On today's episode of the Debt Free Mom Podcast, Nicole Stanley is on the show to share her experience dealing with a kitchen contractor and what she wishes she had done differently.

You're putting your home and your money in someone else's hands when hiring someone to complete a project - big or small. On today's episode, we'll discuss the questions to ask, the notes to keep, and the way to advocate for yourself and your money even if you're not well-versed in construction.

Nicole is a financial coach and runs Arise Financial. You can find out more about working with her here. as well as her full website: www.arise.financial

If you're looking for a budget template that arranges all your income and expenses by pay period instead of by month, try the Debt Free Mom Budget Template. It's a one time cost of $9, includes space for your whole year in one document, and comes with a couple tutorial videos to get you started. Join over 7,000 other people who have downloaded this template and start budgeting confidently today!

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Susan Soucy is a mom of 2, farmer (how cool is that?!), and adjunct professor. In the last several years, she's taken her finances from fear-based and stressful to confident and growing.

She began budgeting by pay period and few years ago and her weekly budget now gives her peace of mind that she can cover large expenses like daycare for her 2 kids. It also helps her plan out her fluctuating income and see the true impact of choosing to pick up jobs or side hustles.

If you'd like to try the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template that Susan uses (especially if you're paid weekly or bi-weekly and a monthly budget has just never worked out right!), you can download it here for only $9 and it comes with a couple setup tutorial videos!

In the episode, Susan mentions finding Carly by listening to the Herself Podcast and then gaining confidence in car-buying from listening to the Car Mom Podcast. You can find both of those episodes below!

Carly on The Carpool Podcast with Kelly and Lizz

Carly on the Herself Podcast

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Claire Wood is a military wife, mom, writer, and teacher. Today she joins me to discuss an idea she's been pondering and applying to her life: compounding. Those small, consistent tasks and habits that lead to the large changes we're really seeking. Whether it's parenting, cooking at home, or investing: we need to allow time for the effect of compounding to truly show results.

Want to start those small, consistent habits in the year with a budget by pay period? You can download the Debt Free Mom pay period budget template for only $9!

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In our first episode of 2025, we welcome back a DFM Podcast favorite, Tyler Moore, famously known as Tidy Dad. Tyler shares insights about his new book, 'Tidy Up Your Life,' which explores the deep connection between mental clarity and a tidy, organized living space. Tyler also shares his personal journey of balancing life in New York City with his family, the concept of 'just enough,' and practical strategies for decluttering the various areas of his life. We also discuss how responsibilities at home can be shared, outsourced, or eliminated to focus on what truly matters. I know you'll love this incredible and insightful discussion about tidying up not just our homes, but our minds and lives.

Get Tyler's new book "Tidy Up Your Life" at thetidydad.com

Key Highlights:

• 02:38 The Importance of Mental and Physical Decluttering
• 16:13 Defining 'Just Enough'
• 31:02 Sharing, Outsourcing, and Eliminating Responsibilities

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

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Resources mentioned in this episode:

Gifts like the little green machine, leather conditioner, etc.

$7 Car Detailing Guide

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Click Here to find these gifts that will help you save money in the kitchen!

{Amazon List} - most items mentioned in the episode are here!

{Walmart List} - Air Fryer, Toaster, Griddles, Containers on the Kitchen List

www.instagram.com/debtfree.mom

[post contains affiliate links]

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We usually know what goals we want to accomplish in the future, but we also need to look back on what we have already done! Today I fly through a decade of our personal finance progress in less than 30 minutes. "We overestimate what we can accomplish in one year and underestimate what we can accomplish in a decade." -Bill Gates

For a more detailed story of our money including details and numbers, check out Episodes 19, 20, and 22 of the podcast!

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Join us in this episode of the Debt Free Mom Podcast as Stacie returns to share her journey of switching from monthly to bi-weekly budgeting. We dive into the challenges and benefits of aligning budget schedules with different pay periods, managing increased incomes, and strategies for forecasting expenses accurately. She also talks with me about practical tips for utilizing savings accounts, handling car insurance payments, and setting up effective budgeting templates. Get insights on the psychological impact of budgeting experiments, involving partners in financial planning, and balancing important financial goals while enjoying life's moments. Whether you're dealing with variable incomes, credit card dynamics, or just starting your budgeting journey, this conversation with Stacie offers some valuable advice.

You can listen to my previous conversation with Stacie all the way back in episode 9 - Preparing Your Budget for Variable Income with Stacie

00:38 Switching to a New Budget Tool

00:55 The Learning Curve of Budgeting by Pay Period

01:43 Benefits of Budgeting by Pay Period

01:50 Managing Multiple Income Streams

02:31 Adjusting to Bi-Weekly Budgeting

07:29 Handling Variable Expenses

12:03 Using Checking Accounts as Waiting Rooms

16:08 Collaborative Budgeting with Your Partner

20:10 Understanding the Learning Curve

20:44 Transitioning to a New Budget Template

21:14 Long-Term Financial Planning

21:58 Tracking and Adjusting Expenses

23:05 Benefits of the Budget Template

23:56 Planning for Future Expenses

24:57 Achieving Financial Goals

32:57 Managing Credit Card Payments

37:56 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

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Are there rules to budgeting? And if there are, do you have to follow them? In this first episode back after my summer break, I have a wonderful conversation with Jessica who shares her personal journey managing finances for her rural Michigan family of five. Jessica dives into the pros and cons she has found in using budgeting tools like EveryDollar and YNAB and why budgeting by pay period has led to more rational spending behaviors without being overwhelmed. We also dive into the importance of teaching kids about financial responsibility and incorporating budgeting as a seamless part of daily life.

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

Do you have a money question that you’d like to talk about with Carly? Do you have a story of navigating a tricky financial situation? We’d love to have you on the Debt Free Mom Podcast! Fill out the guest application at dfmpodcast.com.

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We're going to be taking a break from putting out new episodes for a little bit as we slow down on a few things and enjoy the rest of our family's summer break. You might see a replay of some of my favorite episodes here and there, but we're hitting pause with new episodes until the fall. 

If you have ideas for what you would like to hear from this show in our next season, send me an email at [email protected] with the subject line "podcast" and let me know what you think.

Enjoy your summer, and we'll be back in the fall with more episodes of the Debt Free Mom podcast!

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