Deeply Invested: Manage Money, Budget, Save, Invest, Build Wealth

CFO Corner Week 20: Did Your Raise Actually Build Wealth

You got a raise. But did it actually move your finances forward — or did it just make life a little more expensive? In this week's CFO check-in, we're doing a quick but honest audit: where did your raise money actually go? We break down the three questions every high-earner should ask after a salary bump, why lifestyle inflation is sneakier than you think, and three specific actions you can take this week to make sure future-you actually benefits from the income you're earning today. More money doesn't change your life. What you do with it does. Also mentioned: Our full deep-dive episode on lifestyle inflation and why income increases so often don't lead to wealth increases. Listen HERE! [https://liveyourmoneystyle.podbean.com/e/lifestyle_inflation/] Read the full Show Notes Here! [https://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com/post/cfo-corner-week-20-did-your-raise-actually-build-wealth]   Thanks to our sponsor:   * Rakuten [http://www.rakuten.com/r/LIVEYO262?eeid=28187]   Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter [https://square-tree-16781.myflodesk.com/xd4je4rvjg] to get all of our latest advice and freebies!   Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com [http://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com]

Don’t Get Played: The Side Hustle Truth Nobody Posts About

If your scroll looks anything like ours, you've seen at least three ads this week promising $10,000 a month from your phone. No experience. No boss. No problem. The desire for extra income is completely valid — but the way side hustles are being sold online has gotten out of hand. In this episode of Deeply Invested, Maddie and Meghan break down the five universal red flags every side hustle ad should be measured against, do an honest reality check on the big ones (SMMA, affiliate marketing, dropshipping, print on demand), and play a game of "real or made up?" with five side hustles you've probably seen online. The goal isn't to talk you out of side hustles — it's to make sure you walk into them with your eyes open. Plus, the unglamorous options that actually work, and the simple test to run before you try anything new. Resources: * Past episode: The Side Hustle Starter Pack: Goals, Plans & Getting It Done [https://liveyourmoneystyle.podbean.com/e/side-hustle-starter-pack/] * Past episode: Want to Make $1,000 a Month on the Side? Let’s Talk Options [https://liveyourmoneystyle.podbean.com/e/earn_1000_extra_per_-month/] * FTC side hustle scam alert: https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2026/02/how-avoid-side-hustle-scamconsumer.ftc.gov [http://consumer.ftc.gov] * Budget Blueprint Builder [https://yourmoneystyle.myflodesk.com/budgetworkshop] * Free guide: Side Hustle Resource Guide (Canva) [https://www.canva.com/design/DAGR-LYWYWA/emZF916jpIsT8cUL1fQocw/view?utm_content=DAGR-LYWYWA&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link2&utm_source=uniquelinks&utlId=h1cb935995f]   Read the full Show Notes Here! [https://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com/post/don-t-get-played-the-side-hustle-truth-nobody-posts-about]   Thanks to our sponsor:   * Rakuten [http://www.rakuten.com/r/LIVEYO262?eeid=28187]   Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter [https://square-tree-16781.myflodesk.com/xd4je4rvjg] to get all of our latest advice and freebies!   Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com [http://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com]

CFO Corner Week 19: The Side Hustle Episode for People Who Hate Hustle Culture

Side income isn't just about money — it's about options. And summer, with its flexible schedules and seasonal demand, is one of the best times of year to start earning a little (or a lot) extra. In this 10-minute CFO Corner check-in, Meghan breaks down two tiers of side hustles: micro hustles like Poshmark, Rover, website testing, and weekend brand ambassador work that can bring in $100–$500 a month, and serious income plays like freelance marketing, UGC content creation, and tutoring that can earn $500–$2,000+. She also shares the one contract clause you should check before you start, a reality check on what the median side hustler actually earns, and a 20-minute action step you can take this week. No hustle culture. No burnout. Just realistic options that fit the life you're already living. Read the full Show Notes Here! [https://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com/post/cfo-corner-week-19-the-side-hustle-episode-for-people-who-hate-hustle-culture]   Thanks to our sponsor:   * Rakuten [http://www.rakuten.com/r/LIVEYO262?eeid=28187]   Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter [https://square-tree-16781.myflodesk.com/xd4je4rvjg] to get all of our latest advice and freebies!   Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com [http://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com]

Financial Self-Care Is the Self-Care No One's Talking About

When was the last time you genuinely did something for yourself? A face mask, a workout, a mental health day? We've fully embraced self-care as a culture — and that's a good thing. But there's a form of self-care almost no one is talking about, and it might be the one you need most. In this episode, Meghan and Maddie introduce the concept of financial self-care — small, intentional money habits that make your day-to-day life feel easier, calmer, and more in control. They break down the difference between reactive and proactive self-care, share specific habits across three categories (Make My Life Easier, Reduce My Stress, and Support My Future Self), and walk you through how to start a simple, sustainable routine — without spreadsheets, deprivation, or guilt. If money stress is the thing keeping you up at night, this is the conversation you've been waiting for. Resources Mentioned * The Automation Episode: Build Your Money System in 30 Minutes — https://liveyourmoneystyle.podbean.com/e/money_automation/ [https://liveyourmoneystyle.podbean.com/e/money_automation/] * Free 5-Day Expense Challenge — https://yourmoneystyle.myflodesk.com/5dayexpensereset [https://yourmoneystyle.myflodesk.com/5dayexpensereset] * Confident Investor Blueprint — https://yourmoneystyle.myflodesk.com/confidentinvestorblueprint [https://yourmoneystyle.myflodesk.com/confidentinvestorblueprint] * The Best Budgeting Strategy You're Probably Not Using: Sinking Funds — https://liveyourmoneystyle.podbean.com/e/sinking_funds/ [https://liveyourmoneystyle.podbean.com/e/sinking_funds/] Read the full Show Notes Here! [https://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com/post/financial-self-care-is-the-self-care-no-one-s-talking-about]   Thanks to our sponsor:   * Rakuten [http://www.rakuten.com/r/LIVEYO262?eeid=28187]   Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter [https://square-tree-16781.myflodesk.com/xd4je4rvjg] to get all of our latest advice and freebies!   Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com [http://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com]

CFO Corner Week 18: Check Your Credit Report

It's mid-year, and that means it's time for a credit report check-in. In Week 18 of CFO Corner, we walk through why your credit report matters, the three major bureaus, and a simple strategy to monitor your credit all year long without paying for a service. Plus, get a step-by-step guide on what to look for when you pull your report - from personal info to payment history to suspicious inquiries. Twenty minutes today could save you thousands.    Resources: Free Credit Score Check [https://www.annualcreditreport.com/index.action]   Read the full Show Notes Here! [https://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com/post/cfo-corner-week-18-check-your-credit-report]   Thanks to our sponsor:   * Rakuten [http://www.rakuten.com/r/LIVEYO262?eeid=28187]   Thanks for tuning in and come back each week for a brand new episode! If you liked the episode, don’t forget to hit subscribe, rate & review! Check out our FREE Newsletter [https://square-tree-16781.myflodesk.com/xd4je4rvjg] to get all of our latest advice and freebies!   Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style Visit our website for articles, resources, and more at www.liveyourmoneystyle.com [http://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com]