Vivian is breaking down why everything feels so expensive right now and what you can actually do to fight back. From the real economic forces driving up your grocery bill and rent, to the apps and hacks that can save you hundreds a month, this episode is your guide to surviving the cost of living crisis without losing your mind (or your savings).

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. Why prices keep climbing, including the three types of inflation driving up costs, plus how tariffs, the conflict with Iran, and decades of housing under-building are all colliding to hit your wallet at once.

2. Which costs have risen the most, from energy and housing to your weekly grocery run, and the real reasons behind it, including supply chain issues, labor shortages, and corporations holding onto record profits.

3. Vivian's favorite money-saving hacks, including how to negotiate a rent abatement, apps like Ibotta, GetUpside, and Too Good To Go, the best day of the week to fill up your gas tank, and how to actually win a health insurance appeal.

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Vivian is breaking down how to look expensive without spending a fortune. From secondhand shopping and clothing rental subscriptions to cashback hacks, VAT refunds, and the psychology behind why we overspend on fashion in the first place, this episode is your guide to building a wardrobe you love without blowing your budget.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. Why so many of us overspend on clothes, how social media and targeted advertising influence our shopping habits, and the mindset shift that can help you spend more intentionally.

2. How to refresh your wardrobe for less through secondhand shopping, clothing swaps, buyback programs, resale platforms, and clothing rental services that can save you hundreds (or even thousands) of dollars each year.

3. Vivian’s favorite fashion-saving hacks, including when to shop for the biggest discounts, how to stack coupons and cashback rewards, and how international travelers can use VAT refunds to save on luxury purchases abroad.

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Vivian is doing a much requested diving deep into the world of investing and breaking down exactly how you should be handling your money, whether you’ve got an arsenal of financial advisors or you’ve never bought a single stock. From choosing the right account to understanding ETFs, index funds, and robo-advisors, this episode is your step-by-step guide to building wealth through investing without getting overwhelmed by Wall Street jargon.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. How to start investing from scratch, including the difference between brokerage accounts, IRAs, Roth IRAs, 401(k)s, and other investment accounts… and how to choose the right one for your goals.

2. Why finding the "perfect" stock is the wrong goal, how diversified investments like ETFs and index funds can help reduce risk, and what to look for when evaluating investment options.

3.How to build a long-term investing strategy that works in real life, including managing market volatility, balancing investing with debt repayment, understanding fees, and overcoming the fear that keeps so many people from getting started.

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Vivian sits down with Raina Moskowitz, CEO of The Knot Worldwide, for a conversation about the real cost of weddings and how to plan a celebration you love without sabotaging your financial future. From six-figure budgets and social media pressure to vendor negotiations and wedding debt, Raina breaks down what couples actually need to know before saying “I do.”

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. Why weddings have become so expensive, how social media has transformed the industry, and what couples should realistically expect when building a wedding budget in 2026.

2. The biggest financial mistakes engaged couples make during the planning process, how to spot overpriced vendors, and red flags to watch for when hiring people for your big day.

3. What’s actually worth splurging on versus saving on, plus practical strategies for sticking to your wedding budget, avoiding unnecessary debt, and planning a celebration that supports your long-term financial goals as a couple.

Check out The Knot!

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Check out the episode that covers everything you need to know about the job search here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z46_PadPH2o

Vivian gets real about all the financial advice she wishes someone had given her when she graduated college. From credit scores and student loans to negotiating your first salary and understanding retirement accounts, this episode is the crash course every recent grad actually needs before stepping into the real world.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. The financial basics every new grad needs to understand immediately– including credit scores, student loans, budgeting, emergency funds, and why your first salary negotiation matters more than you think.

2. How to tackle debt strategically, build healthy money habits early, and set yourself up for long-term wealth through retirement accounts, investing, and compound interest.

3. Practical advice for navigating the 2026 job market, increasing your income, negotiating job offers, and building financial stability even if you’re still figuring everything out.

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Vivian dives into the truth about Buy Now, Pay Later services and why splitting a purchase into “four easy payments” might be way more dangerous than it looks. In this episode, she breaks down how companies like Klarna, Afterpay, and Affirm exploded in popularity, why these payment plans are changing the way people shop, and how BNPL can quietly wreck your budget and credit score if you’re not careful.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. What Buy Now, Pay Later services actually are, how they evolved from old-school layaway programs, and why modern BNPL combines some of the riskiest parts of both layaway and credit cards.

2. Why BNPL can encourage overspending, how multiple small payments create a false sense of affordability, and what happens to your credit score if you miss a payment.

3. Who should and definitely should not use BNPL services, plus Vivian’s preferred alternatives for building credit, managing cash flow, and making purchases without borrowing against your future income.

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In this next installment of "Am I The Asshole? Finance Edition," Vivian is back to sort through the financial disasters you've been too afraid to say out loud, calling out who's actually in the wrong with zero sugarcoating.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. How to set financial boundaries without blowing up your relationships and how to recognize when someone's counting on you being too uncomfortable to enforce them.

2. What you actually owe people in tangled money situations: think joint purchases that go south, informal loans that never get repaid, and group dynamics where one person is quietly carrying everyone else.

3. How to stop letting guilt, obligation, and "but they're family" override your financial common sense, plus Vivian's takes on when generosity becomes a pattern you need to break.

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Vivian sits down with Danielle Robay, the journalist Forbes called the “Queen of Questions” and host of Question Everything and Reese’s Book Club podcast, for a conversation about the underrated skill that can change your career, relationships, and life: knowing how to ask good questions. From networking and career pivots to money conversations and personal growth, Danielle breaks down why curiosity might be one of the most valuable assets you can build.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. What makes someone a genuinely great conversationalist, how to ask questions that actually lead to meaningful answers, and the networking mistakes most people don’t realize they’re making.

2. How to navigate difficult or awkward conversations, from bringing up money with partners and friends to asking smarter questions during interviews, coffee chats, and career transitions.

3. How Danielle defines success beyond financial achievement, the mindset shifts that help people keep growing instead of staying stuck, and why curiosity, connection, and self-awareness matter just as much as ambition.

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Vivian gets candid about how she built Your Rich BFF, what it really took to leave a $625K-a-year job, and the financial strategy behind becoming a full-time entrepreneur. In this episode, she breaks down the realities of betting on yourself in the creator economy, from building a financial runway and managing unpredictable income to navigating imposter syndrome, scaling a business, and knowing when it’s actually time to make the leap.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

1. How Vivian went from posting finance videos after work to building Your Rich BFF into a multimillion-dollar business.

2. What aspiring entrepreneurs need before quitting their jobs, from emergency funds and business plans to cash flow forecasting, tax planning, and diversifying income streams, so you’re not relying on one paycheck.

3. How to survive the emotional and financial realities of entrepreneurship, including managing risk, avoiding lifestyle inflation, handling imposter syndrome, and building a business that can actually sustain you long term.

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Vivian is back by popular demand with another round of “Am I The Asshole? Finance Edition,” where she dives into your messiest money dilemmas and delivers her unfiltered verdict on who’s actually in the wrong. From inheritance drama and relationship debt disasters to wedding expenses, friendship resentment, and family financial guilt trips, this episode proves that money can make even the closest relationships extremely complicated.

In this episode, you'll learn:

1. How to navigate financial boundaries with partners, friends, and family members, including when helping someone financially crosses the line into being taken advantage of.

2. What people actually owe each other in messy money situations, from destination wedding cancellations and shared travel costs to scams, loans, and group expenses that suddenly become awkward.

3. How to protect your own financial future while still showing up for the people you care about, plus Vivian’s honest takes on guilt, entitlement, resentment, and the emotional side of money no one teaches you about.

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