Let’s rewind to the beginning of our debt-free journey—back when I thought paying off six figures of debt would be simple, linear, and honestly… a little more glamorous.

Spoiler alert: it wasn’t.

In today’s episode, I’m getting real about the three biggest things I wish someone had told me before we even got started. These aren’t the kind of tips you find in a finance textbook. These are the behind-the-scenes lessons that shaped me emotionally, mentally, and practically and completely changed how I see money (and myself).

No matter if you're just getting started, feeling stuck halfway through, or trying to get back on track after taking a break, this episode is your reminder that you don’t need a perfect budget or a big paycheck to make real progress.

Links & Resources:
 👉 Grab the FREE Debt-Free Roadmap. It's a step-by-step plan to help you get started
📖 Money Made Easy. My book walks you through budgeting and building financial confidence.
📱 Follow me on Instagram: @inspiredbudget

Enjoyed this episode?
Take 20 seconds to leave a quick review. It helps the show reach more people who need encouragement and clarity on their financial journey. 💛

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 do you do when you wake up and realize you owe $169,000 in debt? If you're Leigha, you grab a spreadsheet, get honest with yourself, and start sharing your journey online. 

In this inspiring episode, Leigha (@millennial30something) opens up about the moment she said enough is enough and decided to not only start her debt free journey, but share it online as well.

We talk about:

• How she balances paying off debt with still enjoying life
• The exact numbers behind her $169K debt total (including 13 credit cards!)
• Why even a $3 refund check can make a difference on your debt-free journey

Whether you’re just starting out or in the messy middle of your own debt-free journey, Leigha’s story is the encouragement you didn’t know you needed.

🔗 Follow Leigha on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube

📊 Download her free debt & budgeting tracker [linked in her bios]

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!

When my husband and I decided we were DONE with debt, we had no clue where to start. We were drowning in over $111,000 worth of debt and making two teacher salaries. We didn’t have extra money lying around, but we were determined to change our lives. So what did we do first?

In this episode, I’m walking you through the very first five steps we took to pay off six figures of debt. These are simple, doable things that helped us build momentum and stay on track (even during the hard days).

If you're overwhelmed by your debt or have started and stopped a million times, this episode is for you.

✨ Grab my Goodbye Debt Tracker for free! This Google Sheet helps you:

• List and organize all your debts
• Compare the snowball vs. avalanche method
• Plug in extra payments and see how much faster you can be debt free

→ Download it here: inspiredbudget.com/goodbyedebt

📅 Ready to get serious about budgeting and paying off debt without sacrificing everything you love? Grab my book Money Made Easy right here.

If you enjoyed this episode, I’d love it if you left a review. It helps the podcast reach even more people who are ready to change their money story.

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!

In this episode, I talk with Katie Kimball about teaching kids kitchen skills that save both time and money. Katie shares practical advice for parents looking to build cooking independence in children while keeping grocery budgets in check.

In this episode you will learn:

• How to teach age-appropriate kitchen skills to kids 10+ (like knife skills and stovetop cooking) that build independence while saving you time
• Practical strategies for managing summer snacking that won't break your budget
• How to implement a family cooking rotation where each child takes responsibility for an entire meal

This episode is for you if you're tired of doing everything in the kitchen yourself and want to teach your kids valuable skills that will save you time and money while preparing them for adulthood.

Go to kidscookrealfood.com/inspiredskills to access free life skills training videos and learn about her virtual Life Skills Summer Camp featuring 100 different skills taught by experts.

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!

Just because I teach budgeting doesn’t mean I’ve always made perfect money choices. In this episode, I’m getting personal and sharing six purchases I regret. Not to shame myself or anyone else, but to show that we’re all learning as we go.

Some of these were impulse buys. Some were made with the best intentions. But all of them taught me something about values, priorities, and how sneaky spending pressure can be.

Here’s what I cover:

• The mindset that led to a few expensive mistakes
• What I wish I had done differently
• How these lessons changed the way I spend today

This isn’t a list of things no one should ever buy. It’s a reminder that regret is part of the money journey, and that learning from past decisions helps us spend with more confidence and peace moving forward.

💬 If you’ve ever looked at a purchase and thought, “What was I thinking?” you're not alone. You’re in good company.

📘 Want more stories, strategies, and support for making a budget that feels right for your life? Grab my book Money Made Easy on Amazon or wherever books are sold.

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!

In this episode, I sit down with my friend Kelly Anne Smith to talk about what it really looks like to go from barely getting by to building a life with financial peace. Kelly opens up about her early money mistakes, including the time her car was repossessed—even though she technically had the money in her account.

We talk about:

• Why not knowing where your money is going can cost you big time
• How she paid off $23K in student loans and cash-flowed a $30K wedding
• What it looked like to budget with a partner who had totally different money habits
• How she stayed motivated when budgeting got hard—and what finally clicked

If you’ve ever felt stuck, behind, or like you’re the only one trying to figure this money thing out—this episode is for you. Kelly’s story is full of real-life lessons, hard-won wins, and the kind of hope we all need to keep going.

Resources Mentioned:

• Follow Kelly on Instagram
• Get the Ultimate Side Hustle Guide

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 trying to pay off debt while holding your breath, hoping your income doesn’t suddenly vanish? Or maybe your family has income that comes in waves, and you’re just trying to keep the budget afloat?

You’re not alone. In this episode, I’m answering two listener questions that so many people are navigating right now:

1. Should I pause my debt payoff if I’m worried about losing my job?
2. How do I budget when my income is totally unpredictable?

We’ll talk about:

• Why pausing your debt-free journey isn’t failing, it's smart
• How to build a financial safety net when layoffs are on the horizon
  What a “bare bones budget” is and why it matters
• How to create an “income bucket” to smooth out unpredictable paychecks
• And most importantly, why budgeting has to be flexible

Whether you’re in a rocky job situation or dealing with variable income, this episode will help you feel more prepared and less overwhelmed. Small, steady steps matter, and I promise, you’re not behind.

📘 Grab my book Money Made Easy for more step-by-step help, including examples, visuals, and real-life stories from our own journey.

💌  Want to submit a question for a future episode? Email me at [email protected] or DM me @InspiredBudget on Instagram.

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!

In this episode, I chat with Kevin Payne about how families can experience the magic of Disney without breaking the bank. Kevin shares his journey from adopting two children (doubling his family size!) to finding ways to make travel affordable while maintaining certain non-negotiables.

We discuss:

• The biggest Disney expenses
• Pros and cons of staying on vs. off Disney property
• How to save on food
• Setting souvenir budgets for kids (and why food often becomes the best souvenir)

Kevin reveals that even though Disney has gotten more expensive, there are always ways to make it work within your budget by being intentional about what aspects matter most to your family.

Whether you've never been to Disney because you thought it was out of reach (like I once did) or you're a Disney veteran looking for new savings tips, this episode will help you plan an affordable magical experience.

Listen to Kevin's podcast, The Family Money Adventure Show, or find him on social media @HeyKevinPayne.

Also, you can check out Disney tips at The Undercover Tourist

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!

Summer spending can sneak up on you fast. Between pool days, fireworks, and sales everywhere you look, it’s easy to blow through your budget without even realizing it. 

In this episode, I’m getting honest about where I’m NOT spending money this summer (looking at you, lemon-themed decor) and the few things I am saying YES to, guilt-free.

I’m sharing:

• 7 things I’m skipping this summer to save money and reduce stress
  
  
• 3 things I’m excited to splurge on, including family travel and a backyard upgrade
  
  
• How we’re using gift cards, free fun, and summer camp hacks to stretch our budget

My hope is that this episode helps you rethink your own summer spending. Grab your notes app and jot down your own "no" list and "yes" list. It’s such a helpful way to stay intentional with your money while still enjoying the season.

👉 Send me a DM on Instagram (@inspiredbudget) and tell me what you’re saying "no" and "yes" to this summer. I’d love to hear your list!

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!

Jesse Cramer, a former aerospace engineer turned financial planner, joins me to talk about longevity risk and why it’s especially important for women to plan for the long haul.

We talk about what it means to outlive your money, how Social Security really works (especially for stay-at-home moms or lower earners), and what to do if you're behind on retirement savings. Jesse breaks it down in everyday language that anyone can understand.

You'll learn:

• What spousal and survivor benefits actually mean
• How to build a “retirement paycheck” that doesn’t just rely on Social Security
• Why it’s okay to start investing even if you don’t know everything yet
• When it might make sense to hire a financial advisor (and when it doesn’t)

Whether you're in your 30s, 50s, or somewhere in between, this episode is your reminder that it’s not too late and you don’t have to figure it out alone.

🔗 Links Mentioned:

• Jesse’s blog: bestinterest.blog
• Jesse’s podcast: Personal Finance for Long-Term Investors

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!