Debt Heads

Welcome back to our four-part series in which Debt Heads co-host Jamie Feldman, who started paying off roughly $20,000 of credit card debt two years ago, aims to answer the question: “how the hell did you get into so much debt in the first place?”

Last week’s episode, our first, explored how having low self-worth contributes to financial woes. You can listen to it here.

This week we’re digging into an aspect of debt accrual that is a bit more practical than abstract — wages. Or rather, lack thereof.

After getting laid off from her journalism job in 2021, Jamie grappled with the fact that she’d spent more than seven years chasing clicks to put money in someone else’s pocket, and trading in a fair income for perks, a fancy job title and an exciting email address (that she mainly used to secure dinner reservations at restaurants she could not afford to eat at on her salary).

Jamie’s employment experience is not the most egregious example, but the fact remains — so many of us in this country simply do not make enough money to get by.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debtheads.substack.com/subscribe

When it comes to debt and spending, personal finance expert and personality Suze Orman put it in the most straightforward terms: “we spend more than when we feel less than.”

There are myriad reasons people get into debt, and even for each person, there is never one specific reason. Low wages, codependent tendencies, an unstable job market – they all seem to work together, and in overtime, to put someone, and keep someone, in debt.

Over the next four weeks, Debt Heads co-host Jamie Feldman will share some of her own debt “whys,” starting with a big one: mental health and low self-esteem.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debtheads.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve had so much fun over the past few weeks revisiting the initial sketches of our podcast Debt Heads, and are happy (slash horrified) to report that the topics covered in these mini episodes are just as, if not more relevant now as they were a year ago.

The original publish date of the third installment of this series conveniently coincided with Labor Day Weekend and thus, Labor Day Sales.

At first listen, such an episode may seem out of place. It is May, after all.

But therein lies the point: sales are omnipresent. We’re just a few weeks away from Memorial Day, and always just a few clicks away from getting an extra 30% off at any number of online shopping sites for absolutely no rhyme, reason or three day weekend.

Join us as we sift through all the sale emails cluttering our inboxes, honor the grand traditions of our bargain hunting ancestors, and ponder whether any of us are ever really scoring a deal. 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debtheads.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve spent this summer digging into our collective, complicated relationship with shopping.

This week we’re discussing the thing that gets us into the shop in the first place: commercials.

How do these corporate entities manipulate us to Keep. Buying. More. Stuff?

Be sure to like, subscribe and share!

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debtheads.substack.com/subscribe

It's been two years since co-host Jamie Feldman announced to the world (or at least TikTok) that she was in $18,000 of debt. Since then, she and co-host Rachel Webster have been dissecting the economic, political, and social structures that wreak havoc on our physical and mental health. 

Now, we're re-publishing four mini episodes, or "dress" rehearsals of the larger, more in-depth project we're working on. These segments are about something we all know, love or love to hate: SHOPPING.

First up: A deep dive into the time Jamie's mom Sam spent $50 on what she believed, in her heart, was a Mackenzie Childs tea kettle. Thank you to Kevin Sherry from Mackenzie Childs in Soho for chatting with us. And of course, thanks to Sam for always being game to come along for the ride, no matter where (or what bad shopping memory) it takes her to. 

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debtheads.substack.com/subscribe

We’ve been awfully radio silent (hehe) about our podcast, Debt Heads, over the past few months. 

That’s because, behind the scenes, we were working long days and nights to finish a pilot episode of our podcast.

Today we're sharing an update.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debtheads.substack.com/subscribe

Even if you’ve never used Mint, the oldest and most popular personal budgeting tool that has ever existed, chances are you’ve heard of it. 

But have you heard that it’s going away?

In light of this news, you may be looking to jump ship and try out a new tool. In this voice memo edition of JAFAQs, we discuss Tiller, our favorite budgeting software app, and why we like it so much.

For detailed, step-by-step instructions on how to use Tiller (with photos!) find us on the Jamie AF Substack.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamiealysonfeldman.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome to Sub Stack, a podcast and newsletter that celebrates sandwiches, stories, and stories about sandwiches.

In each episode: We’ll visit a new sandwich spot with a friend and relish in the particular joy that comes from a meal made between two slices of bread.

For our first episode, co-hosts Jamie & Rachel tell the story of their friendship, of fond (and not so fond) food memories and a sandwich they thought they might never get the chance to eat again.

Be sure to listen, like & subscribe to Sub Stack and our other podcast Debt Heads, and stay tuned for more stories and more sandwiches to come.

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit debtheads.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to Debt Heads FAQs, an audio version of our weekly FAQs Substack column that covers all things debt, money and mental health.

This is the final installment in our “How did you get into so much debt in the first place?” series. This week, we discuss a big one: financial literacy. We question why we don’t learn budgeting in school, discuss the time Jamie almost didn’t graduate from high school and more.

Please be sure to like, listen & subscribe! If you have a Q you’d like to be A’ed, drop us a line at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamiealysonfeldman.substack.com/subscribe

Welcome back to Debt Heads FAQs, an audio version of our weekly FAQs Substack column that covers all things debt, money and mental health.

This installment includes yet another answer to the question: “How did you get into so much debt in the first place?” This week, we discuss predatory lending practices, sky high credit limits and how to better protect yourself from the lure of credit card companies.

Please be sure to like, listen & subscribe! If you have a Q you’d like to be A’ed, drop us a line at [email protected].

This is a public episode. If you’d like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit jamiealysonfeldman.substack.com/subscribe