Back-to-school season can feel like a financial ambush—supplies, sports fees, clothes, fundraisers, and picture day all hitting at once. Most families grab the credit card to cover it, but the stress (and interest) sticks around long after the school year starts.

In this episode, I’m sharing three simple, practical hacks to help you handle back-to-school expenses without debt—so you can feel confident and stress-free as your kids head into a new year.

You’ll learn:

• ✅ How to create a sinking fund that makes August expenses way less painful

• ✅ Smart strategies for back-to-school clothes shopping (without blowing the budget)

• ✅ How reusing and inventorying what you already have can save $20–$40 instantly

• ✅ Why progress > perfection when it comes to budgeting during busy seasons

Whether you’ve got little ones just starting school or teens with never-ending sports and activities, these tips will help you cover costs without credit cards—and with a lot more confidence.

✨ Links & Resources Mentioned in This Episode:

• Debt Rebel Starter Kit (Free Guide) – Build your emergency fund + find hidden money in your budget

• Episode 44: [Saving Money with Secondhand & Consignment Sales]

• Episode 76: [Saying No Without Mom Guilt]

👋 Did this episode help you? Share it with another mama who’s feeling the back-to-school money pressure. Let’s spread the word: you don’t have to go into debt to provide for your kids.

Follow Jewlz The Budget Nerd on Instagram @jewlzthebudgetnerd

Ever feel like saying no to your kids instantly makes you the “worst mom ever”? You’re not alone, mama. That mom guilt is real — but it doesn’t have to control how you parent or how you handle money.

In this episode, I’m breaking down why we feel guilty when we tell our kids no, the sneaky lies that fuel overspending, and how to shift from guilt to confidence when it comes to parenting and money.

You’ll learn:

• The 3 biggest reasons moms feel guilty saying no (and how to spot them in your own life)

• Why “just making it work” is a dangerous money lie that keeps families in debt

• How saying no now actually models delayed gratification and financial confidence for your kids

• Practical ways to decide your “no” ahead of time (without caving at Target or the trampoline park)

• Simple strategies to include your kids in money decisions (at an age-appropriate level)

• How to align your family spending with your true values — so no feels freeing, not shameful

Saying no isn’t rejection — it’s redirection toward what matters most to your family. By the end of this episode, you’ll feel more equipped to stand firm in your decisions, spend with intention, and break free from that mom guilt spiral.

👉 Want support from other moms learning to parent and budget with confidence?

Join us inside The Alliance Coaching Membership, where we say yes to purpose and no to pressure. Live coaching, monthly budget planning, and a community of families walking this same countercultural path.
👉 jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/membership

Are you constantly stressed by your budget, overspending, or running out of time each month?

In this episode of the Debt Rebel Podcast, I share my three-step monthly planning system that busy parents can implement to regain control over their time, meals, and money.

I break down:
✅ How to plan your time to prevent financial chaos
✅ Meal planning strategies that save money and reduce food waste
✅ How to budget effectively with a zero-based approach using tools like EveryDollar
✅ Quick, actionable tips for busy families to save thousands each year

This episode is perfect if you want to:

• Stop panicked trips to the store or drive-thru

• Reduce decision fatigue and stress

• Take practical steps toward financial stability

• Implement a simple system that actually works

  
  

🎧 Listen now and discover how planning a few key areas each month can make your budget—and your life—so much easier.

💌 Get ahead faster: Join the Alliance Coaching Program for guided monthly planning, on-demand resources library, co-working sessions, and actionable support for your family budget.

Related Episodes:

The average car payment in America is over $700 — and that’s before you add insurance, gas, maintenance, and the emotional stress of keeping up appearances. In this episode, I’m breaking down the hidden costs of car ownership, sharing my family’s real-life story of car debt (including the embarrassing window incident), and showing you practical ways to lower your transportation costs so you can free up cash for your real financial goals.

We’ll cover:

• How to spot if your car is sabotaging your budget

• The true cost of that “affordable” monthly payment

• Smart alternatives to expensive car ownership

• How driving a paid-off car can change your life faster than you think

If you’ve ever wondered why your budget still feels tight — even when you’re “doing all the right things” — this episode might be your wake-up call. It’s time to put your paycheck to work for you instead of your car.

👉 Start my FREE 5-day challenge and create breathing room in your budget in just 15 minutes a day: www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/challenge📲 Connect with me on Instagram @jewlzthebudgetnerd💰Learn to be Debt-Free Here: https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/me...👉Work With Me: https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/wo...

Are you tired of watching your credit card balance barely budge despite making “on-time” payments every month? In this episode of The Debt Rebel Podcast, I’m sharing exactly how my family eliminated over $107K in consumer debt — and how you can pay off your credit cards faster without gimmicks, shame, or going broke in the process.

You’ll learn how to:

• Pick the debt payoff method that works for your brain

• Slash expenses without sucking the joy out of life

• Find hidden cash in your budget and home

• Stop the swipe and break the credit card cycle for good

If you’re ready to trade minimum payments for massive progress and create a debt-free plan that sticks, this episode will give you the roadmap, tools, and motivation to make it happen.

Friend, you are not failing—you just need a better system. Let’s build one together.

👉 Start my FREE 5-day challenge and create breathing room in your budget in just 15 minutes a day: 

www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/challenge

📲 Connect with me on Instagram @jewlzthebudgetnerd

💰Learn to be Debt-Free Here: 

https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/membership

👉Work With Me:

 https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/workwithme

Feel like you’re way behind when it comes to saving for retirement? You’re not alone—and you’re definitely not too late. In this myth-busting episode, I’m sharing how overwhelmed parents can take 3 powerful steps to start saving for the future even if you’re still paying off debt.

You’ll learn:
✅ Why eliminating debt is the key to building wealth
✅ How to create margin and make the most of your current income
✅ Easy ways to start investing (even if it’s just $20/month)

Plus, I’m sharing how my family got intentional with our money and ditched debt for good—no more robbing from our future just to survive today.

🎁 Ready to stop spinning and start saving? Grab my FREE 5-Day Better Budgeting Challenge: jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/challenge

Are you constantly spinning plates and praying nothing crashes—especially your finances? In this episode, I break down why busy parents feel stuck in survival mode and how to finally gain control of your money without dropping everything else.

You’ll learn:

• Why budgeting feels impossible when you’re overwhelmed

• How to use habit stacking and automation to simplify your finances

• Easy ways to meal plan and save over $1,000 this year

• How to give your future self a financial win with a zero-based budget

• Why community support and accountability is your secret weapon

Friend, you are not failing—you just need a better system. Let’s build one together.

👉 Start my FREE 5-day challenge and create breathing room in your budget in just 15 minutes a day: www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/challenge

📲 Connect with me on Instagram ⁠@jewlzthebudgetnerd⁠

💰Learn to be Debt-Free Here: ⁠https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/membership⁠

👉Work With Me: ⁠https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/workwithme

Hey friend! 👋 If you’ve ever tried a no-spend month hoping it would magically reset your money habits, you’re not alone—but you might be aiming at the wrong target.

In today’s episode, I’m busting the myth that a no-spend month is the answer to your budgeting struggles. Because let’s be real: skipping Starbucks for 30 days isn’t going to change your money story if you don’t have a plan underneath it.

Here’s what you’ll learn:
✅ Why no-spend months don’t lead to lasting financial change
✅ What to focus on instead (hint: it’s not restriction—it’s strategy)
✅ How to create a realistic budget you’ll actually stick to as a busy family

If you’re tired of temporary fixes and want a long-term plan that fits your real life (without guilt, overwhelm, or cutting out all the fun), this episode is your fresh start.

💥 Ready to build a budget that works and finally feel confident with your money?

👉 Join my FREE 5-Day Budget Challenge — You’ll get quick wins each day to kickstart your financial momentum. Start now at: www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/challenge

📲 Connect with me on Instagram @jewlzthebudgetnerd

💰Learn to be Debt-Free Here: https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/membership

👉Work With Me: https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/workwithme

Ever feel like your budget has a messy secret closet, just like Monica’s in Friends? You know—the one where you throw all the “random” spending and hope no one opens the door? 👀

Yeah... that’s your miscellaneous category, and spoiler alert: it’s probably leaking more money than you think.

In this episode, we're digging into why the miscellaneous line item is a budget killer and how it's secretly sabotaging your financial goals. I’ll show you how to:

• Uncover hidden money leaks

• Give every dollar a name (and "miscellaneous" isn't one)

• Build a budget that’s clear, intentional, and 100% guilt-free

Plus, I’ll walk you through real examples of what might be hiding in that category—from impulse Amazon buys to kid birthday gifts—and how to reassign them to categories that actually make sense.

Ready to ditch the chaos and budget like a Debt Rebel? Let’s bust open that door and clean out your financial junk drawer—for good.

👣 Next Step: Want help building a budget you’ll actually follow? Check out the Alliance Coaching Membership at jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/membership.

Feeling stuck with your money?

Learn how financial coaching, accountability, and a custom budget can kickstart your debt-free journey—without shame or overwhelm.

💰Learn to be Debt-Free Here: https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/membership

➡️Take the FREE 5-Day Challenge & Stop Living Paycheck-to-Paycheck: https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/challenge

👉Work With Me: https://www.jewlzthebudgetnerd.com/workwithme