Money You Should Ask

College can be a scary prospect, especially when it comes to budgeting for it. How much is tuition? How much should I save up each month? What can I live without? What other options do you have? These are all valid questions that require careful consideration.   Have you ever considered living and studying abroad? Our next guest, Liza-Jean Miezejeski is an international student currently living in...

Episode 224. Do you feel like you're constantly being marketed to? That's because you are. Big brands and corporations spend millions of dollars each year to influence your purchasing decisions. These tactics of influence and persuasion are all around us. And most consumers are not consciously aware of them. What can you do to protect yourself and your money?   In this episode, marketing consultan...

Episode 223. Is your mindset about money passed down from generation to generation? Do you think your current money mindset was influenced by your ancestors? Researchers have recently found that a parent or guardian's financial attitude can be inherited by their children, putting them at risk for life-long insecurity. So what can you do to break the cycle and give your children the best chance for...

Episode 222. There is no way to sugarcoat it: getting a college degree is expensive. Between tuition, room and board, and other associated costs, the price of a higher education can be daunting. However, there are ways to make it more affordable. Scholarships, grants, and work-study programs can help lessen the financial burden.   In this episode I talked with Shellee Howard , Founder of College R...

Most people have one big passion in life. Something they love so much that they can't imagine not doing it. For many, this is their career. They pour everything they have into it and hope for the best. But what happens when your passion turns out to be financially unsustainable? You need to have a strategy in place for your financial well-being. This doesn't mean giving up on your passion but it d...

Episode 220: What if happiness was the solution to all of our money problems? It may sound too good to be true, but believe it or not, it's true. Money can't buy happiness, but happiness can solve all of our money woes. So how do we find happiness? That's a question that has been asked by philosophers and scientists for centuries, and there is no easy answer. But one thing is for sure: you have to...

Episode 219: Let's get one thing clear, I'm not a financial advisor, nor do I play one on TV. But I have been investing in the stock market for years - and I've learned a lot along the way. I remember the first time I ever invested, my heart was racing and my palms were sweaty. I had no idea what I was doing and I was scared that I was going to lose all of my money. Fast forward a few years and I'...

Episode 218: Financial education is an important life lesson that all children can benefit from. By teaching kids about money early on, they can develop good financial habits that will serve them well throughout their lives. There are many ways to teach children about money, and the best way to do it depends on the child's age and level of understanding.   When I was a child, my parents didn't hav...

Episode 217: NEFE in November. Part 5 Financial shame is one of the most debilitating and personal forms of pressure that an individual can feel. It can prevent people from making critical decisions about their financial future which leaves them feeling hopeless about their ability to ever improve their situation. While there are certainly personal choices that can contribute to financial shame, i...

Episode 216: NEFE in November. Part 4 Have you experienced bias, discrimination, or exclusion by or from organizations, institutions or individuals within the financial services sector? A recent NEFE poll found that minority households are more likely to experience discrimination or feel blocked from the financial sector. It could be having a loan declined or offered less favorable terms than whit...

Episode 215: At certain times in our lives we seek approval from others. It's a basic human need. But what happens when we become too reliant on the approval of others to define our self-worth? We can start to lose sight of who we are and what we want in life. Often as we begin to blossom into our true selves, we encounter push back and conflict from other people from whom we are seeking approval....

Episode 214: NEFE in November. Part 3 A high school education is supposed to prepare students for the "real world." However, for many students, the reality is that they graduate without any real-world knowledge of personal finance. This is a problem because personal finance is one of the most important life skills that somebody can have. The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted how many American adul...

Episode 213 To be an entrepreneur, you need to have the willingness to adapt and change rapidly. You need to wake up one moment with an idea for your business; then within seconds you're thinking about what steps to take in order make it happen- all while still maintaining a level head space so as not lose yourself or become distracted along the way. In this episode, entrepreneur and communication...

Episode 212: NEFE in November. Part 2. Have you had the opportunity to take financial education courses or training during school, at the workplace, one-on-one or in another setting? And did you take it? It's more important than ever to be financially aware. Fortunately, there are many opportunities to learn about personal finance, whether it's in school, at work, or even on your own. Taking advan...

Episode 211: Imagine how much easier buying a home would be if you knew exactly what lenders were looking for. Lenders take some significant factors into account when approving a mortgage. Knowledge is power, and understanding the mortgage approval process can give us that edge in our quest to find an ideal home at the right price and time. In this episode, Brighton Gbarazia offers a behind-the-sc...

Episode 210: NEFE in November. Part 1. There's no question that personal finance can be a complex and often confusing topic. With so many different products, services, and terms to understand, it's no wonder that so many people feel overwhelmed when it comes to managing their money. Would a financial literacy course have helped you on your path? Do you think every teen should take a financial lite...

Episode 209: Money is one of those taboo topics that many cultures are hesitant to talk about. But why is that? Why do we feel uncomfortable discussing something that is such an integral part of our lives? By understanding the cultural beliefs around money, we can learn to better manage our finances and build stronger financial futures. So, let's explore some of the different cultural attitudes to...

Why is it that money can be so emotionally charged? One reason is that money often represents our worth and status in society. We may feel ashamed or embarrassed if we don't have enough money, or we may feel superior if we do. Additionally, money can be a source of stress because it's often unclear how we should use it. Should we save for the future or spend now? Is there such a thing as too much...

In order to make a good impression on others, we might do things that don't always align with our values. We might pretend to be someone we're not or put up a facade to make ourselves look better. While these things might seem necessary in the moment, they can cost us in the long run. By compromising our values, we lose sight of who we are and what's important to us and invite a whole lot of unwan...

Is there a dream or goal you've put on the back burner, telling yourself you'll get to it "one day"? Maybe you're not sure how to go about making a change, or fear that you might not be successful. But what if I told you that delaying your dreams is actually costing you more than taking the leap? Trusting your desire to change direction in life is the first step on the path to making it happen. In...

Money matters can be a big a source of stress, but it doesn't have to be.  You can make up your own rules around money and create a system that works for you. Fear, guilt, and other people's opinions about money, should not dictate how you deal with it. Only you can figure out what works best for you. So get creative and come up with a money strategy that makes you feel confident and happy! In thi...

Have you ever been told to "trust yourself"? It's one of those vague pieces of advice that can be interpreted a million ways. Sometimes it feels like an impossible task, and other times it feels like a cliché we tell ourselves when we don't know what else to do. In this episode, actor, voice over artist and entrepreneur Adam McArthur discusses what it means to trust yourself and follow your passio...

Episode 203: You've got a great idea. It's something you're passionate about, and you can't wait to get started. But then doubt sets in. You start worrying that you're not good enough, that someone else has already done it better, or it costs too much and it's just not worth the effort. Before you know it, your idea is collecting dust, and you feel frustrated and stuck.   Most successful people di...

Episode 202: It's no secret that the financial industry has an inclusion problem. Marginalized groups, including people of color, women, and the LGBTQIA+ communities, feel discouraged from engaging in financial services. This leaves them at a disadvantage in building wealth and achieving economic security. But there are organizations out there working to change this. They're providing access to fi...

Episode 201: When you're dealing with debt, it's easy to get caught up in the numbers. You're juggling creditors, working out a budget, and trying to find ways to make your money work for you. But it's important not to lose sight of the interest rate on your debt. That little number can creep up on you if you're not careful, and before you know it, you're paying out more each month than you bargai...