#226: Shopping as Self-Soothing: How I Broke the Cycle
If you’ve ever felt that rush from clicking “Buy now,” waited for the package like it was Christmas morning, and then… felt the guilt later, you’re not alone. In this episode, I share the honest story of how I used shopping to cope with stress, boredom, and hard feelings—and the simple shifts that helped me break the cycle.We’ll talk about why shopping feels good in the moment (hello, dopamine and anticipation), the real emotional cost that shows up later (avoidance, dread, and sleepless nights), and the four changes that made a lasting difference for me.Whether you’re impulse-adding to cart after a long day or “treating yourself” out of stress, you’ll walk away with a 3-step plan you can use the next time the urge hits, plus a flexible way to budget for fun without derailing your goals!Read the Psychology Today article: Shopping, Dopamine, and AnticipationYou Might Like: Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker! Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet. Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet. Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget Check out Inspired Budget's blog. Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!
--------
28:41
--------
28:41
#225: Should You Buy It or Not? Try This 14-Question Quiz To Find Out
Have you ever felt stuck on whether to buy something? Maybe it sits in your Amazon cart for weeks—or you hit “order” and later regret it. In this episode, I’m joined by Abigail Roe of Downsize Upgrade, who created the Deliberation Station: a set of quick questions that help you decide if a purchase is worth your money, space, and energy.We talk about:The simple two-scale method she uses to filter how she spends her timeHow the Deliberation Station can stop impulse spending in its tracksMy own real-life example (yes, I tested it on an item I wanted to buy!)This conversation will leave you with practical ways to slow down, think differently about spending, and start aligning your purchases with your priorities.Resources & Links:Connect with Abigail: DownsizeUpgrade.comFollow her on Instagram & TikTok: @downsizeupgradeGrab the Deliberation Station printableYou Might Like: Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker! Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet. Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet. Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget Check out Inspired Budget's blog. Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!
--------
40:14
--------
40:14
#224: 5 Money Lies Keeping You Broke
If you’ve ever felt like you’re doing everything “right” with money but still stuck living paycheck to paycheck, you’re not alone. More often than not, it’s not the math that’s holding you back—it’s the money lies you’ve come to believe.In this episode, I’m calling out five lies that might be keeping you broke (yes, even the ones I used to believe myself!). You’ll hear the truth behind each one and the simple steps you can take to finally move forward with your money.Whether you’ve believed one of these lies or all five, today’s episode will help you replace them with truth and hope—and finally start creating the financial future you want.Resources Mentioned:Grab your FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker: track your debt payoff and celebrate progress along the wayBudget My Paycheck Spreadsheet: the exact tool I use daily to track my money and write a budgetJoin my free class: Budget Your Way to Wealth – over 15,000 people have taken it and loved it!You Might Like: Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker! Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet. Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet. Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget Check out Inspired Budget's blog. Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!
--------
24:50
--------
24:50
#223: Creating a Home You Love with Less Stuff with Jacqueline Stein
What if downsizing your home could actually upgrade your life? In today’s episode, I’m chatting with Jacqueline from Home Reimagined, who shares how she and her husband left behind a high-cost lifestyle in Austin, Texas to live full-time in a luxury RV. They cut their expenses by 45% and gained so much more in the process!Jacqueline opens up about what it was really like to let go of stuff, how their spending habits shifted, and how this big change positively impacted her business, marriage, and mental health. Whether you're downsizing or just craving less clutter and more peace, you’ll walk away with practical tips to create a home (and life) that truly works for you.Connect with Jacqueline:✨ Instagram: @home_reimagined_✨ Instagram: @travelreimagined_📺 YouTube: Home ReimaginedYou Might Like: Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker! Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet. Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet. Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget Check out Inspired Budget's blog. Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!
--------
37:53
--------
37:53
#222: Back-to-School Routines That Keep My Family (and Budget) on Track
It’s back-to-school season, which means schedules are packed, evenings fly by, and the to-do list never ends. If you’ve ever felt like you’re just trying to keep your head above water this time of year, you’re not alone.In this episode, I’m sharing the five routines that help me keep my home and budget running during busy seasons—and the three things I’d like to do better. You’ll hear exactly how I meal plan, keep my family on the same page, and stay on top of our finances without letting things spiral.Whether you have kids at home or just want to better handle busy stretches in life, you’ll walk away with practical ideas to make this season feel a little less overwhelming.You Might Like: Get the FREE Goodbye Debt Tracker! Grab my FREE Budgeting Cheat Sheet. Get the Budget My Paycheck Spreadsheet. Follow Allison on Instagram! @inspiredbudget Check out Inspired Budget's blog. Take my FREE class on How to Budget to Build Wealth!
The Inspired Budget Podcast helps women live their best life and reach their money goals. Join Allison Baggerly for inspiring conversations to help you learn more about budgeting, saving money, paying off debt, and investing for your future. You’ll be hearing not only from Allison, but others along the way that have a story and voice to share.
Ireland