Is investing $100 a week enough to fund retirement? / 85

Is investing $100 a week enough to fund retirement? / 85

When it comes to retirement, one question comes up again and again: How much is actually enough? It’s common to see advice online that says to invest a certain amount every week, but it’s much harder to know whether that number will actually get you where you want to go. In this episode, we break down one of the internet’s most common investing questions: Is investing $100 a week enough for retirement? We walk through the math behind what consistent investing can grow into over 20, 30, and 40 years, explain why time matters just as much as the amount you invest, and share a simple framework you can use to figure out whether you're on track for your own retirement goals. If you've ever wondered how much you really need to retire — or worried that you're not investing enough — this episode will help you think through the numbers with more confidence and less overwhelm. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ * [00:00] Is investing $100 a week enough to retire? The five factors that determine the answer. * [02:30] How $100 a week can grow over 20, 30, and 40 years — and why time is your biggest advantage. * [06:30] A simple way to calculate your retirement number using your expected annual spending and the rule of 25. * [08:00] How Social Security and other income sources can reduce the amount you need to save on your own. * [09:30] The retirement expenses people often forget to factor in — and the ones that may disappear altogether. * [11:30] Why your retirement contributions don't have to be perfect to keep making meaningful progress. ✨ Resources ✨ * Investor.gov compound interest calculator [https://www.investor.gov/financial-tools-calculators/calculators/compound-interest-calculator] * Vanguard retirement expenses worksheet [https://investor.vanguard.com/tools-calculators/retirement-expenses-worksheet] * Retirement calculator (Merrill) [https://www.merrilledge.com/retirement/personal-retirement-calculator]  * SSA.gov [http://ssa.gov] — My Social Security account * Rule of 25 retirement planning framework [https://www.kiplinger.com/retirement/the-rule-of-25-for-retirement-planning] 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

We tried it: Using points and miles to book travel (without being experts) / 84

There’s no shortage of advice about the right way to use credit card points for travel. Transfer partners, sign-up bonuses, maximizing every redemption... it can start to feel like there’s a test you’re supposed to pass before you’re allowed to book a trip. In this episode, we’re sharing a different perspective. We both recently used credit card points to book summer travel, and neither of us did it in the most optimized way. But instead of waiting until we knew every trick in the book, we used the points we had to save money on trips that mattered to us — and honestly, that felt like a win. Today, we’re breaking down exactly what we booked, how many points we used, what those trips would have cost in cash, and why we ultimately chose simplicity over squeezing every last cent of value from our rewards. If you've ever wondered whether you're "doing points wrong," this episode is your reminder that sometimes, your financial goals matter more than perfect optimization. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ * [00:00] Why we’re confessing our "imperfect" approach to using credit card points * [02:50] Breaking down Cass’s last-minute trip to Toronto — flights, hotels, and how points covered nearly $2,000 in travel * [07:15] Why Cassidy chose to redeem points through the Chase Travel portal, even though it's not the strategy most travel experts recommend * [09:45] How Emily thought about buying a cross-country flight to Seattle while balancing other financial priorities * [11:20] Using Google Flights, Points Path, and airline rewards programs to compare cash versus points * [14:10] Why Emily intentionally ignored advice to pay cash and save points for later * [15:20] How we earned our travel rewards through Chase, United, and Delta credit cards * [17:00] What we’re still learning about transfer partners, airline loyalty, and maximizing points * [18:00] Why the "best" redemption depends on your personal financial goals, not someone else's spreadsheet * [19:10] Our biggest takeaway: using your points to reduce financial stress is a win, even if it isn't perfectly optimized ✨ Resources ✨ * Points & miles 101 with Ross Alcorn: Turn your credit card rewards into free travel / 52 [https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/podcast-episodes/points-and-miles-with-ross-alcorn-wr8tx-6ktre] * The freedom formula: How to travel, build a career, and save money with Caroline Lupini / 53 [https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/podcast-episodes/how-to-travel-build-a-career-and-save-money-with-caroline-lupini-zbs4k-tcfp5] * Points Path [https://pointspath.com/]  * Google Flights [https://www.google.com/travel/flights?gl=US&hl=en-US] 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

The one skill every woman needs to increase her income with Megan Smyth / 83

When you hear the word "sales," you might think of awkward pitches, pushy tactics, or convincing someone to buy something they don't want. But what if selling actually looked more like listening, building relationships, and creating opportunities for yourself? In this episode, we talk to Megan Smyth, a sales coach and educator who helps female entrepreneurs sell without apology. We talk about why so many women struggle with sales, how our nervous systems shape the way we experience money conversations, and why learning to sell isn't just about earning more — it's about creating more freedom, stability, and confidence in your financial life. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ * [00:00] How Megan went from copywriting to helping women sell in a way that feels authentic and empowering. * [05:00] Why sales is one of the most valuable money skills you can build — especially if you work for yourself. * [08:30] Why you don't need social media to build a successful business, plus alternative marketing strategies that actually work. * [14:30] What's happening in your brain and body when you face a rejection, income dips, or scary money conversation. * [19:30] Simple nervous system techniques that can help you feel calmer and more confident before high-pressure conversations. * [22:00] Why leaving the traditional pre-med path changed Megan’s relationship with money, success, and identity. * [25:30] How to stop tying your self-worth to your income and start setting financial goals from a place of freedom instead of fear. * [30:00] Why great salespeople spend far more time listening than talking — and why empathy is your biggest advantage. * [38:30] How learning to create your own income gives you more stability, confidence, and financial independence over the long term. ✨ Resources ✨ * Listen to Megan's podcast, Blaze [https://megansmyth.com/podcast/] * Learn more about Megan's signature program, Sales Liberation [https://megansmyth.com/sales-liberation]  📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

What the tradwife movement means for women's finances (re-release) / 82

This episode was previously available exclusively to our paid subscribers and is now being released to all listeners. We’re excited to share it with all the girlies out there!  -------- The trad wife lifestyle is being sold as soft, simple, and secure. But is it financially safe? In this episode, we unpack what the trad wife movement actually promotes, how it differs from choosing to stay home, and why financial autonomy still matters — even inside healthy marriages. We look at the influencer contradictions, the real risks of economic dependence, divorce statistics, and a powerful real-life story that shows how quickly financial control can escalate. If you’ve felt curious about this trend — or quietly unsettled by it — this conversation will help you separate the aesthetic from the economics. ✨ Episode Timestamps ✨ * [00:00] Why the trad wife lifestyle took off * [03:30] What is a trad wife — and where did this movement come from? * [07:30] Trad wife vs. stay-at-home mom: What’s the difference? * [09:30] The influencer contradiction and the “not working” illusion * [12:30] Traditional Christian ideology and submission rhetoric * [15:00] Why this movement can create financial vulnerability * [20:00] Divorce, asset division, and the risk of economic dependence * [22:00] A Well-Trained Wife and a real story of financial control * [26:30] How to protect yourself financially in any marriage ✨ Resources ✨  * PBS special: Trad Wives vs. Reality [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYzw389WOvk] * Money with Katie podcast episode [https://moneywithkatie.com/the_mwk_show/tradwives/] featuring Caroline Burke on the trad wife movement * A Well-Trained Wife [https://bookshop.org/p/books/a-well-trained-wife-my-escape-from-christian-patriarchy-tia-levings/3a556e94a333580f] by Tia Levings * TFG episode: Prenups for modern couples with divorce attorney Aaron Thomas [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404002/episodes/18043477] * TFG episode: Navigating money as a wife, mom, and breadwinner with Jessica Norwood [https://www.buzzsprout.com/2404002/episodes/18043115] 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

How emotions affect your money decisions with Simone Griffin Taylor / 81

Have you ever felt guilty for spending money on something you love, but thought nothing of spending money on something you felt like you should do? Or found yourself thinking, "I'm just bad with money"? In this episode, we're joined by financial wellness coach Simone Griffin-Taylor for a conversation about the emotional side of personal finance. We explore why money decisions are rarely as logical as we think, how shame and self-judgment can show up in our financial lives, and why understanding your values may be more important than following someone else's money rules. From homebuying and travel to dining out and even buying Kleenex, this episode is full of real-life examples that will help you get curious about your spending habits, challenge old money stories, and make financial decisions that feel more aligned with the life you actually want to live. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ * [03:00] Why emotions influence nearly every financial decision we make * [05:00] How shame shows up in our money lives—and how to recognize it * [08:30] The difference between "I made a mistake" and "I am bad with money" * [12:00] Why self-compassion can be a powerful financial tool * [17:00] The danger of comparing your financial life to someone else's timeline * [20:00] Simone's framework for reconnecting with your financial intuition * [24:00] How to identify your core values and use them to guide money decisions * [30:00] Why two people can share the same values but spend money very differently * [35:00] What people judge themselves for financially that is actually completely normal * [39:00] Cassidy's surprisingly strong opinions about the value of Kleenex and coat hangers * [43:00] How old money stories continue to influence our spending decisions ✨ Resources ✨ * Connect with Simone: affluencereimagined.com [http://affluencereimagined.com]  * Follow Simone on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/simone-griffin/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/simone-griffin/]  📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/