Lauren Beltz, also known as The Budget Boss shares her journey from growing up in an accounting family to carving her niche in bookkeeping and finance for small businesses.

She discussed The Budget Brigade, her initiative blending education and personal finance. Lauren emphasized the importance of budgeting and recounted her own experiences with managing finances, including the challenges of budgeting on a variable income and the importance of frugality and intentionality in spending. She also talked about her personal life, including her plans to move to Colorado and her strategies to avoid lifestyle creep. Additionally, Lauren provided insights on the emotional aspects of financial planning, the significance of enjoying life without overspending, and the importance of setting realistic financial goals.

Learn more about Lauren Beltz:

Lauren grew up in a family surrounded by accountants. She learned from prepping 1040 returns at a young age that she did not want to follow the family trend.

She ended up becoming a bookkeeper instead, working in finance and helping small businesses since her teenage years.

Lauren has always been fascinated with numbers and patterns. With over fifteen years of experience, she is excited to take the knowledge she's learned in industries spanning from aviation, investment firms, motorsports, and retail and focusing it to where her true passion lies – personal finance, sole proprietorships, and small businesses.

She is a previous Financial Peace University coordinator and loves helping friends and colleagues with personal finance questions. It became an inside joke at her last corporate position that an unofficial employee benefit working there was free access to "Budget with Beltz" which has now become The Budget Brigade.

Lauren splits her free time between her two passions: money and stories. When she isn't working the analytical side of her brain at The Budget Brigade, you can find her spinning up her creative side, writing and editing at Lauren Beltz Writes.

Looking for something specific? Here you go:

00:00:00 - Introduction to the Podcast

00:00:11 - Introducing Guest Lauren Beltz

00:00:21 - Lauren's Background and Expertise

00:00:42 - Lauren's Storytelling and Financial Education

00:01:03 - Budgeting and Personal Finance

00:03:27 - Lauren's Upbringing and Frugality

00:04:42 - Lauren's Budgeting Techniques

00:06:02 - Budgeting on Variable Income

00:06:15 - Lauren's Engineering Background

00:07:27 - Family Plans and Financial Freedom

00:08:16 - Moving to Colorado and Cost of Living

00:10:15 - Selling a House and Financial Planning

00:10:26 - Lifestyle Creep and Financial Mindset

00:12:15 - Contentment and Spending on Experiences

00:13:05 - The Fire Ladder Concept

00:14:01 - Finding Contentment in Personal Finance

00:15:24 - Lauren's Personal Spending Habits

00:16:05 - The Importance of Experiences Over Things

00:17:03 - Lauren's Financial Freedom Plan

00:18:10 - The Fire Ladder Explained

00:19:13 - Setting Financial Goals

00:20:47 - Achieving Financial Independence

00:21:09 - Mindset and Financial Management

00:22:02 - Realistic Financial Expectations

00:23:15 - Learning from Budgeting Mistakes

00:24:09 - Disha's Personal Debt Experience

00:25:12 - A Year of Finding Contentment

00:26:06 - Decluttering and Enjoying What You Own

00:27:01 - Avoiding Lifestyle Creep

00:28:02 - The Peace of Financial Stability

00:28:40 - Balancing Professional Success and Finances

00:29:28 - Work-Life Balance and Financial Freedom

00:30:10 - Unchaining from Debt

00:31:14 - The Power of Financial Stability

00:32:07 - Lauren's Consulting Work

00:33:01 - Handling Life's Financial Challenges

00:34:01 - Balancing Work and Financial Goals

00:35:00 - Consulting Success Story

00:36:36 - The Impact of Financial Stability

00:37:47 - Handling Medical Emergencies Financially

00:38:14 - The Flexibility of Financial Stability

00:39:06 - The Budget Brigade Online Presence

00:39:57 - Final Takeaway: Remember Your Why

00:40:40 - Closing Remarks and Call to Action

This episode is sponsored by

Eckard Enterprises – is an asset management company that focuses on providing families access to diverse, alternative investments.

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Please note: The content shared on the podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be considered individualized financial advice. It is essential to consult with professionals such as accountants, financial advisors, or attorneys to receive personalized guidance based on your specific needs.