Financial Autonomy for Women: The Personal Finance Podcast

New to Investing? Make Sure You Follow These Five Principles

If you're new to investing--no matter how young/old you are--it might be hard to get past the overwhelm and the uknowns of the investing world so you can actually just get started on your investing journey. In this episode, I talk about five principles every beginning investor should keep in mind: (1) Just start, because more time in the market is the biggest beneficial factor in building long-term growth (2) Remember investing is a two-step process—transfer money into an account and then actually select an investment, or it will sit there as cash not growing; (3) Automate contributions and invetments to maximize consistency; (4) Don't panic during market ups and downs, since pulling out often leads to missing the recovery and most of us aren't good at timing the market; (5) Understand how taxes and fees erode all that good wealth you're building so you can keep more of it--do a little bit of reserch to understand the difference between brokerage accounts, traditional IRAs, and Roth IRAs, and consider lower-cost investment options like ETFs. And, if you don't "see yourself" as an "investor"--start asking yourself why? There are most likely very valid reasons for that. And also start asking yourself: How would "future me" want to see myself in 5, 10, or 20 years? As someone who still didn't see themselves that way, or as someone who gave it a shot? *** Note: Information in this podcast 1) is informational/educational in nature; 2) does not constitute financial or personal advice of any kind; 3) is never a substitute for clinical care from a health professional. Listeners should consult with a qualified professional regarding their individual circumstances before making any financial decisions. Check out my FREE Mini Course: "Know Where the Money Is Going" [https://www.maureen-paley.com/know-where-the-money-is-going-mini-course] to help you get back into the driver's seat with your monthly spending. Find more ways to work with me, download free resources, and join my e-mail list at maureen-paley.com [https://maureenpaley.podia.com]. Financial Autonomy for Women 30-Day Workbook now available on Amazon. [https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Autonomy-Women-Workbook-Impactful/dp/B0DLNHX1GM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MZ2APMHID8Z8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g2FcGSD3ciGk2ORrxsGry3-SizWyIOCy-T5mhcghxaKTSagiM52I887xwOsezet5SeckC86vI6m9vvOyLSN1TUBNsbbBo2FwuEQ-S7_gOd1LfgV2BRVaeycRimvphRrL5qv3qhI14Kn8HRNvStj2nZMfNxEbc4DIonbEBAgL3I0z0WAEAWAdpMQN77G1QYj7jffA7dyBBGkr3HqukFF7_Vn7uN1kH7fAfTgdgXjmJqM.4KaQxXQ70GJA-xpzI8-MWF4NA6518ANVQZrteoD7N5E&dib_tag=se&keywords=financial+autonomy+for+women&qid=1735664545&sprefix=financial+autonom%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] ***20% off the E-book when you buy directly from me. [https://www.maureen-paley.com/e-book-financial-autonomy-for-women-30-day-workbook] Daily Money Affirmations for Women Entrepreneurs now available on Amazon. [https://a.co/d/1iWsXfB] Follow me on IG @maureenpaleycoach. Visit my Etsy shop [https://careercoachbff.etsy.com] for budget-friendly resume and cover letter templates, budget trackers and more.

How to Stop Spending So Much Damn Money Part 3: Getting Excited about Possibilities

Time to make a PLAN for that extra CASH. In this episode, I close out my three-part series on curbing overspending. In Part 1 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/financial-autonomy-for-women-the-personal-finance-podcast/id1693278652?i=1000753803750] and Part 2 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/financial-autonomy-for-women-the-personal-finance-podcast/id1693278652?i=1000762072906], we talked about the neuroscience of spending and also three tools to help you curb your spending. Today, we're focusing on mindset: getting excited about what becomes possible when less money leaves you and you keep more of your income. Here's the good news and the bad news: you must have a plan for the money. If you don't, it has a way of "disappearing." Now you can redirecting that extra cash toward pain points such as kids' activities, upcoming expenses, paying down high-interest debt (especially over 7% APR), and building savings and investments (those are the frictionless systems you want to automate!) Getting excited about the possibilities for that extra cash is the cheat code to making it happen--it's the glue that makes the goal of curbing overspending stick. Be sure to share this episode, along with Part 1 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/financial-autonomy-for-women-the-personal-finance-podcast/id1693278652?i=1000753803750] and Part 2 [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/financial-autonomy-for-women-the-personal-finance-podcast/id1693278652?i=1000762072906] with a friend who could use it. *** Note: Information in this podcast 1) is informational/educational in nature; 2) does not constitute financial or personal advice of any kind; 3) is never a substitute for clinical care from a health professional. Listeners should consult with a qualified professional regarding their individual circumstances before making any financial decisions. Check out my FREE Mini Course: "Know Where the Money Is Going" [https://www.maureen-paley.com/know-where-the-money-is-going-mini-course] to help you get back into the driver's seat with your monthly spending. Find more ways to work with me, download free resources, and join my e-mail list at maureen-paley.com [https://maureenpaley.podia.com]. Financial Autonomy for Women 30-Day Workbook now available on Amazon. [https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Autonomy-Women-Workbook-Impactful/dp/B0DLNHX1GM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MZ2APMHID8Z8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g2FcGSD3ciGk2ORrxsGry3-SizWyIOCy-T5mhcghxaKTSagiM52I887xwOsezet5SeckC86vI6m9vvOyLSN1TUBNsbbBo2FwuEQ-S7_gOd1LfgV2BRVaeycRimvphRrL5qv3qhI14Kn8HRNvStj2nZMfNxEbc4DIonbEBAgL3I0z0WAEAWAdpMQN77G1QYj7jffA7dyBBGkr3HqukFF7_Vn7uN1kH7fAfTgdgXjmJqM.4KaQxXQ70GJA-xpzI8-MWF4NA6518ANVQZrteoD7N5E&dib_tag=se&keywords=financial+autonomy+for+women&qid=1735664545&sprefix=financial+autonom%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] ***20% off the E-book when you buy directly from me. [https://www.maureen-paley.com/e-book-financial-autonomy-for-women-30-day-workbook] Daily Money Affirmations for Women Entrepreneurs now available on Amazon. [https://a.co/d/1iWsXfB] Follow me on IG @maureenpaleycoach. Visit my Etsy shop [https://careercoachbff.etsy.com] for budget-friendly resume and cover letter templates, budget trackers and more.

What Does It Really Mean to Be 'Intentional' about Your Money? with Leah Hadley, AFC®, CDFA®

"Intentional" -- we throw this word around a lot, especially when it comes to money. I use it all the time on the podcast. In this episode, we're taking some time to break down that word and understand what it really means to be "intentional" about money. We're joined by Leah Hadley, founder of Intentional Wealth Partners [https://www.intentionalwealthpartners.co/] and Intentional Divorce Solutions, the ideal guest to help us define what it means to be intentional with money. Leah explains intentionality as aligning decisions with long-term impact and personal values, which can feel energizing and reduce decision fatigue We also talk about intention when it comes to: budgeting, earning, divorcing, and planning for retirement. Leah reframes budgeting as planning and positioning resources toward exciting goals and reminds us--it's ok to get excited about money. We talk about earning with intention and how work environments and stress can affect our overall financial health. Leah shares the importance of intentionality during divorce: processing emotions, seeking supportive professionals, and designing a new chapter rather than rushing decisions. We also talk about investing and planning for retirement early, as well as how to be intentional in our giving (as women, we are givers!) and how to set boundaries on giving money to adult children. For more information about Leah and her work, you can find her on Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/watchherthrive/] LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/leahahadley/] and YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVkfM6l0j_5UClkR9mDkb6A]. *** Note: Information in this podcast 1) is informational/educational in nature; 2) does not constitute financial or personal advice of any kind; 3) is never a substitute for clinical care from a health professional. Listeners should consult with a qualified professional regarding their individual circumstances before making any financial decisions. Check out my FREE Mini Course: "Know Where the Money Is Going" [https://www.maureen-paley.com/know-where-the-money-is-going-mini-course] to help you get back into the driver's seat with your monthly spending. Find more ways to work with me, download free resources, and join my e-mail list at maureen-paley.com [https://maureenpaley.podia.com]. Financial Autonomy for Women 30-Day Workbook now available on Amazon. [https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Autonomy-Women-Workbook-Impactful/dp/B0DLNHX1GM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MZ2APMHID8Z8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g2FcGSD3ciGk2ORrxsGry3-SizWyIOCy-T5mhcghxaKTSagiM52I887xwOsezet5SeckC86vI6m9vvOyLSN1TUBNsbbBo2FwuEQ-S7_gOd1LfgV2BRVaeycRimvphRrL5qv3qhI14Kn8HRNvStj2nZMfNxEbc4DIonbEBAgL3I0z0WAEAWAdpMQN77G1QYj7jffA7dyBBGkr3HqukFF7_Vn7uN1kH7fAfTgdgXjmJqM.4KaQxXQ70GJA-xpzI8-MWF4NA6518ANVQZrteoD7N5E&dib_tag=se&keywords=financial+autonomy+for+women&qid=1735664545&sprefix=financial+autonom%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] ***20% off the E-book when you buy directly from me. [https://www.maureen-paley.com/e-book-financial-autonomy-for-women-30-day-workbook] Daily Money Affirmations for Women Entrepreneurs now available on Amazon. [https://a.co/d/1iWsXfB] Follow me on IG @maureenpaleycoach. Visit my Etsy shop [https://careercoachbff.etsy.com] for budget-friendly resume and cover letter templates, budget trackers and more.

How to Stop Spending So Much Damn Money Part 2: Tools to Create Friction and Curb Spending

Would you drive a car with no brakes? Of course not. Brakes helps us stay safe and get to our destination. In Part 2 of my series "How to Stop Spending So Much Damn Money" I give you three practical tools you can start using today to create intentional "friction" in today's "frictionless" spending systems. The three tools include turning off autopay, the "24 Hour Rule" and the "Envelope Method"--give the full episode a listen (it's only 20 mins)--to understand the rationale. It's all about stepping back into the driver's seat. Granted some of these can be controversial, but they also work. Adding good friction to our spending helps us slow down, reevaluate and make decisions we actually like and feel in control of. Share this episode with someone in your life who needs it! *** Note: Information in this podcast 1) is informational/educational in nature; 2) does not constitute financial or personal advice of any kind; 3) is never a substitute for clinical care from a health professional. Listeners should consult with a qualified professional regarding their individual circumstances before making any financial decisions. Check out my FREE Mini Course: "Know Where the Money Is Going" [https://www.maureen-paley.com/know-where-the-money-is-going-mini-course] to help you get back into the driver's seat with your monthly spending. Find more ways to work with me, download free resources, and join my e-mail list at maureen-paley.com [https://maureenpaley.podia.com]. Financial Autonomy for Women 30-Day Workbook now available on Amazon. [https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Autonomy-Women-Workbook-Impactful/dp/B0DLNHX1GM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MZ2APMHID8Z8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g2FcGSD3ciGk2ORrxsGry3-SizWyIOCy-T5mhcghxaKTSagiM52I887xwOsezet5SeckC86vI6m9vvOyLSN1TUBNsbbBo2FwuEQ-S7_gOd1LfgV2BRVaeycRimvphRrL5qv3qhI14Kn8HRNvStj2nZMfNxEbc4DIonbEBAgL3I0z0WAEAWAdpMQN77G1QYj7jffA7dyBBGkr3HqukFF7_Vn7uN1kH7fAfTgdgXjmJqM.4KaQxXQ70GJA-xpzI8-MWF4NA6518ANVQZrteoD7N5E&dib_tag=se&keywords=financial+autonomy+for+women&qid=1735664545&sprefix=financial+autonom%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] ***20% off the E-book when you buy directly from me. [https://www.maureen-paley.com/e-book-financial-autonomy-for-women-30-day-workbook] Daily Money Affirmations for Women Entrepreneurs now available on Amazon. [https://a.co/d/1iWsXfB] Follow me on IG @maureenpaleycoach. Visit my Etsy shop [https://careercoachbff.etsy.com] for budget-friendly resume and cover letter templates, budget trackers and more.

Big Wins Come from Achievable Goals: 1st Quarter 2026 Check in with Mary Polanco

How do we get to those BIG WINS we're hoping for? With achievable goals--intention and action on the way to what we want. It's kind of unsexy, isn't it? Just make the goals achievable? Take action, rinse and repeat. Yep, that's pretty much the recipe. Sounds simple, but it's not exactly easy. It's better when you talk to a friend about it! Join me and my friend, entrepreneur, and leadership and wellness expert Mary Polanco while we reflect on intentions set in January 2026 for what we want for this year, all while prioritizing joy, creativity, ease and avoiding all-or-nothing thinking. In this episode, Mary shares how the mantra "find the cash flow" led to a 400% increase in YouTube ad revenue through intentional, realistic scheduling, plus several thousand in annual savings on expenses by examining her finances more closely and taking action. Maureen has paid off $25,000 in credit card debt using 0% interest strategies, and she also took steps to maximize passive income by turning on podcast ads to pay herself for production time. She also started pursuing the Certified Divorce Financial Analyst designation. Looking ahead to Q2, Mary aims to maintain balance in the final leg of her doctorate program and will also be training for a half marathon. And, Maureen will focus on increasing saving and investing, exploring Substack, and maximizing passive income streams. If you're needing a boost of humor, honesty and passion to get you sticking to your goals this year--give this episode a listen and share with a friend! *** Note: Information in this podcast 1) is informational/educational in nature; 2) does not constitute financial or personal advice of any kind; 3) is never a substitute for clinical care from a health professional. Listeners should consult with a qualified professional regarding their individual circumstances before making any financial decisions. Check out my FREE Mini Course: "Know Where the Money Is Going" [https://www.maureen-paley.com/know-where-the-money-is-going-mini-course] to help you get back into the driver's seat with your monthly spending. Find more ways to work with me, download free resources, and join my e-mail list at maureen-paley.com [https://maureenpaley.podia.com]. Financial Autonomy for Women 30-Day Workbook now available on Amazon. [https://www.amazon.com/Financial-Autonomy-Women-Workbook-Impactful/dp/B0DLNHX1GM/ref=sr_1_1?crid=MZ2APMHID8Z8&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.g2FcGSD3ciGk2ORrxsGry3-SizWyIOCy-T5mhcghxaKTSagiM52I887xwOsezet5SeckC86vI6m9vvOyLSN1TUBNsbbBo2FwuEQ-S7_gOd1LfgV2BRVaeycRimvphRrL5qv3qhI14Kn8HRNvStj2nZMfNxEbc4DIonbEBAgL3I0z0WAEAWAdpMQN77G1QYj7jffA7dyBBGkr3HqukFF7_Vn7uN1kH7fAfTgdgXjmJqM.4KaQxXQ70GJA-xpzI8-MWF4NA6518ANVQZrteoD7N5E&dib_tag=se&keywords=financial+autonomy+for+women&qid=1735664545&sprefix=financial+autonom%2Caps%2C175&sr=8-1] ***20% off the E-book when you buy directly from me. [https://www.maureen-paley.com/e-book-financial-autonomy-for-women-30-day-workbook] Daily Money Affirmations for Women Entrepreneurs now available on Amazon. [https://a.co/d/1iWsXfB] Follow me on IG @maureenpaleycoach. Visit my Etsy shop [https://careercoachbff.etsy.com] for budget-friendly resume and cover letter templates, budget trackers and more.