Build A Wealthy Spirit

The average adult makes 35,000 decisions a day. This tasks our willpower which slowly depletes throughout the day. Many of these little decisions waste our time and our decision-making bandwidth. Reducing decision fatigue helps us be more productive and reach our goals. Here are some strategies to combat decision fatigue:Create Structure: Group or batch routine tasks together. By doing similar tasks consecutively, you reduce the need to make different decisions repeatedly. Creating a list or schedule of actions can also help streamline your workflow.Put Things on Autopilot: For decisions that don't require significant mental effort or creativity, automate or delegate them. Setting up automatic payments for bills, meal prepping for the week, or using templates for repetitive tasks can help reduce the number of decisions you need to make manually.Just Quit: Sometimes, it's okay to say no or quit tasks that aren't essential or align with your goals. Simplifying your commitments can free up mental energy for more important decisions.Limit Options for Others: When asking others to make decisions, provide them with a limited number of options. This helps prevent decision paralysis and makes it easier for them to choose. Too many choices can overwhelm and contribute to decision fatigue.Show Notes:BAWS Student Loan Episode Community TimeCheck out Michelle’s New Course… Turn your Layoff into a SabbaticalFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Outside of exercise, the primary goal of my sabbatical is to build community. When I was working, I never had time to meet people and build deep relationships. Since we are making friends, Michelle and I have been hosting and attending a lot of gatherings. We have found Priya Parker’s tool of having a deep purpose very helpful in creating events that deepen relationships. Having a purpose for a gathering may seem simple and obvious. However, Priya Parker emphasizes having a deep and specific purpose. To “celebrate my birthday” is not an adequate purpose. The purpose is the goal of the gathering. What do we want everyone to get out of the gathering? Back to the birthday party example, the purpose could be to bring all my friends from different groups together and find commonalities among them. Maybe the purpose is simply to have my friends show their appreciation for me on my birthday. See how these two different purposes have two completely different party structures? In the former, the host may use an icebreaker or game to introduce the different guests to each other. In the later example, maybe the host has a friend write down one thing they appreciate about the birthday person and then the host may share these out loud. Knowing the purpose of the party can help structure the agenda, how the room is laid out, who is invited, etc. This week, Michelle and I use Priya Parker’s recommendations on the purpose of a gathering from her book The Art of Gathering, to help create more meaningful events. Show Notes:The Art of Gathering by Priya ParkerDeep Talk Meetup CharlestonCommunity TimeThank you NatalieFL for your comments on our CAMPFI episode BWS on Social MediaInstagramTik TokYoutubeOur partner for this episode is our favorite podcasting tool, Riverside.fm! If you have a podcast or are thinking of launching one in the new year, Riverside is the tool that is going to help make the process 10 times easier. With reliable recording for you or your guest, AI editing tools and quick clip making options, you can get your podcast running faster with less of the headaches of other tools. Use our link to get started! Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Going into 2023, Harris Jones had an impressive work resume. She was the third employee at RehabWallet, a successful real estate startup but she was unsatisfied with how she spent her time after work.  She was a self proclaimed quiet and meek person, nervous to speak at the real estate events she attended for her work. However, she knew she enjoyed the events and wanted to shift from outside viewer to active participant.  Most people set intentions or resolutions in January that fall apart before the month ends, let alone accomplish a major change in the year. Harris joined us on Build A Wealthy Spirit to walk us through how she went through her 2023 transformation. Realizing she enjoyed the events but had a blocker for public speaking, she set forth a plan to become a paid public speaker. Her journey would include removing her adult "baby" teeth, joining Toastmasters, going on stage for improv and in that same year, her first paid speaking experience. There are a few takeaways that Harris shares for anyone who is looking at this new year and thinking they want to finally make *that* big change. Whether it's to get that six pack, adopt a puppy, or go on stage for the first time. Most of us have something we deeply want to do, but don't even know how to push ourselves to reach out full potential. Harris is living proof that taking the first step can open the doors to a new you. Let us know if you have a big goal for 2024! You can leave us a comment at https://www.buildawealthyspirit.com/Follow Harris Jones:Instagram: www.instagram.com/thehoopinvestorWebsite: HYPRfocus.comShow Notes:Not Nice: Stop People Pleasing, Staying Silent, & Feeling Guilty... And Start Speaking Up, Saying No, Asking Boldly, And Unapologetically Being Yourself by Aziz GazipuraThe 4 Disciplines of Execution: Achieving Your Wildly Important Goals by Chris McChesney, Sean Covey, Jim HulingHow to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale CarnegieLewis Howes:Conference: Summit of GreatnessSchool of Greatness PodcastImpact Theory by Tom BilyeuSparketype TestEd MylettFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

One silver lining of COVID is that it gave me a new appreciation for in-person gatherings. As much as online meetings can help connect when we cannot meet in person, there is nothing that compares to IRL meetings. Last weekend, Michelle and I attended CAMP FI in Florida. There were 80+ FI/RE lovers present at a summer-camp style venue with speakers, break-out sessions, outdoor activities- kayaking, yoga, archery, karaoke and lots of time to have deep intimate conversations. Michelle and I found five unique benefits to this type of IRL meeting with like-minded people: Meeting real-life people rather than listening to internet personasDeepen your interest in FISimilar strugglesInside jokesVenn diagram of interests Show Notes:CampFI Coast FI/Lean FI definitions by Tally.comThe Complete Guide to Chase Ultimate RewardsOutlive: The Science and Art of Longevity by Dr Peter AttiaThe Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi Your Money or Your Life by Vicki Robin and Joe DominguezQuit Like a Millionaire by Kristy Shen and Bryce LeungCommunity TimeJess from Oak and Grain Refinishing YoutubeInstagram BWS on Social MediaInstagramTik TokYoutubeAirHelp: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, AirHelp. AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers' rights. Click this link if you've had a cancelled or delayed flight as well as support our podcast: AirHelp Affiliate LinkFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

With tax advantaged accounts, when it clicks, it's easy to become obsessed with all the ways you can use these money vehicles to build wealth!  However, it's not always easy to understand! What is Roth? How much should you *really* invest in your 401K? This episode is our guide to the basics of tax-advantaged accounts. This includes, what they are, how much to consider investing and why Michelle and Sammie think this is a must add to your to do list at the beginning of the year. There's a lot to know about tax advantage accounts. Let us know your tip in our comment section at buildawealthyspirit.com. We'll read out favorites in the next episode! Our partner for this episode is our favorite podcasting tool, Riverside.fm! If you have a podcast or are thinking of launching one in the new year, Riverside is the tool that is going to help make the process 10 times easier. With reliable recording for you or your guest, AI editing tools and quick clip making options, you can get your podcast running faster with less of the headaches of other tools. Use our link to get started! Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Michelle and I like to use Charlie Gilkey’s Four Project Rule from his book Start Finishing to help create our yearly resolution. Charlie recommends limiting yourself to no more than four projects a quarter. He includes things like moving and starting a new job as a project as they require a significant portion of our time. These projects can be re-visited every quarter. Projects that become systematic habits can be removed from the projects listMichelle and I also like to create a theme for the year as well. I like for this theme to be poetic and capture the general spirit of the new year. Theme for 2023: I tend to the garden of my beingTheme for 2024: I play in gardens of abundance Last year, I focused on taking care of my needs and I embodied this. This culminated in me quitting my job. This year I am focusing on enjoying the fruits of my previous labors. The focus is to play in life. I don’t have to take everything so seriously this year because I realize I already have everything I need. This year is about enjoying life. Show notesCharlie Gilkey author of Start FinishingCharlie Gilkey’s piece on projects: January 2024 Planning Tips: Projects, Not ResolutionsSparketype Episode Part 1 Sparketype Episode Part 2Sparketype Assessment Community TimeHappy Birthday Michelle!We hit 25k downloads! Thank you, listeners!Did you listen to today’s episode? Do you have a better idea for Michelle’s theme? Let us know in the comments!CampFI - We will be speaking at CampFI this weekend!BWS on Social MediaInstagramTik TokYoutubeRiverside: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, RiversideYour Online Recording Studio — Riverside.fm - Record remote podcasts and video interviews in studio quality from anywhere. Used by +70,000 creators & Fortune 500 firms. App store rating: 5.0/5.0. Get started free.Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

We have been hearing from a lot of listeners that they are planning to join the “sabaddie” crew and are going to leave their jobs in 2024. Other people have expressed concerns that there may be lay-offs at their job and they want to be prepared. Regardless of the reason for leaving our job, there are steps we can take to prepare for our departure to make this process smoother. Pick a dateI initially thought about leaving my job in December 2023. Once I picked that date, I started to receive signs that I should leave my job earlier. Once I moved up the date to September 2023 I felt much more content with my timeline. There is something about choosing a date that allows your intuition to speak. Choosing a date also helps you work backward and map out all the things that need to be done (moving, putting in your notice, taking PTO, etc) before you leave. Create RunwayFirst, we need to calculate how much we spend monthly on average. This can give us a good idea of how much liquid money we need. Some people may be comfortable with 1-3 months worth of cash, others will want years and some people will want to be fully financially independent before quitting their job. Regardless of the type of person, everyone begins with estimating their monthly costsExit Checklist This is a checklist that includes everything that needs to be done before leaving work. As soon as you pick a date, a million to-do tasks will start popping into your brain at random times. From scheduling meetings with HR to canceling gym memberships, all the things that need to be completed should not be stored in the mind. Create a document or spreadsheet and note everything that needs to be done. DO NOT TELL ANYONE YOU ARE LEAVING Tell only the “need to know” people until it needs to be shared with everyone. In some work scenarios, disclosing these plans could result in early termination/resignation. Show notesEpisode 104: Financial Runway Community TimeThank you Julie for your comments on the Unconventional Choices episodes. Thank you Nate Bleadorn for your comments on Nick Gray’s podcast. Check out the Good People Summit that Nate mentioned. BWS on Social MediaInstagramTik TokYoutubeRiverside: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, RiversideYour Online Recording Studio — Riverside.fm - Record remote podcasts and video interviews in studio quality from anywhere. Used by +70,000 creators & Fortune 500 firms. App store rating: 5.0/5.0. Get started free.Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Nick Gray, author of the The 2-Hour Cocktail Party, joins us today to talk about the best way to make friends as an adult, throw a party with new and old friends!If that sounds scary, Sammie and Michelle can relate. Luckily, Nick literally wrote the book on throwing the perfect party. On this episode we discuss the challenges of making friends as an adult, why cocktail (or mocktail) parties are a great way to create and deepen friendships, and we cover some of the best things to put in place to have structure for your party and to help ease your anxieties. By the end of this episode, we were excited to throw a party and hope you feel the seeds of that as well. Nick Gray's Information:Book: The 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to Build Big Relationships with Small GatheringsWebsite: nickgray.netNick Gray's Instagram: @nickgraynewsNick Gray's Twitter: @nickgraynewsEmail: nick@nickgraynews.comBollywood Music VideoFind more of our show notes at buildawealthyspirit.com! There you can also leave us a comment and claim one of the five free copies of The 2-Hour Cocktail Party that we are giving away to our listeners. Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Growing up, I never thought I would leave the workforce and spend my time doing things I love. I had no comprehension of ideas like financial independence, early retirements, or sabbaticals. The paths I saw were laid out in straight lines and cheat codes did not exist. Reflecting on our journey, Michelle and I realize we have made some unconventional decisions that have given us financial abundance and, most importantly, time freedom. Show notesTools Of Titans: The Tactics, Routines, and Habits of Billionaires, Icons, and World-Class Performers by Tim Ferris Siddhartha by Herman HesseTim Ferris on Tools of Titans by Richard Feloni with Business Insider I Will Teach You to Be Rich by Ramit SethiWalden by Henry David ThoreauRiverside: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, RiversideWe are so excited to partner with Riverside.fm for this episode because they have made recording audio and video for our 150+ episodes a seamless, stress free process. If you're thinking about starting a podcast or video channel, Riverside.fm is a great resource for having conversations with interesting guests without having to worry about connection issues or choppy audio. Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

This week, Michelle and I discuss the five love languages and how to choose a gift for each person based on their love language. We also share tips for gift-giving for each love language. For example, for someone who loves gifts the packaging can make the whole gift. A beautifully wrapped gift says I came here to give this gift to you, whereas a present in a grocery bag says I thought about this last minute. Show notesThe 5 Love Languages: The Secret to Love that Lasts by Gary ChapmanLove Languages quiz Lush massage bar Episode 120: How to Make Friends as an Adult - Nick Gray 2-hour cocktail partyEpisode 141: Student Loans with Becca BaldaufCommunity TimeCongrats Carla on getting more months certified for PSLF! Thanks to Abby for sharing that she sometimes uses her values to guide her gratitude practice. Genius Idea!If you live in or near Charleston, SC, join our meet-up group! Come to our upcoming ugly sweater party on December 9!BWS on Social MediaInstagramTik TokYoutubeFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

The end of the year is a busy time with multiple holidays, end-of-year deadlines at work, and family gatherings. With all the hustle and bustle, we often neglect our end-of-year financial tasks. This week Michelle and I created a five-step money checklist for the end of the year. 5 Essential Year-End Money Must-Dos Max out/contribute to your tax-advantaged accounts Sign up for Health Care and make vision/dental/medical appointmentsSpend FSA moneyConsolidate Student Loans by December 31Make charitable donations Show notesTop 6 tips: Your year-end financial checklist by VanguardHow to Do a Backdoor Roth IRA by White Coat Investor BWS 141. Student Loans and the new SAVE plan with Becca Baldauf from Student Loan PlannerCommunity TimeIf you live in or near Charleston, SC, join our meet-up group! Come to our upcoming ugly sweater party on December 9!BWS on Social MediaInstagramTik TokYoutubeAirHelp: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, AirHelp. AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers' rights. Click this link if you've had a cancelled or delayed flight as well as support our podcast: AirHelp Affiliate LinkFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Sammie and Michelle take a look at gratitude with a twist, specifically how you can use gratitude to manifest more abundance into your life.Let us know your thoughts at buildawealthyspirit.com! ---AirHelp is our partner for this episode! We’ve been huge fans of them because they are so easy to work and solve a problem almost anyone who flies encounters. We’re talking about canceled flights or obscene delays. With AirHelp, you give them your flight information and they go to contact the airlines to see if they can get you compensation under your Air Passenger Rights. Bookmark them for the holiday season, though we hope you have safe travels and don’t need it! Click here to see if you are eligible for compensation!Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Taking a break from work might seem like an easy thing to do, but anyone who has taken a sabbatical can speak to the surprising changes that occur when we leave traditional work. The Seven Habits of a Highly Effective SabbaticalPrioritize Quality Sleep Maintain a healthy diet and exercise routineForm a meditative spiritual practiceFoster an Abundance mindsetPractice Self CompassionLimit yourself to 4 ProjectsBuild CommunityShow notesSammie’s sunrise alarm clockSeven Habits for a Happy Retirement2-hour cocktail party by Nick GrayOur podcast with Nick Gray, author of The 2-Hour Cocktail PartyHow to build your dream community, BWS episode AirHelp: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, AirHelp. AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers' rights. Click this link if you've had a cancelled or delayed flight as well as support our podcast: AirHelp Affiliate LinkFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

See here for full show notesThe financial independence number is the amount of money a person needs to retire or not work again. Using information from the Trinity study, linked in the show notes below, we can find out our FI number by taking our annual spending and multiplying by 25.I’ve found knowing my FI number incredibly motivating in saving and knowing what my financial goals are. Michelle, on the other hand, feels that people place too much importance on the FI number. She finds that people use the FI number to trap themselves in a job or stay in a mediocre situation. Today on the podcast, Michelle and I discuss the FI number and debate its importance. Don’t worry, there will be no hair-pulling or kicking each other’s shins. Show notesThe Trinity Study: Retirement Savings: Choosing a Withdrawal Rate That Is SustainableMr. Money Mustache’s take on the Trinity Study- The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early RetirementGrant Sabatier author of Financial FreedomCody Berman co-host of The Financial Independence ShowNavigating the Friend Recession: Building Stronger Communities, a conversation with Doc G of Earn and InvestSunrise Sun LampChoose FI episode 461, discussing community and Nick Gray’s 2 hour cocktail partyThe 2-Hour Cocktail Party: How to Build Big Relationships with Small Gatherings by Nick GrayAirHelp: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, AirHelp. AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers' rights. Click this link if you've had a cancelled or delayed flight as well as support our podcast: AirHelp Affiliate LinkFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

In November 2021, Michelle and I came up with a concept called “Death Clock”. We were driving back from my job interview in the middle of the desert when we started pondering scenarios involving our own mortality. If we had a timer next to our head that said we only had ten more years to live, would we change anything? If the timer said five years or one year, what would change? This thought experiment shed light on the perceived and real limitations that were preventing me from making changes. At that time, the death clock exercise made me realize that under no circumstance would I stay at my current job in San Jose because it was both taking up all my time and paying less than my future job in the desert. I ended up taking the desert job. We moved to the middle of nowhere. A radio tower fell on our house. Michelle started working two jobs related to her interests and now is writing regularly. I ultimately quit my job to take a sabbatical and now we are living in South Carolina. Life moves fast when death clock is on the brain. Today, we discuss how the concept of death clock has impacted our lives and how death clock brought clarity to the life changes that needed to be made to live more closely in alignment. Show notesDeath Meditation Can Reduce Anxiety and Improve Your LifeOur previous Death Clock episode Community TimeListen to us discuss the Friendship Recession with Doc G on Earn and InvestThank youSean Murphy for sharing our episode on Deprogramming from the Corporate Mindset on Instagram. AirHelp: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, AirHelp. AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers' rights. Click this link if you've had a cancelled or delayed flight as well as support our podcast: AirHelp Affiliate LinkFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

We are excited to revisit one of our most popular episodes and a topic we love, Deprogramming from the Corporate Mindset. How fun to share it with our spooky October theme song as well. Leave a comment at buildawealthyspirit.comWhen Michelle left her sales job, she knew she wanted to take some time off and eventually start more creative projects. Her days felt fulfilling and in alignment, she was living at home, got to spend time with her parents and launch this podcast with Sammie. However, she felt so guilty for months because she still thought a productive day had to fit within a 40 hour work week or within the 9-5 workday. It’s funny to reflect on that now. Michelle needed a mental break but refused to give it to herself. We've realized this is common for people who leave the traditional workplace for any reason. It’s easy to feel guilty if we aren’t as productive as we think we would be if we were in an office. When we launched this episode initially, Sammie was still working her PA job in our small town and didn’t have a sabbatical on her radar. What a difference a few months makes! We found revisiting this episode was a great reminder to us to enjoy the present moment. Whether or not we’re working a full time job, our value is not defined by our work identity.Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Budgeting, or planning how your dollars are going to be spent in the future, is more tricky than simply tracking each expense. I’ve always marveled at zero-based budgeting software like YNAB, You Need a Budget. With YNAB, you take every dollar from your income and assign it to a job. Some money gets set aside for rent, groceries, savings, etc. However, as someone with a high savings rate, zero-based budgeting strategies seemed a bit overkill for my needs. Not working complicated all of this. Budgeting and tracking my expenses is so much more important when you don’t have a job. At the same time, you can’t “budget” a non-existent paycheck. Was I supposed to assign each dollar of my net worth a job? That seemed insane and very difficult to predict so early on in my life. Michelle and I took time this week to discuss simpler ways to budget. Our friend and fellow podcast listener, Arjun, told us that he has a general idea of what he spends on most things each month, so he knows how much he typically spends. We took this concept and combined it with tracking your spending. First, we calculated our monthly fixed expenses; rent, utilities, health insurance etc. For me, this number is around 1600-1700. Next, we use data from tracking our spending to track our other spending categories and costs. As an example, my typical spending categories are groceries, gas, hanging out with friends, home supplies etc, which can range from about $800-3000. Spending at this rate would result in an annual spending of about $43,000. I can use my typical monthly spending to estimate my next month's costs and consider any extra expenses I might have- travel, Christmas, etc. When I see how much I spent at the end of the month, I can tell if I am above or below my average spending which helps me decide if I am still on track. Though this method may not be as accurate or stringent as zero-based budgeting, Michelle and I found that it helped paint a realistic picture of our spending which relieved money anxieties and our scarcity mindset. Listen to today’s podcast for the details of our method. How do you all track your expenses and budget? Are you on a break from work or self-employed, how do you manage your spending? Let us know in the comments below. Show notesHow to Choose a Budgeting Strategy by Emily Hudson from YNABYNAB- You need a budgetClassPass Community TimeThank you Joshua Lelon for your insights from our episode 142 “What are you telling the universe” AirHelp: Partner For This EpisodeCheck out our partner for this episode, AirHelp. AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers' rights. Click this link if you've had a cancelled or delayed flight as well as support our podcast: AirHelp Affiliate LinkFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

What are you telling the universe? If the universe sent a little scribe down to record everything you are thinking and doing, what would this log look like? Imagine if a genie could turn that story into reality – would this story bring you satisfaction? If you continue doing the same actions that you are doing today, what will be the end result? These thoughts and actions become our reality, so we must be deliberate about them. James Clear talks about “Identity-Based Habits”. Rather than simply performing daily habits, he recommends first, creating an identity in your mind, then living a life that matches that identity. Show notes Atomic Habits by James ClearIdentity-Based Habits: How to Actually Stick to Your Goals This Year by James Clear Sign up for ClassPassEpisode 141 on Student LoansHingeCommunity TimeCarla has consolidated her loans and is awaiting PSLF approval for her pre-PA school job. Check out our student loan episode here. We hope you are forgiven and those loans are gone! AirHelp: Partner For This EpisodeCheck our our partner for this episode, AirHelp. AirHelp is a part of the Association of Passenger Rights Advocates (APRA) whose mission is to promote and protect passengers' rights. Click this link if you've had a cancelled or delayed flight as well as support our podcast: AirHelp Affiliate LinkNotice anything spooktacular about today’s Build a Wealthy Spirit Jingle? Yes, we did have a spooktacular edition of the theme song because I’m OBSESSED with Halloween. Do not fret! This eerie jingle is here to stay for the month of October, so be sure to join us next time as we put down the ghoul-book and rethink the status quo.Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

Feeling anxious about starting Student Loan Payments?  Feeling confused by all the new SAVE plan changes?  If yes, this is the episode for you!Becca Baldauf a CPA and Certified College Financial Consultant with Student Loan Planner joins us to have a conversation on Student Loans. Starting October 2023, student loan payments resume. President Biden has also recently launched the SAVE plan which has many new changes and potential HUGE benefits for many borrowers. Becca gets into specifics about student loans such as consolidation, public service loan forgiveness [PSLF], loan forgiveness in general, the different plans for repayment and their benefits, and general ways to approach loans. This is a must-listen episode for anyone who has student loans! Share it with anyone who is wondering how to approach their student loans. For questions on your specific situation, you can book a consultation with Student Loan Planner here. Here’s some exciting points from today’s conversationBorrowers who work at a nonprofit but who are employed by a private company (because they are not able to work directly for the nonprofit) can now qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF). Ex: Kaiser Permanente physicians If you worked at a nonprofit in/after undergrad and you were paying your student loans, then those months can now apply to forgiveness for all your loans. Your loans must be consolidated for this to apply. The deadline to consolidate is December 31, 2023. Ex: Susan worked as a lab tech at a nonprofit hospital for 1 year prior to PA school. She was paying for her undergrad loans during that time period. She went to PA school and accumulated grad school loans as well. The 12 months count towards her entire 120 loan count towards PSLF not only for the undergrad loans. Show NotesBook an appointment with Student loan plannerStudent Loan Planner website Information on One-Time Payment Count Adjustment for Eligible BorrowersCertification form for public service loan forgivenessNotice anything spooktacular about today’s Build a Wealthy Spirit Jingle? Yes, we did have a spooktacular edition of the theme song because I’m OBSESSED with Halloween. Do not fret! This eerie jingle is here to stay for the month of October, so be sure to join us next time as we put down the ghoul-book and rethink the status quo.Find more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!

If you've struggled to build a community or create meaningful friendships as an adult, this is a great episode for you! The headlines are clear: there is a "friendship recession" a "loneliness epidemic" that is plaguing the United States. So much so that the US Surgeon General has declared it as an official loneliness epidemic. Sammie and Michelle are diving into how to build a community today and fight off your own personal friendship recession. Check out our partner for this episode: AirHelp If you've ever had an excessive flight delay or cancellation, you may be entitled to some compensation from the airlines. However, it's a pain to call or chat the airlines and see if there is money you're leaving on the table. That's where AirHelp comes in. You give them your flight information, and they will go work with the airlines on your behalf. You only pay if they are able to get you compensation. Click here to check them out and support this podcast:https://www.airhelp.com/en/?utm_medium=affiliate&utm_source=pap&utm_campaign=aff-buildawealthyspirit&utm_content=&a_aid=buildawealthyspirit&a_bid=4ed72bedFind more show notes and interact with the Build A Wealthy Spirit community at buildawealthyspirit.com!