How happy are you with your current banking situation? Are you getting real value out of your checking and savings accounts? Or do you feel like you’re getting nickeled and dimed?  Today we’ll go over how to find a better banking option and how to seamlessly move your money!  Why It Matters Where You Bank These are all important to your financial health and making progress on your goals, however we left the biggest piece of the puzzle last – your day to day bank accounts.  Your check and savings accounts are the backbone to your family’s financial system, but for most of us, it's almost like an afterthought. Much of this goes back to how we chose our accounts in the first place. For my husband and I, with our first accounts, it was based on who we were already banking with. And at the time we had bank accounts with two of the major banks, we had opened student checking accounts. When I say they were basic accounts, that's exactly what they were. Honestly, we just settled with it for way too long. After getting frustrated with the horrible customer service, ridiculous fees. And not seeing any real progress with our financial goals. We decided it was time to change. We moved our money to an online bank and credit union and i have to say we are so much happier for it. We feel that our banking partners are actually partners that they're helping us reach our financial goals faster. And make our lives easier with managing our money. So if you feel that way about your bank or credit union, fantastic. However, there are plenty of families that feel like they're banking options are hurting them rather than helping. According to a recent Magnify Money survey, 68% of consumers are frustrated and feel like their savings isn’t growing. When you consider that 18% of those said they get less than .05% APY, it’s understandable. What makes it worse are those minimum balances and fees added on their accounts.  Bankrate reported that the average maintenance fee on a checking account that earns interest totaled $196.20/year.  So if you’re feeling squeezed, you probably are. That doesn’t have to be the case though.  With 2021 winding down, now is a great time to set the pieces up for you to have an incredible year in 2022. In this episode, we’ll go over:  What to look for in your next bank or credit union How to move your money and switch accounts (and deal with a reluctant spouse) How to set up your new accounts for your best year ever Are you ready?  Let’s get started!  Resources to Easily Manage Your Money Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA. Find out more about what Coastal offers here! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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! Photo by Adrien Olichon from Pexels

Simplify and Enjoy

Bank Better: How to Move Your Checking and Savings Account

Get a sneak peek at how we handle our money system and our accounts. So that we are working towards our goals, even if we have more pressing or urgent things to take care of on the family front or with work! Easy Way to Manage Your Money A financial system that requires you to constantly check and worry about your money isn’t going to cut it for most families. It doesn't for us.  With two kids, work, hobbies, and friends, we have a full life and we love it. Quite simply we see money as a tool, not the goal. It’s to help us to care of our kids and lother loved ones,  So while I respect those highly detailed spreadsheets with line by line breakdowns of every cent, I save that for quarterly reviews. Instead, budget monthly and do weekly checks on Fridays that usually are five minutes just to make sure everything is running smoothly.  It took some time, but we’re grateful to have a financial system that allows us to focus on the big stuff. We love even more considering these past 18 months.  If you’re looking to make managing your money much easier, while still hitting your family’s financial goals, this is your episode.  Today, we’re discussing: Quick overview of how our financial goals and system shifted to fit the season of life we’re in What principles give the framework to our financial system so we can hit our goals How to keep lifestyle inflation in check while still enjoying some fun Are you ready? Let’s get started!  Resources to Easily Manage Your Money Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA. Find out more about what Coastal offers here! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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! 

How to Easy Manage Your Family's Financial System

For most families, their 401(k)s are an important part of their retirement plans. Learn how you can make the most out of your 401(k)! Making the Most of Your 401(k) It's just there's a huge information overload and it's easy to get caught in the mess and not be sure how to actually do it. Today we're going to give you a leg up. Usually during this time of year, I pull in the experts like certified financial planners where we dive into the nitty gritty details of the different benefits and options that may be available.  I’m grateful for those experts who took the time to share some of their knowledge and will have those episodes up on the homepage so you can listen to them because much of it is still incredibly helpful.  Today, I’m doing what I did last week, which is to go over those FAQs that typically come up. Again, these questions are the ones I see on my side, from discussing through the newsletter, in the Facebook group  Thriving Families, or those Google searches.  In this episode we’re discussing: The biggest mistakes couples make with their 401(k)s Figuring out how much you need to contribute What to do with your 401(k) at your old job Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources for Smarter Investing If you want to learn more about investing and staying on top of your money, here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to Start Investing: A Simple Guide for Busy Couples How to Maximize Your Retirement with Your 401(k)s How Much Should We Contribute to Our 401(k)? Master Your 401(k): Optimizing Your Investments Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook Capitalize: 401(k) Rollovers made easy 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA. Find out more about what Coastal offers here! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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! 

401(k): Busy Families Guide to Maximizing Your Accounts (Without A Lot Of Hassle)

It's that time again... open enrollment season and with it, a lot of decisions to make for the upcoming year. Today, we're going to go over how you can maximize your benefits, especially when it comes to health, dental, and disability insurance! Choosing Your Health Insurance, Dental, and Disability If there's one area of finances where families have a hard time -either they're not maximizing or they misunderstand it- it's open enrollment season. It's that time of year where HR sends you a packet of information about your benefits. One of the big things that I want families to focus on- especially busy ones- is going for the big wins. Yes. It is beneficial to get better financial habits and cutting those unnecessary expenses, maybe five or $10 here and using that money towards more impactful family and financial goals. But going for the big wins means that for a little bit of time and effort, you can have reoccurring winds or see a significant drop in your expenses or increase your savings. This is where open enrollment fits in. For this limited window that you get this information, you're going to be making some significant financial decisions for the upcoming year. The biggest one for most families, health insurance. What makes us extra challenging is we're doing this in the midst of still dealing with COVID. All this week and next, I want to make things easier for you so that you can focus on the key discussions you need to have so you can make the best choices for your family's particular needs. I'll be releasing on the site previous episodes where I've talked with certified financial planners about the ins and outs and details about your options. Today we're going to focus more on a Q and a style approach. Based on your feedback, along with what I'm seeing on my side with Google search in the community chat, I'm going to go over those questions that families often have as they're sorting through the paperwork. Our focus today will be on: weighing the pros and cons of health insurance plans why disability insurance doesn't get the credit it deserves how tax advantage accounts like HSAs and FSAs can help you save a significant amount of money Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Save serious Money Are you looking for more help with maximizing your benefits and saving more money? Here are some resources: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Zeta, HoneyFi, and Mint Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Work Pants Finance 4 Tips to Make Filing Your Taxes Easier How to Find the Best (and Affordable!) Health Insurance Plan for Your Family How to Maximize Your Retirement with Your 401(k)s Insurance Coverage Families Needs with Matt Becker 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. Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA. Find out more about what Coastal offers here! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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. 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! 

Open Enrollment: Keeping Health Insurance Dental and Disability Affordable

How are you feeling about your progress this year with your financial goals? Are you frustrated because you're not hitting them as fast as you had hoped? Do you feel like managing money is a chore? Believe it or not, these problems are connected. Today, I'm going to break down and show you how to build a flexible financial system that will get you to your goals faster! Keeping Your Budget Flexible and Fun Recently I had a chat with rich Jones for the  Paychecks and Balances Podcast. The theme of our discussion was managing finances when undergoing a life transition, but it quickly widen out and scope. After my chat with Rich, our discussion stuck with me. Having written about personal finance for 12 years and podcasting, a little over half that time, I noticed a certain rhythm with people in their interests and finances. Beginning of the year, it's all about setting up these big goals, paying off debt, saving up for a huge house down payment. For some, it truly is the beginning of an awesome year. They get these new habits set up. They have their systems in place. Others though, they're already having a hard time keeping up those habits, part of it is life shifts. Between January and to about April when I look on my side of things with site traffic, And Google searches, that's when people are most interested in their finances. Further into the year, no matter what camp you're in the seasons change and life rolls on. With September zooming by and the last quarter coming up. I find it's another point in the year where we reflect. We have this many awareness that the year's wrapping up. We're reviewing how much we've accomplished. Now on top of the regular seasonal changes in the year. We still have the COVID pandemic that we're dealing with. Rather than fight the seasonal shifts or craft these perfect on paper budgets, but they fall apart during real life pivots, we have to address a fundamental issue -building a sustainable and flexible system for handling your finances so that you can live your life and if something happens adjust as needed. Instead of chasing money as the target or the goal really should be using it as a tool. In this episode, we're going to break that down so that you can create a financial system that is easy to maintain and adjust and have a sustainable budget that's flexible and fun. Are you ready? Let's get started! Handy Tools to Build Your Financial System Quickly and Easily Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They have wonderful customer service along with competitive rates to make saving easier! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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! 

How to Easily Create a Flexible Financial System

Are you frustrated with your debt and feel like you’re stuck in this rut? Today we’re going to see how you can negotiate your debts to lessen the stress and get you closer to your debt free goals! Paying Off Your Debts and Dealing with Debt Collectors Usually when people make money goals for the year, paying off debt is in the top three but many struggle to achieve that goal. Depending on where the pandemic caught you on your financial journey, you may have had an extra struggle. Perhaps a drop in income meant slowing down or even pausing your debt payoff plan. That can be a real and huge burden because those balances are lingering or worse, growing. If it makes you feel any better, you're not alone. Debt is weighing down on a lot of families. According to Experian, 90% of adults in the US have at least one credit card on their report And of those 75% carry a balance month to month. The average balance for that group is over $5,000. The average balance on a car loan is $19,700. And Then you have student loans. In 2020, the average balance was $38,000. While there is some relief for federal loans, with the pause in payments, if you have private loans, you're still dealing with them on top of everything. Hopefully things have improved in stabilize but now you're at the point where you're trying to figure out how to jump back, in which debts to tackle first, and what payment plan makes the most sense for you. Which is why I'm happy to have attorney Taylor Kosla be a part of this episode. Taylor is a partner at Agruss Law Firm, a team that's focused on helping people deal with debt collection. In this episode, we're going to look at: ways to negotiate with your creditors, protections available to you through the fair debt collections act, and a possible opportunity for you to have an attorney assist you without you paying out of pocket. Are you ready? Let's get started! Handy Tools to Pay Your Debt Off Faster Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook Sample Letter Disputing Errors on Credit Reports 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! As I mentioned in the episode, if you're a Coastal member and are thinking of consolidating your debts, check out Coastal's options to refinance! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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! 

How to Negotiate with Debt Collectors

Want more options and time to do more for the people and projects you love? Learn how to create a path to financial independence that is flexible and fun! Finding the Right Pace and Path to Financial Independence As a kid, one of my favorite kinds of books to read were those choose your own adventure stories. Do you remember those? No, it's pretty much began the same, but based on the choices you made you could go on so many different adventures. Some of them had dozens of different endings. You could discover buried treasure, time travel, go to space, whatever the adventure was. Fast forward a few years and now my favorite type of video game to play include RPGs. Why? Because you have some room to craft out your own adventures. I feel like financial independence is like those books and games. You decide how you're going to go through it. Yes, there is an end point, which is when you hit financial independence or financial freedom but in the middle, you have flexibility not just the goal but also the journey .You want it to make it work for you and your family. It doesn't always feel that way though. There's this narrative that gets pushed, that there's a certain type of way to fi- specifically as fast as possible. Yes, sorry, but no thanks. I think that the journey is just as valuable as the destination. If you've been turned off by that segment of fi, or you just want to have more flexibility with your plan, I think you'll enjoy today's episode. To help me out is Diania Miriam. She's the founder of  EconMe  who knows firsthand the joys and challenges of carving out your own FI path. In this episode, we're going to jump into: how Deanna paid off. $30,000 of debt and jump-started her FI path how working towards financial independence opened up more options and allowed her to take risks to pivot her career plus more we're going to get into how you can create a plan that fits you and your family. Are you ready? Let's get started. Handy Tools to Start Your FI Journey If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family and look at pursuing financial independence, here are some resources to check out: Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Join Our Thriving Families Community on Facebook Free 401(k) Analysis: Blooom Coast FI: A Better Path to Financial Independence 10 Lessons Learned from Accidental Slow F.I.R.E. How Much is Enough Money? The Levels of Financial Autonomy Want to be a part of EconMe this year? Sign up for your ticket! Because you're a listener, Diania was kind enough to pass on a discount code. Type in SIMPLIFYENJOY to save 10% on your ticket! 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. hey have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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! 

Choose Your Own (FI) Adventure

Can parents pursue financial independence with kids at home? Today we’ll go over the five biggest myths and show how to enjoy parenthood and FI! Are Financial Independence and Parenthood Compatible? Even before we were familiar with the term financial independence, we were intrigued about this idea of gaining flexibility and freedom. When we were first married, we had two immediate financial goals – getting rid of the car loan and building our emergency fund. Our car payment wasn’t a huge burden, but seeing that money going out month after month..ugh.. Not having that weighing our budget down was one benefit, but then there was also this what if. What if we used that money for things we actually enjoyed and really wanted – travel, a house, or starting a business? So I started digging into personal finance blogs and found books like Total Money Makeover, Automatic Millionaire, and The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke. Taking what I learned, we came up with a plan to pay off our debts and grow our financial cushion. Don’t get me wrong, seeing our net worth go from negative $30,000 to the positive side felt great. The real pull for us, though, was not how much money we can stash away or how fast we can hit. We loved being in a position of having options. Like leaving a bad job. Becoming an entrepreneur. During this time, we discovered financial independence, with that classic book – Your Money or Your Life. There are some wonderful benefits with discovering the FI community. Many in the space love swapping ideas about what’s worked for them. Hopefully like you’re doing now, we listened to stories and picked a few ideas to try out. Some worked really well, some needed to be adjusted for our circumstances, and some didn’t work. Either our situation was too different or honestly, we didn’t enjoy it. The ones that didn’t resonate with us usually came from this segment in the community who had very specific ideas about financial independence. Both with what it was and what it wasn’t. One complaint I kept seeing was how hard or in some cases impossible for parents to hit FI. I believe that belief is not just discouraging to parents, but really misses the actual resource financial independence is about – time.   Finances are the tool to help you get there, not the goal. We were more focused on quality of life and having options. So today I want to wrap up this series of episodes before our summer break and discuss how you as a parent can work towards your FI goals while enjoying the journey with your kids. In this episode, we’ll get into the five biggest myths around financial independence and parenthood. Are you ready? Let’s get started! Resources for Parents to Pursue Financial Independence If you're looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are some resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Retire Early By Rethinking Your Priorities Setting Up Your Retirement with the Right Tools The Shockingly Simple Math Behind Early Retirement The New Family Financial Road Map 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.  See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!  Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.   

Enjoying Financial Independence and Parenthood

Expecting a raise or bonus soon? Learn how to make the most out of any extra money you have coming in! Couple's Guide to Optimizing Your Raise or Bonus Even though I do believe that diversifying your income is a smart money move, let's not ignore the most common one that most people have – your nine to five job. This is a steady paycheck for work that you hopefully enjoy. Besides the paycheck, things like benefits can be a huge plus for you. Depending on where you work, you could also receive bonuses and if things are looking good, raises. Okay. So you may be getting a raise because you switched jobs and companies still.…. Even if neither of those is the case, you two could be getting money this summer in the form of the advance child tax credit payments. Today, we're going to show you how to make sure that any extra money you receive helps you achieve your family and financial goals faster. That's why I'm so glad Joe Mecca is here. He's the vice president of communications over at Coastal Credit Union and our go-to savings guy. In this episode, we'll get into: how these advance payments work with the child tax credit a checklist to help make sure that your financial foundation is solid t ideas on how you can layer and optimize your money. Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Maximize and Manage Your Money Want to make sure your dollars go further? Here are resources mentioned in the episode as well as additional handy tools to stay on top of your money! Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Advance Child Tax Credit Payments via IRS How Credit Unions Can Boost Your Family’s Finances How to Seamlessly Switch to a New Bank or Credit Union If you're still sorting out what goals you want to pursue and plans that you want to set up, please join us in our Thriving Families group on Facebook. We're all about helping one another out with our family and financial goals.   We'd love to see you there! 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.  See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!  Key Takeaways on Making Your Raise or Bonus Go Further Before we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got from speaking with Joe and preparing this episode. Hone in on your short and long-term goals. I've seen too many times where extra money comes in, but it goes out just as quickly because there's no purpose for that money. So sit down together and talk about what are things you want to accomplish now and down the road. Approach your finances in layers. Most of us have many different goals that we're pursuing, and it's very easy to try to chase everything at the same time. Instead, focus on building it up piece by piece. Automate your money. It'll make things so much easier. You're probably really busy with everything going on and this is really tedious stuff. Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.   

Making the Most Out of Your Raise or Bonus

Real estate investing can be a way to build up a passive income, but is it the right move for you? Learn about some of the different options you have and what you need to discuss before jumping in!   Is Real Estate Investing Right for Us?  We've been talking a lot this season about building and diversifying your income streams.  Part of it is in reaction to the past year or so we’ve had. With some industries being hit hard with job losses and hours cut, having another source of income – even if not full-time- can soften the blow.  We spoke about working from home with Modern Frugality creator Jen Smith. We also talked about entrepreneurship and building a portfolio of income streams with author Michelle Jackson. Today we’re talking about another opportunity to build an income stream – real estate investing. If you’ve ever watched shows on HGTV or followed DIY influencers on social media, it looks fun and exciting, right?  These transformations can be dramatic and then when they go ahead and sell those houses, sometimes those numbers look tempting. Or the idea of owning properties and having rental income looks like a passive way to earn more.  But is that really the case? What does real estate investing really involve? How can we get started? How can we be smarter with how we invest?  I’m happy that Rachel Richards is joining this episode. She’s an author and real estate investor with over 30 properties. With the income their properties are generating, she and her husband are able to be financially free.  In this episode we get into: different ways to invest in real estate Understanding what’s really involved with investing and finding properties A peek of how one couple got into investing and how they grew it  Are you ready?  Let’s get started!  Resources on Real Estate Investing Are you thinking about getting started with real estate investing? Here are some handy resources to get your finances in shape and learn more about it! Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Passive Income Starter Kit from Rachel Richards Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement by Rachel Richards The Book on Rental Property Investing How to Invest in Real Estate Afford Anything Podcast by Paula Pant Buy and Hold by Steve Chader Bigger Pockets Podcast 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. Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! Thanks to our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.  See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!  Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

Should We Invest In Real Estate?

It's June. The year is halfway over. Now is the perfect time to hit pause and do a midyear review to see how you're progressing with your goals and make sure that your accounts are moving in the right direction! Why Financial Reviews Matter While we automate much of our finances, especially the tedious parts. It really does pay to have these times where you sit down. In review the numbers. And having a financial checkup mid year is a fantastic opportunity. Not just to look at your day to day accounts, like your checking and savings but your investments. Having these more in-depth conversations. Can be beneficial to both your marriage and finances. For us, this is an opportunity to hit pause and to really sit down and talk. I don't know how this year has gone for you but it really has flown by for us. In overall, it has been good, but that doesn't mean there hasn't been some struggles and challenges that we face. Second, it gives us a chance to talk about what's been working and what's not working with our family finances. Life comes up and maybe we had to shift some things for a month or two. This is a pause where we can see. Is this a trend that we should start planning for, or is this. A one-time deal? Knowing that ahead of time can relieve the stress going forward. Finally, it's a great reminder to reflect on the big picture. What are we really working towards and how are we aligned towards that? And yes, it does involve looking at the finances, but also schedule wise work choices that we make. Time with the girls, all these things are connected to each other. Having a set period where we can reflect on that big picture is a huge help. This past year and a half can be especially challenging for families as we are navigating through this unprecedented time. Which is why I'm glad Kevin Matthews is a part of this episode. He's a former financial advisor and a number one bestselling author. He just had a new book from Burning the Blueprint that's out that you should definitely grab. Today, we're going to be talking about that connection between your family and financial goals and making sure that your investments are moving in the right direction. In this episode, we'll get into: Join the Community & Get Your Free Money Toolkit! Quickly & easily set your money up to hit your goals faster!  Join our community to get the free toolkit and newsletter! Get Instant Access We never share your information with third parties and will protect it in accordance with our Privacy Policy why investing matters and how you can come up with a plan that reflects your goals how to do a financial review for your investments? making sure that they're aligned with your priorities and goals. Are you ready? Let's get started! Resources to Stay on Top of Your Money  If you’re looking to build up your finances, here are some handy resources we mentioned in the episode plus more!  Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money From Burning to Blueprint: Rebuilding Black Wall Street After a Century of Silence Why Knowing Your Net Worth Matters 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.  See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!  Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

Mid-Year Reviews: How to Keep tabs on your Investments and More

Cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin doge coin, and Ethereum are a part of the mainstream conversation and in the news but should it be a part of your investment plan?  We're going to decode the terminology and explore the tech so you can weigh whether or not it's the right option for you! Should We Invest in Cryptocurrency? We’re talking about a topic that’s been popping up all over - cryptocurrency.  Just this year alone, BitCoin, Etherum, and others are on a roller coaster ride. Coinbase went public just this April.  There’s a lot of excitement and questions about the crypto space.  I’ve gotten questions first about exactly how these currencies work and second, if it’s something to invest in. In some cases, one of you is all excited to jump in this new opportunity while the other is skeptical or against it.  Like any major decision, it’s important for your marriage and money to discuss your options and see if it fits in with your goals and financial plan.  In this episode, we'll get into:  the essentials about the tech and terms used with cryptocurrencies what to consider and discuss so you two can decide whether or not it’s the right option for you We got plenty to cover so let’s get started! Resources to Learn More About Cryptocurrencies and  Keep Tabs on Your Money Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Bitcoin: A Peer-to-Peer Electronic Cash System by Satoshi Nakamoto Ethereum.org Ethereum Whitepaper by Vitalik Buterin DogeCoin NFTs, Explained Blockchain and Money – MIT Open Courseware Like it or not, you should probably start paying attention to bitcoin The blockchain catalyst for change How blockchain can solve the payments riddle Bitcoin Losers 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.  Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio. Key Takeaways on Crypto Before we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got from preparing this episode. Invest in educating yourself about the tech behind cryptocurrency. Crypto, blockchain – these aren’t going away.  Make sure that crypto is aligned with your goals and risk tolerance before jumpin in.  Focus on investing, not speculation. There’s a lot of hype and volatility to sort through so  If you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and maybe discover your strategy– don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook. We’re all about helping one another out with our family and financial goals.  Hope to see you there! See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless! 

Should We Invest in Cryptocurrency?

Learn how you can protect your family’s finances and open up more opportunities by diversifying your income!  Why You Need to Diversify Your Income Diversifying income is something every family should consider. It can not only give you a bigger safety net, but it does give you some more options no matter what stage you are in your financial journey.  Here are a few scenarios where diversifying and increasing your income can be helpful. We're still not out of the woods when it comes to the financial impact of COVID. In April, 9.4 million people reported that they were unable to work because their employer either close or lost business due to this pandemic. As you can probably guess the more income you get, the higher your chances of saving. In 2019, the median bank account balance for American households was 5,300. What's interesting is when you break it down by income, how drastically that changes. For a family that's in the 40 to 59 percentile of income, the median savings was 4,400. You moved to the next bracket, 60 to 79%. You're looking at 10,000. The next one 20,000 and then finally 69,000. Having income to take care of essentials means you can then take that so-called extra income and put it towards financial goals, including savings. Finally, if your family is on the financial independence path. Then increasing your savings rate can speed things up for you when you'll hit your FII number. For example, if your savings rate is 15% then you have 43 working years until you retire. If you bump that up to 30%, then that drops down to 28. You move up to 45% and it becomes 19 years. You're literally buying back your time when you're increasing your savings rate. So hopefully it’s clear why you need to diversify your income. The question is now about finding the right ones for your family.  Side hustles are a popular recommendation, especially online, but they're not your only option. Which is why I’m so happy to have Michelle Jackson on today. She’s an author, podcaster, and entrepreneur.   Not only has she developed these business and income streams, but she’s found a bit of balance with juggling them.  In this episode, we get into: different types of income you can earn Pros and the cons of them how to decide which income path is right for you Let’s get started! Resources to Build Up Your Income If you’re looking to boost your income, here are some helpful resources to earn more money and manage it better!  Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Finding the Best Side Hustle as a Married Entrepreneur How to Build Income Streams to Knock Out Your Money Goals Faster Brand Building Lab Make Money with e-books 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 Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services. They have wonderful services and accounts to make saving easier including their competitive money market accounts! Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.  See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!  Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.   

How to Build and Diversify Your Income

We're all looking to reconnect and have fun this summer. Today, we're going to go over ways to enjoy family barbecues, give some ideas on great outdoor ventures you can go on, and offer tips on how to grow your savings this season! Make This a fun Summer of Savings For many families, summer is the season. Especially after the year we had in 2020, many of us are eager to embrace the warmer weather and be outside and go on vacation. As we mentioned last week, it's possible to have fun and still save. Today, we're going to dive in with how you can have a wonderful and memorable time this summer, while still building up your stash. In this episode,  we get into: Leveling up your barbecue game Exploring the great outdoors is perfect for your happiness and wallet 10 ways you can boost your savings  Let’s get started!  Handy Tools to Boost Your Savings If you’re looking to get ahead with your finances as a family, here are key resources to check out! Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Frugal and Fun Summer Activities for Your Family How to Double Your Savings Rate 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. Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless.   If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.  See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!  Key Takeaways Before we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got as I was preparing this episode.  If you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and maybe get a debt-free strategy set up – don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook. We swap ideas and tips because our goal is to help one another out with our family and financial goals.  Hope to see you there! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.

Leveling Up Your Barbecue Game, Outdoor Getaways and a Summer of Savings

We’re all looking to get the best value, but how can you balance saving money, hitting your financial goals, while still having fun? Today we’ll go over how you can master the art of being frugal! Can Being Frugal Make You Rich? Whether you’re pursuing a debt-free path, financial freedom, or independence, there’s one skill that can help you hit your goal faster – being frugal.  I’m not talking about being cheap.  I’m talking about living a rich life without spending a ton of money. When I say frugal, I’m talking about living a rich life without spending a ton of money. It’s about maximizing your dollars for the best value.  I’m going to talk about three areas where you can do this – budget, tech, and travel. To help show the ways you can live well while spending less, I have two guests.  First off,  Joel Larsgaard from How to Money is sharing ways couples can work together so they’re spending on what matters to them. Second, we have Joel Kades of Republic Wireless. We’re going to look at how technology opened up some options so you can get an affordable smartphone plan. Finally we’ll wrap things up with how to make frugality fun with tips on how to save on travel. We got a lot to cover so let’s get started! Resources to Maximize Your Dollars Being frugal is really about optimizing your expenses so you’re getting the best value. Here are a few resources to help you significantly save without    Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Republic Wireless Root of Good: Justin retired at 33 and just this year, his wife joined him. He lays how a frugal lifestyle helped them. Your Money or Your Life – One of the first personal finance books that I read that showed the possibilities of a frugal lifestyle. The Millionaire Next Door – If you're curious to see how millionaires really live, this book is for you. It highlights that looks can be deceiving. 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. Slash Your Phone Bill with Republic Wireless! I'm so happy to announce our new sponsor Republic Wireless. If you’re looking to hit your family’s financial goals faster, optimizing your expenses is the way to go. Chances are you’re paying too much for your smartphone and not getting the value you deserve.   Same thing happened to me years ago. Wanting to become debt free faster, I switched to Republic Wireless and saved big time.  Nationwide coverage, fantastic phone options like the Samsung Galaxy and Moto g, plus seriously affordable prices (plans start at $15/month!) make it a smart choice for families looking to save without sacrificing value.  See all they have to offer at Republic Wireless!  Key Takeaways Before we wrap up, I want to share a few key takeaways I got as I was preparing this episode. Prioritize which expenses matter most to you. Focus on big wins and low hanging fruit. Redefine what frugal means to you.    If you want to discuss this more – ask questions, swap ideas, and maybe get a debt-free strategy set up – don’t forget to join us in the Thriving Families group on Facebook. We swap ideas and tips because our goal is to help one another out with our family and financial goals.  Hope to see you there! Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it. 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 rating and review on Apple Podcasts. 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 Our theme song is from Staircases. Additional music by various artists from Audiio.       

The Art of Being Frugal: How to Live Well While Spending Less

Simplify and Enjoy is a podcast and community focused on helping families have less stress and more options through minimalism and financial independence!

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Simplify and Enjoy

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