Couple Money Podcast

Are you looking for a way to stay motivated with your goals for the year? Michelle Jackson walks us through how vision boards can help you achieve more!  How to Use Vision Boards to Achieve More t's the second day of the 2017 and I'm betting that you're probably flooded with a ton of goal setting tips, hacks, and trips. On one hand, I think taking a step back and having some clarity on what you want to accomplish is a wonderful first step, but I'm not a New Year's Resolutions woman. Whenever you decide to build your marriage and wealth, go for it. However with so many people's attention focused on goals I think now's a good opportunity to jump-start things. So for today's episode we're going to be focused on that first-step – defining your what and why for the year. And my guest for today is Michelle Jackson, host of Girl Gone Frugal, creator of Colorado Love Hub, and Shop My Closet Project. She's also the co-founder of the New Year, New You Financial Summit. We're going to talk a little about how you can achieve more using Vision boards. Today Michelle Jackson, creator Michelle is Money Hungry, is here to discuss: what vision boards are and how they can help youhow to create a productive vision boardsetting yourself up for success Resources for Vision Boards and Goals Want to learn more about building up your finances so that it fits you and your goals? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, MintGrab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your MoneyReach Your Money Goals with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5KHow To Create A Vision BoardStay the Course If you’d like to chat about your money moves for this year, you can join us in the Thriving Families Facebook community. We're a fun and supportive group. We swap ideas, questions, stories, advice. When we try to help one another out with our family and financial goals. We'd love to see you there!

Stressed and overwhelmed by debt? Learn how you can rebuild your finances and life. Miss Mazuma shares how she overcame $500k of debt, short sales, and found happiness!   Rebuild Your Finances It's the beginning of a new year and while so many right now are all jazzed up about knocking down their debts, saving more, or spending less, that enthusiasm will die down. And if you still have a huge amount of debt or just a big goal you want to tackle when that happens, you can discourage. And in some cases, understandably depressed. It's normal. But what do you then? How can you stay focused and climb out? Today's guest, Miss Mazuma, is kind and brave enough to share her story. In this episode we get into: how she got into so much debt,have a look into the painful and frustrating process of a short salesee how she work through this and came to a healthier spot Her story is both encouraging and real. If you want to hear from someone else who has dug out from a mountain of debt, please check out my interview with Toni Husbands. She shares how she and her husband got on the same page and paid off over $100,000 of debt. Resources for Paying Off Debt Want to learn more? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, MintGrab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your MoneyReach Your Money Goals with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5K The Rise and Fall of My Empire…and How I Struck Back (Pt 1)The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community Attacking Debt: Which One First? Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You? If you’d like to chat about your money moves for this year, you can join us in the Thriving Families Facebook community. We're a fun and supportive group. We swap ideas, questions, stories, advice. When we try to help one another out with our family and financial goals. We'd love to see you there!

Looking for a less stressful way to handle your business' finances? Learn what mistakes to avoid and the tools that will help you master money even if you're a busy entrepreneur! Small Business Finances Around 27 million working-age Americans began or are running a business you may be one of them. I remember when I started freelancing it was a supplemental income. Eventually, though, it transitioned into my main work. I knew I needed to step it up and run it like a business. So I took care of the paperwork and started educating myself. There are days those deadlines get tight and I'm stressed but I enjoy doing the work I'm doing and spending more time with my family. Win-win in my book. Whether you're freelancing, doing a side hustle, or launching a business, it will take work. Not only do you have to work on the front end- so to speak  – producing the product or service you're selling, but you also have to be smart about the back end stuff. One key component? Finances. Quite simply getting the money squared away makes sure you're actually running a business and not an expensive hobby. I shared a little bit of my story in past episodes, which I hope gives a glimpse of what to expect. However, it's limited to my own business which may be different from yours. I know someone who has the breadth and depth of skills and can show you the ropes. Today small business coach and author Sylvia Moe Inks is on the show to share her knowledge. We're going to discuss: the biggest mistakes small business owners make (& how to avoid them)creating a system to make taxes much easiera tool to cut down on the back and forth of emails Hope you enjoy! Resources for Business Finances If you two are ready to start or grow your business, here are some resources to check out to make sure your money is best used wisely. Connect with Sylvia: SMI Financial Coaching | LinkedInSmall Business Finance for the Busy Entrepreneur: Blueprint for Building a Solid, Profitable Business Lifestyle Business Guide: I created a free guide with the best resources to start your business on a bootstrap budget!Quickbooks: Track your money like a pro. I use them for my business.Calendly

Are you two stressed over money? Do your talks more often than not end up in fights? Learn how money dates can be effective and fun way you get on the same page and talk about money! The Money Talk vs Money Dates One of the most popular questions I get is, when should we talk about money? Having THE money talk is not only intimidating but unproductive. Find out a better, less stressful option in today's episode. In this episode, we'll get into: why talking about money mattershow you two can make money talks less stressfulhow money dates can help you build up your marriage and money Let's get started! Resources to Make Managing Money Together Easier Want to stay on top of your money without stressing over the small stuff? Here are some key resources and tools to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Honeyfi, and ZetaJumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to Talk About Money Without Starting a Fight We’re going to discuss the ins and outs building your credit in our private Facebook group over at Thriving Families. It’s free and fun – please join us! Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Ready to take a last minute getaway or weekend trip? Use these travel apps and get the best deals! Going away for the weekend doesn't mean you break your budget. With a little planning and the right resources, you two can score some nice trips and still save money. So if you're looking at getting away from it all for a few days, save this post. Travel Sites to Bookmark for Your Weekend Getaways There are more sites than ever for travelers. Besides snagging last minute deals on popular tourist spots, you can also discover some awesome destinations. Airbnb: If you want to live like a local, Airbnb can help you find a bed or whole house for your next trip. We used the site when we went away for an anniversary trip and had a beautiful riverfront apt in Wilmington, NC for a fraction of the price of a hotel.Priceline: I'm a huge fan of their Name Your Own Price feature, which has helped us score plane tickets, hotel rooms, and car rental half off the advertised prices.Better Bidding: Speaking of bids, there are forums and sites online that can help you figure out what it will take to your bid accepted. ou might also want to keep an eye for flash deals with airlines like Southwest where you can score huge discounts on flights for select cities. Apps to Help Score Great Deals and Keep Organized With smartphones everywhere, apps have been developed to help travelers. Download these apps to help you get the best deals and explore your destination. Localeur: (iOS only) Locals share some of their favorite spots in 14 major U.S. cities.TripIt: With two kids in tow, I love have one app to handle and organize all of the travel arrangements. Hopper: If you like to double check the deals on flights, Hopper is great. The app analyzes tons of flight prices and can suggest when it's a good time to purchase ticket. Even though you might not think of it as a travel app per se, GasBuddy can tremendously helpful if you're taking a road trip. Thoughts on Weekend Getaways I'd love to hear your ideas and stories. What has been your favorite getaway destination? What has been your most recent travel deal you've taken? What travel apps are your favorite for planning?

Merging families and finances can be especially tricky with blended families, but you two can succeed and thrive. Get tips on how you can make this big transition go a lot smoother!  Blended Families and Finances Anytime you're merging lives, there are so many things to talk about and discuss. When you're blending your families that's another layer of complexity. If you have kids, you two are figuring out what the house rules apply now with things like curfew, chores, that you're under one roof. But you also have your exes. They may have rules which are completely opposite of yours. As you're juggling things as a family, it can be tricky navigating things. And finances can be just as messy. Thankfully, Melissa Brown, creator of Blended Family Podcast, is on the show today. She going to discuss her own family's transition and how they manage things plus offer practical tips to make the transition smoother. Hope you enjoy! Special thanks to Melissa for coming on and share her thoughts and story! Please reach out her on Twitter or join her Facebook group to hear from others in the blended family community. If you’re looking tips, stories, and advice to make merging finances easier, here are a few to check out! Resources on Merging Finances Special thanks to Melissa for coming on and share her thoughts and story! Please reach out her on Twitter or join her Facebook group to hear from others in the blended family community. If you’re looking tips, stories, and advice to make merging finances easier, here are a few to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintGrow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT BankJumpstart Your Marriage and Your MoneyFree 401(k) Analysis: blooom How to Win Your Spouse Over When They Hate the Budget Getting Your Spouse to Save MoreHow to Encourage Your Spouse to Start (and Keep) a Budget If you’re looking for a community to swap ideas and encouragement, please join Thriving Families on Facebook!

Tired of your debt restricting your options? Learn how Claudia & Garrett from Two Cup House dumped $200k in two years by simplifying their lives and moving into a tiny house! Achieving Financial Freedom By Dumping Debt Whenever I hear neighbors, friends, and family talk about their debt, there are a couple of reactions. Some are frustrated being trapped with certain things because of debt. Maybe they'd love to switch jobs to start a new career, but can't because they got bills to pay. Others kind of throw up their hands, accept debt as a part of life. “You'll always have a mortgage.” And then there's this third group. They're are sick and tired, but they are ready to do something. That's where Claudia and Garrett were two years ago. On April 7, 2015 the Penningtons started the journey lead them to eliminate all their debt last month. The grand total? Just over $200,000! Simplifying Finances and Lives  You've probably seen tiny homes in magazines, online, or maybe on TV (thank you HGTV!). Those small spaces are popular for some couples. For one, less space typically means less house to maintain. Right now the median size of size home over in the Northeast, where the Penningtons live, is about 2300sq ft.

Ron Lieber,  NYTimes columnist and author of The Opposite of Spoiled, discusses how to raise money smart kids who are generous.  Talking About Money with Our Kids Whether we plan to or not our kids will pick up their financial habits based on what we say and do around them. We can look back at our parents and get an idea of how they shaped us. So how can we make sure we’re giving our kids a good start with money? In this episode Ron Lieber, NY Times columnist and author of the newly released The Opposite of Spoiled, will share the latest research to help parents raise kids who generous and smart about money. As a bonus, Ron offers listeners a special opportunity to make a difference and show your kids the power of giving. The first 20 listeners who purchase his book and email him a copy of the receipt to ron@ronlieber will get a free $27 DonorsChoose gift card. Resources and Links from the Episode If you want to learn more, I highly recommend that you check out The Opposite of Spoiled as it does a thorough job of tackling some of the trickier situations of raising a financially savvy kid. You may also want to check out: Too Young for Finance? Think Again – Elmo and Lieber discussing the difference between needs vs wants Lieber’s columns at the NYtimes Why You Should Tell Your Kids How Much Money You Make Thoughts on Raising Money Smart Kids I’d love to hear from you – what are some of your child’s biggest money questions? How have you talked to them about your values and money?

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We're doing a listener Q and a, and we're answering two big marriage and money-related questions: finding better banking options and how to decide whether or not to loan money to friends or family! Answering Your Marriage and Money Questions Last Q&A we covered getting back on track with financial goals, raising credit scores, and jumpstarting your financial cushion.  So what’s on your minds now?  For one, it looks like you’re looking for a better banking option. That’s a smart move as many of us realize how key our checking and savings are in family finances. Getting hit with needless fees not only is draining your account, but most times it’s not for your benefit, but instead about growing their profit.  We’ll also look at how to help out a friend financially without hurting your own finances. We got a lot to cover, so let's get started! Resources to Tackle Your Money Together Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintGrow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT BankJumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Should We Loan Money to Family? How to Master and Maximize Your Bank Accounts TogetherJoin Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook Thanks 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 and Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!  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! 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 , Spotify, or Audible.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!

Ever dream of getting away from it? Learn how to prepare and plan your own adventure as Mike shares how he and his wife took their family on an RV trip across the Americas! Family Adventure: How to Plan for an Epic RV Trip We've been talking in a series of episodes about travel all this month- how to plan these different types of trips for your family that you'll enjoy and remember for a long time. But have you thought about doing something bigger?  Something where you don't just go away for a week on a vacation or a cruise, but actually take a break from your job, your house, and explore a different part of the world for a while? Sounds pretty crazy, right? I think most people would have a few things. That immediately come to mind about why it wouldn't work. How would we pay for this?Would we be able to find a job after we return?Could we sell your house?If you have kids, how would they deal with things? They're normal questions and concerns to have. I'd take it as a sign that you're someone who thinks things through. But wouldn't it be fun to shake up things a little? Mike Heroux of Dividend Guy is on the show to help you go from dream to reality by sharing his story and take on things. He and his wife are wrapping a trip they took as a family five through the Americas. In this episode, we look into: how they prepare their finances and themselves for their RV tripdealing with difficulties on the roadhow you can start building some income on the side for your own adventure Hope you enjoy it!   Resources to Travel More Thinking about traveling more this year? Here are some resources to check out to get you up and running with travel hacking: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintGrow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT BankAutomatic Saving: QapitalJumpstart Your Marriage and Your MoneyHow to Be a Travel Hacker Credit Cards and Airline Miles – Can You Really Get Free Flights?Finding Great Deals on HotelsDebt Free Vacations – How It Works for Us How to Travel to Exotic, Expensive Cities on $50 a Day Don't forget to send in your marriage and money questions for our upcoming listener mailbag episode! Thanks 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 and Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!  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! 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 , Spotify, or Audible.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!

Want to see more of the world, but are limited by budget? Learn how one couple used travel hacking so their entire family could take fantastic trips!  Travel Hacking as a Family While, I know many families are eager to get out there and traveled to summer. I also know that one of the holdups they have is their budget. Whether you're flying, renting cars. Staying at an Airbnb hotel. Everything has gotten more expensive. Traveling as a couple can be pricey, but still feasible. But it can be a financial challenge when you add kids to the mix. That's why I want to share from the archive and interview I had with Dan Miller, founder of Points With a Crew. Dan's managed to score some wonderful deals on his trips including getting plane tickets for his entire family to lake Tahoe and a cross country train ride. Did I mention they're a family of eight? Hopefully we'll show how you can keep more money in your pocket and still have your family seeing the world around them. In today's episode he shares: how to choose the right credit cards to maximize rewardsstaying out of debt while staying on top of their credit cardstricks and tips on getting kids ready for traveling Hope you enjoy!   If you're looking for more travel tips from a couple with kids, please check out my interview with early retiree Justin from Root of Good. Travel Hacking Resources and More Want to learn more about travel hacking? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintGrow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT BankJumpstart Your Marriage and Your MoneyConnect with Dan: Points with a Crew| Twitter How to Be a Travel Hacker Budget vs Luxury Hotels for Families Hotels with Free Dinners Credit Cards and Airline Miles – Can You Really Get Free Flights?Finding Great Deals on HotelsDebt Free Vacations – How It Works for Us17 Travel Hacking Tips for People Who Value Their Time and Sanity How to Master Life, Language, and Travel 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 and Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!  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. 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 , Spotify, or Audible.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! This episode was originally released in April 2015. Show notes have been updated in May 2022.     Find out how and get started today!

Want to Take Cross Country Road Trip Together? How many times have you guys thought about traveling? Not just a weekend getaway or a vacation, but really seeing another place? What's stopping you?  These last few years with the pandemic have been..well, alot. We’ve had lockdowns, restrictions, and having to adjust work for the norm. On top of that, if you have kids, school looked completely different.  While we’re understandably cautious and keeping an eye on things, I believe many of us are also hoping not just to travel like before but want to try something different.  That Trip Advisor survey I mentioned last week about travel trends highlighted that more people wanted to explore different locations. It was less about visiting tourist traps and more about embracing their destination’s uniqueness. That’s why I’d think you enjoyed my interview with Derek and Carrie Olsen. Years ago, they, along with their then toddler, took a cross-country trip with their trusty travel trailer.  Even now, it’s one of my favorite interviews. They’re a sweet couple but they also had some fantastic tips and thoughts on how to simplify things and have a true family adventure.  So whether you’re thinking about taking an epic trip or pivoting in your career or life, I think you’ll enjoy this chat.  In this episode, we get into:  how Derek and Carrie prepare for this triphow you can purge and shed your stuff to either get rid of the clutter or make some money how you stay motivated so you can achieve your goal  I hope you enjoy! Resources to Have a Memorable and Affordable Trip  Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintGrow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT BankJumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Travel Hacking Essentials How to Travel Like a Rock Star on the CheapTravel Hacks: Couples Edition 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 and Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!  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! pport 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 , Spotify, or Audible.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! This episode was originally released February 2016. Shownotes and episode were updated May 2022.

Want to get out and travel more this year without breaking your budget? Learn how you can use travel hacking as a couple to get great deals on your trips!   Travel Hacking Together As we move into May, I’m hearing more and more couples talk about travel. With better weather and after an unprecedented - yeah I said it - two years, many are looking for a change in scenery.  According to Trip Advisor, 68% of Americans are looking to travel domestically and 29% are considering a trip abroad. Travel can be a fantastic way to shift our perspectives and rest a bit.  Because many in our community are trying to work toward financial goals as well, it’s even more important to find ways to get deals on vacations.  That’s why I want to pull from the archives and share an interview I had with Peter and Ruby, from  A Journey We Love. They had some wonderful travel hacking tips on how to keep your trips low stress, fun, and affordable.  During our chat, we got into:  their process for finding deals with their tripshow they budget during their travelstips for first-time travelers Hope you enjoy it! Travel Hacking Resources and More Want to learn more about travel hacking? Here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintGrow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT BankJumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Travel Hacking Essentials How to Travel Like a Rock Star on the CheapTravel Hacks: Couples EditionPro Travel Hacks for Every Aspect of Your Next TripBest flight search tool: Google FlightsQuick Money Tips for Travelers How To Find Mistake Fares And Fly For Cheap 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 and Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!  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! 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 , Spotify, or Audible.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! This episode was originally released in January 2017. Show notes have been updated April 2022.

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 So far this month, we’ve been focused on buying a house. We looked at mortgages last week, discussed how to find some hidden gems in your city, and what mistakes to avoid during your house hunt. Now we’re looking at the other side: selling your place.  Right now in Raleigh, it’s a seller’s market. On the plus side, houses are selling faster and for more. Still, it can feel overwhelming, especially if you’re also trying to find your next place at the same time.   So how can you prepare your place to maximize your sales price? Which updates can attract more interest and which can hurt? Is there a good time to list your house? These are a few questions that can pop up so that’s why I’m thrilled to share from the vault an interview I had with 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 moneyhow 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, MintJumpstart Your Marriage and Your MoneyFree 5 Days to $5K CourseGrow 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! 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 and Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!    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! 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 , Spotify, or Audible.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! This episode and show notes have been updated April 2022. Music Credit Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

Buying a house is typically the biggest purchase couples make so you want to have your numbers line up with your goals and budget. Learn how you can find the best mortgage rates when you house hunt!  Finding the Best Mortgages Rates Are you two getting ready to start house hunting? Congratulations! When we were looking for our now current house, I remember the excitement of visiting and touring places. I also remember the other side of the house hunt: getting paperwork for the preapproval letter, running the numbers to figure out our budget, and reviewing mortgage documents.  At the time, it was a bit intimidating. Knowing that this was a huge purchase, we really wanted to get it right.  Thankfully we had a great team that answered all of our questions. Now years later, we are still happy with how things turned out. We have a home that we love that's also affordable enough that we can take care of other goals and dreams. I want you to feel the same way about the home you buy and a key part of that is finding the mortgage option for your family’s budget.  This is why I’m thrilled to pull from the archives an enlightening chat I had with Wendy Dawson. She’s the Vice President of Mortgage Lending over at Coastal Credit Union. She decodes a lot of the jargon and gives some fantastic tips on finding the right mortgage. In this episode we get into: what mistakes to avoid as a first-time homebuyertypical costs of being a homeowner (beyond the mortgage payment)what exactly are Mortgage Interest Rates, APRS, Origination Fees, and Points Hope you enjoy it!   Resources on Getting a Great Deal on Your Mortgage If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find a great deal with your mortgage Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintJumpstart Your Marriage and Your MoneyFree 5 Days to $5K Course Basic Mortgage TerminologyBuying a House: Explore Interest RatesBuying a House: Loan Estimate ExplainerUnderstand Mortgage Loan Options Buying a Home: From Contemplation to Closing 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 and Daymark Realty has a fantastic team ready to help find the perfect house for you in the Triangle area!  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.    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 , Spotify, or Audible.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! Find out how and get started today!

Looking to buy a house you can comfortably afford? Today we’re going over how you can find a hidden gem and not a money pit!  How to Find and Buy a House You Can Afford I don’t know how things are in your area, but here in the Triangle, the housing market is hot. Prices have shot up. The median price of homes currently listed in Raleigh is $379,000.  To give you some context, a townhouse on our street went for more than double what we paid for our single-family house a few years ago. Just the other week, I caught a story on the local news about how unaffordable the Raleigh Durham area is getting.  If you want to buy a house you have to be a savvy house hunter.  Now you may have heard that you can snag a deal with a fixer-upper, but how do you know which houses are diamonds in the rough and which ones are money pits?   If you’re thinking of or are planning on buying a house soon, you may be facing these same questions and challenges. That’s why I’m pulling from the archives my interview with  Louis Guillama.  He's the Vice President of Real Estate Operations over at Coastal Credit Union. He has decades of experience with the real estate agent side as well as home renovations.  In this episode, we're going to discuss: the differences between buying new construction versus resale spotting great (and still affordable) neighborhoods, and then finding a fixer-upper instead of a money pit We have so much 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, MintGrow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT BankJumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money My friend was about to buy a million-dollar house with no research What You Need to Know About MortgagesBuying a Home: From Contemplation to Closing 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!  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– 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! 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 , Spotify, or Audible.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. This episode was originally released in July 2019. Shownotes have been updated April 2022.

Are you house hunting or about to start? Learn how you can buy the right house for you and your budget.  Mistakes Home Buyers Make Buying a house is usually one of the biggest purchases you can make and the financial paperwork of getting a mortgage gets complicated quickly.  Besides having a down payment ready, you have other costs like  Home inspectionLender feesAppraisalTitle search and insurance feesAnd so forth If you’re buying a $300,000 home, you’re looking at paying anywhere from $6,000 to $15,000 in closing costs. If you’re living in an HCOL area, those numbers leap up.  It's really important to make sure you're ready for this leap before you signed the papers. You rush into it and you’re stuck with a mortgage you can’t comfortably afford, making your home a burden, not a blessing.  If you live in a hot real estate market it’s even more of a challenge. You’re dealing with multiple bids, some of them being much higher than the listing price. Here in Raleigh, it’s not uncommon to be competing with all-cash offers.  In the middle of 2020, my mom moved to be closer to us in Raleigh and we helped her with the home buying process. It was stressful because there were so many more buyers than houses. It took some patience, reflecting on what features she needed and truly wanted, and honing in on the budget, but thankfully she bought a great place for herself.   Whether you’re a first-time buyer or not, my advice is to detach yourself emotionally from the process. That’s easier said than done.  That’s why I want to share from the archives an interview I did with Jonathan White. He’s the author of A Tale of Two Houses: Our journey of buying a home the right way after buying one the wrong way.  As you can guess from the title, Jonathan understands some of those house-buying traps many of us fall into. He made In this episode we get into: Some of those home-buying myths that can get you into troubleUnexpected expenses that come up as a homeownerWhy you need to run your own numbers Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources on Getting a Great Deal on Your Mortgage If you’re looking to buy, here are some resources to help you find a great deal with your mortgage Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintGrow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT BankJumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money What You Need to Know About MortgagesUnderstand Mortgage Loan OptionsFree 5 Days to $5K Course 9 Questions to Ask Before Buying a HouseIs It Better to Rent or Own a Home? How to Snag a Great Deal When Buying a HouseBuying a Home: From Contemplation to Closing 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! Avoid House Fever and Myths Even though had a background in accounting, Jon wasn't immune to house fever. Jon kept hearing from his friends how great home ownership was. Many comments he heard matched what we used to hear too. Some of my ‘favorites' include: “Renting is throwing away money.”“Home ownership helps you build equity.”“Real estate is an investment that will pay off.” While it may be well-intentioned or based on their personal experience, these comments may not be true for your circumstances. You have to really look at the costs before you buy a house. Besides the obvious, there are expenses that homeowners may have that renters don't. Taking care of your own maintenance is a big one. Depending on where you live, you may find yourself buying property that is a part of an additional expense – a home association. Before you buy a place that's a part of a home association: Know the bylaws.Check with residents. See if they're happy or not.Ask about fees over the last few years. Have they been increasing? Why?See what are the HOA's responsibilities and which would be yours. Jon found out the hard way when he was hit with $5k special assessment! Taking Time to Buy the Right House Fast forward a few years, Jon got married. He and his wife used the principles and baby steps of Dave Ramsey to build their finances together. Eventually they became parents and that's when they began to consider selling the condo and getting another house with some more space. Seeing where things went wrong, Jon was determined to not let the same thing happen with their next house. He and his wife started with running the numbers themselves. Knowing what they could afford proved to beneficial as they were tempted with one house during their search. While they didn't get that one, they did find a house that suited their family and was within their budget. Now years later, they're both happy with where they are. If you want to be better prepared for your house hunt, please check out Jon's new book,  A Tale of Two Houses. Jon goes into detail about the mistakes he made when he purchased his condo in 2006 and what he and his wife did right with their current home! 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 or Audible. 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!Become a Patron.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Come check out artists over at Audiio!

Carla Titus shares the realities of running a profitable business from home and how she and her husband created a system that fits their goals and family life! The Realities of Starting a Side Hustle from Home Nowadays it’s become more common for couples and families to diversify their income. Whether it’s because they looking to knock out some debt, save up for a house or another goal, or they want to pivot their career, couples are looking at side hustles.  We’ve had several episodes about the essentials of starting a side business, but one of the biggest struggles many have is sustaining it.  Whether it’s working around your family or day job, the reality is you only have so much time. How do you make it work? How can you start and build a business?  Carla Titus is on the show today to share her expertise and her story.  She is the CEO of Wealth and Worth where she uses her over ten years of corporate financial planning, analysis, strategy, and startup CFO experience to help entrepreneurs take control of their finances and level up their business. In this episode we’ll get into: Finding not that balance, but the flow between family and your side hustleWhen to outsource how to get the pricing right – many entrepreneurs struggle with this Hope you enjoy! Resources for Launching a Side Hustle Here are some fantastic resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintJumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money5 Days to $5K Wealth & Worth Within How to Diversify Your Income with Side HustlesBeing Productive as a Work from Home Parent 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! 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! 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 or Audible. 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!Become a Patron.  Music Credit Like the music in this episode? Come check out artists over at Audiio!

Feeling trapped by debt? Get the strategies, tactics, and resources to help you pay yours off faster!  Using Side Hustles to Pay Off Your Student Loans and Other Debts Faster Depending on where you are with your financial journey you may be dealing with debt. In some cases, a mountain of it.  Right now people are keeping an eye out on student loans and understandably so. It’s been estimated that 62% of college seniors who graduated from nonprofit colleges in 2019 had student loan debt. It’s a burden on many budgets and can feel even heavier if you have other debts like car payments and credit cards. Did you know that the average payment for a used car is over $400?  It may be that earning more is a necessity if you’re trying to get out of debt as soon as possible.  This is why I wanted to share from the archives a discussion I had with Kevin, attorney, side hustler, and the creator of Financial Panther. Years ago, he used side hustles to pay off $87,000 in student loans in less than 3 years! In this episode we'll get into: what motivated him to pay them off ASAPthe real work involved with different side hustles how your phone can help you earn cash Hope you enjoy! If you want to get the ins and outs of repaying your student loan, please check out my interview with Jay Fleischman. Resources to Pay Off Debts Faster If you're ready to dump your student loan debt, here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, MintJumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money5 Days to $5K  How I Paid Off $87,000 Of Student Loans In 2.5 Years The Secret To Paying Off Debt Consumer Help Central – If you're having a hard time keeping up with your student loan payments, Jay Fleischman is THE resource.Student Loan Show – Jay's podcast on student loans. Knocking Down the Student LoanUberEats: Deliver with Uber Eats and earn on your own schedule 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! 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!  If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. Spread the word. If you have friends who could boost their savings, please share this episode with them on social media or just email the link!  Leave a review. Every review helps! Please share your honest feedback on Apple Podcasts,  Spotify, or Audible. Become a Patron.