This is our annual “what to expect in the new year” episode, and our hot take is “affordability” is about to be the most overused, and least understood, word of 2026. 

You’re going to hear it everywhere, and this week, we’re explaining why that should make you a little nervous.

We break down why affordability is becoming the new catch-all word for economic stress, how it’s being used to sell certainty in an unstable system, and why more people are about to find themselves saying, “I thought I could afford it.”

If you’re trying to plan, decide, or stabilize in the year ahead, this episode is your reminder to stop accepting affordability at face value and start defining it in a way that actually protects your life.

We get into:

• Why affordability is always relative, and why it changes faster than people admit
• The danger of treating percentages (25%, 30%, 10%) like universal laws
• How 2026 pricing strategies will make more things feel affordable in the moment
• The difference between being broke and being overextended
• Why something can fit the budget and still cost you peace, flexibility, or future options
• How to spot the signs that something isn’t actually affordable anymore
• A more honest question to ask before you say yes to buying something you think you can “afford”

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Kiersten here. This week’s episode is a solo one, and it’s inspired by a book I just finished called The Art of Spending Money by Morgan Housel. 

If you’re familiar with The Psychology of Money, you already know Morgan’s style: short chapters, clean sentences, and big ideas. This new book is about spending but not the kind most people are struggling with.

In this episode, I unpack:

• Who this book is really for
• Two core takeaways that stuck: the psychology of contrast and the sustainability of contentment
• A personal reflection on second Christmases, cultural context, and spending through the lens of joy
• A nuanced breakdown of how happiness is framed in the book and why that definition isn’t one-size-fits-all

I wouldn't call this a summary per se, it’s a review with a little reflection, a little pushback, and hopefully a fresh lens for whatever season you’re in.

Hit play and let me know what you think.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

In a year full of work drama and career pivots, our most eye-opening lessons came from the places no one talks about on LinkedIn. Somewhere between the PTA meetings, school drop-offs, HOA group texts, and community events, we kept bumping into reminders that real work doesn’t always pay. And that’s kind of the point.

This week, we’re unpacking what happened when we leaned all the way into volunteering and brought our professional skills to the party. Because chances are, you’re more needed than you think and more capable than you’ve been led to believe.

We explore:

• How we went from “someone else will do it” to “we got it”
• Why so many systems rely on what we call assumed initiative
• The unexpected rewards of taking on community roles 
• Why your first real leadership lessons usually start locally
• How these roles can transform your network and your confidence
• Why being present isn’t the same as being accountable
• How to know when just showing up isn’t enough anymore

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Kiersten here. It’s just me this week.

It’s been two years since my ADHD diagnosis, and in that time I’ve learned a lot. In this episode, I’m sitting down solo to unpack what this label actually changed, what it didn’t, and what I’ve had to unlearn about focus, money, and identity along the way. I’m revisiting the journey to speak directly to anyone navigating their own diagnosis (or the suspicion of one), especially while trying to manage money, relationships, and modern life.

If you ever wondered why your brain makes you avoid bills one day and build a budget for fun the next, this one’s for you.

I discuss:

• Grieving the gap between naming a problem and solving it
• When hyperfocus turns into self-surveillance
• Why most ADHD systems feel like punishment (and what to do instead)
• Habit stacking, automation, and why I stopped chasing streaks
• How a $3 snack usually does more for my brain than a $300 planner
• Hormones, sleep & the “why did my meds stop working” problem
• What movement really does for dopamine (and my money habits)
• Why dopamine placement determines my financial outcomes more than budgeting
• The octopus metaphor that finally made my brain make sense

Links: 

• Episode 172: A real conversation about ADHD, money, and relationships (or watch it instead)
• Episode 184: How to automate your savings and finally get ahead (or watch it instead) 
• My Octopus Teacher trailer
• Secrets of the Octopus 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We’re 30+ days into a government shutdown, SNAP benefits are disappearing, layoffs are ongoing, and a catastrophic storm just hit Jamaica. But beyond the headlines, people are privately struggling with job loss, evictions, food insecurity, and the mental toll of trying to “stay positive” when everything feels urgent.

In this week’s episode, we talk about how to be resourceful in the real, messy, "make-it-through-the-week" kind of way. Whether you're giving help or in need of it, this episode will shift how you think about support, community, and what's really essential.

And if you’re someone who feels like you're holding it all together with duct tape and prayer, this one's for you.

We cover:

• How to stop waiting for help and start solving real problems
• Why a 7-day survival plan can calm your nervous system
• Practical tips to navigate urgent vs. important tasks
• The difference between refilling needs and replacing wants
• How to tap into mutual aid, libraries, 211, and other local lifelines
• Why resourcefulness is not a character trait, it’s a learned skill

Links: 

• Ep 156: Survive & Advance | The Ultimate Guide to Financial Resilience with Lynnette Khalfani Cox
• Ep 191: Rethinking Emergency Funds for Modern Times 
• Ep 218: What to do with your money when the world feels unstable 
• Ep 220: How to give yourself a raise without changing jobs 
• Ep 226: What it takes to get through your hardest financial year 
• Ep 76: Curbing Food Insecurity 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

It’s that time again…open enrollment season. And while we know this topic doesn’t get anyone out of bed in the morning, it SHOULD. Because buried in that HR email you ignored is a decision that could cost or save you thousands.

This week, we’re breaking down why so many people just auto-renew last year’s health plan, what rising premiums in 2026 actually mean for your wallet, and how AI can help you stop making five-figure decisions based on casual conversations with your coworkers.

We talk about:

• Why health insurance is quietly eating your raise
• How to sniff out hidden changes in your 2026 plan
• Using AI to compare plans without becoming an expert
• The power of a good prompt and what to include in yours
• Why planning for next year’s pregnancy, braces, or mental health care needs to happen right now

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We recently teamed up with Consumer Reports on an eye-opening project that made us rethink how we evaluate, purchase, and engage with our homeowners insurance policy. This week’s episode is about what we learned.

Here’s what we unpack:

• Why homeowners insurance is way more confusing and critical than we thought
• What’s driving double-digit rate hikes (even if you’ve never filed a claim)
• How your dog, HOA, or even local crime rates affect your premiums
• One of the most overlooked parts of your policy that could actually save you
• Why checking your mail might be the most important financial task you do this week
• How to protect yourself with umbrella policies and avoid common traps

This one’s shorter than usual, because we want you to take action:
 → Read your policy.
 → Shop around.
 → Check out CR’s list of top-rated homeowners insurance companies based on actual customer satisfaction, claim handling, and renewal transparency 

Links: 

• Why are Homeowners Insurance rates going up right now?
• Homeowners Insurance & Extreme Weather: What you should know

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Food prices are up (again), takeout is 4x more expensive than eating at home, and yet somehow..dinner still ends up on your doorstep. That’s exactly why we created Eat Better, a new video series that makes home cooking feel doable, even if you're not “a cooking person.”

In this episode, we're breaking down why so many people aren’t cooking at home, and what it really takes to change that.

Julien talks about how 20+ years of cooking at home and 7 years as a pro chef shaped our latest project, and Kiersten opens up about what’s kept her out of the kitchen. We also dig into how we think about food and money, and why this moment in time demands a better approach to nourishing yourself and your family.

Listen to hear more about:

• The launch of our new video series Eat Better
• Why your favorite restaurants might all be serving the same food 
• How people got to a point where cooking feels harder than it is
• The emotional, cultural, and economic reasons behind the takeout trap
• Why your kitchen might be working against you
• Why cooking is a critical life skill, not just a nice-to-have
• How restaurant-quality meals at home are more doable (and cheaper) than you think

Links: 

• Start here and leave your questions for Eat Better (full series HERE)
• “I tracked down the company ruining restaurants” via More Perfect Union
• Ep 158 - The secret to stress-free cooking at home | must-have kitchen tech for busy people (watch it instead) 
• Eat Better on a Budget ebook

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

If talking about credit makes you anxious, confused, or just flat-out annoyed… you're not alone. In this episode, we break down the truth about credit scores and reports: what they are, how they work, the most common myths people believe, and why it’s time we stop treating credit like a moral compass.

Whether you’re building credit for the first time, trying to bounce back from a rough patch, or just wondering why your score dipped after doing the “right” thing - we got you.

We cover:

• The biggest myths about credit (including the one a lot of folks still repeat)
• Why your score is not a moral report card
• How to check your credit and why you must 
• The rise of shady credit repair schemes
• Smart ways to build or rebuild without getting scammed
• Credit reports, analogies, and a little tough love

Links: 

• Episode 211 - Everything you were never taught about bankruptcy (or watch it HERE)
• Check your credit report for free at AnnualCreditReport.com
• National Foundation for Credit Counseling (NFCC)
• Operation HOPE – Financial counseling and education

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This episode is sponsored by NordProtect. To save up to 59% on annual plans for NordProtect visit https://nordprotect.com/richandregular and use code RICHANDREGULAR

This week, we’re breaking down three money identities we’ve seen over and over again. None of these are “good” or “bad,” they’re more like energies, instincts, patterns we’ve all lived at some point. And just like a horoscope, you might recognize yourself in all of them.

We’ll walk you through a quick quiz so you can find out where you land, and then we’ll show you why the answer isn’t as simple as picking one lan​​e.

In this episode we: 

• Break down 3 money identities you’ll probably recognize in yourself (or your friends)
• Walk you through our quiz so you can see how they show up in real life and which energy you naturally lead with
• Talk about why sticking with just one money identity might leave you stuck

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

If budgets are supposed to keep us on track, why do so many of them make us feel stuck instead? In this episode, we talk about why the most common advice fails and what actually works when life keeps changing.

The problem with budgets isn’t discipline, it’s design. Most advice assumes your income, expenses, and goals stay the same forever. Ours doesn’t, and neither should yours.

We get into:

• Why the “stick to your budget no matter what” mantra sets you up to fail
• How to spot seasonal spending patterns and stop treating them like emergencies
• The difference between rules (non-negotiable facts of money) and richuals (flexible habits you can adapt)
• Why cash flow management matters more than month-to-month tracking
• How to stop treating budgets as a once or twice-a-month activity and start managing them in real time
• How to use non-cash choices like skills, time, creativity, community as part of your default financial strategy.
• The problem with formulas like 50/30/20, and why they were never built for everyone
• Why sticking to the wrong budget doesn’t earn you extra credit and just ruins your motivation 

Links: 

• Listen to Episode 224 - How to actually save money on groceries in 2025 or watch it here
• Listen to Episode 189 - Underconsumption Explained or watch it here
• Georgia residents - Mark your calendars for the Georgia PSC Election 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

What if retirement wasn’t a one-time event at the end of a long career, but a rhythm you could build into your life right now?

In this episode, we're joined by the brilliant Jillian Johnsrud, whose new book Retire Often flips the script on traditional retirement. Instead of waiting 40 years to enjoy life, Jillian makes the case for taking intentional mini-retirements throughout your career by taking one month off every couple of years….not to escape your life, but to design it.

Jillian drops a 6.5% rule that reframes everything you’ve been taught about budgeting for time off. And we both realize: we’ve been doing mini-retirements, we just didn’t have the language for it.

So together, we unpack:

• Why a single month can be more transformative than you think
• What burnout actually feels like (and why most of us misread it)
• The financial math behind taking breaks without going broke
• Why your future self will thank you for planning now
• How to pitch a break to your boss and mean it

Links: 

• Get the “Retire Often” book or visit the website
• Grab her free worksheets on Planning and Negotiating your mini-retirement
• Follow Jillian on Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, or YouTube 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week we’re celebrating our 10 year anniversary by sharing some lessons about money, partnership, and staying excited about the long game.

10 years of marriage isn’t just a milestone, it’s a record of every choice you made together, from buying a house to splitting a check to deciding who’s unloading the dishwasher. Some of those choices aged well. Others? Let’s just say they came with late fees.

In this episode, we get into:

• What to do when “my idea” needs “our money,” and how to bring and how to bring it up without sounding like you’re making a sales pitch or begging for permission
• The difference between conviction and borrowed confidence, and how to tell if you’re just hyped by somebody else’s results
• The price we’ve paid for decisions that looked fine in the moment but flopped later and how we move on without dragging it out.
• Why marriage isn’t 50/50 most of the time, and how keeping score only makes the game worse.
• The trap of calling yourself “the responsible one” or “the spender,” and how those roles mess with the way you see each other
• The metrics that matter more than net worth if you want your marriage (and your life) to feel exciting in year 20, 30, and beyond

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Some seasons of life are defined by money, and not in a good way. Those years test your patience, your relationships, and your identity. But they can become turning points and leave lessons that last long after the struggle is over.

This week, we're talking about the kind of year that stretches everything. When progress feels invisible and the usual advice doesn’t cut it, it’s easy to lose momentum or give up entirely. We’ve been there, and in this episode, we’re sharing what helped us stay focused and keep moving forward when it felt like things were falling apart. 

Inside, we get into:

• How to know if you’re in a “hard year” (and why that label matters)
• Why you need new ways to measure progress when money is tight
• What baseball, burnout, and corporate spin can teach us about manufacturing wins
• How to make quitting harder

If money’s been testing you lately, and you're tired of pretending it’s fine, this one's for you.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Most people only invest for retirement through their employer plan, which means if that plan is weak, your future could be too. But how do you actually know if it’s bad, or if you just don’t understand it yet?

In this episode, we break down the three biggest signs your employer plan might be holding you back, and what to do about it.

We’ll get into:

• Why some 401(k) fund menus feel like a restaurant with no good options (and how to find the hidden gems)
• What “the match” really means, why it’s not free money, and how to calculate its true impact on your paycheck
• The ugly truth about vesting schedules, and why they’re less about rewarding loyalty and more about saving your employer money
• How to compare your retirement benefits across jobs the same way you’d compare rent prices or school districts before moving

Your retirement plan is part of your compensation, just like salary, PTO, and health insurance. If you’re ignoring it (or assuming it’s fine) you could be leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table.

Take a closer look now so you can decide whether your plan is working for you, or if it’s time to find a better path forward.

Links: 

• Ep 171: Why you need a brokerage account: The Swiss Army knife of investing 
• Ep 105: Planning for your retirement 
• Ep 108: Sparking your early retirement dreams: A guide to FIRE  

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Groceries in 2025? Whew. Let’s just say…it ain’t pretty. Prices are still climbing, shrinkflation is in full effect, and Americans are still wasting almost 40% of the food we buy. Add tariffs and supply chain pressures on top, and it feels like we’re paying more, getting less, and throwing too much of it away.

The good news is you don’t have to stay stuck in the cycle. In this episode, we’re breaking down 4 real-world strategies to fight back against rising grocery bills without sacrificing flavor or convenience.

We’ll get into:

• Why shrinkflation is more than just smaller chip bags, and how bulk shopping gives you the upper hand
• The underrated art of “eating what you already have” (a.k.a. not letting random leftovers boss you around)
• When to splurge where it matters and save where it doesn’t 
• Restaurant and takeout hacks that let you enjoy the vibe without paying full price

If food is one of the top three line items blowing up your budget, this episode will help you take back control and maybe even have some fun with it.

Links: 

• Listen to Episode 147: Is a Costco membership worth it? (or watch it on YouTube)
• Watch our mini-doc Taste the Impact | The Money Behind Every Meal 
• How we eat well without going broke
• Listen to Episode 132: Navigating the Grocery Wars 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

👉 Catch us co-hosting the Merging into Life podcast with AAA Northeast! The first 2 episodes are live now, and you can listen on Apple Podcasts or here 👈

This week we’re pulling the curtain back on a topic that rarely gets talked about honestly, whether private school is actually affordable… even if you can technically write the check.

We’re not here to shame anyone’s choices. But if you’ve ever wondered whether that tuition bill is still worth it, or if you’ve been secretly thinking about pulling your kid out, we made this one for you. In this episode, we break down:

• Why the “$15K a year” number doesn’t tell the whole story
• The hidden (and not-so-hidden) social costs of private school
• How the new national voucher program could raise tuition, not lower it
• What the research actually says about outcomes in public vs. private school
• A side-by-side comparison of investing the money instead and what that could mean for your child’s future

We also get into the emotional toll of living on the financial edge “for the kids,” the illusion of networking your way into elite circles, and what wealthy families are doing differently that might surprise you.

Whether you’re team public, private, homeschool or just trying to figure it out, you’ll leave with better questions, clearer trade-offs, and (hopefully) a little less guilt.

​​Links: 

• Episode 151 - How to raise a “rich” kid
• Episode 69 - Investing for your kids

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We’ve been managing money together for almost a decade, and we’re still learning how to do it better. This episode is part relationship therapy, part financial strategy, and all the things we wish more couples talked about out loud.

We’re talking about what it really takes to handle money together in a way that works for both people. Because most couples don’t need to watch each other’s every move, they just need to feel confident that they’re on the same page, making good decisions, and able to adjust when life throws something new at them.

You’ll hear:

• Why “joint accounts” can still feel deeply one-sided
• The habits that sneak in when financial roles are never defined
• How resentment builds when responsibility goes unspoken
• Why full transparency isn’t always the solution, and what to build instead
• How to set boundaries without starting a fight
• Why interdependence is harder (and better) than independence or control

Links: 

• The financial impact of divorce and breaking the stigma of prenups with family law attorney and founder of prenups.com, Aaron Thomas

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

A lot of people are feeling financially squeezed right now, and they’re blaming everything except their car.

Transportation is one of the top three household expenses. Between longer loans, higher interest rates, pricier insurance, and cars that lose value faster than ever, owning a car has gotten way more expensive in the last few years. 

And yet most of us still treat the car note like it’s untouchable…like it just is what it is.

In this episode, we break down what’s really changed about car ownership, remind you that you’re not alone, and walk through what you can actually do if your car costs too much but you still need it to get to work tomorrow.

Need to hear this but don’t want to admit it? We get it. But this isn’t about shame…

Here’s what we cover:

• Why the average car payment is now $745 (new) and $521 (used)
• How the pandemic car bubble left so many people upside down on loans
• The real cost of owning a car: loan, gas, insurance, maintenance, and depreciation
• Signs your car is eating more than its share of your paycheck
• What to do if you’re stuck with a car that no longer fits your life
• A reminder that walking away from a car isn’t failure, it’s financial maturity

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We all want a raise, but what if you didn’t have to wait for your boss to give you one?

In this episode, we’re breaking down how to actually give yourself a raise without changing jobs, negotiating with HR, or picking up a side hustle. From canceling forgotten subscriptions to rethinking professional services, we're exposing the cash leaks hiding in plain sight and showing you how to reclaim money that's already yours.

If you’re looking for a 2025 mid-year financial review project that will have a real impact, this is it. 

You’ll learn how to:

• Stop paying for things you no longer use or value, including everyday services that quietly function like subscriptions
• Use AI (yes, really) to audit your spending without uploading sensitive financial info
• Revisit your debt terms to lower your interest or improve your cash flow
• Treat PTO and work benefits like the paycheck boosters they are
• Rebuild confidence by remembering you can do more for yourself if you need or choose to

Because you know what they say…it ain’t always about how much you earn, it’s how much you keep 

Links:

• Episode 177 - Choosing a Debt Payoff Strategy and why it matters how you approach it 
• Mid-Year Financial Review Archives
  • 2024 - Ep 171: Why you need a brokerage account (the Swiss Army knife of investing) 
  • 2023 - Ep 121: Mid-Year Review: Financially Conquer the Second Half of the Year
  • 2022 - Ep 67: Conducting your mid-year financial review 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

When we published our book Cashing Out in 2022, we knew we were making bold claims about work, money, and freedom. What we didn’t know was just how fast the world would catch up to them.

In this episode, we revisit our book 3 years after its release to reflect on the stories, predictions, and uncomfortable truths that still hold up in 2025. We also share what we’ve learned since, and why the book continues to resonate with people across different industries, life stages, and income levels.

You’ll hear:

•  Why Cashing Out still ranks in the Top 250 Budgeting & Money Management books on Amazon
•  Why financial independence was always about identity, not just math
•  What we saw coming with AI, leadership churn, and the collapse of “safe” careers
•  The surprising reason your first dollar outside of work changes everything
•  Why over-specialization and “career loyalty” quietly keep people stuck

We also share our reflections on the book’s impact and what we’d add if we wrote it today.

If you haven’t read Cashing Out yet, now’s a perfect time. And if you’ve already read it, it’s a great time to read it again with your 2025 eyes.

Last but not least, if you know someone starting their career or rethinking their future, it makes a great gift

Links: 

• Cashing Out Audiobook
• Cashing Out Hardcover 
• Cashing Out Kindle  

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week’s episode is a rare one that we recorded the same day it’s released, because… well, life is happening fast.

After taking a much-needed break, we returned to headlines that changed the tone of the summer and the temperature of the market. In this episode, we’re talking about how to manage your investments during times of global instability and uncertainty. This isn’t advice or hype, it’s our perspective, grounded in history, patterns, and what actually works.

We’re not here to guess what happens next. Our goal is to inspire you to think better, especially when everything feels chaotic. 

We cover: 

• How market reactions to conflict usually play out (with receipts)
• The difference between bad news and uncertainty, and why markets care more about the latter
• Why mimicking “insider” trades or reacting to media spin is riskier than it looks
• The 3 big reasons why trying to capitalize on global conflict backfires
• What you can do if you’re tempted to make a move anyway

Whether you’re just getting started with investing or feeling anxious about protecting your gains, this episode is designed to keep you cool when the headlines are anything but.

Links: 

• Ep 211: what tariffs teach us about financial literacy
• Ep 188: the political divide is more than just red vs. blue
• Our investing class - Making Money Grow 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Youth sports are not just sports anymore. They’re a $40 billion+ industry and in this episode, we’re getting all the way into it. 

We’re talking about the emotional pressure, the social expectations, the team group chats, the $75 photo packages that somehow still exist in 2025, and why nobody tells you the signup fee is just the beginning. Whether you're new to the world of cleats and concession stands or already halfway through a season with three backup uniforms and a mini mortgage in gear, this episode will help you take a breath and get a grip.

We break down the four types of spending most sports parents face:

• Sign-up costs (AKA the cover charge)
• Gear and equipment (plural. Always plural.)
• Lifestyle expenses (snacks, meals, coach gifts, and “team bonding” events that cost real money)
• Development extras (private lessons, apps, camps, and the “just in case they’re great” category)

We also cover several practical tips like the importance of setting a seasonal sports budget that your kid can help manage, why used gear is your best friend and where to find it, and the right time to say no and how to skip guilt with it. 

Whether you're trying to be the "fun" parent, the budget-conscious one, or just trying not to lose your mind, this one’s for anyone raising kids in sports. 

Links: 

• Project Play survey: Family spending on youth sports rises 46% over five years
• Episode 183 - Why NIL is a game changer for young athletes

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

In this episode, we’re talking about how to know when it’s REALLY time to go. Not when your manager makes it unbearable, not when the reorg finally hits, but when YOU decide that staying is costing more than it’s worth.

We break down the three questions that have helped us walk away from “good” jobs and build a better life on the other side. We talk about what your job is teaching you (even when you’re not paying attention), how to tell if you have any say in your future there, and why asking “would I say yes to this job today?” might be the cleanest filter of all.

You’ll also hear:

• The truth about paper-pushing, middle management, and the skill sets that aren’t really transferable
• Why some jobs don’t just feel like relationships, they are emotional traps
• How to rebuild self-trust before you make your next move
• What it means to leave with your dignity intact and why that’s the real win

If you’re at a career crossroads or know someone who is, this one’s for you.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Most money advice assumes you’re either bad at math or just need more discipline, but what if the real reason your budget isn’t working is because it was never designed for how you actually spend?

In this episode, we revisit a section from our book Cashing Out that recently got new life thanks to a great piece written by our friend Leo Aquino for Business Insider. It’s all about the three emotional spending profiles we’ve seen over and over again: Fast Spenders, Financially Insecure, and what we call "The Middle".

And no, these aren’t zodiac signs. You’re not locked in for life, but recognizing your dominant spending energy right now can help you stop fighting your habits and start building wealth around them.

We break down what drives each type’s spending behavior, what actually works for them (that they’ll stick with), and what absolutely does not work, no matter how many times the internet suggests it. 

Links:

• Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away
•  Leo Aquino’s article on Business Insider - How 3 Types of Spenders Can Build Wealth 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow