What We Spend

Alyssa is a postal worker and her family’s primary breadwinner, so budgeting is serious business. Her magic spreadsheet is the key to making her salary stretch to meet the demands of her growing family, their tithing obligations, and ideally a little fun. And right now it’s more serious than ever: she’s on unpaid maternity leave.

Join Season 2 host Lloyd Lochridge as he follows Alyssa through a week in her life.

Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend.

There’s a lot of dopey financial advice out there. Jill Schlesinger is here to call it out, answer your questions, and help you manage your money without losing your mind. No jargon. No judgment. Just clear, actionable financial guidance about saving, investing, buying a home, managing your career, and deciding how to spend your hard-earned dollars.  When it’s time to panic, Jill will tell you. When everyone else is panicking and you shouldn’t be, Jill will tell you that too. Your money. Your move. Let’s go. 

It’s not always easy being a woman in construction. But for Alden, a union carpenter in Massachusetts, the challenges come with a big payoff: the most financial stability she’s ever had.

Sharing an episode of Giving Done Right, a podcast from the Center for Effective Philanthropy about how to make an impact with your charitable giving.

Shifts in federal policy and funding have profoundly impacted the nonprofit sector, and it has never been more urgent that donors act decisively and wisely. You’ll hear from experts across the social sector who shed light on the rapidly shifting landscape of need and the crucial, but complex, role of charitable giving in filling critical gaps. In this episode, Julie Butner, president and CEO of one of the largest food banks in the U.S., reveals that food bank clients are often working families who simply can't afford basic necessities. She explains how modern food banks have evolved far beyond emergency food distribution to address root causes through healthcare partnerships, nutrition education, and community gardens. The eye-opening conversation challenges common misconceptions about who needs food assistance and addresses debates about the roles of government and private philanthropy.

You can listen to more Giving Done Right at https://link.mgln.ai/whatwespend.

Dan is a university post doc in the midwest. He’s getting married next spring— and discovering just how expensive weddings really are.

A few years ago, Alissa suffered the devastating loss of her husband. In the aftermath, she was left to navigate not just grief, but all the financial questions and decisions that came with his death —finding work, supporting four kids, and the emotional weight of figuring out how to use the money he left behind.

If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at [email protected]

Charli is a filmmaker living in the Bible Belt. They’re on the brink of a big step in their relationship – moving in together and merging finances.

If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at [email protected]

Jacob just graduated college in Wisconsin — but his degree in computer science might not mean what it used to. Now, he’s struggling to land a full-time job and questioning what comes next.

If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at [email protected]

Mick owns a fireworks shop in Indiana. We'll follow him during the week leading up to July 4th — his busiest and most profitable time of year.

If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at [email protected]