For today's episode, I sit down with Laurie for a budget coaching call to help her set up a pay period budget. Laurie is an accountant who manages numbers for a living but has struggled to feel in control of her own finances. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed that money management should be easier for you than it is, you’ll resonate with Laurie’s story.

If you'd like to watch the full coaching call and see me build Laurie's budget, check out the extended video call of this episode on the Debt Free Mom YouTube Channel.

Together, we walk through:

• Why personal budgeting feels different (and harder) than professional accounting
• How to map out income and expenses by pay period for a clearer picture of cash flow
• Setting realistic goals for an emergency fund before tackling debt
• The role of buffers and sinking funds to make your budget sustainable
• Why deficits in certain pay periods don’t mean you’re “bad with money”

By the end of the call, Laurie has a customized spreadsheet budget that aligns with her income schedule, covers her family’s needs, and sets her on the path toward building a starter $4,000 emergency fund and paying down high-interest debt.

If you’ve ever downloaded an app, felt overwhelmed, and thought, “Why is this so hard for me?”, this episode will encourage you that you’re not alone, and you’ll walk away with practical steps to make your budget work in real life.

Get started with pay period budgeting today for just $9! The Debt Free Mom Mini Course + Template will help you take your first steps toward managing your home finances with confidence. Get it today at debtfreemom.co/template

In this encouraging episode, Carly is joined by Madison, founder of Cook at Home Mom, to talk all things realistic mealtimes for busy families. Madison shares her journey from frozen pizza queen to home-cooking advocate and offers practical advice for making dinnertime less stressful and more meaningful.

They dive into topics like:

• How to simplify meal planning (even if you're Type B)
• What to do when the 5 PM chaos hits
• Creating a family rhythm around shared meals
• Involving kids of all ages in meal prep (without losing your mind)
• Letting go of unrealistic expectations (spoiler: your 4-year-old won’t sit for 30 minutes)
• Building appreciation and connection through shared responsibility

Whether you're a brand-new mom wondering how to get food on the table, or you're in the thick of dinnertime with multiple kids and mounting stress, this episode is packed with relatable stories, helpful strategies, and a whole lot of grace.

Mentioned in this episode:

• The “hands!” method for serving dinner
• Kid-safe knives and stools to help little ones join in
• The power of planning just a few meals a week
• Why it’s okay if your mealtime doesn’t look like a Norman Rockwell painting
• 
  

Tune in for realistic encouragement and ideas you can try tonight — even if your kitchen is already a mess.

Connect with Madison:

Instagram: @cookathomemom

Website: www.cookathomemom.com

Podcast: The Vine

The Balanced Dinner Club - coming soon!

Follow Debt Free Mom for more realistic money and motherhood conversations:

Instagram: @debtfree.mom

Website: debtfreemom.co

Today's guest is Natalie Johnson: A mom of 5 in Ohio who shares her tips for feeding the family both at home and on the road on Instagram at www.instagram.com/homebeginswithlove

In today's episode we cover:

• food on travel days
• in hotels
• in rentals
• in other people's homes
• how to make food easier even if it's not from a restaurant.

Check out her instagram account and subscribe to the Debt Free Mom Podcast!

Laura Jennings began virtual assisting as a small supplemental income and quickly worked her way up to a clientelle that replaced her 9-5 job, allowing her to work from home, control her schedule, and earn more for her family.

She now offers coaching services to help women discover the skills they already have that are sought after as a virtual assistant and land that first client!

Whether you want a couple hundred dollars a month extra to speed up your financial goals OR you're looking to switch careers and intrigued by the idea of being a virtual assistant, today's episode and Laura's story can help you see if this is something that you can do too!

Download Laura's Career Switch Cheat Sheet: https://www.laurajtraining.com/career-switch-guest-podcast

Free workshop about becoming a virtual assistant: https://www.laurajtraining.com/masterclass-registration-guest-podcast

Your Virtual Assistant Coach Podcast: https://www.laurajtraining.com/your-virtual-assistant-coach-podcast

Laura's Social Media: @hey.lauranicole

After a whirlwind move out of homeownership and back into renting in the summer of 2023, followed by several months of house hunting with failed offers and almost no inventory, we are currently under contract on a home in Illinois.

It will mean lots of change for our family and we dive into how this house is different (but also better!) than the wishlist we had for our family.

Subscribe to follow along with our process here as well as on Instagram: www.instagram.com/debtfree.mom

Need a budget by pay period to organize your income and expenses into a plan that matches your bank account? Get the bestseller $9 Debt Free Mom budget template here!

Today's guest is Shang Saavedra. She comes on the show to discuss her new book Wealth is a Mindset. Shang is an author, coach, and the Founder and CEO of Save My Cents.

Shang's Website: www.savemycents.com

Follow Shang on Instagram

Purchase the book Wealth is a Mindset

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Interested in the magical Little Green Machine mentioned in the episode? Check it out here!

Stay in touch with Debt Free Mom by joining our newsletter list! We send emails less than 3 times per month and only when we have something we really want to share!

Today's episode kicks off our Feed the Family month! I talk about food spending and realistic meals for families all year long, but I like to take one month per year to narrow in on the mom math and realistic planning of feeding the family well!

40 Aprons Butternut Squash Chili

Pinch of Yum Kale Peanut Crunch Salad

Join the Care Creates Community as we hold each other accountable to feeding our family well this month! We'll be holding a Bingo challenge for creative ways to feed the family on a budget and there will be a drawing for 2 $100 Gift Cards for anyone who completes a bingo!

Kelly Stumpe aka the Car Mom takes a cheerleader approach to helping moms and families choose their next car confidently. Her enthusiasm for the car industry combined with her expertise as a car salesperson, mom of 4, and child passenger safety technician all come together to make her the voice I listen to for all things cars!

You can find The Car Mom on instagram for daily stories, car tours, and the latest industry info

Her website offers car buying resources as well as consultations to help you choose your next car.

The Carpool Podcast with Kelly and Lizz is your mom break from entertaining and lighthearted conversations about everything from movies and recipes to car news and parties.