Should You Take a Pay Cut for Work-Life Balance? How to Decide

You're exhausted and constantly thinking about work - but your paycheck looks great. Or you get an exciting offer with a lower salary. What do you do? This episode breaks down when taking less money for work-life balance makes financial sense, the red flags to watch for, and a practical framework to help you decide without regret.

• Why this decision is so common right now (burnout culture, shifting values)
• The hidden costs of high-stress roles you're not tracking
• When a pay cut can be a smart financial move
• Red flags: When NOT to take less money
• A 5-question decision framework you can use today
• Alternatives to consider before quitting
• How to make this choice intentionally, not reactively

Money is meant to support your life - not trap you in one. The right choice is the one that supports your life now AND doesn't sabotage future you.

Read the full Show Notes Here!

Thanks to our sponsor:

• Rakuten

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 to get all of our latest advice and freebies!

Connect with us on Instagram @your.money.style

This week we're turning awareness into action by setting 1-3 specific financial goals for the year.

What You'll Do:

• Review insights from Week 1 (spending) and Week 2 (net worth)
• Choose 1-3 goals from these categories: Emergency Fund, Debt Payoff, Investing, or Savings Goal
• Write down each goal with a specific number and deadline
• Put goals somewhere visible to reference throughout the year

Key Takeaway: Focus beats quantity. Pick 1-3 goals max that matter to YOUR life and priorities.

Make them specific: "Save more" ❌ vs. "Save $3,000 for emergency fund" ✅

Next Week: Set up your Money Calendar to map out bills, paydays, and annual expenses for the entire year.

Read the full Show Notes Here!

Thanks to our sponsor:

• Rakuten

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 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

Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com

Description: This isn't a theory episode - it's a do-it-with-us episode. We're walking you through exactly how to automate your finances, from savings to retirement contributions to bill payments. Grab your phone or laptop and set up at least one automation while you listen. Even one small automated transfer will compound into thousands of dollars over time.

What You'll Learn:

• The 4-tier automation hierarchy (what to automate first)
• Step-by-step instructions for automating savings, bills, retirement, and debt payments
• Common automation mistakes and how to avoid them
• How to increase your automation over time

Action Items:

• Automate at least ONE financial task during this episode
• Review your automation quarterly and increase amounts gradually

Resources Mentioned:

• Blog Post: How to Choose the Right Investment Account for You
• Free Download: Investing Made Simple Guide
• Contact: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com

Read the full Show Notes Here!

Thanks to our sponsor:

• Rakuten

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 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

Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com

This week on CFO Corner, we're tackling something that sounds intimidating but is actually empowering: calculating your net worth. This isn't about judgment or where you think you should be - it's simply about knowing your starting point.

In this episode, you'll learn:

• What net worth actually is (and why it matters)
• How to calculate your assets and liabilities
• Why your net worth is not your worth
• How to use this number without obsessing over it

Your 10-minute action: Calculate your net worth and save it as your January 2026 baseline.

Remember: The goal isn't a perfect net worth - it's an improving one. Progress over time matters more than where you started.

Next week: We're covering how to set intentional financial goals for 2026 that actually connect to your life, not just numbers on a spreadsheet.

Resources Mentioned:

• Listen to this Episode: Net Worth Explained: What It Is and Why It Matters

Read the full Show Notes Here!

Thanks to our sponsor:

• Rakuten

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 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

Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com

Think wealth comes from big salaries and huge investment wins? Think again. In this episode, Maddie and Meghan reveal the small, repeatable decisions that actually build wealth over time - and why they're so easy to ignore. Learn about the compound effect (starting to invest at 25 vs. 35 costs you $260K!), the three categories of decisions that matter most, and why "I'll start when I make more" is the biggest trap. Plus, they share the small money decisions they wish they'd made earlier and which ones they're glad they stuck with. This isn't about perfection - it's about picking ONE small decision to make more intentional this week.

What You'll Learn:

• Why starting to invest at 25 vs. 35 costs you over $260K
• The 3 categories of small decisions: automation, lifestyle defaults, and timing
• Why almost 50% of people earning $100K+ still live paycheck to paycheck
• How to escape the "when I make more" trap
• Which ONE small decision to focus on right now

Coming Next Week: How to automate your finances step-by-step (what to automate first, how to set it up, common mistakes)

Free Resources Mentioned:

• 50/30/20 Budget Builder Guide
• 5-Day Expense Reset Challenge

It's not the big decisions. It's the quiet ones you repeat over and over.

Read the full Show Notes Here!

Thanks to our sponsor:

• Rakuten

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 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

Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com

Welcome to the first CFO Corner! This week, we're starting with the foundation: awareness. In less than 10 minutes, you'll track your December spending and discover exactly where your money went. No judgment or guilt - just the data you need to make better decisions moving forward. Meghan walks you through pulling up your statements, adding up your total spending, and identifying ONE thing to adjust this month. This is designed to be done IN REAL TIME while you listen. Whether this is your first CFO Corner or you're here every week, let's build this habit together.

This Week's Action:

• Download December bank and credit card statements
• Calculate your total spending
• Notice your reaction (that feeling is information)
• Identify ONE area to adjust

Resources Mentioned:

• Free 50/30/20 Budget Builder Guide
• Free 5-Day Expense Reset Challenge (find $900+ in hidden expenses!)

Read the full Show Notes Here!

Thanks to our sponsor:

• Rakuten

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 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

Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com

What would you do if you won the lottery tomorrow? Americans spent over $100 billion on lottery tickets in 2024, but sudden money doesn't equal financial security without the right plan. In this episode, Meghan and Maddie break down the exact steps to take if you receive a windfall - from pausing before making any moves to building your advisory team, understanding taxes, and creating a sustainable plan. Plus, they share what THEY would actually do if they won (including the fun splurges and hard decisions). Whether you play the lottery, are expecting an inheritance, or just love "what if" scenarios, these principles apply to any windfall.

What You'll Learn:

• The biggest mistake lottery winners make (and how to avoid it)
• How to set boundaries when everyone wants a piece
• Why these principles work for ANY windfall (bonus, inheritance, etc.)

Resources Mentioned:

• Budget Builder
• Investing Made Simple Guide

The best financial decisions are rarely made in a rush. Take your time, get good advice, and let your values lead.

Read the full Show Notes Here!

Thanks to our sponsor:

• Rakuten

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 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

Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com

NEW SERIES ALERT! Introducing CFO Corner - your weekly 10-minute money check-in. One small action across 5 pillars: income, budgeting, saving, investing & debt. No overwhelm. No deep dives. Just consistent progress. Drops every Thursday. Subscribe so you don't miss Episode 1!

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 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

Email us: hello@liveyourmoneystyle.com