The start of a New year is a natural time to review our daily routines and ask a simple question: Is there an easier or better way to do this? If your productivity system works—but feels heavier than it needs to be—this episode is for you.

In this solo episode of Money Is Not Your Problem, we talk about giving yourself permission to try different approaches to your workday so that important tasks actually get completed. Instead of promoting one “right” method, this conversation invites you to observe how you work now and consider small adjustments that can improve focus, energy, and follow-through.

Inspired by the Eat the Frog approach, we explore the idea of starting with the hardest, most important task—and compare it with another option many people use to build momentum: quick wins. The goal isn’t to choose the “best” rule, but to find what helps you move through your day more effectively.

You’ll hear practical ideas on:

• When tackling the “ugliest frog” first makes sense
• When starting with quick wins can support your rhythm
• Why productivity looks different in different seasons
• How to test small changes in your routine without pressure or guilt

This episode isn’t about doing more. It’s about refining your daily routine, so the work that matters most actually gets done with greater consistency throughout the year. 

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Ever feel like managing money is overwhelming, and you’re stuck in the same cycle? In this episode, my guest, Amanda Christensen, shares her insights and work about taking control of your finances with faith, clarity, and confidence.

We discuss

• Why financial empowerment starts with your mindset, not your bank account.
• The 3 biggest money myths that she sees holding women back — and how to break free.
• Practical steps to align your financial decisions with your values and goals.
• How she used (and we can too!) faith and community to build the financial habits to improve confidence.

To learn more about Amanda Christensen and the amazing work she does:

Follow her on social media @UtahMoneyMatters 

https://utahmoneymatters.org/

🎧 Tune in now to hear how you can start making empowered financial decisions today!

For a change, this episode is also available on my YouTube channel. Check it out. 

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 Feeling crushed by rising costs and shrinking paychecks?  In this episode, I walk you through the exact 3-step strategy I used during a financially tight season and how you can apply it to your own life starting today, while maintaining emotional stability. 

3-Step Strategy

 ✨ Step 1: Pause and don’t panic.

 Pausing can help us avoid rash decisions and allow the problem-solving part of the brain to engage. You can do the same — when you feel overwhelmed, stop, breathe, and look at the facts. This reminds you of what things are in your control and helps you decide the next steps. 

 ✨ Step 2: Cut non-essentials

What are the items or services that you could cut out, for now, or try to find a more budget-friendly option to replace the one that is weighing down your budget?

 ✨ Step 3: Get creative with solutions.

 Can't cut much?  Negotiating or doing some research can help you get a better rate on items that support the life and well-being of your family. Find creative ways to stretch your resources — maybe it’s adjusting frequency, bundling services, or trading with friends. There’s often more flexibility than we first think. 

 🎧 By following these three steps — pause, cut, and negotiate, and being creative — you can face tight times with confidence, clarity, and action.

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Have you noticed how much easier ( and more automatic) it is to see what others do wrong or to complain ( about the weather, work, the kids, the spouse, etc.) instead of complimenting or sharing the good about a situation or person? No, it does not mean you are a horrible person, but that you are normal.

 In this episode, we explore the concept of negative bias—our brain’s natural tendency to focus more on the bad than the good—how it shows up in our financial lives, and how you can retrain your brain to see more of the good to support your financial journey. 

🔑 Key Highlights:

• Three thought errors keeping you stuck financially: “I’m bad with money,” “I need to earn more to save,” and “Budgeting is stressful.”
• Biblical wisdom and mindset shifts to replace scarcity with spiritual confidence and clarity.
• A simple visual exercise using your photo gallery to rewire your brain for gratitude and progress.

Whether you're battling thought patterns like “I’ll never be good with money” or need a reminder that your past doesn’t define your future, this episode will inspire you to take control and transform your financial mindset.

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Are your daily habits quietly sabotaging your financial security? In this episode of The Money Is Not Your Problem podcast, we explore 10 everyday habits that might be keeping you stuck in a cycle of financial stress. From impulsive spending and ignoring budgets to falling into the YOLO and FOMO traps, we’ll break down why these habits are harmful and, most importantly, how to liberate yourself from them.  Check out the examples and actionable strategies that encourage shifting a mindset, taking control of our financial future, and creating lasting wealth. If you’ve ever felt like money is slipping through your fingers, this episode will provide the tools to stop bad habits and build financial confidence today.

We also discuss:

• Why small spending habits matter more than big financial decisions – and how they quietly drain our wealth.
• The role of mindset in breaking the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle – how shifting our thinking can lead to better money management.
• How to recognize and break free from emotional spending – understanding the triggers that lead to impulse purchases.
• Practical steps to replace these habits with smart financial choices – building a system that supports long-term wealth and stability.

Whether just starting our financial journey or trying to break free from old money patterns, this episode is packed with practical strategies for making lasting changes.

🎧 Tune in now and take the next right practical step toward financial confidence in 2025! 🚀💸

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In this episode, we discuss what are and how to set impossible goals, embrace failures as stepping stones, and trust in achieving financial and personal growth. Using Dallas Jenkins’ inspiring journey of faith and resilience as an example, we explore how you can turn setbacks into setups for success.

We also dive into:

• The power of Review, Reflect and Reset to start the new year with clarity.
• Why failures are not the end but a key part of the learning process.
• The concept of "impossible math" and how trusting in God’s timing can transform your efforts.
• Practical tools to redefine your financial goals for 2025 with purpose and intention.

Whether you’re feeling disappointed about unmet goals or ready to embrace the new year with excitement, this episode will inspire you to take actionable steps toward becoming a better version of yourself.

🎧 Tune in now to start 2025 with purpose and possibility!

Here is the link to Dallas Jenkins' BYU devotional video, Five Loaves and Two Fishes. 
Find the worksheets mentioned in this episode: Review, Reflect, and Reset Tool,   The Redeciding Tool, and What I Want Tool. 

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 🌟 In this episode, we're discussing some of the 2024 Women in Money Empowerment Conference highlights. It was a gathering of brilliant minds from the insurance, investing, banking, and financial education sectors, all sharing wisdom to teach and encourage women in their financial journey. 

In the episode, we'll explore what to do when there is more month than money left without sacrificing fun and joy. I'm sharing three powerful strategies to navigate those tight budgets: increasing your income, trimming down those expenses, and uncovering delightful, budget-friendly activities that spark joy.  Sometimes, those moments are exactly what we need to test our capacity for discipline and growth. 

Key Highlights:

1. Three Budgeting Strategies: Discover how to increase your income, cut back on expenses, and embrace frugal joys to maintain a positive outlook.
2. Optimize Your Tax Withholdings: Learn how adjusting your W4 can prevent you from overpaying Uncle Sam and allow you to make the most of your money now.
3. Frugal Joy Inspirations: Delight in simple pleasures like sipping homemade lemongrass tea, hosting a cozy chocolate tasting, or wandering through unexplored neighborhoods.

And don't miss out on our Frugal Joy Challenge: What's one frugal joy you can integrate into your life today? Share your favorite budget-friendly activity that brings you happiness without breaking the bank! 🎉

Click here to get the 45 Frugal Joys list shared by Amanda Christensen from @utahmoneymatters! 💪💖

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In this episode, Farrah Fernandes shares her inspiring financial journey, from avoiding her bank account out of fear to taking complete control of her finances. As a single mother navigating the challenges of unemployment and divorce, Farrah explains how she turned her financial situation around by planning, learning, and shifting her mindset. Additionally, Farrah offers insight into how her approach to health coaching, centered around intuitive eating, complements her newfound financial stability.

Key Takeaways:

1. Facing Financial Fears: Farrah explains how avoiding finances made her situation worse and how facing it head-on gave her the necessary push to make changes.
2. Mindset Shift: Moving from a scarcity mindset to one of abundance was a game-changer for Farrah in both her financial and personal life.
3. Intuitive Eating & Health: As a health coach, Farrah also helps people heal their relationship with food, rejecting diet culture and embracing intuitive eating for long-term health.

Actionable Tips:

• Face your financial fears: Take control by planning and tracking expenses.
• Shift from scarcity to abundance: Focus on making empowered decisions.
• You can apply the same mindset to other areas of your life, just like she talked about her work with intuitive eating and our health. 

Connect with Farrah:

• Instagram: @thefunctionalfoodie
• Facebook: Farrah Fernandes Coaching

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Have you considered that money can NOT be a problem for people? This conversation with Megan Whitesides blew my mind as she shared how money has been a non-issue, just a part of life for her.   

 Megan is a certified life coach and preschool teacher. In this episode, we discuss her approach to parenting, relationships, and teaching her children about money. Megan explains how her background shaped her financial mindset and offers practical tips for raising financially responsible kids.

Key Takeaways:

1. Teaching Kids About Money
   Megan uses allowances to teach her kids to save, spend wisely, and give. She emphasizes showing them physical money and encouraging thoughtful, not impulsive, decisions.
2. The Importance of Tithing
   Megan highlights how generosity, through tithing or charity, brings financial and spiritual blessings, which she instills in her children.
3. Managing Financial Decisions
   Megan encourages delayed gratification in spending decisions, helping her kids learn to avoid emotional spending.

Her top Tips:

• Start teaching kids about money early with allowances.
• Encourage kids to wait before making big purchases.
• Set a positive example with your own financial habits.

Connect with Megan:

• Megan Whitesides Coaching (Instagram)
•  We Travel Cheap: Instagram Link

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This episode is a special recap of my presentation at the BYU Women’s Conference in May 2024. I'm excited to share my journey and the valuable financial principles that have transformed my family’s financial health.

During my talk at the conference, I highlighted the importance of setting your financial house in order, drawing inspiration from both scripture and modern-day prophets. I emphasized that understanding and learning financial principles is crucial for making better financial decisions. I shared personal anecdotes from my own experiences growing up in Brazil and the financial mistakes I made early on, stressing the need for financial literacy and responsible money management.

I outlined four key principles that can change your financial course:

1. Principle 1: Understand and Learn Financial Principles: Observe, learn, and teach money management within your family.
2. Principle 2: Teach Our Families: Engage your kids in financial discussions, teach them to earn, save, give, and spend wisely.
3. Principle 3: Achieve Debt Freedom: Embrace a debt-free lifestyle to gain financial freedom.
4. Principle 4: Experience Temporal and Spiritual Blessings: By practicing consistent small efforts, you can harness the power of compound interest and enjoy financial and spiritual rewards.

By embracing these principles, you can reduce anxiety, increase spiritual receptivity, and gain the freedom to choose how to use your resources. I concluded with encouraging words, reminding everyone that small, consistent efforts can lead to significant financial blessings, allowing us to serve others and build a secure financial future.

 Don’t forget to subscribe, leave a review, and follow us on social media for more insightful episodes.

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