A Week In Her Wallet: A 47-year-old who hasn’t paid credit card interest in 20 years
This week on A Week In Her Wallet, we meet Megan, a 47-year-old office manager living on Long Island with her husband. Together they earn around $200,000, but keep most of their spending separate — and it works.
Megan hasn’t paid a cent in credit card interest in over two decades and recently spent just $400 in a week, all while training for her fifth marathon.
Tune in as she shares:
Why she keeps her money separate from her spouse, and how they make it work
The real costs of marathon training
How she budgeted for a trip to Barcelona without touching savings
Her unique take on tipping, impulse buying, and personal finance independence
🎯 Ready to understand your own money style? Take our MoneyType™ quiz
💡 Want to build better habits? Join our InvestingFixx club.
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28:34
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28:34
Patreon PREVIEW: "Can You Rebuild Your Retirement at 68?"
Today on the HerMoney Podcast, we're bringing you something special — an exclusive preview of one of our brand-new Patreon-only AMA episodes. In this series, Jean sits down one-on-one with real listeners to talk through their biggest financial questions in real time.
In this episode, you’ll meet Donna, a 68-year-old listener who is rebuilding her financial life from scratch after the end of a 30-year marriage, years out of the workforce, and time spent navigating disability. Now she’s back at work full-time — earning nearly double what she made before — and she’s trying to figure out how to use this new income to build the retirement she wants.
Jean and Donna talk through:
What it feels like to step back into the workforce at 68
How to choose between Roth and traditional contributions
How to invest when you feel “behind” on retirement
What to do when advisors tell you your portfolio is “too small.”
And how to finally create a plan after years of trying
You’ll hear the first half of their conversation here. To listen to the full episode — plus all of our new bonus content — join us on Patreon.
👉 https://www.patreon.com/cw/HerMoneyPodcast
As a Patreon member, you’ll get:
1–2 exclusive bonus episodes every month
AMA call-in mailbags with Jean
A lively private chat with the HerMoney community
Ad-free listening across the entire feed
Early access to submit your money questions
Access to a special live event we’re hosting in the new year
If you love having more HerMoney in your week, we’d love to have you join us.
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10:09
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10:09
Ep 504: Is College Still Worth It? Ric Edelman Helps Us Rethink Everything
For decades, college was considered the ultimate launching pad—your ticket to a good job, a stable life, and financial freedom. But today, that path feels a whole lot blurrier.
In this episode, Jean sits down with leading financial expert Ric Edelman, whose new book The Truth About College pulls back the curtain on what higher education really delivers—and where it falls short.
Together, they dive into:
When college still makes financial sense—and when it really doesn’t
How families can make smarter decisions together
Why trade schools, gap years, and community college deserve a second look
The emotional toll of student debt (and what parents often miss)
How adults can tap into lifelong learning without breaking the bank
More from HerMoney:
💸 Want to join our investing club or try our coaching program? [https://hermoney.com/fixx/]
📰 Get our free weekly newsletter: [https://hermoney.com/subscribe/]
✨If this episode helped you see things in a new way, leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts.
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33:18
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33:18
Your Money Map Replay: How Julie Wainwright Rebuilt Her Life, Emptied Her 401(k), and Created The RealReal
In this powerful and inspiring episode of Your Money Map, Jean Chatzky sits down with entrepreneur and author Julie Wainwright, founder of The RealReal, to talk about failure, reinvention, and why it’s never too late to bet on yourself.
She shares candid stories from her new book, Time to Get Real: How I Built a Billion Dollar Business that Rocked the Fashion Industry, and the hard-won lessons she learned about leadership, raising capital as a woman over 50, and taking calculated risks — including the moment she emptied her 401(k) to fund her vision.
Topics We Cover:
How Julie rebuilt her career after Pets.com
The surprising advantages of launching a business later in life
Facing ageism and gender bias in venture capital
Why she bet her retirement savings on herself
The messy truths behind entrepreneurship
Advice for women starting over at any age
👉 Resources & Links:
🔗 Learn more about retirement income at ProtectedIncome.org
🔗 Sign up for free retirement advice & news delivered straight to your inbox: protectedincome.org/subscribe
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33:14
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33:14
Ep 503: Money Tips Every Freelancer Needs: Taxes, Retirement & Getting Paid on Time
Thinking about ditching the 9-to-5? Already navigating the ups and downs of freelance work? This episode is your financial playbook for thriving as your own boss. Jean Chatzky sits down with money coach and longtime freelancer Emily Guy Birken to unpack everything from budgeting on irregular income to choosing the right retirement accounts.
Emily shares her personal percentage-based money system, explains why separate bank accounts are non-negotiable, and reveals the must-have clauses for every freelance contract. Whether you're freelancing full-time or hustling on the side, these tips will help you get paid, save smart, and sleep better.
In This Episode:
How to build a baseline budget as a freelancer
A smart, percentage-based system for managing income
The pros and cons of solo 401(k)s vs. SEP IRAs
How to structure your business
Why contracts are your best friend in freelance work
How to stay emotionally grounded in unpredictable times
Resources & Links:
📚 Emily’s book: Stacked: Your Super Serious Guide to Modern Money Management
🔗 More financial tips for freelancers at HerMoney.com
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Anyone who tells you women don’t need financial advice specifically for them is wrong. Women, whether they’re the caretakers, the breadwinners, or both, face a unique set of financial challenges. That’s where HerMoney comes in. In her frank, often funny, but always compassionate way, Jean Chatzky takes every audience of women through the steps they need to take today to live comfortably (and worry-free) tomorrow, offering the latest research, expert tips and personal advice. Want more money news when you need it? Get the latest and greatest updates on all things investing, budgeting, and making money. Subscribe to the HerMoney newsletter at HerMoney.com/subscribe!