What if paying off your debt didn’t have to feel like punishment? In this episode, I’m joined by Jacent Wamala, a licensed therapist and money coach who paid off $94,000 of debt in just three years…all on a single income! 

After walking through divorce, grief, and grad school, Jacent decided to treat her debt-free journey as an experiment instead of a burden. She shares how she stopped letting shame lead the way, got practical about her money, and created systems that actually worked for her life. 

If you’re working to pay off debt, or thinking about starting, this episode will remind you that it’s not about perfection. It’s about progress, intention, and believing that your future self deserves peace of mind.

Connect with Jacent:

• Instagram: @jacentwamala
• YouTube: Jacent Wamala

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!

Ever feel like you’re crushing your budget… until halfway through the month when you realize you’ve overspent? You’re not alone. I’ve been there too—and the good news is, it doesn’t mean you’ve failed.

In this episode, I’m sharing the five simple steps my family uses to fix our budget when things go sideways. From adjusting your numbers without starting over to shifting your mindset so you don’t spiral, you’ll walk away with a clear plan to reset and move forward with confidence.

Links Mentioned:

• Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet
• Take my FREE budget class
• Watch the video: Tracking Your Spending Is More Powerful Than You Think

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 a big hospital bill just landed in your mailbox and your stomach dropped, take a breath. You may not have to pay all of it (or any of it). In this episode, Jared Walker, founder of Dollar For, explains how hospital charity care (financial assistance) works, who qualifies, and how his nonprofit walks patients through the process for free.

Try This Now:

1. Check eligibility for yourself or a loved one: dollarfor.org/inspiredbudget
2. Already in collections or on a payment plan? Apply anyway—you may still qualify and get past payments refunded.
3. Not eligible? Ask for an itemized bill, look for errors, and call to ask for a settlement amount.

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 had to dip into your emergency fund, you’re not alone. It’s such a frustrating feeling to watch your savings go down after working so hard to build it up. You know it’s there for a reason, but still, it can feel like a major setback.

In this episode, I’m answering a listener question from Rachel, who asked what to do after you’ve had to use your emergency fund. I’ve been there myself, and I know how discouraging it can feel to start saving all over again.

I’ll walk you through how to reframe the way you think about your emergency fund, how to rebuild it step by step, and how to deal with the emotional side of starting over. You’ll also hear practical ways to keep future “emergencies” from draining your savings again, plus a few simple mindset shifts that will help you stay motivated while you rebuild.

My hope is that you’ll walk away feeling encouraged, proud of the progress you’ve already made, and confident in your ability to bounce back (because you’ve done it once, and you can do it again).

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!

Ever wish someone could just hand you a list of side hustle ideas that actually fit your skills and schedule? In this episode, Nick Loper, host of The Side Hustle Show, shows us how to do exactly that with the help of AI.

Nick has a free worksheet that pairs with ChatGPT to brainstorm side hustle ideas. We test it live during our conversation using my own skills and interests. The result? A list of realistic, personalized ways to make extra money that I never would have thought of on my own.

If you’ve been stuck on “what could I even do?” this episode will help you see how AI can take the guesswork out and give you a real starting point.

Links and resources

• Nick’s free worksheet: sidehustlenation.com/allison
• Nick’s podcast: The Side Hustle Show
• 30 Ways to Make Extra Money for Christmas

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 your grocery spending feels like it’s getting out of control, you are not alone. As my kids have grown, I’ve noticed just how much more food (and bigger portions!) we’re going through every single week. Add inflation on top of that, and suddenly the grocery bill looks way higher than it used to.

In this episode, I’m sharing the 3 rules my family lives by when it comes to grocery shopping. These three habits have saved us hundreds of dollars each month—and they’ve made grocery shopping way less stressful. My hope is that you’ll hear at least one tip you can start using right away to spend less on food and feel more in control of your grocery budget.

📩 I’d love to hear from you! Send me your favorite grocery-saving tips at [email protected] so I can share them with our listeners.

For coupon tips in Texas: TXFrugalFinds

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 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!