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Calling all moms of teens and young adults! Does talking to your kids about saving and investing money overwhelm or intimidate you? In this episode, we interview our first teen male entrepreneur, investor and author! Jack Rosenthal,  an 18-year-old student at Babson College in Massachusetts, talks about how he founded the Young Investors Club, LLC, one of the largest teen investment organizations in the world with close to 100 members and over $115,000+ under management.  Jack has personally mentored 100+ students on investing and is considered an authority on teenage investing. He's written three books and you'll find he's wildly passionate about inspiring teens on their journey to investing!This conversation will have you eager to talk to your teens and young adults about the importance of investing and watching your money grow for years to come! It was truly worth a million! Here's the link to Jack's books: https://www.amazon.com/Jack-Rosenthal/e/B0845TLB8X/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1 

Women and men. We think differently, act differently, process differently, multitask differently, plan differently, even shop differently. It's no surprise we save, spend, budget and invest differently, is it?In this episode, financial advisor DeeAnna Burkholder joins us to discuss those differences. From decision making regarding purchases to whether to work with experts, there is a lot of middle ground to strive for. The most important part? Both partners should have a voice in the decision making process.Communication is everything when it comes to couples and finances. Listen in to learn how to bridge the gap by having essential conversations with your partner.  They may not be easy at first, but they are so worth it.

Do taxes overwhelm you? With tax season upon us, we are thrilled to feature our first Accountant and Tax Strategist on this week's episode.  Paris Banisaeid, @taxsavvyparis, shares tax tips and advantages of being a small business owner.  Whether you already own a small business or you are ready to start a business, or even just a side hustle, you need to hear this! Paris coaches her clients from the beginning that saving for retirement is as essential as their marketing expenses. In this episode, Paris stresses the importance of focusing on your financial path (not someone else's) and how to carve out time to navigate your financial education. This conversation was worth a million and will inspire you to consider owning your own business, giving you a sense of freedom, confidence and pride.  AND, if you already own your own business, listen up to ensure you are capitalizing on a dollar for dollar reduction on your taxes!

Chris Brown is a young mom taking control of her financial future, and taking her followers along for the ride through her blog and YouTube channel, Mommy and Her Budget. Just three years ago, Chris was drowning in student loan and credit card debt, and pregnant with her first daughter. She dealt with her situation by making minimum payments and ignoring it, until an unpaid maternity leave made it clear something had to change.Inspired to build a better financial future for her daughter, Chris buckled down, and committed to taking control of her finances. After sitting down and staring over six figures in debt in the face, she wrote her first budget, and her passion for personal finance began. Chris still has student loan debt, but prioritizes herself and her family by investing in retirement, brokerage accounts, real estate and her daughter's higher education while steadily chipping away at it. Her story of building generational wealth WHILE tackling the debt that previously felt insurmountable is truly worth a million.Follow Chris on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0PSXVKdx3691iwIm3zYxgwAnd Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/mommyandherbudget/

After admitting she was addicted to consumerism, Christina Gawlik, was seeking change. In 2019, Christina sold all of her belongings except what fit in two suitcases and opted to embrace a nomadic lifestyle. With an open mind, she ultimately decided to move and lower her living cost while keeping the same income level. Also known as geoarbitrage. Christina Gawlik, Ph.D., is an entrepreneur, math content developer & consultant and now world traveler. In this episode, Cris gives us a step-by-step plan on how she accomplished COAST FIRE through saving, investing, and developed a business that generates passive income more than her annual cost of living without having to "work" it. This way of life gives her choices and time freedom. After years of being consumed by living paycheck to paycheck, she can now pursue other opportunities and sees a whole new world from becoming financially independent.  Can you imagine a life traveling and living abroad? This episode will leave you inspired to consume less now so that you can dream about living among many beautiful places, like Belize.Link to Christina's  blog  here: https://christinagawlik.wixsite.com/asuitcaseandasmile 

Is travel a love language? Based on how much many of us have missed it through the pandemic, we at Best Friends Finance think it is. We've never felt so ready to hop on a plane and hit the beach, so it's the perfect time for a conversation with Cinneah El-Amin.Known as Fly.nanced in the online personal finance space, Cinneah is a 26-year-old travel and financial freedom course creator. She's visited nearly 30 countries across 6 continents, and is enjoying a debt-free life without limiting travel and adventure.Cinneah shares her tips to "travel for the low",  including her favorite sites for discount flights, Airbnb hacking, and making the most of credit card travel rewards. Only when you're paying off your balances in full, of course! If you're ready to get out there and see the world again, this episode is a must-listen! Link to Cinneah's course on how to travel for the low and start travel hacking: https://gum.co/flyfinfreeLink to start a free trial of Scott's Cheap Flights Premium [affiliate]: https://scottscheapflights.yuy8ab.net/meN31Link to get started with a Chase Sapphire Preferred or Amex Gold Card [affiliate]: https://milevalue.com/top-offers-flynanced/

Did you know women are the next wave of growth in US wealth management over the next 3-5 years? Yet, women own $.32 to men's $1 in the US.  Kristina Gudelis, creator of @financialyou_ insists it's never too late to start asking questions about your money.  Kristina is on a mission to help women bridge the pay and wealth gap through financial education and literacy. In this episode we discuss emergency funds, the power of net worth, and how to use Robo-Advisors  for low-risk investing.How can you start your financial education and set yourself up for success in the future? Kristina's explanation is easy to understand. She wants you to own where your money is going and take control of it today.  This conversation is worth a million and will leave you excited to make your money work for you!

What if a budget wasn't a burden or a downer? What if instead it was exactly what you needed to set yourself free to live, to experience, to give... with abundance? Merilee Speigner, author of The Easy Budget blog and personal finance influencer, joins us to break down how budgeting has set her family up to live the life of their dreams.Merilee did not have a head start when it comes to financial independence. In fact, she and her husband started their family while in college and required government assistance to get by. Merilee knew she did not want to live that way for long, and started religiously budgeting, saving and tackling debt. In just 2.5 years, she and her husband paid off $71K in debt. They are now in wealth accumulation mode, at a very young age, watching their net worth increase exponentially.The best part? Merilee has done this without sacrificing ALL the things. She still likes her Target runs, but she's wildly intentional, keeping a list of "wants". Rather than clicking buy now every time she thinks of something she'd like to have, she adds it to the list and waits to see if she's still pining for it down the road. The result? She's no longer purchasing  "must-haves" that end up collecting dust on a shelf a few months later.Merilee's belief in flexibility and easily duplicatable tips make this budgeting conversation a breeze. It's no wonder @easy_budget has nearly 100K followers on Instagram. We loved this conversation, and you will too! 

You don't have to be a financial expert to write a personal finance book.  In fact, quite the opposite. Before writing The Cash Machine, Dave and Chana Mason found themselves deeply in debt, despite earning significant amounts of money in their careers.  They've created an incredibly prosperous life working 2-3 hours a day from across the globe. They define their mission as "Learn, Grow, Teach."The Cash Machine is unlike other personal finance books ever written. This book is a page-turning love story that teaches you financial lessons and gives you tools to help drive your financial destiny. In this episode, Chana shares why this fictional novel makes this tale relatable for anyone. Whether you want to create a cash machine of your own or follow along on these characters' journey as they explore their options, beliefs, and relationship with money.  This conversation was worth a million and will leave you craving for more cash machine lessons.

It's our first episode of 2021 and our 50th episode since launching in early 2020! We're celebrating with a fun question... What does living a rich life mean for you? As a kid, this vision may have included a yacht and a robot maid, but for most of us it looks very different now. After the challenges of 2020, we're ready to focus on goals to live richly - with intent, purpose, confidence and happiness - in 2021!In this episode, we talk about the ways we can create the feelings we want to feel this year. From security and peace through maximizing tax-advantaged retirement accounts, increasing net worth, and avoiding lifestyle inflation, to comfort and joy through decluttering and improving the spaces we live in. We share what living richly means to us.What about you? Travel? Security? Adventure? Improved health? Experiences? Fancy shoes (no judgment)? We want to hear from you! How will you live richly now?*From this episode:Watch: The Minimalists - Less is Now on NetflixRead: I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Ramit Sethi and The Simple Path to Wealth by J.L. Collins

We're closing out 2020 with our MOST downloaded episode to date.  In this episode, we discuss how wellness is like a wagon.  If one of the wheels falls off - financial, physical, mental, emotional - we're off balance or just plain stuck.  Amanda Nighbert, RD, creator of the LEAN program has built an army of loyal followers whose lives she's changed.  Join us for a candid chat with Amanda about what works and what doesn't when it comes to weight loss and the economics of nutrition.  You can't afford to miss this episode if your health is at the top of your list to start the New Year.  Amanda strives to help her clients set new goals and get a fresh start! Learn more about LEAN with Amanda, how to get started and how to get a discount with our referral code (BFFPODCAST) at bestfriendsfinance.com, Episode 49.

We're wrapping up 2020 (finally) by replaying our very first episode. For those of you who've joined us midstream, this will give you the skinny on how two working moms and solopreneurs learned that when women start talking about money, it's worth a million!

Are you looking to get a leg up on your finances? Delyanne, Attorney and Money Mentor, coaches her clients on how to slay the stock market without feeling like it's too late. In this episode, Delyanne shares whether you're spending or saving money, every dollar needs a specific goal. It's time to stop watching your net worth stay stagnant despite your income going up.At 38, Delyanne discovered the FIRE movement and realized she could do so much more with her money. Now, she's on track to retire in 7 years. Her goal is to inspire us to break away from the paycheck to paycheck mentality and level up how we think about our finances.  In ten short months, she paid off $110k left on her student loans and is positioning herself to be FI (financially independent) so that she can not retire early but RELAX by age 45.   She is living proof that you can reach your financial goals faster by focusing on your money and making an investment plan.  This conversation was worth a million and will inspire you to re-evaluate your retirement plan!Follow Delyanne on Instagram  @delyannethemoneycoach Learn more about her course: Slay the Stock Market

The single most common message we've received since staring this podcast? Some version of "I'm just like you used to be, and I'm ready to change. Where to I start?" Well friends, we're re-airing one of our first episodes to answer just that! Certified Financial Planner Katy Greene knows women and money. In her experience, a lot of women want to take an active role in planning for their financial future, but need some direction. In this episode, Katy provides a clear path for your journey to financial independence. We're talking exactly where to start. It's all about taking those first steps... even if you can't see the whole staircase. 

If you're a young woman or raising a young women, this episode is for you! 29 year old author, blogger, money coach and new mom, Alli Williams, has made it her mission to help young women and couples ease financial anxiety, build wealth and dream bigger. She understand there is no one size fits all approach, and her personal story is wildly inspiring.How many recent college grads do you know who have $17,000 saved for their future wedding (before they're even engaged)? From a young age, and before studying finance later in her 20s, Alli was debt free and knew she wanted to stay that way to have more career options later in life. When she ended up marrying into six figures of debt, she didn't curl up in a ball and wish it away, she made a plan. Last year, Alli and her husband paid off $35K in debt,  while paying off the rest of their wedding, cash flowing school tuition, and still spending money on the things that matter most to them.These girl moms were so inspired by Alli's focused and reasonable approach to personal finance, and truly hope our daughters are too. This episode is worth a million! For where to find Alli, check out show notes for Episode 45 at bestfriendsfinance.com.

It's no secret that Christmas is the most expensive holiday of the year. Not only can gifts be costly, but everything else is too!  From Christmas cards, to pictures with Santa, to matching PJs, to holiday parties, it’s easy to blow your budget. That's why relationship coaches Sarah and Chris Helms say it's essential to set expectations with your partner (and those grandparents) to avoid the conflict and anxiety the holidays can bring.In this episode, the Helmses share their candid approach to avoiding "all things holiday" sucking the joy out of the season. It starts by having a new conversation with family and friends about the fact that more isn't always better.  We discuss drowning out the more, more, more culture, focusing on what's important to your family, and alleviating the pressure to overspend.  This holiday season, give the gift of a stress-free holiday to your loved ones and still create holiday magic!

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?