Curious? Watch Our How To Budget Workshop!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

What happens when you are good with money on paper, but real life gets more expensive, more complicated, and way harder to manage once kids enter the picture?

In this episode, we sit down with Brittany, who shares how she went from feeling like she was constantly paying for last month to finally getting ahead with a budgeting system that actually worked for her real life. After trying budgeting apps that felt overwhelming, restrictive, and way too focused on tracking the past, Brittany realized she needed something different — something that helped her plan forward instead of just reacting.

She opens up about the stress of carrying balances, feeling like maybe she was the problem, and how switching to a simple, proactive system helped her pay off nearly $20,000 in debt in about five months while still taking family vacations, planning ahead, and living life.

We also talk about automations, savings buckets, budgeting with fluctuating income, and what it looks like to trust yourself with your numbers instead of living in constant money stress.

This conversation is such a good reminder that financial clarity is not about perfection. It is about creating a plan that supports your life, gives you options, and helps you feel calm, confident, and in control.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our How To Budget Workshop!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Michelle is back from office hours, and this episode is full of the kind of wins that remind us why budgeting matters. We are talking real-life progress, not perfection. From staying on budget for a kid’s birthday to paying for Disney in cash, these budget besties are proving that clarity and intentionality can change everything.

This conversation is part strategy, part therapy, and honestly, that is what so many of us need. Sometimes we need a plan. Sometimes we need permission. And sometimes we just need someone to say, “Yes, you can do this.”

In this episode, we talk about:

• Hitting a birthday budget almost exactly and resisting the urge to overspend
• Funding a Disney trip with cash and coming home without credit card regret
• Setting realistic grocery and spending numbers so we stop setting ourselves up to fail
• Finding a surprise monthly surplus simply by organizing accounts and automating money
• Negotiating debt payments down in a major way by making a few strategic phone calls
• Starting sinking funds like “Santa’s Sack” early so the holidays feel joyful, not stressful
• Paying off a house and seeing how much faster progress happens with a clear plan

The biggest takeaway? A lot of us do not have a money failure problem. We have a clarity problem. When our money is scattered, unplanned, and hard to see, it is almost impossible to feel confident. But once it is all laid out simply, we can finally make empowered decisions.

This episode is a reminder that budgeting is not about restriction. It is about giving ourselves breathing room, celebrating wins, and building a system that supports real life.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our How To Budget Workshop!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Did you know 55% of Americans say money is the biggest source of stress in their lives? Budget besties, we are not surprised.

In this episode, we’re talking about why money feels so heavy, why it keeps us up at night, and why it causes so much tension in our homes and relationships. The truth is, for most of us, it’s not just about how much money we make. It’s about disorganization, not knowing our numbers, and trying to live life with our head in the sand.

We’re breaking down why avoiding your finances actually makes the stress worse, and how getting your money on paper can instantly bring clarity. Because once you can see your numbers, you can start making decisions on purpose instead of living in constant background panic.

We also talk about how separating your money into simple categories and accounts can reduce chaos, help you stop relying on credit cards, and make money conversations with your spouse feel way less explosive.

This episode is your reminder that money does not have to control your peace. You can simplify it, organize it, and start feeling more in control.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our How To Budget Workshop!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

In this heartfelt episode, we talk with Alana, a wife and mom of three who is navigating recovery after two heart attacks at just 36 years old. In the middle of a serious health crisis, she shares how getting her budget organized has brought her a real sense of peace.

Alana opens up about medical leave, disability income, surprise bills, and the mental load of managing money for a family with multiple dietary restrictions. Together, we talk through what is already working in her budget, where grocery spending feels tricky, and how creating separate accounts for bills and spending can reduce stress in a huge way.

This conversation is such a good reminder that budgeting is not about perfection. It is about creating clarity, building systems that support your real life, and giving yourself grace when life gets hard.

What We Talk About:

• Recovering from a major health event while managing household finances
• Using separate accounts to prepare for non-monthly bills
• Why sinking funds can bring instant relief
• How disability income can create breathing room in the budget
• Grocery budgeting for families with dietary restrictions
• Why using real spending numbers matters more than guessing
• How a dedicated grocery account can simplify food spending
• Giving yourself grace when prices rise and life changes fast

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our How To Budget Workshop!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Do you make good money but still feel like you have nothing to show for it? Budget besties, this episode is full of real-life coaching lessons that prove small money moves can make a huge difference.

We’re sharing client stories and honest budget breakthroughs, from lowering debt payments by more than $400 a month, to fixing sneaky budget issues like “every 4 weeks” expenses, to knowing when to pause savings buckets so you can knock out debt faster.

We’re also talking about something that can feel super uncomfortable but matters so much: teaching our kids financial responsibility. Whether your adult child still lives at home or you’re just trying to raise money-smart kids, this conversation will help you think about how to build confidence, responsibility, and real-life financial skills.

This episode is your reminder that you do not have to figure it all out alone. Sometimes all it takes is a fresh set of eyes, a little tough love, and a simple plan that actually works.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our How To Budget Workshop!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Budget besties, April is basically here, and that means it’s time to make a fresh budget before the month starts.

In this episode, we walk through exactly how to build your April budget step by step in a way that feels simple, realistic, and doable. We’re talking about how to list your income, include your minimum debt payments, organize your bills, set spending categories that actually fit your real life, and plan ahead for the month-specific expenses that always seem to sneak up on us.

We also talk about why making your budget before April starts matters so much, especially if you’re already using an end-of-March paycheck for next month’s expenses. And we show how budgeting does not have to mean tracking every little transaction. It can be clear, quick, and way less stressful than you think.

This episode is your reminder that your budget should work for your life, not the other way around.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Shelby came in with a question a lot of us can relate to: when we’re laser-focused on paying off debt, how do we know we’re not pushing too hard and setting ourselves up to fall right back into it?

After navigating grad school, living on credit cards for a season, and making some big money changes, Shelby and her husband are now throwing nearly $6,000 a month at debt. They’ve built a plan that gives them structure, breathing room, and a real end date. Their goal? To be debt free except for one main car by November 2026.

In this episode, we talk through how to balance aggressive debt payoff with realistic savings, how to plan for real life without calling it a “setback,” and why your budget has to support the life you’re living right now, not just the finish line you’re chasing.

We also get into the difference between avalanche and snowball debt strategies, why automation is such a game changer, and how Shelby and her husband are staying motivated with Post-it notes all over the house to remind themselves what they’re working toward.

This conversation is such a good reminder that paying off debt does not have to mean white-knuckling your way through life. You can make progress, enjoy your life, and build habits that actually last.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Check out Ella's Podcast!

Budget besties, we’re bringing back a conversation we had with our friend Ella Catherine from the Lifelong Learners Collective podcast, and it is just as good the second time around.

In this episode, we’re talking about the “B word” and why budgeting does not have to mean boring, restrictive, or giving up everything you love. We share how we help people build a budget that actually matches real life, supports their goals, and gives them room for the things that matter most.

We get into why so many people feel behind with money, how to prepare for those “unexpected” expenses that are actually very expected, why separate accounts can make budgeting feel so much easier, and how to stop relying on credit cards to fill the gaps.

This conversation is such a good reminder that budgeting is not about punishment. It is about clarity, confidence, and building a life you actually want.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

In this Q&A episode, we’re answering real questions from our budget besties straight from our Facebook group and email. We’re talking about the biggest money mistake we’re seeing right now, why so many of us end up using credit cards for groceries and gas, why using your emergency fund can feel weirdly guilt-inducing, and what to do when life feels too nonstop to stick to a budget.

This episode is your reminder that money management does not have to feel complicated, scary, or overwhelming. When we know our numbers, automate what we can, and create simple systems that work in real life, everything starts to feel lighter.

In This Episode, We Talk About:

1. The biggest money mistake we’re seeing right now: avoiding your numbers
2. Why looking at your budget is usually not as scary as you think
3. How clarity creates instant solutions and less stress
4. Why people keep putting groceries and gas on credit cards
5. The problem with having one “black hole” checking account
6. How separate spending accounts can help you stop overspending
7. Why grocery spending can be more predictable than you think
8. How setting weekly or biweekly limits creates built-in accountability
9. Why using your emergency fund for an actual emergency feels so hard
10. The difference between true emergencies and expected irregular expenses
11. Why savings buckets can reduce guilt and give you more peace of mind
12. Why it’s so hard to stick to a plan when life is nonstop
13. How automation helps you stay consistent without constant effort
14. Why setting guardrails is a form of being kind to your future self

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Check Out Emily's Podcast!

Budget besties, this one is for all of us who have ever walked into Target for one thing and somehow left with a cart full of “why did I buy this?” items.

In this episode, we’re joined by Emily McDermott, host of Moms Overcoming Overwhelm, to talk about what clutter really means and why it is about so much more than stuff. We dig into the connection between overspending, emotional clutter, identity shifts, and the overwhelm so many women feel in this season of life.

Emily shares practical ways to declutter your home, your mind, and even your habits around shopping. We also talk about how creating simple boundaries around your money and your stuff can lead to more peace, more clarity, and way less stress.

If you’ve been feeling buried by clutter, tempted by impulse buys, or just craving a fresh reset, this conversation will leave you encouraged and empowered.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. Why Target feels so hard to resist for so many women
2. The connection between clutter, emotional overwhelm, and identity shifts
3. How the “experience” of shopping can lead to overspending
4. Why the pause gives you power before making a purchase
5. What to do instead of buying bins and baskets first
6. The real reason most people feel disorganized
7. Emily’s quick decluttering reset: Trash, Relocate, and Anything to get rid of
8. How “container limits” can help you manage your home and your spending
9. Why freedom works best inside clear boundaries
10. How simplifying your home can support the life you’re living right now

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Hey budget besties, this episode is all about one very grown-up truth: the financial stuff that sneaks up on us usually is not actually a surprise. It just feels that way when we are not planning ahead.

We are talking about why property taxes should not be a yearly jump scare, how relying on a financial “Plan B” can keep you stuck, and why teaching kids to manage their own money matters so much. We also dig into Amazon spending guilt and why tracking after the fact is not nearly as helpful as budgeting on purpose from the start.

This episode is packed with real client stories, practical budget shifts, and the reminder that financial peace comes from planning ahead, not scrambling after the fact.

In this episode, we talk about:

1. Why saving monthly for property taxes can change everything
2. How escrow keeps your money out of sight and earning for the bank instead of for you
3. Why relying on mom, credit cards, HELOCs, or your emergency fund can make it harder to stick to your budget
4. The power of committing to Plan A and removing easy financial fallbacks
5. How to teach kids real money lessons by letting them spend their own money
6. Why boundaries around money help both adults and kids build confidence
7. How to stop shaming yourself over Amazon spending
8. Why separating spending into clear budget categories makes money easier to manage
9. How intentional budgeting creates freedom without guilt

Key reminder from this episode

We want you to be your own bank.

That means planning ahead, saving for the things you know are coming, using your budget on purpose, and building a system that helps you rely on yourself instead of defaulting to outside help or last-minute fixes.

What we want budget besties to remember

You do not need to feel ashamed about spending money when it is already part of the plan. The goal is not perfection. The goal is clarity. When your money has a job, you can spend, save, and prepare with a whole lot more confidence.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.