The Fiscal Fitness Podcast

In this final episode of this season of the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, we want to push you a little harder. If you've stuck with coach Kelsa and Coach Jill for this long, chances are something has resonated with you. We want to know, what are you going to do to achieve fiscal fitness?   We want to hear the first step you're committed to taking with your money. Drop us a DM on Instagram at @fiscalfitnessphx.    Throughout this season, your hosts and financial coaches Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel have demonstrated the three stages of becoming good with money - plan maker, goal maker, and dream maker. Now you have the awareness that those are the steps you need to take.   But it doesn't happen by remaining passive. Our clients are all smart, successful people. The difference is that they've taken action. In this episode, we challenge you to get invested and learn about two ways we can help you start your plan maker journey.    What will you do with this new knowledge and the seed that has been planted? We hope that through listening to this season you can feel the burning in your belly, the desire in your heart and that you KNOW more is possible for you. We are here to help. We want you to bring your dream into reality. To live your life on purpose. On your terms. To do the things you love. To make the impact you want to make. NOW is the time. NOW is your shot.    If you're ready, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/. The time to get financially strong is now.   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, Coach Jill.

When so many people think of budgeting, saving, and debt payoff, they often think that's the end goal. The goal is to manage your money. But as we've talked about in previous episodes, your money is the tool to help you build the life you want. Your money simply makes you more of who you already are. So the key to becoming good at money is knowing who you are, what you stand for, what you value, and then putting your money to support what you are doing and want to do.    Who do you want to be and what role will your money play in you becoming that person?   In this episode, financial coaches and fitness enthusiasts Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel talk about the difference between being interested and being invested. And how being invested - being fully bought into a process or a goal - is the thing that will transform everything from your commitment to fitness and the way you manage your money.    Time is passing regardless, so we ask: Why not have something you're working toward...something you're pushing yourself and growing into? Why not use the time to design a life you love?   If you're ready to gain control of your money once and for all, to design a life you want to live, to have your money going toward the things you want out of life, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, Coach Jill.

If you're just joining us now, don't skip the previous episodes! Go back to Episodes 8 and 9 and make sure you understand the Plan Maker and Goal Maker steps first.   Once you've established yourself as a Plan Maker and Goal Maker, a big sign of being a Dream Maker is that you don't feel tempted. You don't fall into comparisonitis about what others are doing with their money. If you're coach Jill, you don't feel pressured to buy a Peleton bike.    Dream Makers feel wealthy because they understand what wealth means to them. A Dream Maker isn't tempted by the latest craze because their money goes to what they value - not what others value.    In this episode, financial coaches and fitness enthusiasts Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel talk about how to start dreaming big again and tips for working toward your dreams.    If you're ready to start dreaming big, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

If you're just joining us now, don't skip the previous episode! Go back to Episode 8 and make sure you really understand the Plan Maker step first.   What do you want? In this episode, we want you to ask what you want so badly that you'll do anything to get it.    You might want to get out of credit card debt because credit card debt is no fun. It's not a great feeling to have money going toward debt every month. But what getting rid of that debt might mean is that you're able to take an international trip every year. The trip is what you want. Sure you might want to pay off your debt, but the trip is the thing you desire. It's the real goal. Your debt is the thing standing in the way.    Let's use a fitness example now: When training and getting fit, you might want to lose weight. But what you're really after are the benefits that come from taking your fitness and nutrition seriously - feeling better, having more energy, and being healthy. Those things are more important than numbers on a scale. Those are the things you actually desire.    It's the same with your money. You have to figure out your real goals and those are the desires that will fuel you to make the changes you want to make. In this episode, financial coaches and fitness enthusiasts Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel talk about how goal setting and goal achievement play an important role in becoming good with your money.   If you're ready to set some goals AND achieve them, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, Coach Jill.

We believe fiscal fitness is all about creating a plan for your money that you love, building the habits to work that plan, and then challenging yourself to set a goal and go after it.   If you think about an area of your life where having a plan helps - think of meal planning, fitness training schedule, macros - it gives you peace of mind. You know what you have to do. It makes decision-making easier and faster.   Enter the dreaded budget. Unfortunately “budgeting” as most of us know it is a flawed system. It assumes that payday is at the beginning of the month, all bills are paid immediately, and everything in life happens in a snapshot on that payday.   This type of budgeting doesn't work, and it's the reason most people think they're just “not good with money.”   In reality, we know they just need a better system, one that helps them plan by paycheck for the things that come up in any given pay period, while still saving for the expenses that don't show up in a monthly budget but definitely still show up. We call those the whammies.    In this episode, financial coaches and fitness enthusiasts Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel talk about different types of expenses, how to plan for them, how to save for what's known, and even plan for the unknown. It's the meat and potatoes (or chicken and cauliflower rice) of being a plan maker.    If you're ready to ditch the dreaded, awful budgets you're used to, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

There is a roadmap you follow to get results in your training. The same thing goes for your money. There's a roadmap you can follow to get out of debt and build up your savings and it's not as hard as you think.    In this episode of the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, Financial Coaches Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel talk about the three milestones you hit on the way to becoming someone who is “good with money.” You need to become a plan maker to then become a goal maker to then become a dream maker.    It takes planning and practice. And it starts with you gaining clarity and building new habits. It starts with you becoming a Plan Maker.    If you're ready to become a plan maker, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

We know you are already doing great things with your fitness and nutrition. The habits you have built in your daily life around your training are going to be so helpful for you to use in your financial life as well. Think about the regular habits you use every day that got you to where you are. You plan your nutrition. You plan your training. You plan your check-ins. You track your metrics. You set goals for yourself, both short and long-term. You know as long as you're sticking to your plan, you will get the results you want. The same is true for your money. Yes, in both fitness and finance, it is that simple. Once you have the plan you simply need to execute it.    In this episode of the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, financial coaches and fitness enthusiasts Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel talk about how you can take all these same fitness habits and apply them to how you manage your money.    If you're ready to create a plan for your money, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

When Coach Kelsa first started working with a fitness coach, she had a goal to lose 10 lbs. At that time, 10 lbs seemed like a big deal. A year into her program, she lost more than twice that amount and is now training for her first powerlifting meet.    As financial coaches, Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel have seen this with their clients too. A client comes to them with an immediate need or idea that feels big to them. Let's say they want to pay off a credit card or build up their savings. But after a while, they start dreaming big and doing things like buying investment properties and completely restructuring their business so they can work less and make more money.    This episode is full of amazing and inspirational client stories to show you what is possible when your finances are as dialed in as your fitness.    If you're ready to have your money lead you to big audacious goals, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/ To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

Your fitness and your finances are tied together. Whether or not you realize it, the way you manage your money daily affects how well you can train. Do any of these scenarios sound familiar? You're running around putting out fires and reacting to things because you forgot to pay a bill.  You're taking on clients you don't love, charging too little, or exchanging time for money because you don't have a compensation package that supports your lifestyle and goals.  You're not sleeping well and tired because you're stressed about money.  You're burnt out. You're not taking vacations because you can't afford them. Or if you do take a vacation, you work on it because you can't afford to take the time off.  Your competition expenses, coaching, training, equipment, and life, in general, are going on a credit card because you're not putting your money toward the things you want.  What if you didn't have to do all these things? What if you had a plan for your money that allowed you to create the life you want to live?    If you're ready to see how your money can support the life you want, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

If you're good with your fitness but not so hot when it comes to your finances, you're probably telling yourself a few things. You're making excuses as to why you're "not good with money." These are likely the same excuses you'd never tolerate when it comes to your own fitness or excuses you'd let a personal training client get away with. And yet you're buying into them when it comes to your money. That's what your hosts and financial coaches Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel are going to talk about in this episode.   Just like you can't out-train a bad diet, you can't out-earn a bad money management habit. You need a plan and some new habits to support you.  We want you to do is start seeing yourself as a strong person financially - someone who plans ahead with their money, someone who sets goals with their money, someone who knows they are going to do great things with their money, and they have the confidence to put their money behind what they care about most.    To learn more about how we can help you get a plan for your money that supports your fitness goal and so much more, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/. To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

Coach Kelsa and Coach Jill weren't always so dialed in with their fitness and finances. Coach Kelsa for years struggled to make her fitness a priority while growing her financial coaching business. And Coach Jill, despite several injuries and surgeries through the years has been pretty great with her fitness. Her finances though were a wreck before she started financial coaching.    Hear their stories about the moments that sparked a change and shifted their trajectory. Learn about the line in the sand that each of them drew and the things they've been able to do now that their fitness and financial goals are in alignment.   To learn more about how we can help you get a plan for your money that supports your fitness goal and so much more, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/.   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

We are here to dispel the myth as to what it means to be financially fit. And fitness folks, we're speaking your language. This is a podcast for people who are fitness-obsessed but maybe not so great when it comes to their finances. So, why are we talking about money management and fitness?   So many times people think Fiscal Fitness or managing your money well results in more money. That is one piece of it. That's a really fun piece of it. But it's just like saying getting in shape is ALL about looking better. That's just ONE small part of getting in shape. There are so many things that go into that transformation - your mindset, the way you feel about yourself, the way you feel about your life, your internal health, your strength - all of those are part of your fitness journey. And the same is true when it comes to getting financially in shape.   If your fitness and your health are dialed in, but your money isn't, then your total wellbeing is still out of alignment. We want to boost your entire well-being. We want you healthy financially, physically, mentally, emotionally - all of those things. We want to make it so that money stress is no longer the norm.   This episode of the Fiscal Fitness Podcast with your hosts and Financial Coaches Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel is all about shifting the mindset for personal trainers, fitness enthusiasts, and athletes. We don't want you to think about what you SHOULD NOT do with your money. We want you to start thinking about what it is that you CAN do with your money. We want you to start dreaming again. We want you to start creating goals around those dreams and then putting a plan in place with your money as the tool to achieve those dreams.   To learn more about how we can help you get fiscally fit, join us at http://becomeaplanmaker.com/   To get insider info about the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, join our Podcast Launch Squad. If Instagram is your jam, make sure you follow Fiscal Fitness, Coach Kelsa, or Coach Jill.

Podcast description: Personal Trainers, studio owners and other fitness enthusiasts listen up! You have a plan for your training. You have a plan for your nutrition. And you may even be helping your own clients plan for those things too.  What if I told you that all those same skills can be used to create a plan for your money too?  We're your hosts Kelsa Dickey and Jill Emanuel. We are financial coaches who have helped thousands of fitness-obsessed individuals just like you to stop winging it financially, to get on a plan, get ahead and learn how to spend with confidence.  We are on a mission to take the stress out of money in our world. If you love having a plan for your fitness goals and want that same confidence for your finances… it's time to make that happen. We will share easy, practical and smart strategies to help you save money, payoff debt, spend mindfully, make more money and gain control of your finances. Even better - we'll make sure every financial strategy we share tracks back to the fitness strategies you're already familiar with.  It's time to Flex your muscles baby, because you are about to get financially strong.

How financial coaching finally helped this couple see eye to eye on their finances

How Financial Coaching Helped this Couple Get and Finally Stay Ahead

The budget you have today is not meant to be permanent. It can and will change. Furthermore, it should change. Your budget is a living document. So instead of trying to squeeze into it like a pair of jeans that no longer fits, give yourself some breathing room and create the budget you need to match your life as it is now. Listen to this podcast to learn about the four signs you budget is no longer working for you and how to create one that does.

A caretaker is someone who uses their time, money, or energy to assist their immediate family members, friends, or colleagues.  Are you always stepping up to meet the needs of those around you?  Do you support a spouse or partner by working a lot or in a job you don't enjoy so they can pursue a hobby or dream job? If you ask yourself often, but “What would they do without me?” If so, you may fall pretty high on the spectrum of caretaker tendencies.  As financial coaches, we sometimes have to coach our clients to balance their caretaker tendencies with taking care of themselves and their own finances. We support people to give, but in ways that don't cause stress on their health or finances.   In this episodes of the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, learn: What care taker tendencies are How they show up How to balance the need and desire to help with your own financial goals Ways to flex your non-caretaker muscles

If you have kids, usually it's not a matter of to Disney or not – it's a matter of when. Whether you've never been to Disney or make it an annual pilgrimage like our very own Coach Jaclyn, this episode is for you. We brought in an expert to talk about ways to plan and budget for your perfect Disney vacation. We chatted with Stacy Ellis, a travel advisor for Key to the World Travel, an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner. She's been to Disney more than 16 times and loves helping families and Disney loving couples plan their best Disney trip. In this episode, we discuss with Stacy: The average cost for a family of four to Disneyland and Disney World Figuring out your ideal Disney trip (everyone does Disney different) Off season vs. peak season costs How to plan in order to not blow your Disney budget Staying on a Disney property to not Planning decisions (what to pack, what to eat, what add-ons to buy) Tips for doing Disney with little kids (Did you know kids under 3 are free?!?) Stacy's biggest and best piece of Disney travel advice for people with kids: Don't wait until they are older. Take the trip as soon as you can and enjoy every moment.

When it comes to bodybuilding and wealth building there is one thing that seems to be very true: Once you build the foundation, it's pretty easy to maintain. Unfortunately building that strong foundation is what keeps so many of us held back. We face a long list of challenges, including: Too many choices/options and trying to decide which is right for you  Decision fatigue Trying to use an app when it's not built for your unique scenario or needs  Lack of accountability No ability to ask questions or troubleshoot as you go Sustainability/Consistency over speed Seeing it as a lifestyle vs a finite goal with an end date (this is a lifelong endeavor) If you follow Coach Jill's instagram feed, you know she's no stranger to the gym. Despite suffering a debilitating back injury years ago, Jill recommitted to her fitness in a big way in 2020 and has turned that 2020 motivation into a life-changing and life altering way of looking at her health and fitness.   Resources / links related to topic / mentioned in podcast: Schedule a free Q&A call with one of our financial coaches Read more about a Eureka session, or schedule your own! Read these client success stories. We are always inspired by what our clients accomplish! (https://fiscalfitnessphx.com/client-success-stories/) The Fiscal Fitness Podcast, Episode 61 

In this episode of the Fiscal Fitness Podcast, Coach Jaclyn interviews Coach Jill, who is a mom of two, all about kids and money. They discuss at what age to introduce debit cards, how much you should spend on daycare, and how much allowance you should give and how it should be given or earned. Jill also admits that at one point when her two boys were young she was paying $20,000/year for childcare. It gets better parents of young kids!   Extra Resources for Kids and Money: Schedule a free Q&A call with one of our financial coaches Read more about a Eureka session, or schedule your own! Read these client success stories. We are always inspired by what our clients accomplish!  Our Podcast Episode with Allowance Expert John Lanza How to Budget When Daycare is a Thing of the Past

Do you ever feel urgency or stress around this idea of "I need to make my money work harder for me!". If so, this one's for YOU! “I want my money to be working for me”. This is something we hear from people who reach out to us all the time. When we ask clients what their goals are, so many of them will tell us they want their money to be working for them. They want to be doing MORE with their money. They want to make sure they are making the best decisions with their money, etc. And I love this! These are all great things! But one thing I often sense is that they are feeling some urgency or stress around this idea of making their money “work” for them. This is usually the way of framing that they want their money invested and earning compound interest. You know - earn money while you sleep sort of thing, right?! Which of course is a beautiful thing. But what I want to talk about today is that there are many other ways that you can get your money working and none of them have to do with investing. In fact, I would argue that many of these things should be in place before you start investing, or before you put that PRESSURE on yourself to PUSH to invest more aggressively. Main takeaways from this episode: Before you start putting this pressure on yourself to make your money be “working harder for you”, make sure it is all working smoothly to begin with. What you do financially should feel easy, predictable and boring. If you do not feel this way (yet!), then release this pressure you are placing on yourself and work to build a strong foundation first. The things we do with our money shouldn't feel like a race or a sprint to the finish line. What we do financially is a marathon. It is something that should feel sustainable. Steady. Something we can do for LIFE. Resources: Schedule a free Q&A call with one of our financial coaches Read more about a Eureka session, or schedule your own! Fiscal Fitness Money Strategies Facebook Group  Read these client success stories. We are always inspired by what our clients accomplish The Fiscal Fitness Podcast Episode 91: Are you INTERESTED? Or INVESTED? The Fiscal Fitness Guide to Saving The Fiscal Fitness Podcast, Episode 22: Active vs. Passive Investing with Financial Advisor Shanna Tingom

Do you have big goals for 2021? As we head into the new year, so many of us are setting different goals for the year. We created a free download (click here to download) to support you throughout 2021 so that you can stay present and focused to your goals all year long. In this episode you will learn... How to set a SMART financial goal How to challenge yourself with Good, Better, and Best goals How to track your 2021 goal progress with our freebie: 2021 Goal Tracker   Additional tips: To visually watch this episode, join our free Facebook community where Coach Jaclyn went live to show how to use the 2021 Goal Tracker. To participate in the 21-Day Challenge (mentioned in this episode), join our free Facebook community - this is where all the activity of the 21-Day Challenge is happening!   Resources: Click here to download the 2021 Goal Tracker New Year, New $$ Checklist Sign Up for the 21-Day Challenge Fiscal Fitness Money Strategies Facebook Group

Just because it's called a “stimulus” check does not mean that it is your responsibility to go out and stimulate the economy with it. A big purpose of this stimulus bill was to provide additional financial relief to the American people. So in this episode, I am going to share five things you could do with your stimulus check to bolster and strengthen your own financial position, as well as some ideas of how you could use it to support your community.   In this episode you will learn... How to check the status of your stimulus check if you haven't received it Five ways to bolster your own financial position with the stimulus dollars A few ways you can support your local community with your stimulus check   To get the latest updates about the stimulus check and other forms of Coronavirus relief, join our free Facebook community - we'll help keep you informed, answer your questions, and connect you with other like-minded people who want to focus on being more financially savvy.   Resources: IRS.gov Get My Payment Tool Fiscal Fitness Money Strategies Facebook Group

It's back! It only happens twice a year - our 21-Day Challenge is starting on 1/21/2021. We are super excited to kick off this challenge which is designed to help you move your money forward in a bigger, better way than you ever have before. In this episode you will learn... What the 21-Day Challenge is and how you can sign up Who the 21-Day Challenge is designed to help Who should not participate in this challenge To participate in the 21-Day Challenge, join our free Facebook community - this is where all the activity of the 21-Day Challenge is happening! Click here to sign Up for the 21-Day Challenge Click here to join the Fiscal Fitness Money Strategies Facebook Group

It's one of our favorite times of the month! It is time for the December FC Beat. That's the Financial Coaches Beat, in case you didn't know, where Jaclyn and Jill are giving you the inside scoop on what's happening, all things in the Fiscal Fitness world. And of course our favorite part which is tooting the horns of our amazing clients, sharing the great work that they are doing and celebrating their accomplishments. You've got to tune in for this one!   Resources: New Year, New Money Checklist: fiscalfitnessphx.com/newyear - Episode 107 Choosing your word of the year: https://fiscalfitnessphx.com/oneword2019/ www.FiscalFitnessPHX.com www.FinancialCoachAcademy.com

Famous financial gurus are known for their popular, one-size-fits all approaches to money. Here at Fiscal Fitness, we know from working first hand with hundreds of clients that no formula works for every single client. In this episode you'll hear why Coach Jaclyn herself chose to abandon one of the popular approaches out there when working on paying off her non-mortgage debt. In this episode you will learn... Why the one-size-fits-all approach wasn't working for me - what I liked and what I didn't. How working with Coach Jill changed my approach and what she taught me How having a custom approach was actually a much wiser path for us to take   Resources: Schedule a free call with one of our coaches Episode 92 - Coach Jaclyn's Top 5 Money Mistakes Episode 104 - Emotional Spending and Preparing for the Holidays Take our free Debt Pay-Off Quiz to find out which strategy might work best for you Episode 103 - Why I Left My Teaching Career to

Many clients tell us that setting goals isn't something they have ever done. That it feels really unnatural for them and isn't something they feel comfortable with. We have definitely found that goal setting is a skill that must be learned and the better you get at setting your goals, the better you get at achieving them time and time again! Unfortunately, goal setting fails for so many people. Here are a few things we see or hear from clients when it comes to goal setting: They say it feels pointless. They don't ever feel as though they are reaching their goals. They forget the details of their goal. Their goals are set up as pass/fail, and they find themselves failing time and again. They aren't specific enough, so they never know if they have actually achieved their goal. When it comes to financial goals specifically - they don't have a solid foundation (aka budget) that actually works - so their financial goals are more like wishes, rather than concrete goals where they can see the steps to take to achieve them. In this episode, Coach Jill talks about the steps you can take to turn this around and become a master at goal setting AND goal achieving! Some steps you want to take to improve your goal setting skills: Begin with creating a REALISTIC budget. Stop making your goals Pass/Fail by using the Good-Better-Best strategy. Write your goals down.  Be specific.

So long 2020 and good riddance!  This episode is a rerelease of episode 48 from 2019 but it is so great that we want to share it with you again.  Research shows that resolutions are largely ineffective for making positive, sustainable change. Twenty-five percent of people break resolutions within one week and sixty-five percent break them within weeks. Selecting a word of the year can help us to embrace a larger vision that feels expansive and possible. A single word is easier to remember than a whole list of goals and resolutions. Your “word of the year” anchors your daily life, helps you focus, guides the work you do, choices you make. The benefits of choosing one word: Can feel more expansive than goals or resolutions. Can feel more inspirational vs instructional. Especially great for people who do not do well with structure, deadlines, or too many rules. Allows one to adjust their goals and resolutions as the year goes on – things can happen and change and having a single word can give you the flexibility you need. By having one word to guide my year, I found it easier to create goals and resolutions that aligned my whole approach for the year. My “word of the year” anchors my daily life. It helps me focus. It guides the work I do, the choices I make, and the way I navigate my everyday. When I feel adrift, I remember my word of the year and come back to myself & my goals Steps to find your Word of the Year for 2019 1. Reflect on areas of your life: Your wellbeing Your career/business Your family Your health Work/life balance Finances 2. Reflect on the type of person you want to become Wealthier Happier Healthier Dive deep into your soul 3. What are the characteristics of the person you want to become? 4. What do I want to change or gain in my life? What is one thing I'd change about my life? What is one thing I'd change about the way I spend my day? 5. Find a quote (or multiple) that embodies this word. 6. Trust your intuition You don't necessarily have to labor over this decision; you likely don't need to turn this over in your mind a thousand times. 7. Now consider how you can apply this word to your whole life “Supported”' at home means something different than “supported” in your professional life. And “connected” to your body is different than being “connected” to your partner. How does your word apply in the context of work? At home? Does it affect the way you move your body or the choices you make around food? Will it change the way you use technology? When you take the time to imagine the way your word applies to all the areas of your life, you're ready to make that word happen everywhere. 8. Fortify Your ONE WORD With Visibility, Repetition, and Accountability One Word Ideas and Inspiration Improve – Begin – Challenge – Wellness – Balance – Courage – Creativity – Evolve – Change – Heal – Release – Grow – Begin – Finish – Health – Truth – Expansion – Abundance – Connect – Abundant – Aligned – Balanced – Bliss – Congruent – Consistent – Creative – Depth – Desire – Devout – Divine – Educated – Enlightened – Fit – Forgiving – Free – Free-Spirited Game-Changing – Giving – Glowing – Gracious – Grateful – Gratitude – Happy – Healthy – Honest – Humbled – Journey – Joyful – Laser-Focused – Loving – Mindful Of Service – Open – Passion – Peaceful – Radiant – Sassy – Savvy – Sexy – Sexy – Smart – Soulful – Sparkle – Spiritual – Strong – Tenacious – Truth – Unstoppable – Vibrant – Wellness – Whole – Freedom – Revitalize – Complete – Whole – Design   Podcast Music by Annti Luode

This episode was originally published in December of 2019 as episode 74.  It was so impactful and popular that we wanted to put it back on your radar.  You may be excited to set new year's resolutions and goals with your finances this time of year, but if you're not careful, you could be getting ahead of yourself. Don't set yourself up for failure, check out our New Year New Money Checklist FIRST. It will help you lay a really solid foundation from which to build from! Get ready to make your new year financial goals a resounding success in 2020! You can visit the original blog post with downloadable "New year, new money" worksheet here. 

It's one of our favorite times of the month! It is time for the November FC Beat. That's the Financial Coaches Beat, in case you didn't know, where Jaclyn and Jill are giving you the inside scoop on what's happening, all things in the Fiscal Fitness world. And of course our favorite part which is tooting the horns of our amazing clients, sharing the great work that they are doing and celebrating their accomplishments. You've got to tune in for this one!

This is a replay of one of our most popular episodes, episode 23: Holiday Traditions and Gift Giving Ideas that will Not Break the Bank. You can check out the amazing companion holiday shopping and traditions blog post here. 

This time of year, tends to be one of the most EXPENSIVE times of year for a lot of people. It is when there are a ton of festivities happening all within a relatively short period of time and we often can get swept away with the fun, the tradition, the expectations of family or friends and ALSO tempted by all of the sales and amazing marketing that is about to be around every turn.  We want YOU all to be prepared for it. Not only financially, but also from an emotional place, so you don't get swept up in the excitement of it all, only to regret it come January.  Notes: A lot of the really big sales that are going to be promoted in the coming weeks will have advertising that makes you want to "ACT QUICKLY" because the deal will end soon, stock is limited, shipping times may be delayed. All of these reasons will be used to push you to BUY and BUY quickly.  Spending money should actually feel very neutral. The excitement should come when you get to enjoy the thing you have purchased. NOT in the actual transaction itself.  Plan ahead for the holidays by following these simple steps:1. Make a list 2. Jot down the ideas you have for each person 3. Get a price estimate for how much each of those items will cost  4. Total everything up.  5. Be prepared to cut things out Don't forget to budget extra for additional food, decor, cards, family pictures, donations, and misc extras. Resources: Take advantage of coupons and discounts while shopping online by installing the browser extension www.joinhoney.com Earn rebates and take advantage of additional discounts by shopping with Rakuten. Use this referral link to earn a $30 rebate after your first purchase. https://www.rakuten.com/r/JILLEM47?eeid=28187 Use the browser extension Camel, Camel, Camel to check prices on Amazon and ensure you are getting the best deal. https://ca.camelcamelcamel.com/

"I think a lot of people, when they meet a financial professional, assume that they're someone who is just naturally good at money, that they have some sort of formal financial training or degree in finance, or that they've always made good decisions with their money. And that's just not true. I became a financial coach because of how financially stressed I used to be and the transformation I experienced from working with a financial coach myself" Jaclyn Wise, Financial Coach at Fiscal Fitness Phoenix   In this episode you will learn... What the major catalyst was for Coach Jaclyn to finally make a change How Jaclyn got her start in financial coaching Why Jaclyn left her teaching career to coach full time Additional tips for when changing careers: Tip #1 - Before you make a big financial decision like buying a house, having a baby, making a big career change - hire a financial coach to help you navigate the day-to-day side of your finances and see the impact on your financial future Tip #2 - Quit the traditional monthly budget template, and instead create a spending plan for each paycheck you receive. Tip #3 - If you're financially stressed, if you feel like you're spinning your wheels and not gaining any traction on your financial goals, if you're fighting with your partner about money - reach out to us to schedule a free call with us and see if financial coaching is a good fit for your situation. There is always hope!   Resources: Schedule a free call with one of our coaches Episode 92 - Coach Jaclyn's Top 5 Money Mistakes Episode 66 - Coach Kelsa's Top 5 Money Mistakes Episode 65 - Coach Jill's Top 5 Money Mistakes Join our free Facebook community - Money Strategies Follow Fiscal Fitness on Instagram! Follow Coach Jaclyn on Instagram Follow Coach Jill on Instagram Follow Coach Kelsa on Instagram  

Does it seem like learning to manage your money is just plain impossible? Do you keep trying to become better with your money, but then you find yourself giving up? In this episode, we dive in to the 4 stages of learning with money. We provide key characteristics of each one so you can easily identify where on the journey of growth you are. We also give you specific steps to take to keep you moving along the 4 stages.   In this episode, Kelsa will help you understand and implement: The 4 stages of learning a new skill Characteristics of each stage Steps to continue progressing through the stages Questions to ask yourself that will boost your commitment to progress See the image of the four steps Kelsa mentions in this episode here.   

In this episode Coach Jill walks you through how to assess whether a home project is worth the investment and if you decide to move forward, what are some of your options for deciding how to pay for the project. There are so many options out there - from paying cash to credit to HELOC's to loans. Let's talk about what option makes the most sense for YOU when deciding to move forward with a home improvement or renovation project.     Questions answered in this episode: How do you determine whether a home improvement project is “worth it”? How do you decide the best financing option based on the size of the project?  When's the best time to use a HELOC vs. home equity loan? What we recommend for anyone considering home improvement projects this year   Additional tips and strategies: Do your research! Spend time in the researching phase before you move into action. Doing this research and weighing your options will help you to save money in the long run and help you feel confident in your decision. Get at least 3 quotes for from contractors for your home improvement projects Consult a financial coach to help you figure out all of the moving pieces and things to consider! Start saving now, even if you don't have a project in mind yet. One of the certainties of home ownership is that home repairs and improvements WILL come and you want to be ready for them when they do. 

Most of the time a brand new client finds Fiscal Fitness, they find us by searching for a “financial advisor.” And most people don't know what a financial coach even is. In this episode, Coach Jaclyn breaks down the differences between financial coaches and advisors, and help you decide which one you need on your money power team today.

It's one of our favorite times of the month! It is time for the FC Beat. That's the Financial Coaches Beat, in case you didn't know, where Jaclyn and Jill are giving you the inside scoop on what's happening, all things in the Fiscal Fitness world. And of course our favorite part which is tooting the horns of our amazing clients, sharing the great work that they are doing and celebrating their accomplishments. You've got to tune in for this one!

Why is it that we want to shout from the rooftops when we hire a personal trainer to help us get in the best shape of our lives, but we want to keep it a secret when we want to hire a financial coach to help us get in the best financial shape of our lives? Coach Jill dives into the thoughts we have about money that are actually holding us back from becoming skilled in this incredibly important area of life.  Have you ever thought “How are they doing that?” when you see friends going on vacation, renovating their house, taking a voluntary sabbatical from work, or driving their new dream car? Usually this thought is followed by another one that involves self-doubt, shame, or embarrassment because we believe we must be “doing it wrong”.  Asking for help to figure out how to “Do it right”, brings about an onslaught of emotions that often prevents us from taking steps to learn a better way. WHY do we feel shame asking for help in this area of life, but would never experience shame asking for help with our fitness, or in learning a new trade, or learning how to cook or even parent better? Let's dive in to examining the thoughts that are holding us back and why we are having them in the first place.    Here are some of the top reasons why people feel afraid to invest in their financial health: It feels too vulnerable or embarrassing. I fear judgement for my past mistakes or mishandling of money. I worry that I will be told that I am beyond help. That there is nothing that can be done/it's too late. I don't want to be told what to do with my money (This is likely UNTRUE. You likely DO want to be told what to do with your money - you just want it to be told you can do and have all the things you want.) It is too expensive. I already worry about money, how will I add this additional expense? (Listen to find out what this thought is really all about.) Resources: Jill mentions her good friend and cookie artist Jen. Check out her amazing talent on Instagram @jentasticsweets

The simplest description of the Diderot Effect is this: “The introduction of a new possession into a consumer's existence will often result in a process of spiraling consumption.”    What does this mean? You buy a new car and now you need a new tint job, new rims, a new phone charging cable, new sunshades, etc. That one purchase has resulted in a multitude of purchases that before the initial purchase, were not even on your radar.    The Diderot Effect is a VERY common spending phenomenon that nearly everyone falls victim too. In this episode, Coach Jill gives examples of how the Diderot Effect might be showing up and she also gives you 7 tips to help you reduce its financial impact.    Coach Jill's 7 tips to reduce the Diderot Effect Awareness is key. Imagine how the new item will fit in with the rest of your life. Limit temptations. Look for opportunities to borrow, trade, or rent before you buy. Always budget for MORE than you anticipate needing. Set Limits/Pace yourself.  Make linear purchases if possible.   Resources: Use the app Unroll.me to help you easily unenroll in all of the emails you receive and limit temptation. Read the book: Atomic Habits by James Clear, where he talks more about the Diderot Effect, along with so many other wonderful tips on how to build or break habits.

Did you know that the average American household spends over $200/month on their cable bill? For most of us, that makes cable our most expensive utility. Learn how to save money with streaming by cutting the cable cord in this episode.   Notes from episode: Guest expert (and Jaclyn's husband) John Wise shares different options for cutting the cable cord that can save you more money than you might have thought possible. Cutting the cable cord does not have to mean that you lose access to sports, local TV, or DVR. In fact, John and Jaclyn have access to all of them. One of the most inexpensive ways to cut the cable cord is to install a rooftop or wall antenna, which will enable you to pick up locally broadcast channels. You can completely eliminate your cable bill by doing that. A more popular option is to use a streaming device (like a FireTV Stick, Roku Stick, Apple TV, Google Chromecast) or a Smart TV and install/subscribe different streaming services (like Netflix, Hulu, YouTube TV, etc.). If you're not ready to cut the cord, we have a few other suggestions you can try to lower the cost of your cable bill. Additional tips: If you're going to install a rooftop antenna, make sure you're not violating any HOA restrictions in your neighborhood, and you might need to pay someone to help install it for you.  When signing up for streaming services, you can cancel at any time. Pause the ones you aren't currently using and only pay for what you're actually watching. We really like YouTube TV for an all-inclusive service because it has unlimited DVR capabilities, and you can watch your recorded shows on all of your devices. Additionally, you can have multiple user accounts so that different users can record their own shows and watch them on separate devices at the same time. Resources: Solid Signal - great rooftop antennas YouTube TV - an all-inclusive streaming option

Money is a LIFELONG journey. No matter where you are starting, there will always be something “Next” on the list. When we think about our financial lives, it's as if we are climbing a mountain. We are always looking up and we can see the next step towards the goal we are working towards, but it's like the top of the mountain is covered in clouds. Every time we think we must be JUST about to reach the peak, we get through the clouds and discover there is still so much more to go.  There will ALWAYS be more we are striving for and if we aren't careful this can lead to frustration It is easy to compare ourselves to others who we see as more successful and think - “they are so far ahead, I will never get there.” So to combat this, we need to manufacture some artificial peaks for ourselves. We need to have a way to measure our progress and recognize that while it still feels as though we are climbing a never ending mountain, we actually HAVE made so much progress and that makes it worthwhile to keep on going!   Notes from the episode: Our brains want to keep us “safe” and “safe” = Familiar. This isn't actually a good thing if the things we have been doing aren't getting us the results we want. In order to “retrain” our brains, we need to create positive memories and experiences that relate to our financial wins.  Setting goals or milestones is the first step. We need to have something clearly defined that we are working towards, so we know when we can celebrate! Visual cues and reminders can be extremely useful for positive reinforcement and training our brains to focus on what is most important to us (this is why vision boards are actually so powerful!). Be intentional about using ordinary experiences and turning them into purposeful and intentional ways to celebrate and acknowledge your progress!

Adoption can be one of the most loving and selfless things someone can do. It's fair to say that the foster care system for each state is extremely underfunded and overfilled with children that need loving homes. Michael and Kelsa made the decision to adopt through the Arizona foster care system almost three years ago and were lucky enough to adopt their son, Alex, on June 14th of 2019. Many people have asked them about the process as well as the financials for adopting Alex. While each state is different in regards to the foster to adopt programs available, Kelsa and Michael have put together some great talking points about their experience so you can do some initial leg work for your state.   

It's one of our favorite times of the month! It is time for the FC Beat. That's the Financial Coaches Beat, in case you didn't know, where Jaclyn and Jill are giving you the inside scoop on what's happening, all things in the Fiscal Fitness world. And of course our favorite part which is tooting the horns of our amazing clients, sharing the great work that they are doing and celebrating their accomplishments. You've got to tune in for this one!

Meet our newest financial coach at Fiscal Fitness Phoenix, Jaclyn Wise!!! She wasn't always this awesome at budgeting though. It took some determination to look inside herself to be able to ask for help from a financial coach. And she hasn't looked back. Today, Jaclyn is sharing the top 5 money mistakes that she has made in the past and provides some strategies and action steps to help you avoid those same mistakes. Here are Jaclyn's top 5 money mistakes: Money Mistake #1: I blew through my grad party money. Money Mistake #2: I misused my student loans. Money Mistake #3: I struggled in silence (for six years!) Money Mistake #4: We bought way too much house Money Mistake #5: I overspent for the wrong reasons You can find Coach Jill's Top 5 Money Mistakes here. And you can find Coach Kelsa's Top 5 Money Mistakes here.  www.fiscalfitnessphx.com/episode92

What does it mean to be interested vs. invested and how is this showing up for you in your life? The energy behind these two words and the actions we take are entirely different and in this episode, Coach Jill dives into how being “interested” in something is showing up for you in life and how it is holding you back from creating the life you want. Notes from episode:  Think about something you have been “interested” in. What does this look like for you? What results are you getting in your life?  Think about something you have “invested” in. How did you show up differently? What was the result of being invested?  How were your actions different between being interested or being invested?  What area of your life are you currently interested in and how can you invest to get the results you are seeking? Related links: Join us in our private Facebook group: Fiscal Fitness Money

It's one of our favorite times of the month! It is time for the FC Beat. That's the Financial Coaches Beat, in case you didn't know, where Kelsa and Jill are giving you the inside scoop on what's happening, all things in the Fiscal Fitness world. And of course our favorite part which is tooting the horns of our amazing clients, sharing the great work that they are doing and celebrating their accomplishments. You've got to tune in for this one!

Meet our newest Financial Coach - Jaclyn Wise! As a former math teacher you might expect budgeting would come easily, but Jaclyn shares she was a mess when it came to budgeting and balancing her own checkbook. Once she started making “real” money, she thought her finance worries would be solved. She was wrong. Six years after graduating college, she found she was still living paycheck-to-paycheck and feeling extremely jealous whenever her friends posted pictures on Facebook of themselves enjoying vacations in exotic places. She scrutinized and antagonized every purchase she made, big and small. Money made her feel all the wrong feelings.  That was years ago. Today, her life looks a lot different.  Since investing in financial coaching in 2015, Jaclyn and her husband have made a remarkable amount of progress in five short years.  Jaclyn shares her story of how she became a financial coach and some of the challenges she has overcome along the way. Jaclyn has a heart for financial coaching and wants you to see the all of the possibilities in life too. She is on a mission to help you reach the goals you have in life. Even the ones that seem out of reach right now. The thing is they're not. Jaclyn cannot wait to show you how much closer you are than you think. 

Knowing your income and expenses are important. But just as important are numbers that show you the bigger picture of your financial situation and that's where your Net Worth & Savings Rate come into play. Kelsa will walk you through how to calculate these, provide some insights as to why you might want to care about them, and even provide some tools for you to use! Notes from episode: Why your savings rate & Net Worth are important numbers to know How to calculate both of these figures Pros & cons of using these numbers Next steps once you've gained awareness of these figures How to improve & strengthen your net worth & savings rate   Resources:  https://fred.stlouisfed.org/series/PSAVERT Click here to get the downloads to calculate your net worth and savings rate. www.fiscalfitnessphx.com/episode88  

As we start the slow return to normalcy following the COVID19 quarantine, it's time to consider what our spending habits will be. Companies will more than likely start to market towards our need for normalcy and the things we have been missing out on the past few months.  Jill and Kelsa talk about some strategies to make sure that your climb out of quarantine will be well within your budget!   Tips from Jill and Kelsa: Some expenses you may see a quick spike in  eating out travel entertainment What else do you expect? Don't forget to add back into your budget childcare gas expense for traveling to work kids activities if they were cancelled for a while Grooming hair nails facials waxing etc Be honest and realistic with yourself on what you may need to add If you lost your job, now is the time to get your resume updated and maybe learn a new skill that makes you more marketable Resources: Gaslighting article mentioned Join our free awesome Facebook group here

Amazon has made it so easy and convenient to have all of your purchases on your doorstep within a matter of days (or sometimes hours!). The convenience is great, but how is this impacting your finances? The convenience of being able to order anything we want in the click of a button, may be holding you back from reaching your financial goals. In this episode, Coach Jill gives some quick and simple tips to help you gain control of your Amazon spending habits in this episode of The Fiscal Fitness Podcast. Coach Jill's Amazon best practices to stop overspending: The convenience of instant gratification may be sabotaging your financial goals. Practice strengthening your delayed gratification muscle by adding items to your cart, but waiting to click “buy” until a set day each week. (**Hint - choose a day at the beginning of the week - try Tuesday or Wednesday) Review your cart each week and determine if you still want each item and if the total amount of items in the cart are in line with your spending goals.  Move anything that isn't top priority onto your wishlist to save for later. Prefund an Amazon gift card for yourself to keep your spending on track. Each payday, put a set dollar amount onto your gift card and make a commitment to yourself not to spend more than what you have put on the card.  

We were in a total funk for meals and found ourselves spending way too much on both groceries AND eating out! Here's how we fixed it! Notes from episode/ summary of major points/ etc:  What being in a rut with food spending can look like  Various strategies for getting a handle on your food spending  One out-of-the-book solution you may want to consider Additional tips/ strategies/ other things to consider/ etc: This wasn't always a problem - it just sort of becomes a problem suddenly. In fact, we used to be really good at cooking, eating at home, etc. Practical tips for meal prepping and planning  Resources/ links related to topic/ mentioned in podcast:  Episode 49 - Financial New Year's Resolutions Super Episode  Episode 24 - Meal Prepping w/ Dr Mike Simon  Korean Sloppy Joes recipe: https://whatgreatgrandmaate.com/paleo-whole30-korean-sloppy-joes/