HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

What does financial freedom really mean? Not just a healthy retirement account or a growing investment portfolio, but the ability to walk away from a situation that isn’t right. To say no. To have choices.

In this episode, Jean sits down with writer and speaker Paulette Perhach, whose essay about building a “F*ck Off Fund” has resonated with women for nearly a decade. Together, they explore how financial independence evolves over a lifetime, from the early years of building an emergency cushion to the later years of protecting your retirement, your relationships, and your sense of agency.

In this episode, we discuss:

What a “F*ck Off Fund” really is,  and why it doesn’t have to be a huge number to change your life

Why financial independence is about more than money

The power of small boundaries and everyday decisions

How to talk to daughters, nieces, and younger women about money 

Why many women still feel financially fragile, even when they’re doing everything “right”

How financial independence evolves as you approach retirement

Resources Mentioned in This Episode

Join InvestingFixx (HerMoney’s twice-monthly women’s investing club)

Switch: How to Change Things When Change Is Hard 

The Paradox of Choice
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How many credit cards is too many? Are premium travel cards actually worth those eye-popping annual fees? And what should you do when a card in your wallet stops pulling its weight?

This week, Jean Chatzky is joined once again by money expert Vivian Tu for a listener mailbag all about credit cards, points, and smart strategies for getting real value, without paying unnecessary fees or interest.

Together, they break down:

How to decide if high-end travel cards like Amex Platinum or Chase Sapphire Reserve are actually worth the cost

The smartest way to evaluate card perks — from lounge access to travel protections — in real dollar terms

When it makes sense to downgrade a credit card

How to use points efficiently without spending hours comparison shopping

What to say if you call your credit card company to ask for a lower interest rate

How to switch cards while protecting your credit score and account history

📈 Join our InvestingFixx club, your first month is free! 
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She’s back, and she brought her boldest advice yet. Vivian Tu, New York Times bestselling author and founder of Your Rich BFF, joins us to talk about her new book Well Endowed and why now is the time to rethink how you spend, save, and build the future you want.

Vivian and Jean get real about what it means to be truly wealthy—not just financially, but emotionally and generationally. From burnout to budgeting to luxury trap purchases, this episode is your permission slip to stop spending for the wrong reasons and start aligning your money with what actually matters.

What we’re diving into:

The “values detox” every spender needs

How to know if that splurge is really worth your time

Why premium doesn’t always mean better (hello, MVP rule)

What Vivian’s learned from the vibrant, retired women in her Miami building

How to design a retirement that’s anything but tired

Why estate planning is non-negotiable—even in your 30s

Resources & Links:

💰 Order Well Endowed by Vivian Tu

🧠 Join the HerMoney InvestingFixx Club

📝 Subscribe to Vivian's Substack: enRICHed with Your Rich BFF

🎧 Listen to Vivian’s podcast: Networth and Chill
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In this week’s episode of A Week In Her Wallet, we head to New Jersey to follow Prisca, a 35-year-old nurse and part-time money coach who tracks every dollar with intention. From $8 therapy copays to $25 dance classes that light up her world, Prisca shows us how structure and joy can coexist in personal finance.

Prisca’s week is packed with practical tips, emotional insights, and small moments that reveal big truths. Whether it’s her mantra of "aiming for calm" or her strategy to save before she spends, this is a blueprint for budgeting with purpose.

Resources:

Join our investing club! Your first month is completely free.
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What do two financial pros with over 60 years of combined experience really wish they knew about money 30 years ago?

In this very special crossover episode of HerMoney and The David Bach Show, Jean Chatzky sits down with longtime friend and bestselling author David Bach to share candid stories, big career lessons, and one bold new idea that could change retirement in America.

Together, Jean and David trade their top financial insights, biggest regrets, and heartfelt advice for anyone navigating money, health, aging, and family in 2026.

Resources:

David’s Flat Tax Proposal

The Automatic Millionaire (20th Anniversary Edition)

HerMoney’s InvestingFixx Club

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