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CFO Corner Week 14: Wait, I'm Paying for That?

When did you last check what's actually coming out of your account every month? Not the big stuff - the $9.99 here, the $14.99 there, the app you forgot you signed up for in January.
This week, Maddie walks you through the Unsubscribe and Cancel Audit - a simple 4-step process to find what you're paying for, cut what you don't need, and put that money somewhere with a purpose.
The 4-Step Audit:
Pull your bank and credit card statements (go back 60–90 days)
Make a list of every recurring charge
Ask three questions for each one
Cancel, downgrade, or pause
This week's challenge: Set aside 20–30 minutes, do the audit, and cancel at least one thing. Then drop Maddie a message - how much did you find?
🔗 Budget Blueprint Workshop
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
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So You Got a Raise… Now What?

Congrats on the raise! But here's the thing  -  if you don't have a plan, that extra money will quietly disappear into everyday spending without ever moving the needle on your wealth.
In this quick episode, Meghan and Maddie walk you through a simple formula to make your raise actually work for you.
What we cover:
How to calculate your real take-home after taxes (hint: it's less than you think)
The 50/30/20 raise formula: Future You / Needs / Wants
How automation can make this happen without lifting a finger
Why intentional spending is the antidote to lifestyle creep
Resources mentioned:
🎙️ Episode 56: The Automation Episode  -  Build Your Money System in 30 Minutes
📊 Budget Blueprint Workshop
This week's action steps:
Calculate your actual take-home from your raise
Decide your split
Set up automation
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com

CFO Corner Week 13: Spring Into Your Savings Goals (Your Q1 Checkpoint)

Three months into the year  -  how are your savings goals actually holding up?
In this week's CFO Corner, Meghan walks you through a quick quarterly savings check-in: where you are, where you thought you'd be, and what (if anything) needs to shift. No perfection required  -  just 10 minutes of honest, intentional review.
Because the best financial plan isn't the one you set in January. It's the one that still works for your life in March.
In this episode:
How to review your Q1 savings progress (without the guilt trip)
What to do if life changed since you set your goals
One small adjustment you can make today to stay on track
You don't need to be perfect. You just need to be intentional.
🔗 Budget Blueprint Workshop
🔗 Set a Q2 calendar reminder for your next check-in!
Come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and 
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com

The Financial Glow-Up No One Talks About

Doing all the right things with your money  - but it doesn't feel like it yet? This episode is for you.
Meghan and Maddie break down the six quiet shifts that happen when you start getting serious about your finances  - the ones that don't show up in your bank balance right away, but are genuinely changing your life.
From pausing before you spend, to letting go of comparison, to building real confidence before the milestones ever arrive  - this is the Big Sister Talk you didn't know you needed.
In this episode:
Why the gap between doing the work and seeing results is actually the most important phase
6 signs you're growing financially (even when it doesn't feel like it)
What to actually do if you're in this phase right now
You're doing better than you think. Keep going.
🔗 Budget Blueprint Workshop
🔗 Episode 60: Why Your First $100K Feels Impossible 
🔗 Episode 66: Why More Money Won't Make You Feel Confident
🔗 Episode 56: The Automation Episode — Build Your Money System in 30 Minutes
🔗 5-Day Expense Reset Challenge
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com

CFO Corner Week 12: Don't Miss This April 15th Deadline (It's Not What You Think)

April 15th isn't just Tax Day  -  it's also the last day to make a 2025 IRA contribution. Miss it, and that window is gone forever.
This week, Maddie breaks down everything you need to do before the deadline: how much you can still contribute to your IRA, how to make sure your 401(k) is working for you in 2026, and the simple math that shows why contributing more costs less than you think.
You'll learn:  -  Why missing a contribution year costs far more than the dollar amount  -  IRA vs. 401(k): limits, deadlines, and which to prioritize  -  How pre-tax contributions mean $100/month only feels like $78  -  The 4 actions to take before April 15th
Resources:
Budget Blueprint Workshop
 
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com

Ever Gotten a Raise and Still Felt Broke? Lifestyle Inflation Explained

You got the raise. You're earning more. So why does it feel like you have less money than before?
That's lifestyle inflation  -  and it's one of the quietest threats to building real wealth. In this episode, Meghan and Maddie break down exactly what it is, why it happens to almost everyone, and how to enjoy your money now without derailing the future you're building.
Here's what we cover:
What lifestyle inflation actually is and how it creeps in without you noticing
The psychology behind why we spend more as we earn more
What lifestyle inflation actually costs you long-term (the numbers will surprise you)
How to recognize it in your own spending right now
Five strategies to enjoy more of your income without inflating everything
🎯 This week's action: Pull up your last three months of spending and identify one category that has quietly grown alongside your income. Just notice it  -  no judgment required.
📋 Ready to build a budget that actually protects you from lifestyle inflation? Our Budget Blueprint Workshop walks you through it step by step  -  video training, Excel + Google Sheets templates, and a completed example. Link below.
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
5 Day Expense Challenge
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com

CFO Corner Week 11: File Your Taxes & Plan Your Refund

Tax season is here  -  and this week on CFO Corner, we're making sure you're ready.
In this episode, Meghan walks you through a mid-March tax season checkpoint: confirming you have everything you need to file, your options for actually getting it done, and  -  most importantly  -  deciding what your refund is for before it hits your account.
Here's what we cover:
The key tax documents you should have by now (and what to do if something's missing)
Your filing options  -  software, CPA, or free filing  -  and why filing early is always the move
Four smart ways to use your tax refund: pay down debt, boost savings, invest it, or planned spending
A quick strategy tip if you consistently get a large refund
🎯 This week's action: Decide what your refund is for right now  -  before it arrives. Write it down. Give it a job.
📋 Resources mentioned:
TurboTax: https://refer.intuit.com/meghanlpartridge
What to Do With Your Tax Refund (blog post): https://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com/post/what-to-do-with-your-tax-refund
What to Do If You Win the Lottery episode: https://liveyourmoneystyle.podbean.com/e/winning_the_lottery/
Budget Blueprint Workshop: https://yourmoneystyle.myflodesk.com/budgetworkshop
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com

The Budgeting Mindset Shift That Changes Everything (Common Mistakes + How to Fix Them)

Have you ever made a budget, felt great about it, and abandoned it by week three? You're not alone  -  and it wasn't a willpower problem. It was a mindset and systems problem.
In this episode, Maddie and Meghan break down why most budgets fail, the mindset shift that makes budgeting finally click, and how to build a system you can actually maintain long term.
Here's what we cover:
The reframe that changes how you think about budgeting for good
The 5 most common budgeting mistakes (and how to fix them)
Simple habits that keep your budget working month after month
📋 Want to put this into action? Our Budget Blueprint Workshop walks you through everything step by step  -  video training, Excel + Google Sheets templates, and a completed example budget. Link below.
Your Budget Blueprint: Turn Your Paycheck Into A Plan
Listen to our Sink Funds Episode
Turbo Tax Referral
 
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com

CFO Corner Week 10: Give Every Dollar A Job

In this episode of CFO Corner, we're taking the spending categories you built last week and turning them into a real, working budget using the 50/30/20 framework.
Here's what we cover:
What the 50/30/20 rule actually means -  and how to make it work for your life
How to sort your spending categories into Needs, Wants, and Future You
The CFO mindset shift that changes how you think about budgeting
A simple 4-step action plan to get your budget working this week
🎯 This week's action step: Sort your spending categories into Needs, Wants, and Future You -  and check if your percentages match your priorities.
Your Budget Blueprint: Turn Your Paycheck Into A Plan
 
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com

Money Hot Takes: Popular Advice That Needs More Nuance

We're breaking down six pieces of popular money advice  - and asking whether any of it is actually right for you. Because most financial rules were built for extremes, and most people don't live there.
In this episode:
"You can't drive a nice car and build wealth"  - it depends on your plan, not the price tag
"Renting is throwing money away"  - renting buys flexibility, which has real value
"No travel until you're debt-free"  - sustainability matters more than intensity
"Cut all fun spending"  - restriction leads to burnout; intention beats elimination
"All debt is bad"  - interest rate is what matters, not the debt itself
"Max your 401(k) first"  - only after the employer match and an emergency fund
The bottom line: The smartest financial move is the one that fits your life  - not the one that follows someone else's rule.
Money advice is a starting point  - not a rulebook.
Resources Mentioned:
Renting vs Buying Episode
 
Read the full Show Notes Here!
 
Thanks to our sponsor:
 
Rakuten
 
Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter to get all of our latest advice and freebies!
 
Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style
 
Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com
Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com