Can Money Actually Buy Happiness? Here's What the Science Really Says

CFO Corner Week 21: 6 Months Down — Here's What Your Money Actually Did

Six months of data just landed in your bank account — are you actually looking at it? In this week's CFO Corner, Meghan walks you through a mid-year spending audit: how to pull your YTD numbers, what patterns to look for, and how to optimize just one category before the year is over. No overhaul required. No shame involved. Just one honest look at where your money actually went — and one smart decision about what happens next. The second half of the year starts now. Let's make it count Also mentioned: Budget Blueprint Builder [https://yourmoneystyle.myflodesk.com/budgetworkshop] — Our one-hour workshop with an Excel and Google Sheets template built for exactly this kind of mid-year reset. $47. Linked Here! Read the full Show Notes Here! [https://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com/post/cfo-corner-week-21-6-months-down-here-s-what-your-money-actually-did]   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]

Can Money Actually Buy Happiness? Here's What the Science Really Says

"Money can't buy happiness." You've heard it a thousand times. But what if the research everyone's been quoting for the last decade was actually flawed? In this episode, Maddie and Meghan dig into the real science of money and happiness — including the 2023 study that updated everything we thought we knew. They break down what the research actually says about financial stress, why the number matters less than what it unlocks, and how the comparison trap quietly steals progress at every income level. The question isn't whether money buys happiness. It's whether yours is working for you. Resources mentioned: * 🎯 5-Day Expense Reset Challenge [https://liveyourmoneystyle.com] — Free. Built for that "I need to finally see where my money is going" moment. No shame, no restriction. * 📊 Your Budget Blueprint [https://liveyourmoneystyle.com] — $47. One hour. A real budget built around your actual life. * 📱 Instagram: @your.money.style [https://instagram.com/your.money.style] * 📬 Substack: yourmoneystyle.substack.com [https://yourmoneystyle.substack.com] Read the full Show Notes Here! [https://www.liveyourmoneystyle.com/post/can-money-actually-buy-happiness-here-s-what-the-science-really-says]   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 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]