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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
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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

CFO Corner Week 9: How Auditing Your Benefits Can Help You Find Money

There might be hundreds  - or thousands  - of dollars sitting in your employer benefits package that you're not using. This week, we're fixing that.
Meghan walks you through a simple benefits audit: retirement contributions, HSA and FSA accounts, wellness reimbursements, professional development funds, and more. No complicated decisions. Just a clear look at what's already available to you and one small move to make sure you're actually claiming it.
Your total compensation isn't just your salary. Make sure you're using all of it.
This week's action: Log into your benefits portal and find one thing you're not using  - then use it.
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

Financial Independence Isn't What You Think It Is

The term "financial independence" gets thrown around a lot  -  but most of the conversation around it was never really designed for women. So this episode, we're redefining it.
Financial independence isn't about retiring early or living on the bare minimum. It's about options. We break it into three real, achievable levels  -  and by the end, you'll know exactly where you stand and what to do next.
Because financial independence isn't about escaping work. It's about escaping fear.
Pick one action this week: calculate your annual expenses, check your emergency fund, or share this episode with a friend who needs the reframe.
Resources Mentioned:
Maddie’s Story
Meghan’s Story
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 8: How Long Could You Float?

You've tracked your spending and built your budget  -  now it's time to use that information to build real security.
This week we're calculating how many months of expenses your emergency fund actually covers, breaking down the simple math, clarifying what counts as "essential," and giving you a clear next step no matter where you're starting from.
Because an emergency fund doesn't just protect your bank account. It protects your confidence.
This week's action: Calculate your number and set a 90-day goal to grow it by one month.
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

Why More Money Won't Make You Feel Confident About Money

You can be doing everything "right" with money and still feel anxious. In this episode, we break down why financial confidence isn't about your numbers - it's about your relationship with them.
We cover the three reasons good numbers don't equal confidence, and the four things that actually build it: awareness without judgment, systems that reduce mental load, a simple decision framework, and making your progress visible.
Plus: one question, one action, and one mindset shift you can apply this week.
Key reminder: Confidence is built through repetition, not milestones.
Resources:The Automation 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

CFO Corner Week 7: Financial Account Spring Cleaning

It's time for some financial spring cleaning. In this week's episode, we're tackling scattered accounts, old 401(k)s, and financial clutter.
You'll create a complete inventory of every financial account you have, identify what needs attention, and make a simple action plan to consolidate and simplify.
No closures or transfers today - just clarity.
In This Episode:
How to inventory all your financial accounts
Identifying accounts that no longer serve you
Which old 401(k)s to consolidate
Making a manageable action 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
Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com

The Cost of Convenience: When Paying for Ease Is Actually Smart

Pre-cut watermelon. Grocery delivery. Meal kits. DoorDash. House cleaners. We've never had more convenience at our fingertips - and we've never questioned our spending more.
In this episode, we break down when paying for convenience is actually strategic, and when it's just autopilot spending draining your bank account.
In This Episode:
The 3 hidden costs of convenience spending
When convenience is worth every penny (and when it's not)
The "cost per hour" framework to make smarter decisions
Real-life examples: house cleaners, coffee runs, meal kits & more
4 questions to ask before any convenience purchase
Stop feeling guilty. Start spending intentionally.
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