Financial Coaching for Women: How To Budget, Manage Money, Pay Off Debt, Save Money, Paycheck Plans

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Budget besties, we’re back with another Q&A episode—and these questions are so good.
First, we’re helping an entrepreneurial couple decide what to do with a $15,000 launch payout when they also have $27,000 in debt and inconsistent income. Should they put the entire amount toward debt, or save it to cover future months?
Our answer: before moving the money anywhere, look at the full picture.
When both partners own businesses, we need three separate budgets:
Your business budget
Your partner’s business budget
Your personal household budget

That gives us the clarity to decide how much of the launch income needs to support future paychecks and how much might be available for debt payoff.
Using all the money to pay off debt may feel productive, but it can send us right back to credit cards if next month’s income does not cover the bills. At the same time, paying off one smaller debt—especially one with a large monthly payment—could create meaningful breathing room.
The goal is not to follow a cookie-cutter debt rule. The goal is to make the decision that improves both our current cash flow and our long-term stability.
We also answer a super practical question about savings buckets: how do we actually spend the money?
The process is simple. Transfer the amount you need from the appropriate savings bucket into your spending checking account, then make the purchase. So, when your oil change costs $97, move $97 from your vehicle bucket to your spending account and pay from there.
Your bills account should stay reserved for recurring, predictable bills. Irregular expenses—like oil changes, gifts, home repairs, and other occasional purchases—should move through your spending account.
Finally, we talk about investing without making it feel complicated or intimidating.
We’re not financial advisors, so we’re not telling you exactly which investments to choose. Our focus is helping you understand your numbers, identify your long-term goals, and build consistent investing into your budget.
You do not need the fanciest strategy. You need a plan you understand, can afford, and can follow consistently.

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This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.
This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

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Budget besties, today we’re talking about two very different money situations that share one important lesson: we have to identify the real problem before we can fix it.
First, let’s talk about cash, side-job income, and money sitting in Venmo. It can be easy to treat that money like it doesn’t count because it never landed in our regular bank account. But cash is not free money, Venmo is not fake money, and side income still needs a job.
That doesn’t mean you can’t spend it! You can absolutely increase your personal spending money when your budget supports it. The key is to put the income—and the spending—on paper. When we account for all the money coming in, we can intentionally decide what we want it to do instead of wondering where it disappeared.
Then we move into a completely different situation: what happens when there really isn’t anything left to cut?
Sometimes the problem is not overspending. Sometimes the budget is already conservative, the bills are simply expensive, and one income is carrying costs that would normally be shared. This can be especially difficult for single parents managing housing, utilities, children, and unexpected expenses on their own.
In those moments, continually blaming yourself or searching for another expense to eliminate only creates more shame. Financial clarity means being honest about the numbers. The solution might involve increasing income temporarily, downsizing during a future season, or finding a specific amount of extra money to accomplish one goal.
The goal isn’t to punish ourselves. It’s to understand what is actually happening so we can make a plan that fits our real life.
Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:
1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook
2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall
3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.
This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

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Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!
Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!
Budget besties, August is coming—and it tends to bring a lot with it.
School supplies. Uniforms. Tuition. Sports physicals. Extra driving. Birthdays. Labor Day plans. And somehow, the holidays are already waiting around the corner.
In this episode, we’re walking through how to build an August budget that prepares you for real life instead of leaving you scrambling every time another expense pops up.
We also explain why getting one paycheck ahead can completely change the way you experience your money. Being ahead does not mean you lose your spending money or stop enjoying life. It means your bills, everyday spending, and savings can already be funded before they are needed.
Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:
1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook
2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall
3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.
This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

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Budget besties, getting confident with money is not about magically knowing everything—it starts with building a strong foundation and giving ourselves permission to learn.
In this episode, Shana and Vanessa sit down with financial planner Shari to talk about why so many women feel uncertain about spending, saving, investing, and making major financial decisions. Shari explains that what often looks like a “money problem” is really a lack of organization, education, and support. Before tackling investing, retirement rollovers, or long-term wealth building, we need clarity around our everyday spending, emergency savings, bank accounts, and future expenses.
They also explore how women and men may think and communicate differently about money. While investment performance and percentages may motivate some people, many women want to understand what their money will make possible—like retiring comfortably, supporting their children, improving their homes, or creating more freedom.
The conversation is a reminder that we are not bad with money just because our finances feel complicated. Modern life includes digital spending, subscriptions, family expenses, competing priorities, and constant pressure to spend. Getting organized through a personalized budget, group coaching, or longer-term financial coaching can help us replace stress and shame with clarity, calm, and confidence.
Most importantly, Shari encourages women to stop delaying the decision to ask for help. We do not have to become wealthy before working with a financial professional, and we do not have to figure everything out alone. The right support can help us understand our choices, trust our decisions, and use money as a tool to build the lives we actually want.
Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:
1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook
2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall
3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

Connect with Shari:
Check out her podcast!
This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.
This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.

Curious? Take The Free Money Stress Quiz!
Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now!
Budget besties, our kids will eventually have to manage money without us—and the lessons they learn now can shape their financial choices for years to come.
In this episode, we’re sharing real-life stories from families who are teaching their teenagers how to budget, make tradeoffs, and take responsibility for their spending. From graduation dresses and haircut money to gas, groceries, and a very expensive set of keys locked inside a car, these everyday moments can become powerful financial lessons.
The goal isn’t to tell our kids, “We can’t afford it.” It’s to help them understand that having money doesn’t mean we spend it on everything we want. We get to decide what matters most, plan ahead, and work within the amount available.
Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level:
1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook
2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall
3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching

This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice.
This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase.

Click here to view our privacy policy.