In this Meaningful People episode, financial advisor Moshe Alpert and community advocate Shmuly Hartstein unpack why many frum "middle‑class" families earning $200–300K still feel underwater—tuition that rivals a salary, yom tov and camp costs, seminary and simcha expectations, and the quiet creep of credit‑card debt. They debate income‑based tuition and communal funding versus personal responsibility, and share practical moves: make a real plan, build a budget, ask for a raise or start a side hustle, prioritize local schools in tzedakah, consider lower‑cost simchas or out‑of‑town living, and protect your family with insurance and a will. A candid, solutions‑oriented conversation about money, values, and making frum life sustainable.

Moshe Alpert is a Financial Advisor at Ceremian Financial and author of the book 'Frum Financial Planning: The Easy-to-Read Money Guide for the Orthodox Jewish Community'. https://a.co/d/hsRZrEe and Ceremian.com

Shmuel Hartstein is the founder of Bsefer Chayim, an organization that promotes signing up for Life Insurance in our community. https://www.bseferchayim.org/

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