Are you looking for a way to stay motivated with your goals for the year? Michelle Jackson walks us through how vision boards can help you achieve more! 

t's the second day of the 2017 and I'm betting that you're probably flooded with a ton of goal setting tips, hacks, and trips.

On one hand, I think taking a step back and having some clarity on what you want to accomplish is a wonderful first step, but I'm not a New Year's Resolutions woman.

Whenever you decide to build your marriage and wealth, go for it.

However with so many people's attention focused on goals I think now's a good opportunity to jump-start things.

So for today's episode we're going to be focused on that first-step – defining your what and why for the year. And my guest for today is Michelle Jackson, host of Girl Gone Frugal, creator of Colorado Love Hub, and Shop My Closet Project.

She's also the co-founder of the New Year, New You Financial Summit. We're going to talk a little about how you can achieve more using Vision boards.

Today Michelle Jackson, creator Michelle is Money Hungry, is here to discuss:

• what vision boards are and how they can help you
• how to create a productive vision board
• setting yourself up for success

Want to learn more about building up your finances so that it fits you and your goals? Here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Reach Your Money Goals with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5K
• How To Create A Vision Board
• Stay the Course

If you’d like to chat about your money moves for this year, you can join us in the Thriving Families Facebook community. We're a fun and supportive group.

We swap ideas, questions, stories, advice. When we try to help one another out with our family and financial goals.

We'd love to see you there!

Stressed and overwhelmed by debt? Learn how you can rebuild your finances and life. Miss Mazuma shares how she overcame $500k of debt, short sales, and found happiness!  

It's the beginning of a new year and while so many right now are all jazzed up about knocking down their debts, saving more, or spending less, that enthusiasm will die down.

And if you still have a huge amount of debt or just a big goal you want to tackle when that happens, you can discourage. And in some cases, understandably depressed.

It's normal.

But what do you then?

How can you stay focused and climb out?

Today's guest, Miss Mazuma, is kind and brave enough to share her story. In this episode we get into:

• how she got into so much debt,
• have a look into the painful and frustrating process of a short sale
• see how she work through this and came to a healthier spot

Her story is both encouraging and real.

If you want to hear from someone else who has dug out from a mountain of debt, please check out my interview with Toni Husbands. She shares how she and her husband got on the same page and paid off over $100,000 of debt.

Want to learn more? Here are some resources to check out:

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint
• Grab a copy of my book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Reach Your Money Goals with my FREE course: 5 Days to $5K
• The Rise and Fall of My Empire…and How I Struck Back (Pt 1)
• The Great Debt Dump: Running Toward Financial Freedom with the Power of Community
• Attacking Debt: Which One First?
• Which Debt Payoff Method Is Right for You?

If you’d like to chat about your money moves for this year, you can join us in the Thriving Families Facebook community. We're a fun and supportive group.

We swap ideas, questions, stories, advice. When we try to help one another out with our family and financial goals.

We'd love to see you there!

Looking for a less stressful way to handle your business' finances? Learn what mistakes to avoid and the tools that will help you master money even if you're a busy entrepreneur!

Around 27 million working-age Americans began or are running a business you may be one of them.

I remember when I started freelancing it was a supplemental income. Eventually, though, it transitioned into my main work.

I knew I needed to step it up and run it like a business. So I took care of the paperwork and started educating myself.

There are days those deadlines get tight and I'm stressed but I enjoy doing the work I'm doing and spending more time with my family.

Win-win in my book.

Whether you're freelancing, doing a side hustle, or launching a business, it will take work.

Not only do you have to work on the front end- so to speak  – producing the product or service you're selling, but you also have to be smart about the back end stuff. One key component? Finances.

Quite simply getting the money squared away makes sure you're actually running a business and not an expensive hobby.

I shared a little bit of my story in past episodes, which I hope gives a glimpse of what to expect. However, it's limited to my own business which may be different from yours.

I know someone who has the breadth and depth of skills and can show you the ropes.

Today small business coach and author Sylvia Moe Inks is on the show to share her knowledge. We're going to discuss:

• the biggest mistakes small business owners make (& how to avoid them)
• creating a system to make taxes much easier
• a tool to cut down on the back and forth of emails

Hope you enjoy!

If you two are ready to start or grow your business, here are some resources to check out to make sure your money is best used wisely.

• Connect with Sylvia: SMI Financial Coaching | LinkedIn
• Small Business Finance for the Busy Entrepreneur: Blueprint for Building a Solid, Profitable Business <–This needs to be on your bookshelf!
• Lifestyle Business Guide: I created a free guide with the best resources to start your business on a bootstrap budget!
• Quickbooks: Track your money like a pro. I use them for my business.
• Calendly

Are you two stressed over money? Do your talks more often than not end up in fights? Learn how money dates can be effective and fun way you get on the same page and talk about money!

One of the most popular questions I get is, when should we talk about money?

Having THE money talk is not only intimidating but unproductive. Find out a better, less stressful option in today's episode.

In this episode, we'll get into:

• why talking about money matters
• how you two can make money talks less stressful
• how money dates can help you build up your marriage and money

Let's get started!

Want to stay on top of your money without stressing over the small stuff? Here are some key resources and tools to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint, Honeyfi, and Zeta
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• How to Talk About Money Without Starting a Fight

We’re going to discuss the ins and outs building your credit in our private Facebook group over at Thriving Families. It’s free and fun – please join us!

Music Credit

Like the music in this episode? Our theme song is by Gentle Regime. Additional music by Lee Rosevere and Logan from Music for Makers in this episode.

Ready to take a last minute getaway or weekend trip? Use these travel apps and get the best deals!

Going away for the weekend doesn't mean you break your budget. With a little planning and the right resources, you two can score some nice trips and still save money.

So if you're looking at getting away from it all for a few days, save this post.

There are more sites than ever for travelers. Besides snagging last minute deals on popular tourist spots, you can also discover some awesome destinations.

• Airbnb: If you want to live like a local, Airbnb can help you find a bed or whole house for your next trip. We used the site when we went away for an anniversary trip and had a beautiful riverfront apt in Wilmington, NC for a fraction of the price of a hotel.
• Priceline: I'm a huge fan of their Name Your Own Price feature, which has helped us score plane tickets, hotel rooms, and car rental half off the advertised prices.
• Better Bidding: Speaking of bids, there are forums and sites online that can help you figure out what it will take to your bid accepted.

• ou might also want to keep an eye for flash deals with airlines like Southwest where you can score huge discounts on flights for select cities.

  Apps to Help Score Great Deals and Keep Organized

  With smartphones everywhere, apps have been developed to help travelers. Download these apps to help you get the best deals and explore your destination.

  • Localeur: (iOS only) Locals share some of their favorite spots in 14 major U.S. cities.
  • TripIt: With two kids in tow, I love have one app to handle and organize all of the travel arrangements.
  • Hopper: If you like to double check the deals on flights, Hopper is great. The app analyzes tons of flight prices and can suggest when it's a good time to purchase ticket.

  Even though you might not think of it as a travel app per se, GasBuddy can tremendously helpful if you're taking a road trip.

  Thoughts on Weekend Getaways

  I'd love to hear your ideas and stories. What has been your favorite getaway destination?

  What has been your most recent travel deal you've taken? What travel apps are your favorite for planning?

Merging families and finances can be especially tricky with blended families, but you two can succeed and thrive. Get tips on how you can make this big transition go a lot smoother! 

Anytime you're merging lives, there are so many things to talk about and discuss. When you're blending your families that's another layer of complexity.

If you have kids, you two are figuring out what the house rules apply now with things like curfew, chores, that you're under one roof.

But you also have your exes. They may have rules which are completely opposite of yours. As you're juggling things as a family, it can be tricky navigating things.

And finances can be just as messy.

Thankfully, Melissa Brown, creator of Blended Family Podcast, is on the show today. She going to discuss her own family's transition and how they manage things plus offer practical tips to make the transition smoother.

Hope you enjoy!

Special thanks to Melissa for coming on and share her thoughts and story!

Please reach out her on Twitter or join her Facebook group to hear from others in the blended family community.

If you’re looking tips, stories, and advice to make merging finances easier, here are a few to check out!

Special thanks to Melissa for coming on and share her thoughts and story!

Please reach out her on Twitter or join her Facebook group to hear from others in the blended family community.

If you’re looking tips, stories, and advice to make merging finances easier, here are a few to check out!

• Best Budget and Money Apps: Personal Capital, Tiller, Mint
• Grow Your Stash Faster: High Yield Savings with CiT Bank
• Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money
• Free 401(k) Analysis: blooom
• How to Win Your Spouse Over When They Hate the Budget
• Getting Your Spouse to Save More
• How to Encourage Your Spouse to Start (and Keep) a Budget

If you’re looking for a community to swap ideas and encouragement, please join Thriving Families on Facebook! 

Tired of your debt restricting your options? Learn how Claudia & Garrett from Two Cup House dumped $200k in two years by simplifying their lives and moving into a tiny house!

Whenever I hear neighbors, friends, and family talk about their debt, there are a couple of reactions.

Some are frustrated being trapped with certain things because of debt. Maybe they'd love to switch jobs to start a new career, but can't because they got bills to pay.

Others kind of throw up their hands, accept debt as a part of life. “You'll always have a mortgage.”

And then there's this third group. They're are sick and tired, but they are ready to do something. That's where Claudia and Garrett were two years ago.

On April 7, 2015 the Penningtons started the journey lead them to eliminate all their debt last month.

The grand total? Just over $200,000!

You've probably seen tiny homes in magazines, online, or maybe on TV (thank you HGTV!). Those small spaces are popular for some couples.

For one, less space typically means less house to maintain. Right now the median size of size home over in the Northeast, where the Penningtons live, is about 2300sq ft.

Ron Lieber,  NYTimes columnist and author of The Opposite of Spoiled, discusses how to raise money smart kids who are generous. 

Whether we plan to or not our kids will pick up their financial habits based on what we say and do around them.

We can look back at our parents and get an idea of how they shaped us. So how can we make sure we’re giving our kids a good start with money?

In this episode Ron Lieber, NY Times columnist and author of the newly released The Opposite of Spoiled, will share the latest research to help parents raise kids who generous and smart about money.

As a bonus, Ron offers listeners a special opportunity to make a difference and show your kids the power of giving. The first 20 listeners who purchase his book and email him a copy of the receipt to ron@ronlieber will get a free $27 DonorsChoose gift card.

If you want to learn more, I highly recommend that you check out The Opposite of Spoiled as it does a thorough job of tackling some of the trickier situations of raising a financially savvy kid.

You may also want to check out:

• Too Young for Finance? Think Again – Elmo and Lieber discussing the difference between needs vs wants
• Lieber’s columns at the NYtimes
• Why You Should Tell Your Kids How Much Money You Make

I’d love to hear from you – what are some of your child’s biggest money questions? How have you talked to them about your values and money?