What does it really take to go from struggling with money to building lasting wealth?

This week on the Inspired Budget Podcast, I’m joined by Emily Egashira, a Certified Financial Education Instructor who went from living in poverty and surviving off TV dinners… to becoming a debt-free millionaire in her 30s.

Emily opens up about:

• Growing up in poverty and how it shaped her relationship with money
• Why financial freedom happens in stages—and what those stages look like
• How to figure out your number for retirement (and why it’s not about age)

If you’ve ever felt behind or hopeless with money, Emily’s story is living proof that you can rewrite your financial future.

Follow Emily on Instagram & TikTok

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

Paying off over six figures of debt completely changed my family’s future, but it was not a perfect journey. Looking back, there are three big mistakes I made along the way. And honestly, I wish someone had told me sooner so I did not have to learn the hard way.

In this episode of the Inspired Budget Podcast, I’m sharing:

• Why making your budget too strict will only set you up for failure
• The mistake of focusing only on cutting costs instead of finding ways to earn more
• My biggest money regret of all: waiting too long to start investing

If you are in the middle of your own debt-free journey, learn from my missteps so you do not have to repeat them. These small changes can save you from frustration, burnout, and years of lost progress.

Here is the truth: getting out of debt is not about being perfect. It is about being consistent and giving yourself a plan that actually works for your real life.

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

Picture this: your grocery bill, cut in half. Sounds impossible, right? Not when you've got the queen of budget-friendly meals, Erin Chase, guiding you through the art of frugal feasting! 

Erin, founder of $5Dinner.com and author of the $5Dinner Mom Cookbook series, joins us for a chat that's sure to change how you shop, cook, and eat. From navigating the grocery store during turbulent times to leveraging store apps for the best sales, Erin’s expertise is a lifeline for those looking to save a buck without sacrificing the joy of a good meal.

But it's not just about saving money, it's also about gaining confidence in the kitchen. Erin shares her secrets to discovering the joy of cooking. She serves up tips on creating simple yet delicious meals, cutting down on dining out, and preventing food waste by stocking up on freezer-friendly options.

With Erin's wisdom, you'll not only save money but also rediscover the delights of home-cooking. So, ready to cook up some savings? Join us for this insightful chat with Erin Chase.

Connect With Erin:
Get the recipes, shopping lists and step-by-step directions for putting 10 meals together and into the freezer.

Check out her website here

Follow her on social media:

@5dollardinners (Tw/IG/Threads)

@5dollardinnersfans (FB)

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

If you’ve ever felt that rush from clicking “Buy now,” waited for the package like it was Christmas morning, and then… felt the guilt later, you’re not alone. In this episode, I share the honest story of how I used shopping to cope with stress, boredom, and hard feelings—and the simple shifts that helped me break the cycle.

We’ll talk about why shopping feels good in the moment (hello, dopamine and anticipation), the real emotional cost that shows up later (avoidance, dread, and sleepless nights), and the four changes that made a lasting difference for me.

Whether you’re impulse-adding to cart after a long day or “treating yourself” out of stress, you’ll walk away with a 3-step plan you can use the next time the urge hits, plus a flexible way to budget for fun without derailing your goals!

Read the Psychology Today article: Shopping, Dopamine, and Anticipation

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

Have you ever felt stuck on whether to buy something? Maybe it sits in your Amazon cart for weeks—or you hit “order” and later regret it. In this episode, I’m joined by Abigail Roe of Downsize Upgrade, who created the Deliberation Station: a set of quick questions that help you decide if a purchase is worth your money, space, and energy.

We talk about:

• The simple two-scale method she uses to filter how she spends her time
• How the Deliberation Station can stop impulse spending in its tracks
• My own real-life example (yes, I tested it on an item I wanted to buy!)

This conversation will leave you with practical ways to slow down, think differently about spending, and start aligning your purchases with your priorities.

Resources & Links:

• Connect with Abigail: DownsizeUpgrade.com
• Follow her on Instagram & TikTok: @downsizeupgrade
• Grab the Deliberation Station printable

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” with money but still stuck living paycheck to paycheck, you’re not alone. More often than not, it’s not the math that’s holding you back—it’s the money lies you’ve come to believe.

In this episode, I’m calling out five lies that might be keeping you broke (yes, even the ones I used to believe myself!). You’ll hear the truth behind each one and the simple steps you can take to finally move forward with your money.

Whether you’ve believed one of these lies or all five, today’s episode will help you replace them with truth and hope—and finally start creating the financial future you want.

Resources Mentioned:

• Grab your FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker: track your debt payoff and celebrate progress along the way
• Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet: the exact tool I use daily to track my money and write a budget
• Join my free class: Budget Your Way to Wealth – over 15,000 people have taken it and loved it!

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

What if downsizing your home could actually upgrade your life? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jacqueline from Home Reimagined, who shares how she and her husband left behind a high-cost lifestyle in Austin, Texas to live full-time in a luxury RV. They cut their expenses by 45% and gained so much more in the process!

Jacqueline opens up about what it was really like to let go of stuff, how their spending habits shifted, and how this big change positively impacted her business, marriage, and mental health. Whether you're downsizing or just craving less clutter and more peace, you’ll walk away with practical tips to create a home (and life) that truly works for you.

Connect with Jacqueline:

✨ Instagram: @home_reimagined_

✨ Instagram: @travelreimagined_

📺 YouTube: Home Reimagined

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

It’s back-to-school season, which means schedules are packed, evenings fly by, and the to-do list never ends. If you’ve ever felt like you’re just trying to keep your head above water this time of year, you’re not alone.

In this episode, I’m sharing the five routines that help me keep my home and budget running during busy seasons—and the three things I’d like to do better. You’ll hear exactly how I meal plan, keep my family on the same page, and stay on top of our finances without letting things spiral.

Whether you have kids at home or just want to better handle busy stretches in life, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to make this season feel a little less overwhelming.

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

Has anybody else been binge-watching "Get Organized with The Home Edit" on Netflix?
 
Between that and my new kitchen renovation, I've been in an organization frenzy. So it only felt fitting to have Christina Hidek on the podcast today, an attorney turned professional organizer who is passionate about structure, organization and creating custom systems that help people de-clutter their lives. 

Now I know you might be thinking.... professional organizer?! What does that have to do with money? Well, in this episode, we're discussing all the ways that clutter affects your finances as well as some quick tips to help you save money by getting more organized! 

Enjoying the podcast? Make sure to subscribe & leave a review!

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!

Let’s be real. Paying off debt is tough. But trying to do it while raising little kids? That’s a whole new level of hard.

In this episode, I’m sharing what it was really like to pay off over six figures of debt while being a mom to two little ones. I talk about the guilt, the pressure, and the emotional weight I didn’t expect. This isn’t a step-by-step guide. It’s a heart-to-heart about the five things I wish I had known before starting our debt-free journey as a mom.

If you're a parent trying to get out of debt while carrying the weight of wanting the best for your kids, this episode will remind you that you’re not alone. You are doing the best you can, and it matters.

Want to learn the exact steps my husband and I took to pay off $111,000 of debt without giving up everything we love?

Grab a seat in my free budget class here: https://inspiredbudget.com/freeclass 

You Might Like:

• Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker!
• Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet.
• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet.
• Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget
• Check out Inspired Budget's blog.
• Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!