The Debt Free Mom Podcast (Carly Hill)

It is so easy to focus on what makes our own finances the exception to the rule.

• Why other people can budget, but we can't.
• Why other people can put money in savings, but we can't.
• Why other people can eat food from home, but we can't.

But what if we started challenging ourselves to find the positive side of our financial picture, whatever that may be? Because it is there.

Today's guest has taken the challenges of variable income and learned how to plan wisely for her family, even as they face an unpaid maternity leave.

Plus, Kyle joins Carly for a brand new segment we're trying out called Financial Fortune Cookie. If you love it or (if hate it), let us know what you think!

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Let us build your budget for you! Send in your numbers - spending, income, frustrations, and goals - and we'll send you back a crystal clear picture of your finances with practical advice you can use to improve you money situation and reach your goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom

As many of you know, I was diagnosed with ADHD in my early thirties. It was a major learning process for me and still is. On today's episode, Shawn comes on to share his experience having ADHD and learning to manage his finances. Shawn's been married for 23 years, has two kids ages 21 and 15, and he works as a computer programmer. Today we talk about his struggles and successes with learning to budget towards the way that his brain is uniquely wired.

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com

Today's episode is all about something I have never done before, moving across the world for six months and doing it all debt free! Aneisha is a freelance bookkeeper who has always described herself as a saver. She started using the Debt Free Mom Pay Period Budget Template about two years ago and used this tool to help her and her husband spend half of 2023 in Southeast Asia. We chat about how she planned their trip, how they created and stuck to a budget while traveling, and what else is possible when you have a clear & accurate picture of your finances.

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

I talk about grocery spending and feeding my family well on a relatively low budget all the time, but I live in the rural Midwest, the heart of farm country where grocery prices are relatively low. What about when you live somewhere with a high cost of living like San Diego, California? Today's guest, Allie Powell, also known on Instagram as Grocery Getting Girl, is here to share about grocery shopping and meal planning for her family in such a high cost of living area. She talks about how to decide where to grocery shop, how to by in bulk the right way, and how to find time to cook at home when your schedule is packed.

Kyle also returns for another segment of Not Worth Your Money where we discuss a recent controversy over Wendy's food prices.

Connect with Alli Powell to get more of her great food spending advice:

• Instagram: @grocerygettinggirl
• Website: https://grocerygettinggirl.com/

Alli also wrote a book called "How to Save on Groceries." If you're listening to this in March of 2024, later this month in the Care Creates Community I'm going to do a live call talking to the members about grocery spending and meal planning. We will be giving away three copies of Alli's book. She's generously given us a few copies to get it out into a lot of hands, but this giveaway will only be available to members of the Care Creates Community. Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by becoming a member today for just $9/month at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

When it comes to finding a budget method that works well for you, I always say, if it works well for you, then it works! It doesn't have to work for other people. One thing that doesn't really work well for me is sinking funds, but people ask about them all the time. So I asked Jessi Fearon, who is a mom of three, a finance expert, a CPA, and an author who uses sinking funds to come on today and share her experience with them and her recommendations.

Here's a few places you can connect with Jessi

• Instagram: @jessifearon
• Website: https://jessifearon.com
• Get her book, "Getting Good With Money" on Amazon.

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

What kind of pots and pans does a chef use at home? What medicine does a doctor choose for their own cold? How does an accountant manage their personal budget? In today's episode, I sat down with Nicole, who is a certified public accountant, wife, mom, and the money manager of her household. She's here to tell her story of using YNAB for a few years, but consistently finding it lacking the options and information she was looking for in a budget.

Here's a link to the Planet Money episode about Costco that Carly and Kyle talked about: https://www.npr.org/sections/money/2015/09/25/443519599/episode-653-the-anti-store

Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

YNAB is one of the major players in the world of budgeting apps. For some people, it's features like requiring a plan for each dollar, spreading savings plans evenly over time into sinking funds, or syncing with your bank accounts and credit cards are very helpful. For others, like today's guest, Sarah, it can seem like a great idea, but fall short in execution. Today we'll talk about her shift from YNAB to pay period budgeting.

You can start pay period budgeting today with the best selling $9 Mini Course & Template. Get the signature Debt Free Mom spreadsheet budget template plus some quick lessons on how to get started. Start today at debtfreemom.co/template

If you'd like to be a guest on the show and ask Carly your money questions, fill out the application at dfmpodcast.com

Join us in this episode of the Debt Free Mom Podcast as Stacie returns to share her journey of switching from monthly to bi-weekly budgeting. We dive into the challenges and benefits of aligning budget schedules with different pay periods, managing increased incomes, and strategies for forecasting expenses accurately. She also talks with me about practical tips for utilizing savings accounts, handling car insurance payments, and setting up effective budgeting templates. Get insights on the psychological impact of budgeting experiments, involving partners in financial planning, and balancing important financial goals while enjoying life's moments. Whether you're dealing with variable incomes, credit card dynamics, or just starting your budgeting journey, this conversation with Stacie offers some valuable advice.

You can listen to my previous conversation with Stacie all the way back in episode 9 - Preparing Your Budget for Variable Income with Stacie

00:38 Switching to a New Budget Tool

00:55 The Learning Curve of Budgeting by Pay Period

01:43 Benefits of Budgeting by Pay Period

01:50 Managing Multiple Income Streams

02:31 Adjusting to Bi-Weekly Budgeting

07:29 Handling Variable Expenses

12:03 Using Checking Accounts as Waiting Rooms

16:08 Collaborative Budgeting with Your Partner

20:10 Understanding the Learning Curve

20:44 Transitioning to a New Budget Template

21:14 Long-Term Financial Planning

21:58 Tracking and Adjusting Expenses

23:05 Benefits of the Budget Template

23:56 Planning for Future Expenses

24:57 Achieving Financial Goals

32:57 Managing Credit Card Payments

37:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

We're going to be taking a break from putting out new episodes for a little bit as we slow down on a few things and enjoy the rest of our family's summer break. You might see a replay of some of my favorite episodes here and there, but we're hitting pause with new episodes until the fall. 

If you have ideas for what you would like to hear from this show in our next season, send me an email at carly@debtfreemom.co with the subject line "podcast" and let me know what you think.

Enjoy your summer, and we'll be back in the fall with more episodes of the Debt Free Mom podcast!

In our first episode of 2025, we welcome back a DFM Podcast favorite, Tyler Moore, famously known as Tidy Dad. Tyler shares insights about his new book, 'Tidy Up Your Life,' which explores the deep connection between mental clarity and a tidy, organized living space. Tyler also shares his personal journey of balancing life in New York City with his family, the concept of 'just enough,' and practical strategies for decluttering the various areas of his life. We also discuss how responsibilities at home can be shared, outsourced, or eliminated to focus on what truly matters. I know you'll love this incredible and insightful discussion about tidying up not just our homes, but our minds and lives.

Get Tyler's new book "Tidy Up Your Life" at thetidydad.com

Key Highlights:

• 02:38 The Importance of Mental and Physical Decluttering
• 16:13 Defining 'Just Enough'
• 31:02 Sharing, Outsourcing, and Eliminating Responsibilities

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

In the previous episode, I talked to Jessi Fearon about sinking funds: how she uses them, why she uses them, and how they are helpful in her budget. I thought it would be helpful to record my own episode talking about why I choose not to use sinking funds.

Like I said in the conversation with Jessi, I don't think sinking funds a bad thing. I think that a lot of people could benefit from them, especially if you're trying to go from having no budget or organization behind your money to wanting to be on top of handling unexpected expenses. In today's episode, I'm going to talk about why I use saving sprints instead of sinking funds. My hope is that you'll be able to find a method that works for you, not that you'll be convinced that one is objectively better than the other.

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Our Feed the Family mini series continues with a replay of my conversation with Amy Cross - an expert in food storage and preservation. She shares practical approaches to reducing food waste and spending even while accommodating food allergies, sensitivities, picky eaters, and everything in between. Listen to what Amy has to share today about making the most of our grocery budget.

You can find Amy Cross on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thecrosslegacy), and on her website (https://www.thecrosslegacy.com).

Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at https://debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at https://dfmpodcast.com.

Are you in a season of waiting when it comes to your money? Where you know some big change is coming in the near future, but it's not there yet. What do you do in the meantime? What do you do while you're waiting? Should you try to grow the gap between your income and expenses? Or should you just be okay with a different timeline than you maybe thought initially? Alexandrea is a single mom and a teacher's aide getting her teaching degree. In today's episode, we talk about when to be okay with saving and when to be okay with spending.

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

I want you to notice the first couple of things that come to your mind when I hear the words "frugal living." For some reason, these words tend to carry so much baggage. There are so many negative thoughts around the idea of living frugally. Today on the podcast we have Jen Smith, who is personal finance expert and the co host of Frugal Friends podcast. Since paying off $78,000 worth of debt, Jen has been on a mission to help people spend in alignment with their values. She joins the Debt Free Mom podcast to talk about how frugal is not an F word.

You can connect with Jen over at the Frugal Friends podcast:

@frugalfriendspodcast on Instagram 

jen@frugalfriendspodcast.com

www.frugalfriendspodcast.com

Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Welcome to the first episode of our mini series, Feed the Family.

This episode kicks off a very special month with Debt Free Mom. On the podcast, in the community, and on Instagram, we are taking the entire month of March to talk about feeding the family. In today's episode, I set the stage for the month. What are the ground rules? What are the things we will be focusing on when it comes to feeding the family and what will we not? Why does it matter to talk about eating most of our meals at home?

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

We usually know what goals we want to accomplish in the future, but we also need to look back on what we have already done! Today I fly through a decade of our personal finance progress in less than 30 minutes. "We overestimate what we can accomplish in one year and underestimate what we can accomplish in a decade." -Bill Gates

For a more detailed story of our money including details and numbers, check out Episodes 19, 20, and 22 of the podcast!

Want to know one of the most common budget categories I see with a note that says, "I would love to add this someday!" when I'm building custom budgets? It's giving. Most people want to give to causes and organizations they love, but many struggle to fit it into their budget or think that the amount they can give won't matter. Today, I'm chatting with Nathan Hill from NextAfter about the impact you can make through giving regardless of the dollar amount.

You can find out more about what Nathan's doing with NextAfter at decodinggenerosity.com/

Learn how to confidently move from stuck to stable in your finances with the budget system that's build around your unique pay periods. Pay Period Budget Academy gives you everything that you need to grow your confidence, contentment, and your net worth. Join Pay Period Budget Academy today at debtfreemom.co/pba, and use the code PODCAST at checkout to get 20% off!

You should be a guest on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Head over to dfmpodcast.com to fill out the guest application and talk with Carly about your money questions, triumphs, and insights.

On this episode of the Debt Free Mom podcast, I am answering one of your most frequent questions: How the heck am I supposed to budget if my income is variable? I understand how frustrating this can be and why it seems like it would prevent you from being able to budget. About a year and a half ago, our family went from a set salary paycheck to fully self employed with a highly variable income. The way we manage our business budget connects our personal paycheck to our revenue. As our revenue goes up, our paycheck will be higher, but if the following month our revenue is lower, our personal paycheck is also going to be lower.

There were many reasons that transitioning from salaried position to self employed were a challenge, both personally as Kyle went from working outside of the home to working inside the home, as I increased how frequently I was working, and also as we added this stress of more risk, more variable, more unpredictable.

So in this episode, I'm going to share our experience of making that transition and then answer some of your most frequent questions about how to budget when you have a variable income. 

Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Are there rules to budgeting? And if there are, do you have to follow them? In this first episode back after my summer break, I have a wonderful conversation with Jessica who shares her personal journey managing finances for her rural Michigan family of five. Jessica dives into the pros and cons she has found in using budgeting tools like EveryDollar and YNAB and why budgeting by pay period has led to more rational spending behaviors without being overwhelmed. We also dive into the importance of teaching kids about financial responsibility and incorporating budgeting as a seamless part of daily life.

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

What do you do when you're ready to budget and send money to goals but your spouse isn't? Today's episode is with Rachel Parker who is a wife, a mom of two, and a teacher's assistant. Rachel and her husband realized that they needed to clean up their finances in a big way. Now they're working through building a realistic budget and learning to stick to it. So what can we do when one person is more motivated than the other?

Rachel and I chat about:

• Committing to stay on the same team even when your priorities are different
• Finding ways to celebrate your progress as you work toward long term goals
• Deciding on incentives that will get both people excited about sticking to your plan

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Today I'm excited to share my conversation with you from my new friends Stacie & Meghan from Didn't I Just Feed You.

Didn’t I Just Feed You is a weekly podcast hosted by long-time food professionals, Stacie Billis and Meghan Splawn, all about feeding our families — even for parents who hate to cook. (Because, man, kids need to eat a lot, and all the time too!) Every week, Stacie and Meghan get real about feeding kids, tweens, and teens. From how to turn nachos into dinner to making tofu delicious, the magic of meatballs to cracking the meal planning code, Stacie and Meghan share their hard-earned kitchen wisdom on everything from cooking techniques to managing the mental load of being the family cook — all while keeping it real, funny, and non-judgemental. Because at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter that they’ve written cookbooks and worked on top TV cooking shows: they’re just two moms trying to get dinner on the table too.

Didn’t I Just Feed You is available on iTunes, Spotify, Stitcher, Google Play, or anywhere you get your favorite podcasts. You can learn more on didntijustfeedyou.com/debtfreemom or find them on Instagram as @didntijustfeedyou.

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Join us for the FREE Know Your Numbers Challenge starting Sunday, January 7th. It's 5 days of email prompts to help you gather your real numbers and reflect on your approach to your finances this upcoming year.

Disclaimer: This episode was entirely recorded, edited, and uploaded by Carly while Kyle was sick in bed. This is not the norm. If anything seems off to our tried and true listeners, that would be why. Happy New Year, DFM Family!

Do you find yourself building budgets that look great on paper, but then once your pay period starts, you struggle to stay consistent? In this episode of the Debt Free Mom podcast, our guest Ali, a social worker, wife, and mom, delves into her personal challenges with creating budgets that work on paper but fail in practice. She discusses the additional struggles of managing finances with ADHD, offering a unique perspective on staying financially consistent while navigating the complexities of budgeting and money management.

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Today I’m talking with Kalei as she explores what it will take to adjust the family’s finances around an unpaid maternity leave that’s about 3 months away. Kalei is a military spouse and mom of 1, soon to be 2. Her husband’s role with the Army recently moved their family to Alaska, and they’ve been adjusting to life away from extended family as well as a much higher cost of living than they were used to. Kalei completed a custom budget with me not too long ago, so part of our time together will be diving into what she learned about her finances and her options moving forward.

Purchase your own Custom Budget from Debt Free Mom by visiting debtfreemom.co/custom

Apply to be a guest on the show at dfmpodcast.com

Could your budget survive giving up your primary income? That's the question that my guest today desperately wanted to answer. Debbie was a registered nurse making six figures, but wanted to switch her focus to taking care of her family at home. Without ever having used a spreadsheet before she dove headfirst into the debt-free mom pay period budget. You'll learn from her experience of untangling the complicated emotions surrounding money and learn that it's never too late to take control of your finances.

If you'd like to join me as a guest on the show, go to dfmpodcast.com

How do you stay on track with your budget when unexpected expenses pop up? Today's episode covers a lot of practical ways to prepare for those unplanned charges. If you find yourself stressed out or discouraged when the unexpected happens, I know you'll take away something helpful from my conversation with Kellianne.

Become a member of Pay Period Budget Academy at debtfreemom.co/pba.

Apply to be a guest on the podcast at dfmpodcast.com.

The Debt Free Mom Podcast launches with the first three episodes on Monday, February 6th, 2023. Subscribe today on your favorite podcast platform to get the episodes as soon as they release.

If you'd like to apply to be a guest on the show, visit dfmpodcast.com.

Managing your personal finances is a challenge. We all know that, but now try managing small business finances, knowing that what you do in one will affect the other. My conversation today is with Danielle Hardesty, a photographer who is managing both small business and personal finances. We dive into ways to set up business finances so that you as the business owner, make sure you're covering your expenses without forgetting to pay yourself.

Start Budgeting by pay period today with the Debt Free Mom $9 Mini Course + Template at debtfreemom.co/template.

Get the book "Profit First" by Mike Michalowicz on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/3DBjmoM

Find Danielle Hardesty Photography online here: https://www.instagram.com/daniellehardestyphotography/

When your savings takes a hit, how do you bounce back? Today, I'm talking with Jess about how to build back her emergency fund after several big expenses set them back last year. We'll get into the details about navigating saving among all your other good goals, like paying down a van loan, investing for retirement, and still having fun with the family. How can we prioritize our money goals when the right choice isn't obvious? We'll talk about all of that with Jess on this episode.

Join Pay Period Budget Academy at debtfreemom.co/pba.

Visit dfmpodcast.com to apply to join me as a guest on the show!

When your income is seasonal and hard to plan for, building a budget might not seem possible. That's where Sydney was before starting to use the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template for her personal finances. Sydney admits that she's not a numbers person, but she's looking to grow in her budgeting skills while using those same money principles for her small business. We talk about the temptations of impulse, shopping, finding freedom in a budget instead of restriction, and creating a sustainable plan for her growing business. 

You can become a member of Pay Period Budget Academy at debtfreemom.co/pba, and use the code PODCAST for 20% off your membership.

To apply to be a guest on the show, visit www.dfmpodcast.com

There's something that happens when we're in the middle of working towards a big goal. We get so focused on what's right in front of us that we sometimes forget we actually have time to continue working on bigger goals later. As I talk with Kate today, she's focused on using her husband's three yearly bonuses to become debt-free and dream up what the future could look like. when they're able to use these bonuses as true extra, and I know you will get a lot from this conversation.

Get your Custom Budget from Debt Free Mom at debtfreemom.co/custom.

Join Carly as a guest on the show! Fill out the application with your money question at dfmpodcast.com

Chasing after your next money goal can be so exciting and energizing, especially when you're starting to see progress. But when things start to get a little difficult, it can derail all the momentum you've built. Kate is early in her journey of pay period budgeting, but she started to hit a few roadblocks on the way to her goals. We talk about how to pace yourself when the finish line seems far away, avoiding burnout, and staying motivated when you have experienced setbacks.

Get the Debt Free Mom Pay Period Budget template and mini course for just $9.00 at debtfreemom.co/template.

Join Carly as a guest on the show to get answers to your money questions - dfmpodcast.com

Have you ever thought about how your pay schedule might affect your budget? Today on the very first mini episode of the Debt Free Mom podcast, we're gonna dive into the four primary pay schedules, how they interact with a budget, and the disadvantages and advantages of each schedule. Being aware of how our pay schedule impacts our budget and our finances and our cash flow has a huge part in how confident we feel in both looking at our finances and planning ahead.

Do you have an income that's variable and find yourself struggling to make a budget when you don't know how much your check will be? Stacie is a nurse with wildly varying paychecks. She wants to set up her budget and bank accounts for success, even when her pay fluctuates. If you also have unpredictable income, I'm glad you're here for my conversation with Stacie.

Get your money questions answered by joining Carly as a guest on the show! Visit dfmpodcast.com to fill out the guest application.

Oftentimes when I talk about budgeting by pay period, people count themselves out from budgeting by pay period simply because their household has more than one income stream. I'm here to tell you that it's even more important to map your finances out by pay period when you have multiple income streams.

In this mini episode, I'll share the reasons it's important to budget by pay period and some practical tips on how you can get started. Visit debtfreemom.co/template to download your free Pay Period Budget Template.

How long in advance do you plan out your money? When you sit down to make a budget, are you still making a once a month budget? In this video, I'll share about not only budgeting by pay period, but budgeting by pay period farther in advance than 30 days. This is one of the keys to avoiding budget failure and creating meaningful progress toward your money goals!

If you're tired of the lack of progress in your home finances and feel like you're stuck, you might just need an outside perspective on your budget. Let the Debt Free Mom team build you a custom budget to get a crystal clear picture of where your money is going. Book your spot now at debtfreemom.co/custom

Congratulations, you got a raise! Now, what are you going to do with it? Without a plan, these hard-earned dollars can disappear quickly making it feel like you never got a raise in the first place. Hayleah is thinking hard about this question as she's preparing her family's budget for a large raise. We talk about how to prevent lifestyle inflation, enjoy the extra room in the budget while still tackling goals, and how worriers can make the best budgeters.

A custom budget will give you the confidence and insight you need to take action on your money goals. Visit debtfreemom.co/custom to book your custom budget today. 

If you'd like to join Carly as a guest on a future episode and talk through a question about your home finances, fill out the application at dfmpodcast.com.

All this budgeting talk sounds great, but what if you're currently spending more than you make? You might be counting yourself out of this budgeting conversation because you know that each month your credit card debt is growing or your savings is shrinking, or both. This is for all the people who are consistently spending more than they make - you are not the only one!

This might not be something people are willing to say online or share with those closest to them, but I want you to know that you are not the only one spending more than you make. There are things we can do to correct it. 

Start your own pay period budget today! Visit debtfreemom.co/store to download the free budget template or purchase the $9 Mini Course + Template to get also some helpful explainer videos.

Some of us have always been in the role of managing our family's finances, but other times a transition in job or relationship or family structure can land you in this role for the first time in your adult life. Cortney comes on the podcast today to talk about becoming the family's budgeter after being married for 13 years. I'm excited for you to hear her story today as she shares all the things she learned about her family's money and managing the family budget.

To start budgeting by pay period today, get the best selling DFM Pay Period Budget Template + Mini Course for only $9. You'll receive four tutorial videos on setting up a budget by pay period, a worksheet to help you gather your numbers into one place, and the signature budget by pay period template with space to plan out your money, no matter what pay schedule you have or how many income streams you're working with.

Click here to get the Debt Free Mom Template + Mini Course for just $9!

Anytime I do an audience poll about why budgeting is so hard, the number one word that comes up is "overwhelming."

• It's overwhelming to try and start.
• It's overwhelming to be in the middle of a budget and have things change.
• It's overwhelming to choose what goal you should be focusing on.

Today on the podcast with Anna, we talk about how to address this feeling of overwhelm so that she can simplify the process and simplify what it takes to track and follow the plan.

Click here to join Pay Period Budget Academy today for 20% off with the code "PODCAST" at checkout. 

Let's talk through your money questions! Join me as a guest on the show by applying at dfmpodcast.com

Lacey is a full-time accountant who has been married for nine years and they have floated in and out of being debt free, most recently a move in 2021, putting them back into debt. She lives and breathes numbers and spreadsheets professionally, but didn't find a budgeting system that stuck until trying the Debt Free Mom template. Lacey comes on today to talk about sinking funds, saving, setting aside money in advance and organizing bank accounts.

If you'd like to be a guest on the show to talk with Carly about a money issue or share your story of taking charge of your home finances, go to dfmpodcast.com and fill out the guest application.

How do we sort through our money goals? When we have big deadlines, like a baby due date, a car that won't fit the whole family, and then just a general desire to be investing more today? Jenny and I talked through a game plan for financially preparing for a new baby and then which goal is to focus on after baby arrives. Do we do the goals that just feel good or should we run the numbers first?

The Debt Free Mom Custom Budget provides you with a one-time service for building your pay period budget. We'll gather all your real numbers, your frustrations, and your goals into a plan for your next 6 pay periods. The pay period budget system cuts out the confusion for every situation:

• If you're paid weekly, monthly or anything in between,
• If you have one stream of income or 5 part-time jobs,
• If you live within your means or watch your debt grow each month,

a Custom Budget will give you clarity and confidence around your home finances. Book your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom

I started Debt Free Mom in March of 2019. We were debt-free, we had three kids, and we were about to buy our first house. But we had also been married for over seven years, and the way our finances looked over those seven years was nothing like it looked when I started Debt Free Mom. So I thought to close out season one of the Debt Free Mom podcast, I would take three episodes to break down our story, Kyle and my story of money management and learning what we needed to do with our money no matter where our income was at from the time that we got married in December of 2011 all the way up to today. The big picture story I want to tell is from debt, to debt-free, to Debt Free Mom.

Visit debtfreemom.co/template to start budgeting by pay period today with this best selling template and mini course for only $9. You'll receive four tutorial videos on setting up a budget by pay period, a worksheet to help you gather your numbers into one place, and the signature budget by pay period template with space to plan out your money, no matter what pay schedule you have or how many income streams you're working with.

How do you pivot your relationship with money when you had one singular goal, you finally accomplished it, and you realize you haven't at all prepared for what life on the other side of that goal might look like? Today's episode is part two of My Money Story, right after we became debt free. What did we do next?

This is a special bonus episode of the Debt Free Mom Podcast. This episode is from a recording of an Instagram live sharing with my audience why a monthly budget might fall apart even when it looks right on paper. I also share why a pay period budget might be better instead. So the audio might sound a little different than what you’re used to here on the DFM podcast, and you’ll hear me answer a few questions from audience members. So just know that this was originally a live video. 

You can join Pay Period Budget Academy today at debtfreemom.co/pba

This is part three of my money story spanning over 11 and a half years of personal finances in our family of growing of learning from our mistakes of finding our way through the advice and rules of other people to what worked for us. In this final installment of our money story, I'm going from March of 2019, which is when Debt Free Mom began up to today in the spring of 2022. 

• Part 1 of my story is available here: https://www.debtfreemom.co/podcasts/the-debt-free-mom-podcast/episodes/2147929723
• Part 2 is available here: https://www.debtfreemom.co/podcasts/the-debt-free-mom-podcast/episodes/2147934648

This is also the season 1 finale of the Debt Free Mom Podcast! We're planning to take a break from our regularly scheduled programming for the summer, but we'll do a mini series or two throughout the summer so that we're not just leaving you high and dry until the fall. We'll take the opportunity to do something fun, do something different than what we have been doing, and then start back strong in the fall with our guests coming on to talk about money, frustrations and money goals.

Would you do me a favor as we close out season one? If anything in this podcast has encouraged you to persist in your budget or empowered you to get off the fence with a money decision you needed to make and take action, or simply made you smile instead of worry about a topic as heavy as personal finances, would you do us a favor and rate or leave a review? Those numbers help our podcasts become visible to even more people just like you who are out there maybe confused about their money, but afraid to take action for fear of what other people will think of them, or for fear that they'll make the wrong move. We want them to find relatable and realistic advice here at the Debt Free Mom podcast, and your reviews can help us accomplish that goal. 

Summer with kids can be one of the most expensive times of the year. For some reason when they're all home and they're all eating meals at home all the time, it can end up being even harder to stay on budget. In today's first summer episode of the Debt Free Mom podcast, we'll talk through how to manage our finances and our time with kids at home for the summer. First, we'll cover ways to spend money wisely during the summer to boost our enjoyment (and our sanity!). After that, I share my tips on how to road-trip with kids - it's not as scary as you might think!

Click here to check out my Summer Favorites Amazon List.

We'll be back in the fall with season 2 of the DFM Podcast full of interviews and answering your money questions. If you'd like to apply to be a guest on the show when we return in September, visit dfmpodcast.com

Last week, we wrapped up our June theme learning to enjoy eating most of our meals at home. To close out this month, today's episode is with our first ever expert guest! Amy Cross is an expert in food storage and preservation. She shares practical approaches to reducing food waste and spending even while accommodating food allergies, sensitivities, picky eaters, and everything in between. Listen to what Amy has to share today about making the most of our grocery budget.

You can find Amy on Instagram @thecrosslegacy, and on her website thecrosslegacy.com

I put together my own guide for enjoying food at home called Feed the Family. You can find it on my website at debtfreemom.co/store

Welcome to season two of the Debt Free Mom podcast! Kicking off our next season, we have Mya on the podcast today. She is younger than our average listener base and she's here to share about being a Gen Z budgeter and trying to find financial advice that works for a younger generation. She's going to share her story about graduating from college, looking for jobs, and establishing herself independently with her finances and career. I am thrilled to have her on today.

On season two, we're going to continue these conversations, sharing stories, and asking questions about finances. This season, we specifically want to focus on making room for unexpected expenses, handling things that weren't originally part of the plan and finding our plan B with our finances.

If you want to apply to be a guest on the show and share your story or ask a question, you can go to dfmpodcast.com.

Book your Debt Free Mom Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom

What would you do if three major home repairs fell in your lap all at once? Can you think of a possible plan of action easily, or would this kind of life event paralyze you financially? Today, Jackie comes on the podcast to share about this happening to her family. Jackie is a mom of three who works in medical sales. She's always budgeted in some form and has used the Debt Free Mom template for a little over a year. Listen to her story of navigating these major expenses that all happened in the middle of job change!

If you'd like to start pay period budgeting like Jackie, you can get the Debt Free Mom Mini Course & Template for just $9! You'll get the signature spreadsheet template to plan out all your income and expenses, plus several explainer videos to help get you started. Head over to debtfreemom.co/template to get the Mini Course today for just $9.

If you have a story of how you handled an unexpected expense, or if you're in the middle of dealing with one and need some guidance, you can apply to be a guest on this season of the Debt Free Mom Podcast. Just fill out the application at dfmpodcast.com.

What would you do if you bought a home with a mortgage that was almost triple your previous mortgage? And then you ended up needing to reduce your income to care for a sick family member? Today on the podcast, Jenelle Walsh comes to share her story of getting creative with her money and committed to paying off debt that came out of circumstances she couldn't have seen in advance. Jenelle is a licensed therapist, mom of two, and the money manager for her family.

If you'd like to share your story of managing unplanned expenses, or if you'd like Carly's help sorting through your money situation, you can apply to be a guest on the podcast at dfmpodcast.com

For all the negativity, social media may get, I'm so thankful for how it brings people together. I have followed Tidy Dad for a year now and always look forward to the beautifully predictable rhythms he brings to his stories. Tyler, his wife, Emily, and three daughters live in New York City. As you can imagine, big city living with a family of five comes with its challenges. Tyler uses his account Tidy Dad to share the habits, systems, and routines he has developed on a journey to tidy up his life and make more time for what matters most. 

Follow Tyler @tidydad on Instagram or on his website: thetidydad.com

If you’re not paid once a month, why are you budgeting that way? A monthly budget ignores the fact that sometimes your expenses are due before your paycheck is available. A pay period budget is built around your unique pay schedules so that your money doesn’t feel like a mess. Create an accurate, realistic plan for getting the most out of your paychecks. Get started budgeting by pay period today with the best selling budget template and mini course from me, Debt Free Mom. It’s available for just nine dollars at debtfreemom.co/template

Visit dfmpodcast.com to fill out the guest application to join Carly on a future episode.

If you are feeling stuck with a shrinking gap between your income and expenses and wondering if there is any light at the end of the tunnel, look no further than today's episode. Emily Austin is a mom of two living in the high cost Northeast. Her husband is a social worker and she is a part-time waitress. Their willingness to be flexible with their income and their expenses has changed their outlook on finances just within the last year. And she's here today to share that story.

Let Debt Free Mom build a custom budget for you! It's the best way to get an accurate & realistic picture of your current finances and the changes you can make to improve. Book your custom budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom

Want to join Carly on the podcast as a guest? Share your story of how you navigated unexpected expenses, or ask Carly your budget questions to get her perspective on your situation. Apply today at dfmpodcast.com

Today on the podcast, I have Paige Pritchard who owns Overcoming Overspending. Paige is a spending coach who helps women stop impulse shopping and overspending. In 2020 Paige became a certified life coach through The Life Coach School and since then has coached thousands of women to become better spenders and reach their full financial potential through her social channels, her podcast called The Money Love Podcast, and group coaching program, Overcoming Overspending. Paige’s work has been featured in publications like NBC News, The Washington Post, The Daily Mail, BuzzFeed, The Guardian, and the Dr. Phil Show.

If you liked today's conversation, here's where you can find and work with Paige:

• Instagram: @overcoming_overspending
• TikTok: @overcoming_overspending
• YouTube Channel
• The Money Love Podcast
• Free Masterclass: Why You Impulse Shop & How To Stop
• Work with Paige: Overcoming Overspending Membership

Confidently build your own pay period budget with the Debt Free Mom mini course for just $9. Visit debtfreemom.co/template to get started.

If you'd like to join Carly as a guest on the podcast, fill out the application at dfmpodcast.com

10% of adults in the us have outstanding medical debts greater than $250 according to the most recent US Census Bureau. Unfortunately, medical bills are both common and confusing. Today on the Debt Free Mom Podcast, Lindsey joins us to talk about the hard reality of learning how to navigate medical bills and advocate well for her family. Lindsey is a married mom of two boys who works in talent acquisition for a major tech company, and in the last few years could have added "navigate the US medical billing system" to her resume.  

If you have a story of how you walked through unexpected expenses or a radical change in income, we'd love to hear you share it on the podcast! Visit dfmpodcast.com to fill out the guest application, and you could be on a future episode of the Debt Free Mom Podcast.  

The Debt Free Mom custom budget service takes the guesswork out of your next pay period budget. You submit your real numbers, your frustrations and goals, then relax while your budget is built for you. A custom budget will give you the confidence and insight you need to take action on your money goals. Visit debtfreemom.co/custom to see an example of a custom budget and sign up for yours today.

How are we supposed to make an accurate, realistic budget when medical providers can bill you months or years after actually visiting them? In today's episode, Ashley will tell us about budgeting for her family and learning to incorporate these bills and payments into her budget. Ashley is a registered dietician and mom of two. She has used the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template for awhile and customized it to help keep track of medical bills.  

If you have a money question for Carly, or if you want to share your story of handling unexpected expenses, just go to dfmpodcast.com and fill out the guest application.  

Get the signature pay period budget template from Debt Free Mom for just $9! Visit debtfreemom.co/template to take your first steps toward confidently building a stable budget.

If you've been following me for the past four months, you know that we recently chose to sell our home and become renters. This was a confusing choice to many people, and I was told multiple times that we are now throwing our money away. Well, my family isn't the only one who is budgeting well, achieving our financial goals over time, and choosing to rent instead of own. Haley Brown-Woods from Price of Avocado Toast shares her story about also choosing to go from owning to renting. 

Check out the podcast that Haley and her husband Justin host, and find them on all your favorite social channels at @priceofavocadotoast

• Podcast: Price of Avocado Toast (https://priceofavocadotoast.com/podcast/)
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/priceofavocadotoast/
• X: https://twitter.com/PriceAvocado
• Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@priceofavocadotoast
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/priceofavocadotoast
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@priceofavocadotoast9115

Debt Free Mom Custom Budget

When it seems like there should be more left in your bank account, and your money seems too complicated to keep track of, the Debt Free Mom Custom Budget service takes the guesswork out of your next budget. Send us your real numbers and You’ll receive two versions of your pay period budget: the original so you can see how your money is currently flowing and a suggested budget with changes we recommend to prioritize your money goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom

Join Carly on the Debt Free Mom Podcast

• If you have a money question you'd like Carly to answer,
• If you have a story of how you navigated unexpected expenses,

head over to https://dfmpodcast.com and fill out the guest application. We'd love to talk to you!

What does a professional chef want us home cooks to know about cooking food at home? Today's guest is Sandy Leibowitz of Plantains & Challah. She's a trained chef with experience in restaurants as a personal chef, and now as an educator teaching people like me how to be more efficient and effective in their kitchens. As a note, we had a few technical issues with audio during this episode, so you'll notice the sound quality is a bit different than our episodes normally are. Sandy's advice is so good that I did not want to skip this episode just for the sake of the audio, so I hope you enjoy.

If you want to dive into more of what Sandy has to offer, she's offering a few exclusive discounts for Debt Free Mom Podcast listeners. Check out her courses below, and use the discount codes to save!

Cook Without Recipes 

(self paced cooking skills course) 

Code: DFMPOD50 for $50 off until 4/3/24 

Link: https://tinyurl.com/CookWithoutrecipes

Chop It Like It's Hot 

(knife skills foundation class)

I'll be having a free onion dice class in April before opening enrollment for this class. 

Code: DFMPOD19 for $19 off until 4/8/24

Waitlist link: https://tinyurl.com/knifeskillswaitlist

Instagram: instagram.com/plantainsandchallah

Free cooking essentials guide + weekly emails on cooking: https://tinyurl.com/cookingessentialsguide

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Since tax season is here, I wanted to answer a very common question I get this time of year: how do I use my tax refund?

Everybody has a different response to receiving a tax refund.

• Some people purely see it as fun money as extra money. They can do whatever they want with it.
• Other people have been scraping by the past couple of months and feel a sense of relief when they receive a tax refund want to use it to catch up and add a little bit of breathing room back into their finances.
• Other people sometimes feel paralyzed by receiving a large chunk of cash all at once, because they're trying to figure out what to do with it, and it tends to disappear rather quickly.

So on today's episode, I share a few questions to think through as you receive that tax refund so you can make sure it's going to be used to not only feel good in the moment, but also to change the trajectory of your finances longterm.

If you want a personalized look at your finances to help you decide the best way to use your tax refund, sign up for a Custom Budget. Send in your income, expenses, and what your tax refund will be, and you’ll get back two versions of your budget: the original budget so you can see how your money is currently flowing, and a suggested budget with changes we recommend to prioritize your money goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

In today's episode, Kyle and I share some of the highlights of our annual summer family vacation! We recently returned from a 10 day trip driving from Central Illinois to the beaches of Outer Banks, North Carolina. Our conversation today takes an inside look at our semi-spontaneous detour to Washington D.C. on our way home. We share some tips on planning summer trips with kids, visiting our nation's capital, and leaving room in our budget for fun! For more details on our travel planning, check out the companion blog post at debtfreemom.co.

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

In the last episode, I shared my story about switching from set salary based income to a highly variable income, and what that was like both personally and in my budget. Now, I'm opening the conversation to other people in similar boats.

Jessica joins me today to talk about how she's managed her variable income budget, and to ask for some advice in handling the pieces that make her feel overwhelmed. As a stay at home mom, she's been budgeting with her husband's variable income as an auto mechanic for the last several years. Now, she's ready to switch from her pen & paper method to a spreadsheet budget!

When it seems like there should be more left in your bank account, and your money seems too complicated to keep track of, the Debt Free Mom Custom Budget service takes the guesswork out of your next budget. Send us your real numbers, and you’ll receive two versions of your pay period budget: the original so you can see how your money is currently flowing and a suggested budget with changes we recommend to prioritize your money goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

If you've followed Debt Free Mom on Instagram, I've been sharing a lot about my recent side hustles: cleaning houses and detailing cars. There's been a lot of great conversation around that from people interested in everything from "why did you start doing that?" and "how do you get started?" and "what do I need to do in order to start my own side hustle?"In today's episode, Kyle interviews me to get all the details about taking a side hustle from an idea to actually making money from it. I hope it encourages you to get out there and make a little extra money from something you're already great at.

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

There was big news in the personal finance world this week as Mint budgeting software announced that they are closing as of January 2024 and rolling into their Credit Karma software. The data will not carry over and users have to download their information before the end of this year. I sat down with Alissa Henry and recorded this podcast episode to talk about her experience moving from Mint to the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template. Alissa Henry is a mom, wife, and news anchor who started using the Debt Free Mom template a little over a year ago.  

Follow Alissa @alissahenrytv on Instagram and Facebook.

You can join Carly on the podcast to ask your money question or share your story of navigating a difficult financial issue. Just visit dfmpodcast.com and fill out the guest application.

As we close out 2023 on the Debt Free Mom podcast, we are rebroadcasting one of my favorite conversations from this season with Paige Pritchard from Overcoming Overspending. When we aired her episode originally, we had an issue with pushing it out to some of our providers. And so we want to make sure that everybody gets a chance to listen to it because it's so important. Plus, before we replay the episode we have a brand new segment of Not Worth Your Money: Christmas Edition!

Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

When two adults with two very different interests, priorities, and stressors come together to manage one budget, it can become contentious and not budgeting at all feels better. Today, my husband, Kyle, and I are going to share about how we each contribute to managing our family's finances in very different ways. Kyle has experience managing a business budget in his previous role as a nonprofit executive. We chat about the three kinds of financial reports every organization and household should understand.

Get started budgeting by pay period today with the best selling template and mini course from Debt Free Mom at debtfreemom.co/template

You can join Carly as a guest on the podcast by filling out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com

For our first episode of June, we're kicking off the summer with a replay of one of our favorite episodes of last year. This episode is all about enjoying simple summers with kids, whether you're spending time at home or time on the road. In my efforts to make lasting memories without seeing all of my money disappear by the fourth of July, I have found that simple is best. I'm excited to share what works for our family with you!

Managing your money shouldn’t be a lonely experience! The Care Creates Community from Debt Free Mom is a safe, private membership community created specifically for women who manage their home’s finances. Together, we find realistic ways to make the most of our home finances & stick with our plans! Get the support you need to reach your financial goals by joining today at www.carecreatescommunity.com.

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

In today's episode of the Debt Free Mom podcast, we're talking about medical expenses. How do we get ahead with the other goals we have for our money when we constantly feel like we are paying for medical expenses that happened a long time ago? Sarah Gonzalez, a mom of two, comes on to talk about how she is going about paying off past medical expenses and reworking her budget so that she doesn't have to keep going into debt for medical bills. We talk about how to adjust your budget to make room for increased expenses, how you should prioritize paying off medical debt with your other money goals, and some practical ways to reduce the impact of debt payments on your day-to-day life.

Then, Kyle joins the show for another segment of Financial Fortune Cookie to talk about what the future might hold for your money. He asks "How could you still be worried about money if you had a $2.3million net worth?"

When it seems like there should be more left in your bank account, and your money seems too complicated to keep track of, the Debt Free Mom Custom Budget service takes the guesswork out of your next budget. Send us your real numbers, and you’ll receive two versions of your pay period budget: the original so you can see how your money is currently flowing and a suggested budget with changes we recommend to prioritize your money goals. Sign up for your Custom Budget today at debtfreemom.co/custom 

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story like Sarah of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com. 

As parents, we can feel an immense amount of pressure to create memories & joy for our children at all times of year, but especially around the holidays. As we're in the thick of the holiday season between Thanksgiving and Christmas, we can feel that pressure mounting. Even when we're accomplishing everything on our to-do list, and no matter what we do, we can feel like it's not enough - like there's always one more thing that comes up that we're supposed with our kids.

In this episode, Kyle and I talk about how to create that joyful memories for our family without relying on a massive budget. We can find ways to fully enjoy the holidays, and it doesn't have to be a second rate experience if you need to spend less this year on the holidays. 

Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

You do not have to follow me long to know that my love of libraries runs deep. I grew up going to the library and I'm raising my kids to love the library. Today I have a special guest with me, the director of my local library! Alissa Williams is here to share with us some of the lesser known resources and services available from libraries, because it has so much more to offer than just books.

Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

For some people, the fact that their income is variable means goals like paying off debt or saving a full emergency fund will simply always be out of reach. For Samantha and her husband, who are both personal trainers, they decided that their variable income would not stand in the way of their dream of buying a home. Today, Samantha shares her story of paying off $50,000 in consumer debt while managing 3 different sources of variable income.

Get started with pay your period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Gifts like the little green machine, leather conditioner, etc.

$7 Car Detailing Guide

Click Here to find these gifts that will help you save money in the kitchen!

{Amazon List} - most items mentioned in the episode are here!

{Walmart List} - Air Fryer, Toaster, Griddles, Containers on the Kitchen List

www.instagram.com/debtfree.mom

[post contains affiliate links]

If you've ever wondered how long it would take to see results if you switched from budgeting by month to budgeting by pay period, today's episode is for you. Kristina is a mom of four, a pastor's wife, a nurse, and a runner. And today she's here to share her story of switching to budgeting by pay period in January, and the amount of transformation she's seen, not only in her finances, but also in her mindset about her money in just three short months.

Kristina shares her struggles with traditional monthly budgeting, the financial and mental stress she experienced, and how pay period budgeting has revolutionized her family's finances and mindset in just three months. From overcoming challenges with inconsistent income to establishing emergency funds and tackling high-interest debt, Kristina's story shows the power of accurate, realistic budgeting. We talk about the frequent fresh starts provided by pay period budgeting and how it relieves the stress of managing our home finances.

You can get started with pay period budgeting today just like Kristina for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

01:54 Discovering Pay Period Budgeting: A Game Changer

03:17 The Practicalities of Pay Period Budgeting

06:24 Overcoming Debt and Financial Stress with New Strategies

11:22 The Impact of Pay Period Budgeting on Family Finances

15:16 Embracing Technology and Mindset Shifts for Financial Freedom

16:48 Collaborative Budgeting: A Couple's Journey to Financial Harmony

24:57 Budgeting Success: From Credit Card Debt to Planning for the Future

25:30 Setting Financial Goals: Trips, Hospital Bills, and Beyond

26:29 The Impact of Budgeting on Debt and Savings

27:38 Reevaluating Spending: The Shift from Frivolous to Focused

28:23 The Power of a Planned Budget: Reducing Uncertainty

29:42 Embracing Budget Buffers: A Strategy for Flexible Spending

33:57 Celebrating Small Wins: The Importance of Rewarding Progress

41:34 Fortune Cookie Finance: The Top 3 Most Common Financial Goals