Financial Coaching for Women: How To Budget, Manage Money, Pay Off Debt, Save Money, Paycheck Plans

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Budget besties, if you’ve ever listened to us and thought, “Okay…but how am I supposed to do ALL of this?” — this episode is for you.

Coach Michelle is back fresh from office hours, where she helps members work through their real-life budgeting questions, and we’re talking about something so many of us need to hear: you do not have to do everything at once.

Maybe you’re requoting insurance, switching phone plans, trying to set up savings buckets, paying off debt, or staring at paperwork you’ve been meaning to finish for two weeks. Progress is still progress.

One phone call counts. One quote counts. One box checked counts.

We also dig into what it looks like when you’re dealing with heavy consumer debt while trying to create a budget that actually works for your life. Coach Michelle shares how she helps budget besties organize income, debt minimums, bills, spending, and savings so everything finally feels a little less chaotic.

And yes — you can work toward paying off debt while still preparing for real life.

Sometimes that means prioritizing Christmas or upcoming birthdays before a vacation next year. Sometimes it means starting with just one or two savings buckets instead of trying to fund everything at once. The goal is to stop letting predictable expenses turn into new debt.

We also talk about side hustles and why bringing in extra income can feel completely different when you know exactly what that money is working toward.

Instead of thinking, “I guess I have to work more forever,” it becomes:

“I’m earning this extra money to pay off this specific credit card. When it’s done, I’m done.”

That finish line matters.

Coach Michelle also gives us a peek inside office hours and the community that happens there. Money can feel incredibly personal, and a lot of us aren’t casually telling our neighbors about a 29% credit card or the debt keeping us up at night.

But when we hear someone else say, “Yep, I’m dealing with that too,” the shame starts to lose some of its power.

Inside the community, budget besties are sharing wins, asking questions, swapping ideas, encouraging each other, and figuring this stuff out together.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

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In this episode, we sit down with Emily to walk through her real-life October budget — debt, kids, unexpected expenses, savings buckets, and all.

Emily is carrying significant monthly debt payments while also paying for her son’s school, planning ahead for her daughter’s activities, preparing for Christmas, covering home expenses, and trying very intentionally not to rely on credit anymore.

And that last part? HUGE.

We talk through why getting a paycheck ahead matters, how to decide what belongs in bills vs. spending, and why sometimes the smartest financial move is not throwing every available dollar at debt.

Because if we use all our cash to pay down a credit card and then have to swipe that card again when the oil tank needs filling, the tires need replacing, or tuition hits… we haven’t actually solved the problem.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!

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Budget Besties, this episode is such a good reminder that budgeting isn’t about having everything perfectly figured out—it’s about finally having a system that helps you handle real life.

We’re chatting with Barb about what changed when she started using our Simplified Budget System after years of letting her husband handle most of their finances. Like so many couples, they were used to playing catch-up, taking out loans when something big happened, and wondering where the money would come from next.

Then came the bats. 🦇 Yep… 30 bats in the attic.

What could have turned into another loan or credit card balance became proof that their new money system was actually working. Because Barb had savings buckets in place, she and her husband were able to pull together the cash they needed for the unexpected expense—and now they have a plan to rebuild those savings.

We also talk about what budgeting has changed beyond the numbers. Barb is more involved in their finances, she can go to lunch with friends without guilt, and she even bought herself a new purse without wondering whether that money should have gone somewhere else.

And after years of putting birthdays and holidays on a credit card, Barb is heading into a season with four November birthdays, three December birthdays, AND Christmas—with money already being set aside for all of it. 🙌

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

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Budget besties, what happens when your income changes every month?

Maybe your spouse works in sales. Maybe you’re an entrepreneur. Maybe commissions and bonuses mean one month feels amazing…and the next month has you wondering how you’re supposed to make a consistent budget when your paycheck is anything but consistent.

In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly how to create consistency even when your income fluctuates.

The goal is to build your regular monthly budget around a realistic bare-bones income number—the amount you can reasonably count on even during a lower-income month. From there, we want your bills, minimum debt payments, groceries, gas, and everyday spending covered first.

And when those bigger commission checks or bonuses hit? That extra money gets a job, too.

We’re talking about using higher-income months to fund savings buckets, prepare for future expenses, make progress on debt, and—when your income swings dramatically—build an income holding account that can help smooth out those lower months.

We’re also answering another question we hear all the time: “How am I supposed to budget for groceries and gas when those numbers are different every month?”

This is where your 90-day audit comes in. Looking back at approximately three normal months of spending can help you figure out what your real-life averages actually are. Then you can create a consistent spending rhythm instead of letting your lifestyle expand and contract every time your income changes.

We also get into savings buckets and why you probably won’t get every single one right the first time. Christmas, back-to-school expenses, homecoming, travel, annual bills, kids’ activities…sometimes you don’t know what something costs until you live through it.

That’s okay.

Your first year of budgeting gives you information that makes next year easier. Even having half of an expense saved ahead of time means that’s half you don’t have to suddenly find in your monthly budget.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!

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October is here, budget besties! 🍂 And along with cooler weather, sweaters, Halloween, and the beginning of the festive season comes something else: your October budget.

Watch along: https://budgetbesties.com/octoberbudget

In this episode, we’re walking through exactly how to build your budget for October—from closing out September to deciding what to do with every dollar you have left.

First things first: close out September. Make sure every transaction is accounted for, update anything that changed, and figure out exactly how much money is rolling into October. Remember, your numbers should reflect what’s actually happening in your bank account.

Then it’s time to build October!

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Budget besties, October is coming! Have you made your budget yet? No shame if you haven’t—that’s exactly why we’re here. 😂

In this episode, we’re walking through our monthly budgeting routine so you can head into October knowing exactly where your money is going. We’re starting by closing out September, updating those account balances, and then building October’s budget using our five simple categories: income, debts, bills, spending, and savings.

And remember: a budget isn’t about restricting your life. It’s about organizing your money so you can actually use it for the life you want.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Ever feel like you understand budgeting…but your actual money still feels completely out of control?

Budget besties, sometimes the problem isn’t that you’re bad with money. It’s that your money is DISORGANIZED.

In this Q&A episode, we’re tackling two super relatable money situations: adjusting when your paycheck schedule suddenly changes and figuring out how to organize your accounts when your spouse isn’t exactly thrilled about carrying multiple debit cards.

First, we’re talking about what happens when you go from getting paid every other week to getting paid once a month. That transition can make you feel like you’re constantly playing catch-up, even when you’re actually doing pretty well. We explain why it can make sense to temporarily pause savings buckets, create some breathing room, rebuild your budget around the new pay schedule, and even ask companies to move your bill due dates.

Then we get into one of our FAVORITE topics: getting rid of the giant black hole bank account where bills, groceries, gas, dining out, subscriptions, and everything else are happening at the same time.

Because who has the brain space to stand in the grocery checkout line wondering, “Wait…did the mortgage come out yet?”

Not us.

We explain how separate accounts can give you the freedom to spend while knowing your bills are already taken care of — and what to do when your spouse doesn’t want three different debit cards.

Spoiler: your system doesn’t have to look exactly like ours.

You can create a budget that fits your actual household and still protect the bills account. Your spouse can have one spending account for their expenses while you use more detailed spending accounts if that works better for you.

The goal isn’t perfection. It’s clarity.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Budget besties, today we’re talking about two simple shifts that can make managing your money feel a whole lot easier: stop spending from your bills account and stop being afraid to ask questions about your own money.

First up: those separate spending accounts we love? Think of them as mini budgets. You might have one for gas and groceries, another for dining out, and another for personal or kid spending. Instead of one giant checking account where every transaction disappears into the abyss, each account has a job.

But here’s the catch: the system only works if we actually let the guardrails do their job.

That means your bills debit card does not need to live in your wallet “just in case.” Your bills account is holding the money that already has somewhere to go. When we dip into it because the grocery account is getting low, we’re creating a much bigger mess for ourselves later.

The tiny habit we’re asking you to build? Check your spending-account balance before you spend.

That’s it.

We’re not asking you to track every grocery purchase or categorize every transaction. Open your banking app, see what’s available, and spend within that amount. If you want to spend the whole grocery budget on carrots, Twinkies, chips, or whatever your thing is…have a good time. 😂 The important part is staying inside the amount you intentionally set aside.

And if that amount consistently isn’t enough? That’s useful information. Your budget may need to change. A good budget should reflect your actual life, which sometimes means adjusting the amount you set aside or changing the rhythm of when that money hits your account.

Then we’re getting into another kind of financial confidence: asking the people you hire to explain what they’re doing with your money.

Your accountant, CPA, bookkeeper, financial advisor, banker, insurance agent—whoever it is—they work for you.

You are allowed to say:

“Explain this to me like I’m in fifth grade.”

You are allowed to bring a printed copy of your budget and a written list of questions.

You are allowed to ask them to explain something again.

And if someone continually makes you feel small, brushes off your questions, or refuses to help you understand your own finances? You are allowed to find someone who communicates better.

Financial clarity isn’t about becoming an accountant or obsessing over every transaction. It’s about creating simple systems, understanding what’s happening with your money, and feeling confident enough to ask questions when something doesn’t make sense.

That’s the kind of support good financial coaching can give us too: a place to work through the numbers, build realistic systems, and make money feel less overwhelming.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Budget besties, we need to talk about BNPLs. And yes… we had to Google what that meant too. 😂

Buy now, pay later services like Affirm, Klarna, Afterpay, Sezzle, and all their little friends can sound harmless. Zero interest! Four easy payments! Get the thing now!

But when those payments start stacking on top of each other? Your budget can get messy FAST.

In this episode, we’re talking about why these payments have become such a problem in the budgets we see, what happens when you’re relying on them for everyday expenses like groceries, and how to start getting yourself out of the cycle.

Because here’s the big truth: if you don’t have the money for something today, financing it doesn’t suddenly make it affordable.

We want you to save the money first, pay for the thing with money you actually have, and keep those random payments from stealing pieces of your future paychecks.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!

Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!

Budget besties, this one is a FULL-CIRCLE moment. 💛

A few years ago, Becky came to us feeling completely overwhelmed by debt. In her very first budgeting session, she was $54 short — and convinced that proved budgeting just wasn’t going to work for her.

Fast-forward to today…

She’s paid off nearly all of her debt, sold a house, bought another home, intentionally restarted payments on her student loans, saved ahead for an epic trip to BlizzCon, AND she’s already thinking about saving cash for her next car.

Ummm… WHO IS SHE?! 👏

In this episode, Becky comes back to share what’s changed since we first heard her story and, more importantly, what helped her go from feeling like her money controlled her to realizing she gets to control her money.

And spoiler alert: she did NOT get there by giving up everything fun.

Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:

1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook

2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall

3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.

This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.