#93: Congress averted the Fiscal Cliff. Or did they? Effective with the first payroll of 2013, there are a number of changes to paychecks for employees. The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (“Relief Act”) was passed by the United States Congress on January 1, 2013, and includes several changes ... For more information, visit

Why Your Paycheck is Smaller (and the recent Payroll Tax Cuts)

Pay attention - not interest. 

For most, that’s all it takes to get their money under control. That’s how Steve and his wife got out of debt completely - even the mortgage…and you can too!

Your host, Steve Stewart, shares his extreme-but-proven ways that money really works. The show isn’t just about making a Money Plan (aka: a budget). Steve also explains what’s really wrong with credit cards and credit scores (spoiler alert: It’s not what you think). You’ll also learn about rich habits, how various investing vehicles work, and how you can have no debt, no credit, and no problems!

The show is retired, but still relevant in today’s radically changing financial world. Begin with Episode 201, then go back and listen to the archives in your favorite podcast app!

Money Plan SOS is the response to the call for help with your finances.

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Welcome! If you are new to the Money Plan SOS podcast then sit back. I’ll share with you the 20 best episodes, 10 “staple” episodes, and the 13 worst episodes. I also share my journey through money over the past two decades. The full show notes are at

The BEST (and worst) of the Money Plan SOS Podcast

#200: The MoneyPlan SOS podcast is now retired with this final episode. It was recorded LIVE at FinCon15 with nine bloggers who learned about money while blogging about money. In this final episode, nine financial bloggers answer the question, "Have you learned anything about money since blogging about money?"  Eric Rosenberg (Narrow Bridge Media) Emily Guy Birken (Wisebread, Book: 5 Years Before You Retire) Katie Austin (Writes for ActiveHours.com) Todd Tresidder (FinancialMentor.com) Stefanie O’Connell (The Broke and Beautiful Life) Athena Lent (Being Fabulous Has No Price Tag) Miranda Marquit (Planting Money Seeds) JD Roth (Get Rich Slowly, new blog MoneyBoss.com) Eva Baker (TeensGotCents.com)  _____________________________ The MoneyPlan SOS podcast is now retired #tear This was the final episode of the Money Plan SOS podcast. Why? Somehow, I became known in the FinCon community as a podcast guru (they even gave me a shirt that said FinCon Podcast Guru on the front). This pivot into a new career allows me to help others who podcast about financial literacy topics by editing/engineering their recordings. My new home-base is  Thank you for being a listener. It's been a true honor to host this show and help anyone who will listen PAY ATTENTION - NOT INTEREST!

What People Learned About Money By Blogging About Money

#199: Is tithing mandatory for Christians? Chris Brown and I discuss this to get to the root of the problem - which has little to do with ten percent. Chris Brown has been a pastor for several years, speaking to congregations and audiences all over the United States. Full show notes at  He recently became on of Dave Ramsey's Speakers and now hosts the popular True Stewardship Podcast. In this episode, Chris and I tackle this touchy subject of tithing: • What is a tithe? • Who is called to give a tithe? • What about the "Old Testament vs New Testament" argument around giving a tithe? • Are we asked to give a tithe based on the gross or net of our paychecks?   Connect with Chris Brown online:      Also in this episode: Ponda from the Honda: If a Billionaire doesn't have to buy a new car then why do we?   Where is MoneyPlanSOS going? The MoneyPlan SOS podcast is retiring after episode 200. You can find all my new shows at

Is Giving a Tithe Mandatory? Chris Brown from True Stewardship

#198: OG (aka The Other Guy from Stacking Benjamins) joins me to share the 8 Great Mistakes in Investing Full show notes at   The 8 Great Mistakes of Investing are:  Under-diversification  Over-diversification  Euphoria  Panic  Leverage  Speculating  Investing for yield and not total return  Cost basis dictating decision   Thanks to OG for coming over. You can find him at http://StackingBenjamins.com - my favorite podcast. Also mentioned in this episode: The Great Beanie Baby Bubble by Zac Bissonnette. Amazing stuff! Here's the Stacking Benjamins affiliate link: http://amazon.com/dp/B00INIXVPW/?tag=thefreefinanc-20 __________________________________________________ Steve Stewart's Budget Coaching Course on video:  __________________________________________________ Ponda from the Honda: SPEND IT ALL (sort of) __________________________________________________ Fractional and Automated Savings Accounts - are they a good idea? Deanna Richardson from Richardson Accounting and Consulting, PLLC @  asked “Have you heard of Digit? Seems like a great way to build up an emergency fund and....it says it is free. Then their are bonuses for keeping $100 in it over 3 months. If I did my math right, the bonuses are over 2.5% interest (5 cents / week per $100). Would love to hear what you think.” I tackle these new fractional, or automatic, savings accounts: Acorns, Digit and Betterment’s SmartDollar Links: ACORNS Open an account:  or install the free IOS or Android app Listen to my interview with the creators of Acorns    DIGIT Open an account:  Testimony from Paula Pant (which kinda concerns me)    BETTERMENT'S SMARTDEPOSIT Open an account:  More information:  ______________________________________

The 8 Great Mistakes of Investing. Also, Fractional Savings Accounts

#197: Matt Ham is an author, speaker, and small business owner. Five words uttered by a nurse changed the way he looks at life - and inspired him to redefine rich. Full notes with links at   Takeaways from this interview: It’s not how much you give - it’s how you give it () We shouldn’t feel guilty to spend and, surprisingly enough, we feel richer when we give. Whole Life Matters Podcast:       __________________________________   3 important things to remember when buying a car This post first appeared on  Transportation is the third largest budgeting expense for most people. Housing and taxes can consume up to half of the average American’s income, with cars sucking up between 5-20 percent - depending on number of vehicles and if the consumer is carrying auto loans. However, you can greatly reduce your vehicle costs by remembering these three things when buying a car:  It’s transportation It’s a depreciating asset It’s not forever  The way we get the biggest bang for our buck when we buy a car right is when we buy it outright. Pay off your current car loan quickly, save what used to be your car payment for the next one, and pay attention - not a lease payment. _____________________________________   ‘Ponda from the Honda Free chips, salsa and bread sticks. What do they have to do with rising prices at local restaurants? _____________________________________   Are you tired of paying interest?  Do you want to get control of your finances?  Schedule a 30 minute consultation and let me help you make informed decisions on how you spend your values

Why Your Paycheck is Smaller (and the recent Payroll Tax Cuts)

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