rich & REGULAR with Kiersten and Julien Saunders

This week, we’re unpacking the surprisingly trendy world of underconsumption. Is it a Gen Z TikTok trend? A millennial coping mechanism? A wise old soul's secret weapon? The answer is YES to all of the above.

In this episode, we cover:

How to avoid overspending this holiday season on food and gifts. We even share our hard-won lessons on dealing with impulsive buying, managing the expectations of our loved ones, and teaching our son to approach spending with intention (no, we didn't always get it right, but boy, have we learned!)

YOLO vs. YONO: Say goodbye to "You Only Live Once" and hello to "You Only Need One." We explore the global shift towards intentional purchasing, and how it's impacting everything from fashion to finances. (And yes, we do discuss the implications of the impending tariffs on that Zara haul you've been eyeing…)

The Price vs. The Cost: That cute little $25 item from TikTok Shop? It might cost you more in stress, maintenance, and anxiety than you think. We discuss the psychological (and very real!) costs of buying the "nice" stuff.

Hedonic Adaptation: The science of why buying more doesn't always lead to more happiness. We are not our things and learning this will actually save you money and the planet.

Key takeaways (because your time is valuable):

• Underconsumption is a lifestyle, not a trend
• Re-evaluate your values. Do the math
• Soup is not just for sick people (or soup kitchens)
• Embrace the power of the "thoughtful no"
• Quality over quantity (even with those darn shoes that don't last!)
• Pouches are the future. Get you a pouch.

Join us for a funny, insightful, and deeply satisfying conversation about changing your relationship with your stuff. It might just be the best self-care you do all year.

Links:
- The enshittification of everything 
- Self-gifting messaging is set to dominate Black Friday ads
- The kitchen tech we use to make cooking at home so much easier  

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week, we’re unpacking the raw emotions and anxieties that followed the recent election. We explore the stark reality of a country deeply divided, not just politically, but also in terms of our visions for the future. 

This election wasn't just about who won. It was about a country that, frankly, feels more like it's been severed in half than unified. 

It’s a deep, messy reality and we question the easy labels and simplistic narratives that often dominate the political conversation.We explore the real, human stories behind the red and the blue and ask some tough questions about how to move forward with a more nuanced understanding of our political landscape.

Lastly, we talk about the pressures of a society driven by consumption, and how it can create a disconnect between those who have “too much” and those who don’t, which leaves many feeling left behind, overwhelmed, and unheard. 

If you’re ready for a conversation that goes beyond the surface, tap in for an honest, critical look at the state of our nation and how we can find a way to make meaningful progress together. 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

It’s 2024, and inflation is the number one concern for voters. Today we’re unpacking both candidates' distinct approaches to addressing it. 

We discuss Kamala Harris's and Donald Trump's plans for tackling the rising cost of living, taking a closer look at their proposals and the underlying political and economic philosophies that drive them. Prepare yourself for an interesting and honestly, maybe slightly frustrating, discussion of how the election could impact your wallet and your future.

This isn't just a run-through of policy papers. We're talking about how these candidates are choosing to frame the fight against inflation, the cultural anxieties it reflects, and the real-world impact these choices will have on your everyday life.

This election feels a lot like dating. Both candidates have got their "selling points", but it's up to you to decide what you're actually looking for in a long-term relationship and what kind of future you want to build together. Looking beyond inflation, this is a defining and consequential election. Your vote matters. Stay informed, stay engaged, and make your voice heard.

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

In this special solo episode, Julien and Dr. Preston Cherry discuss the intersection of financial planning and personal well-being. Dr. Cherry brings a unique perspective and combines the rigor of financial expertise with the nuanced understanding of a therapist. He's here to tackle those awkward conversations with your partner about finances, the "financial harmony" that's more than just a feel-good buzzword, and how to find true satisfaction in a world obsessed with wealth.

Dr. Cherry knows the struggle is real for the sandwich generation - those of us juggling the demands of raising kids while supporting aging parents. He offers some guidance for having complex financial conversations with grace and clarity, and strategies for finding balance and ensuring that your own financial needs are met alongside those of your family. 

This episode is also important for anyone preparing for parenthood - it's not just about diapers and baby formula. We're talking about investing in your future, valuing your own worth (beyond just your paycheck), and finding ways to make sure your children inherit more than just a pile of bills.

Helpful Links: 

• Diversity among financial planners improved in 2021 — but it still remains overwhelmingly white and male 
• Follow Dr. Preston Cherry on his website, Instagram, and YouTube
• Get his book: Wealth in the Key of Life

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week, we're returning to our "Quick Dip" format, where we explore three timely topics, giving you the need-to-know without the fluff.

First up, is cord-cutting still worth it? Julien shares his long history of cord-cutting, which began long before he met Kiersten, and she shares her own journey to embracing a cable-less lifestyle. We discuss the pros and cons of traditional cable versus streaming, and how the streaming wars have made cord-cutting more complex than ever. But, ultimately, we agree that cord cutting can still be a smart move, especially if you can resist the urge to buy into all the bells and whistles.

Next, we discuss the recent 2.5% Social Security cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and how it might not be enough for seniors to keep up with rising costs, especially in healthcare. It’s a reminder that Social Security is often overlooked as a critical part of personal finance and more of us should be having better conversations about money with loved ones who rely on it.

Finally, we check in on the stock market. We break down the current state of the market, talk about the importance of diversification, having an exit strategy, and getting caught up in the hype. 

This episode is packed with actionable tips and insights that can help you handle your next financial decisions with confidence. 

Links: 

• 2024 Medicare Quick Reference Guide (via Nuveen)
• Mark Cuban’s drug company: https://costplusdrugs.com/
• Episode 92: Medical Tourism
• Episode 105: Planning for your retirement 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This episode is for anyone who's ever said, "I wish I could just save more money" because we're spilling the tea on how it’s done (and more specifically, how to automate it)  

PAY YOURSELF FIRST. Yes, it sounds simple, but it's the kind of simple that's surprisingly difficult to pull off when you're battling bills, student loans, and a dozen ads featuring the latest shiny thing every time you look up. That's where automation comes in. We're talking about setting up systems that make saving money a habit, not a chore. 

We'll break down why "pay yourself first" isn’t just another cheesy motivational slogan, 4 different ways to automate your savings and investments, how you can use your raises and windfall money to your advantage, and a way to apply ‘pay yourself first’ to your everyday expenses that can actually lead to major savings.

Links: 

• Sign up for Acorns today
• Episode 154 - Why you need a plan for unexpected “windfall” money 
• Episode 97 - Modern Couponing 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week, we're unpacking the murky waters of pay cuts and those awkward conversations where your boss wants you to do the same work for less. It's an increasingly common brutal reality, but you don't have to just roll over and take it.

We explore the different types of pay cuts: those forced upon you (like when you're forced back into the office) and those you choose (like a lateral move for experience). We'll also get real about the sneaky ways pay cuts happen – from slow-burning merit-based cuts to outsourcing key departments and roles.

Tune in for advice on:

• The myth of the "Great Salary Reset": Why pay cuts are not a correction but a reflection of power dynamics
• What to start doing when your job wants less from you, and how to protect yourself from getting played
• The importance of building a backup plan for financial stability when pay cuts are the only option
• The new portfolio career: Learning how to pivot and reinvent yourself in this economy

Links: 

• Episode 150: Avoiding the Confidence Trap | How risk impacts your investments
• Episode 140: Pay Transparency | Does sharing your salary help you earn more? 
• Pay trends amid rising pay transparency
• US salaries are falling, employers say it’s a “resetting” (via BBC)

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

This week we're diving into the world of NIL, or Name, Image, and Likeness, and how this new, HUGE opportunity will impact youth sports. 

Think you're not impacted by NIL? Think again! This episode is for athletes, parents, coaches, and anyone who wants to understand how NIL is changing the game. And if you've got a kid with any sort of athletic talent, this is definitely a conversation you need to be having. 

The point is - this ain't your mama's college experience. This is about financial freedom, brand building, and how college athletes are finally getting a piece of the pie they've been baking for years. 

It's time to forget those old-fashioned ideas about college athletes just being "students," because the NCAA's amateur "student-athlete" model is DONE. It's a whole new game and we're here to help you play it.

We're covering:

• NCAA got served: The landmark ruling that shook up college athletics and opened the door for athletes to cash in on their own name, image, and likeness.
• Why we're so intrigued by this: It all started with our son, and it's a real-life lesson in how to think differently about money, branding, and the future of sports.
• The BIG picture: This is about billion-dollar industries, the NCAA's outdated model, and evolving from a labor rights issue to a civil rights issue (spoiler alert: opinions don’t matter) 
• The power shift: It's not just about the big names anymore. We're showing how even "average" athletes can leverage NIL to create a side hustle, a side gig, or even a full-blown business.
• Real-world examples: we share a story about what happened when we posted sports content featuring our son and give you practical tips on how to negotiate your own deals.
• The future of sports: We're forecasting the coming age of athlete-owned brands, semi-pro leagues, and even NIL scholarships

Links: 

• The Money Game on Amazon Prime 
• Ep 174 Quick Dip - Why are Olympians so Broke?  

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

We’re all familiar with the pressure to make extra cash, but what if your side hustle wasn't just extra work, but an opportunity to tap into your existing skills? This week we’re discussing long-term side hustles with one of Kiersten’s best friends, Lauren. 

Lauren's side hustle (teaching fitness classes) evolved into a passion project that fuels her spirit and keeps her bank account healthy. In fact, after 12 years, it’s been the longest "job" she's ever had, and it's helped her weather some major life storms. From lay-offs to breakups, Lauren's side hustle has provided a solid safety net and a healthy nest egg, giving her the financial freedom to handle the ups and downs of her 9-to-5 career in marketing.

This episode is for anyone who's been hesitant to start a side hustle or feels like it's just another impossible thing on their long to-do list. Lauren’s story illustrates how earning income outside a traditional job with intention can change your life, one gig at a time. 

What you'll learn:

• The "Passion Project" as a Profitable Path: How Lauren’s side hustle wasn't just about the money, but about creating a space where she felt alive. This unlocked a sustainable way to make money while doing what she loved.
• Navigating the "Hustle": We talk about approaching side hustles in a way that doesn't burn you out and allows you to prioritize your mental well-being. Lauren offers some tips on setting boundaries and creating systems that work for you.
• The Shifting Landscape of Work: How the digital age is changing the way we think about work, and why a portfolio career might be the future.
• Monetizing Your Skills: Lauren’s story highlights the importance of understanding your strengths and identifying any skill gaps that need to be addressed. This self-awareness can help you narrow down the side hustle that's right for you and create a long-term, fulfilling path to success.

Links: 

• Follow Lauren on Instagram 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow

Do you ever wonder why you buy things you don't need? This episode explores the fascinating (and sometimes alarming) ways culture shapes our budgets. We’re talking to Dr. Marcus Collins, who is a scholar of the hidden messages of consumption, a marketing professor at University of Michigan's Ross School of Business, and the author of For The Culture. 

He takes us on a journey into the heart of consumerism, explaining how brands create religions, how the people we admire influence our spending, and how we can all become more conscious consumers. It's a hilarious, insightful, and maybe even a little uncomfortable look at the invisible cultural forces that are impacting our spending. 

Dr. Collins helps us understand:

• How the "consecration" of brands shapes our spending: We're not just buying products, we're investing in a sense of belonging, an identity, a belief system. Think of it as the "gospel of consumerism”
• The power of "our people": Dr. Collins breaks down the phenomenon of social proof and how the people we admire, the groups we identify with, and the trends we follow, all play a huge role in our spending.
• The illusion of financial freedom: Dr. Collins reveals how the "keeping up with the Joneses" mentality and our unconscious cultural programming can leave us feeling trapped, even when we have the right information.
• Navigating the cultural landscape: Dr. Collins offers tools and insights to help us become more conscious consumers, make more intentional spending decisions, and build a financial future that aligns with our own values.

You'll walk away from this episode with a deeper understanding of the unseen forces influencing your spending, equipped to see through the "noise" of cultural marketing and branding, and empowered to break free from the unconscious influence of cultural norms.

Links: 

• Get Dr. Marcus Collin’s book For the Culture 
• Visit his website and follow him on Instagram 

Connect with Julien and Kiersten on our website, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube.

Join our email list to get updates from us, opportunities for discounts, freebies and a quick rundown on the relevant financial and career news impacting your life.

Get our book Cashing Out: Win the Wealth Game by Walking Away, named 2023 best overall book about investing by Business Insider and one of the best personal finance books by Forbes

If you would like to learn more about investing, check out our newest class, Making Money Grow