Budgets and Cents

Hello friends! It's been eight months since we last recorded an episode, and a year since we last did a proper season of the podcast. A lot has changed in our personal + work lives, in that time. And after having countless (honest) conversations, we've decided to update you on it all... and then say goodbye to the show. We're so grateful to have worked on this project together for 3+ years, and to all of you who followed along and supported us throughout our journeys. This final episode was really cathartic for us to record, and we hope you enjoy listening to it too! Thank you, thank you, thank you again! (And as a quick heads up, we'll be deleting the archives on May 31st... so if there are any past episodes you want to listen to again, now is your chance!) In love and gratitude, signing off - Cait and Carrie. :)

Hey friends! Long time, no talking into your ears. It's been five months since we've recorded an episode of this podcast, and since we've shared much about our lives with anyone. We decided to finally open up and share everything that's been happening this year, as well as discuss the topic of what it means/feels like to share your life publicly, in general. As you can imagine, it's not always easy, especially during times of transition. We don't know what the future holds for us personally or for the podcast, right now, but we know how to trust ourselves and do what feels best - and that means taking time off. Enjoy, and thanks for sticking with us!

Have you ever been stuck trying to figure out what's next? If you're struggling to map out a clear path, you're not alone. In the final episode of this season, we share some updates on what's next for us personally. We also talk about the future of the podcast, and whether or not there will be another season. What you'll hear in this episode is a lot of questions and unknowns. One thing we are both realizing is this: Just because you've been doing something for awhile doesn't mean you have to do it forever. Thanks for another great season, friends!

We've been hosting this podcast since January 2016, and we've covered some amazing topics in that time. Today, we decided to do something different and revisit some of our most memorable episodes. We share which ones were our favorites and why, which ones made us cry, and which conversations changed our lives forever. As time passes and life changes, we know that your perspective evolves and shifts. And as you change and grow, it's important to teach what you know and share the knowledge you've gained along the way. With all of that in mind, we also discuss how our thoughts and opinions have changed since we first hit record!

Today's episode is all about consuming mindfully! And surprise surprise, we aren't just talking about spending money. We talk about everything from consuming food, to consuming media (like TV), and consuming information on social media. And then we get on the topic of consuming financial advice! What we have both learned is that the things we consume can not only affect our lives, but also our mindsets—and the way we handle our money. So, at the end of this episode, we share some ways you can consume more mindfully and how to get information that can actually add value to your life (rather than take away from it). This was such a great conversation for both of us personally, so we really hope you enjoy listening!

Well, in this episode, we definitely live up to the name of our newly rebranded podcast! This is an honest conversation about how we are feeling about money right now—and it's not all good. We share concerns about making money and spending money, and what happens when you're feeling bad about your finances. We don't have all the answers yet, but we're happy to support each other. Welcome to therapy hour! ;)

Getting creative with money is one of the best ways to get out of a financial funk, or even just have fun with it. That's what we're talking about today, and there's something for everyone in this episode! Whether you need a colorful creative outlet or are looking for a mindset shift, we share some ideas to make managing your money more exciting. And while this was a fun episode to record, it's also jam-packed with resources so you can get creative with money too—all of which you'll find in the show notes at honestmoneypodcast.com.

What if, instead of just Cait and Carrie having an honest money conversation, we were joined by two more ladies who co-host another podcast of their own? This week, we decided to do just that—and we're so excited to share the conversation we had with The Fairer Cents! Kara and Tanja launched the first season of their podcast just a few months ago, and we are so glad they did. The Fairer Cents isn't your typical personal finance podcast. Together (and with their guests), they go deeper into the things that impact women, our money and our fight to get equal. In this episode, we talk about why they decided to start a podcast, what some of their favorite (and toughest) topics have been, and what their plans are for the future (hint: crushing the patriarchy). (As a heads up: Cait's computer didn't love the recording tool we used, so her audio isn't amazing.)

This week, we're keeping things light by answering some fun money questions! These are questions you can use to check-in with your money at anytime (not just at the end of the month or every quarter). It's also a great way to review your finances, and to give yourself some well-deserved credit for all the things you've achieved so far. For the full list of questions, visit our website: honestmoneypodcast.com/money-questions

We all make mistakes—in our lives and, unfortunately, with our money. In today's episode, we share some of the financial mistakes we've made in the past, and how we've forgiven ourselves so we can move forward. Because that's a big part of the equation: moving forward. As you'll hear, we're not huge fans of holding onto mistakes and feeling bad about them forever. It's only by learning from our mistakes that we can let go of the guilt and carry on down our paths. As always, we hope that by sharing our stories, you can learn from our mistakes... and maybe save a bit of money too!

Today, we're revisiting the topic of debt. A lot has changed since we first talked about this back at the very beginning of season one! Our mindsets around money have evolved and our thoughts about debt are a bit different now. So we start by recapping our debt repayment journeys and share some thoughts about the routes we took. Then, we discuss our updated philosophies and views on debt, and how (and why) it has changed over the years.

It's not always easy to trust yourself—to believe that a decision you're making is the right one for you. It's especially hard when the decision comes with a certain amount of risk and you're not 100% sure it will work out. In this episode, we talk about some of the ways we've had to trust ourselves in the past and present, including how we make those "risky" decisions. Carrie also drops a quote + some mantras that could help us all (especially Cait right now).

Recently, we've made some big decisions both personally and professionally. For one, we made the decision to rebrand the podcast, as well as change how we create and piece together episodes. But we also made big career changes in 2017 and explain how these decisions have affected us as we move into a new year. Making big decisions isn't easy, so we discuss how you make them and the financial impact they can have on your money. (We also celebrate the launch of Cait's new book, The Year of Less! Yay!)

Welcome to a brand new season of Honest Money Conversations! Since it's also the start of a new calendar year, we know most content creators are probably talking about goals and resolutions they have for 2018. But we wanted to talk about the idea of setting intentions, instead. We start by sharing what we want to leave behind in 2017, and then share some of our own intentions for the new year ahead. Hint: There will be a lot more reading and (hopefully) a lot less stress.

So long, Budgets and Cents. Hello, Honest Money Conversations! In this short bonus episode, we tell you why we decided to rebrand and what it means for the future of the podcast.

In this special bonus episode, we clarify what community and competition mean to us. For starters, we believe it's important to remember that being part of a community is different from networking. It's about fostering a feeling of wanting to contribute versus simply focusing on what you can gain from your network. In some cases, the people within your community could be competition. But if you view them as part of your community, it opens up space for honest conversations to happen, relationships to develop, and new opportunities to come together organically. As part of this, we also talk about why it's so important for community members to share how much they charge, what clients pay, who is hiring, etc. It's all about paying it forward and sharing the wealth. The more we share, the more we can all earn! At the end of the episode, we talk about what to do when someone does feel like a competitor. And if you listen closely, we announce the new name of the podcast! The new season (with the new name/design/website!) will launch in January 2018.

Today's conversation marks our 50th episode and is the finale of season four. The end of a season is always bittersweet, but we're leaving on a high note. Throughout this season, we celebrated some amazing milestones, including hitting 325,000+ downloads of the podcast. Thank you so much for listening and being part of this community! Before we wrap up this season, we want to talk about a very important topic: knowing your "why". Knowing your why can help you make clear decisions regarding all areas of your life. It gives you the motivation to strive for your goals and dreams, bust through your fears and figure out what your boundaries are. But figuring out your why isn't always simple or easy. And if you don't have a why, it can cause you to make a lot of bad decisions or put money towards things you don't really value. In this episode, we share some exercises and questions that can help figure out your why. As you answer these questions, remember: you're never going to arrive at the finish line. Your why will change numerous times as you age and mature. At the end of the episode, we share what our plans are during the break and when you can expect the launch of our next season. Thanks for sharing your summer with us! We'll see you in 2018.

How do you feel about saying the word “no”? For many of us, this little word carries a lot of fear and power. In today’s episode, we discuss some of the things we’ve said no to over the years and what those decisions have done for us. We also talk about how difficult it can be to say no, especially if you’re a people pleaser. One of the things that helps give us the confidence to say no is understanding that we’re also saying “yes” to something else. You may not know what that something else is yet, but we can say from experience that there’s always another option around the corner. The biggest takeaway from our conversation is to remember that saying “no” is not the same as quitting – it’s taking back your power so you can hear your inner voice again and let that guide you. By saying no, you’re establishing boundaries that respect your personal needs. Author Danielle LaPorte says it best in her new book: “You have to protect your heart so you can keep it wide open.”

What comes up for you when you think about asking for help? Do you get anxious or feel any shame? As kids, we are constantly encouraged to ask for help, but at some point in our lives we start telling ourselves that asking for help is not okay. In today's episode, we strive to break down the roadblocks that you encounter when thinking of asking for help, so you can get back to hearing and trusting your inner voice. What advice would you give a friend? Why don't we follow this advice ourselves? It's not easy admitting that you can't do everything yourself, but when you ask for help it can be very liberating. As we get into the episode, we also discuss some of the excuses that can come up when asking for help - it goes back to the stories we tell ourselves. Finally, the one thing we want you to takeaway is that asking for help starts with just asking. Put yourself out there and see what happens. Asking for help can be such an empowering choice. So give it a try this week! What have you got to lose?

It's not very often that we have guests on the podcast, so today's episode is extra special! With the recent conversations we’ve had about money mindsets, we thought it would be great to invite someone to help us dive a bit deeper into this stuff. Garrett Philbin is a personal friend of ours and works as a financial life coach. He currently lives in Brooklyn, New York and runs a business called Be Awesome Not Broke, through which he helps people use money more intentionally to live better lives. If you listened to our episode about transforming your money story, you might remember that Garrett is the person who helped Cait first see the limiting money beliefs she had about how much money she could earn. He is also the friend who suggested we read the book, You Are a Badass at Making Money by Jen Sincero! In this episode, Garrett opens our eyes to some of our own money beliefs and how they affect our relationships. He explains that you can't talk about money without talking about life, and what you believe becomes your reality. We’re so grateful Garrett was willing to share his personal money beliefs with us, as well as representing a male perspective on the podcast. There are a lot of great insights and advice for unlocking your own beliefs about money, so you won’t want to miss this one!