head above water this time of year, you’re not alone. In this episode, I’m sharing the five routines that help me keep my home and budget running during busy seasons—and the three things I’d like to do better. You’ll hear exactly how I meal plan, keep my family on the same page, and stay on top of our finances without letting th...
Has anybody else been binge-watching "Get Organized with The Home Edit" on Netflix? Between that and my new kitchen renovation, I've been in an organization frenzy. So it only felt fitting to have Christina Hidek on the podcast today, an attorney turned professional organizer who is passionate about structure, organization and creating custom systems that help people de-clutter their lives. Now I know you might be thinking.... professional organizer?! What does that have to do wi...
Let’s be real. Paying off debt is tough. But trying to do it while raising little kids? That’s a whole new level of hard. In this episode, I’m sharing what it was really like to pay off over six figures of debt while being a mom to two little ones. I talk about the guilt, the pressure, and the emotional weight I didn’t expect. This isn’t a step-by-step guide. It’s a heart-to-heart about the five things I wish I had known before starting our debt-free journey as a mom. If you're a parent tryin...
In this episode, I sit down with financial therapist Dr. Erika Rasure to talk about something most personal finance advice skips over: the emotional side of money. Erika shares why so many of us carry shame, guilt, or fear when it comes to spending and debt, and how we can begin to break those patterns for good. We discuss: What financial wellness really looks like beyond just budgetingHow emotional triggers show up in spending and savingMy own story of financial defensiveness (yep, I’m shari...
In this episode, I’m walking you through the six steps I would take if I woke up today with over $100,000 of debt. This is the exact approach I’d follow based on my own experience of paying off $111,108.29 on two teacher salaries while raising a family. I’m breaking down what I’d do differently, what worked for us, and how to stay motivated along the way…because paying off debt is just as emotional as it is practical. Whether you’re just getting started or starting over, this episode will hel...
My guest today paid off over $215,000 in student loans and credit card debt in just 48 months! Cindy Zuniga-Sanchez is a daughter of two immigrants, a lawyer turned entrepreneur, and the founder of Zero-Based Budget Coaching, LLC. After graduating law school in 2015, Cindy found herself in six figures worth of debt. Instead of giving into the temptation to "live the life of luxury" she deserved from all her hard work, she took control of her money by immersing herself in the world of pe...
Let’s rewind to the beginning of our debt-free journey—back when I thought paying off six figures of debt would be simple, linear, and honestly… a little more glamorous. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. In today’s episode, I’m getting real about the three biggest things I wish someone had told me before we even got started. These aren’t the kind of tips you find in a finance textbook. These are the behind-the-scenes lessons that shaped me emotionally, mentally, and practically and completely changed...
What do you do when you wake up and realize you owe $169,000 in debt? If you're Leigha, you grab a spreadsheet, get honest with yourself, and start sharing your journey online. In this inspiring episode, Leigha (@millennial30something) opens up about the moment she said enough is enough and decided to not only start her debt free journey, but share it online as well. We talk about: How she balances paying off debt with still enjoying lifeThe exact numbers behind her $169K debt total (in...
When my husband and I decided we were DONE with debt, we had no clue where to start. We were drowning in over $111,000 worth of debt and making two teacher salaries. We didn’t have extra money lying around, but we were determined to change our lives. So what did we do first? In this episode, I’m walking you through the very first five steps we took to pay off six figures of debt. These are simple, doable things that helped us build momentum and stay on track (even during the hard days). If yo...
In this episode, I talk with Katie Kimball about teaching kids kitchen skills that save both time and money. Katie shares practical advice for parents looking to build cooking independence in children while keeping grocery budgets in check. In this episode you will learn: How to teach age-appropriate kitchen skills to kids 10+ (like knife skills and stovetop cooking) that build independence while saving you timePractical strategies for managing summer snacking that won't break your budgetHow ...
Just because I teach budgeting doesn’t mean I’ve always made perfect money choices. In this episode, I’m getting personal and sharing six purchases I regret. Not to shame myself or anyone else, but to show that we’re all learning as we go. Some of these were impulse buys. Some were made with the best intentions. But all of them taught me something about values, priorities, and how sneaky spending pressure can be. Here’s what I cover: The mindset that led to a few expensive mistakesWhat I wish...
In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kelly Anne Smith to talk about what it really looks like to go from barely getting by to building a life with financial peace. Kelly opens up about her early money mistakes, including the time her car was repossessed—even though she technically had the money in her account. We talk about: Why not knowing where your money is going can cost you big timeHow she paid off $23K in student loans and cash-flowed a $30K weddingWhat it looked like to budget wi...
Ever feel like you're trying to pay off debt while holding your breath, hoping your income doesn’t suddenly vanish? Or maybe your family has income that comes in waves, and you’re just trying to keep the budget afloat? You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m answering two listener questions that so many people are navigating right now: Should I pause my debt payoff if I’m worried about losing my job?How do I budget when my income is totally unpredictable?We’ll talk about: Why pausing your debt...
In this episode, I chat with Kevin Payne about how families can experience the magic of Disney without breaking the bank. Kevin shares his journey from adopting two children (doubling his family size!) to finding ways to make travel affordable while maintaining certain non-negotiables. We discuss: The biggest Disney expensesPros and cons of staying on vs. off Disney propertyHow to save on foodSetting souvenir budgets for kids (and why food often becomes the best souvenir)Kevin reveals that ev...
Summer spending can sneak up on you fast. Between pool days, fireworks, and sales everywhere you look, it’s easy to blow through your budget without even realizing it. In this episode, I’m getting honest about where I’m NOT spending money this summer (looking at you, lemon-themed decor) and the few things I am saying YES to, guilt-free. I’m sharing: 7 things I’m skipping this summer to save money and reduce stress 3 things I’m excited to splurge on, including family travel and a backya...
Jesse Cramer, a former aerospace engineer turned financial planner, joins me to talk about longevity risk and why it’s especially important for women to plan for the long haul. We talk about what it means to outlive your money, how Social Security really works (especially for stay-at-home moms or lower earners), and what to do if you're behind on retirement savings. Jesse breaks it down in everyday language that anyone can understand. You'll learn: What spousal and survivor benefits actually ...
Today is my birthday—I'm 38! 🎂 And instead of giving you a list of lessons or tips, I’m doing something a little different. I’m sharing what this season of life feels like—from motherhood and money, to business, marriage, and the friendships that come and go. This is a heart-to-heart episode about being present, growing through the hard parts, and choosing what matters most. Whether you’re deep in your own season of change or just love a good reflective moment, I hope this speaks to you. In t...