Don't Depend On Daddy

• 136. Career Advice for Young Professionals: Networking, Freelancing, and Finding Clarity at Work

  In this episode, I’m answering all your career questions - from how to leave your corporate job and start freelancing, to building your network without feeling fake, to what to do if you’ve been laid off. I’ll share my realistic advice on how long it actually takes to leave corporate, what it means to become work optional, and how to use your current skill set to build a business or side hustle that can eventually replace your 9-5 income. If you’ve been feeling stuck, unmotivated, or unsure how to pivot your career - this episode is for you.In this episode:👉🏻 How to plan your exit from corporate (and what timeline to expect)👉🏻 3 realistic career paths: FIRE, business building, or hybrid work👉🏻 How to build a network that feels genuine, not forced👉🏻 Steps to get started with freelancing or consulting👉🏻 What to do financially if you’re laid offRESOURCES MENTIONED: Own Your Career Book: https://breakyourbudget.com/oyc-bookTask-Tracking Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/own-your-career-templateContent Episode 121: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uecOx_bYdrM&t=18sPrevious Career Q+A: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3On36jpLuEkTimestamps: 00:00 – Intro + Welcome Back02:00 – How I Built My Business Before Leaving Corporate05:30 – The 3 Realistic Paths to Leave Corporate09:00 – How to Calculate Your FIRE Numbers12:00 – How to Start a Business or Freelance While Working Full-Time16:00 – Hybrid Work Options & Redefining Success17:00 – Networking Tips That Don’t Feel Fake or Forced21:00 – Task Management System for Corporate Success25:00 – What to Do If You Feel Stuck or Lost in Your Career30:00 – Financial Steps to Take After a Layoff35:00 – How to Start Freelancing or Consulting (Step-by-Step)BREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:💸 Personal Finance Dashboard:https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard💸 Basic Budgeting Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template💸 FI/RE Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template💸 NEW RENT VS. BUY CALCULATORhttps://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculator💳 Tools + Cards I Use:Rakuten Cash Back: https://shorturl.at/w0PcHSoFi HYSA: https://wealthlink.me/michela-sofi-hysaAmEx Platinum: https://tinyurl.com/mpf7u7uyBilt Rewards: https://tinyurl.com/4kd8s33aBlue Cash Everyday: https://tinyurl.com/yrcbr2ac✅ Subscribe to Break Your Budget Weekly: https://breakyourbudget.com/newsletter📖 My Books: https://breakyourbudget.com/book👩🏼‍💻 Task Management System + Promotion Template:https://breakyourbudget.com/own-your-career-templateFREE DOWNLOADS:💸 Recession Guide: https://breakyourbudget.com/recession-guide✅ Monthly Audit Checklist: https://breakyourbudget.com/monthly-audit-checklist✍🏻 Personal Finance Starter Kit: https://breakyourbudget.com/pf-starter-kitAll Other Resources: https://breakyourbudget.com/links👩🏼‍💻 Inquiries: [email protected]📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakyourbudget/📲 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakyourbudget📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/michela_alloccaa💸 Break Your Budget LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/MichelaAllocca/💸 My ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/michelaallocca

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• 135. The Science of Dopamine in the Winter + My Routine Shifts That Actually Work

  The colder months can seriously impact your motivation, mood, and energy - but they don’t have to. In this episode, I’m sharing how to shift your routines for winter so you can stay productive, energized, and emotionally grounded, even when it’s dark and cold outside. We’ll talk about what actually happens to your dopamine and circadian rhythm during the winter, and how to build practical micro-routines that keep your mood high and your habits consistent.In this episode:👉🏻 The science behind why winter affects your dopamine👉🏻 How to build better morning and night routines for darker days👉🏻 My go-to winter wellness rituals (movement, light exposure, and self-care)👉🏻 Dopamine-boosting habits that actually stick👉🏻 How I’m shifting my daily structure this season🧠 Listen for: tactical, science-backed, and realistic changes you can make now to feel better all winterTimestamps:00:00 – Intro + Housekeeping03:30 – Why Winter Impacts Motivation & Mood05:00 – How Dopamine and Serotonin Drop in Colder Months07:30 – Circadian Rhythm Disruption Explained09:00 – Why We Seek Quick Dopamine Fixes in Winter11:00 – How to Regulate Dopamine Naturally12:00 – Light Exposure Tips (and Why They Matter)15:00 – Winter Movement & Workout Adjustments20:00 – Building Routine Anchors for Structure25:00 – Everyday Dopamine Boosters + Micro Habits30:00 – How I’m Shifting My Routine for WinterBREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:💸 Personal Finance Dashboard:https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard💸 Basic Budgeting Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template💸 FI/RE Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template💸 NEW RENT VS. BUY CALCULATORhttps://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculator💳 Tools + Cards I Use:Rakuten Cash Back: https://shorturl.at/w0PcHSoFi HYSA: https://wealthlink.me/michela-sofi-hysaAmEx Platinum: https://tinyurl.com/mpf7u7uyBilt Rewards: https://tinyurl.com/4kd8s33aBlue Cash Everyday: https://tinyurl.com/yrcbr2ac✅ Subscribe to Break Your Budget Weekly: https://breakyourbudget.com/newsletter📖 My Books: https://breakyourbudget.com/book👩🏼‍💻 Task Management System + Promotion Template:https://breakyourbudget.com/own-your-career-templateFREE DOWNLOADS:💸 Recession Guide: https://breakyourbudget.com/recession-guide✅ Monthly Audit Checklist: https://breakyourbudget.com/monthly-audit-checklist✍🏻 Personal Finance Starter Kit: https://breakyourbudget.com/pf-starter-kitAll Other Resources: https://breakyourbudget.com/links👩🏼‍💻 Inquiries: [email protected]📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakyourbudget/📲 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakyourbudget📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/michela_alloccaa💸 Break Your Budget LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/MichelaAllocca/💸 My ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/michelaallocca

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• 134. My Food Philosophy: How My Approach to Eating has Evolved, Grocery Budgets, & Eating Healthy

  In this episode of Don't Depend on Daddy, I’m breaking down my entire food philosophy - from how I transitioned from being vegan for 9 years to reintroducing fish, to exactly how I plan, prep, and budget my meals each week. I’ll walk through my 3-2-1 grocery system, how I approach meal prepping without wasting food, and what I actually eat in a typical week as someone who values both health and balance. If you’re trying to eat healthy, save money on groceries, and stop feeling overwhelmed by meal prep - this one’s for you.Listen for:👉🏻 My plant-based to pescatarian transition👉🏻 How I plan 3 dinners, 2 lunches, and 1 breakfast each week👉🏻 Grocery budgeting tips and being an “ingredient household”👉🏻 Why I make most of my food (and bread!) from scratchGrocery Youtube Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m1a3rqUKf2o&t=92sTIMESTAMPS: 00:00 – Intro + Welcome Back01:30 – Why I’m Talking About My Food Philosophy04:00 – My Journey: From Vegan to Vegetarian (with Fish)07:30 – Why I Initially Went Plant-Based10:00 – The Health & Skin Benefits I Experienced12:30 – Reintroducing Fish + My Thought Process16:00 – Current Eating Habits & Mental Health Improvements19:00 – My 3-2-1 Meal Planning Framework24:00 – Grocery Shopping Routine + Where I Shop30:00 – Why I Make Everything from Scratch (Becoming an Ingredient Household)36:00 – Final Thoughts + Lessons LearnedBREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:💸 Personal Finance Dashboard:https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard💸 Basic Budgeting Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template💸 FI/RE Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template💸 NEW RENT VS. BUY CALCULATORhttps://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculator💳 Tools + Cards I Use:Rakuten Cash Back: https://shorturl.at/w0PcHSoFi HYSA: https://wealthlink.me/michela-sofi-hysaAmEx Platinum: https://tinyurl.com/mpf7u7uyBilt Rewards: https://tinyurl.com/4kd8s33aBlue Cash Everyday: https://tinyurl.com/yrcbr2ac✅ Subscribe to Break Your Budget Weekly: https://breakyourbudget.com/newsletter📖 My Books: https://breakyourbudget.com/book👩🏼‍💻 Task Management System + Promotion Template:https://breakyourbudget.com/own-your-career-templateFREE DOWNLOADS:💸 Recession Guide: https://breakyourbudget.com/recession-guide✅ Monthly Audit Checklist: https://breakyourbudget.com/monthly-audit-checklist✍🏻 Personal Finance Starter Kit: https://breakyourbudget.com/pf-starter-kitAll Other Resources: https://breakyourbudget.com/links👩🏼‍💻 Inquiries: [email protected]📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakyourbudget/📲 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakyourbudget📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/michela_alloccaa💸 Break Your Budget LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/MichelaAllocca/💸 My ShopMy: https://shopmy.us/shop/michelaallocca

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• 133. How Influencer Culture Is Rewiring Your Brain to Want More & Buy More (and how to fix it!!!!)

  In this episode of Don’t Depend on Daddy, we dive into the neuroscience of dopamine and how influencer culture rewires our brains for constant desire. From endless scrolling to impulse shopping, we explore the slot machine psychology behind why we crave novelty, how social proof keeps us stuck in the loop, and what it really takes to break free.You’ll learn:👉🏻 What dopamine actually is and how it shapes desire👉🏻 Why social media makes us buy things we don’t need👉🏻 How to rewire your brain for focus and contentment👉🏻 Simple tools to build awareness, set spending boundaries, and reclaim your attentionTIMESTAMPS:0:00 — Intro + housekeeping3:45 — The dopamine loop and why we’re addicted to our phones7:30 — The slot machine effect of social media10:00 — How influencer culture fuels desire13:00 — Rewiring your brain: awareness & boredom15:00 — Social proof bias and why we copy influencers18:30 — The illusion of belonging online21:30 — The rise of in-app shopping and impulsive buying26:00 — Comparison, identity, and the cost of “keeping up”28:30 — How to break the dopamine loop and spend mindfully35:00 — Final tips for rewiring habits and reducing consumptionBREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:💸 Personal Finance Dashboard:https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard💸 Basic Budgeting Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template💸 FI/RE Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template💸 NEW RENT VS. BUY CALCULATORhttps://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculatorALL THE ACCOUNTS/ TOOLS I USE:💸 www.breakyourbudget.com/toolkit✅ Subscribe to Break Your Budget Weekly: https://breakyourbudget.com/newsletter📖 My Books: https://breakyourbudget.com/book👩🏼‍💻 Task Management System + Promotion Template:https://breakyourbudget.com/own-your-career-templateFREE DOWNLOADS:💸 Recession Guide: https://breakyourbudget.com/recession-guide✅ Monthly Audit Checklist: https://breakyourbudget.com/monthly-audit-checklist✍🏻 Personal Finance Starter Kit: https://breakyourbudget.com/pf-starter-kitAll Other Resources: https://breakyourbudget.com/links👩🏼‍💻 Inquiries: [email protected]📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakyourbudget/📲 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakyourbudget📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/michela_alloccaa💸 Break Your Budget LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/MichelaAllocca/

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• 132. The Psychology Behind Decluttering: Why Tidying Up Transforms Your Life + Motivation to START!!

  In this episode of Don’t Depend on Daddy, we dive into the life-changing magic of tidying up - and how decluttering your environment directly impacts your emotions, habits, and finances. You’ll learn how the KonMari method helps you release attachment, create calm, and find clarity in your priorities. We’ll talk about how physical clutter mirrors mental clutter, how to simplify your space without feeling deprived, and why tidying up is really a form of emotional and financial self-care. If you’re ready to reset your space and energy before the new year, this one’s for you.TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 — Intro: Why tidying is more than cleaning2:10 — The emotional clutter we ignore4:30 — How the KonMari method really works7:00 — The psychology of letting go9:45 — What clutter reveals about your values12:20 — Why fewer possessions = more peace15:00 — The ripple effect: tidying your finances & habits18:10 — How to make decluttering actually stick21:30 — Minimalism vs deprivation24:00 — Final thoughts: aligning your space, money & mindsetBREAK YOUR BUDGET RESOURCES:💸 Personal Finance Dashboard:https://breakyourbudget.com/personal-finance-dashboard💸 Basic Budgeting Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/basic-budgeting-template💸 FI/RE Template: https://breakyourbudget.com/fire-template💸 NEW RENT VS. BUY CALCULATORhttps://breakyourbudget.com/rent-vs-buy-calculatorALL THE ACCOUNTS/ TOOLS I USE:💸 www.breakyourbudget.com/toolkit✅ Subscribe to Break Your Budget Weekly: https://breakyourbudget.com/newsletter📖 My Books: https://breakyourbudget.com/book👩🏼‍💻 Task Management System + Promotion Template:https://breakyourbudget.com/own-your-career-templateFREE DOWNLOADS:💸 Recession Guide: https://breakyourbudget.com/recession-guide✅ Monthly Audit Checklist: https://breakyourbudget.com/monthly-audit-checklist✍🏻 Personal Finance Starter Kit: https://breakyourbudget.com/pf-starter-kitAll Other Resources: https://breakyourbudget.com/links👩🏼‍💻 Inquiries: [email protected]📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/breakyourbudget/📲 Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@breakyourbudget📸 Instagram: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/michela_alloccaa💸 Break Your Budget LTK: https://www.shopltk.com/explore/MichelaAllocca/

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