Marriage Kids and Money: Personal Finance for Families

Buying your first home can feel overwhelming, especially in today’s market with rising prices and higher interest rates. In this episode, we sit down with real estate expert Scott Harris to break down how first-time buyers can move forward with confidence.

Scott, founder of Magnetic Real Estate and author of The Pursuit of Home, shares why so many buyers feel stuck and how to overcome that fear with the right preparation and mindset. We discuss how to save for a down payment, get pre-approved, choose the right real estate agent, and navigate the emotional side of buying a home as a couple.

If you’ve been sitting on the sidelines wondering when to buy or how to start, this episode will help you take your next step toward homeownership with clarity and confidence.

RESOURCES


Andy Hill's book Own Your Time

The Pursuit of Home (Book) – Scott Harris’ guide to navigating the home buying journey.

HOW WE MAKE MONEY + DISCLAIMER
This show may contain affiliate links or links from our advertisers where we earn a commission, direct payment or products.
Opinions are the creators alone.
Information shared on this podcast is for entertainment purposes only and should not be considered as professional advice.
Marriage Kids and Money (www.marriagekidsandmoney.com) is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

CREDITS
Podcast Artwork: Liz Theresa
Editor: Johnny Sohl
Podcast Support: Andy Hill

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What does it mean to reach Coast FIRE in your late 30s and how does it change your life?

In this episode, we sit down with certified financial educator Suzy May to discuss how she and her husband reached Coast FIRE with $900,000 invested before age 40. We talk about how starting early, maintaining a strong savings rate, and investing consistently allowed their portfolio to grow to a point where they no longer need to aggressively contribute to retirement.

Suzy shares how Coast FIRE has given their family the freedom to slow down, work less, and design a life filled with travel, flexibility, and meaningful time with their kids. We also discuss the emotional shift that happens when you move from wealth building to wealth enjoying and how families can define success beyond the numbers.

If you’ve ever wondered what happens after you build a strong investment foundation, this conversation will give you a real-life look at how Coast FIRE can create more options for your family.

Carpe Diem!

Resources & Links

Own Your Time (Andy’s book): https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book
Suzy May Website: https://suzymaywander.com
Wander World School Podcast: www.wanderworldschool.com
Monarch Money: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney

Credits

Host: Andy Hill
Editor: Johnny Sohl

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Kristy Shen and Bryce Leung have grown their family’s net worth to $2.9 million by age 43 without owning a home and while traveling the world for years.

In this episode, we break down how they built wealth starting with a modest income, avoided lifestyle inflation, and reached financial independence in their 30s. Kristy and Bryce share how their $1 million portfolio doubled while they were retired, how geographic arbitrage helped them control spending, and why investing early matters more than earning a six figure salary.

We also talk about becoming parents after reaching FI, the real cost of raising a child, and how marketing pressures families into overspending. If you have ever worried that kids will derail your financial goals, this conversation will challenge that narrative.

Most importantly, Kristy and Bryce explain how financial independence gave them the ultimate gift, time, especially during one of the most difficult seasons of their lives.

Want to build wealth and design a life around what matters most? Grab my book Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

In This Episode You’ll Learn:


How they reached $1 million in their 30s and grew it to $2.9 million


Why avoiding lifestyle inflation accelerates wealth building


The difference between investable assets and home equity


How travel helped lower their annual expenses


The real cost of raising a child


Why financial independence is about buying back your time

Resources Mentioned:


Parent Like a Millionaire Without Being One: https://amzn.to/4rbbKPM


Millennial Revolution Blog: https://www.millennial-revolution.com


Free Investment Workshop: https://www.millennial-revolution.com/investworkshop


Monarch Money to track your net worth: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney


Leave a voicemail for the show: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail

Podcast Credits:
Host: Andy Hill
Editor: Johnny Sohl

Carpe Diem!
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Nicole is back for our annual Bread & Wine episode and this one gets real.

After finally reading my new book Own Your Time, she shares her honest and emotional reaction including the chapter that made her cry. We talk about the embarrassment of discussing money, the tension we felt during our debt payoff journey, and what it really takes to pursue financial independence as a married couple.

Nicole opens up about growing up with money insecurity, why sharing our financial story felt vulnerable, and how we found a healthier middle ground on our path to time freedom. We also discuss why money should not be taboo, how to avoid pushing your spouse too far in the pursuit of financial independence, and what wealth truly feels like today.

If you are in the messy middle of career, kids, and financial stress, this conversation is for you.

Resources Mentioned

Own Your Time by Andy Hillhttps://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

Leave us a voicemail for a future episodehttps://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail

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When work becomes optional, a new question appears: who do you want to be now?

Brad Barrett retired in 2015 at age 35 after a 13 year career as an accountant. Since then, he’s spent the last decade experimenting with early retirement, building ChooseFI into one of the largest personal finance podcasts in the world, and refining what a meaningful life actually looks like after financial independence.

In this episode, Brad shares what pushed him toward financial independence, the key financial decisions that accelerated his path, and the surprising lessons he’s learned after 10+ years of optional work. We also talk about balance, identity, intentional living, and why some people stay one more year longer than they need to.

If you’re pursuing financial independence or wondering what life really looks like on the other side, this conversation will challenge you to think deeper about time, money, and what truly matters.

Want to build wealth and design a life around what matters most? Grab my book Own Your Time: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/book

In This Episode You’ll Learn:


Why Brad started pursuing financial independence in his 20s


The financial decisions that helped him retire at 35


How to think differently about spending and intentionality


What early retirement is really like after the honeymoon phase


Why “one more year” can cost more than you think

Resources Mentioned:


ChooseFI Podcast: https://choosefi.com


ChooseFI Local Groups: https://choosefi.com/local


Monarch Money (track your net worth): https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/monarchmoney


Leave a voicemail for the show: https://marriagekidsandmoney.com/voicemail

Podcast Credits:
Host: Andy Hill
Editor: Johnny Sohl

Carpe Diem.
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