Podcasts about ynab

Join Ben and Meagan as we share all about Albuqurque and Santa Fe, New Mexico. Use our Get Away Today affiliate link when you're planning your next Disney vacation to get the best deals! Use our code YellowVan for extra savings on your vacatino package. Use our YNAB link for an extra month free! Check out our Etsy shop Shop through our Amazon affiliate link Email us at yellowvantravels@gmail.com Find us on social media: Instagram Youtube Links in show notes contain affiliate links*

In this episode, I sit back down with Cody Berman, entrepreneur, real estate investor, and author of the book Retire by 30. Cody first came on the podcast in 2018 at 22 years old. By 25, he had reached financial independence through scalable online businesses, strategic real estate, and intentional spending. He quit a corporate banking job after seven months, tried over 30 side hustles, and grew his income from $96K to over $400K in three years, all while keeping expenses under $24,000 annually. His new book lays out a menu of approaches for reaching financial freedom, not a one-size-fits-all formula, but a roadmap built around your own values, income, and life stage. In this episode, Cody shares: Why defining your values and aligning them with your spending is the foundation of a truly free life His four-bucket framework for thinking about side hustles and which type created the most wealth The exact income, savings, and investment numbers that got him to financial independence at 25 How he and his wife kept lifestyle creep in check while still traveling and enjoying life What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Cody's book: Retire by 30 Read the The 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Cody: Website: Codydberman.com Instagram: @CodyDBerman Facebook: @CodyBermanPage Twitter: @CodyDBerman Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Most people learn about money the hard way. In this episode, I sit down with Beth Kobliner, personal finance journalist and New York Times bestselling author of Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s and Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You're Not), to talk about how to build a strong financial foundation before the real world hits. Beth shares her journey from ghostwriting for pioneering personal finance columnist Sylvia Porter to writing for Money magazine, and why the core principles she has taught for decades still hold up today. From avoiding credit card debt to grabbing your 401k match, the fundamentals matter more than ever. She also breaks down the new threats facing young people, from buy now pay later traps to online gambling and social media money influencers, and shares her current passion project bringing a free financial literacy curriculum to New York City public schools. In this episode, Beth Kobliner shares: Foundational money moves for young adults, including high-yield savings accounts, index funds, and 401k matching The biggest updates in the new edition of Get a Financial Life and why the basics still win How to protect yourself from modern financial traps like gambling apps, buy now pay later schemes, and crypto hype Why financial literacy education in high schools is more urgent than ever and how to bring it to your school for free + more! What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get a Get a Financial Life: Personal Finance in Your 20s and 30s and Make Your Kid a Money Genius (Even If You're Not) Get a Financial Life NYC curriculum: getafinanciallifenyc.com Student Loan Simulator: studentaid.gov High-Yield Savings Account Comparison: bankrate.com NerdWallet: nerdwallet.com Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Beth: Website: bethkobliner.com Instagram: @BKobliner Facebook: @BethKobliner Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

That's right, Jesse has a new book out and it's available for pre-order now. After twenty years of running YNAB and a decade plus of podcasts, Fan Fests, speaking engagements, and more, Jesse has distilled his thinking about money into his best work: Never Worry About Money Again.   Getting good at money doesn't have to be hard, and money doesn't have to be a constant source of stress and anxiety. You just have to answer one simple question.   Preorder your copy now! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com         Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

When you're no longer stressed about money, you begin to enjoy the things you like guilt-free. Whether it's a treat or a tool or an experience you've always wanted, getting good at money frees you up to pursue happiness in life and express more of yourself in the world. In short, it's makes you more... you!   How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse     Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

Ericka Barnes first appeared on the Journey to Launch podcast in 2019 to share how she reached financial independence in her mid-30s. Since then, her life has looked nothing like a straight line; divorce, layoffs, a new marriage, and a second retirement later, she's back to share the full story. In this brand new episode, Ericka walks us through what she's been up to since our last conversation, from rebuilding financially after a divorce, to reaching chubby FIRE  (Financial Independence Retire Early) in 2023. The financial foundation she had built; real estate, index funds, and a prenup, turned out to be more than a wealth strategy. It was the infrastructure that protected her when life got complicated. Today, Ericka and her husband are fully work-optional, house hacking in St. Croix while splitting time between Atlanta and the US Virgin Islands. This episode is a powerful reminder that financial independence isn't just about retiring early, it's about having the stability and options to navigate whatever life brings, rebuild when necessary, and ultimately design a life on your own terms. In this episode, Ericka shares: How she rediscovered her love of creative writing and the two books she is publishing this year How a prenup protected her financially and emotionally through divorce and why every couple should consider one Why she went back to work after lean firing, what chubby FIRE actually feels like, and the key difference between the two The case for geo arbitrage in a US territory and how she and her husband bought a home in St. Croix with a built-in tenant to offset the mortgage What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Ericka's first episode on the podcast: From Making $35,000 A Year To Being A Millionaire with Ericka Grant The Simple Path to Wealth by JL Collins: jlcollinsnh.com Afford Anything Podcast: affordanything.com Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Ericka: Website: freelennial.com/about/ Instagram: @ericka_sojourner Email: islandfirewriter@gmail.com Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

In this episode of Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations, Doug Peterson joins us for a practical and honest conversation about money, personal finance, financial intimacy, debt, cash flow, and peace of mind.Doug is an entrepreneur of 37 years and an executive coach of 17 years. Through his work with business owners and professionals, he noticed a repeated pattern: many successful people were building businesses and careers while remaining unaware of their true personal spending. That discovery led him to develop a process to help people get their priorities straight and master their personal cash flow.  Together, we explore why money skills are no longer optional. They are survival skills. Doug shares how to understand what you earn, spend and owe, how to prepare for infrequent expenses, how to manage debt wisely, and how couples can build financial intimacy without shame, tension or secrecy.This episode is for anyone who wants to stop avoiding money conversations and start creating financial peace with clarity, honesty and intention.In This Episode, We DiscussWhy personal finance is connected to impact, peace and legacyHow to understand your real spending, including irregular expensesThe difference between budgeting and creating a spending planWhy tools like YNAB can help with real-time cash flow managementHow to prepare for holidays, repairs, maintenance and unexpected costsPractical ways to manage credit cards and high-interest debtHow to build an emergency fund that brings peace of mindWhy financial intimacy matters in relationshipsHow couples can reduce money tension and get on the same pageHow to align money decisions with your values and future goalsTimestamps00:00 Introduction to the episode and guest background01:00 Doug's motivation for coaching others on finances02:10 Why mastering personal finances matters for impact and legacy02:57 Recognising patterns of out-of-control spending03:56 Accounting for infrequent expenses04:54 Using tools like YNAB for cash flow management05:54 Setting money aside for irregular expenses06:54 Budgeting vs spending plans07:38 The electronic envelope system09:07 Responsible credit card use10:33 Behaviour change and financial awareness11:12 How often to review your financial plan12:38 Recommended apps and tools14:19 Intentional spending and cutting waste15:12 How money disappears without awareness16:05 Building an emergency fund17:08 Managing debt and restructuring for savings20:30 Creating a lifestyle within your means23:16 Financial transparency in relationships26:20 Why money skills are survival skills29:00 Managing multiple expenses and life events33:24 The value of regular financial meetings37:03 Improving credit scores and using credit responsibly42:15 The link between happiness and financial peace45:02 Aligning money and values47:14 How to connect with Doug PetersonResourcesWebsite: https://getprioritiesstraight.com/Schedule with Doug: http://schedulewithdoug.com/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GetPrioritiesStraightLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/getprioritiesstraight/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/getprioritiesstraight/Tool mentioned: You Need A Budget (YNAB)Listen NowListen to this episode of Mirror Talk: Soulful Conversations and learn how to bring clarity, peace and intention into your relationship with money.Watch on YouTube: https://youtu.be/UBQI0nXqF-Y Ask what is on your heart. Mirror Talk will reflect back what may help you see more clearly. Try it here: https://mirrortalkpodcast.com/ask-mirror-talk/Stay connected: https://lnkfi.re/mirrortalkCould you support us by becoming a Patreon? Please consider subscribing to one or more of our offerings at http://patreon.com/MirrorTalk All proceeds will help enhance the quality of our work and outreach, enabling us to serve you better.

    How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse     Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

Doing everything right at work and still getting passed over is not a personal failure. It is a pattern, and the data proves it. In this episode, I sit down with Stefanie O'Connell, award-winning journalist and author of The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up and Then Pushes Them Down, to dig into the data behind the very real costs women face for simply being ambitious. Stefanie spent years reporting on personal finance stories where people did everything right and still came up short. That pattern led her to a deeper investigation into systemic bias, and what she found is both eye-opening and infuriating. From salary negotiations to promotion pipelines to the way overwork culture is weaponized, the research reveals a compounding bias that plays out quietly, day in and day out, across the full arc of a career.  Rather than placing the burden on individual women to work harder or ask better, Stefanie makes the case that the most powerful response to systemic inequality is collective action.  In this episode, Stefanie shares: What the ambition penalty is and how it quietly derails women's careers through modern, hidden forms of bias How race, ethnicity, and motherhood intersect with gender to shape who gets penalized and how Why trends like the Trad Wife and the Soft Life share the same flaws as the girl boss era Why collective action, not individual optimization, is the real path to closing pay and leadership gaps + mores. Watch the video to this episode, here. What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Stefanie's book; "The Ambition Penalty: How Corporate Culture Tells Women to Step Up and Then Pushes Them Down" How to Build Your Network, Thrive In Entrepreneurship, & Leverage Your Skill Sets To Make More Money w/ Stefanie O'Connell  Bonus Episode- Coping w/ The Impact to Your Income & Career Due to the Coronavirus w/ Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Stefanie: Website: TooAmbitious.com Instagram: @StefanieOConnell Facebook: @StefanieOConnell Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

When you're bad at money, it only brings you worry. Get good at it, however, and it's empowering. Like Thanos' gauntlet.   How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse     Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

Ben and Ernie are live on YouTube again, this time inviting you to YNAB with them! Ben and Ernie went live on May 13, 2026, and walked through their recent transactions -- categorizing, moving money, re-evaluating priorities -- and answered questions from viewers along the way.   This livestream relies heavily on screensharing since Ben and Ernie are using the YNAB app live, so we recommend you check out the replay of the livestream on YouTube here: https://www.youtube.com/live/PNC4OkJbHwA?si=MNDmYSG_RgLxWe0o     Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube Budget Nerds Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@YNABofficial/streams Budget Nerds Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g   Share your YNAB win with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.com  

There is a reason you know what to do with money and still struggle to do it. In this episode, I sit down with Rahkim Sabree, financial therapist, accredited financial counselor, and author of Overcoming Financial Trauma, to talk about what is really driving our money behaviors and why the answer goes much deeper than budgets and spreadsheets. After more than a decade in the banking industry, Rahkim walked away from it all to build something on his own terms. That leap eventually led him to the financial therapy space, where he now helps people understand that our relationship with money is shaped by six distinct sources of trauma, from generational and observational influences to workplace, systemic, and societal pressures. He also shares what happened when a house fire destroyed his home just weeks before his book launched, and how he used his own frameworks to navigate the loss. His core message is that most financial education skips the emotional and physiological roots of why we behave the way we do. Once you understand where your money behaviors come from, real change becomes possible. In this episode, Rahkim shares: The six sources of financial trauma and how they show up differently for each person Why our nervous system responds to money as a threat, and what that looks like in everyday behavior The difference between a scarcity mindset and a scarcity reality, and why that distinction matters How he navigated his own financial trauma after a house fire destroyed his home just weeks before his book launch What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Overcoming Financial Trauma by Rahkim Sabree: Available wherever books are sold Rahkim's Forbes Column Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Rahkim: Website: RahkimSabree.com Instagram: @RahkimSabree Facebook: @RahkimSabreeOfficial Twitter: @RahkimSabree Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Ben and Ernie are going live again on YouTube today, May 13th, 2026 at 3:30pm Eastern time. They'll be going through their own transactions, categorizing, moving money to handle overspending, and more, so you'll get to YNAB with them in real time!   Set your alarm clocks and follow the livestream at the link below.   Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube Budget Nerds Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@YNABofficial/streams Budget Nerds Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g   Share your YNAB win with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.com  

Reality can be a scary thing. When we're bad with money (and most of us start that way), money feels, well... we'd rather just not look. Maybe if we don't look, that thing we're worrying about -- not having enough for looming bills, going into debt -- well maybe it will just go away. But we don't have to live in fear. Getting good with money means that you can face reality, and not only face it but embrace it. Make decisions with clear vision, and understand exactly what you're money is doing for you, where you want to go, and most importantly, how you're going to get there.   How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse     Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

Most people spend their entire careers waiting for the day they can finally stop working. In this episode, I sit down with Brian Herriot, author, speaker, financial advisor, and entrepreneurship coach, to dig into the concept of time freedom and what it really means to build a life on your own terms. Brian spent 14 years in corporate consulting, chased the early retirement dream, and hit the $1 million savings mark right before COVID wiped out 35% of it. In that pivotal moment, his wife asked him a simple but life-changing question: "What would you do all day?" That question launched him on a completely different path, one not about accumulating enough money to stop working, but about designing flexible, intentional work that funds a life you love right now. Rather than sacrificing your best years to reach some far-off finish line, Brian makes the case that you can build toward a "free date" rather than a retirement date, a model that works for employees, entrepreneurs, and minimalists alike. In this episode, Brian shares: How the Time Freedom Formula works, balancing lifestyle expenses, investment income, and flexible work to fund your ideal year The three money personalities (money manager, money maker, money minimizer) and which one drives your path to freedom The "Look Back, Look Ahead" lifestyle design exercise that helps you build a vision for your next 10 years Why contrast,  not constant leisure,  is what makes time off feel truly meaningful What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Brian's book, Time Freedom (pre-order + get a free audiobook with code JAMILA), here. Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Brian: Website: TimeFreedom.life Instagram: @TimeFreedomLife Facebook: @TimeFreedomFirst Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Join Ben and Meagan as we share all about our day trip to Andorra! We booked our tour through Day Trips Barcelona and had an amazing time. Carl and Peter are amazing tour guides and did such a great job catering our tour to what we wanted to see and do. If you're interested in any kind of tour in or around Barcelona, make sure to check out their website and book a tour!  ********************* Use our Get Away Today affiliate link when you're planning your next Disney vacation to get the best deals! Use our code YellowVan for extra savings on your vacatino package. Use our YNAB link for an extra month free! Check out our Etsy shop Shop through our Amazon affiliate link Email us at yellowvantravels@gmail.com Find us on social media: Youtube Links in show notes contain affiliate links*

Grab our High-Converting Proposal Template and learn what to include (and what to leave out) to turn more of your proposals into higher-paying clients. https://webdesigneracademy.com/template March 2026 Income Report: What a $22K Month Really Looked Like Shannon Mattern and Client Success Coordinator Erica Nash break down the March 2026 numbers honestly: $22,617.87 total inflow, a break-even month, and the real mindset work underneath it all. Revenue came from the Simply Profitable Designer Summit ticket sales ($9,371), Next Level Mastermind renewals, private coaching, and Web Designer Academy payment plans. Total outflow was approximately $21,583. The bigger story? March was also the month of the 10th annual Simply Profitable Designer Summit (20 speakers, conversion design theme), a new lead magnet launch, a new TikTok account, and the launch of the Pricing Mindset Makeover podcast. Shannon unpacks the pattern she falls into every summit season: expecting immediate Web Designer Academy enrollments from an event that's designed to plant seeds for months to come. She and Erica talk through getting neutral about your numbers, the difference between persistence and powering through, and why you cannot navigate business wobbles alone. Full episode: https://webdesigneracademy.com/192 | Proposal Template: https://webdesigneracademy.com/template In This Episode: March 2026 income breakdown: $22,617.87 total inflow across summit tickets, mastermind renewals, coaching, and WDA payment plans The QuickBooks vs. YNAB discrepancy and what it teaches about tracking multiple revenue streams 10th annual Simply Profitable Designer Summit recap: conversion design, 20 speakers, the real cost of summit season Summits plant seeds: why Shannon keeps expecting instant results from an event designed for long-term growth Persistence vs. powering through, and how to tell the difference when you're in the middle of it Getting to a "functional level of certainty" during a wobble and the support systems that make it possible What You'll Learn: How to look at monthly revenue data without letting one line item hijack your whole perspective Why Q1 2026 being up 13% over last year tells a different story than a single down month The difference between marketing that plants seeds and marketing that harvests them... and why the timeline matters What it looks like to get neutral about your business numbers and make data-driven decisions instead of fear-driven ones How masterminds, financial strategists, and other support systems give you the perspective your nervous system can't access alone Why "new levels, same devils" is not a sign of failure, and how to build better systems around your patterns Resources Mentioned: Simply Profitable Designer Summit Next Level Mastermind Web Designer Academy Pricing Mindset Makeover Podcast Related Episodes: Episode 187: February 2026 Income Report Episode 187: February 2026 Income Report Episode 182: January 2026 Income Report Episode 179: 2025 Year in Review About Shannon Mattern: Shannon Mattern is a Pricing Strategist and the founder of the Web Designer Academy where she helps experienced women web designers book higher-paying web design projects, charge more with confidence, run projects without overworking and burnout, and break through to their next level of income and freedom. For Web Designers: https://webdesigneracademy.com | For Service Providers, Consultants & Agencies: https://shannonmattern.com | Instagram: @profitablewebdesigner | @shannonlmattern

    Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

What happens when you've achieved the financial success you once dreamed of, but something inside you starts asking for more or different? In this episode, I sit down with Tiffany Aliche, also known as The Budgetnista, for a real and layered conversation about evolution, grief, purpose, and what it looks like to transition into a new season of life. Tiffany shares her journey from being in deep debt and rebuilding her life from scratch to creating a multimillion dollar business and financial legacy. But more importantly, we talk about what comes after success, how grief reshaped her priorities, and why she's being called to explore something entirely new beyond money. In this episode, I discuss: How Tiffany rebuilt her life from six figures of debt into a multimillion dollar business The difference between survival-driven hustle and aligned, intentional work What it looks like to step back from being the face of your brand without letting it go Why following a calling is possible at any stage even without financial stability What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freed A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchas The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Tiffany's paperback version of her book,"Get Good With Money", here. Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Tiffany: Website: thebudgetnista.com Instagram: @TheBudgenista Twitter: @TheBudgetnista Facebook: @TheBudgetnista Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Ben and Ernie round up sixteen of their favorite YNAB features and share them on today's show, including some oft-overlooked tools in the app. Whether you're brand new or a veteran YNAB'er, there's probably at least one feature in this episode you haven't heard about (including some brand new stuff)!   This episode is highly visual, so we recommend you view it on YouTube so you can see how these features work in the app. Follow the links below to the YNAB YouTube channel.   Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube Budget Nerds Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@YNABofficial/streams Budget Nerds Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g   Share your YNAB win with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.com  

Grab our High-Converting Proposal Template and learn what to include (and what to leave out) to turn more of your proposals into higher-paying clients. https://webdesigneracademy.com/template March 2026 Income Report: What a $22K Month Really Looked Like Shannon Mattern and Client Success Coordinator Erica Nash break down the March 2026 numbers honestly: $22,617.87 total inflow, a break-even month, and the real mindset work underneath it all. Revenue came from the Simply Profitable Designer Summit ticket sales ($9,371), Next Level Mastermind renewals, private coaching, and Web Designer Academy payment plans. Total outflow was approximately $21,583. The bigger story? March was also the month of the 10th annual Simply Profitable Designer Summit (20 speakers, conversion design theme), a new lead magnet launch, a new TikTok account, and the launch of the Pricing Mindset Makeover podcast. Shannon unpacks the pattern she falls into every summit season: expecting immediate Web Designer Academy enrollments from an event that's designed to plant seeds for months to come. She and Erica talk through getting neutral about your numbers, the difference between persistence and powering through, and why you cannot navigate business wobbles alone. Full episode: https://webdesigneracademy.com/192 | Proposal Template: https://webdesigneracademy.com/template In This Episode: March 2026 income breakdown: $22,617.87 total inflow across summit tickets, mastermind renewals, coaching, and WDA payment plans The QuickBooks vs. YNAB discrepancy and what it teaches about tracking multiple revenue streams 10th annual Simply Profitable Designer Summit recap: conversion design, 20 speakers, the real cost of summit season Summits plant seeds: why Shannon keeps expecting instant results from an event designed for long-term growth Persistence vs. powering through, and how to tell the difference when you're in the middle of it Getting to a "functional level of certainty" during a wobble and the support systems that make it possible What You'll Learn: How to look at monthly revenue data without letting one line item hijack your whole perspective Why Q1 2026 being up 13% over last year tells a different story than a single down month The difference between marketing that plants seeds and marketing that harvests them... and why the timeline matters What it looks like to get neutral about your business numbers and make data-driven decisions instead of fear-driven ones How masterminds, financial strategists, and other support systems give you the perspective your nervous system can't access alone Why "new levels, same devils" is not a sign of failure, and how to build better systems around your patterns Resources Mentioned: Simply Profitable Designer Summit Next Level Mastermind Web Designer Academy Pricing Mindset Makeover Podcast Related Episodes: Episode 187: February 2026 Income Report Episode 187: February 2026 Income Report Episode 182: January 2026 Income Report Episode 179: 2025 Year in Review About Shannon Mattern: Shannon Mattern is a Pricing Strategist and the founder of the Web Designer Academy where she helps experienced women web designers book higher-paying web design projects, charge more with confidence, run projects without overworking and burnout, and break through to their next level of income and freedom.For Web Designers: https://webdesigneracademy.com | For Service Providers, Consultants & Agencies: https://shannonmattern.com | Instagram: @profitablewebdesigner | @shannonlmattern

Jesse offers a thought experiment (or a real experiment if you choose to actually do it, which you should!): write a letter to your past self -- you get to decide how long ago -- teaching him or her about money. Tell them about the things you've learned, some of the mistakes you've made, and what kinds of things they have to look forward to as they learn to get good with money. Jesse actually did write a letter to his past self, and he shares it on the podcast.   Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

Have you ever felt a pull toward something that didn't quite make sense logically, but you couldn't ignore it? That inner nudge to try something new, take a risk, or step outside the expected path? In this episode, I sit down with Damali Alexander, someone I've known for years and always admired for the way she moves through life with intention, courage, and trust in herself. From starting as a teacher to building multiple businesses, investing in real estate, and even moving to Brazil, Damali shares how following her intuition has shaped her journey. We talk about what it really looks like to pivot, take risks without having everything figured out, and build a life that prioritizes freedom over convention. In this episode, we discuss: How Damali transitioned from teaching to entrepreneurship and investing Why trusting your intuition can open unexpected opportunities The difference between being broke and having a scarcity mindset How to think about risks, mistakes, and "tuition" in your journey Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

#707: Joe and I traveled to the campus of Texas A&M University-Texarkana for a very special live recording. We were joined by Jay Davis, the Executive Director of Financial and Entrepreneurship Engagement, to answer questions from an incredible audience of students. Whether you're just starting your career or looking to "reset" your habits, this episode covers the essential transition from the classroom to the professional world.  Student Questions Hannah (Psychology Major): How do I navigate the trade-offs between passion, a paycheck, and peace of mind in my 20s without having regrets later? Hannah (Second Student): As I move from a student budget to a professional salary, how do I prevent "lifestyle creep" from eating my first big raise? Gabriel: How do I find the middle ground between being responsible for "Future Me" and actually enjoying my life while I'm young? Stephano: When is the right time to start investing, and how do I balance that with paying down student loans? Valarie: How do I build a solid credit score as a student without falling into the trap of high-interest debt? Thomas: What are the most important "marketable skills" I should be developing now to ensure financial security later? Key Takeaways Follow Curiosity Over Passion: Passion is often a side effect of mastery, not the starting point. Follow your curiosity into deep learning; the fulfillment (autonomy, mastery, and purpose) will follow once you become an expert in your craft. Build Your "Bravery Fund": High marketable skills and a solid emergency fund give you the freedom to take risks. If you have a financial cushion and low fixed costs, you have the "bravery" to pivot careers if your first choice isn't the right fit. Automate Your Success: The most effective way to beat lifestyle creep is to "hide" your raise from yourself. Set up automated transfers to retirement accounts or debt repayment for the same day your paycheck hits your account. Beware of High Fixed Costs: Avoid the "new grad" trap of heavy car payments ($700–$1,000/month). These high monthly obligations are the biggest inhibitors to your future housing flexibility and career mobility. The 24-Hour "Fun" Rule: To balance current enjoyment with future savings, create a deliberate "yes" list. If you want to spend on a hobby or experience, wait 24 hours to ensure it's a conscious choice rather than an impulse. Resources mentioned: Don't miss the YFRP Webinar on May 12th! ⁠https://affordanything.com/rental2026 A&M University Website: https://www.tamut.edu Grab a copy of Deep Work by Cal Newport: https://amzn.to/4truxs3 Receive our newsletters https://affordanything.com/newsletter Don't miss the YFRP Webinar on May 12th! https://affordanything.com/rental2026 YNAB for students: https://www.ynab.com/college Chapters Note: Timestamps are approximate and may vary across listening platforms due to dynamically inserted ads.  (00:00) The Abridged Live Performance from Texas A&M Texarkana (01:19) Hannah's Question: Passion vs. Paycheck (06:31) The "Bravery Fund" & Your Freedom to Pivot (13:35) Hannah's Question: Defeating Lifestyle Creep (20:43) Gabriel's Question: Future You vs. Present You (30:57) Stephano's Question: Debt vs. Investing (41:55) Valarie's Question: Building Credit Responsibly (50:15) Thomas's Question: Developing Marketable Skills Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jesse recalls his experience as a young missionary in Germany struggling to learn the language. Every day he would take notes of words or phrases he didn't know, and every evening he would study those words. Then one day, he had a conversation with a man in Stuttgart, and he answered completely in German, without thinking or translating. It just clicked.   Money is a skill, like language, and it can just click too. But often that comes after many days and weeks and months of following the plan, giving every dollar a job, and answering the five questions about what your money needs to do for you. Then one day, before you know it, it will just click, and you'll realize you are good with money.   Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

What does it really look like to build a business from the ground up while balancing family, finances, and faith? In this episode, I sit down with sisters Wendy Jules and Carla Nelson to talk about their journey from nursing careers to founding a thriving med spa in Brooklyn. They share how they started with limited resources, leaned on community support, and turned a single machine in a basement into a profitable, purpose-driven business. We also talk about the financial realities of entrepreneurship, the flexibility and power of nursing as a career, and why relationships are often more valuable than money when building something meaningful. In this episode, Wendy and Carla discuss: How nursing can be a pathway to financial freedom and flexibility What it took to start and fund a med spa with limited capital The role of relationships, community, and trust in building a business Why customer experience and connection are key to long-term success  What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Naseema's episodes on Journey to Launch Paying Off $1 Million Dollars of Debt With "The Debt Slayer" Naseema McElroy How This Nurse Earns $230K Salary While Balancing Motherhood & Entrepreneurship How Single Mom Naseema Went From Broke To Paying Off $300,000 in Debt Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Wendy & Carla: Website: www.fdlbeauty.com Instagram:@fleurdelisbeauty Visit them at 1468 Flatbush Avenue, Brooklyn, New York Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Join Ben and Meagan as we share about our trip to Barcelona, Spain! Use our Get Away Today affiliate link when you're planning your next Disney vacation to get the best deals! Use our code YellowVan for extra savings on your vacatino package. Use our YNAB link for an extra month free! Check out our blog and Etsy shop Shop through our Amazon affiliate link Email us at yellowvantravels@gmail.com Find us on social media: Facebook Youtube Links in show notes contain affiliate links*

At YNAB we often talk about how getting good with money can help you reduce stress, improve your confidence, improve your relationships, and generally bring you a sense of peace and security -- which is true! There are also some hard mathematical advantages to getting good with money. Jesse points out how getting good with money, learning to set money aside for future expenses can net you great deals. In today's age of ubiquitous consumer credit, paying for things upfront becauase you already have the money can save you anywhere from a few percent to a large chunk (Jesse references a medical bill that was nearly 60% cheaper when paying cash upfront).   Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

From homeless to bartending at Coyote Ugly, today's guest has gone through it all when it comes to working the service industry. Barbara Sloan is author of "Tipped: The Life Changing Guide to Financial Freedom For Waitresses, Bartenders, Strippers and All Other Service Industry Professionals," and a personal finance expert.  She's spent two decades working in every imaginable position in the service industry, in addition to owning and running a woman-owned construction company in Manhattan. Now, she helps other service industry professionals map their way to financial independence. We talk about the unique challenges that face over 4 million service industry professionals, how these workers can use the system to their benefit and all of the mistakes Barbara made on her own way to financial literacy. In this episode, we discuss: What a service industry professional is + their unique career and financial opportunities + challenges How to budget with an inconsistent or fluctuating income + how to build in buffers during seasonal work Advice on how service industry professionals can increase their income + begin to invest The transition from being hired at a construction company to owning it + more What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Grab your copy of Tipped by Barbara Sloan Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Barbara: Website Facebook Instagram:@TippedFinance Twitter:@TippedFinance  Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Ben and Ernie are back with another round of YNAB wins, and they keep getting better and better. In today's episode they share 22 money wins from YNAB'ers around the world who found financial peace, gained confidence in their spending, and navigated difficult life challenges with less money stress through their use of YNAB. Ben and Ernie broke the wins into six categories: Feeling more clear-headed Feeling more peaceful Feeling prepared Feeling confident Feeling free Feeling peaceful together   If you are looking for inspiration and encouragement for your own money story, this episode is for you!   Share your YNAB win with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.com   Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube Budget Nerds Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@YNABofficial/streams Budget Nerds Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g

For a lot of people, money carries a lot of negative connotations and emotional baggage. But when you ask kids about money, before they have had a chance to develop negative associations with it, you can hear a different story. Jesse asked his kids what they thought about money and shares some of their answers. He also discusses how the Mecham family has introduced the concept of money to their kids and helped guide them to developing good habits and skills with it.    Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

Have you ever caught yourself choosing work over something that actually matters even after you've done everything "right"? That's exactly what happened to me, and it made me pause in a way I didn't expect. When my podcast guest cancelled, I decided to record a solo episode instead. Shortly after, I received a call from the school nurse that my son wasn't feeling well and needed to be picked up. But instead of immediately going to get him, my first thought was whether I could still get some work done. That moment stopped me. Because I've intentionally built a life with flexibility. I don't have to release an episode every Wednesday. I set my own schedule. I make the rules. And yet, that instinct to prioritize work was still there. In this episode, I open up about something we don't talk about enough in the financial freedom conversation: reaching your goal is one milestone, but trusting it and allowing yourself to fully live within it is something entirely different. The same hustle that helps you build your life can also begin to limit you, and achieving freedom doesn't automatically undo the conditioning that got you there. In this episode, I discuss: Why the habits that helped you reach financial freedom can begin to work against you The difference between knowing you have flexibility and actually feeling it What I'm still learning about modeling both rest and resilience for my kids The deeper, often overlooked work of learning to trust the life you've built + more What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out the FIRE Calc Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

Step 4 of the 10-part military finance essentials series. Spencer and Jamie explain how to create a realistic budget focusing on "the four walls": food, utilities, shelter, and transportation. Learn which budgeting tools work best, why tracking spending matters, and how to avoid the biggest financial trap in the military—buying too much car. Create a Realistic Budget Focus on the Four Walls first: Food Utilities Shelter (rent/housing) Transportation Then track: Other necessary expenses Discretionary spending Where money is actually going Recommended Apps: Monarch Money - $100/year (Spencer's current choice, replaced Mint.com) YNAB (You Need A Budget) - $109/year (Jamie's choice) Google Sheets or Excel - Free (works fine for beginners) Pen and paper - Free (better than nothing) Cash Envelope Method Key Points Military Advantages: Housing usually covered (BAH or base housing) Food access (DFAC for single members) Should be "almost zero situations" where four walls are an issue This frees up money for other goals Biggest Trap: Buying Too Much Car What to Look For The Goal: Align spending with your values—spend on what matters, cut what doesn't Important Reminders Budget = A Plan Not restrictive, just intentional Know what's coming in, what's going out Ensures you're being efficient with money Credit Cards Are NOT the Solution Don't solve overspending with credit cards Credit cards are great tools (right time, right place) Not for covering expenses you can't afford Not for living beyond your means If You're Behind: Focus on four walls FIRST Pay rent, utilities, food, transportation Everything else comes after Create safe, stable environment so you can focus on work/mission Resources Episode 48: Four Ways to Budget a Military Paycheck (deep dive) Monarch Money: monarchmoney.com YNAB: youneedabudget.com Military Money Manual Book: Full budgeting strategies   Spencer and Jamie offer one-on-one Military Money Mentor sessions. Get your personal military money and personal finance questions answered in a confidential coaching call. militarymoneymanual.com/mentor Over 22,000 military servicemembers and military spouses have graduated from the 100% free, Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course available at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 In the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course, you can learn how to apply for the most premium credit cards and get special military protections, such as waived annual fees, on elite cards like The Platinum Card® from American Express and the Chase Sapphire Reserve® Card. https://militarymoneymanual.com/amex-platinum-military/ https://militarymoneymanual.com/chase-sapphire-reserve-military/ Military Money Manual may receive compensation from JPMC. Opinions expressed here are author's alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain. Learn how active duty military, military spouses, and Guard and Reserves on 30+ day active orders can get your annual fees waived on premium credit cards in the Ultimate Military Credit Cards Course at militarymoneymanual.com/umc3 If you want to maximize your military paycheck, check out Spencer's 5 star rated book The Military Money Manual: A Practical Guide to Financial Freedom on Amazon or at shop.militarymoneymanual.com. If you have a question you would like us to answer on the podcast, please reach out on instagram.com/militarymoneymanual.

In this episode, I sit down with Drew Lee, a former engineer turned personal finance content creator, who made a bold decision to walk away from a six figure career more than once to pursue a life of flexibility and purpose.  Drew reached Coast FI, where your investments grow on their own to fund retirement, in his late 20s, and shares how that freedom changed the way he thinks about work. We talk about the realities behind quitting a stable job, navigating uncertainty, and what it really takes to pursue your passions, especially when you have a family. Drew also opens up about working hourly jobs by choice, building a content brand from scratch, and the mindset shifts that helped him stay committed even when things were not working. In This Episode Drew shares: How he reached Coast FI with a $300K net worth by age 29 Why quitting a six figure job was not a one time decision How low expenses gave him the flexibility to take risks The moment his content finally took off and became profitable + more What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Drew: Instagram: @dollarswithdrew Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Ernie floated a sports reference to Ben in a recent discussion, the concept of an NFL team patching together the holes in their lineup with trades and free agents versus completely rebuilding it from the ground up. Patching of course is the quick fix -- it gets you results now, so you can field a team and compete this season. The results, however, may not be what you want, and often the patched-together team doesn't hold up over a long season. Rebuilding is the long road. It usually means suffering now so that you can have a strong, cohesive unit to play with next season (or sometimes several seasons in the future). A team built from the ground up also has depth. When things go wrong, and injuries happen, that team has seasoned players who can fill the gaps and still act as a cohesive unit.   Well, it turns out the same is true for our money habits. Ben and Ernie run through a list of common habits that are trying to patch the holes in your spending plan, and compare them to sustainable building habits, which lead to a strong, flexible plan that aligns with your life.     Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube Budget Nerds Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@YNABofficial/streams Budget Nerds Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g   Share your YNAB win with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.com

It's an interesting question, isn't it? Imagine for a second... your credit cards are paid off, you have cash in the bank, your bills are on autopay and you don't even know when they will hit because you already have the money in your account. In fact, you get to the first day of the month and all your bills for that month are already paid for. What would this do to your stress? Your relationships with your friends and family? How would it affect the way you look at your life, your goals and desires?   This could be you... and you could become something more when you learn to get good with money.     Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

In this episode, I'm joined by Amanda Holden, who has built a powerful platform making investing feel truly accessible. She's now bringing that same approach to her new book, How to Be a Rich Old Lady. We dive into what it really takes to build wealth, why so many people get stuck before they even get started, and how investing isn't about being perfect, it's about taking action. Here's what we discuss: What financial independence really looks like beyond a number and how it gives you the freedom to choose how you live and work + more Why choosing between a 401(k) and a Roth IRA matters less than actually getting started and investing consistently How to think about investing while in debt and when to prioritize paying it off vs. building wealth The mindset shift needed to start investing even if you feel late or unsure, and why doing nothing guarantees staying stuck What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Amanda's book, How to be a Rich Old Lady Listen to Episode 280: Saving $30k To Quit Corporate America & Pivot To Teaching Women How To Invest With Amanda Holden Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Amanda: Website: amanda-holden.com Instagram: @dumpster.doggy Twitter: @dumpster.doggy Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Remember those Snickers commercials about people acting out because they were "hangry?" We could say the same thing happens to people who are stressed about money. Maybe you're shorter with your kids, maybe you feel pressure to work more hours, to move faster, maybe you argue with your spouse more -- however your money stress manifests, it still... manifests.   There's another way. You can learn to become good with money, to gain control over it rather than feeling like it controls you, and to get rid of your money stress forever. It's called YNAB. You can check it out and try it free for 34 days here: www.youneedabudget.com   Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

In this episode, I'm excited to welcome back Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung from the Millennial Revolution. Since the last time they were on the show, they've become parents and recently released a new book called Parent Like a Millionaire (Without Being One). In this conversation, we talk about how their perspective on money and financial independence evolved after having a child and how parents can raise financially resilient kids without feeling pressure to overspend. Kristy and Bryce share how avoiding lifestyle creep helped them accelerate their path to financial independence, why financial stability can make parenting less stressful, and how families can focus on their values instead of societal expectations when it comes to spending on their kids. They also break down practical ways parents can teach children about money, responsibility, and resilience from an early age. In This Episode You'll Learn • How Kristy and Bryce were able to reach financial independence in their 30s and why avoiding lifestyle creep played a major role • How becoming parents shifted their perspective on money, time, and what financial freedom really means • Practical ways parents can reduce the cost of raising kids while still focusing on what matters most • How to help kids develop resilience, responsibility, and a healthy relationship with money What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Kristy and Bryce's book, Parent Like a Millionaire (Without Being One) Listen to Episode 105: How To Quit Like a Millionaire So You Can Stop Working & Start Living With Kristy & Bryce Listen to Episode 11: Rejecting Homeownership, Traveling the World & Retiring by 31 Years Old Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Kristy and Bryce: Website: Millennial-Revolution.com Twitter: @FIRECracker_Rev Facebook: @MillennialRevolutionBlog   Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Nearly five years ago, in a very early episode of Budget Nerds (before the podcast feed!), Ben and Ernie discussed their top three favorite things to do in YNAB. Today they are revisiting that concept to share what still lights them up about using YNAB. Some things include slick new YNAB features such as focused views, others hearken back to the simple beauty of giving every dollar a job and reconciling accounts.   Ben's current top 3: Reconciling accounts -- in typical nerdy fashion, Ben reconciles manually before his pending transactions clear with the bank, then compares the balances afterward to ensure they match. It's the harder, but (for him) more satisfying way. Moving money out of overfunded accounts with "fill up to" targets. Ben uses a lot of targets that require him to fill up to a target amount in the category, but not all of those dollars are used every month. By using the overfunded focused view, he can pull those unneeded dollars out of the overfunded categories and voila! It's like finding $20 in the pocket of your jeans. YNAB as a system of record. Ben's librarian comes through here. YNAB isn't just a tool for managing your money, it's also a useful database of your financial data. You can easily query it to find transactions for years past based on the payee or even notes you left in the memo field. This comes in handy when doing taxes, meeting with your accountant, or trying to figure out what restaurant you ate at and loved on vacation four years ago.   Ernie's top 3: Cost to be me -- this is a newer feature that adds up your targets and shows you what it takes to fund your current lifestyle. You can compare this against your expected income and see how much margin you will have any given month. Assinging into future months using the auto-assign feature. Ernie's addicted to seeing those pie charts for future months fill up! Available amounts. This has been a feature of YNAB forever, but it still brings Ernie joy. Scrolling through his categories and seeing the available amounts brought Ernie a sense of peace and comfort when he first started using YNAB, and it still does today. These are real dollars, not hypothetical future dollars, and they are there to work for you.   Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube Budget Nerds Livestreams: https://www.youtube.com/@YNABofficial/streams Budget Nerds Episodes: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g   Share your YNAB win with Ben and Ernie! budgetnerds@ynab.com

Money is the source of many relationship conflicts. It's the number one reason cited for divorce, for one. Money can, frankly, destroy relationships, but it doesn't have to. You can claim ownership of your money, and rid yourself of money stress -- and by extension, reduce your relationships stress to.       Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

Find out what Paramount's bid for Warner Bros. Discovery could mean for streaming, then learn how to pick a budgeting app you'll actually use. How do you pick a budgeting app that helps you see where your money goes? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola discuss budgeting apps to help you understand how to track spending without making budgeting your second job. But first, news writer Rick VanderKnyff joins the show to discuss Paramount's bid to buy Warner Bros. Discovery with Anthony Palomba, a media scholar and assistant professor at the University of Virginia Darden School of Business. They discuss what major brands and streaming platforms are on the line, how the bidding played out after Netflix walked away, and what the deal could mean for consumers. Then Sean and Elizabeth do a “Budget Rehab” with listener Rashondra, covering budgeting styles and the 50/30/20 framework, how big line items like a car lease and groceries can shift your “needs” category, and what to look for when comparing tools like Empower, YNAB, EveryDollar, Monarch, and NerdWallet's budgeting app. Subscribe to MoneyNerd, our weekly email newsletter, at https://moneynerd-nerdwallet.beehiiv.com/  Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sahirenys Pierce joins the Journey to Launch Podcast to break down the money system that completely transformed her financial life: the High Five Banking Method. In this powerful conversation, Sahirenys opens up about how navigating the 2008 recession, walking away from corporate finance, becoming a mom, and preparing for her son's open-heart surgery forced her to rethink everything she thought she knew about money. What emerged wasn't just a budgeting tweak, it was a structured banking system built to create clarity, stability, and peace of mind during life's most overwhelming seasons. In this episode, we explore: Why traditional budgeting often falls apart when life gets hard How to build a simple but strategic banking structure The role emotional security plays in financial decision-making How to design a system that supports you in both calm and crisis + more. This conversation is about more than managing money, it's about creating structure with purpose, reducing financial stress, and building systems that truly hold up under pressure. Sahirenys now shares this framework more broadly in her book, The High Five Banking Method: A Money System You Can Count On. What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Check out Sahirenys book: The High Five Banking Method: A Money System You Can Count On Listen to Episode 157- Organize & Simplify Your Money Using This Simple Method w/ Sahirenys Pierce Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Sahirenys: Website: ThePoisedLifestyle.com Instagram: @PoisedFinanceLifestyle Twitter: @Sahirenys Facebook: @PoisedFinanceLifestyle YouTube Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Discover simple rules that can cut budget tracking fatigue and still show you where your money goes. How can you make a budgeting app reflect what you actually bought when one Costco or Target run covers five or 10 different categories? And how can you track those “commingled” purchases without spending your life itemizing receipts? Hosts Sean Pyles and Elizabeth Ayoola talk with personal finance Nerd Amanda Barroso about how to handle mixed transactions so your budget feels usable instead of exhausting. They begin with a discussion of why this problem is so common, features in budgeting apps like Monarch, YNAB, and EveryDollar that make categorizing easier, and how to decide when perfect tracking is the enemy of “good enough.” Then, they discuss practical ways to reduce budgeting fatigue while still learning where your money goes. They discuss how different apps approach splitting transactions, how to think about tradeoffs between accuracy and effort, and how to set simple personal rules that keep you consistent even when shopping gets messy. The Best Budget Apps for 2026: https://www.nerdwallet.com/finance/learn/best-budget-apps  Want us to review your budget? Fill out this form — completely anonymously if you want — and we might feature your budget in a future segment! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScK53yAufsc4v5UpghhVfxtk2MoyooHzlSIRBnRxUPl3hKBig/viewform?usp=header To send the Nerds your money questions, call or text the Nerd hotline at 901-730-6373 or email podcast@nerdwallet.com. Like what you hear? Please leave us a review and tell a friend. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

    Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

This week on the Journey to Launch Podcast, I'm joined by healthcare compliance expert and entrepreneur Keisha Wilson for a powerful conversation about career pivots, betting on yourself, caregiving, and building financial flexibility before you realize you'll need it. Keisha shares how she transitioned from corporate leadership into entrepreneurship, how that decision gave her the flexibility to care for her mother through stage four cancer and a devastating home explosion, and why preparation, advocacy, and hard financial conversations matter more than we think. This episode is about resilience, faith, and creating options that protect your peace and your family. In This Episode, Keisha Shares: How medical coding became a high-demand, lucrative career path and why skill-building creates long-term flexibility  What it really takes to leave a steady paycheck and build a consulting business from scratch  The emotional and financial realities of caregiving and why advocacy and second medical opinions matter  The importance of wills, healthcare proxies, power of attorney, and financial transparency before crisis hits  Why building freedom and flexibility now can prepare you for life's unexpected turns What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Keisha: Website: byhersidefaithfulcaregiver.com Instagram: @_FaithfulCaregiver Twitter: x.com/_faithfulcareg Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide

One of the interesting effects of using YNAB is how it shapes your vision of money through multiple viewpoints. There's the spending you are doing now, when you make a transaction, then there's the tradeoff that spending causes in the future, becuase the spending you do now impacts the spening you will do in the future.   Jesse gives the example of a man going out for sushi. The $30 he spends now on the sushi is $30 that he isn't spending on Christmas presents several months from now. The juxtaposition is a bit extreme, but the point is that unplanned spending does have an impact on your planned spending, and when you start planning how to spend your money with YNAB, then you see how your decisions now are affecting your decisions later. In a word, it's clarity.   And, importantly, when you have this clarity with your money and you clearly see the tradeoffs you are making by spending on a thing or an experience now, you can now spend without guilt or fear or anxiety, because you are owning the choice and you are happy with it.   Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow   Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com   Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial  

In this episode, I chat with Lee-Ann Pinkard, who was born and raised in Kingston, Jamaica, and later moved to the U.S. for college at Howard University. She built a career in construction project management and, years later, purchased a beachside property in Jamaica that she now runs as a short-term rental, a property I personally had the pleasure of staying in. We explore what it really takes to buy property in Jamaica, the realities of managing an Airbnb from abroad, how she balances corporate life, motherhood and her long-term plan to retire back home. In this episode, we discuss: Lee-Ann's journey and career path – Growing up in Kingston, studying engineering at Howard University, and building a career in construction management in the U.S. Buying and financing property in Jamaica – What it really takes to purchase abroad, how mortgages and banking differ from the U.S., and the importance of local connections The real costs and challenges of owning an overseas Airbnb – Unexpected expenses, hurricane impacts, solar panel investments, and managing a short-term rental remotely Investing with purpose and planning for retirement – The emotional connection to returning home, building long-term wealth, and redefining retirement beyond simply not working What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Listen to my episode "What My Recent Trip to Jamaica Reminded Me About Wealth, Gratitude, and Resilience" Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Lee-Ann & Learn More About Sea Miracle Jamaica: Website: SeaMiracleJamaica.com Instagram: @SeaMiracleJamaica Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

Burnout is often treated like a personal failure but what if it's actually a signal that something deeper is out of alignment? In this episode of the Journey to Launch Podcast, I'm joined by executive coach and organizational change strategist Dr. Kerri Ann Peart for a powerful conversation about burnout, boundaries, identity, and what it really takes to grow into higher levels of financial success without sacrificing your well-being. We talk about how burnout actually shows up in high-achieving women, how perimenopause and work stress can overlap, and why earning more money isn't just about doing more, it's about becoming the person who can sustainably hold more. In This Episode, Kerriann Shares:  Burnout isn't a personal failure it's often a sign that your work, identity, or values are out of alignment You can't out-earn burnout; if you don't do the inner work, it follows you from job to job and even into entrepreneurship Financial growth requires expanding your capacity and competency, not just working harder or longer Boundaries, self-respect, and who you're being day-to-day determine how much money and responsibility you can sustainably hold   What's New in the Paperback Edition of Your Journey to Financial Freedom: A bonus chapter: When Life Happens: Staying on the Path to Financial Freedom Through Setbacks, Shifts, and Uncertainty A book club and discussion guide with prompts, exercises, and action steps Updated corrections from the original hardcover Exclusive bonuses when you purchase the paperback, including: The Fire Starter Course The Find Your FIRE Number Worksheet Other related blog posts/links mentioned in this episode: Get your paperback edition of Your Journey To Financial Freedom if you haven't already. Apply to Share Your Journeyer Story, here. Join the Journey to Launch Book Club to dive deeper into financial freedom with guided discussions and resources here! Join The Weekly Newsletter List to get updates, deals & more! Leave Your Journey To Financial Freedom a review! Get The Budget Bootcamp Check out my personal website here. Leave me a voicemail– Leave me a question on the Journey To Launch voicemail and have it answered on the podcast! YNAB –  Start managing your money and budgeting so that you can reach your financial dreams. Sign up for a free 34 days trial of YNAB, my go-to budgeting app by using my referral link. What stage of the financial journey are you on? Are you working on financial stability or work flexibility? Find out with this free assessment and get a curated list of the 10 next best episodes for you to listen to depending on your stage. Check it out here! Connect with Dr. Kerriann: Website: PeartConsulting.org Instagram: @Dr.Kerri_P Connect with me: Instagram: @Journeytolaunch Twitter: @JourneyToLaunch Facebook: @Journey To Launch Join the Private Facebook Group Join the Waitlist for My FI Course Get The Free Jumpstart Guide  

In this special birthday reflection episode, I'm slowing things down and turning inward.  I'm sharing where I am in this season of life, what feels solid, what feels unclear, and what I'm intentionally leaving open. Birthdays always make me pause. They give me space to reflect, to check in with myself, and to notice how much has changed internally and externally. In this episode, I'm asking myself honest questions and inviting you to sit with them too. This journey is about so much more than money. It's about who we're becoming along the way.