Enjoy this Best of Episode while I wander through Ireland. Ever wonder how different your life would look if you couldn’t open a bank account without someone else’s signature? We go from a fresh start in a Chicago high-rise to the surprising truth that U.S. women only gained equal access to credit in the 1970s—and why that history still shapes daily choices. I share the joy of downsizing, finding a tight-knit “pool pals” community, and rebuilding health, then connect that momentum to money power: credit as trust, autonomy, and safety.

We rewind to my first job at Sears Credit Central, paper applications and all, and trace the path from metal charge plates to Diners Club, AmEx, and MasterCard. Along the way, I break down how high-interest debt quietly taxes your future, when rewards actually make sense, and simple guardrails that keep you in control: pay in full, know your rates, automate savings, and check your credit reports. If you’re partnered, you’ll hear a candid take on shared finances—how to avoid silent drift or endless fights, and why every woman needs accounts in her own name, documented access, and a clear will and beneficiaries.

This debut sets the tone for what’s ahead: short, smart, and grounded in real life. We’ll widen the lens beyond aging to money, relationships, and the choices that let us live lighter and stronger. If you’ve got a story, expertise, or a question you want explored, I want to hear it. Subscribe, share with a friend who needs a boost of financial confidence, and leave a review to help more listeners find the show. What money habit changed your sense of freedom?