80// How to Plan Now for a Calm, Budget-Friendly Holiday Season

Think your budget keeps failing because you’re “bad with money”? Nope. It might actually be because you haven’t eaten enough kale… seriously.In this episode, we pull back the curtain on all the non-money habits that impact your spending—your schedule, your energy, your clutter, your routines, and (yes) what’s happening in your fridge. You’ll learn why budgeting isn’t just tracking numbers; it’s about managing your life so you can follow your budget.In this episode you’ll learn:Why your busy schedule might be sabotaging your money planHow clutter, stress, mental load, decision fatigue, and lack of sleep affect overspendingThe surprising connection between self-care (like eating kale) and sticking to a budgetWhy you might not need a new budgeting method—you might need a new habitHow to identify the one thing that throws you off financiallyYou’ll walk away with: ➡️ Awareness of what’s really causing overspending ➡️ Permission to stop saying “I’m bad with money” ➡️ One simple habit to focus on that will get your budget back on trackBecause sometimes sticking to your budget starts with taking care of the rest of your life.🎉🎉🎉Stop wasting time and get started with your budget today! Click here for the FREE Budget Jumpstart. Click to Send Fan Mail

🎅Link to HOLIDAY PLANNER The holidays are coming — but you don’t have to rush or stress this year. In this episode, Erin helps you get ahead now so you can feel calm, organized, and financially prepared when the season arrives.You’ll walk through how to plan your time, money, and mindset in advance — so you can be present with your kids and actually enjoy the holidays.💡 What You’ll LearnHow to start future-thinking with your holiday budget and calendarThe first steps to take with your money and time before the season beginsHow to list, plan, and price out gifts, events, and expensesThe importance of deciding early — meals, parties, travel, and moreHow to align your plans with how you actually want to feel this holiday season: simple, well, and festiveIdeas for simplifying, delegating, and protecting your energy and timeHow to use backwards planning to make sure everything gets done calmly3-Part Holiday Planner – brainstorm ideas, budget your spending, and plan your weeks backwards 👉 Grab it hereClick to Send Fan Mail

Welcome to Part 2 of our KIDS and MONEY series. Here's a link to Part 1 - Episode 77. In this episode we cover: How to do allowance with your kidsHow to teach kids to be patient when they want somethingHow to budget with kids at any ageHow to help our children deal with marketing, consumption, and comparisonIt's filled with practical steps to helping your kids develop healthy money habits and mindsets! Give Emily a follow on Instagram @RaisingLittleMillionaires. Click to Send Fan Mail

🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.Ever notice how your thoughts about money shape your results? In this episode, Erin breaks down two powerful ways of thinking about your household money: “if” and “because.”Are you telling yourself:“I’ll stick to my budget if everything goes smoothly”?“I’ll save if there’s anything left over”?Or are you shifting toward:“I’ll stay consistent because I want freedom”?“I’ll save because it matters to my family’s future”?This small mindset shift changes everything. When you start leading with “because,” you stop waiting for perfect conditions and start creating the results you want — saving money, paying off debt, and building financial peace in your household.✨ In this episode, you’ll learn:The difference between “if” and “because” thinking (and how to spot yours)How your mindset affects consistency, savings, and debt payoffPractical examples to help you shift into “because” thinking this weekWhy your money follows your mindset🎯 Your challenge: Notice where you’re living in your “if” — and start stepping into your “because.”Let's connect:Instagram @budgeteffectpodcastEmail [email protected] Click to Send Fan Mail

In this episode, I sit down with Emily from @RaisingLittleMillionaires to talk about how to teach kids about money in practical ways. We’re already teaching them about money—whether we realize it or not—through our habits and conversations. Let’s do it better!We cover the 3 essential money mindsets to teach at home:Split it before you spend it – give kids real practice with saving and spending.Make spending hard and saving easy – set up guardrails like cash or prepaid cards, and automate savings when possible.Know where your money goes – teach kids to track their spending and review it regularly.This is part one of a 3 part series. For more practical tips from Emily, follow her on Instagram: @RaisingLittleMillionaires.Let's connect:Instagram @budgeteffectpodcastEmail [email protected] Click to Send Fan Mail

🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.If you leave your money sitting in your checking account, it’s going to get spent — just like cookies left out on the counter.In this episode, I’ll share three powerful reasons you need to move your money forward.You’ll learn how moving money helps you protect it from impulse spending, make faster progress toward your goals, and be prepared when future needs or wants come up.Whether you’re paying off debt, saving for something big, or just trying to stay consistent, this episode will show you why where you put your money matters — and how to start moving it with purpose.Let's connect:Instagram @budgeteffectpodcastEmail [email protected] Click to Send Fan Mail

🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.What do you do when you need to add a new expense but your budget already feels maxed out? Recently, I did just that.In this episode, I walk through the steps I took to make it work:Figuring out the true cost (monthly and yearly)Testing it in my budget and year planDeciding what categories I was—and wasn’t—willing to cutAdjusting amounts until everything fitIf you’ve ever tried to fit a new cost into your budget—whether that’s kids’ activities, a car payment, or higher rent—this process will help you approach it with clarity instead of stress.Episodes mentioned: 66// What is a Zero-Balance Budget? Plus 11 reasons it will work for you.26// How to budget for self-care | Building a sinking fund for your personal wants and needs53// Why I Hated a Yearly Budget (But You Might Love It!)Let's connect:Instagram @budgeteffectpodcastEmail [email protected] Click to Send Fan Mail

🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.📋 BUDGET SCHOOL coming soon.  When I launched The Budget Effect podcast, I started with four powerful effects of budgeting that completely transformed my life and finances. A year and a half later, do I still stand by them? Spoiler alert: yes—but I’ve also discovered even more life-changing benefits along the way.In this episode, I’m reflecting on what happens when you go beyond “just paying bills” and step into intentional money management with a zero-balance budget. We’ll talk about:Why your money actually goes further when you budget (and how to avoid feeling limited).How budgeting not only helps you reach goals—but also clarifies what goals matter most.The way budgeting uncovers your true core values and allows you to live more intentionally.Why confidence, peace, and joy grow as you gain control of your money.And the surprising ripple effects budgeting has on your household routines, organization, and even stress levels.If you’ve ever wondered what a budget could really do for your life beyond dollars and cents, this episode will encourage you to see it as the foundation for freedom, stability, and joy.Let's connect:Instagram @budgeteffectpodcastEmail [email protected] to Send Fan Mail

🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.📋 BUDGET SCHOOL coming soon.  Are you only thinking about right now when you budget—just making it through the week or the month? Or maybe you’re swinging the other way, thinking about retirement decades from now but not sure how you’ll cover next season’s expenses.In this episode, I’m introducing you to something I call the Ladder of Future Thinking—a simple way to look ahead in your budget without feeling overwhelmed. I’ll walk you through how to plan for:Within the month: Making adjustments so your budget actually worksSeason to season: Saving for the things you know are comingYear to year: Preparing for annual expenses and big goalsMultiple years ahead: Setting yourself up for stability, freedom, and less stressBecause budgeting isn’t just about being organized—it’s about creating stability, building wealth, and having the freedom to say “yes” when you want to.Let's connect:Instagram @budgeteffectpodcastEmail [email protected] Click to Send Fan Mail

🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.📋 BUDGET SCHOOL coming soon.  Ever find yourself in a low-vibe state —you’re frustrated with your progress, comparing yourself to others, or tempted to spend money just to feel better? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay stuck.In this episode of The Budget Effect, we’re talking about what to do when discontent creeps in—especially when it’s tied to money, material things, or not being as far along as you thought you’d be by now. I share my own recent experience with feeling uninspired and how I turned things around, along with 4 practical steps you can use to reset your mindset and your money habits.Here’s what you’ll learn:Why discontent shows up (even when you’re normally grounded and grateful).How comparison and external pressure can derail your mindset and your budget.4 ways to shift out of a low-energy stateIf you’ve been feeling off, frustrated, or just “bleh,” this episode will help you feel lighter, more intentional, and more in control of your money and your mindset.Let's connect:Instagram @budgeteffectpodcastEmail [email protected] Click to Send Fan Mail