Inspired Budget

This week on the Inspired Budget Podcast, Justine Nelson from Debt Free Millennials joins me to talk about the emotional side of money. 

We get into mom guilt, comparison, spending to relieve stress, and why so many women feel like they should be further along financially.

Justine also walks me through a simple game from her coaching program called “I’m the Protagonist,” where you can play along and see where you feel confident with ...

If you’re paying on your debt every month but still not seeing progress, this episode breaks down why. I explain exactly how debt consolidation works, the two most common ways people do it, and what to watch out for before deciding if it’s right for you.

We talk through debt consolidation loans and balance transfer credit cards, including the benefits, risks, and common mistakes that can leave people worse off. Debt consolidation is...

What does it feel like to be the first in your family to graduate, earn a salary, and suddenly make more money than the people who raised you? In this episode, I’m talking with Maria Melchor, creator of FirstGenLiving, about the emotional and financial weight of being first-gen.

Maria shares how she navigated guilt, money confusion, and cultural expectations while trying to build a secure financial life for herself. She talks about ...

Impulse spending doesn’t mean you’re bad with money. It usually means something deeper is going on. In this episode, I share personal stories and practical strategies to help you understand why impulse spending happens and how to respond to it without shame or extreme restriction.

We talk about how emotions like stress, boredom, comparison, and even celebration can drive unplanned spending, and why willpower alone rarely works. I wa...

What if you could slow down on retirement savings and still be on track for the future?

In this episode, I’m talking with my friend Andy Hill from Marriage Kids and Money. Andy and his wife reached Coast FIRE in their early 40s, which lets them work part time while their retirement accounts grow in the background.

He explains Coast FIRE in simple terms and then walks me through my own numbers live. We dig into my husband’s teacher pe...

Saving $10,000 can feel like something only other people can pull off. But in this episode, I break it down into simple math and a clear plan that works in real life, even if money feels tight right now.

I walk you through a step-by-step approach to choosing a pace you can stick with, automating your savings so willpower isn’t required, and finding extra money each month without feeling deprived. 

We also talk about boost months, com...

What does it take to actually stick with your money goals past mid-January? This week I’m teaming up with money coach Germaine Foley for a candid, practical conversation about starting the year strong without going to extremes.

We’re sharing simple, doable ways to save money, stay consistent, and give yourself grace along the way. From an easy insurance audit that can save hundreds to the B minus mindset that keeps you from quitting...

What if six months was all it took to feel completely different about your money? In this episode, I’m walking you through the exact step-by-step plan I’d follow if I had to reset my finances from scratch. 

No extremes. No shame. No “rice and beans forever.” 

Just simple habits that actually work in real life.

We walk through each month of the plan, from getting honest about where you are, to building a realistic budget, to creating a...

For years I believed budgeting was enough to make me feel in control, but I still felt stressed and a few steps behind. In this episode, I’m sharing the three habits that finally changed things for me. 

These habits helped me stop avoiding my numbers, understand the spending patterns that kept holding me back, and set up systems that made saving and planning feel natural instead of overwhelming.

I’ll walk you through the simple chang...

The day after Christmas can feel quiet… and a little heavy.

In this episode, I’m sharing the story of why Christmas Day is often one of the busiest days on my website and what it reveals about how many of us really feel about money once the gifts are opened and the excitement settles.

We talk about why that post-holiday “wake-up call” doesn’t mean you failed, why January is the perfect time for a reset, and how a simple plan can brin...

Today I’m hanging out with my friend Chris Browning from Popcorn Finance for a special crossover episode filled with laughter, awkward money moments, and honest reactions to real Reddit stories.

We’re diving into some truly wild financial situations, from a $250 white elephant gift exchange to a friend asking for $2,300 after a baby broke her sunglasses and phone, to a daughter feeling pressured to send her mom money every month.

In ...

So many people are working full time yet still feel like they’re falling behind. In today’s episode, I’m breaking down why this is happening and what you can do to take back control of your money, even in a tough economy.

We talk about:

• Why 45 percent of Americans say the cost of living feels unaffordable
• The truth about debt, housing costs, and lifestyle creep
• Five simple steps to create real breathing room again

I also share ...

What if your money fights aren’t really about money? In today’s episode, I’m talking with financial therapist Nathan Astle about the real reasons couples clash over spending, saving, and debt — and how to get back on the same team. 

Nathan explains what financial therapy is, how power dynamics show up in marriages, and why guilt can help but shame keeps us stuck. If you’ve felt alone, overwhelmed, or unsure where to start, this conv...

What if paying off your debt didn’t have to feel like punishment? In this episode, I’m joined by Jacent Wamala, a licensed therapist and money coach who paid off $94,000 of debt in just three years…all on a single income! 

After walking through divorce, grief, and grad school, Jacent decided to treat her debt-free journey as an experiment instead of a burden. She shares how she stopped letting shame lead the way, got practical about...

Ever feel like you’re crushing your budget… until halfway through the month when you realize you’ve overspent? You’re not alone. I’ve been there too—and the good news is, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

In this episode, I’m sharing the five simple steps my family uses to fix our budget when things go sideways. From adjusting your numbers without starting over to shifting your mindset so you don’t spiral, you’ll walk away with a clear...

If a big hospital bill just landed in your mailbox and your stomach dropped, take a breath. You may not have to pay all of it (or any of it). In this episode, Jared Walker, founder of Dollar For, explains how hospital charity care (financial assistance) works, who qualifies, and how his nonprofit walks patients through the process for free.

Try This Now:

1. Check eligibility for yourself or a loved one: dollarfor.org/inspiredbudget
2. A...

If you’ve ever had to dip into your emergency fund, you’re not alone. It’s such a frustrating feeling to watch your savings go down after working so hard to build it up. You know it’s there for a reason, but still, it can feel like a major setback.

In this episode, I’m answering a listener question from Rachel, who asked what to do after you’ve had to use your emergency fund. I’ve been there myself, and I know how discouraging it ca...

Ever wish someone could just hand you a list of side hustle ideas that actually fit your skills and schedule? In this episode, Nick Loper, host of The Side Hustle Show, shows us how to do exactly that with the help of AI.

Nick has a free worksheet that pairs with ChatGPT to brainstorm side hustle ideas. We test it live during our conversation using my own skills and interests. The result? A list of realistic, personalized ways to ma...