Why is it so easy to blow $30 on takeout but so hard to cancel that Amazon auto-ship of things you didn’t even know you were buying? In this episode of Storytime with Pete, we unpack the psychology behind our worst financial habits—like dining out, impulse shopping, and spending to soothe our emotions. Pete breaks down the science of habit loops, explains why willpower alone doesn’t cut it, and shares six practical strategies to finally kick those budget-busting behaviors to the curb. Spoiler: deleting an app might change your financial life.

Years ago, Pete created the Ideal Household Budget, a simple-yet-spicy allocation model for how Americans should be spending their money. It lit up inboxes and dinner table debates across the country. But today, the gloves are off. Dame and Kristen come ready to challenge the old model—armed with data, real-world messiness, and a whole lot of sass. Will Pete’s golden ratio survive the scrutiny? Or is it time to retire the “Ideal” in favor of the “Real”? Let’s find out.

In today’s episode, we explore how the market’s emotional extremes—its 52-week highs and lows—can mess with our perspective if we’re not careful. Then we shift to Main Street with the latest retail sales numbers and what they say about how Americans are really feeling financially. Finally, we bring it home with a simple but powerful financial move: a subscription audit.

Because sometimes the difference between financial stress and stability is as small as canceling that streaming service you forgot you had.

Topics covered:

Watch. Listen. Breathe. Then make one good financial decision.

In today’s CalmCast, we’re following the money — from Wall Street to your driveway.

P/E Ratio – Is the stock market overvalued? We unpack what investors are really paying for and whether the math makes sense.

Producer Price Index (PPI) – A leading indicator of inflation. If it costs more to make things, guess who eventually pays more? (Hint: It’s you.)

Car Affordability – The average car payment is now over $700 a month — and that’s not including insurance, maintenance, and rising loan terms. For many households, the new car smell now comes with old mortgage vibes.

We’ll help you make smarter decisions in the face of rising costs and financial pressure.

There’s always a reason to wait. Maybe it’s the Fed. Maybe it’s student loan forgiveness. Maybe it’s the housing market finally “cooling off.” But here’s the truth: financial progress doesn’t happen in theory—it happens in action. In this episode, we’re talking about the dangerous game of waiting for someone else to fix your financial life. Whether it’s PSLF hanging in the balance, interest rates hovering, or the SAVE plan in limbo, you still have decisions to make. Good medicine is still good medicine—even when the world feels like a mess. Let’s stop outsourcing our momentum to headlines and hypotheticals.

In today’s CalmCast, Pete breaks down three essential tools for staying steady in a shaky economy. First, we look at how diversification can protect your portfolio from market swings — because when one sector zigs, you want another to zag. Then, we wade through the latest economic data and recession chatter to explain what a slowdown really means and how often it actually happens. Finally, we spotlight the unsung hero of financial calm: the sinking fund. It’s not glamorous, but it is how you survive a car repair, a vacation, or the holidays without panic.

This episode is your friendly reminder: you can’t predict the economy, but you can prepare for it.

You won’t always have perfect data, unanimous advice, or a spreadsheet that answers all your questions—and that’s okay. In this episode of Storytime with Pete, we break down how to take in feedback, sort the good from the garbage, and make smart, confident financial decisions right now, not just “someday when you know more.” Featuring Maya Angelou, a baking metaphor, and a few spicy takes on bad advice. Spoiler: doing your best is enough—until it isn’t. Then you just do better.

The latest GDP numbers are in—and they tell a story of a cooling economy amid policy shifts and global uncertainty. In today’s CalmCast, Pete breaks down what that actually means for your wallet. We’ll look at which parts of the economy are shrinking, what sectors are still showing strength, and how tariffs and interest rates are shaping the growth story. Then we shift gears to explore why asset allocation—not stock picking—is the bedrock of a stable portfolio, especially in times like these. Finally, we wrap with a fresh take on your credit score: what really moves it, and how to use it as a tool—not a source of stress.

When a pipe burst turned their dream townhouse into a soggy mess, this week’s listener found themselves with a surprise $84,000 insurance check and a big decision: buy the forever home now or wait out the madness of the housing market? In this episode, Pete, Dame, and Kristen break down whether selling a damaged home as-is is a smart financial move, what “forever home” really means in an unpredictable economy, and whether renting for a year could be a secret financial power play. If you’ve ever wondered whether now is the time to jump into the housing market—or stay on the sidelines—this is the episode for you.

In today’s episode, Pete the Planner breaks down three key money topics that matter more than you think: why time in the market always wins over timing the market, what the Federal Reserve's latest pause means for your wallet, and how your debt-to-income ratio quietly controls your financial stress level. Whether you're investing for the long haul, waiting for mortgage rates to drop, or just trying to breathe easier when the bills come in, this CalmCast is your 10-minute financial reset.