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Are you going over-the-top to create Christmas or Hanukkah magic for your family? There is no bigger budget-blower than the holidays! In this episode we chat with financial educator and YouTuber, Holly, about ways to save on gifts this season. From values-based gift giving to being an "eco-tentional" shopper, Holly's tips will have you rethinking your holiday game plan.And since we love a good money story, Holly also shares her journey to pay off $135K in debt, which she and her husband started AFTER she left her corporate career in high end fashion and slashed their income! Her secret weapon?  A budget, her favorite word, which created priorities and intentionality of habits. The plans they put in place allowed Holly and her husband to stay focused and continue to enjoy the things that are important to them.This conversation is proof that while income is important, it's not everything when it comes to paying off debt and reaching financial goals. YOU get to choose what you prioritize in life, even around the holidays, and build your budget and plans accordingly!

A recent study shows that 45% of Americans would prefer to visit their dentist than talk to their financial advisor! Certified Financial Planner, Hannah Moore, has made it her mission to change that, by thoughtfully focusing on the learning style and dreams of each client. In this episode, Hannah asks us, “What does financial security look like for you?” It's about so much more than numbers, spreadsheets and amassing a big pile of money.  We discuss planning for your future while still living a wealthy life now. And by living wealthy, she simply means every dollar spent should bring us joy! Hannah is on a mission to change the way people think and talk about money.  Her blog and can be found on Instagram as everyday_money.   Find out more about Hannah at bestfriendsfinance.com, episode 42.

Are you conscientious about spending when it comes to feeding your family? Amanda and Lara were not, until their paths to financial independence made them intentional shoppers, even at the grocery store.In most American households, groceries are the second biggest line item for monthly spending. And during the pandemic, with school hot lunches and restaurant meals out the window, many families are spending more than they ever have before to put three meals/day, seven days/week, on the table.From their personal shopping strategies to tips from financial gurus, the BFFs talk saving time and money when it comes to groceries.

Money Coach Heidi Carter helps women break their income records by creating a divine relationship with money without overworking and depleting themselves.  In this episode, Heidi shares why money is like a relationship and requires time and attention.  When you spend money, it's essential to know what emotion you're seeking.We shifted the conversation to talk about how female entrepreneurs struggle with worthiness, fearing success and failure as they break through earning ceilings.   As our self-esteem grows, we can live out our life's purpose and mission once we quit spending money on the things we kind of want and focus spending on the things we REALLY want.  It's time to start saving for your big dream and know what part of spending creates a feeling of immediate abundance and confidence.  Are you ready to become a #moneywarrior? 

As a college student, Sahirenys Pierce saw her parents struggle through the  Great Recession. This sparked her passion for understanding and avoiding financial pitfalls, and led her to a career in financial planning. While working for companies like Merrill Lynch, MetLife, and Ameriprise, Sahirenys saw a disturbing trend. Women were not coming to the table for important conversations, rather deferring to their spouses.Sahirenys felt moved to help women create a lifestyle that isn’t run by our finances. So, she launched her blog, thepoisedlifestyle.com, to provide women, particularly millennials, with the financial tools and resources necessary to respond to whatever life throws our way with poise.From living months ahead of their bills, to saving and spending with purpose, Sahirenys and her husband have maintained flexibility and agility within their finances - a saving grace when they experienced their own family medical emergency. We have no doubt her story will inspire! 

It's time for a listener money story! This week we interview TaNeisha Barton, who entered college with a lofty goal of graduating with her PhD by the time she was 30.  After graduation, TaNeisha decided to take a real look at her student loans. With 112,000K in loans, and mounting credit card debt, she needed a plan, fast! TaNeisha met her now-husband and with his support, she started following what she calls Dave Ramsey "light." After only 18 months, she had paid her student loans off in full! She credits being the "No" girl for making it happen. Today, TaNeisha and her husband are focused on paying off their mortgage.TaNeisha's story focuses on being honest with yourself about your real numbers.  She went all the way through her PhD program with the attitude that as long as she was making money, she was fine. Through this process to become debt-free, she learned valuable lessons, including the fact that if it were easy, everyone would do it!  Oh, and her "pro-tip" for shopping on Amazon alone is worth a million!

Did you know 64% of Gen Xers do not have a will? Even worse, nearly half of Americans over 55 don't either? A survey from Caring.com found that in total, only 4 in 10 American adults have a will or living trust. Unfortunately, failing to do appropriate planning could have disastrous consequences. Attorney Wendy Monteith experienced this first hand as a child, and has devoted her law practice to ensuring her clients are prepared for anything and everything. In this episode, Wendy shares the why and how behind estate planning. It includes more than just a will. A health care directive and durable power of attorney are necessary in case you get sick or injured and are unable to make decisions for yourself. Having these, and a few other key documents in place ensures that you will have an advocate and your wishes will be followed.A legacy Is one of the best gifts we can gift those we love, and advanced planning will protect our loved ones from additional stress during a difficult time. This conversation is truly worth a million!

It's time for our 90 DAY SPEND LESS/SAVE MORE CHALLENGE!! The BFFs started this last year to give up frivolous spending to impact their consumer debt and focus more on saving for their futures.  If you've ever participated in a #Last90Days challenge, then you know how awesome it is.  If you've never done it before, you should join in because it's super motivational, free, and WILL improve your financial situation. What is it all about?  The intention is simple...can we take care of our finances and work on our financial goals for the last 90 days of the year, so we START the New Year more on fire with more savings than ever before?!  We can tell you the answer is yes! All it takes is a plan and a prompt from your BFFs.  We have a growing community of people who are excited to support each other and share their stories! Are you ready for a challenge that will help you fulfill your financial dreams one day at a time? We're officially kicking it off on October 1st, but if you're listening after the fact, you can start anytime.  Join in on the conversation on our social, and share with us what you've committed to for the last 90 days!   

Growing up in a low-income Dominican household in Brooklyn, Yanely Espinal learned very little about managing her personal finances. Despite her full scholarship to Brown University, she racked up both student loan and credit card debt paying for all the extras. So, when Yanely started working as an elementary school teacher in her early 20s, she committed to becoming debt free. She managed to put an unbelievable 50% of each paycheck toward her debt, and paid off $20,000 in 18 months!After paying off her debt, Yanely realized could make that same commitment to herself and her future by aggressively saving and investing the amount she'd previously paid monthly toward student loans and credit card bills. As her passion for achieving her financial goals grew, it became clear to Yanely that women, especially young women, were not represented in personal finance. So, she started a YouTube channel called “MissBeHelpful” in 2015 to help young millennials avoid the mistakes she made.MissBeHelpful now has nearly 50,000 subscribers. You'll understand why as this warm, funny teacher turned financial educator shares her story and her insight with us!  Find out more about Yanely and MissBeHelpful at bestfriendsfinance.com, episode 35.

What does your dad have to do with money? Shadé Ashani's life's work has been to figure that out. She's interviewed hundreds of women ages 18-75 and found significant differences between girls who grew up with and without their fathers when it comes to how they experience love, abundance, and money. Shadé's book, "In Search of My Father" explores how healing her relationship with her father set her free to experience healthy love and wealth. She has toured the country for years keynote speaking at conferences, high schools and colleges so she could get her arms around as many women as she could and tell them that they are worthy of love and comfort. Her life's devotion - to end feelings of unworthiness - is truly worth a million.Learn more about Shadé at https://www.shadeashani.com/bio

It's time for a listener money story! This week we interview Heidi Bounds, who had to redesign her financial habits after leaving the corporate world to become a pastor. Heidi and her husband knew they had to make big changes, so she'll share how they completed Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University to become, and remain, debt free!Heidi's story focuses us in on being becoming knowledgeable about earnings, expenses and savings, being aware of your money mindset, how your money story impacts how you handle money today, and how living beneath your means will set you up for the future you dream of. It's worth a million!

How many Economists with a PhD who study retirement and policy trends, as well as the behaviors of an investor do you know? We know one! Sarah Holden is the Senior Director of Retirement and Investor Research at Investment Company Institute, the leading global association of regulated funds. Despite that hefty title, Sarah uses plain English to make retirement and investment concepts clear.  In this episode, she shares the three steps every worker should take to make the most of a workplace IRA or an individual IRA.  Learn how America’s retirement system works for you, the difference between the types of plans and the smartest ways to save in them.  If you’re ready to take your retirement to the next level and do some financial housekeeping, you won’t want to miss our conversation with Sarah!Here is a list of neutral websites Sarah references: RESOURCE CENTERShttps://www.ici.org/401khttps://www.ici.org/iraresource ICI EDUCATION FOUNDATIONhttp://icief.org/index.html FINRA BROKER CHECKhttps://www.finra.org/investors/learn-to-invest/choosing-investment-professional/about-brokercheck DOL SMALL EMPLOYER SITEhttps://www.dol.gov/general/topic/retirement/smallbusiness SEC INVESTOR EDUCATIONhttps://www.investor.gov/contact-usSOCIAL SECURITYhttps://www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ 

Time for another listener money story! Sonja Wieck is an endurance sports athlete, triathlete, and adventure racer. In fact, you can binge watch 10 episodes of her competing in The World's Toughest Race: Eco-Challenge Fiji on Amazon Prime now! When a huge financial hit that Sonja calls their "$32,000 mistake" rocked her and her husband's world early in their marriage, they made extreme sacrifices to get out of debt. In doing so, Sonja discovered her true values in life and started making financial decisions guided by those values, rather than what others thought, or what her neighbors were doing.Sonja and her husband are now debt free, on a solid financial path, and living a huge life of adventure while also maintaining financial goals. Join us to hear how identifying what's really important has helped Sonja to manifest her dreams.

After host Lara lost her mom at a very young age, she and her husband Jeff have always lived in the moment. As a result, these high wage earners found themselves living a big life, but saving very little. Then Lara discovered the Financial Independence (FI) movement and decided there was a better way. She became a student of saving, investing and conscientious spending, and made it her mission to get Jeff on board.Jeff joins us to talk about the money story he brought to the marriage, how Lara's paradigm shift regarding spending and saving changed him, and how he and Lara work as a team with weekly "Path to Success" meetings. Together they've shifted from a "play before you pay" mentality to paying themselves first. Their results will leave you inspired to start the conversation with your spouse, if it's time for change. 

After a life changing diagnosis, author Courtney Carver decided it was time for major change, specifically eliminating all stress. She found this came down to being more with less, simplifying her life and really living. Living with less created time and space to discover what really matters. Through decluttering, and focusing on the best things instead of all the things, she created a life with more joy with less obligation.In her book, Project 333, Courtney takes a new approach to living simply–starting with your wardrobe. Project 333 promises that not only can you survive with just 33 items in your closet for 3 months, but the ripple effect will positively impact many other areas of your life. Could you dress with just 33 items for 3 months? When you hear the benefits, from saving money and eliminating stress to reducing decision fatigue, you might just want to try!

You know that friend? She's relatable, warm and funny. Talking to her feels a bit like therapy? What if she had served as the head of a multi-million-dollar fintech company and as VP of a major insurance company? And was the recipient of numerous awards and honors including being named “Top 100 in Finance for 2019" and "Top 50 Women of 2019" by Top 100 Magazine? That's Ande Frazier. Ande is a Certified Financial Planner and author of Fin(anci)ally Free! 11 Conversations to Have With Yourself About Life, Money & Your Worth. Her mission is to help women feel secure in their future and to integrate self-worth and net-worth across generations.Ande works with women to help them take control of their money by breaking down the emotional, behavioral and societal barriers that prevent them from building strong financial foundations. In this episode, Ande dives deep with us on her experiences about women, money and self worth. This conversation was truly worth a million! Learn more about Ande: https://andefrazier.com/Buy her book: https://andefrazier.com/book/

Relationship coaches, and founders Becoming Committed, Chris & Sarah Helms are both children of divorced parents. That simple fact makes them 91% more likely to have their marriage also end in divorce. They have the odds stacked against them, but they are pushing back and are determined not to be another statistic. After 16 years together (8 of them married and a toddler in the mix) they are determined to help modern couples navigate conflict and communicate efficiently around what they call “The 5 Pillars” (money, parenting, intimacy, partner personality, and roles). In this episode they dive into...you guessed it...money! Sarah and Chris bring a refreshing spin on old marriage values and share skills you can implement in your relationship right away. Their candid conversation about how to navigate financial conversations with your spouse will give you confidence, and might just make it fun!Want to follow their journey? Instagram: chrisandsarahhelms  website: becomingcommitted.comWant to work with Sarah and Chris to create your relationship motto, free? Be one of the first five BFF listeners to email them at becomingcommitted@gmail.com!

Sales, public speaking, negotiation, rejection, networking. Let's face it, many of us see that as a list of challenges, if not our greatest fears. From winning a coveted position as an intern at Christie's, fresh out of college (when no positions were actually available), to snagging the spot as the lead benefit auctioneer for the famed auction house, to creating her dream job as Managing Direct of Strategic Global Partnerships for Christie's, Lydia Fenet has not shied away from the hard stuff. In fact, her comfort in areas we might find uncomfortable has not only been essential to her success, it's made her the most powerful woman in most rooms.In this episode, the author of "The Most Powerful Woman in the Room is You" shares stories and insight on unapologetically going after what you want in business and in life, without feeling icky in the process!Learn more about Lydia at https://lydiafenet.com/.

This week Amanda updates us on her financial journey, with three tweaks that have had a huge effect on her family's bottom line. First, Amanda worked with her accountant to maximize her pre-tax retirement savings. Do you know your options? Did you know a Solo 401K is a thing? Neither did she! Second, Amanda and Steve aggressively saved for emergencies by automating savings and moving windfalls out of site, out of mind...directly into a separate high yield savings account. When a series of unfortunate events added up to $5000 in unexpected expenses, the impact was far less than it would have been prior to building up an emergency fund.Finally, Steve and Amanda's aggressive pursuit of solid retirement and emergency funds boosted their savings rate from the conventional 15% to 35%. Amanda had not been intentional about their savings rate before, and now she's hooked!Take a listen...you might get hooked on saving too!

Lara gets candid with an update on her financial journey. Eight months ago, Lara put pen to paper to get the full picture on her family's debt. The result shocked her and brought her right back to the feelings of watching her single mom struggle financially when she was a child. The difference was, Lara had the means to live an abundant life. However, the number at the bottom of the debt column made it clear - even high earners can overspend. Lara realized that just because you can afford the payment doesn't mean you can afford the thing.Lara shares how she and Jeff quickly went into action, cutting unnecessary expenses, diligently tackling consumer debt, even selling a car that was loved but not necessary. Her candor about her family living beyond their means and making the tough, yet essential shift to correct it will inspire you to examine your financial picture and get into action. Let's make living below your means and preparing for your future as exciting as a fabulous trip, a new car or dream home. Let's make saving sexy!