Trauma from the stress, anxiety, and anger of having a spouse who mismanages money - and then an ex who continues to cause financial hardship - is real! Lucinda Testo, therapist and life coach for divorced women and moms, tells her story and provides actionable steps for women experiencing a similar situation. Lucinda talks with Debra about waiting to divorce because of being “financially crippled,” pulling out of debt left from marriage, moving from a safe, corporate job as a psychotherapist into private practice and then starting a coaching business, re-marrying and what to think about financially with a new partner, dealing with a difficult medical diagnosis, and more.
For show notes, go to www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast

Bethany Gettis came to single parenthood as a widow, but no matter no matter how you became a single mom, you’ll take away valuable insights from this conversation. Bethany shares her story of postpartum depression; the steps she took to take back control of her life after the initial shock of losing her partner; how she faced her new financial situation and moved from fear of losing her house to creating a life that enabled her to pay the bills AND homeschool her children - all while doing work she loves. And more. So many take-aways from this conversation!
For show notes, go to www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast

Our tendency as single moms is to give everything to our kids - every last bit of our energy and attention. But sooner than you know, your children will grow up and leave the nest. Then what? Looking to your children as your only source of happiness and fulfillment isn't good for you - or for them. In this episode, Debra talks about the importance of "getting a life," even if that means spending some money, and she outlines steps for how to do that.
For show notes, go to www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast

How do you teach your child to be good with money? Debra interviews writer, producer, social media manager, and podcaster Julia Washington, who talks about raising her son as a young, solo mom. Julia shares the steps she took to encourage her son to take an interest in personal finance. At 17, he is well on his way to a life of financial security and achievement of his dreams. Debra and Julia also talk about negotiating salaries, approaching college financing, and more.
See show notes for this episode at www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast

Listening to experts can change our lives in positive ways, but can sometimes lead us down the wrong path. Debra shares her journey about going in a direction with this podcast that didn't feel right, and refocusing now on single parenthood and money. She also talks about why we listen to other people instead of what we know to be true and how to avoid that pitfall.
See show notes at www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast

If you struggle with a heavy student loan debt burden, you're not alone. Student loan debt has reached crisis proportions in the United States, and many people put their lives - and dreams - on indefinite hold while they wonder how they're ever going to pay it down. Take heart though - there's hope! Even if you owe into the hundreds of thousands.
Travis Hornsby and his team at Student Loan Planner have helped thousands of people save millions of dollars on their student loan debt pay-down. In this episode, he shares his wisdom and knowledge, and offers hope for achieving your dream even with large amounts of student loan debt.
To book a life-changing session at Student Loan Planner, go to www.studentloanplanner.com/moneysmartforlife/. For this episode's show notes, go to www.moneysmartforlife.com.

If you or someone in your family is active duty military, former military, or is thinking about joining the armed forces, don't miss this episode. Tricare expert and retired Naval officer John Letaw joins Debra to talk about the benefits and challenges of military life, and to break down the opportunities Tricare (the health care program available to all current or former military members and their families) offers. John is author of "Tricare Around the World: Getting the Most From Your Military Benefits," and runs the "Tricare Around the World" FaceBook group, the world’s largest and most active online community dedicated to sharing information among users of Tricare worldwide.
For show notes, go to www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast

Decluttering can have a big impact on your financial life. Clutter is heavy. It weighs on you and prevents you from moving forward. Listen in for Debra's clutter story and for tips and resources for decluttering your life and opening up space and time to focus on achieving your dream.
For show notes, go to www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast

Does the life you've been taught to want leave you feeling empty? Do you feel stuck and unable to make changes? Expectations of what life is supposed to be like and fear of living differently hold us back from working towards our deepest dreams and desires. Don't miss this discussion with "Liberated Bad-Ass" and Life Coach Sarah Leslie, who shares her own transformational journey and the radical changes she made to create happiness and fulfillment. Sarah offers steps you can take to choose - and build - the life you want.
For show notes, go to www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast

Is your dream to own a home? Don't miss this episode! You'll get all the info you need to successfully secure a mortgage: how to know you're ready, pre-qualification vs. pre-approval, what debt ratios are and how to know if you have too much debt, what lenders look for in your credit report, the ins-and-outs of down payments and closing costs, and more. Mortgage expert Amy Slotnick shares a deep well of knowledge and experience, so whether you're dreaming about buying a home sometime in the future, you're just starting down the home buying path, or you're well on your way, listen in. You're guaranteed to learn a lot!
For show notes, go to www.moneysmartforlife.com/podcast