Your Money on Easy Mode

Have you ever wondered if it’s possible to manage your entire financial life—checking, savings, retirement, college funds, healthcare, and even credit card rewards—under one roof? In this episode of Your Money on Easy Mode, Damien takes you behind the scenes of his six-month experiment: moving all of his scattered accounts into Fidelity’s ecosystem. Was it a risky move? Did it pay off?

Throughout the episode, Damien breaks down ...

Dreaming of a luxury vacation without the luxury price tag? In this episode of Your Money on Easy Mode, I walk you through how my family is heading to Kauai during peak holiday season—without blowing our budget. From scoring flights using the Southwest Companion Pass and Chase Ultimate Rewards, to booking a luxury resort with Costco Travel perks, I’m sharing every tip, trick, and tool we used to stretch our dollars without sacrific...

You don’t need to be a tech genius to use AI to make your financial life easier. In this episode of Your Money on Easy Mode, I walk you through exactly how tools like ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity can help you budget smarter, plan meals on a tight grocery budget, update your resume, and even create a debt payoff strategy. These AI tools are accessible, free (or cheap), and incredibly powerful—if you know how to use them the right...

Southwest Airlines is making major changes, and not in a good way. In this episode, I break down the airline’s latest moves—including the introduction of a new restrictive budget fare, the end of their non-expiring travel credits, and the shocking decision to start charging for checked bags.

These changes are a huge departure from what made Southwest a customer-friendly airline, and they could cost you hundreds in hidden fees. But ...

Want to build wealth without constantly watching the stock market? You don’t need to be the next Warren Buffett to succeed as an investor. In this episode, I break down my personal investing strategy—the simple and powerful 3-Fund Portfolio. No stock-picking, no market timing, just diversification, low fees, and steady growth.

You’ll learn why most professional stock pickers fail, how index funds eliminate unnecessary risk, and why ...

Damien discusses the recent rebranding of YNAB (You Need A Budget) and the introduction of the term 'spendfulness.' He critiques the effectiveness of this new term and argues for a return to the straightforward concept of budgeting. He expresses his love for YNAB while highlighting its identity crisis and the need for clarity in its messaging.

00:00 YNAB Reinvents Itself

00:44 YNAB Invents A Word

03:30 Stop Tricking People into Budget...

In this episode, Damien discusses the critical importance of having an emergency fund as a financial safety net. He outlines the steps to build an emergency fund, addresses common misconceptions, and provides strategies to overcome behavioral barriers to saving.

The episode also covers how to determine the appropriate size for your emergency fund, where to keep it, and how to adjust it over time as life circumstances change. Liste...

In this episode of Your Money on Easy Mode, Damien discusses the fundamentals of budgeting, emphasizing its importance in achieving financial security. He introduces the concept of budgeting as a plan for money management, debunking misconceptions around the term.

The episode covers practical steps for tracking spending, organizing budgets using the 50-30-20 rule, and implementing effective budgeting strategies. Damien also highli...

In this episode of Your Money on Easy Mode, Damien introduces Season Two and outlines the Easy Mode Money Ladder, a step-by-step guide to managing personal finances effectively. The conversation covers essential financial strategies, including building an emergency fund, maximizing employer retirement matches, paying off high-interest debt, and investing for long-term wealth. Damien emphasizes the importance of following the steps ...

Welcome to Your Money on Easy Mode!

I’m Damien, your go-to guide for simplifying your finances and making your money work smarter, not harder. Think of me as that friend who’s obsessed with credit card rewards, high-yield savings accounts, and index fund expense ratios—but in a way that makes it fun and easy for YOU to level up your financial game.

Here’s what you can expect on this channel:
Deep-Dive Long-Form Videos: Personal fina...

With prices going up everywhere due to inflation (and even greedflation), is it possible to find a good deal anymore? It definitely is, but it requires a bit more work. In today's episode, I'm going to reveal all my secrets for how I get the best deals on everything. Let's go! In today's episode: 1) We'll see that another hotel chain is increasing the number of points you need to stay for free for a night. 2) Then I'll show you al...

Do you ever wish you could take a friend or family member on trips for next to nothing? Well, you're in luck. In this episode, I'm unveiling all my secrets for scoring the ultra-valuable Southwest Companion Pass. This is the insider info you need to travel more and spend less. Get ready to learn how a strategic approach with credit cards can unlock almost two full years of buy-one-get-one-free flights on Southwest for you and a de...

In this episode, Damien discusses the biggest investing mistakes that people make and provides advice on how to avoid them. He starts by talking about the failure of self-checkout technology and how it has not delivered on its promises. Then, he dives into the four biggest investing mistakes, which include not investing, trying to pick winning stocks, trying to time the market, and paying high fees. Finally, Damien shares his thoug...

Damien is back with another episode of Your Money on Easy Mode, your go-to podcast for no-nonsense financial advice that puts your money on cruise control. In this week's headline story, we get an eye-opening look at the realities of surviving on just Social Security in retirement. Damien reads a profile of Eric Miller, a 70-year old former chef forced into early retirement by health issues. Eric now lives on $1400 a month from So...

Listen up, I've got some tough love to dish out today, but it comes from a place of wanting the absolute best for you and your financial future. In this no-nonsense episode, I reveal the biggest money mistakes that most people make, often without even realizing how much they're sabotaging themselves. Get ready to have your eyes opened. First, we get rare insider access into the world of the mega rich and their secret struggles. I ...

Inflation is public enemy number one for the American budget right now. As prices continue rising faster than incomes, everyone feels the squeeze. From filling up your gas tank to buying groceries and paying rent or a mortgage, the impact is unavoidable. So what can you do besides feel powerless? A lot, actually. In this week's episode of The PSA, your money expert Damien outlines five solid tactics for inflation-proofing your fina...

Damien is back with yet another money-saving episode that promises to simplify your financial management.

In this installment, Damien meticulously unpacks the 5 critical factors that constitute your credit score, assigning each a level of importance.

Listeners will gain valuable insights as Damien explains why your payment history is so crucial, representing a significant 35% of your credit score. He shares expert strategies on how ...

What if your entire financial future hinged on a single three-digit number? In this episode, Damien exposes the outsized impact your credit score has on getting loans, renting apartments, and even landing jobs.

He breaks down exactly what goes into this mysterious metric and why it varies between credit bureaus, shedding light on a topic that affects us all.

You'll get the inside scoop on the major scoring models like FICO and Vanta...