Episodios

  • The 5 Hardest Money Habits to Break (and How to Finally Break Them) | 537

    The 5 Hardest Money Habits to Break (and How to Finally Break Them) | 537
    Mar 9 2026
    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!Today we’re diving into the top 5 hardest financial habits to break — straight from our community. We’re talking about the real-life stuff that keeps showing up in our budgets again and again: eating out, impulse spending, credit cards, grocery overspending, and living above our means.But we’re not just calling out the habits, budget besties — we’re also giving you practical ways to start changing them without going from one extreme to the other.Because this is not about perfection. It’s about creating a money plan that actually fits your real life.In this episode, we talk about:Why eating out and delivery can quietly wreck your budgetHow to make food at home more convenient, realistic, and actually enjoyableThe truth about Amazon, home decor, clothes, and impulse purchasesWhy random scrolling often turns into random spendingHow credit cards keep you disconnected from what’s really happening with your moneyWhy your grocery budget probably needs to be updatedWhat it really means to live within or below your meansHow separate spending accounts and realistic budget categories can make all of this easierThe 5 hardest financial habits to break:Eating outShopping and impulse buyingUsing credit cardsOverspending on groceriesLiving above your meansBiggest reminders from this episode:We are not saying you can never eat out, shop, or have fun.We are saying you need a plan for it.A realistic budget works better than an overly strict one you can’t stick to.Convenience is okay — it just needs to fit your numbers.You have to stop investing in everyone and everything else before you invest in yourself.Practical takeaways:Make meals at home easy, fast, and appealingPut guardrails around spending with a set budgetUse separate accounts for spending categories when possibleRemove credit cards from your wallet, apps, and auto-pay if they’re causing problemsUpdate your grocery budget to reflect today’s pricesStop guessing with your money and start getting clear on what your life actually costsLet’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coachingThis podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Más Menos
    22 m
  • How Angie Paid Off $72,000 in Debt Without Cutting the Fun | Budgeting Tips for Busy Couples | 536

    How Angie Paid Off $72,000 in Debt Without Cutting the Fun | Budgeting Tips for Busy Couples | 536
    Mar 6 2026

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

    Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

    Budget besties, this episode is such a good one. We’re sitting down with Angie, a longtime listener turned client, who shares how she completely transformed her finances by getting organized, simplifying her accounts, and building habits that actually work in real life.

    Angie and her husband were juggling a lot: personal finances, business finances, two homes, four adult kids, and plenty of money stress. Even though they were making good money, it still felt messy and unclear. Once she started using a simple system that separated bills, spending, gas, and groceries, everything started to click.

    In less than a year, Angie paid off $72,000 in debt, bought a car in cash, got a month ahead on personal bills, became more generous, and started making financial decisions with so much more peace and confidence.

    This conversation is a reminder that financial success is not about making more money. It’s about having a system, building habits, and being intentional with what matters most.

    Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

    1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

    2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

    3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

    This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

    This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

    Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Más Menos
    31 m
  • How to Pay Off $3,000 in Credit Card Debt and Fix the $3 Gas Budget Problem with Coach Michelle | 535

    How to Pay Off $3,000 in Credit Card Debt and Fix the $3 Gas Budget Problem with Coach Michelle | 535
    Mar 4 2026
    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!Coach Michelle is back in Office Hours every Wednesday, helping budget besties get unstuck—whether you’re brand new, you’ve got the budget system already, or you’re still trying to save up to buy it. This episode is basically a peek into the kinds of questions that come up every week… and the little shifts that create BIG momentum.What we coveredOffice Hours = judgement-free help Bring your questions. Bring your chaos. Bring your “I don’t even know where to start.” Michelle helps you build a plan that actually fits your life—without making you feel behind.The $3,000 credit card win (in about a month!) One budget bestie started in November and by the end of December had paid $3,000 off her credit card—because she:organized the budget clearly,separated accounts,set up automation,and finally saw what her money could actually do.Why separation of accounts creates “discipline” without the stress When everything sits in one account, it becomes a black hole. When you separate money by purpose, you instantly know:what’s for bills,what’s for spending,what’s for saving,and what can go toward debt.And then the “discipline” isn’t you white-knuckling—it’s the system doing what it’s designed to do.The “$3 left for gas” problem (aka: detail overload) A budget bestie was dialing gas and groceries down so tightly she ended the month with $3 left for gas. Michelle’s coaching: Stop budgeting down to the last penny in categories that fluctuate. Gas + groceries need a buffer so you don’t create anxiety, second-guessing, and late-night panic math.We are NOT the frugal besties If you’re looking for “rice and beans forever” or “never go out to eat again,” we’re not your girls. We’re here for bougie on a budget—a budget built in abundance, with breathing room, that supports a life you actually enjoy.The $3,000 car insurance bill (semi-annual stress) One bestie had a $3,000 car insurance bill due in a few months and only had $1,000 saved. The strategy:calculate the gap,temporarily pull back on other savings buckets or extra debt payments,fund the insurance first (because it’s non-negotiable),then return to debt payoff after the bill is paid.The big breakthrough: once annual bills are set up properly, you stop “magically finding” thousands of dollars every few months.Order of operations (so you don’t sabotage yourself) We want you to build this in steps:get spending (gas/groceries/etc.) realisticbuild savings bucketsthen go hard on debt That’s how you avoid having to put surprise expenses right back on a card later.Getting your husband on board (and ending the swipe-stress) One bestie was constantly transferring money to cover her husband’s spending and carrying all the stress alone. The game-changer:separate accounts,give him his own spending account,agree on the amount together,turn off overdraft transfers so the limit is real,and make him responsible for managing his account.It shifts the dynamic from parent/child to teammates.Acorns in the budget (and why “investing on purpose” matters) The round-up investing sounded fine… until she started paying attention to her numbers. Tracking tiny, random round-ups can create unnecessary chaos. Our take:either assign a consistent monthly investment amount (on purpose),Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coachingThis podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Más Menos
    31 m
  • The Real Reason You’re Overspending (And How To Fix It) | 534

    The Real Reason You’re Overspending (And How To Fix It) | 534
    Mar 2 2026

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

    Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

    1) Overspending is the norm… and shame is lying to us

    A lot of people walk around thinking:

    1. “I’m terrible with money.”
    2. “I can’t do math.”
    3. “I have no discipline.”

    But y’all… that’s not the real issue. The real issue is not knowing what’s safe to spend in the moment. So we guess. And guessing gets expensive.

    2) The rebellious spending spiral is real

    When we feel like we never have money, we get that “fine, whatever, future me can deal with it” energy:

    1. drain the account
    2. swipe the card
    3. turn it into a later problem

    Separate accounts remove that fight because there’s nothing to rebel against—you already planned for spending.

    3) Separate accounts = micro-decisions, not daily math Olympics

    Instead of:

    1. “Did we pay rent?”
    2. “Do we have grocery money?”
    3. “Can I go to Target or will I regret it?”

    You get:

    1. Spending account balance = what you can spend. Period.
    2. That’s the whole decision. That’s the freedom.

    4) Replenishment changes your brain (and your habits)

    When your spending money gets refilled every paycheck (or weekly transfer), it stops feeling like:

    1. “now or never”
    2. and starts feeling like:
    3. “I can spend, and it’s coming back.”

    That’s why people naturally spend less without doing a bunch of willpower tricks.

    5) Tracking culture is exhausting and unnecessary here

    Some systems want:

    1. receipts
    2. categories tracked to the penny
    3. apps yelling at you like you’re grounded 😅

    But with this approach, you don’t need to track every little thing because:

    1. it’s already separated
    2. it’s already capped
    3. it’s already visible

    You can literally look and go: “Yep. Target did that.” The end.

    Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

    1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

    2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

    3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

    This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

    This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.


    Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Más Menos
    15 m
  • Hormones & Your Budget: How Your Cycle Impacts How You Spend Money and What to Do About It with Leisha Drews | 533

    Hormones & Your Budget: How Your Cycle Impacts How You Spend Money and What to Do About It with Leisha Drews | 533
    Feb 27 2026

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

    Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

    Check Out Leisha's Podcast!

    Today’s episode is a female-focused conversation on something most of us have felt but never connected to our money habits: your hormones and your spending.

    We’re talking with Leisha Drews, nurse and host of the Happily Hormonal podcast, about how different phases of your cycle can affect your mood, decision-making, impulse spending, and even how “motivated” you feel to stick to the budget.

    You’ll learn:

    1. Why your period week can actually be a great time to plan your budget
    2. Why ovulation week can make you feel more social, optimistic, and a little more “add to cart” 😅
    3. Why the luteal phase can bring comfort spending and lower stress tolerance
    4. How awareness helps you stop making money decisions feel like a personal flaw

    If you loved this conversation, go check out Leisha's show Happily Hormonal and search: cycle tracking or cycle syncing for more episodes on learning your patterns.

    Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

    1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

    2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

    3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

    This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

    This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

    Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Más Menos
    29 m
  • Stop Stealing Your Own Spending Money, Storm Mode & Savings Buckets: Lessons From The Sessions | 532

    Stop Stealing Your Own Spending Money, Storm Mode & Savings Buckets: Lessons From The Sessions | 532
    Feb 25 2026

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

    Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

    Hey budget besties — today we’re pulling back the curtain on real-life lessons from our private coaching sessions. Because if our clients are dealing with it… chances are you are too. We’re talking layoffs and job loss prep, why “0% interest” debt can still be a budget emergency, how to build a storm-mode mock budget, and the surprisingly confusing question: is pet food a savings bucket or a spending bucket? (Answer: it depends… but we’ll make it make sense.)

    We also get into a big one for parents: stop robbing your own spending money to cover everyone else’s categories, and let’s teach kids how to manage a set amount instead of learning “just go over and Mom will fix it.” Plus, we’re giving you permission to simplify your budget: categories > tracking every little transaction.

    Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

    1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

    2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

    3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

    This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

    This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

    Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Más Menos
    20 m
  • Make Your March 2026 Budget with Us: A Step-by-Step Monthly Money Plan

    Make Your March 2026 Budget with Us: A Step-by-Step Monthly Money Plan
    Feb 23 2026

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

    Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

    Budget besties, February is basically a blink—so we’re not letting March sneak up on us without a plan. In this episode, Shana and Vanessa walk us through their simple, repeatable monthly budget process: close out the current month first, then build the next month’s budget in a specific order so your money feels calmer, more automated, and way less “where did it go?!”

    We follow a real-life client example (two teacher incomes, lots of moving parts, still totally doable) to show how every income source counts, why we only list minimum debt payments at first, how to wrangle subscriptions without shame, and how to create spending categories that stay consistent month to month.

    And yes—sometimes savings buckets pause when life is life-ing (hello trips + birthdays). The win is that the plan still works, and you can still make progress—without defaulting to credit cards.

    Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

    1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

    2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

    3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

    This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

    This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.


    Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Más Menos
    28 m
  • Car Paid Off, Student Loan Debt Next? The Best Move for Your Budget | 530

    Car Paid Off, Student Loan Debt Next? The Best Move for Your Budget | 530
    Feb 20 2026

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

    Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

    Amanda joined us to talk through a super relatable moment: they’ve built a solid budgeting system… and now the question is what to do with a big, scary student loan balance once the car is paid off. Add in military life + possible paycheck disruptions, and you’ve got a perfect “real life” money crossroads.

    The best part? Amanda’s already doing the work—multiple spending accounts, savings buckets, paycheck-ahead living—and it literally protected their family during a potential shutdown pay delay. Budget bestie win of the year. 🥳

    What we covered
    1. A huge win: Being a paycheck ahead so a shutdown/pay delay doesn’t force a panic loan.
    2. The real question: Car #2 will be paid off in July—should they roll that payment straight into student loans Dave Ramsey-style?
    3. Why it feels impossible: Doctorate-level debt + preschool-hours income + three little kids + a spouse who’s gone a lot.
    4. The mindset shift: Doctorate-level debt can be tackled more aggressively when you’re closer to doctorate-level income.
    5. Storm Mode permission: When life is unstable (shutdown uncertainty, limited work hours, heavy family load), it’s okay to pause aggression and pay minimums temporarily.
    6. Quality of life matters: Not as an excuse—as a sustainability strategy. Date nights, small “fun money,” and feeling less tight can keep you consistent for the long haul.
    7. Tactical tip to reduce overwhelm: Even if the loans are “one balance,” they’re often broken into multiple smaller loans inside the account. Tracking them separately can make the mountain feel climbable.
    8. Meet-in-the-middle plan: After the car payoff, consider splitting the freed-up payment:
    9. top off key savings buckets (annual bills, gifts, essentials)
    10. increase spending accounts to reduce day-to-day stress

    Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

    1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

    2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

    3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

    This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

    This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.


    Click here to view our privacy policy.
    Más Menos
    15 m