Our savings rate has dropped from 50% to 10% over the past couple of years ... does that mean we're abandoning the FIRE Movement?
I discuss this question after responding to a listener who feels our decreased savings feels like a departure from our financial goals in years past.
Also, we hear from Mandy and Sean Senske about how they became millionaires in their 30's through "boring investing".
EPISODE RESOURCES
Firstly: Smart budgeting tools and real-life advice to get you on the path to family financial wellness. Learn more today!
FamZoo: Prepaid cards and financial education for kids, all in one award-winning app. Use the promo code MKMFAMZOO at check out for an extra month.
Die With Zero (Book)
Sean Senske (Website)
Mandy Senske (Website)
MKM RESOURCES
DISCLAIMER
This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products.
Opinions are the creators alone.
Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.
Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.
Nicole got a new job recently and she's so much happier. It is amazing how your life can change based on your job.
Feeling valued at work is very important for a lot of us. Nicole isn't alone.
According to a recent Gallup Poll, 48% of Americans are actively seeking new job opportunities. A big part of this search is their desire to feel valued and work for a company that aligns with their values.
We discuss this importance in both of our careers and how it shapes our lives.
RESOURCES
MKM Newsletter: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/freegift
MKM Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/andyhillmkm
MKM Voicemail: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail
Are you ready to take back your time?
Christy Wright shares the simple steps we can take to find life balance. We also discuss how your priorities can shift over time and why that's okay.
As a young parent, this episode really hit home!
EPISODE RESOURCES
Firstly: Smart budgeting tools and real-life advice to get you on the path to family financial wellness. Learn more today!
Take Back Your Time (Christy Wright's Book)
MKM RESOURCES
When some people think of big dreams, they think of big houses, fancy cars, or flashy wardrobes.
But can big dreams be a lot simpler than that?
Nicole and I explore this topic, share out thoughts and ideas from the Marriage Kids and Money community as well.
RESOURCES
MKM Newsletter: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/freegift
MKM Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/andyhillmkm
MKM Voicemail: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail
Target Date Funds are rapidly surging in popularity lately.
Investors are flocking to this “set it and forget it” retirement tool as an easy way to diversify their portfolio and eliminate the fees of working with a high-cost broker.
But what are the pros and cons? I dive into my thoughts on the subject.
Also, we answer a question about whether it makes sense to decrease retirement investments to pay down the mortgage quicker.
Last but not least, my daughter Zoey joins me for another money quiz!
RESOURCES
Firstly: Smart budgeting tools and real-life advice to get you on the path to family financial wellness. Learn more today!
MKM Newsletter: Receive a Free Gift from me on how we paid off our mortgage in less than 5 years.
MKM Instagram: Connect with me on social media and say hello!
MKM Voicemail: Got a question? Leave me a voicemail.
What classifies someone as a "sell-out"?
Nicole and I explore whether either one of us has been a sell-out in the past. We also discuss what it actually means to be a sell-out.
We all need money, but where's the line?
RESOURCES
MKM Newsletter: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/freegift
Sorry to Bother You (Movie): https://amzn.to/3uxJds2
MKM Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/andyhillmkm
MKM Voicemail: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail
College is not getting any cheaper.
By some estimates, the cost of college is rising at a rate of 8% per year. To combat this rising cost of hiring education, parents and teens need to look to college scholarships.
This is what Kristina Ellis did when she was in high school. Through hard work, dedication, and creating some systems that kept the process easy, Kristina earned $500,000 in college scholarships!
Kristina shares the details of how she got it done and dispels some myths about scholarships as well.
RESOURCES:
Tello: Cell phone bill too high? Find a plan with Tello for around $10 per month on the T-Mobile Network!
Firstly: Smart budgeting tools and real-life advice to get you on the path to family financial wellness. Learn more today!
MKM Instagram: Connect with me on social media and say hello!
MKM Voicemail: Got a question? Leave me a voicemail.
After visiting friends in their beautiful updated homes lately, Nicole and I are feeling a little discontentment. We are a bit envious of their awesome abodes.
But is that natural? Is contentment something we can talk about but never fully become?
In this "BEST OF BREAD & WINE" episode from December 2020, Nicole and I explore this topic together and see what we can do about this situation.
RESOURCES:
Firstly: Smart budgeting tools and real-life advice to get you on the path to family financial wellness. Learn more today!
MKM Instagram: Connect with us on social media and say hello!
MKM Voicemail: Got a question or topic? Leave us a voicemail.
Caitlin wants to know if she should invest or buy a house.
This is a tough decision that a lot of people grapple with especially as they become debt-free.
Marcus Garrett, Financial Expert and Author of D.E.B.T. Free or Die Trying, shares some advice for Caitlin and why this decision doesn't have to be one or the other.
Also, we're back with our Mortgage Free segment! Brendan Dale, from Cape Town, South Africa, shares how he paid off his mortgage in less than 5 years and what that means for him and his husband.
RESOURCES:
Tello: Cell phone bill too high? Find a plan with Tello for around $10 per month on the T-Mobile Network!
Firstly: Smart budgeting tools and real-life advice to get you on the path to family financial wellness. Learn more today!
MKM Instagram: Connect with me on social media and say hello!
MKM Voicemail: Got a question? Leave me a voicemail.
After reading "Die With Zero" by Bill Perkins, I feel like a changed man. I've gone from super saver for the last decade of my life to now maximize my life experiences as much as possible.
Nicole and I discuss why I enjoyed the book so much and how she feels about the ideas in Die with Zero. The time for us to maximize our life experiences is upon us ... don't worry my inner saver will keep us in check.
RESOURCES
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Die With Zero: https://amzn.to/39njLeR
Instagram (MKM): http://www.instagram.com/andyhillmkm
How’s your “Digital Wellness” these days?
As a parent, this is something I’m working on constantly. But as someone who is quite often "connected", it's difficult to find a balance that works for me as a father, husband, and small business owner.
Author Mark Ostach joins me today to share how we can live with phones, laptops, and all of our other devices and still be present with those we love.
SHOW RESOURCES
Tello: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/tello
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Courage to Connect: https://amzn.to/3E13evt
Mark Ostach: http://www.markostach.com
If you get advice from your financial advisor and you don't agree, should you follow it anyway? After all, they probably have more education and experience than you.
But in the end, aren't your motivations and goals more important?
Nicole and I explore this topic after receiving a note from a listener about them disagreeing with the advice they received from their financial advisor.
RESOURCES
*Sponsor* Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
MKM Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/andyhillmkm
Our family has reached Coast FIRE!
After saving and investing over $500,000 before our 40th birthdays, we are pumping the breaks on investing for retirement and focusing on other goals in our lives.
Find out how we did it and what those goals are in today's episode.
Also, for our Be the Change segment, Ed Grocholski from Junior Achievement shares why it's important to teach kids financial and entrepreneurial skills ... especially after the pandemic.
Lastly, we have another money quiz with my daughter Zoey and we'll read the review of the month!
RESOURCES
Tello: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/tello
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Wallet Burst Coast FIRE Calculator: https://walletburst.com/tools/coast-fire-calc/
Compound Interest Calculator: https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator
Junior Achievement: https://jausa.ja.org/
Are you feeling like you're simply reacting to the moment right in front of your face?
Yeah, we've been there (and still catch ourselves doing it). It's in our nature evidently.
But how can we get out of reaction mode and into planning mode?
Nicole and I explore how we've improved as parents and what we're doing to continue that improvement by thinking more than one step ahead.
SHOW RESOURCES
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Peaceful Parent, Happy Kids: How to Stop Yelling and Start Connecting: https://amzn.to/3jFKxFk
What would it be like to win $1.2 million in Vegas?
Life-changing, yes, but for good or bad?
Adam & Danielle Silverstein, from the Marriage & Martinis Podcast, share how this windfall affected their marriage. They also share advice for other couples looking to communicate around finances in their relationship.
SHOW RESOURCES
Tello: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/Tello
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/Firstly
Marriage & Martinis: http://www.marriageandmartinis.com
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman is a book that has really helped our marriage. The concept may be simple, but it can be difficult to remember when you're in the midst of work, busy young parenting, and global pandemics.
When we do remember to love each other the way we like to be loved, our relationship truly grows. Nicole and I discuss what our love languages are and discuss our rocky path to finding how each of us likes to be loved.
SHOW RESOURCES
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
The 5 Love Languages: https://amzn.to/2Y8rEmp
1 in 3 Americans has a side hustle in 2021. This number has grown significantly over the recent years.
So ... why the growth? What is the attraction to the side hustle?
To help us answer this question and to discuss the benefits of a side hustle, I’ve invited Daniella Flores to the show today. Also known as the Side Hustle Queen, Daniella is the creator of "I Like to Dabble", an award-winning global platform that helps creatives and LGBTQ+ folks start side hustles and get their financial life and future in order.
SHOW RESOURCES
Tello: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/tello
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
I Like to Dabble: http://www.iliketodabble.com
This past week, we received a lot of negative feedback for paying off our mortgage early. We're very happy with our decision and realize it's not for everyone.
But we have to ask ... are we wrong for paying off our mortgage?
What do you think?
SHOW RESOURCES
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Yolanda wants to pay extra toward her mortgage but she’s not sure if she’s doing it correctly.
Holden Lewis, a Mortgage Expert from NerdWallet, joins me to help her out.
We discuss how to ensure your extra mortgage payments are going toward the principal and how refinancing your mortgage may fit into the picture.
Also, we hear how Mike Kenny, from Ontario, became a millionaire Dad by 33!
RESOURCES
Tello: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/tello
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
NerdWallet: http://www.nerdwallet.com
Mike Kenny: https://twitter.com/mike_kenny3
I tend to tell my wife everything ... but is that the right way to go?
My friends often tell me I'm TOO open with her. Nicole and I discuss that openness and try to determine "a line" where enough is enough with our honesty.
What do you think?
RESOURCES
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Want to become a millionaire?
Jeremy Schneider from Personal Finance Club thinks index funds are a great place to start with your investing journey. Here’s how to invest simply and effectively today.
RESOURCES
Tello: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/tello
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Personal Finance Club: http://www.personalfinanceclub.com
Do you think "living on a budget" feels like a life of restriction?
Nicole and I discuss our history with budgeting over our 10-year marriage. We share our feelings on the term "living on a budget", our pros and cons of budgeting, and our takeaways for couples considering their first budget.
SHOW RESOURCES
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Mint: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/mint
With the “Great Resignation” in full swing, Tori Dunlap shares how to we can make the decision whether to return to work or start a business.
She shares her personal experience after leaving her career to become a business owner.
RESOURCES
Tello: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/tello
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Her First $100k: http://www.herfirst100k.com
Are you considering working with your spouse? Depending on how things are arranged, this could either be a great way to connect more or a complete disaster!
Nicole and I discuss the pros and cons of working together over the past year. We explore ways for our working relationship to improve so we can have a happy marriage too.
SHOW RESOURCES
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
Holderness Family Interview: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/podcast/holderness-family-everybody-fights/
Brian Preston from The Money Guy Show cautions young investors not to pay off the mortgage too early.
Here’s why he feels passionate about not rushing to have that paid-off house.
SHOW RESOURCES
Tello: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/tello
Firstly: http://www.marriagekidsandmoney.com/firstly
The Money Guy Show: https://www.moneyguy.com/