Dealing with debt can be a grind, especially if you have a ton of debt or if it is high interest. Today we’re going to see how the debt lasso method can speed things up with credit card debts and we’ll get tips on how to pay off over six figures of debt without sacrificing fun! Creating a Plan to Pay Off Your Debts One of the most popular goals families make when it comes to money is paying off their debts and with good reason. Even before the pandemic, debts were a considerable chunk of an aver...
Jan 12, 2021•37 min
Most parents have their hands full and too many times our finances, health, and homes don’t get the attention they should. We go over how you can reset your habits so you simplify your finances, home, and lives to enjoy some big wins this year! Reworking Your Habits For multiple reasons, 2020 was a challenging year. Even if you weren’t directly affected by the pandemic or managed to avoid the financial fallout of it, chances are you were impacted by what was happening. If you’re a parent, you ha...
Jan 05, 2021•34 min
Get a peek into how we did with our goals for this year and see how you can do your year review and set yourself up for an incredible 2021! Year-End Review and Planning for 2021 What a year, what a year! We still have another month, but most people I know are kind of winding down. As we wrap up this 10th season, I thought I’d share a bit of our year-end review. We started 2020 with three big goals. The first two happened at the same time – no the original plan- but we worked with it. Hopefully, ...
Nov 26, 2020•23 min•Season 10Ep. 30
How well is your money working for you ? Today we’re looking at how personal finance can be more holistic and reflective of what most to you through financial wellness! Financial Wellness: A Holistic Approach to Money How did this year go for you? I have not met one person yet who has had it go as they expected. Even if you were financially prepared – emergency fund, debts are paid off are in the process of being knocked out, things shifted. As I talked about in the last episode, we had expenses...
Nov 18, 2020•24 min•Season 10Ep. 29
We’ve brought back the reader mailbag. Today we’re answering your questions about marriage and money! Reader Mailbag One of my favorite parts of Couple Money is the community. Having you be a part of this has definitely made the work more enjoyable. Whenever I hear from you about what you’re working on, questions you have, or ideas you think will be helpful, I’m happy. When I started Couple Money 11 years ago, it was basically a journal of us and our journey of paying off debt. Then you came in ...
Nov 12, 2020•24 min•Season 10Ep. 28
Learn how you can move your money and switch to a new bank or credit union! Ready to Switch to a New Bank? A bad bank or credit union can not only be a headache, but it can also slow you down as you try to build your finances. Between the excessive/hidden fees, bad customer service, and low-interest rates on savings, it’s understandable if you’re frustrated. You may be wondering, what’s the point of keeping your money there? That’s basically how we felt when we dealing with our old banks. When m...
Nov 05, 2020•18 min•Season 10Ep. 27
If you think talking about money with each other is hard, try talking to your parents. Today we’re getting into one of the money sensitive situations when it comes to marriage and money – making sure your parents are in a good spot during their golden years. Taking Care of Parents Family and finances can be stressful. But typically makes it so difficult is how easily our emotions get involved. Talking with your parents about money. Is red at the top of the list. It can definitely be awkward, but...
Oct 29, 2020•19 min•Season 10Ep. 26
One of the biggest game-changers with our finances was shifting things so we could live on one income. However, that’s not always an easy thing to do. Today I’ll break down strategies and tactics that we and other couples have used to make it easier! Living on One Income I’m serious; if we had to identify the one habit that changed the trajectory of our finances, it’s moving finances in such a way that we could live with just one income. Here’s the thing – when we started it was out of practical...
Oct 22, 2020•23 min•Season 10Ep. 25
Have you paid off your debts and are looking to grow your money beyond savings? Learn how to create a strategy and plan so you can open and invest in your brokerage account! Ready to Open and Invest in a Brokerage Account? If you would’ve met us when we were first married and told me that we’d get to a point where we were investing besides for retirement, I probably would’ve laughed at you. Considering at that time we were start off with over $30,000 of debt living in our tiny apartment right by...
Oct 14, 2020•21 min•Season 10Ep. 24
‘All Investment Mistakes Are Investor Mistakes’ Is that really true? Today we’ll dig in and see how to avoid making the most common mistakes with your investments! Avoiding Big Mistakes with Investments ‘ All Investment Mistakes Are Investor Mistakes ’ I saw that headline in an older article in The NY Times. Based on personal experience when I first started out, speaking with others on the podcast, and hearing from the community, there’s some truth to that. I’ve gotten emails and heard from othe...
Oct 08, 2020•15 min•Season 10Ep. 23
Want to maximize your 401(k) this year? The first step to doing that is figuring out how much to contribute. Today we discuss how much you need to put in to retire! Getting the Most Out of Your 401(k) We’re wrapping our open enrollment series. The past couple of episodes we’ve discussed what you need to know with your benefits so you can make the right choices for you and your family. Health insurance is a huge one, but the other big one is your 401(k). Last week Matt Miner, a certified financia...
Oct 01, 2020•13 min•Season 10Ep. 22
Are you two dealing with a ton of debt? Hear how Brian and his wife have managed to pay off $100,000 in debt while raising their three kids! How to Pay Off a Ton of Debt Together After all the prep, sweat, and tears, the first episode of the Couple Money Podcast is up! For the premiere show, it’s all about debt, specifically getting out of debt faster and getting rid of massive amounts of debt. The guest on today’s episode is Brian from Debt Discipline . He and his wife have managed to pay off $...
Sep 24, 2020•23 min•Season 1Ep. 1
Learn how you can navigate open enrollment season and maximize your benefits to their fullest potential! Making the Most of Your Benefits When we began our series about open enrollment last week, we got into some key things to consider when weighing the pros and cons of different health insurance options. While health insurance is typically the biggest decision couples and families make during open enrollment, it’s not the only one. There are so many benefits that can save you some serious money...
Sep 23, 2020•30 min•Season 10Ep. 21
Feel like your premiums are too expensive? Learn how you can significantly save money and find an affordable health insurance plan for your family! Choosing an Affordable Health Insurance Plan Like many families, we want affordable health insurance. Unfortunately, it’s not always easy. In 2019, the average annual premium for a family was over $20,000 ! That’s quite a bit of money so it’s absolutely crucial that you’re 1) getting the most out of it and 2) if there is a more affordable option, you...
Sep 16, 2020•16 min•Season 10Ep. 20
Today we’ll go over how the two of you can boost your savings rate while still enjoying some fun now! Why Your Savings Rate Matters Last week we talked about three key numbers to track and master your money and one of them was your savings rate . How much you save on your income can have an incredible impact on how fast you reach your big financial goals. Here’s the thing, though, unless you have a stash of cash under in house or an inheritance coming up soon, that money is probably coming out o...
Sep 09, 2020•19 min•Season 10Ep. 19
If tracking your money is so important, what are the key numbers couples need to know? We’ll get into the three to keep an eye on, and the real deal about credit scores! Why Tracking Your Money is Key to Mastering It You hear these stories of couples who got out of debt, became financially independent, travel the world, started a business..basically enjoying life. They all have different paths they take to get there – debt snowball, avalanche to become debt free. They’re saving 20, 30, or even h...
Sep 02, 2020•17 min•Season 10Ep. 18
Debt can be a huge weight on any couple’s budget. We cover three major ways you can start paying it off faster. We also get into how to open up if you’re carrying debt and haven’t told your spouse! Getting Back To Dumping Debt As if the pandemic isn’t enough stress, millions of families have to deal with the financial fallout. And If you’ve had to deal with job loss, reduced hours at work, or uncertainty at your job about its stability, these past few months you’re hyper aware of your cash flow....
Aug 27, 2020•19 min•Season 10Ep. 17
If 2020 has proved anything, it’s that we need to have a budget that actually works. Today we’ll dive in to see how you two can build a budget that fits you and your goals! Build a Better Budget Together I think a lot of people can appreciate why budgets matter because now more than ever, we’re seeing like our finances are reflecting our lives. For those of us who’ve been hit hard by the pandemic, either directly or indirectly, the budget has had to be completely redone. But even if things are r...
Aug 19, 2020•24 min•Season 10Ep. 16
Here are some key takeaways to help you get through and start building some financial stability! Pivoting Your Finances Through New Habits I hope you are doing well, are safe, and healthy. We’re just starting June but I think Jason Vitug pointed out on Twitter, “This is indeed the longest shortest year ever.” I started this mini-series after the pandemic created a hard stop on so many things. Things are starting open up, but many couples in our community are still dealing with the financial fall...
Jun 04, 2020•33 min
We know we need an emergency fund, but how can we do that in the middle of the coronavirus crisis? Today we’ll share the strategies you can use now to get a jumpstart on saving! How to Save Money Right now many states are opening up , but we’re still encouraged to stay home as much as possible. And that’s most likely affected you on several levels, including your finances. Last episode, we discussed steps you can take to shore up your budget and handle the bills when you’re dealing with a job lo...
May 21, 2020•21 min
Many families are dealing with the financial fallout from the coronavirus, including losing their income and jobs. See how you can adjust your budget and get the resources you need to ride out these tough times! How to Cope with Job Loss As of right now, around 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment in the past six weeks . Besides the health risk of coronavirus – which should NOT be ignored or downplayed – a huge concern of this crisis is the financial fallout. How do we keep going thr...
May 06, 2020•35 min
Today we’re going to jump in on ways you can adjust your finances during the coronavirus crisis to get through these tough times! Getting Your Finances Stabilized During the Coronavirus Crisis Even though it’s been less than a month since schools closed here in Raleigh, it feels like a lifetime ago. And chances are things can feel that way to you. Right now it’s estimated that over 300 million here in America are under stay at home orders . I truly hope that you’re doing well and that you’re abl...
Apr 08, 2020•18 min•Season 10Ep. 15
For many couples, getting their house to sell for top dollar can help them hit crucial financial goals. Today we’ll go over what you need to know to get a great price when selling your home! Selling Your House for Top Dollar Before we begin, I want to give a disclaimer that this episode’s topic and interview were done before the volatile landscape we find ourselves with the stay at home order in NC due to the coronavirus. I’m releasing it now for a few reasons: At some point in the future, these...
Apr 01, 2020•19 min•Season 10Ep. 14
No one likes to think about it, but preparing for the unexpected can give you some peace of mind now and protect your loved ones later! This is the essential guide to will s and estate planning for busy parents! Creating or Updating Your Will So heads- this episode’s topic and interview was planned and done before things changed these last few weeks due to co-vid 19. I say this because I’m not trying to add to the anxiety. I actually believe that if you are staying home and you’re healthy, now w...
Mar 25, 2020•17 min•Season 10Ep. 13
While things are really fluid right now and some big decisions are still up in the air, it's important to review and if necessary reprioritize things with your finances. Today I'm sharing 4 tips to help you prepare your finances to weather out the tough times! Resources to Manage Your Money Easier Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital , Tiller , Mint , Honeyfi Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank Automatic Saving: Qapital Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money How to F...
Mar 20, 2020•8 min
One of the stickiest situations with couples is dealing with lending money to family. Find out different ways you can help without putting your own finances in jeopardy! Should We Loan Money to Family and Friends? Lending money to friends and family can be a tough situation. No matter how objective you think you are or want to be, emotions can run high. As you just heard with Jen, she and her husband weren’t seeing eye to eye on how they could help their loved ones. I totally get it – we’ve been...
Mar 18, 2020•18 min•Season 10Ep. 12
Learn how you can stay on top of your money with some of the best apps while also protecting your finances, privacy, and data! Finding the Best Money Apps for Couples Chances are if you’re listening to this podcast you do a lot of your banking and finances digitally. In a survey by Federal Reserve Bank, they found that 71% of bank customers regularly use online banking and 43% use mobile . For us, the convenience is hard to beat. I can do pretty much everything I need from home or my phone, incl...
Mar 12, 2020•24 min•Season 10Ep. 11
Carla Titus shares the realities of running a profitable business from home and how she and her husband created a system that fits their goals and family life! The Realities of Starting a Side Hustle from Home Nowadays it’s become more common for couples and families to diversify their income. Whether it’s because they looking to knock out some debt, save up for a house or another goal, or they want to pivot their career, couples are looking at side hustles. We’ve had several episodes about the ...
Mar 05, 2020•22 min•Season 10Ep. 10
Most couples marry their financial opposite, which can be a blessing or a recipe for disaster. Learn how you two can become a team and create a budget and money system you both love! Marrying Your Financial Opposite Did you know that 75% of divorced couples cite money as the cause of their marital issues? With something causing that big of any issue, you’d think we’d try to become more proactive with making sure that finances But for many couples, the conversations don’t happen. There’s a tenden...
Feb 27, 2020•28 min•Season 10Ep. 9
It’s not uncommon for a spouse to have a secret credit card or have more debt than they’ve told. Financial infidelity can ruin a marriage. Learn how you can set up a financial system that allows you to be open and honest with your finances and work together with money! Financial Infidelity in Your Marriage In this episode we’ll get into: Red flags or signs that financial infidelity might be an issue Working to regain trust after financial infidelity Creating an open and transparent system for yo...
Feb 20, 2020•22 min•Season 10Ep. 8
