The Debt Free Mom Podcast

For today's episode, I sit down with Lauree for a budget coaching call to help her set up a pay period budget. Lauree is an accountant who manages numbers for a living but has struggled to feel in control of her own finances. If you’ve ever felt embarrassed that money management should be easier for you than it is, you’ll resonate with Lauree's story.
If you'd like to watch the full coaching call and see me build Lauree's budget, check out the extended video call of this episode on the Debt Free Mom YouTube Channel.
Together, we walk through:
Why personal budgeting feels different (and harder) than professional accounting
How to map out income and expenses by pay period for a clearer picture of cash flow
Setting realistic goals for an emergency fund before tackling debt
The role of buffers and sinking funds to make your budget sustainable
Why deficits in certain pay periods don’t mean you’re “bad with money”

By the end of the call, Lauree has a customized spreadsheet budget that aligns with her income schedule, covers her family’s needs, and sets her on the path toward building a starter $4,000 emergency fund and paying down high-interest debt.
If you’ve ever downloaded an app, felt overwhelmed, and thought, “Why is this so hard for me?”, this episode will encourage you that you’re not alone, and you’ll walk away with practical steps to make your budget work in real life.
Want to have a budget by pay period built for you (either by email or on a coaching call like this video!), use code YOUTUBE20 for $20 off any custom budget! www.debtfreemom.co/custom

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In this encouraging episode, Carly is joined by Madison, founder of Cook at Home Mom, to talk all things realistic mealtimes for busy families. Madison shares her journey from frozen pizza queen to home-cooking advocate and offers practical advice for making dinnertime less stressful and more meaningful.
They dive into topics like:
How to simplify meal planning (even if you're Type B)
What to do when the 5 PM chaos hits
Creating a family rhythm around shared meals
Involving kids of all ages in meal prep (without losing your mind)
Letting go of unrealistic expectations (spoiler: your 4-year-old won’t sit for 30 minutes)
Building appreciation and connection through shared responsibility

Whether you're a brand-new mom wondering how to get food on the table, or you're in the thick of dinnertime with multiple kids and mounting stress, this episode is packed with relatable stories, helpful strategies, and a whole lot of grace.
Mentioned in this episode:
The “hands!” method for serving dinner
Kid-safe knives and stools to help little ones join in
The power of planning just a few meals a week
Why it’s okay if your mealtime doesn’t look like a Norman Rockwell painting

Tune in for realistic encouragement and ideas you can try tonight — even if your kitchen is already a mess.
Connect with Madison:
Instagram: @cookathomemom
Website: www.cookathomemom.com
Podcast: The Vine
The Balanced Dinner Club - coming soon!
Follow Debt Free Mom for more realistic money and motherhood conversations:
Instagram: @debtfree.mom
Website: debtfreemom.co

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Today's guest is Natalie Johnson: A mom of 5 in Ohio who shares her tips for feeding the family both at home and on the road on Instagram at www.instagram.com/homebeginswithlove
In today's episode we cover:
food on travel days
in hotels
in rentals
in other people's homes
how to make food easier even if it's not from a restaurant.

Check out her instagram account and subscribe to the Debt Free Mom Podcast!

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Laura Jennings began virtual assisting as a small supplemental income and quickly worked her way up to a clientelle that replaced her 9-5 job, allowing her to work from home, control her schedule, and earn more for her family.
She now offers coaching services to help women discover the skills they already have that are sought after as a virtual assistant and land that first client!
Whether you want a couple hundred dollars a month extra to speed up your financial goals OR you're looking to switch careers and intrigued by the idea of being a virtual assistant, today's episode and Laura's story can help you see if this is something that you can do too!
Download Laura's Career Switch Cheat Sheet: https://www.laurajtraining.com/career-switch-guest-podcast
Free workshop about becoming a virtual assistant: https://www.laurajtraining.com/masterclass-registration-guest-podcast
Your Virtual Assistant Coach Podcast: https://www.laurajtraining.com/your-virtual-assistant-coach-podcast
Laura's Social Media: @hey.lauranicole

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After a whirlwind move out of homeownership and back into renting in the summer of 2023, followed by several months of house hunting with failed offers and almost no inventory, we are currently under contract on a home in Illinois.
It will mean lots of change for our family and we dive into how this house is different (but also better!) than the wishlist we had for our family.
Subscribe to follow along with our process here as well as on Instagram: www.instagram.com/debtfree.mom
Need a budget by pay period to organize your income and expenses into a plan that matches your bank account? Get the bestseller $9 Debt Free Mom budget template here!

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