Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families

Want to track your net worth like Dan? Check out Monarch Money: ⁠https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney (affiliate link - get 50% off Monarch Core w/ code MKMONEY)

Dan Brigham went from $97,000 in debt to a $1.2 million net worth in his mid-30s. Now, he's using that financial freedom to spend more time with his family and pursue work he actually enjoys.

In this episode, we sit down with Dan, creator of Budgeters Anonymous, to explore how he paid off nearly six figures of debt in just two years, grew his income through tech sales, and invested more than 50% of his earnings to build lasting wealth.

We also break down his family's $1.2 million net worth, including index funds, retirement accounts, real estate, and cash savings. Dan shares how discovering Coast FIRE changed his perspective on money and gave him the confidence to leave his corporate career.

If you're looking to become debt-free, build a seven-figure net worth, or create more flexibility for your family, this conversation offers practical strategies and inspiration for your journey.

Want to build wealth and design a life around what matters most? Grab my book Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

In This Episode You'll Learn:

How Dan paid off $97,000 in debt in two years

How he grew his income from $55,000 to more than $350,000 in tech sales

The investing and saving habits that helped him reach a $1.2 million net worth

How Coast FIRE can create more career and family flexibility

Why his family keeps $80,000 in emergency savings

How he and his wife balance entrepreneurship, parenting, and building wealth

His advice for creating a career that supports your lifestyle instead of controlling it

Resources Mentioned:

Budgeters Anonymous (Dan Brigham): https://www.instagram.com/budgetersanonymous/

Spent Well Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/1q6RcbEpO3Yiyax1uF6pOt?si=d05054eaa7fa4425

Monarch Money (track your net worth): https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney

Leave a voicemail for the show: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail

Podcast Credits:

Host: Andy Hill

Editor: Johnny Sohl

Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed
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Why does it feel like we're making good money, but never getting ahead?

Between groceries, housing, childcare, insurance, and everyday family expenses, it's easy to wonder where all our hard-earned money goes.

In this episode of Marriage Kids and Money, we're sharing 5 practical ways to take back control of our spending, create more breathing room in our budgets, and make our money work harder for our families.

Then, we're joined by Maggie Tinsley from The Traveling Tinsleys to explore how families can use credit card points and miles to travel more affordably. From earning rewards on everyday purchases to booking flights and hotels with points, Maggie shares how we can create memorable family vacations without breaking the bank.

The goal isn't to stop spending money. It's to spend intentionally on the things that matter most.

Part 1: Where Does All My Money Go? 5 Ways to Take Back Control

Why even six-figure families can feel like they're living paycheck to paycheck

How to understand our actual take-home income and give every dollar a job

The Family Big Four: Housing, Transportation, Food, and Childcare

How reducing major expenses by just 10% could free up thousands each year

Why social media, online shopping, and lifestyle inflation can quietly drain our budgets

How Andy discovered more than $1,600 in annual savings by reviewing unused subscriptions

Planning ahead for irregular expenses like holidays, car repairs, and summer camps

Simple ways to find extra money this weekend

Part 2: Travel More for Less with Maggie Tinsley:

How credit card points and miles can make family travel more affordable

Why we should never spend more than normal just to earn rewards

The difference between everyday credit card rewards and welcome bonuses

Why flexible points can be more valuable than airline-specific rewards

Beginner-friendly credit cards and rewards strategies

How Maggie's family used points for flights and hotels on their trip to Italy

Important changes in the points and miles world

How to keep travel rewards simple, organized, and financially responsible

Resources:

Monarch Money: Track our spending, review subscriptions, and manage our family finances in one place.

https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney: Use code MKMONEY for 50% off your first year of Monarch Core.

The Traveling Tinsleys: Learn more about Maggie's family travel strategies, points and miles tips, and beginner resources.

https://www.instagram.com/the_traveling_tinsleys/

Travel Freely: A tool mentioned in the interview for organizing credit cards, tracking rewards, and managing important dates.

https://travelfreely.com/

Marriage Kids and Money: More resources to help us build family wealth and own our time.

https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/

Maggie Tinsley is the creator behind The Traveling Tinsleys. She's a mom of two, works full-time in advertising, and helps families discover practical ways to make travel more affordable through credit card points and miles.

Through her family's experiences, Maggie shares how thoughtful planning and responsible rewards strategies can help us create more travel memories with our kids.

Marriage Kids and Money:

Website: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/

Instagram: @marriagekidsandmoney

Facebook: @marriagekidsandmoney

LinkedIn: @AndyHillMKM

Maggie Tinsley

Instagram: @the_traveling_tinsleys

Credits:

Host: Andy Hill

Guest: Maggie Tinsley

Editor: Johnny Sohl

Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How This Family Reached Coast FIRE in Their 30s With $300,000 Invested

What if you could stop aggressively saving for retirement in your 30s and spend more time enjoying life with your kids?

In this episode of Marriage Kids and Money, we sit down with Caleb Macias, a firefighter from Texas who reached Coast FIRE with his wife, Virginia, while still in their 30s.

With approximately $300,000 invested, a firefighter pension, and rental real estate, Caleb and Virginia have built a financial foundation that could allow them to enjoy more freedom today while still preparing for retirement.

We explore how they built their wealth through consistent investing, living on one income, and making intentional spending decisions. Caleb also shares how reaching Coast FIRE has shifted their priorities from accumulating more money to creating meaningful experiences with their children.

In this episode, we discuss:

How Caleb and Virginia reached Coast FIRE in their 30s with $300,000 invested

How their investments could grow to approximately $1.7 million without additional contributions

Why living on one income helped them build wealth while raising a family

How Roth IRAs, HSAs, a firefighter pension, and rental properties fit into their retirement strategy

Simple ways to save money through thrifting, secondhand shopping, and intentional spending

Why Coast FIRE can help families prioritize time with their kids today instead of waiting until traditional retirement

How they're teaching their children about investing, relationships, and generational wealth

We also discuss an important question: What's the point of building wealth if we don't have the time to enjoy it with the people we love?

Whether we're just starting our financial independence journey or approaching Coast FIRE ourselves, Caleb's story reminds us that financial freedom isn't only about retiring early. It's about creating more choices and making the most of the time we have.

Resources:

Coast FIRE Calculator: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/calculators/coast-fire/

Own Your Time: 10 Financial Steps to Put Your Family First and Escape the Corporate Grind: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

Caleb Macias on Instagram (First Responder Finance): https://www.instagram.com/firstresponder.finance/

Credits:

Host: Andy Hill

Editor: Johnny Sohl

Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed
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Jon Acuff's Book: Procrastination Proof - ⁠https://amzn.to/4slpnMT (affiliate)

Are you putting off important financial decisions, career changes, or personal goals? Procrastination can cost us more than just time. It can keep us from building wealth, strengthening our relationships, and creating the lives we truly want.

In this episode, we welcome bestselling author Jon Acuff, author of Procrastination Proof: Never Get Stuck Again, to explore why we procrastinate and how to finally take action.

We discuss practical strategies for overcoming procrastination with investing, family finances, career decisions, and parenting. Jon also shares his four-step framework for turning dreams into action and explains why discipline is about making tomorrow easier today.

If you've been waiting for the perfect moment to make a change, this conversation will help you get started.

Resources:

Jon Acuff's Book: Procrastination Proof - https://amzn.to/4slpnMT

Jon Acuff's Free Procrastination Quiz — Discover your procrastination tendencies and what might be holding you back.

Own Your Time — Discover 10 financial steps to put your family first and escape the corporate grind.

MKM Coaching — Get one-on-one support with your family finance journey.

Coast FIRE Calculator — Find out when you can slow down or stop investing for retirement.

YouTube — Watch more family finance videos and interviews.

RECOMMENDED RESOURCES:

Monarch Money — Budgeting for families and couples.

Credits:

Host: Andy Hill

Editor: Johnny Sohl

Podcast Support: Michelle Ahmed

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sami Womack and her husband have built a $730,000 net worth in their late 30s, all while raising three children and living primarily on one income.

But their financial journey wasn't always this successful. Just 10 years ago, they were struggling with nearly $490,000 in debt, overdrafted bank accounts, and the stress of living paycheck to paycheck.

In this episode, we explore how Sami and her husband completely transformed their finances by downsizing their home, paying off debt, budgeting consistently, and investing in simple index funds. We also discuss how they've grown their investment portfolio to nearly $600,000 and why their ultimate goal is to retire Sami's husband at age 50.

From living in a 600-square-foot rental home to building generational wealth for their three daughters, Sami's story reminds us that financial independence isn't about having the biggest house or the fanciest cars. It's about creating more time with the people we love.

In This Episode, We Discuss:

How Sami's family went from $490,000 in debt to a $730,000 net worth

Why downsizing to a 600-square-foot home changed everything

How they've built nearly $600,000 in investments with a mostly single-income household

Their simple approach to budgeting, index funds, and automated investing

How they balance enjoying life today with saving for early retirement

Their plan to retire Daniel at 50 and build generational wealth for their daughters

Want to build wealth and design a life around what matters most? Check out our book Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

Resources Mentioned:

Sami Womack's Website, The Sunny Side Up Life: https://www.asunnysideuplife.com/

Sami's Free Budget Audit, Financial Coaching, and Resources: https://www.asunnysideuplife.com/links

Sami on Instagram: @asunnysideuplife

Podcast Credits:Host: Andy HillEditor: Johnny Sohl

Podcast Management: Michelle Ahmed

Carpe Diem.
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