The Debt Free Mom Podcast

After a whirlwind move out of homeownership and back into renting in the summer of 2023, followed by several months of house hunting with failed offers and almost no inventory, we are currently under contract on a home in Illinois.It will mean lots of change for our family and we dive into how this house is different (but also better!) than the wishlist we had for our family.Subscribe to follow along with our process here as well as on Instagram: www.instagram.com/debtfree.momNeed a budget by pay period to organize your income and expenses into a plan that matches your bank account? Get the bestseller $9 Debt Free Mom budget template here!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's guest is Shang Saavedra. She comes on the show to discuss her new book Wealth is a Mindset. Shang is an author, coach, and the Founder and CEO of Save My Cents.Shang's Website: www.savemycents.comFollow Shang on InstagramPurchase the book Wealth is a Mindset---------------------Interested in the magical Little Green Machine mentioned in the episode? Check it out here!Stay in touch with Debt Free Mom by joining our newsletter list! We send emails less than 3 times per month and only when we have something we really want to share!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's episode kicks off our Feed the Family month! I talk about food spending and realistic meals for families all year long, but I like to take one month per year to narrow in on the mom math and realistic planning of feeding the family well!40 Aprons Butternut Squash ChiliPinch of Yum Kale Peanut Crunch SaladJoin the Care Creates Community as we hold each other accountable to feeding our family well this month! We'll be holding a Bingo challenge for creative ways to feed the family on a budget and there will be a drawing for 2 $100 Gift Cards for anyone who completes a bingo!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Kelly Stumpe aka the Car Mom takes a cheerleader approach to helping moms and families choose their next car confidently. Her enthusiasm for the car industry combined with her expertise as a car salesperson, mom of 4, and child passenger safety technician all come together to make her the voice I listen to for all things cars!You can find The Car Mom on instagram for daily stories, car tours, and the latest industry infoHer website offers car buying resources as well as consultations to help you choose your next car.The Carpool Podcast with Kelly and Lizz is your mom break from entertaining and lighthearted conversations about everything from movies and recipes to car news and parties.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

A few weeks ago I shared what I'm looking for in a house. I wanted to include Kyle on that episode but he was completely out of commission sick with the flu! So this week he comes on the podcast to share his thoughts: what we are both looking for but also where we have different priorities. If you feel like you're not making the best use of your paycheck, try the Debt Free Mom Budget Template. It's a one time cost of $9, includes space for your whole year in one document, and comes with a couple tutorial videos to get you started. Join over 7,000 other people who have downloaded this template and start budgeting confidently today!I'm 6 months into a commitment to buy 10 items or less on Amazon. Each month I save what I bought to a list and you can see exactly what I've bought here!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When I started the Debt Free Mom instagram account, I had already been debt free for 3 years. But that doesn't mean we didn't have years of struggling to make ends meet, realizing money mistakes we made, or paying off debt while also having 3 sons in 39 months.Today's episode spans from December 2011 when we got married to April 2019 when we bought our first house. Sometimes we met our goals faster than we imagined, other times we grappled with over a year of paying our bills and nothing else. And what was one of the keys to our success? Budgeting by pay period for our biweekly income. This allowed me to maximize every dollar we made and meet our goals even when our income never exceeded $60,000. If you feel like you're not making the best use of your paycheck, try the Debt Free Mom Budget Template. It's a one time cost of $9, includes space for your whole year in one document, and comes with a couple tutorial videos to get you started. Join over 7,000 other people who have downloaded this template and start budgeting confidently today!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We are planning to go back to being homeowners when our current lease is up this summer. This is my stream of consciousness about what I'm looking for in our next home. Whether this is actually what we end up buying will remain unseen, but it will be fun to be able to look back on this episode and see where I was right and where I was wrong!If you're looking for a budget template that arranges all your income and expenses by pay period instead of by month, try the Debt Free Mom Budget Template. It's a one time cost of $9, includes space for your whole year in one document, and comes with a couple tutorial videos to get you started. Join over 7,000 other people who have downloaded this template and start budgeting confidently today!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On today's episode of the Debt Free Mom Podcast, Nicole Stanley is on the show to share her experience dealing with a kitchen contractor and what she wishes she had done differently.You're putting your home and your money in someone else's hands when hiring someone to complete a project - big or small. On today's episode, we'll discuss the questions to ask, the notes to keep, and the way to advocate for yourself and your money even if you're not well-versed in construction.Nicole is a financial coach and runs Arise Financial. You can find out more about working with her here. as well as her full website: www.arise.financialIf you're looking for a budget template that arranges all your income and expenses by pay period instead of by month, try the Debt Free Mom Budget Template. It's a one time cost of $9, includes space for your whole year in one document, and comes with a couple tutorial videos to get you started. Join over 7,000 other people who have downloaded this template and start budgeting confidently today!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Susan Soucy is a mom of 2, farmer (how cool is that?!), and adjunct professor. In the last several years, she's taken her finances from fear-based and stressful to confident and growing. She began budgeting by pay period and few years ago and her weekly budget now gives her peace of mind that she can cover large expenses like daycare for her 2 kids. It also helps her plan out her fluctuating income and see the true impact of choosing to pick up jobs or side hustles.If you'd like to try the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template that Susan uses (especially if you're paid weekly or bi-weekly and a monthly budget has just never worked out right!), you can download it here for only $9 and it comes with a couple setup tutorial videos!In the episode, Susan mentions finding Carly by listening to the Herself Podcast and then gaining confidence in car-buying from listening to the Car Mom Podcast. You can find both of those episodes below!Carly on The Carpool Podcast with Kelly and LizzCarly on the Herself PodcastAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Claire Wood is a military wife, mom, writer, and teacher. Today she joins me to discuss an idea she's been pondering and applying to her life: compounding. Those small, consistent tasks and habits that lead to the large changes we're really seeking. Whether it's parenting, cooking at home, or investing: we need to allow time for the effect of compounding to truly show results.Want to start those small, consistent habits in the year with a budget by pay period? You can download the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template for only $9!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In our first episode of 2025, we welcome back a DFM Podcast favorite, Tyler Moore, famously known as Tidy Dad. Tyler shares insights about his new book, 'Tidy Up Your Life,' which explores the deep connection between mental clarity and a tidy, organized living space. Tyler also shares his personal journey of balancing life in New York City with his family, the concept of 'just enough,' and practical strategies for decluttering the various areas of his life. We also discuss how responsibilities at home can be shared, outsourced, or eliminated to focus on what truly matters. I know you'll love this incredible and insightful discussion about tidying up not just our homes, but our minds and lives.Get Tyler's new book "Tidy Up Your Life" at thetidydad.comKey Highlights:02:38 The Importance of Mental and Physical Decluttering16:13 Defining 'Just Enough'31:02 Sharing, Outsourcing, and Eliminating ResponsibilitiesGet started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Resources mentioned in this episode:Gifts like the little green machine, leather conditioner, etc.$7 Car Detailing GuideAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Click Here to find these gifts that will help you save money in the kitchen!{Amazon List} - most items mentioned in the episode are here!{Walmart List} - Air Fryer, Toaster, Griddles, Containers on the Kitchen Listwww.instagram.com/debtfree.mom[post contains affiliate links]Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We usually know what goals we want to accomplish in the future, but we also need to look back on what we have already done! Today I fly through a decade of our personal finance progress in less than 30 minutes. "We overestimate what we can accomplish in one year and underestimate what we can accomplish in a decade." -Bill GatesFor a more detailed story of our money including details and numbers, check out Episodes 19, 20, and 22 of the podcast!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join us in this episode of the Debt Free Mom Podcast as Stacie returns to share her journey of switching from monthly to bi-weekly budgeting. We dive into the challenges and benefits of aligning budget schedules with different pay periods, managing increased incomes, and strategies for forecasting expenses accurately. She also talks with me about practical tips for utilizing savings accounts, handling car insurance payments, and setting up effective budgeting templates. Get insights on the psychological impact of budgeting experiments, involving partners in financial planning, and balancing important financial goals while enjoying life's moments. Whether you're dealing with variable incomes, credit card dynamics, or just starting your budgeting journey, this conversation with Stacie offers some valuable advice.You can listen to my previous conversation with Stacie all the way back in episode 9 - Preparing Your Budget for Variable Income with Stacie00:38 Switching to a New Budget Tool00:55 The Learning Curve of Budgeting by Pay Period01:43 Benefits of Budgeting by Pay Period01:50 Managing Multiple Income Streams02:31 Adjusting to Bi-Weekly Budgeting07:29 Handling Variable Expenses12:03 Using Checking Accounts as Waiting Rooms16:08 Collaborative Budgeting with Your Partner20:10 Understanding the Learning Curve20:44 Transitioning to a New Budget Template21:14 Long-Term Financial Planning21:58 Tracking and Adjusting Expenses23:05 Benefits of the Budget Template23:56 Planning for Future Expenses24:57 Achieving Financial Goals32:57 Managing Credit Card Payments37:56 Conclusion and Final ThoughtsGet started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are there rules to budgeting? And if there are, do you have to follow them? In this first episode back after my summer break, I have a wonderful conversation with Jessica who shares her personal journey managing finances for her rural Michigan family of five. Jessica dives into the pros and cons she has found in using budgeting tools like EveryDollar and YNAB and why budgeting by pay period has led to more rational spending behaviors without being overwhelmed. We also dive into the importance of teaching kids about financial responsibility and incorporating budgeting as a seamless part of daily life. Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're going to be taking a break from putting out new episodes for a little bit as we slow down on a few things and enjoy the rest of our family's summer break. You might see a replay of some of my favorite episodes here and there, but we're hitting pause with new episodes until the fall. If you have ideas for what you would like to hear from this show in our next season, send me an email at carly@debtfreemom.co with the subject line "podcast" and let me know what you think. Enjoy your summer, and we'll be back in the fall with more episodes of the Debt Free Mom podcast!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In today's episode, Kyle and I share some of the highlights of our annual summer family vacation! We recently returned from a 10 day trip driving from Central Illinois to the beaches of Outer Banks, North Carolina. Our conversation today takes an inside look at our semi-spontaneous detour to Washington D.C. on our way home. We share some tips on planning summer trips with kids, visiting our nation's capital, and leaving room in our budget for fun! For more details on our travel planning, check out the companion blog post at debtfreemom.co.Managing your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Visit armoire.style/DEBTFREEMOM to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire todayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today's episode is all about something I have never done before, moving across the world for six months and doing it all debt free! Aneisha is a freelance bookkeeper who has always described herself as a saver. She started using the Debt Free Mom Pay Period Budget Template about two years ago and used this tool to help her and her husband spend half of 2023 in Southeast Asia. We chat about how she planned their trip, how they created and stuck to a budget while traveling, and what else is possible when you have a clear & accurate picture of your finances. Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Visit armoire.style/DEBTFREEMOM to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire todayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you've followed Debt Free Mom on Instagram, I've been sharing a lot about my recent side hustles: cleaning houses and detailing cars. There's been a lot of great conversation around that from people interested in everything from "why did you start doing that?" and "how do you get started?" and "what do I need to do in order to start my own side hustle?"In today's episode, Kyle interviews me to get all the details about taking a side hustle from an idea to actually making money from it. I hope it encourages you to get out there and make a little extra money from something you're already great at.Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Visit armoire.style/DEBTFREEMOM to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire todayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For our first episode of June, we're kicking off the summer with a replay of one of our favorite episodes of last year. This episode is all about enjoying simple summers with kids, whether you're spending time at home or time on the road. In my efforts to make lasting memories without seeing all of my money disappear by the fourth of July, I have found that simple is best. I'm excited to share what works for our family with you!Managing your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Visit armoire.style/DEBTFREEMOM to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire todayAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you've ever wondered how long it would take to see results if you switched from budgeting by month to budgeting by pay period, today's episode is for you. Kristina is a mom of four, a pastor's wife, a nurse, and a runner. And today she's here to share her story of switching to budgeting by pay period in January, and the amount of transformation she's seen, not only in her finances, but also in her mindset about her money in just three short months.Kristina shares her struggles with traditional monthly budgeting, the financial and mental stress she experienced, and how pay period budgeting has revolutionized her family's finances and mindset in just three months. From overcoming challenges with inconsistent income to establishing emergency funds and tackling high-interest debt, Kristina's story shows the power of accurate, realistic budgeting. We talk about the frequent fresh starts provided by pay period budgeting and how it relieves the stress of managing our home finances. You can get started with pay period budgeting today just like Kristina for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. 01:54 Discovering Pay Period Budgeting: A Game Changer03:17 The Practicalities of Pay Period Budgeting06:24 Overcoming Debt and Financial Stress with New Strategies11:22 The Impact of Pay Period Budgeting on Family Finances15:16 Embracing Technology and Mindset Shifts for Financial Freedom16:48 Collaborative Budgeting: A Couple's Journey to Financial Harmony24:57 Budgeting Success: From Credit Card Debt to Planning for the Future25:30 Setting Financial Goals: Trips, Hospital Bills, and Beyond26:29 The Impact of Budgeting on Debt and Savings27:38 Reevaluating Spending: The Shift from Frivolous to Focused28:23 The Power of a Planned Budget: Reducing Uncertainty29:42 Embracing Budget Buffers: A Strategy for Flexible Spending33:57 Celebrating Small Wins: The Importance of Rewarding Progress41:34 Fortune Cookie Finance: The Top 3 Most Common Financial GoalsOur Sponsors:* Visit armoire.style/debtfreemom to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire today!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Are you in a season of waiting when it comes to your money? Where you know some big change is coming in the near future, but it's not there yet. What do you do in the meantime? What do you do while you're waiting? Should you try to grow the gap between your income and expenses? Or should you just be okay with a different timeline than you maybe thought initially? Alexandrea is a single mom and a teacher's aide getting her teaching degree. In today's episode, we talk about when to be okay with saving and when to be okay with spending.Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Visit armoire.style/debtfreemom to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire today!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Today I'm excited to share my conversation with you from my new friends Stacie & Meghan from Didn't I Just Feed You.Didn't I Just Feed You is a weekly podcast hosted by long-time food professionals, Stacie Billis and Meghan Splawn, all about feeding our families — even for parents who hate to cook. (Because, man, kids need to eat a lot, and all the time too!) Every week, Stacie and Meghan get real about feeding kids, tweens, and teens. From how to turn nachos into dinner to making tofu delicious, the magic of meatballs to cracking the meal planning code, Stacie and Meghan share their hard-earned kitchen wisdom on everything from cooking techniques to managing the mental load of being the family cook — all while keeping it real, funny, and non-judgemental. Because at the end of the day, it doesn't matter that they've written cookbooks and worked on top TV cooking shows: they're just two moms trying to get dinner on the table too. Didn't I Just Feed You is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or anywhere you get your favorite podcasts. You can learn more on didntijustfeedyou.com/debtfreemom or find them on Instagram as @didntijustfeedyou.Managing your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.Our Sponsors:* Visit armoire.style/debtfreemom to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire today!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with ADHD in my early thirties. It was a major learning process for me and still is. On today's episode, Shawn comes on to share his experience having ADHD and learning to manage his finances. Shawn's been married for 23 years, has two kids ages 21 and 15, and he works as a computer programmer. Today we talk about his struggles and successes with learning to budget towards the way that his brain is uniquely wired.Managing your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.comDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.comOur Sponsors:* Visit armoire.style/debtfreemom to get up to 50% off your first month, that's up to $125 OFF! Never worry about what to wear again—try Armoire today!Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What do you do when you're ready to budget and send money to goals but your spouse isn't? Today's episode is with Rachel Parker who is a wife, a mom of two, and a teacher's assistant. Rachel and her husband realized that they needed to clean up their finances in a big way. Now they're working through building a realistic budget and learning to stick to it. So what can we do when one person is more motivated than the other?Rachel and I chat about:Committing to stay on the same team even when your priorities are differentFinding ways to celebrate your progress as you work toward long term goalsDeciding on incentives that will get both people excited about sticking to your planManaging your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Do you find yourself building budgets that look great on paper, but then once your pay period starts, you struggle to stay consistent? In this episode of the Debt Free Mom podcast, our guest Ali, a social worker, wife, and mom, delves into her personal challenges with creating budgets that work on paper but fail in practice. She discusses the additional struggles of managing finances with ADHD, offering a unique perspective on staying financially consistent while navigating the complexities of budgeting and money management.Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In today's episode of the Debt Free Mom podcast, we're talking about medical expenses. How do we get ahead with the other goals we have for our money when we constantly feel like we are paying for medical expenses that happened a long time ago? Sarah Gonzalez, a mom of two, comes on to talk about how she is going about paying off past medical expenses and reworking her budget so that she doesn't have to keep going into debt for medical bills. We talk about how to adjust your budget to make room for increased expenses, how you should prioritize paying off medical debt with your other money goals, and some practical ways to reduce the impact of debt payments on your day-to-day life.Then, Kyle joins the show for another segment of Financial Fortune Cookie to talk about what the future might hold for your money. He asks "How could you still be worried about money if you had a $2.3million net worth?"When it seems like there should be more left in your bank account, and your money seems too complicated to keep track of, the Debt Free Mom Custom Budget service takes the guesswork out of your next budget. Send us your real numbers, and you'll receive two versions of your pay period budget: the original so you can see how your money is currently flowing and a suggested budget with changes we recommend to prioritize your money goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story like Sarah of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It is so easy to focus on what makes our own finances the exception to the rule. Why other people can budget, but we can't. Why other people can put money in savings, but we can't. Why other people can eat food from home, but we can't.But what if we started challenging ourselves to find the positive side of our financial picture, whatever that may be? Because it is there. Today's guest has taken the challenges of variable income and learned how to plan wisely for her family, even as they face an unpaid maternity leave. Plus, Kyle joins Carly for a brand new segment we're trying out called Financial Fortune Cookie. If you love it or (if hate it), let us know what you think! Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Let us build your budget for you! Send in your numbers - spending, income, frustrations, and goals - and we'll send you back a crystal clear picture of your finances with practical advice you can use to improve you money situation and reach your goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/customAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Since tax season is here, I wanted to answer a very common question I get this time of year: how do I use my tax refund?Everybody has a different response to receiving a tax refund.Some people purely see it as fun money as extra money. They can do whatever they want with it.Other people have been scraping by the past couple of months and feel a sense of relief when they receive a tax refund want to use it to catch up and add a little bit of breathing room back into their finances.Other people sometimes feel paralyzed by receiving a large chunk of cash all at once, because they're trying to figure out what to do with it, and it tends to disappear rather quickly.So on today's episode, I share a few questions to think through as you receive that tax refund so you can make sure it's going to be used to not only feel good in the moment, but also to change the trajectory of your finances longterm.If you want a personalized look at your finances to help you decide the best way to use your tax refund, sign up for a Custom Budget. Send in your income, expenses, and what your tax refund will be, and you'll get back two versions of your budget: the original budget so you can see how your money is currently flowing, and a suggested budget with changes we recommend to prioritize your money goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/customDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Listen to NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast on your favorite podcast app. “Future You” will thank you.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What does a professional chef want us home cooks to know about cooking food at home? Today's guest is Sandy Leibowitz of Plantains & Challah. She's a trained chef with experience in restaurants as a personal chef, and now as an educator teaching people like me how to be more efficient and effective in their kitchens. As a note, we had a few technical issues with audio during this episode, so you'll notice the sound quality is a bit different than our episodes normally are. Sandy's advice is so good that I did not want to skip this episode just for the sake of the audio, so I hope you enjoy.If you want to dive into more of what Sandy has to offer, she's offering a few exclusive discounts for Debt Free Mom Podcast listeners. Check out her courses below, and use the discount codes to save!Cook Without Recipes (self paced cooking skills course) Code: DFMPOD50 for $50 off until 4/3/24 Link: https://tinyurl.com/CookWithoutrecipesChop It Like It's Hot (knife skills foundation class)I'll be having a free onion dice class in April before opening enrollment for this class. Code: DFMPOD19 for $19 off until 4/8/24Waitlist link: https://tinyurl.com/knifeskillswaitlistInstagram: instagram.com/plantainsandchallahFree cooking essentials guide + weekly emails on cooking: https://tinyurl.com/cookingessentialsguideManaging your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.Our Sponsors:* Listen to NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast on your favorite podcast app. “Future You” will thank you.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Our Feed the Family mini series continues with a replay of my conversation with Amy Cross - an expert in food storage and preservation. She shares practical approaches to reducing food waste and spending even while accommodating food allergies, sensitivities, picky eaters, and everything in between. Listen to what Amy has to share today about making the most of our grocery budget.You can find Amy Cross on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thecrosslegacy), and on her website (https://www.thecrosslegacy.com).Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at https://debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at https://dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Listen to NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast on your favorite podcast app. “Future You” will thank you.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I talk about grocery spending and feeding my family well on a relatively low budget all the time, but I live in the rural Midwest, the heart of farm country where grocery prices are relatively low. What about when you live somewhere with a high cost of living like San Diego, California? Today's guest, Allie Powell, also known on Instagram as Grocery Getting Girl, is here to share about grocery shopping and meal planning for her family in such a high cost of living area. She talks about how to decide where to grocery shop, how to by in bulk the right way, and how to find time to cook at home when your schedule is packed. Kyle also returns for another segment of Not Worth Your Money where we discuss a recent controversy over Wendy's food prices.Connect with Alli Powell to get more of her great food spending advice:Instagram: @grocerygettinggirl Website: https://grocerygettinggirl.com/Alli also wrote a book called "How to Save on Groceries." If you're listening to this in March of 2024, later this month in the Care Creates Community I'm going to do a live call talking to the members about grocery spending and meal planning. We will be giving away three copies of Alli's book. She's generously given us a few copies to get it out into a lot of hands, but this giveaway will only be available to members of the Care Creates Community. Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by becoming a member today for just $9/month at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.Our Sponsors:* Listen to NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast on your favorite podcast app. “Future You” will thank you.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Welcome to the first episode of our mini series, Feed the Family.This episode kicks off a very special month with Debt Free Mom. On the podcast, in the community, and on Instagram, we are taking the entire month of March to talk about feeding the family. In today's episode, I set the stage for the month. What are the ground rules? What are the things we will be focusing on when it comes to feeding the family and what will we not? Why does it matter to talk about eating most of our meals at home? Managing your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Listen to NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast on your favorite podcast app. “Future You” will thank you.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the previous episode, I talked to Jessi Fearon about sinking funds: how she uses them, why she uses them, and how they are helpful in her budget. I thought it would be helpful to record my own episode talking about why I choose not to use sinking funds.Like I said in the conversation with Jessi, I don't think sinking funds a bad thing. I think that a lot of people could benefit from them, especially if you're trying to go from having no budget or organization behind your money to wanting to be on top of handling unexpected expenses. In today's episode, I'm going to talk about why I use saving sprints instead of sinking funds. My hope is that you'll be able to find a method that works for you, not that you'll be convinced that one is objectively better than the other.Managing your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Our Sponsors:* Listen to NerdWallet's Smart Money podcast on your favorite podcast app. “Future You” will thank you.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When it comes to finding a budget method that works well for you, I always say, if it works well for you, then it works! It doesn't have to work for other people. One thing that doesn't really work well for me is sinking funds, but people ask about them all the time. So I asked Jessi Fearon, who is a mom of three, a finance expert, a CPA, and an author who uses sinking funds to come on today and share her experience with them and her recommendations.Here's a few places you can connect with JessiInstagram: @jessifearonWebsite: https://jessifearon.comGet her book, "Getting Good With Money" on Amazon.Managing your money shouldn't be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home's finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

For some people, the fact that their income is variable means goals like paying off debt or saving a full emergency fund will simply always be out of reach. For Samantha and her husband, who are both personal trainers, they decided that their variable income would not stand in the way of their dream of buying a home. Today, Samantha shares her story of paying off $50,000 in consumer debt while managing 3 different sources of variable income.Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In the last episode, I shared my story about switching from set salary based income to a highly variable income, and what that was like both personally and in my budget. Now, I'm opening the conversation to other people in similar boats.Jessica joins me today to talk about how she's managed her variable income budget, and to ask for some advice in handling the pieces that make her feel overwhelmed. As a stay at home mom, she's been budgeting with her husband's variable income as an auto mechanic for the last several years. Now, she's ready to switch from her pen & paper method to a spreadsheet budget! When it seems like there should be more left in your bank account, and your money seems too complicated to keep track of, the Debt Free Mom Custom Budget service takes the guesswork out of your next budget. Send us your real numbers, and you'll receive two versions of your pay period budget: the original so you can see how your money is currently flowing and a suggested budget with changes we recommend to prioritize your money goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/customDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On this episode of the Debt Free Mom podcast, I am answering one of your most frequent questions: How the heck am I supposed to budget if my income is variable? I understand how frustrating this can be and why it seems like it would prevent you from being able to budget. About a year and a half ago, our family went from a set salary paycheck to fully self employed with a highly variable income. The way we manage our business budget connects our personal paycheck to our revenue. As our revenue goes up, our paycheck will be higher, but if the following month our revenue is lower, our personal paycheck is also going to be lower.There were many reasons that transitioning from salaried position to self employed were a challenge, both personally as Kyle went from working outside of the home to working inside the home, as I increased how frequently I was working, and also as we added this stress of more risk, more variable, more unpredictable.So in this episode, I'm going to share our experience of making that transition and then answer some of your most frequent questions about how to budget when you have a variable income. Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

You do not have to follow me long to know that my love of libraries runs deep. I grew up going to the library and I'm raising my kids to love the library. Today I have a special guest with me, the director of my local library! Alissa Williams is here to share with us some of the lesser known resources and services available from libraries, because it has so much more to offer than just books.Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

I want you to notice the first couple of things that come to your mind when I hear the words "frugal living." For some reason, these words tend to carry so much baggage. There are so many negative thoughts around the idea of living frugally. Today on the podcast we have Jen Smith, who is personal finance expert and the co host of Frugal Friends podcast. Since paying off $78,000 worth of debt, Jen has been on a mission to help people spend in alignment with their values. She joins the Debt Free Mom podcast to talk about how frugal is not an F word.You can connect with Jen over at the Frugal Friends podcast:@frugalfriendspodcast on Instagram jen@frugalfriendspodcast.comwww.frugalfriendspodcast.comGet started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Join us for the FREE Know Your Numbers Challenge starting Sunday, January 7th. It's 5 days of email prompts to help you gather your real numbers and reflect on your approach to your finances this upcoming year.Disclaimer: This episode was entirely recorded, edited, and uploaded by Carly while Kyle was sick in bed. This is not the norm. If anything seems off to our tried and true listeners, that would be why. Happy New Year, DFM Family! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As we close out 2023 on the Debt Free Mom podcast, we are rebroadcasting one of my favorite conversations from this season with Paige Pritchard from Overcoming Overspending. When we aired her episode originally, we had an issue with pushing it out to some of our providers. And so we want to make sure that everybody gets a chance to listen to it because it's so important. Plus, before we replay the episode we have a brand new segment of Not Worth Your Money: Christmas Edition!Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As parents, we can feel an immense amount of pressure to create memories & joy for our children at all times of year, but especially around the holidays. As we're in the thick of the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we can feel that pressure mounting. Even when we're accomplishing everything on our to-do list, and no matter what we do, we can feel like it's not enough - like there's always one more thing that comes up that we're supposed with our kids.In this episode, Kyle and I talk about how to create that joyful memories for our family without relying on a massive budget. We can find ways to fully enjoy the holidays, and it doesn't have to be a second rate experience if you need to spend less this year on the holidays. Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/templateDo you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What kind of pots and pans does a chef use at home? What medicine does a doctor choose for their own cold? How does an accountant manage their personal budget? In today's episode, I sat down with Nicole, who is a certified public accountant, wife, mom, and the money manager of her household. She's here to tell her story of using YNAB for a few years, but consistently finding it lacking the options and information she was looking for in a budget.Here's a link to the Planet Money episode about Costco that Carly and Kyle talked about: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/09/25/443519599/episode-653-the-anti-storeGet started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template.Do you have a money question that you'd like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We'd love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Want to know one of the most common budget categories I see with a note that says, "I would love to add this someday!" when I'm building custom budgets? It's giving. Most people want to give to causes and organizations they love, but many struggle to fit it into their budget or think that the amount they can give won't matter. Today, I'm chatting with Nathan Hill from NextAfter about the impact you can make through giving regardless of the dollar amount.You can find out more about what Nathan's doing with NextAfter at decodinggenerosity.com/Learn how to confidently move from stuck to stable in your finances with the budget system that's build around your unique pay periods. Pay Period Budget Academy gives you everything that you need to grow your confidence, contentment, and your net worth. Join Pay Period Budget Academy today at debtfreemom.co/pba, and use the code PODCAST at checkout to get 20% off!You should be a guest on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Head over to dfmpodcast.com to fill out the guest application and talk with Carly about your money questions, triumphs, and insights.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

YNAB is one of the major players in the world of budgeting apps. For some people, it's features like requiring a plan for each dollar, spreading savings plans evenly over time into sinking funds, or syncing with your bank accounts and credit cards are very helpful. For others, like today's guest, Sarah, it can seem like a great idea, but fall short in execution. Today we'll talk about her shift from YNAB to pay period budgeting.You can start pay period budgeting today with the best selling $9 Mini Course & Template. Get the signature Debt Free Mom spreadsheet budget template plus some quick lessons on how to get started. Start today at debtfreemom.co/templateIf you'd like to be a guest on the show and ask Carly your money questions, fill out the application at dfmpodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When two adults with two very different interests, priorities, and stressors come together to manage one budget, it can become contentious and not budgeting at all feels better. Today, my husband, Kyle, and I are going to share about how we each contribute to managing our family's finances in very different ways. Kyle has experience managing a business budget in his previous role as a nonprofit executive. We chat about the three kinds of financial reports every organization and household should understand.Get started budgeting by pay period today with the best selling template and mini course from Debt Free Mom at debtfreemom.co/templateYou can join Carly as a guest on the podcast by filling out the guest application at dfmpodcast.comAdvertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

There was big news in the personal finance world this week as Mint budgeting software announced that they are closing as of January 2024 and rolling into their Credit Karma software. The data will not carry over and users have to download their information before the end of this year. I sat down with Alissa Henry and recorded this podcast episode to talk about her experience moving from Mint to the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template. Alissa Henry is a mom, wife, and news anchor who started using the Debt Free Mom template a little over a year ago.  Follow Alissa @alissahenrytv on Instagram and Facebook.You can join Carly on the podcast to ask your money question or share your story of navigating a difficult financial issue. Just visit dfmpodcast.com and fill out the guest application.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

If you've been following me for the past four months, you know that we recently chose to sell our home and become renters. This was a confusing choice to many people, and I was told multiple times that we are now throwing our money away. Well, my family isn't the only one who is budgeting well, achieving our financial goals over time, and choosing to rent instead of own. Haley Brown-Woods from Price of Avocado Toast shares her story about also choosing to go from owning to renting. Check out the podcast that Haley and her husband Justin host, and find them on all your favorite social channels at @priceofavocadotoastPodcast: Price of Avocado Toast (https://priceofavocadotoast.com/podcast/)Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priceofavocadotoast/X: https://twitter.com/PriceAvocadoTiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@priceofavocadotoastFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/priceofavocadotoastYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@priceofavocadotoast9115 Debt Free Mom Custom BudgetWhen it seems like there should be more left in your bank account, and your money seems too complicated to keep track of, the Debt Free Mom Custom Budget service takes the guesswork out of your next budget. Send us your real numbers and You'll receive two versions of your pay period budget: the original so you can see how your money is currently flowing and a suggested budget with changes we recommend to prioritize your money goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom Join Carly on the Debt Free Mom PodcastIf you have a money question you'd like Carly to answer,If you have a story of how you navigated unexpected expenses,head over to https://dfmpodcast.com and fill out the guest application. We'd love to talk to you! Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

How are we supposed to make an accurate, realistic budget when medical providers can bill you months or years after actually visiting them? In today's episode, Ashley will tell us about budgeting for her family and learning to incorporate these bills and payments into her budget. Ashley is a registered dietician and mom of two. She has used the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template for awhile and customized it to help keep track of medical bills.  If you have a money question for Carly, or if you want to share your story of handling unexpected expenses, just go to dfmpodcast.com and fill out the guest application.  Get the signature pay period budget template from Debt Free Mom for just $9! Visit debtfreemom.co/template to take your first steps toward confidently building a stable budget.Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brandsPrivacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy