Finance Girlies: Money Conversations for Gen Z and Millennial Women

Moving across the country is expensive enough — but what happens when you decide to sell literally everything you own and start completely over? That's exactly what Cassidy did when she moved from Washington to Minnesota after her divorce. Instead of renting a $2,500 pod, her mom had a wild idea: What if she just kept what fits in her car and sold everything else? Three weeks later, Cassidy h...

Whether you're navigating divorce, supporting someone who is, or just ready to stop being a financial spectator in your own life, this conversation can help. Myra Alport is an accredited financial coach with over 20 years of experience who, after her own "gray divorce" following a 27-year marriage, helps women become their own CFOs with confidence, clarity, and humor. This episode g...

Money conversations don't have to feel awkward or create drama — they just require a little honesty and practice. In today's Q&A episode, we're tackling all the relationship scenarios that make your palms sweaty: navigating different income levels with friends, splitting costs with a new partner, handling family gift expectations, and everything in between. Whether you're w...

Summer is for slowing down, not stressing about money. In this episode, we're sharing our favorite chill money moves that you can do while lounging poolside, waiting in line at the farmer's market, or taking a sunset stroll. We're talking about financial progress that doesn't require spreadsheets, complicated budgets, or giving up everything that makes summer fun. These are sma...

In this episode, we’re doing something a little scary: sharing exactly what we spent on some recent vacations. No vague answers — just real numbers and honest thoughts about what felt worth it. Cassidy breaks down her incredible 13-day Italy adventure through four different cities, while Emily shares what she spent on a Utah desert trip that was basically winter therapy. We're getting into th...

Ever catch yourself saying "I'm just bad with money" and wonder why you feel so much shame around your finances? This episode might just change how you think about your relationship with money forever. Ariel Nathanson, founder of Finances for Feminists and certified financial education instructor, joined us for an amazing conversation that digs into why our money struggles often are...

Missing those childhood summers when you could read for hours without a care in the world? We're bringing back that magic with our favorite fiction, memoirs, and pure escapist reads for those lazy midsummer days. In part 2 of our summer reading series, we're diving into seven categories of books designed for pure enjoyment. We also get honest about how our reading habits have evolved ove...

Tired of self-help books that feel bro-y and out-of-touch? Us too. That’s why we're excited to share the reads that genuinely changed our relationships with money, gave us confidence in our careers, and made us feel less alone in our financial journeys — just in time for summer days by the pool. In part 1 of this 2-part episode, we break down our favorite reads across six categories:  Money b...

Is your health budget constantly competing with your financial goals? In this eye-opening conversation with Amanda Bourbonais, founder of Health First Freelancer, we dive into what happens when you make wellness a non-negotiable. Amanda shares how she built a six-figure freelance business while managing chronic Lyme disease and dedicating a big of her budget to health expenses. We explore Amanda&a...

Ever notice how your chest tightens when you think about checking your bank account? Or how a stressful day somehow leads to an Instagram purchase you may later regret? If so, you're not the only one. The connection between money and mental health affects nearly half of Americans, creating cycles that can feel impossible to break. In this conversation, we open up about our own financial stres...

The world of credit cards can be a little overwhelming. From understanding interest rates and fees to points-hacking and rewards , it can be hard to figure out which cards are actually worth having. That's why today, we're literally opening our wallets to show you the credit cards we each carry around. But don't worry, we're not points-optimization wizards spending hours tracki...

Anyone else think the wedding industry can be a little bit... extra?  From the average wedding cost ($33,000) to the costs incurred as a guest, we're breaking down why weddings are so expensive… and how we think about spending when it comes to throwing the biggest party of your life.  In this episode, we share what we personally prioritized for our own weddings, which traditions feel overrate...

Summer is just around the corner, and while we're all mentally planning beach trips and patio drinks, our bank accounts are quietly dreading what's coming.  In this episode, we break down those sneaky seasonal expenses that somehow surprise us every single year. From al fresco dinners out to wedding travel costs, we're getting real about our own summer spending habits. Spoiler: We b...

You know about Dry January, right? It’s where you give up alcohol for the first month of the year. This idea inspired our own challenge, and in March, we each gave up a specific type of spending to see what would happen. For Cassidy, that meant cutting out Amazon completely, while Emily challenged herself to shop only at local businesses for all discretionary purchases. We called it Dry March and...

Money questions keeping you up at night? You're not alone! In this special Financial Literacy Month episode, we open up our inbox to tackle your burning financial questions related to all things personal finance. From the intimidating "how much do I actually need for retirement?" to the all-too-relatable "why do I feel so behind compared to my friends?" , we’re answering y...

Filing taxes is one of those things we’re all expected to figure it out on our own. Unfortunately, this often means it can be confusing, frustrating, or even downright terrifying. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on their real-life tax experiences, from our first terrified attempts at TurboTax to navigating the complexities of self-employment taxes.  We’ll also: Bust common tax myths, inc...

Making friends as an adult is like trying to solve a puzzle with missing pieces. We've all been there—scrolling through social media, wondering how everyone else seems to have a perfect friend group while we're sitting at home knitting. 🧶 In this episode, we're diving deep into the art of building meaningful connections , breaking down the emotional barriers , and uncovering the su...

Let's be real: getting a dog is like accidentally signing up for a financial rollercoaster you never saw coming. Emily's first year with Clover was a wild ride of unexpected expenses, adorable chaos, and more love and cuteness than she ever imagined. 🥹 Spoiler alert: No amount of budgeting could have prepared her for this. In this episode, we cover: 😴 The unexpected challenges of getti...

Most personal finance advice tells you to cut all unnecessary spending — but we reject that mindset . Being smart with money doesn’t mean depriving yourself. It means spending intentionally — on things that bring you joy, make life easier, or align with your values. In this episode, we’re breaking down: 💸 What makes a “good” splurge vs. reckless spending 🛋️ Cassidy’s monthly house cleaner & w...

Most budgeting advice is so generic. And it has to be… everyone’s income, priorities, and expenses are different. But we know there’s something helpful (and kind of fun) about seeing how real people budget. So today, we’re taking you inside our actual budgets — how we categorize our spending, what we prioritize, and which expenses always seem to catch us off guard. Even though we both use YNAB, ou...

The name “Roth IRA” doesn’t scream excitement. (It kinda sounds like a stuffy account you’d open in the 1950s.) But fun fact: Roth IRAs just became a thing in 1998, which is why even older generations are still getting excited about them. If you’ve been seeing everyone online shouting “Max out your Roth IRA!” and you’re like, Okay, but why?? — this episode is for you. Today, we’re answering your l...

Last week, we tackled the should you merge finances? debate. This week, we’re getting into the nitty-gritty: how to actually do it. Merging finances sounds simple until you’re in the thick of it and wondering: How do we split expenses fairly? What do we do about savings? Who’s in charge of paying the bills? Do we need a joint account? Multiple accounts? None?? If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the...

Should you merge finances with your partner?  Money is one of the spiciest topics in relationships, and merging finances? That’s where things can get real messy. Some people believe not merging finances means you don’t trust your partner. Others think combining everything is a fast track to financial disaster. So… what’s the right move? In this episode, we’re diving deep into: How we personally ha...

💸 Ever wondered what it actually takes to pay off student loans fast? In this episode of The Finance Girlies, Cassidy shares her journey of paying off $18,000 in student loan debt in just 10 months — what worked, what didn’t, and what she’d do differently now. And whether you’re drowning in student loans or just looking for money strategies that actually work, you’ll walk away with plenty of idea...

In today’s episode, we kick off part one of our two-part series on debt. Next week, Cassidy will share her personal story of paying off $18,000 in student loans in just 10 months. But first, we’re diving into our general philosophies on debt — when it’s helpful, when it’s harmful, and how to know if you should prioritize paying it off. We also share: A surprising (and a bit frustrating) Dave Ramse...