Beyond Budgets Podcast

What happens when personal finance meets fun, adventure, and real-world wisdom? Deb Meyer sits down with Joe Saul-Sehy, the dynamic co-host of Stacking Benjamins and author of Stacked, to talk about money in a way only Joe can: light, insightful, and incredibly human.

We explore how humor can disarm money fears, why emergency funds are really self-insurance, and how to approach disability and life insurance like a true risk manager. Joe also dives into how automation trumps discipline when building lasting financial habits.

Plus, Joe shares insider tips from his passion project podcast, Stacking Adventures, highlighting how families can travel smart and turn everyday moments into unforgettable experiences.

Episode Highlights:

• [2:10] Why humor is a powerful tool to make money approachable

• [6:00] How an emergency fund functions as "self-insurance"

• [6:30] The real ROI of cash reserves

• [15:00] What "own occupation" disability coverage really means and why most people miss it

• [22:07] How to evaluate life insurance options (term vs. permanent) without falling for industry bias

Connect with Joe Saul-Sehy

• Stacking Benjamins Podcast

• Stacking Adventures Podcast, travel tips for adventurous families

• Joe's book Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management

Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP®

Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values.

Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

The holidays are here, and with them come emotions ranging from joy to overwhelm. In this heart-centered episode, host Deb Meyer shares a timely message to help parents slow down, align spending with values, and create lasting peace during the Christmas season.

She opens with a beautiful rendition of the Shaker hymn "'Tis the Gift to Be Simple" and explores how the simplicity it speaks of can serve as a financial and spiritual guidepost through the noise of Black Friday, gift-giving pressure, and packed family schedules.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• (10:36) A values-based framework for choosing gifts that foster connection

• (8:21) The power of automating gift savings and how to start in January

• (12:52) Ideas for experience-based gifts

• (15:17)Catholic resources for Advent to nurture faith amid the hustle

• (18:14) How generosity through time, talent, and treasure can reshape your family's holiday rhythm

Deb also highlights Chelsea Williams' insight from episode 51: that 80% of money decisions are perspective, not math—and how that truth becomes even more relevant during emotionally charged seasons.

Featured Resources

• Core Values Exercise:​ Think2Perform

• Book: The Family Board Meeting by Jim Sheils

• Advent Devotional: Shadow and Light by Tsh Oxenreider

• Catholic Mom Advent Bundle (Available until Nov. 21): CatholicMomBundle.com

• Claim your FREE Cozy Catholic Christmas Catalog

Listener Challenge Take the values exercise and review your holiday gift list. Ask: Does this reflect who we are and the values we want to pass on to our children?

Don't forget to share the episode with a friend who's feeling the pressure of the season. Help them find peace through perspective and purpose!

Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP®

Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values.

Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

How do you move from financial survival mode to long-term stability when you're raising kids and navigating constant demands? In this episode of Beyond Budgets, Deb Meyer is joined by financial educator Chelsea Williams to explore how our earliest experiences shape our lifelong relationship with money and what parents can do about it. You'll learn why financial change is 80% mindset and only 20% technical, and how understanding your money story can unlock new possibilities for your family's future. Chelsea shares a practical framework that helps families create healthy financial habits by focusing on beliefs, not just budgets. They also discuss what most people don't realize: a child's core values and beliefs about money are formed mainly between the ages of 0 and 12. For parents of young kids, this is a critical window. The way we talk about spending, saving, and value can either plant seeds of fear or lay the foundation for confident financial decision-making later in life. Episode Highlights

• (09:05) Why mindset matters more than math when it comes to financial stability
• (10:16) How to identify and rewrite the limiting beliefs that may be holding you back
• (11:48) What to say (and not say) to your kids about money, especially around spending
• (24:04) A realistic way to set spending boundaries that align with your family values
• (25:05) Why most wealth is built slowly

Whether you're managing finances solo or as a couple, and whether your kids are toddlers or teens, this conversation offers a hopeful and grounded approach to building financial peace—one decision at a time. Resources Mentioned

• MoneyMastery.work – Chelsea Williams' course, upcoming book, and podcast
• The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber – A helpful read on raising money-smart kids

Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP®

Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values.

Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

🎉 It's a celebration! In this milestone 50th episode of the Beyond Budgets® podcast, Deb Meyer takes a seat on the other side of the mic while her husband, Bryan Meyer, steps in as guest host. This heartfelt and insightful episode explores how Beyond Budgets® came to be, what Deb has learned along the way, and what's ahead for the podcast and the families it serves.

From her earliest days running WorthyNest® and writing Redefining Family Wealth to launching this podcast, Deb shares her motivation to help parents build wealth aligned with faith, family, and personal values.

💡 You'll hear behind-the-scenes stories about:

• (2:24) Why the podcast was launched after Deb's mother passed away

• (6:41) How Deb records episodes without a fancy studio

• (7:41) How her own parenting and financial mindset evolved through 50 episodes

• (11:46) The real impact of moving cross-country multiple times

• (16:32) What Deb learned from expert guests on college planning and allowance strategies

Plus, Deb reveals what's next for Beyond Budgets®. Whether you've been here since episode one or just discovered the show, this is a warm, wisdom-filled episode packed with encouragement for every parent navigating money and meaning.

🔑 Key Topics Covered

• The origins and evolution of the Beyond Budgets® podcast

• Balancing podcasting with parenting and real-life moves

• Why your financial mistakes don't define your future

• How podcast guests have influenced Deb's family decisions

• Plans for future episodes and how listeners can get involved

📘 Related Episodes to Check Out

• Ep 5: Understanding College Financial Aid with Joe Messinger

• Ep 13: Raising Financially Savvy Kids with Clifton Corbin

• Ep 18: Turning Dreams Into Reality With Values-Based Financial Planning

• Ep 33: College Funding Secrets Every Parent Needs to Know

• Ep 44: Wellness as Wealth with Rita Johnson

Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP®

Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values.

Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

🔔 Subscribe & Review If Beyond Budgets® has helped your family think differently about money, parenting, or faith, would you leave a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ review? It helps more parents like you discover the show.

What if your kids graduated from college knowing how to budget, invest, and avoid getting scammed?

In this heartfelt and wide-ranging episode, Deb Meyer sits down with Tim Smith, Certified Financial PlannerTM, founder of Aurora Private Wealth, and co-host of The Financial Dad podcast. They explore the critical (and often missing) elements of financial education for young adults, especially creatives and entrepreneurs navigating money on their own.

But the conversation doesn't stop there. Tim opens up about a massive fraud case he witnessed firsthand — involving $15 million stolen under his watch — and how that experience fueled his upcoming book. You'll also hear honest reflections on parenting, overcommitted families, building strong marriages, and redefining what "success" looks like in a pressure-filled world.

This episode is a must-listen for parents who want to make smarter financial decisions.

Episode Highlights

• (2:10) How schools are failing young adults in financial literacy

• (13:17) How to balance ambition with relationships, family, and self-care

• (21:48) How couples can divide financial responsibilities based on strengths

• (25:29) The real reasons behind investor fraud (and how to prevent it)

• (27:50) What "custody" means in financial advising, and why it matters

Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP®

Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values.

Schedule an Initial Meeting | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

Are rising prices stressing your family budget? You're not alone, and there's some good news on the tax front. In this solo episode, host Deb Meyer breaks down the most family-friendly tax updates from the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (HR1) and how they could impact your wallet starting in 2025.

This episode is a must-listen for parents looking to maximize tax savings, understand new credits, and unlock new opportunities for education savings, childcare, and even family car purchases.

Deb spotlights five major tax updates that could create real opportunities for families:

• (8:55) A bigger child tax credit for families with kids under 18

• (10:57) Higher pre-tax limits for childcare costs through dependent care FSAs

• (11:49) New 529 plan rules that give families more flexibility for K–12 and special needs expenses

• (13:52) A brand-new tax-free savings account for children, including a government-funded jumpstart

• (15:09) More refundable adoption credits for families expanding through adoption

Plus, she shares key distinctions between credits and deductions (and why that matters), and what income thresholds to watch to make sure your family qualifies.

Love the show?

Please subscribe, share, or leave a review. It helps other parents find Beyond Budgets® and equips more families to plan wisely for their financial future.

Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP®

Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values.

Schedule an initial meeting | Follow us on YouTube | Get your FREE family finance guide

Resources

• How the Big Beautiful Bill Impacts Education Savings

• Tax Provisions in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act

• One Big Beautiful Bill Overview

What if the best money conversations aren't really about money?

In this episode of Beyond Budgets, Deb Meyer sits down with Carl Richards, author of Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches, to explore how we can think more clearly and speak more kindly about money in our relationships.

Carl shares why our views of money often clash with those closest to us, how comparison gets in the way of contentment, and what it means to align our values with financial decisions.

This is a must-listen for anyone who wants to bring more clarity and calm into their financial life, especially parents trying to model healthy money habits for the next generation.

In This Episode

You'll learn:

• (2:32) Why spouses often see money differently, and how to navigate that with less tension

• (7:42) What "big hat, no cattle" means and how to stop comparing your life to others

• (14:03) Why values can conflict without being wrong, and how to live in that tension

• (17:28) The difference between investment returns vs. investor returns (a.k.a. "The Behavior Gap")

• (25:41) How to spend in a way that brings more joy and connection, not just more stuff

About Carl Richard's Book

Carl's new book, Your Money: Reimagining Wealth in Simple Sketches, comes out October 21 and is designed to be a "conversation grenade". It will help spark more meaningful dialogue with your spouse, kids, or friends around money.

Want a free excerpt? 📧 Email [email protected] with "Friend of Carl" in the subject line to receive a preview.

A Few Favorite Quotes

"Your values aren't at war, they're in conversation." — Carl Richards

"You don't have to resolve every money tension in your marriage. Sometimes the difference is the strength." — Deb Meyer

Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP®

Founder of WorthyNest®, helping intentional parents build financial plans that reflect their values.

Schedule an initial meeting | Follow us on YouTube | Get your FREE family finance guide

What do whitewater rafting, cross-country moves, and early retirement all have in common? They're thrilling, intimidating, and full of unknowns. In this episode, Deb Meyer shares a personal (and slightly embarrassing) rafting story to open up a deeper conversation about navigating life's biggest transitions—without losing your footing.

Whether you're planning a retirement, taking a sabbatical, switching careers, or moving states, Deb encourages a slower, smarter approach. She walks through emotional and financial readiness, real-life family examples, and why rushing into change often backfires.

As Deb says, "Small steps can be so much better than big leaps. And having the right guide can make all the difference."

Listen now and learn how to embrace change without financial regret.

In This Episode

• (02:39) Why emotional planning is just as important as financial planning

• (06:04) How to phase into retirement without going all-in too fast

• (07:02) Lessons from relocating across states & what Deb would do differently

• (12:47) How to rethink your budget when your lifestyle changes

• (14:51) What to know about health insurance, especially before Medicare eligibility

• (20:19) Options for sabbaticals and career pauses, and how to plan for them

• (21:09) When to seek professional guidance before making major transitions

Resources & Mentions

• Schedule a complimentary intro call with Deb

• Healthcare Sharing Plans article and podcast episode

• XY Planning Network

• Garrett Planning Network

Help Us Grow

If this episode resonated with you, please leave a review on Apple or Spotify. Already left one? A new review helps boost visibility. Know someone facing a life or financial transition? Please forward this episode to them.

Is financial prosperity a blessing or a spiritual trap? In this thought-provoking episode, Deb Meyer sits down with Deacon Christopher Warner to explore the moral and spiritual dimensions of wealth, giving, work, and responsibility. Whether you're Catholic, Christian, or simply curious about aligning money with your faith, this conversation offers deep insights into the tension between financial abundance and spiritual purpose.

Discover how principles like subsidiarity, stewardship, and virtue can shape your family's financial life. Also, learn why budgeting and charitable giving are more than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

Episode Highlights:

• (0:04) The moral tension between wealth, idolatry, and faithfulness

• (02:10) How the principle of subsidiarity empowers parents to lead family finances

• (07:37) Why charity begins at home and how giving is a matter of justice, not just generosity

• (11:38) A breakdown of four financial personalities: Givers, Hoarders, Consumers, and Spenders

• (12:26) The dangers of self-inflicted financial suffering and how to avoid it

• (22:28) Viewing work as a path to virtue (whether you're an entrepreneur, manager, or laborer)

• (24:20) Creative ways to teach financial responsibility through chores and entrepreneurship

Resources & Mentions:

• Christopher Warner's Substack: wayofthefamily.com

• Book: Catholic Money by Christopher Warner

• Episode 37: Faith, Family & Finances with Compass Catholic Ministries

Connect with Host Deb Meyer Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Download your Free Resource

Website

In this empowering episode, Deb Meyer talks with holistic health advocate Rita Johnson about how physical wellness impacts financial strength. They dive into functional medicine, family nutrition on a budget, simple food swaps, and how Rita's family of eight travels internationally without breaking the bank.

Episode Highlights

• (04:38) Functional medicine basics – How to bridge the gap between feeling "off" and needing a diagnosis.

• (06:45) Nutrition hacks – Prioritize protein, reduce hidden sugars, and try DIY staples.

• (12:10) Feeding picky eaters – Mix of tough love, one-meal rules, and smart "food hiding" tactics.

• (18:50) Healthy eating on a budget – Frozen veggies, bulk protein sources, and home-cooked meals.

• (26:41) Exercise strategies – Home workouts, accountability, and when a personal trainer is worth it.

• (30:27) Affordable family travel – Budget airlines, Airbnb, and traveling while remote working.

• (46:37)Opportunity fund mindset – Save for joyful experiences, not just emergencies.

Related Episodes

• Episode 32 – Bucket Lists, Balance & Building Wellness Discover how aligning physical, emotional, and financial wellness leads to stronger earnings and better life outcomes.
• Episode 10 – Crafting a Saving Strategy for Bold Family Adventures Learn how to build an "opportunity fund" for travel, starting a business, or renovating your home.

Connect with Rita Johnson

Divine Mercy Nutritional Care on Instagram, Facebook & YouTube

Health & Hormones Podcast

EWG Clean Fifteen and Dirty Dozen List

Connect with Host Deb Meyer Subscribe to our YouTube Channel

Download your Free Resource

Website