You aren't alone!

It happens to all of us, there's a reason that Amazon is a billion dollar company.

They make it so easy to spend money on their platform!

But this month I have been doing a no-spend challenge for Amazon.

In this episode, I share my tips on how I am making it easier to stop spending on Amazon.

Hosting Today:
I'm Ashley Patrick, ex detective turned debt-free CEO of my very own business and stay at home mom of three. Not too long ago, my dreams of staying at home with my kids seemed impossible. I thought I'd have to stay miserable in a high stress demanding job, just so I could retire someday.

After gaining the confidence in my own ability to manage my family's finances and a simple step-by-step plan to make it happen, I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months, which then allowed me to finally quit my job, stay at home with my kids, and build a debt-free business.

Now, my mission is to help moms like you conquer debt and free themselves from the mental load of handling their family's finances.

“The whole point of budgeting, saving money, and paying off debt is being intentional and mindful of where you are spending your money. Where is your money going and are you making sure it is going where you actually want it to go? So, if you delete the app, you have to be a lot more intentional about spending money on Amazon. There are a couple of extra layers of thought processes there in order to spend the money. So, it makes it a lot harder. It makes it less convenient by just deleting the app.”
- Ashley Patrick

Ready to make saving money a priority? Grab your FREE No Spend Challenge Tracker today! Easily track your progress, set personal goals, and see how much you save. Start your challenge now and see the difference. Visit www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/no-spend-challenge to get your tracker!

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Want to do a no-spend challenge too? Grab my FREE No-Spend Challenge Tracker at https://leads.budgetsmadeeasy.com/no-spend-challenge-tracker/

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

In this episode, we dive into the realities of managing financial setbacks and how these events can impact your financial goals.

We explore practical strategies for regaining control, including the power of a no-spend challenge and the importance of meal planning.

Tune in for insights on staying financially resilient amidst life's challenges.

Hosting Today:

I'm Ashley Patrick, ex detective turned debt-free CEO of my very own business and stay at home mom of three. Not too long ago, my dreams of staying at home with my kids seemed impossible. I thought I'd have to stay miserable in a high stress demanding job, just so I could retire someday.

After gaining the confidence in my own ability to manage my family's finances and a simple step-by-step plan to make it happen, I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months, which then allowed me to finally quit my job, stay at home with my kids, and build a debt-free business.

Now, my mission is to help moms like you conquer debt and free themselves from the mental load of handling their family's finances.

“Whatever it is for you, whatever thing you're struggling with and spending on, make an intentional effort to change that specific behavior. You get to decide what it is, what it looks like, and what you are doing based on what you need to work on and what you need help with.”
- Ashley Patrick

Wondering why your budget always seems out of control? It’s time to take charge with a No-Spend Challenge! Reset your finances and see a significant impact, even after just one week. Ready to start? Visit www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/no-spend-challenge to get started today!

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Here's more tips for doing a No-Spend Challenge -> www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/no-spend-challenge

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Discover how to access free museums, make the most of zoo memberships, find discounts at local amusement parks, and explore state and federal parks.

Tune in to learn how to plan mindfully and save money while having summer fun.

Hosting Today:

I'm Ashley Patrick, ex detective turned debt-free CEO of my very own business and stay at home mom of three. Not too long ago, my dreams of staying at home with my kids seemed impossible. I thought I'd have to stay miserable in a high stress demanding job, just so I could retire someday.

After gaining the confidence in my own ability to manage my family's finances and a simple step-by-step plan to make it happen, I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months, which then allowed me to finally quit my job, stay at home with my kids, and build a debt-free business.

Now, my mission is to help moms like you conquer debt and free themselves from the mental load of handling their family's finances.

“Planning for your summer is important so that you're being mindful of where you want your money to go and not just going and doing stuff at the spur of the moment.”
- Ashley Patrick

Ready to take control of your finances and plan your year in just 30 minutes? I've got just the thing for you – the New Paycheck Budget Spreadsheet!

This tool will help you plan each payday before it comes, whether you get paid monthly, biweekly, weekly, or semimonthly. Track your spending, view an annual spending overview, and discover where you can save the most money with detailed graphs!

Preorder sale pricing ends on June 10th at 11:59pm ET! Don't miss out on this special pricing!
Go to https://cart.budgetsmadeeasy.com/spreadsheet-9/ and preorder today!

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Paycheck Budget Spreadsheet: https://cart.budgetsmadeeasy.com/spreadsheet-9/

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

From the basics of starting with a small sum to figuring out how to save for future expenses and major life changes, we explore practical strategies to build and maintain a healthy savings fund.

Tune in to learn how to strike the right balance between saving for the future and enjoying the present moment.

Hosting Today:

Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“Saving money amounts depends on your situation, where you're at in the money success roadmap. But if you're starting, start small, if you've got too much in savings, evaluate how much it is like a realistic number and decide what to do with the rest.”
- Ashley Patrick

If you need help paying off your debt, go to www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/debt for your Paying Off Debt Starter Kit. This will help you really get going on your journey to longer-term investing strategies.

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Paying Off Debt Starter Kit: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/debt

Connect with Ashley:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

• Find the video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/jcReDLtOc1w

In this episode, we reflect on recent challenges and updates, and delve into exciting new money-saving strategies for 2024. From the 52-week savings challenge to the no dining out challenge, we explore practical ways to strengthen your financial health.

Join us as we navigate the journey to financial freedom this 2024!

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“The great thing about savings challenges is you get to do what you want to do. Now that's also the problem too. We have to hold ourselves accountable to doing it right and following through with it. So that's why it's important to tell somebody else your intentions and your goals to help keep you accountable, which is why we have accountability besties inside of Money Success Club.”
- Ashley Patrick

Do you need time, space, and accountability to take action on the things you KNOW you should be doing, such as budgeting so you can actually pay off debt, save money, make a meal plan, and all the other things that keep falling off your to-do list? Would you thrive in a supportive community of other busy moms who understand what you're going through and are working to achieve similar financial goals?

If that’s a YES, I invite you to sign up for the Money Success Club at www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/msc

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Join the Money Success Club here: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/msc
• 52 Week Savings Challenge: https://leads.budgetsmadeeasy.com/52-week-savings-tracker/
• 8 savings challenges for 2024 blog: https://www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/turbocharge-your-savings-8-saving-challenges-for-2024/

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

We'll be discussing why parents should prioritize their financial well-being before helping their children. The debate between saving for retirement and college expenses is a hot topic, and Andy shares valuable insights and strategies for maintaining your financial stability while preparing your kids for the real world.

Don't miss this enlightening conversation!

Meet Andy!
Andy Hill is the award-winning family finance coach behind Marriage Kids and Money - a platform dedicated to helping young families build wealth and happiness.

Andy's advice and personal finance experience have been featured in major media outlets like CNBC, Forbes, MarketWatch, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance and NBC News. With millions of podcast downloads and video views, Andy’s message of family financial empowerment has resonated with listeners, readers and viewers across the world.

When he's not "talking money", Andy enjoys being a Soccer Dad, singing karaoke with his wife and relaxing on his hammock.

“We need to start making some decisions that are for our personal betterment because our kids have a resource that a lot of us don't have, is they have got a lot more time. They've got a lot more time on their side to build wealth, to take care of their future, to do the things they need to do to create the life that they have. So whether that's investing or earning their own money or choosing career paths that work best for them, they've got time on their side. We're a little older. We don't have as much time, maybe not as much energy either to make all these things happen. So we're gonna have to make some decisions that are really best for our personal future.”
- Andy Hill

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to the episode
02:36 - Meet our special guest, Andy Hill from Marriage Kids and Money
04:01 - The importance of teaching kids to become independent
06:44 - Establishing boundaries with older children
09:32 - Teaching kids family and financial responsibilities
14:55 - Deciding between saving for college and retirement
19:18 - Last words of wisdom
23:12 - Resources for teaching children about money and financial planning
24:44 - Andy's book recommendation
26:30 - Connect with Andy

For easy step by step directions and worksheets on getting your budget together and done in 30 minutes a month, download my FREE Budget Starter Kit on www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• A free section of my new course Make My Kid a Millionaire!: www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/AshelyP
• Budget Starter Kit: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

Book Recommendation:

• Die With Zero by Bill Perkins

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Connect with Andy:

• Website: www.marriagekidsandmoney.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/MarriageKidsandMoney
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/MarriageKidsandMoney
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/AndyHillMKM
• LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/AndyHillMKM

Special Guest: Andy Hill.

Join Ashley as she explores the vital role of this budgeting buffer, offering you the flexibility and peace of mind you need when unexpected expenses pop up. Find out how incorporating a miscellaneous category can empower you to stay on track with your budget, overcome financial hurdles, and reach your money goals.

Don't miss out on this essential budgeting strategy! Listen now and take control of your budget with this essential budgeting strategy.

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“Even with more experience, a miscellaneous category is still essential. Things are still gonna come up, there's still gonna be things that you haven't thought about or hadn't planned for. And a miscellaneous category is your budget buffer. It's your checking account buffer, it's your budget buffer. It helps you stick to your plan and keep things on track.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to today's episode
00:35 - Where to get the FREE Budget Starter Kit
01:14 - Explanation of the concept of a miscellaneous category
01:47 - Benefits of having a buffer in your budget
03:25 - Determining the appropriate amount for your miscellaneous category

For easy step by step directions and worksheets on getting your budget together and done in 30 minutes a month, download my FREE Budget Starter Kit on www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Budget Starter Kit: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

• Find the video on YouTube at https://youtu.be/Cq3gks92oqE

In today's episode, Ashley will explore the popular trend of budgeting apps and examine whether they can truly solve your budgeting problems. She'll discuss their limitations and compare them to other budgeting methods, such as writing things down with pen and paper or using spreadsheets.

Listen in to discover practical tips and tools that will empower you to take control of your finances and achieve your financial goals.

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“A budget is just a goal for your money. It's a goal for your spending, but that's not enough, right? You still have to stick to it. So an app that just helps you categorize and see where your money has been going isn't good enough to change your future behavior. You have to really sit down and analyze why you were doing these things in the first place, right? And start making changes to change that behavior because we are creatures of habits.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps:
01:18 - Introduction to today's episode
01:54 - Can budgeting apps solve all your budgeting problems?
02:51 - The significance of writing down your expenses and goals
04:03 - Is a budgeting app necessary if you already budget by paycheck?
05:07 - Using a planner and a spreadsheet for your budget
07:36 - The concept of using an app versus writing things down
09:52 - Get your free Budget Starter Kit

For easy step by step directions and worksheets on getting your budget together and done in 30 minutes a month, download my FREE Budget Starter Kit on www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Budget Starter Kit: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start
• Budget Planner: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/planner
• Budgets Made Easy Facebook Group: Budgets Made Easy™ w/Ashley- Budgeting, Saving Money & Paying Off Debt

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

If you've ever wondered what the term sinking funds mean, then you're not alone.

In this episode, we'll dive deeper into the concept of sinking funds and how they can be used to plan and save for unexpected expenses without feeling like a failure. If you're looking to take control of your finances, then stay tuned for this episode on sinking funds.

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“It's important to make a list and make a priority list, like put it in an order of what is most important to you, down to the least important. And then as money comes in, you know where it needs to go. So it's so important to make a plan for extra money so that when it comes in, it doesn't just disappear because you do still need to have a plan for it. Just like you have a plan for your regular paychecks and that is how you're gonna be able to stay on track and not get derailed when things pop up.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps:
00:00 - What today's episode is about
02:33 - What are sinking funds and why do you need them
03:30 - Examples of sinking funds
05:26 - Tips for setting up sinking funds effectively
07:09 - The benefits of using cash envelopes to manage your sinking funds
08:39 - The importance of prioritizing your money plan
09:46 - Creating a priority list
11:18 - The role of a miscellaneous fund in your budget
14:01 - How to access your free Budget Starter Kit

For easy step by step directions and worksheets on getting your budget together and done in 30 minutes a month, download my
FREE Budget Starter Kit on www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Budget Starter Kit: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start
• Luxe wallet (cash envelope wallet): www.shopluxewallet.com 10% off code: BMEasy10

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

If so, you're not alone. Many people struggle with categorizing their expenses and keeping track of their spending.

In this episode of the Money Mindset Podcast, Ashley will help you shed yourself of overthinking and fear so that you can start taking action towards your financial goals. She'll address common questions like what budget category to use for toiletries, paper products, and groceries, and how much to budget for these items. She will also walk you through some simple steps to help you categorize your expenses effectively, and stick to a budget that works for you.

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“Don't make it overly complicated cuz you need to be able to follow through with the plan and actually track the stuff. And if you make it too complicated to track, you're not gonna follow through with it.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to the episode
02:15 - Categorizing groceries
04:27 - Suggested budget for groceries
06:35 - Other budget categories
07:52 - Cash envelopes
08:29 - Using cash
10:17 - Budget Starter Kit
11:10 - Make your categories specific enough for you
12:03 - Last words of wisdom

If you would like to sit down with me and discuss what you are struggling with and some steps that you can take to make progress and get over that big struggle, I invite you to sign up for your own Budget Strategy Session episode at www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy and have a mini coaching session with me.

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Book your Budget Strategy Session here-> www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy
• Cash envelope wallet: www.shopluxewallet.com
• 10% off code: BMEasy10
• Budget Starter Kit: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

In this episode, Ashley discusses five budget mistakes to avoid in 2023 so that you can have a productive and successful year ahead such as not putting a deadline on tasks, expecting everything to go perfectly, not setting a baseline and mid-level goals, and more!

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“So you're constantly feeling like you're failing because you can't be perfect and your money plan’s never gonna be perfect because that's life and we beat ourselves up and we get in this mental cycle of feeling like we failed because we're not perfect, but we're human. So we literally cannot be perfect. So you've gotta keep going. When bumps come along the way, along the road when there's bumps and life happens, you've gotta keep going. It's never gonna be perfect. But if you keep going, you will be successful. If you stop and quit and avoid, you're not gonna reach your big goals. So you have to keep going and not expect everything to go perfectly.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps:
00:00 - What today's episode is about
00:25 - How to sign up for the Money Plan Bootcamp
03:04 - Not putting a deadline on tasks
04:37 - Expecting everything to go perfectly
06:14 - Not setting a baseline and mid-level goals
09:45 - Not being intentional
12:31 - Trying to do too much

Starting and sticking to a money plan doesn't need to be overwhelming! Join my Money Plan Bootcamp where I'll teach you the 5 key steps for creating a money plan you can actually stick to...for FREE!⁣⁣ Go to www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/bootcamp and register today!

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• The Money Plan Bootcamp: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/bootcamp

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

This is Part 4 of our Q&A series, and I'll be answering some of the questions that Money Plan Bootcamp members have sent in.

Listen in as I answer the following questions: How to pay off debt and save while living paycheck to paycheck, How to get past guilt when the plan doesn't work out, and Can you start your monthly budget with the previous month's last paycheck?

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“Remember, focus on one thing at a time. Budget comes first, saving, then paying off debt. I know you wanna just dive in head first into paying off debt and get it out of your life. I love it when you are that excited about it. But you've gotta really cover the foundational stuff first so that you don't go back into debt later.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction to today's episode
04:18 - How to pay off debt and save while living paycheck to paycheck
09:55 - How to get past the guilt when the plan doesn't go as planned
14:57 - Can you start your budget for the month with the previous month's last paycheck?
16:48 - How to join the Money Plan Bootcamp

Starting and sticking to a money plan doesn't need to be overwhelming! Join my Money Plan Bootcamp where I'll teach you the 5 key steps for creating a money plan you can actually stick to...for FREE!⁣⁣ Go to www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/bootcamp and register today!

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• The Money Plan Bootcamp: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/bootcamp
• Send your questions here -> www.speakpipe.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

I'm back for the third part of our Q&A series!

In this episode, I'll answer more questions from Money Plan Bootcamp members, such as how to find time as a busy parent, how to stay motivated, how to stay on track and on budget when you have small children at home, and how far in advance you should plan your next month's budget.

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“You really have to figure out what is going to keep you going when you're not motivated. And guess what that is? Habits and routines. So what I just talked about, habits and routines will keep you doing what you need to do when you don't feel like it.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps:
00:00 - The topic of today's episode
04:29 - How to find time as a busy parent
12:56 - How to stay motivated
16:41 - How to stay on track and on budget with small children at home
21:14 - How far in advance should you plan your next month's budget
30:47 - How to sign up for your own Budget Strategy Session episode

If you'd like to work through your own struggle with your budget 1:1 with me, sign up for a FREE Budget Strategy Session on The Money Mindset Podcast! Sign up at www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Get your Kickstart 2023 Bundle here: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/kickstart
• Book your Budget Strategy Session here-> www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Today, we're going to discuss the cost of waiting and how taking action toward your financial goals early on can help lessen the mental stress and prepare you for unexpected events, so you can take control of your finances and get back on track.

Hosting Today:
I'm Ashley Patrick, ex detective turned debt-free CEO of my very own business and stay at home mom of three. Not too long ago, my dreams of staying at home with my kids seemed impossible. I thought I'd have to stay miserable in a high stress demanding job, just so I could retire someday.

After gaining the confidence in my own ability to manage my family's finances and a simple step-by-step plan to make it happen, I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months, which then allowed me to finally quit my job, stay at home with my kids, and build a debt-free business.

Now, my mission is to help moms like you conquer debt and free themselves from the mental load of handling their family's finances.

“If you keep putting off taking action on your financial goals and just wishing for it to happen some day, that day is never going to come. You are going to stay in this cycle of year after year wondering where the heck all your money went, why you can't seem to save for the things that you really want to do, why you can't seem to paying cash for that vacation or you're not able to buy that house that you want with for your family. And you know that mental cost of stress.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps
00:00 - Introduction for today's episode
03:50 - How to join the FREE Masterclass "5 Money Mistakes You're Making & How to Fix Them"
08:01 - Meet Breanna
10:03 - Breanna's financial struggle
20:11 - Keeping your momentum going
22:45 - Being financially and mentally prepared for unexpected events
31:56 - Take away from this episode

Want to know the 5 Money Mistakes You're Making & How to Fix Them? I've got just the thing for you! This FREE Masterclass will help you identify and fix the common money mistakes you're making so you can start saving and paying off debt! Go to www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/class and register today!

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• 5 Money Mistakes You're Making & How to Fix Them: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/class
• Book your Budget Strategy Session here-> www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

You aren't the only one!

Join me in today’s episode as I walk you through stage 1 of the Money Success Roadmap where I will discuss the step-by-step actions that you can take to help you with your financial journey like creating a basic budget, monthly meal plan, and one month of smart goals.

Hosting Today:
I'm Ashley Patrick, ex detective turned debt-free CEO of my very own business and stay at home mom of three. Not too long ago, my dreams of staying at home with my kids seemed impossible. I thought I'd have to stay miserable in a high stress demanding job, just so I could retire someday.

After gaining the confidence in my own ability to manage my family's finances and a simple step-by-step plan to make it happen, I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months, which then allowed me to finally quit my job, stay at home with my kids, and build a debt-free business.

Now, my mission is to help moms like you conquer debt and free themselves from the mental load of handling their family's finances.

“When you break it down into stages, into smaller bite-sized steps and you have a clear action plan for each stage and that's all you focus on, you're focusing on one thing at a time. You can see how you can get there and you don't have to worry about how you're going to get there because you have a step by step plan to get you there and exactly what to do and how and what to follow. And literally the action steps to take to move from one stage to the next.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps
01:19 - Introduction
02:35 - What is the Money Success Roadmap?
04:19 - Stage 1
09:38 - Step by step actions that you can take
10:21 - Creating a basic budget and a monthly meal plan
12:42 - Creating one month of smart goals
15:12 - Moving on to the Stage 2

Starting and sticking to a money plan doesn't need to be overwhelming! Join my Money Plan Bootcamp where I'll teach you the 5 key steps for creating a money plan you can actually stick to...for FREE!⁣⁣ Go to www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/bootcamp and register today!

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• The Money Plan Bootcamp: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/bootcamp

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Perfectionism and overthinking causes people to give up on their budgets when it's not going the way they planned it because when it comes to our finances, we all want to do the best that we can.

Listen in as we discuss how to overcome perfectionism by celebrating small wins, giving yourself credit and reminding yourself of your progress on how far you've come. I also shared some tips like using a visual tracker, rewarding yourself, and how being consistent with your habits and routines help so you can get back on track!

Hosting Today:

I'm Ashley Patrick, ex detective turned debt-free CEO of my very own business and stay at home mom of three. Not too long ago, my dreams of staying at home with my kids seemed impossible. I thought I'd have to stay miserable in a high stress demanding job, just so I could retire someday.

After gaining the confidence in my own ability to manage my family's finances and a simple step-by-step plan to make it happen, I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months, which then allowed me to finally quit my job, stay at home with my kids, and build a debt-free business.

Now, my mission is to help moms like you conquer debt and free themselves from the mental load of handling their family's finances.

“We're all going to have bad days. We're all gonna have a bad week, a bad month. But when you look at the overall picture of how far you've come since you started, you can see that you really have done a very good job and you should be proud of that.”
-Ashley Patrick

Timestamps
00:04 - Introduction for today's episode
02:29 - Meet Lisa
03:01 - Lisa's financial struggles
06:46 - Celebrating your progress
07:46 - About visual tracker
09:41 - Celebrating small wins
11:37 - Using visuals to see how much progress you have made
12:01 - Reminding yourself of your progress
22:10 - Success and failures
22:53 - Lisa's 24 hour goal
24:25 - Setting up realistic goals

If you would like to sit down with me and discuss what you are struggling with and some steps that you can take to make progress and get over that big struggle, I invite you to sign up for your own Budget Strategy Session episode at budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy and have a mini coaching session with me.

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Book your Budget Strategy Session here-> www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

To honour this milestone, we are changing some things up by doing a Coaching Week!

This week we have several interviews where we talked about past money mistakes and money struggles like overspending because you don't know your big goal because of mom guilt, being unorganized, perfectionism, impulsive spending because of ADHD and more. I will also share tips on and how to make progress and get over that big struggle to achieve your financial goals so make sure you listen to all the Budget Strategy Sessions this week.

Hosting Today:

I'm Ashley Patrick, ex detective turned debt-free CEO of my very own business and stay at home mom of three. Not too long ago, my dreams of staying at home with my kids seemed impossible. I thought I'd have to stay miserable in a high stress demanding job, just so I could retire someday.

After gaining the confidence in my own ability to manage my family's finances and a simple step-by-step plan to make it happen, I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months, which then allowed me to finally quit my job, stay at home with my kids, and build a debt-free business.

Now, my mission is to help moms like you conquer debt and free themselves from the mental load of handling their family's finances.

“I'm going to give you actionable steps and you are going to realize that you are not alone. And that is really the biggest hurdle, right? We feel like that we do all of these things. And one of the only ones that do them and everybody else has it all figured out with their finances, but that's not true.”
-Ashley Patrick

Timestamps
00:03 - New introduction to the Money Mindset Podcast
00:25 - Meet Ashley
01:18 - Changes to the Podcast
01:57 - This week on the Money Mindset Podcast
04:20 - How to participate in the coaching sessions/the Budget Strategy Sessions

If you would like to sit down with me and discuss what you are struggling with and some steps that you can take to make progress and get over that big struggle, I invite you to sign up for your own Budget Strategy Session episode at budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy and have a mini coaching session with me.

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Book your Budget Strategy Session here-> www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/strategy

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

It can be frustrating when you are stuck in a financial rut because of the fear that you might not be doing it right.

Join me in today's episode as I talk about how to stop letting your fear get in your way, how overthinking and being a perfectionist is keeping you from making progress and how letting yourself fail actually helps you to succeed and reach your financial goals.

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“You have to stop letting fear of doing it wrong or doing it the right way keep you from making progress, because guess what? If you are doing it wrong or doing things the wrong way, at least you have figured out that that doesn't work for you. If you just don't even try it all, you won't know that. And you'll just stay stuck. If you're not doing anything, you're not failing, but you're also not succeeding.”
- Ashley Patrick

Timestamps
00:42 - What is perfectionist thinking?
01:10 - The great thing about personal finance and managing your money
01:42 - How to stop letting fear keep you from making progress
05:10 - One small action that you can do this week that will move you closer to your financial goals
07:00 - How to stop letting fear of failing or doing it the right way
07:35 - How to put it into action
07:55 - Changes coming to the podcast starting next week

For easy step by step directions and worksheets on getting your budget together and done in 30 minutes a month, download my FREE Budget Starter Kit on budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Budget Starter Kit: budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Listen in as Coleen shares her story about how her parents taught her about money, what she's teaching her children about money, her financial journey on paying off her husband's student loan debt and about having no debt except for her house and switching careers because of COVID.

Meet Colleen…

Colleen is a wife, mom of 3 kiddos, animal lover and loves the lake. After over 20 years in the medical field, she decided to follow her heart by quitting her x-ray job and becoming a REALTOR(R), something she had been wanting to do for many years. She has always enjoyed taking care of others and now she gets to do so by being a trusted advisor and helping them to have all the tools needed to make their real estate dreams come true. She truly loves to assist in the buying and selling of homes. Colleen has also spent many years learning how to do well with budgeting and is currently working to become a financial coach, as well. She believes it is very important to make wise decisions with (most likely) the biggest purchase of a person's lifetime, including tough financial conversations and choices. She strives to help people to get into the home they love and will continue to love because they can afford it and won't become house poor. A continued conversation is encouraged and as she becomes a coach as well, she'll be able to help in many ways for time to come.

“Go with your gut and know that you're doing the right thing. Like just really think hard about that budget and know that there's an end goal and it's going to be hard no matter what, but really just being open to what is available to you and just making the most of what you have.”
- Colleen Fueling

Timestamps
03:40 - Meet Colleen
05:14 - How do you get your husband on board with paying off debt?
06:38 - How did your parents influence your mindset about debt?
08:00 - How do you pay off your husband's student loans fast?
09:12 - Does having a plan in place be so mentally freeing?
10:52 - How do priorities change when you switch careers?
14:33 - What are your thoughts and feelings with the real estate market?
15:05 - What are your feelings on credit scores for somebody wanting to rent or buy a house right now?
18:28 - About zero credit score
20:23 - Do real estate agents or realtors help people find rentals?
21:24 - What are your current financial goals and how are you staying focused on them?
22:40 - When do you want to have your house paid off?
24:01 - What is the best piece of financial advice you have received?
24:42 - What are some things that you are doing to teach your children about finances?
25:40 - Words of wisdom about paying off debt or managing your finances

Want to take the stress off your shoulders? Ready to learn how to create AND stick to your budget?! Check out my Free Workshop: How to Create and Stick to a Budget (even when you are overwhelmed)! Go to budgetsmadeeasy.com/workshop and get started today.

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Free Budgeting Workshop: budgetsmadeeasy.com/workshop
• Link to get a free automated valuation of your house: https://hmbt.co/FwFB6a

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Connect with Colleen:

• FB: https://www.facebook.com/colleenfeulingtherealtor

Special Guest: Colleen Feuling.

Listen in as Ashley discusses how budgeting is not about the math, but about our emotional relationships with money, and how our emotions affect our budgeting and spending decisions.

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“It's not about the math. You can lay out a beautiful budget down to the penny and the math is all correct. That doesn't mean that you'll just automatically stick to it because we're human. We're not perfect. We are emotional beings. We are not logical beings.”
-Ashley Patrick

Timestamps
03:50 - It’s not about the Math
05:06 - What budgeting is about?
06:10 - What to do if you are struggling with sticking to your budget?
08:40 - Why is budgeting not about Math?
09:25 - About emotions
09:34 - About Logic
09:48 - About being human and making mistakes
10:25 - How to stay on track with your goal?
12:14 - How do you set your goal and stick to your budget?

Worried about losing income during a recession? Want to learn how to get started and protect your family in an economic downturn? Check out my Free Workshop: How to Recession Proof Your Finances! Go to budgetsmadeeasy.com/recession-workshop and register today.

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Free Recession Workshop: budgetsmadeeasy.com/recession-workshop/

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Meet Michelle!

Michelle Onaka is a mom of two young children, part-time university academic counselor supporting first-generation college students, and founder of Intentional Money Life. She loves to learn, strategize, support others, get into the nitty gritty, systemize, and demystify things. In her business, she helps people build financial education, apply it to themselves, and intentionally create a life that they love. She does this through posting regular educational visuals and short videos on social media, as well as through offering online financial courses.

“If you couldn't make your student loans, making sure that you're aware there's forbearance, there's deferment, and then there are multiple different repayment plans. You can get on a different payment plan where you pay less.”
-Michelle Onaka

Timestamps
04:39 - Michelle's role and expertise
06:06 - Pell Grant
07:02 - How many people are getting the Pell Grant?
08:53 - Pell Grant and EFC calculations
09:30 - What is the threshold of the EFC to be Pell eligible?
11:23 - What does being considered independent mean for you?
14:40 - What do you need to do to be declared independent?
15:26 - To get any of these resources you do need to fill out the FASFA?
17:22 - What to do if you think you're eligible.
19:39 - What services do you offer? What does this program do?
25:23 - What to do if you aren't Pell eligible?
26:13 - Being strategic about your course selection and what will transfer.
35:17 - A few things to know about student loans.
37:25 - How can you figure out how much your student loan is before you graduate?

For easy step by step directions and worksheets on getting your budget together and done in 30 minutes a month, download my FREE Budget Starter Kit on budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• FREE Budget Starter Kit - www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start
• Michelle Onaka’s courses :www.intentionalmoneylife.com/courses

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Connect with Michelle:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/intentionalmoneylife/
• FB: https://www.facebook.com/IntentionalMoneyLife
• Website: https://intentionalmoneylife.com/

Special Guest: Michelle Onaka.

If you have medical bills to pay right now or know you may need to in the future, then you’ll want to listen in on today’s episode.

Dr Virgie educates us on the three steps you should take to pay your medical bills, what to do if you can’t afford your medical bill, busting myths and sharing the top 5 reasons people end up overpaying their medical bills.

Meet Dr Virgie…

Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington is an internal medicine physician and medical billing expert.

A dedicated patient advocate, Dr. Virgie practiced more than 20 years in primary care and psychiatric settings and as a health insurance executive.

Dr. Virgie now helps patients understand complex medical procedures, communicate effectively with their healthcare providers, and avoid financial devastation from crushing medical bills through her "What Your Doctor Wants You to Know" series.

She is the author of "What Your Doctor Wants You to Know to CRUSH MEDICAL DEBT" and the host of the weekly "Ask a Doctor - What Your Doctor Wants You to Know with Dr. Virgie" show on the VoiceAmerica radio network.

“The number one cause of all debt and bankruptcy in the United States is medical bills, medical debt. Unfortunately there's some numbers that say up to 30% of that is bills that people did not owe, or there are bills that they were overcharged.”
-Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington

Timestamps
03:46 - Meet Dr Virgie
07:20 - Why you shouldn't sign papers in the hospital accepting liability for costs your insurance doesn't cover.
13:27 - The three steps to paying your medical bill
17:33 - What to do if you can't afford to pay what you owe.
19:31 - Are there different steps for bills from your doctors office?
20:35 - Why do healthcare facilities agree to your payment plans.
21:35 - Myth Buster: Can they send your bill to collections if you keep paying as little as $10 per month?
25:05 - The top 5 reasons people overpaying on their medical bills?
31:10 - Surprise billing and what it means for you
32:11 - Book recommendation

Want to take the stress off your shoulders? Ready to learn how to create AND stick to your budget?! Check out my Free Workshop: How to Create and Stick to a Budget (even when you are overwhelmed)! Go to budgetsmadeeasy.com/workshop and get started today.

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Free Budgeting Workshop: budgetsmadeeasy.com/workshop
• Medical Bill Checklist: https://crushmedicaldebt.com/medical-bill-paying-checklist

Book Recommendation:

• Your Money or Your Life - Joe Dominguez & Vicki Robin

Connect with Ashley:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Connect with Guest:

• IG: https://www.instagram.com/therealdrvirgie
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DoctorDiaries
• Website: crushmedicaldebt.com
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/therealdrvirgie
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCmA-WL2ucIfDelCMr1wzgKg
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drvirgie

Special Guest: Dr. Virgie Bright Ellington.

Listen in as Brian shares with us what value based investing is. What is ESG and how to find out if you're working with or investing in a company that aligns with your values. He also shares some great tips on what to do if you’re a business in the industry and want to become more value based focus.

Meet Brian…

Brian helps people understand not just what to do, but how and why they should do it. Part teacher and part financial therapist!

Brian has been in the Financial Services Business since 2003, working with a diverse group of clients representing a slice of the Washington DC marketplace. As a native of the Washington area, he grew up in Chevy Chase, Maryland, attending high school in Bethesda. He founded The Haney Company with his father in 2013, combining 2 generations of industry experience. With more than a decade of experience in Banking, Investments, Asset management and Insurance, Brian's expertise and keen insights provide organizations, businesses and individuals with unique and innovative strategies to meet their insurance needs and financial goals.

“Have a vision for your life and the type of person that you are. Center yourself. What are the values that are really important to you? Find resources and approach professionals that understand this and are willing to help you carry that forward. Be practical about it and take your time.”
- Brian Haney

Timestamps
03:19 - About Brian
06:08 - Business of Pride Award
08:50 - What is value-based investing?
11:21 - What is ESG?
13:04 - How does a company meet an ESG criteria?
14:37 - Where can you get advice on investing in the right company?
17:23 - Investing Strategy: all in for ESG or a combination?
20:20 - Can lower investments in an ESG be done on your own or through an adviser?
22:40 - How can a business in this industry become more value-based focused?
25:15 - What to keep in mind when learning about ESGs
28:05 - Checking if a business aligns with your values
30:36 - Brians values and 10-year plan
34:55 - Book recommendation: When by Dan Pink

If you need help paying off your debt, go to budgetsmadeeasy.com/debt for your Paying Off Debt Starter Kit. This will help you really get going on your journey to longer-term investing strategies.

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Paying Off Debt Starter Kit: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/debt

Book Recommendation:

• When by Dan Pink (affiliate link) https://amzn.to/39t8uh4

Connect with Ashley:

• IG: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Connect with Guest:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thehaneycompany
• Website: https://www.thehaneycompany.com/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheHaneyCompany

Special Guest: Brian Haney.

You aren’t the only one. There are so many who ask the same question and have a similar problem.

Join me in today’s episode where I answer a question that was submitted about what you can do to stick to your budget and get back on track when you feel like you’re constantly falling behind.

Hosting Today:
Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick, a personal finance expert and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“Just imagine what you could do in life if you didn't have so many bills. If you just had to pay your rent or mortgage, what could you do with all that extra money that right now you're sending to debt. Dream big because you are worth so much more, you are capable of so much more.”
Ashley Patrick

Timestamps
00:47 - Question of the week
03:01 - Taking advantage of free resources when homeschooling
04:16 - Figure out what's setting you behind
06:31 - Make it difficult to access the money
09:31 - Accountability and implementation
12:55 - Planning your finances for the rest of the year

Do you need time, space and accountability to take action on the things you KNOW you should be doing? Budgeting so you can actually pay off debt, save money, make a meal plan and all the things that keep pushing their way down your to-do list. Would you thrive in a supportive community of other busy moms who get it and are also working to achieve similar financial goals?

If that’s a YES, I invite you to sign up for the Money Success Coaching Group at budgetsmadeeasy.com/msc. There is a flash sale running from July 14th, 2022 until July 17th, 2022 at 11:59 PM Eastern time. Take action to change your finances and what the rest of your year looks like. Doors will open again in October, so if you’re past waiting for making the changes you’d like, join us!

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• Budget Starter Kit - budgetsmadeeasy.com/start
• Budgeting Workshop - budgetsmadeeasy.com/workshop
• Money Success Coaching Group - budgetsmadeeasy.com/msc

Connect with Ashley:

• IG: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

There are so many questions when it comes to preparing for college. Wondering what college is best for the student, what financial aid they will have access to and what to do if the family finds themselves paying for a parent loan they weren’t aware of.

Listen in as Ann answers some of your burning questions and gives us some great tips on navigating how to pay for college without ending up with huge debts.

Meet Ann Garcia

AKA The College Financial Lady, has helped thousands of families save millions of dollars on college. A fee-only Certified Financial Planner® and managing partner of Independent Progressive Advisors, Ann specializes in helping families balance the desire to support their children’s dreams with the reality of funding their own lives. Her book How to Pay for College is set to release this summer from Harriman House; its companion online course is available now.

Early in Ann’s career as a financial advisor, she heard the same two questions again and again from her clients. One group asked, “How can we possibly afford to save for college and retirement?” Another group asked, “How can I save for retirement when I’m paying so much on my student loans every month?” Realizing that too many people struggled with this topic and too few advisors were willing to talk about it, she started The College Financial Lady blog to answer families’ college planning questions. A decade later, she is not just the go-to person for college financial planning, she is a trained assassin in that arena.

_“Think about it from the perspective of where do you see your student 10 years from now? What's the life that you want them to have? What are the experiences you want them to have in college? What are the things that make them successful or unsuccessful in an academic or social environment? .” _
- Ann Garcia

Timestamps
01:02 - About Ann
03:21 - What's more important? Saving for retirement or college first?
05:21 - How do you balance your own student loan when your kids are about to go to college?
08:14 - Who takes out the student loan? The parent or the student?
12:00 - General advice for making the best long term financial decisions.
19:17 - Tools to navigate scholarships and get great information
20:54 - Does it matter which college you go to?
27:03 - Parents who didn't realise they took our a parent loan.
30:01 - What do they do now?
35:12 - Can social security be garnished for the student loans?
36:50 - Those eligible for student loan forgiveness.
41:14 - Ann's book: How To Pay For College
42:40 - Last words of wisdom and book recommendations

For easy step by step directions and worksheets on getting your budget together and done in 30 minutes a month, download my FREE Budget Starter Kit on budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

And if you enjoyed the podcast today and got some great takeaways, I’d really appreciate it if you followed the Money Mindset Podcast so you don’t miss out on future episodes.

Resources and Links Mentioned:

• FREE Budget Starter Kit: www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/start

Book Recommendation:

• Psychology of Money by Morgan Housel (affiliate link): https://amzn.to/39q8MVT

Connect with Ashley:

• Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Connect with Ann:

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/collegefinanciallady
• Website: www.howtopayforcollege.com

Special Guest: Ann Garcia.

Have a situation or circumstance that doesn’t fit into the norm and want a personalized solution?

Join me this week as I switch things up and answer your burning questions with my suggestions.

Hosting Today:

Hey, I’m Ashley Patrick and I’m a personal finance expert, and founder of Budgets Made Easy. I help busy moms create systems to save money and pay off debt so they can reach their big dreams faster and easier.

I was able to pay off $45,000 in just 17 months including $25,000 in student loans in just 10 months. I’m a Master Financial Coach and have a bachelor's degree in psychology and will help you get to the root of your money problems.

Since my journey started I have been featured on Fox Business, Yahoo! Finance, Food Network, USA TODAY, MSN, CNBC, NerdWallet, and many others.

“It's really about finding what works for you.” - Ashley Patrick

Timestamps
01:22 - Highest balance or higher interest rates first?
03:05 - Will budgeting work for someone who doesn't have a steady income?
06:18 - Struggling with a shopping addiction.
11:04 - What to do when you've lost your job.
15:25 - I struggle to create and stick to budget plans and meal plans.

If you would like me to answer any of your questions, send me an email at ashley@budgetsmadeeasy.com and in the subject line add ‘#question’ and I will add it to the list to answer on the next Q&A podcast episode.

Also remember to check out my Free Workshop: How to Create and Stick to a Budget (even when you are overwhelmed)! Go to budgetsmadeeasy.com/workshop and get started today.

Resources and Links Mentioned:
Free Workshop: How to Create and Stick to a Budget - www.budgetsmadeeasy.com/workshop

Connect with Ashley:
Instagram: www.instagram.com/budgetsmadeeasy

Misty Lynch is a Certified Financial Planner™ and the founder of Relatable Wealth where she helps families and business owners manage their money better.

The mission of Relatable Wealth is to share resources to help you handle your money with confidence both for the betterment of your family and your business. Misty lives with her husband and children in Walpole, MA. When she isn't writing and educating about finances, she enjoys reading, learning and taking courses, watch baking championship shows, making food her toddlers won’t eat, petting all the dogs, 90’s music, and one day, she wants to be on Jeopardy.

Website: www.relatablewealth.com
Email: Misty@relatablewealth.com
Social Handles: @relatablewealth (Facebook & Twitter) @mistylynchcfp (IG)

Resources mentioned in this episode:
No Spend Challenge Printable
Man's Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl(aff link)

Full Transcript:

Thanks Misty so much for being here. I am so excited to talk with you today. Great. Thank you for having me. So before we jump in, now I do want to talk about, we're going to talk about your year long shopping hiatus, but before we do that, cause I really excited to hear how in the world you did that for a whole year. Uh, but can you just kind of quickly tell us about yourself and what you do?
Uh, sure. Um, so my name is Misty Lynch. I'm a certified financial planner and a behavioral financial advisor. Um, and I, I'm a blogger@relatablewealth.com and I created this blog really when I started to, um, decided I wanted to try to do a year long shopping ban and not buy any clothes, shoes or bags for the entire year. And I thought writing about it and telling everybody that I could about it, um, would help keep me accountable and it, and it definitely did. So that's, um, so that's just a little bit about me. I'm also, um, I have, you know, a five year old and a seven year old and, uh, live out in Massachusetts with my husband.
Awesome. So this, so you decided not to buy any clothes, handbags, shoes, like was that primarily it and were, were there like other things in there? So for me, I, um, you know, I [inaudible]
kind of notice that, you know, when I started to, you know, make more money and, you know, I, I, I always was just, I was just in a habit of buying things that, um, I didn't really even need or sometimes I would have clothes in my closet with tags on them. And it just started to, I wondered when I, you know, started developing these habits and it really, um, I think I came across an article about somebody who like, had stopped shopping for like two weeks. And in my head I was just like, I bet I have enough stuff here that I could do this for an entire year and be completely fine. And I really just wanted to see, you know, what was motivating me to, you know, spend on things that, you know, when I could be using my money [inaudible] for things that I cared about more or maybe [inaudible] um, starting a business or doing something different.
So it really was more just like an experiment, I guess you could say. Um, to see if I could start to, you know, be more mindful about some of the, some of the things that I was, that I was doing just filling up my cart on Amazon and clicking and not even knowing what was coming in the mail. So I think I've talked to a lot of people that kind of, you know, are in similar habits. You know, two small kids. I was, you know, up at night nursing in the middle of the night and I would be shopping because my phone was right there. So it's something that's become really easy for people to do, but it could get a little bit out of control. And, and you know, when you wanted to, you know, when you want to stay out of debt and you want to do, um, you know, accomplish more with your money, um, sometimes there's some really tempting things out there that can, uh, can just keep you from achieving those goals.
So it was really just an experiment to kind of see what triggered me to, you know, act a way and how I could, how I could go about changing it. So did you set out to do it for a whole year or was that just kind of like you just kept going? Nope, it was, it was, the goal was a new year's resolution really. I started on, on January 1st and, um, and then, you know, kind of in my first blog post that I posted that that first week of January was that this was my resolution for the year. And, um, and, but you know, that I would track my progress quarterly and then in the middle of, you know, um, as I was going throughout the year, I would kind of write things about, about money mindset, about, you know, about shopping, about Mmm. You know, business and family and other, other financial goals just to kind of, I didn't think anybody wanted to follow every week of yeah.
I wanted to buy and didn't. Um, but yeah, it really was kind of the intention it was in the, to see if it could go an entire year and how, how it would change me afterwards. So what did you, so one, did you make it the whole year? I did. The only time that I got anything new was like on mother's day. But it was, it's interesting because when you just have like an instant gratification kind of world where you see something you like on someone else and you can just buy it, it really was different when it got to be like mother's day or my birthday. Like I had a list of things that I really wanted and I don't remember having anything like that since I was a kid. You know, like the things that you couldn't just go get. Um, and that, you know, like I really wanted a pair of slippers that I'd worn out completely.
And I, and I waited til mother's day and when I got them I was so happy, like different, different kinds of happy than when you can just put them in your cart and get them tomorrow. Um, so it was interesting. So yeah, I did get a few new things, but those were really, um, those were like on my, on my birthday or mother's day. Um, and you know, occasionally if I got a gift card for, um, like a, a birthday present that I would be able to use that. But it was weird. I almost felt strange using it. Like it had to be so important that it couldn't just, I couldn't just ruin it on the first thing I saw. So those ended up sticking around in my wallet much longer than they usually do. Yeah. So how, how do you think that it kinda changed your mindset to do it for this long?
Well, I think, you know, I had a job for a while where I was traveling and so I would be by myself in different cities and a lot of times I think like I would just go, I would just go shopping, um, to pass time. Um, but really what I was probably feeling was like lonely or bored, you know? And so, um, I, I kind of realized that it wasn't exactly a good pastime. You know, spending money is something you should do, um, with your front brain, you should do, you know, with some planning and some, you know, thinking ahead about it. And so, yeah, I really just, you know, started to, you know, if I felt like, you know, I always had a lot of books around, you know, so instead of feeling like, Oh, I have a couple hours to myself, I should go shopping, I would say I would kind of swap it with a different habit that I felt accomplished, a goal that I wanted to do, which was read more.
And so it was just kind of noticing those moments where you felt like just kind of like compulsively like, Oh, I'm just going to go do this because I have time, or I'm by myself, or, um, you know, I'm on the West coast and my family's asleep. Who should I talk to? You can kind of, um, I could kind of notice more when I wanted to spend money or if I like didn't have a great day. Um, I would, you know, sometimes instead of, you know, you know, everybody has some, you know, usually we try to, to feel better. And so with, you know, having everything at our fingertips now you can go eat, you could go drink, you could go shop, you can do all of these things. And sometimes doing them just puts you back in that cycle of feeling worse afterwards, which leads to more of that same behavior.
So it really was kind of setting up these roadblocks to say like, okay, this isn't something I do now. What will I, you know, what can I do if I don't have a great day at work? Okay. I can, you know, take the dog for a walk or I can, you know, I kind of had these back of things that were just easy go to [inaudible], um, ways to kind of snap out of whatever, you know, mindset or bad mood or anything that I was in to kind of just reset and get back to normal instead of doing something that I wanted to, you know, to stop doing. I also started to sell some of my things that I had, like the bags and the clothes that I'd acquired and held onto for 10 years that I had no interest in anymore. Um, [inaudible] got a lot at, got rid of a lot of suits that could go to women who were looking for jobs or maybe wanted, you know, needed to get something either secondhand or donated to, you know, go get their first interview when they were just hanging in my closet and the addicts.
So I kind of felt good giving things away more. It almost felt as good as getting things, um, possibly better. Um, and so that was kind of an interesting thing to say. Like, I don't even need more stuff. Could also get rid of stuff at the same time.
[inaudible] so what are some things that you did to kind of make it easier for you so you weren't so tempted, you know, like emails and just, you know, all advertisements and things like that, especially for a whole year. I'm sure as you built the habit and stuff it got easier and easier, um, for at certain times anyway. But I'm sure you still had your weak moments. Yeah, no, I'm, one of the first things I did was I unsubscribed to probably over a hundred
different emails that were coming to me from retailers. And, um, sometimes you'd have to unsubscribe several times in places because really when you're looking at, you know, like I, um, you know, when I was up late with my, with my babies when they were, when they were really small, I mean, there would just be so many things. Every time you scroll through a newsfeed, there's advertisements and things that are basically just tailored to you, what you're looking for. So I spent a lot less time, um, following different stores are things that I liked. I unsubscribed to all the emails and then eventually my feet stopped showing those things. I did start seeing more of people like that I found inspiring. Like some, you know, I, I just kind of changed everything I was looking at. And eventually your, you know, everything that's tracking your, every move online starts picking up the things that you like.
I really just tried to yeah. Know, limit how much I was seeing because yeah, it's tough when you see like, you know, Oh, this the sales going on or you have, um, [inaudible] you know, there's, all these new things are coming out for the season. And my husband actually did most of the, he likes, he likes to shop and he's good at it. So he, um, he did a lot of the shopping for the kids. Mmm. You know, because they obviously needed new things throughout the year because they were growing. And, um, I just, you know, if I went into the store to get stuff, I would just go straight to the kids section and find what I needed and walk out without even trying to, to look around to see if there was anything nice. Sometimes I would see some, like, um, you know, if, if we went into a store and there was like the mannequins or anything, I would start thinking, what do I have that's like that?
Could I make that outfit based on stuff that I have in my closet? Um, because, you know, I still had things to do and wanted to look nice and I, um, that kind of wasn't interesting way to rethink, I need that, I want to buy that right now. It was, okay, do I have anything close to that? Or like, could I put an outfit together like that? And, um, I'm not necessarily good at putting outfits together. And so maybe I would see stuff like that and be like, you know what, I think I could do that. Or, um, let me go back and look at what I have because we tend to just pile up stuff and if it's in a basket under your bed or up in the attic, you're not going to remember it. You're really just going to see the stuff that's right there.
So almost, you know, getting rid of some of the stuff that you really don't want anymore and then trying to be a little more creative with what you had. I mean, it kind of made things a little bit more interesting. And I did, I did try to wear different outfits, probably more so than normal where I just had my GoTo things or would buy something new every time I had plans. Wow. Excuse me. Um, so how much money do you think that you've saved that year? So I was looking back at my, um, I do track all of my, um, my spending, um, with the planning software that I use. Um, the clients and I, it looked like I had spent about, I think it was, I'd have to look, but it was probably like $5,000 that I had normally spent. Just on random shopping for myself throughout the year, which is, you know, it ends up being quite a bit, you know, if you're spending like, you know, a couple hundred dollars a month or you know, maybe one month you have more.
Um, and that to me was just, um, you know, it was, it was too much based on what I actually needed. So I would say that I probably saved that much, you know, just thinking back about it. Um, because I really wasn't paying attention. Um, and so it might not seem it, you know, when you make your budget, and I know you help people with budgeting too, it's really easy to remember like the mortgage and the groceries, but people forget all those little things that they pick up, you know, when they spend $50 at target, um, on a Saturday, that might not be added into their line items when they have that budget in their head. But those, those dollars definitely add up and are, are worth tracking. So, um, it is really important to be kind of mindful about all of that spending. And then, you know, if you do say like, okay, I'm going to spend $200 and I'm going to get a pair of, you know, a new jacket because I need one, or, um, I need a pair of shoes.
You know, it's very different when you plan ahead and go into a store to find exactly what you need instead of just waiting for, you know, for like target to tell you what you need. That leads to a lot of, a lot of impulse buying and spending where you're like, why did I even do that? But then you usually move on. But now whenever you were finished with this, cause you did this last year, right? In 2018. Yeah. Um, so how did, how has your shopping changed since, I mean you're technically not doing this challenge, you know, once you were done and you could spend, how did you handle that? Yeah, so I think there was definitely some things that needed to be replaced. I think my, my workout clothes were probably the most, they were in the worst shape. Um, and I think there was a pair of sweat pants and my husband was like out.
And I think I had a, like a Yukon sweatshirt that I still, I still hold onto even though it is falling apart. Um, but yeah, so there was some things that I said like, okay, I'm going to, you know, I'm going to try to find, you know, a few more pairs of workout pants, but I would do it very mindfully. So like if I wanted to go to a store like old Navy, I would no what I wanted. I would look on my phone for coupons or deals before I went. So I would do all of these things that make you think so when you plan ahead, it's very, it's, it's easier than getting, you know, sucked away and doing something, you know, that you never intended to do. So I would almost have like lists of that I wanted, I would know which coupon code or whatever I wanted to use.
Um, sometimes I would buy it online if that just kept it easier. Um, but a lot of times I would still go to a store cause that's another hurdle to actually have to get up, get dressed, go where you need to go look at it and decide that that's something you want. Um, and I would kind of stick to it. Um, I don't, um, I still see some things that I, you know, that I like on other people, you know, but I have to, I've started to be better at realizing like sometimes it's just okay to see somebody look really nice and tell them that I love those boots or I love your dress and move on because that's what I had done the whole last year. It didn't mean I have to have that or me at five foot two would look anything like the person that I might've seen wearing a pair of skinny jeans with a perfectly, they're like look completely different on me.
So I kind of, you know, spent a little bit more like less time feeling like that envious or that kind of, you know, Oh I have to go do that thing or look that way. And kind of tried to figure out what looks best on me and, and stop buying things that maybe I just liked on other people. Yeah. So that I would wear it more or that I would actually use it. So yeah. So I kind of just have very, like when I, when I do shop, it's usually I still like, you know, if I have a gift card that that's kind of fun to spend it, but I'm just a little bit more, you know, Mmm. Clear on what I actually really need and what I, I know what I have now, which is much better to actually know what, what your little inventory is.
And I do, um, I do like consignment. Um, I do give, you know, sell a lot of clothes at a consignment store that opened recently. And I do, um, I kind of have read a little bit about like fast fashion and like its impact on the planet, um, and all of the clothes that are really meant to be worn for one season and just end up in landfills. And, and I really kind of started thinking about that too, cause that that helped me, you know, reading things of course that kind of support some of your, your goals and opinions. And that made me think about how much we're actually buying and consuming that right. Maybe we could get secondhand or we could, um, give away some of our stuff when we need to and give it to other people. So that kind of helped me think about like, okay, do I really need to buy one more thing or am I good?
Like do I have enough shoes or could I, could I wear something different? Um, and that, that kind of, um, with some of those, those triggers and thinking about what else I could do instead. So if somebody listening is wanting to do a no spin challenge, you know, cause I really advocate for that for just, you know, resetting your shopping habits and just trying to rein in your budget and things like that. Maybe not necessarily for a whole year, which is no, not a bad idea at all. If you really want to make some good progress. But let's say a long time. So even if they're wanting to just do two weeks or a month or something like that, what kind of tips would you give them to kind of help make it easier for them? Yeah, so I think, you know, and I, not everybody's a writer, but you don't, you don't have to be.
But I do think if you, if you write down what your goals are, um, I think that that could be helpful. Um, you know, I told plenty of people what I was doing. Nobody necessarily wanted to join me, blame them, but I told them, you know, what I was doing and why. And sometimes even just saying things like that, um, will make, like, even if you say, I'm going to go to the gym in the morning and you told one more person who's planning to see you there, you're more likely to go. Um, you know, so I think that that was something I did. Um, and I, I told people what I was doing, I did use journaling and stuff as a, you know, I, I did start writing down certain things, you know, that if you're trying to give up something, you know, start your morning writing down some things that you have already in that you're grateful for it, it'll kind of make you feel a little bit less, um, just a little bit better.
You know, I think it's just a good way to kind of start your day with like a good mindset, especially if you're trying to give something up or say you're going on a diet or doing a cleanse or trying to stop drinking for a month, you know, anything like that. If you, if you start by thinking about like all of the things you want to accomplish during the day and some of the great things that you've already got going on, um, it just makes it easier because you're already in a good space. And then I think like tracking the budgeting was, was good. I, um, I saw, you know, my savings increased. I was able to, you know, to, to see a positive, you know, throughout the year, you know, positive growth. So even if you just wanted to stop spending, um, you know, maybe you feel like you're, you're spending too much or you want to spend less on takeout and you more at restaurant starts put that money that you would normally have used and either put it in a savings account or even if it's just for a week or a month, you could put it like in a jar in your house, you know, and that, that helps to kind of show progress.
And then it's like, okay, well if I was normally spending, you know, $5 a day on, you know, on lunch and I stopped doing that, you know, by the end of the month you might be like, okay, I can actually, like I could start an investment account with this, with this money, I could do a lot of different things. And so I think that that's kind of Mmm important. And if you know what you're like, one of the things that I do sometimes with, with clients that are kind of like feeling like they're not acquiring any, any wealth or they feel like they make good money and they don't know where it goes, it's really good to kind of narrow down what yeah, real values are. So I was spending all this money on shopping, but that's not one of my top five values in my life. That's not my family.
That's not education, that's not independence or you know, entrepreneurs. It's none of those things. And so when I stopped spending money in different areas that if I couldn't ask myself like, does this support, you know, the things that I care about, um, and if the answer was no, then it was easy to change my mind. Where, you know, if buying a course online was helping me do better in my business or with my writing, that was very easy for me to say. Like, yes, I can. This makes me feel good. I do, I won't regret this purchase. Even if you know, you know, just adding to like some education or I learned something. And so kind of like knowing what you really, really want to do and care about and then making sure that your money supports that most of the time can make it a lot easier to kind of accomplish those bigger goals.
And, and even if you just said, okay, if you set a goal to, you know, stop spending for a month after that month, it might be a lot easier to be like, okay, wow, I don't miss it or look what I accomplished and I could kind of keep going. Like definitely like unsubscribing to some of those emails can definitely, it's really like, it's really overwhelming. We see so many ads every day, um, that it's, it's almost like getting to be too noisy. Where I like every other thing is a sponsored ad or a post and it's like, Oh, this is really just a sales tool. It's not necessarily like, you know, connecting me or seeing pictures of families and friends. It's usually some sort of sales. So just to be kind of mindful of that and aware of it instead of feeling like, wow, how did they know that I needed this?
Yeah, exactly. I only thought that, how do they know? How are they here? Like are they in my, in my head, in my computer and um, yeah, just trying to, if you can, you know, block out some of that noise and focus on more of the things that really light you up. Yeah. That's great. So what do you think was the biggest thing that you've learned from this experience? Um, I think biggest thing that I learned was like actually spending some time on my, you know, my [inaudible] looking at like what my thoughts and feelings were. Because a lot of times I would go straight from something happening to reacting. Like I had a bad day or I'm lonely in this town and I, you know, I don't travel home until, you know, two days from now, instead of thinking, okay, how does that make me feel?
Is this the right role for me? What should I do? You know, I would just go shop. So instead of going straight from this circumstance, which is real, like I'm in a different city or I had a difficult, or I'm tired and thinking about, you know, doing something to correct it, I would jump straight to, all right, I'm going to do something that'll make me feel better right away. And I think that's how any habit, any, any behavior happens is just repeating it several times and then eventually you don't even notice you're doing it. So I do spend a lot more time writing down, you know, things that I'm, I'm thinking and feeling and then like how could I think about this or feel about this a different way. And like I know you talk to people who are in a lot of debt and I talked to people too that say I have $100,000 worth of debt.
I feel so terrible. I, I hate my thought. You know, I'm feel so guilty. But it's like, it's just a fact that you owe, this is not in money. Like you can change your thoughts, you can change your feelings and have a different action, a different, a different response to the situation and then the results changed. So, you know, I think that that's kind of something that this whole process has helped me with to kind of think about things well in a lot more depth and then respond in a way that's helpful to me or to my family instead of just feeling a certain way about money because money's difficult and it's not something we're all trained to, to do well with or to understand. And so I think we see it as a very emotional thing when it's really just dollars and you can have a plan to do different things with your money, whether it's get out of debt or save money to start a business or to send someone to school or retire. It's really just, we put the emotion behind it. So that's something that we can kind of control.
That's, that's very true. That's a really good point. Um, so just to kind of wrap up here, I do love to ask people what their favorite nonfiction book is. You know, just self-improvement and working on yourself, just like you did with, uh, you know, not shopping as much or not shopping for a whole year and you know, the things that you learned along the way. So, um, what is one of your favorite novels?
Fiction books? You know, I picked up a book this summer and, um, and I was in Cape Cod visiting my mother-in-law and, um, it's called man's search for meaning by Viktor Frankl. [inaudible]. It's an interesting nonfiction, very short read, but he survived concentration camp and he was, um, he was a psychiatrist when he went in and just reading about the way that he used his brains who help him survive, like the worst situation possible and the way he helped other people survive. And what happened when he saw people who gave up or who, you know, who were just dealing with things in a different way. So, um, it's something that I think anybody could read and, um, you know, it's, it's been around for, for a long time, but that's probably one of those books that like when you feel a little bit out of control or maybe a little bit lost, like it's, it's super fascinating and like very inspiring to just see how,
you know,
you know, decades later in different situations that whatever's going on in the world, like we all have this very powerful tool right inside our own heads that, um, maybe we could all use a little bit differently. Um, and just to, to get through, you know, difficult times.
Yeah. I'll have to add that to the list. I've got a whole list growing now since [inaudible]. I mean, it's, it's, it's a
quick read. It's less than a hundred. It's less than 200 pages. Oh, okay. A tiny book that you could sit in your, in your purse. Um, it just, you know, it's just fascinating. I like hearing stories about people, you know, and they're, and what motivates them and inspires them. And this was, this was one that I think probably is inspired a lot of, a lot of writers, a lot of the, you know, the, um, Adam grants and assignments and acts like the people, the big thinkers that we see now, like have, you know, kind of cited. This book is one that kind of changed their whole opinion on everything.
Wow. And it's nice that it's a quick read. Yeah, no, I know. Those are great too, especially if you like to go back and reread things or you just like to have them, you know, a little coffee stash away somewhere, but quick one, but it's good. Good. Um, and where can people find you? Sure. Okay. So, um,
my website is relatable, wealth.com and you can also find me on [inaudible] Twitter at relatable well and Facebook at relatable wealth and on Instagram at Misty Lynch CFP.
Awesome. Thank you so much for joining me today and I look forward to talking to you soon. Great. Thank you so much for having me. Thanks.

Special Guest: Misty Lynch.