The Reframe

Each year, we all face the card strategy questions: what should stay, and what should go? Tune in this week to hear my slightly unconventional approach to points and miles earning in 2026, from the POV of a FIRE family looking to minimize annual fees while maximizing earnings.

Please reach out! I'd love to hear your thoughts on friction as our friend. Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Let's talk friction -- specifically, how understanding it can help us dial in systems and build lives we love. This week, we discuss five friction questions: where do I want to (1) increase it, (2) decreased it, (3) reallocate it, (4) reassess it, and (5) embrace it.

Please reach out! I'd love to hear your thoughts on friction as our friend. Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Anyone else tend towards a little winter gloom?

If so, tune in this week to hear a rundown of science- and mindset-based ways to see winter as a feature of our annual rhythms, rather than a bug. All suggestions come from the book ⁠How to Winter: Harness Your Mindset to Thrive on Cold, Dark, Or Difficult Days⁠ by Kari Leibowitz, Ph.D.

Please reach out! Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

This week, let's discuss four sets of listener questions on a range of topics:

1. Setting kids up for financial success (including credit card authorized users, allowances, Roth IRAs, and the pros and cons of brokerages for minors);

2. Making the best use of small Instacart and DashPass credits from your credit cards;

3. Staying motivated on the path to FI; and

4. Discussing FI with friends, without all the awkwardness.

As always, these are my opinions and experiences -- NOT financial or professional advice of any flavor!

Please reach out! Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Is it trending among the zoomers? Perhaps. Is it a through-line in my 2026 goals? Absolutely! Tune in to hear all about "analogue" as a Word of the Year: what it means, what it doesn't mean, and how it will play out in practice.

Please reach out! Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Comin' in hot with seven joyful and adventure-filled categories this year: (1) health and wellness, (2) family, (3) solo fun, (4) friend fun, (5) giving, (6) creative projects, and (7) home and environment.

Please reach out! Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

It's that time of year! I shared my 2025 goals way back in episode 30, and now it's time to review successes, flops, and everything in between.

Please reach out! Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Tune in to hear 13 lessons -- from practical to philosophical -- that I learned from a year of thrifting fashion!

No new clothing purchases made their way into my closet this year, but plenty of new-to-me gems did, along with a new appreciation for living la vida secondhand.

Please reach out! Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

What a treat we have this week! Dr. Sarah Hart Unger -- author of the upcoming Best Laid Plans book -- joins me this week to discuss joyfully planning our lives, from the years down to the days. Whether life is calm or in chaos, Sarah helps her readers level up to live their best lives.

Plus, if you're entering Reflection Season and want to get a jump start on your 2026 hopes, dreams, and goals -- this episode is definitely for you!

Find Sarah at ⁠The Shubox⁠.

And listen to Sarah's podcasts: ⁠Best Laid Plans⁠ and ⁠Best of Both Worlds⁠.

And find Sarah's book, Best Laid Plans: A Simple Planning System for Living A Life That You Love at ⁠Amazon⁠ and elsewhere.

Please reach out! Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

If you're at FI and reading to FIRE, it's tempting to go from 100 to 0 in a day. But what if there are some unexpected benefits of taking a step-down approach and going part-time along the path to early retirement?

This week, we discuss the mental, time, and financial benefits of going part-time before declaring full FIRE.

Please reach out! Gmail is [email protected], and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.