Finance Girlies: Money Conversations for Gen Z and Millennial Women

Anyone else think the wedding industry can be a little bit... extra? 

From the average wedding cost ($33,000) to the costs incurred as a guest, we're breaking down why weddings are so expensive… and how we think about spending when it comes to throwing the biggest party of your life. 

In this episode, we share what we personally prioritized for our own weddings, which traditions feel overrated, and how to create a meaningful celebration without giving in to industry pressure. 

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [04:00] The shocking statistics: average wedding costs 
• [07:00] How much these Reddit users spent as wedding guests or members of the bridal party 
• [10:00] Our takes on overrated wedding expenses 
• [19:00] Would you rather: wedding expense edition
• [31:00] Why the wedding industry is like this: social media pressure and "wedding tax" 
• [37:00] What actually mattered to us as brides
• [43:00] Memorable wedding moments that weren't flashy but made a big impression 
• [46:00] Finding your own wedding values

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WTF! Women Talk Finance breaks down the world of money. No jargon, no...

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Summer is just around the corner, and while we're all mentally planning beach trips and patio drinks, our bank accounts are quietly dreading what's coming. 

In this episode, we break down those sneaky seasonal expenses that somehow surprise us every single year. From al fresco dinners out to wedding travel costs, we're getting real about our own summer spending habits. Spoiler: We both spend more this time of year! 

Not only do we help you plan for what’s coming, we also cover practical strategies to enjoy summer for less.

Episode Highlights:

• [02:00] Why Emily's fun money mysteriously vanishes during patio season
• [03:00] Cassidy's YNAB revelation: May/June = most expensive month for 3 years straight
• [05:00] "Summer Slippers" – those little expenses silently draining your account
• [08:00] Travel, weddings, and the pet-sitting costs we always forget to budget for
• [12:00] The real cost of keeping kids entertained all summer long
• [13:00] Freelancer alert: preparing for the summer income slump
• [18:00] Napkin math and creative budget-trimming for summer splurges
• [21:00] How to score summer gear without the sticker shock

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

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You know about Dry January, right? It’s where you give up alcohol for the first month of the year. This idea inspired our own challenge, and in March, we each gave up a specific type of spending to see what would happen. For Cassidy, that meant cutting out Amazon completely, while Emily challenged herself to shop only at local businesses for all discretionary purchases. We called it Dry March and recorded everything to share in this episode.

What began as a money experiment revealed a lot about convenience, community, connection, and the hidden mental load of modern shopping habits. 

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [03:00] Cassidy's surprising discoveries about her Amazon habits and subscriptions
• [07:00] The financial and psychological impact of abandoning the convenience of one-click shopping
• [17:00] How shopping locally helped deepen Emily's connection to her community
• [27:00] The unexpected challenges of maintaining spending limitations while traveling
• [32:00] What surprised us during and after this challenge
• [34:00] What's next for our spending habits after the challenge

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Money questions keeping you up at night? You're not alone! In this special Financial Literacy Month episode, we open up our inbox to tackle your burning financial questions related to all things personal finance.

From the intimidating "how much do I actually need for retirement?" to the all-too-relatable "why do I feel so behind compared to my friends?", we’re answering your questions with our own experiences — without judgment or jargon.

Whether you're stressed about investing, puzzled about budgeting with inconsistent income, or simply too scared to even look at your bank account, listening to this episode is the perfect first step.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [02:00] How to find a balance between retirement savings and enjoying life now
• [09:00] How to create healthy financial relationships with a partner
• [12:00] Investment strategies
• [16:00] Whether or not to participate in your 401(k)
• [19:00] How to budget with inconsistent income
• [23:00] How to prioritize debt
• [26:00] How to deal with financial comparison
• [33:00] How to get over the fear of looking at your finances
• [37:00] How to know whether you need to hire a financial advisor

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Filing taxes is one of those things we’re all expected to figure it out on our own. Unfortunately, this often means it can be confusing, frustrating, or even downright terrifying.In this episode, we pull back the curtain on their real-life tax experiences, from our first terrified attempts at TurboTax to navigating the complexities of self-employment taxes. 

We’ll also:

Bust common tax myths, including what a “write-off” actually is and how tax brackets work

Share personal stories of surprise tax bills

Offer practical advice for building confidence during tax season 

Help you figure out when it’s time to outsource 

Whether you're an employee or business owner, a DIY filer or a CPA enthusiast, this honest conversation will help you approach tax season with less anxiety and more clarity.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [02:00] Our tax journeys over the years, from nervous first-time filers using TurboTax to business owners who outsource
• [10:00] Common tax filing mistakes, including those we’ve made over the years
• [12:00] How procrastination and anxiety affect our approach to tax season, and how organization can help you get a hold on tax stress
• [16:00] Tax myths and misunderstandings, including why a big refund isn't always good, how tax brackets actually work, and why “tax write-offs" aren’t what most people think
• [25:00] DIYing your taxes vs. getting professional help 
• [30:00] Talking about taxes with partners, friends, and other business owners, and how to build confidence in tax-related conversations

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WTF! Women Talk Finance breaks down the world of money. No jargon, no...

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Making friends as an adult is like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. We've all been there—scrolling through social media, wondering how everyone else seems to have a perfect friend group while we're sitting at home knitting. 🧶

In this episode, we're diving deep into the art of building meaningful connections, breaking down the emotional barriers, and uncovering the surprising ways friendships can impact your financial and personal growth.

From mindset shifts to practical strategies, we're sharing our own messy, beautiful journey of finding community (though it’s always a work in progress) and why it's worth every initial coffee meetup and uncomfortable first chat.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [02:00] Emily and Cassidy's personal stories of friendship struggles
• [14:00] Why making friends as an adult is so difficult
• [16:00] The financial benefits of strong friendships
• [19:00] When it's worth investing money in community
• [22:00] Practical steps to build genuine friendships

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Let's be real: getting a dog is like accidentally signing up for a financial rollercoaster you never saw coming. Emily's first year with Clover was a wild ride of unexpected expenses, adorable chaos, and more love and cuteness than she ever imagined. 🥹 Spoiler alert: No amount of budgeting could have prepared her for this.

In this episode, we cover:

😴 The unexpected challenges of getting a puppy, from sleepless nights to separation anxiety

📋 Why training is crucial and how it impacts both your sanity and your dog's behavior

💰 The real costs of dog ownership that go way beyond the initial adoption fee

🐶 How an energetic corgi can completely change your lifestyle and work routine

☺️ Balancing the financial investment with the immeasurable joy of a little puppy buddy

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [01:35] How Emily and her husband decided to get a dog 
• [06:26] Breaking down the initial costs of getting Clover 
• [12:25] Surprise expenses: training, vet bills & daycare
• [22:45] – Things Emily wishes she knew before getting a dog
• [29:55] Financial and training tips for future dog owners 
• [31:35] The shocking total cost of Clover's first year
• [36:02] – Regrets? Just One. Not making Clover an influencer. 

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Most personal finance advice tells you to cut all unnecessary spending — but we reject that mindset.

Being smart with money doesn’t mean depriving yourself. It means spending intentionally — on things that bring you joy, make life easier, or align with your values.

In this episode, we’re breaking down:

💸 What makes a “good” splurge vs. reckless spending

🛋️ Cassidy’s monthly house cleaner & why she’s never going back

📚 Books, local art, & 14k gold jewelry — when quality is worth the price

🏔️ Why Emily’s most expensive clothes are… hiking gear??

✈️ The one splurge that pays off the most in our businesses

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [02:00] What makes a good splurge vs. reckless spending?
• [07:00] Why Cassidy finally decided to pay for a house cleaner
• [09:00] Emily’s CSA experience — was it worth it?
• [14:00] Handmade & local: Why Cassidy will always splurge on art & unique home decor
• [19:00] Emily’s biggest splurge: High-quality outdoor gear
• [23:00] Living in a high-cost-of-living city: Is it worth it?
• [27:00] Why we pay (a lot) for business retreats & conferences
• [32:00] What we spent money on that wasn’t worth it

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Most budgeting advice is so generic. And it has to be… everyone’s income, priorities, and expenses are different.

But we know there’s something helpful (and kind of fun) about seeing how real people budget. So today, we’re taking you inside our actual budgets — how we categorize our spending, what we prioritize, and which expenses always seem to catch us off guard.

Even though we both use YNAB, our budgets look completely different — so whether you’re super structured or more go-with-the-flow, you’ll walk away with ideas for how to make budgeting work for you.

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [02:00] How our budgeting styles have changed over time
• [07:00] How we organize our budgets
• [16:00] Where we put personal expenses (haircuts, makeup, skincare)
• [24:00] Food budgeting: Do we separate groceries & eating out?
• [26:00] The unexpected budget categories we have
• [30:00] What happens when we overspend in a category
• [38:00] Why budgeting isn’t about restriction

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The name “Roth IRA” doesn’t scream excitement. (It kinda sounds like a stuffy account you’d open in the 1950s.) But fun fact: Roth IRAs just became a thing in 1998, which is why even older generations are still getting excited about them.

If you’ve been seeing everyone online shouting “Max out your Roth IRA!” and you’re like, Okay, but why?? — this episode is for you.

Today, we’re answering your listener-submitted questions about how Roth IRAs work, who should open one, and how to actually invest the money inside. 

Plus, we chat about whether now is a good time to invest (spoiler alert: it probably is).

✨ Episode Highlights ✨

• [00:00] Intro & why we love Roth IRAs
• [02:00] Emily’s aunt gave the most iconic Roth IRA pep talk
• [04:00] What is a Roth IRA? Explain it to me like I’m 5.
• [07:00] Who should open a Roth IRA?
• [09:00] Where can I open a Roth IRA?
• [11:00] Is it a good idea to keep my emergency fund in a Roth IRA?
• [13:00] When should I start being more conservative with my Roth IRA investments?
• [15:00] I have both a Traditional IRA and a Roth IRA—where should I put my money?
• [19:00] I opened a Roth IRA… now how do I actually invest the money inside it?
• [23:00] What are the tax benefits of a Roth IRA vs. a Traditional IRA for freelancers?
• [25:00] Should I still be investing money right now when everything feels chaotic?
• [32:00] Final thoughts & how much your Roth IRA could be worth in retirement

✨ Resources ✨

• IRS list of approved reasons to pull from Roth IRA: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590b#en_US_2023_publink100089542 
• IRS Roth IRA Contribution Limits: https://www.irs.gov/retirement-plans/plan-participant-employee/retirement-topics-ira-contribution-limits  
• Income limits for Roth IRA contributions: https://www.fidelity.com/learning-center/smart-money/roth-ira-income-limits 
• Best brokerages for opening a Roth IRA: Fidelity, Vanguard, Charles Schwab, Ally Invest
• Book recommendation: Financial Feminist by Tori Dunlap (great read on investing & financial activism!)

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