Episodes

In this episode, our favorite smart shopping expert Trae Bodge is back to share the best tips for saving money on holiday shopping this year. It’s true that this holiday season might look a little different with supply chain issues and the reality that the virus is still hanging around. Experts predict that holiday shopping might be on a decline this year. I’m not convinced. Trae is sharing her thoughts on trends that will emerge this holiday season, how to score cash-back on your holiday shopping, her favorite websites for deals, and how to set realistic holiday shopping expectations on any budget. Links Trae's website Smart Holiday Shopping Guide Holiday Gifts Under $100 Smarty Rakuten Slickdeals.net Episode Sponsors A big thanks to all our episode sponsors who make this podcast possible! I want you to start living a happier life today. As a listener, you’ll get 10% off your first month by visiting our sponsor at http://www.betterhelp.com/mymoney.  Go to http://www.La…

In this Shannah Shares, Community Q&A episode, I'm sharing the 7 tips to help you stay focused on your money goals inspired by a question form Amanda: "I love your podcast and have been listening for over a year now being inspired and working towards my goals. Maybe my question isn't really a question, but more like a request for a pep talk. I have 4 main money goals that I've been slowly working towards Paying off my student loans, saving 4 months of expenses in my emergency fund, saving $3,000 in a what I like to call an "oh shit fund" (I can access this savings account much quicker than my emergency fund), and finally saving for a house. For the past 6 years, I've been laser-focused on paying off my student loans, but because of the pandemic, I decided to shift my focus on hitting my emergency fund goal. Recently, however, I've been struggling with staying focused on achieving the emergency fund goal. I now have only $9,000 left to go of my student loans and I'm also only 3 mo…

What does it take to become an everyday millionaire? If I had a dollar for every time someone asked me how to get to millionaire status, I’d probably be a multi-millionaire by now. Deacon Hayes, former financial advisor, founder of Well Kept Wallet, and author of You Can Retire Early, knows a thing or two about millionaire status. Over the last few years, he’s dedicated himself to becoming debt-free and educates people just like you on how to do the same. Recently, he became so inspired to teach you how to become an everyday millionaire that he wrote a rap song all about it. In this episode, Deacon shares his top tips to help you step into everyday millionaire status, and even gives us a little sneak peek of his song. Links Well Kept Wallet You Can Retire Early Everyday Millionaire Song You Can Retire Early Podcast Episode Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinka…

Money and relationships can be tough. Over the last few years, there’s been a lot of chaos in the world. With money a constant source of stress, relationships are getting tested. Covid seems to have brought out two extremes in relationships - one partner embracing the “life is short” motto while the other partner might be feeling vulnerable and have a need to save for any future emergencies. These two opposites, or really any money conflict in a relationship, can be tough to sort through. Dr. Shauna Springer is back to illuminate money and relationships and share insider secrets to thrive during conflict. Your relationship will thank you after this episode! Shauna ‘Doc’ Springer is a best-selling author, frequently requested keynote speaker, and one of the world's leading experts on psychological trauma, military transition, suicide prevention, and close relationships. She is the author of WARRIOR: How to Support Those Who Protect Us and the co-author of BEYOND THE MILITARY: A Leader…

If you don’t know Ivan Estrada already from House Hunters and Million Dollar Listing, you are about to become a new fan. Ivan is a Success Real Estate Entreprneur, and the author of a new book called Brand with Purpose. The way Ivan sees it, you and me, we have a personal band. The goal in life is to make sure everything you do is “on brand” including how you spend and save our money, who you spend time with, what you do for a living. In this episode, Ivan shares the story of his own journey to authenticity and invites you in to discover how to build an authentic and profitable personal and professional brand. Links Brand With Purpose Ivan Estrada Rich Dad Poor Dad Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymone…

Learning how to cook can save you a money. For most of us, eating out is our largest expense. It's easy to spend more money than you budgeted on food and at the end of the month not have enough left to fund your money goals. Learning how to cook can be one of the best ways to save money and eat healthier. As Ken Rubin, who is an accomplished chef from Rouxbe and our podcast guest says, "Start with one dish, one little thing…master that, and then build out your toolkit of food." Great advice whether you want to turn your love of food into a business or just want to learn how to make a few killer dishes. Learning how to cook is probably one of the smartest money moves you can make – and you can bank on that! In this episode, you'll learn staple dishes you can make to impress and tricks to save money while eating the foods you love. Links Rouxbe Rouxbe Courses Episode Sponsors Thank you to all our generous sponsors! Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re ins…

As an entrepreneur since college, I’ve always been in search of the secrets behind becoming a profitable entrepreneur. Our guest, Sarah Shawm is a bit a bit of a legend. Sarah is a fashion entrepreneur, product designer, and business coach that specializes in helping other entrepreneurs to succeed. With her 20 years of experience, and 6 companies under her belt, Sarah has built a treasure trove of secrets for launching your product line, getting your products into stores and boutiques, and getting massive publicity in order to grow her companies quickly. In this episode, you’ll learn Sarah’s secrets to truly becoming a profitable entrepreneur whether you’re just starting out, or are a seasoned pro. Links Mentioned Sarah Shaw website Work with Sarah Profit First Money Mindset Journal Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day tria…

Debt does impact your mental health. If you've ever felt stressed out, depressed, or anxious about money know that you are not alone. Debt is one of the #1 reasons for anxiety and depression and has even been described as a heavyweight that is pushing down on you every second of the day. Melanie Lockert, the brains behind the successful blog Dear Debt, and the Mental Health and Wealth podcast, is sharing her story of dealing with debt, depression, and how she paid off over $81,000 in the process. LinksMental Health and Wealth podcastDear Debt Episode Sponsors Thanks to our generous sponsors who make this podcast possible! Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymoney.  Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in …

This episode of Shannah Shares was inspired by a question from Brian and Tracey. They have friends who recently got a postnuptial agreement and are curious about how they work and if it makes sense for them. As controversial as they might be, if you're thinking about a prenup or a postnup, the first place you should start is getting some education around these hot-button documents. Jennifer Guimond-Quigley is joining us on this episode to demystify what you need to know about prenups, and breaking down the differences between postnups in a fun and an easily digestible way (no crazy lawyer speak here, just a totally educational and enjoyable conversation). Links Law Offices of Jennifer Guimond-Quigley 5 Signs You Need a Postnup Episode Sponsors Thanks to our generous sponsors! Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away …

The holidays are always a time of big spending. Retailers are excited to have you back in stores shopping. It’s estimated that U.S. consumers will spend up to 9% more this holiday period compared to 2020, when consumers spent a total of $1.2 trillion during the key shopping period between November and the end of the year, according to a forecast from Deloitte. You need some tips to help you get your money ready for the holidays so you can roll into 2022 feeling good. Links Money Flow Workbook - Freebie How to Furniture Flip and Side Hustle Your Way to an Extra $500 8 Small and Affordable Money Steps to Make Right Now How to Survive the Holidays Debt Free Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthinkable happens.  Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymoney.  Maste…

If you want to make changes with your money you have got to understand the messages your brain is sending out. Did you know that your brain can literally make or break your financial success? You could be capsizing your “money boat” just by the way you are thinking. We're going to change that in this episode. Our guest, Ariel Garten is a neuroscientist, mom, former psychotherapist, former fashion designer (which she says is not the best business idea, and co-founder behind the start-up Muse. Muse tracks your brain during meditation to give you real-time feedback - more on that later. Ariel is here to help demystify what is going on in your brain, how you can reprogram limiting beliefs and thoughts in a healthy way, the benefits of mediation for your money, and so much more. Links Muse Muse mobile app Ariel Garten on LinkedIn Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.Ladderlife.com/mymoney to see if you’re instantly approved for life insurance to provide for your family if the unthink…

In this episode, I'm covering everything you need to know about Health Savings Accounts, aka HSAs. This episode was inspired by six listeners who all wanted to know if they should have an HSA. Also, there are a lot of questions about what exactly is an HSA, how does one work, and how can you use it. I'm covering it all, including a conversation with Rida Wong from hsastore.com. Links Hsastore.com Health Savings Account 101 Episode Sponsors Start your 100-day trial and shop the entire Away lineup of travel essentials, including their best-selling suitcases at http://www.away.com/mymoney. Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in multimillion-dollar paintings by icons like Basquiat, Banksy, and Harring without breaking the bank. To get priority access to their offerings go to http://www.masterworks.com/mymoney.  Go to http://www.shopify.com/mymoney for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Right now, my listene…

I know I’ve shared this with you before, but I bought my first house at 24 and honestly, had no idea what I was doing and probably had no business buying a house then. We just barely made the money work, which is never the best idea. But, here I am. It worked out ok. I want different for you. Our guest, real estate expert, Marina Shiferman, is changing the real estate game for everyone, women in particular. In this episode, Marina shares the insider secrets you need to know to buy and sell real estate, how to start investing in real estate, and everything from soup to nuts about the buying process and working with a realtor. About Marina Marina and The Queen Team are a billion-dollar real estate team. You might call them the Real Estate Queen Dream Team because we can help you buy a home anywhere in the world, really. She is a proud homeowner (a few times over) and founder of The Real Estate Queen Academy where she teaches women how to buy and own real estate correctly and with con…

Whether you know it or not, you are making a statement with every dollar you spend, earn and save. What if your money could actually create change? Let me introduce you to a connect called Wallet Activism. Our guest, Tanja Hester, Tanja Hester, author of Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny-Pinching Way and the forthcoming title Wallet Activism: How to Use Every Dollar You Spend, Earn, and Save as a Force for Change, is best known for retiring from her career at the age of 38, after watching her dad get forced into early retirement by his disability, which she inherited. In this episode, Tanja shares how you can channel your anger into meaningful, realistic wallet activism and use your financial power to fight for your values. It’s an incredibly powerful and life-changing message that will rock your world. Links Tanja's website Wallet Activism book Episode Sponsors Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in multimillion-dollar paintings by ico…

The Community Q&A comes from Sheila who writes: "Well hi there Shannah, thanks for all the great money gems that you dish out on the show. You’ve really changed my life and I love listening to episodes over and over again because I always learn something else. This podcast is like my fun encyclopedia for all things money. That sounds bad - seriously this show is fun and educational. Ok, so I have a question. I’ve really been thinking about my debt and want to seriously tackle it. I know you’ve done a lot of episodes on this, but curious if there’s one that you could point me to. I’m trying to reframe how I’m thinking about debt too. I know you mention that not all debt is bad...I mean, is that true? I seriously hope it is because it feels really unrealistic to say that I will never have debt and that when I’m debt-free, I won’t have debt again. That just doesn’t make any sense. So I think the trick is to figure out how to pay it off with a strategy as you say and then have a good …

There are two ways to fix your budget. The first way is to save more money. The second way is to make more money. That's where side hustle's come in. Whether it's to earn a few extra bucks or to transition to a new career, side hustle's are a great way to better your money situation. Take it from our guest, Nicaila Matthews Okome. You may know her as the host of the Side Hustle Pro podcast or her course Podcast Moguls. In this episode, Nicaila is sharing her secrets to build a side hustle empire, why some side hustles fail, and how to find the right side hustle for you. LinksSide Hustle Pro podcastPodcast Moguls courseHow to Easily Create a BudgetBudget the Right Way episodeBudgeting Sucks, No One Has a Plan, But You Can episodeGet a Life You Love on a Budget You Can Afford episode Episode Sponsors Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in multimillion-dollar paintings by icons like Basquiat, Banksy, and Harring without breaking the bank. To get priority access t…

Living simply is one of the best ways to create wealth. Living in only 150 square feet for years, Ryan Mitchell has learned a thing or two about living simply. From downsizing, to life simplification, and designing a life that’s right for you, Ryan brings a lot of experience and practical knowledge to the table. He built his own tiny house in 2012 learning as he went along which inspired him to help others in their journey to live small. Today he still lives in his tiny house full time and off grid with solar, teaching others how to live simply. In this episode, we talk about ways to simplify your life, why it matters, how to build wealth by living simply, and how it might be the missing piece to you achieving the stuff you want in life. Links The Tiny Life Tiny Life on YouTube Episode Sponsors Masterworks.io is the only platform that lets you invest in multimillion-dollar paintings by icons like Basquiat, Banksy, and Harring without breaking the bank. To get priority access …

Tearing down 5 investing taboos on this episode of Shannah Shares, Community Q&A. Today's question comes from Laquesha: "Hi Shannah. Thanks so much for answering my question. I really want to start investing but I keep getting hung up on all the chatter out there. I can’t figure out if I’m supposed to wait to start investing until I’ve paid off all my debt, or is that not smart to do? Also, it just feels like I need to be an expert at investing to do it well. I know that’s not true, but man, it just feels so hard to figure out investing. I know so many people are making a kiling, and I kinda feel bad that I haven’t started at all, know what I mean. You’ve done so many great investing episodes, I’m curious if there’s an episode from the past that you think I should check out. You’re awesome and I so appreciate this show for motivating me. My boyfriend can’t believe I care this much about my money, but I just tell him, yes, yes I do and so should you. Ok, thanks again." Links De…

Fighting about money with your partner is not necessarily a bad thing. When it comes to couples and money there are two issues: #1 you don't want to talk about money with your partner, and #2 you think you are always right. You just need some strategies to make sure you're cultivating a healthy money partnership. Casey and Meygan Caston, the creators of Marriage 365, are here to share how you can avoid those nasty money fights, get on the same money page, and have a thriving relationship. They share their real-life story of battling through $200,000 in debt, almost getting divorced, to now running a global business that is all about creating happy relationships. It's safe to say they know a thing or two about healthy relationships. Links Marriage 365 Happily Ever After Course Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.shopify.com/mymoney for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Right now, my listeners can get a bonus of $25 in crypto…

If you’re a first time homebuyer, you are going to listen to this episode on repeat! Kristi Nowrouzi is here to educate you. As a mortgage loan originator for nearly 10 years, she has analyzed thousands and thousands of credit reports and helped people have a well-rounded understanding of finance, money, and credit as it pertains to them. Kristi shares how to beat out cash buyers, how to get the best mortgage for you, and she’s walking you through the ENTIRE mortgage process from soup to nuts. Even if you own a home, Kristi’s tips will prepare you for house #2. Links Credit Kristi Credit Coaching By Kristi Podcast Kristi on Instagram Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.shopify.com/mymoney for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Right now, my listeners can get a bonus of $25 in crypto after you make your first purchase with BlockFi's Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, when you sign up at blockfi.com/MYMONEY. Make it the year you …

In this episode of Shannah Shares, Community Q&A, I'm covering tips to boost your credit score this fall. Our community question comes from Jackie: "Hello, Shannah. I finally worked up enough courage to send in a question. I’d love to know any money tricks in general and how to boost my credit score. I’m really trying to get my money stuff (trying to avoid profanity there but you know what word I want to use) together this fall. My credit has been in the not so good place for a while, my fault totally, but I’ve decided I need to wise up and tackle this ASAP. Thank you again for this amazing podcast." Links Experian Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.shopify.com/mymoney for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Right now, my listeners can get a bonus of $25 in crypto after you make your first purchase with BlockFi's Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, when you sign up at blockfi.com/MYMONEY. Make it the year you finally cross lif…

Do you straight up love to shop? If you're anything like me and the answer is yes, the trick to shopping smart is to find a good deal and feel like I’ve won at ballin’ on a budget. I asked Trae Bodge, our resident smart shopping expert, to dish everything you need to know how to shop smart and save money all year long. The trick is to take that savings and then put it towards your money goals. Do these tricks and watch your goals come to life right and left. Links Trae's Website Trae on Instagram Trae on Twitter Episode Sponsors Go to http://www.shopify.com/mymoney for a FREE fourteen-day trial and get full access to Shopify’s entire suite of features. Right now, my listeners can get a bonus of $25 in crypto after you make your first purchase with BlockFi's Bitcoin Rewards Credit Card, when you sign up at blockfi.com/MYMONEY. Make it the year you finally cross life insurance off your list, and get protection for your loved ones. Go to http://www.policygenius.com and get s…

This episode is your masterclass in everything you need to know about home owner's and renter's insurance. Steve Lekas, co-founder and CEO of Branch Insurance, is here to educate and demystify all things homeowner’s insurance.  We talk about it all, how much insurance should you have, how to save money, and some fun tips including my very favorite insurance policy that you need to have in this episode Steve got his start in insurance at Allstate to put himself through school at Kent State. A decade later he went on to build the first-ever online home insurance business at Esurance. After 18 years in the industry, Steve became increasingly frustrated with how broken insurance had become with lengthy processes and rising costs. Chasing down his entrepreneurial calling, Steve set out to right the wrongs of the industry by creating insurance that’s quick, easy, affordable, and built to do good. In August of 2019 Branch Insurance pioneered the quickest way to bundle home and auto insuranc…

Every Sunday I’m going to be answering your questions in these special Shannah Shares community Q&A episodes. Sometimes I’ll tackle a single question and sometimes it might be multiple questions, so keep tuning in. Today’s Community question comes from Robbie: "Hi there, Shannah, thanks so much for taking the time to answer my question and for all the great money content. I’m seriously learning so much. I wish I would’ve had this podcast when I was in college. I’m in my mid 30’s now and I just feel like I’m playing catch up all the time. I make good money, between my partner and me around $300K a year. We live in Chicago though and it can be pretty expensive. We’ve got some goals we’re trying to save for - a wedding, a home purchase, and a big honeymoon trip. The problem is that we save money and then we tend to blow it on things that aren’t so important or need it for emergencies or just dump stuff. Can you help us figure out how to prioritize our money goals seeing as we want…