Everyone's Talkin' Money

Most money advice is either extreme restriction or delusional optimism.

The truth is that real change happens in the middle, where you build systems that work with your actual lifestyle instead of the one you wish you had.

This week, I’m joined by Jen and Jill from the Frugal Friends podcast to talk about why we overcomplicate money resets, how to spend based on what we truly value, and what “frugal” really means in 2026.

We dig into the psychological reason we over-complicate New Year money goals, how values-based spending creates direction without deprivation, what the “radical middle” looks like in real life, the difference between being frugal and being restricted, and why paid-off debt and pretty spreadsheets aren’t a personality.

If you’ve ever set a financial resolution in January and rage-bought something by February, this episode is for you.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney
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If you’re tired of setting money goals that quietly die somewhere between Valentine’s Day and tax season, this episode is your intervention.

We’re talking about why traditional goal setting backfires, how shame-based goals sabotage progress, and what it really takes to set financial targets that fit your season of life—whether you’re growing, stabilizing, repairing, maintaining, or just trying to get through a major transition without losing your mind.

Get your Supportive Money Goals Workbook here!

You’ll learn the difference between aspirational goals (“max out my 401(k)”) and supportive goals (“increase my 401(k) by 1% each quarter”), why willpower is the least reliable financial strategy on earth, and how the One-Goal Rule keeps your cash flow focused long enough for you to actually win.

By the end, you’ll walk away with money goals that are realistic, emotionally grounded, system-supported, and—most importantly—still alive in March.

Because you don’t need more aggressive goals… you need goals that match your systems, your season, and your capacity.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You can make great money and still feel like you’re constantly playing catch-up. You can hit a savings goal one month and have to pull it back out the next. You can earn a six-figure salary and still check your account before you swipe your card. That doesn’t mean you’re bad with money — it usually means your cash flow is broken.

Get Your Cash Flow Map Here!

In this episode, Shari breaks down why cash flow matters more than budgets, why financial goals fall apart even when you’re motivated, and the quiet structural issues that make high earners feel stressed, behind, or confused. She explains the five biggest cash flow killers (like income timing mismatch, floating lifestyle expenses, and savings without automation) and the simple framework for stabilizing cash flow so goals actually work in real life.

This isn’t about cutting spending, skipping coffee, or trying harder. This is about fixing the foundation so your money moves in rhythm with your life instead of against it. If you’ve ever wondered where your money goes even though you’re not overspending, or why your goals never stick, this episode will make everything click.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this episode, Shari sits down with Jenn Lueke, the creator behind the viral budget grocery series that helped millions of people eat well for less.

They discuss how grocery system failures quietly drain time and money, why meal planning is really an inventory problem, and how Jenn turned a January budget grocery video into a community, a cookbook, and a system that actually sticks. Get Jenn's book here: https://jenneatsgoood.com/cookbook/

Jenn breaks down how to build a realistic pantry, the plant-based and protein swaps that cut costs without sacrificing nutrition, how to shop without waste, and why homemade sauces are the sleeper money saver everyone misses. They also talk about inflation, food psychology, decision fatigue at dinner, and Jenn’s eight keys to success in the kitchen. Follow Jenn on Instagram @jenneatsgood

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people don’t struggle with money because they’re irresponsible. They struggle because their entire financial life is running on willpower and memory—which are terrible tools for long-term success. In this episode, Shari breaks down why motivation-based money management always collapses by March, and how to build real financial systems that actually stick.

Does Your Money System Rely on Willpower or Memory? Get your Money System here!

Inside, we walk through the four core elements of a “sticky” money system—automation, boundaries, visibility, and realism—and why these matter more than discipline. You’ll learn how to design money flows that match your real income timing, energy cycles, and household complexity, instead of trying to fit your life into a one-size-fits-all budget.

Shari also shares the Minimum Viable Money System: the lowest-lift, most functional framework for managing money without spreadsheets, shame, or perfection. If you’ve ever felt like you “should” be better with money but can’t seem to make habits stick, this episode will help you shift from trying harder to designing smarter.

If you’re ready for money to feel supportive instead of exhausting, this is where it starts.

Talkin’ Points → where your money gets smarter.

Real talk, practical tips, zero guilt straight to your inbox. Sign up here. 

Be sure to like and follow the show on your favorite podcast app!

Keep the conversation going on Instagram @everyonestalkinmoney
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices