The Personal Finance Podcast

There is no such thing as saving money. You are only deferring spending, and the moment that clicks, the guilt you feel every time you touch your savings disappears. Jesse Mecham, founder of YNAB, explains why every dollar you own is meant to be spent.

👉 Want personalized help from Andrew? Join Master Money Academy at https://www.skool.com/mastermoneyacademy/about

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Live Call Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIw5xncfn5tZbGG_U22iZ3BUmyHe9fPvBQaC1vW_x1D7bJA/viewform

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why treating saving and spending as opposites keeps you stuck

The question Jesse builds every money decision around

How labeling your cash removes the guilt of spending it

Why an expense you planned for stops feeling like an emergency

Where people actually find the money to pay off debt, according to 100+ interviews

Why a bigger paycheck does not fix a spending skill problem

The approach that gets a hesitant partner on board instead of defensive

What every household should have documented in case something happens to the money person

How Jesse's seven kids learn to handle their own money, starting at age eight

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today! https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Polygenius → Free life insurance quote http://policygenius.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Favorite Travel Credit Cards https://milevalue.com/best-credit-cards/?aff=mastermoney

Book/s Mentioned

Never Worry About Money Again (Jesse's new book) — https://neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com

The Richest Man in Babylon

The Millionaire Next Door

The Wealthy Barber

Die With Zero

Episode/s Mentioned

The 1-3-6 Method For Building & Managing Your Emergency Fund https://youtu.be/rGdII_Z0hnw

The Bucket Method For Managing Your Savings (Master Multiple Savings Goals) https://youtu.be/WvzYOCRBxwE

The Money Plan for Couples: How to Build Wealth as a Team (Step-by-Step) https://youtu.be/AEfhdlB9mcc

Watch Next

How to Save $100,000 on a Low Salary https://youtu.be/f8-BWWiDpKc

How to Spot Fee That's Robbing You, Insure Your Kids' Future & Retire Two Decades Early - Money Q&A https://youtu.be/2y6bjDkgbgM

4 Dead Simple Steps to Become Financially Free https://youtu.be/dM4DKC7-Y5s

How to Build a Vacation Fund That Pays You For Life + (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/SMDRQkqnA74

Hit This Number and You Can STOP SAVING! (Even When You are Young) https://youtu.be/R2ebV44XaAY

Connect with Jesse Mecham

Personal:

Email → askjesse@ynab.com

Podcast → https://youneedabudget.libsyn.com

Author Page → https://www.ynab.com/author/jesse-mecham

Business:

X → https://x.com/ynab

Tiktok → https://www.tiktok.com/@ynabofficial

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/ynabofficial

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/ynab.official/

YouTube → https://www.youtube.com/@ynabofficial

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/company/ynab

Connect with Andrew

Instagram → https://bit.ly/Skool-Instagram

TikTok → https://bit.ly/Skool-TikTok

Facebook → https://bit.ly/Skool-Facebook

Podcast → https://bit.ly/Skool-Podcast

Youtube → bit.ly/Skool-Youtube

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/Skool-Newsletter

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

Question for you:

What is your money for? Answer it in one sentence in the comments.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Saving six figures on a low salary sounds impossible until someone shows you the timeline. Let Andrew walks you through every one of them in order.

👉 Want personalized help from Andrew? Join Master Money Academy at https://www.skool.com/mastermoneyacademy/about

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Live Call Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIw5xncfn5tZbGG_U22iZ3BUmyHe9fPvBQaC1vW_x1D7bJA/viewform

What You'll Learn in This Episode

Why the first $100,000 is the hardest, and what actually does the heavy lifting to get you there

The 1-3-6 method for building your financial foundation in stages instead of all at once

What counts toward your savings rate and what does not

How to climb from 5% to 20% invested without a giant income jump

The three expense categories that eat most low-income budgets, and how to attack them

Every lever for raising your income, from certifications to overtime to job hopping

How long $250, $500, $1,000, and $1,500 a month each take to reach six figures

The mistakes that quietly reset your progress right when it starts working

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today! https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Gelt - Get 10% off your first year by mentioning “Personal Finance Pod” on the intake form; the CTA is to book a free discovery call at joingelt.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Favorite Travel Credit Cards https://milevalue.com/best-credit-cards/?aff=mastermoney

Tool/s Mentioned

How To Negotiate Your Salary https://mastermoney.co/get-that-raise-ebook/

The Ultimate Guide to the 1-3-6 Emergency Fund Method https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wbu4UWoWBKvFcAIYn2IND-twKACWVEE1/view

Episode/s Mentioned

5 Side-Hustles That Can Turn into a Full time Income! https://youtu.be/bEIzgYWLi1I

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn into a Full time Income! Part 2 https://youtu.be/10C4zt9w8NQ

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn into a Full Time Income! (Part 3) https://youtu.be/jEkKQZVYLSg

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn Into a Full Time Income (Part 4) https://youtu.be/DPQwY_U3lKY

The $10K, $100K, $1M Milestones That Change Everything https://youtu.be/oM7FvHv75Hw

How to Negotiate Your Salary (The Step-By-Step System!) https://youtu.be/rIDlLqDI3O0

The Stairway to Wealth 3.0! (The Step-by-Step Order For Your Money) https://youtu.be/_XSUQluC0To

How to Build Your Investment Portfolio (The Portfolio Pyramid!) https://youtu.be/Vn-NXfFWtfU

Watch Next

How to Spot Fee That's Robbing You, Insure Your Kids' Future & Retire Two Decades Early - Money Q&A https://youtu.be/2y6bjDkgbgM

4 Dead Simple Steps to Become Financially Free https://youtu.be/dM4DKC7-Y5s

How to Build a Vacation Fund That Pays You For Life + (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/SMDRQkqnA74

Hit This Number and You Can STOP SAVING! (Even When You are Young) https://youtu.be/R2ebV44XaAY

Why Franchises Might Be the Best Kept Wealth Building Secret with Alex Smereczniak https://youtu.be/3lXtpxTwrQI

Connect with Andrew

Instagram → https://bit.ly/Skool-Instagram

TikTok → https://bit.ly/Skool-TikTok

Facebook → https://bit.ly/Skool-Facebook

Podcast → https://bit.ly/Skool-Podcast

Youtube → bit.ly/Skool-Youtube

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/Skool-Newsletter

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

Question for you:

What is the raise or certification you have been putting off? Name it and give yourself a deadline.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seven listener questions, one theme: the small stuff you never check is usually the expensive stuff. Fees, insurance add-ons, account order, and the plan you need before retiring decades early.

👉 Want personalized help from Andrew? Join Master Money Academy at https://www.skool.com/mastermoneyacademy/about

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Live Call Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIw5xncfn5tZbGG_U22iZ3BUmyHe9fPvBQaC1vW_x1D7bJA/viewform

What You'll Learn in This Episode

How to find the fees buried in your retirement accounts and what to swap them for

Why a fund's one-year return tells you almost nothing worth knowing

The situations that actually call for gap insurance, and the one place you should never buy it

Andrew's rule for financing a car without ending up underwater

How to leave money to a child with a disability without costing them their benefits

The two numbers that decide your term life coverage: how much and for how long

A full audit of a listener saving nearly 70% of his income, including how he reaches his money before 59½

How a union tradesman can stack a pension, a match, and a Roth to change his family's trajectory

A phishing text pretending to be an Amazon recall, and how to spot it

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today! https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Gelt - Get 10% off your first year by mentioning “Personal Finance Pod” on the intake form; the CTA is to book a free discovery call at joingelt.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Favorite Travel Credit Cards https://milevalue.com/best-credit-cards/?aff=mastermoney

Tool/s Mentioned

Compound Interest Calculator https://mastermoneyresources.com/investment-calculator-page

Episode/s Mentioned

The System to Pay Cash For Cars (and NEVER Have a Payment Again!) https://youtu.be/kgmjjQEN3Xs

How to Access Your Retirement Accounts EARLY (Roth IRA Conversion Ladder for the FIRE Movement) https://youtu.be/ut8rDIJ1kSI

The 1-3-6 Method For Building & Managing Your Emergency Fund https://youtu.be/rGdII_Z0hnw

Watch Next

4 Dead Simple Steps to Become Financially Free https://youtu.be/dM4DKC7-Y5s

How to Build a Vacation Fund That Pays You For Life + (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/SMDRQkqnA74

Hit This Number and You Can STOP SAVING! (Even When You are Young) https://youtu.be/R2ebV44XaAY

Why Franchises Might Be the Best Kept Wealth Building Secret with Alex Smereczniak https://youtu.be/3lXtpxTwrQI

Why a Mini Retirement Can Change Your Life https://youtu.be/o5HIfbIwfjI

Connect with Andrew

Instagram → https://bit.ly/Skool-Instagram

TikTok → https://bit.ly/Skool-TikTok

Facebook → https://bit.ly/Skool-Facebook

Podcast → https://bit.ly/Skool-Podcast

Youtube → bit.ly/Skool-Youtube

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/Skool-Newsletter

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

Question for you:

What topic do you want covered in the next Q&A? Drop in the comments.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrew breaks the entire plan down to four calculations you can run in about five minutes using numbers you already know: your monthly income and your monthly expenses. Each one gives you a specific target for your freedom number, your investing rate, your emergency fund, and your spending ceiling.

👉 Want personalized help from Andrew? Join Master Money Academy at https://www.skool.com/mastermoneyacademy/about

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Live Call Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIw5xncfn5tZbGG_U22iZ3BUmyHe9fPvBQaC1vW_x1D7bJA/viewform

What You'll Learn in This Episode

The four calculations that map your entire path to financial freedom

Why the 4% rule turns your monthly income into a single target number

How to hit a 20% investment rate even when it feels impossible right now

What maxing a Roth 401(k) from 25 to 65 actually produces, and how much of it is tax-free

The 1-3-6 method for building an emergency fund in phases instead of one daunting chunk

Your SWAN number, and when six months of expenses is not enough

The 55% guardrail on essential expenses, and the two problems it exposes

Plus two member questions on how many individual stocks to own and whether to move money into a Trump account

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today! https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Gelt - Get 10% off your first year by mentioning “Personal Finance Pod” on the intake form; the CTA is to book a free discovery call at joingelt.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Favorite Travel Credit Cards https://milevalue.com/best-credit-cards/?aff=mastermoney

Tool/s Mentioned

The 1-3-6 Method For Building & Managing Your Emergency Fund https://www.thepersonalfinancepodcast.com/the-1-3-6-method-for-building-managing-your-emergency-fund/

Automate Your Money: Investment https://www.skool.com/live/NGm2lzJDkbR

Episode/s Mentioned

Hit This Number and You Can STOP SAVING! (Even When You are Young) https://youtu.be/R2ebV44XaAY

How to Build Your Investment Portfolio (The Portfolio Pyramid!) https://youtu.be/Vn-NXfFWtfU

Are Trump Accounts Worth It? (And What's Actually Better) https://youtu.be/jJKCfTvTm0Q

A Masterclass on Investing in Individual Stocks with Brian Feroldi https://youtu.be/gfh5i4H5MG8

Why YOU Have an Advantage as a Small Investor with Brian Feroldi https://youtu.be/iJFbVFMc05E

The Most Underrated Way to Build Wealth with Brian Feroldi https://youtu.be/c8vlvc3FEmw

How to Use AI to Research Stocks (With Brian Feroldi) https://youtu.be/WeaXVgQcpu8

Watch Next

How to Build a Vacation Fund That Pays You For Life + (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/SMDRQkqnA74

Hit This Number and You Can STOP SAVING! (Even When You are Young) https://youtu.be/R2ebV44XaAY

Why Franchises Might Be the Best Kept Wealth Building Secret with Alex Smereczniak https://youtu.be/3lXtpxTwrQI

Why a Mini Retirement Can Change Your Life https://youtu.be/o5HIfbIwfjI

Roth vs. Traditional, Dividend ETFs, and Catching Up in Your 40s (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/jtITtSd6vjI

Connect with Andrew

Instagram → https://bit.ly/Skool-Instagram

TikTok → https://bit.ly/Skool-TikTok

Facebook → https://bit.ly/Skool-Facebook

Podcast → https://bit.ly/Skool-Podcast

Youtube → bit.ly/Skool-Youtube

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/Skool-Newsletter

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

Question for you:

What is your freedom number? Run the math and post it below.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Most people save for vacations one trip at a time and start over from zero every year. There is a version where you build the fund once and it keeps paying for your trips forever, and $100 a month is enough to start.

👉 Want personalized help from Andrew? Join Master Money Academy at https://www.skool.com/mastermoneyacademy/about

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginner’s Masterclass: https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Live Call Registration Form: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeqIw5xncfn5tZbGG_U22iZ3BUmyHe9fPvBQaC1vW_x1D7bJA/viewform

What You'll Learn in This Episode

How to build a vacation portfolio that funds your trips for life

The exact monthly number to start with, even if it's $100

Why a taxable brokerage beats a savings account for 10-plus year goals

How to use travel hacking to cover trips while your portfolio compounds

How to earmark funds inside one brokerage account without opening five new ones

Why pulling from your 401(k) to kill your mortgage is usually the wrong move

How to buy a car with cash and spot a lemon before you hand over the money

The gift card scam draining balances before the card is ever opened

The best account to set your kids up for their first home

Start Here

Join the community built to help you master your money, stay accountable, and reach financial freedom.

👉 Try Master Money Academy FREE for 7 days today! https://mastermoney.co/join/

👉 Join Andrew’s FREE Investing for Beginners Masterclass https://event.webinarjam.com/q05p7/register/0o8z9io?webinar_id=21

👉 Join The Master Money Newsletter where you will become smarter with your money in 5 minutes or less per week Here! https://expert-hustler-605.ck.page/6aa7bb9a79

Partner Deals



Indeed → Get a $75 sponsored job credit http://Indeed.com/personalfinance

Wayfair → Up to 60% off | MEMORIAL DAY WAREHOUSE CLEAROUT http://wayfair.com

Chime → Get more rewarding fee-free banking at https://www.chime.com/PFP

Monarch Money → The all-in-one financial tool + Get 50% Off at http://www.monarch.com/PFP

Gelt - Get 10% off your first year by mentioning “Personal Finance Pod” on the intake form; the CTA is to book a free discovery call at joingelt.com

DeleteMe → 20% off with code PFP https://joindeleteme.com/PFP20/

Resource/s

Car Insurance https://secure.money.com/pr/gc43ce394da5

Best HYSA https://secure.money.com/pr/r453ecf4d190

Stock Brokerage Accounts https://secure.money.com/pr/v8d06f8de92c

Best IRAs https://secure.money.com/pr/oe09b73d1952

Favorite Travel Credit Cards https://milevalue.com/best-credit-cards/?aff=mastermoney

Tool/s Mentioned

Index Fund & ETF Cheatsheet https://mastermoneyresources.com/index-fund-cheatsheet

Compound Interest Calculator https://expert-hustler-605.kit.com/aefaaad27e

Episode/s Mentioned

The System to Pay Cash For Cars (and NEVER Have a Payment Again!) https://youtu.be/kgmjjQEN3Xs

He Built A BILLION DOLLAR Real Estate Portfolio (Here's How!) with Brandon Turner https://youtu.be/_960B_GIGSo

How to RETIRE BY 30! (With Cody Berman) https://youtu.be/ffKv6M69SRI

Watch Next

Hit This Number and You Can STOP SAVING! (Even When You are Young) https://youtu.be/R2ebV44XaAY

Why Franchises Might Be the Best Kept Wealth Building Secret with Alex Smereczniak https://youtu.be/3lXtpxTwrQI

Why a Mini Retirement Can Change Your Life https://youtu.be/o5HIfbIwfjI

Roth vs. Traditional, Dividend ETFs, and Catching Up in Your 40s (Money Q&A) https://youtu.be/jtITtSd6vjI

5 Side Hustles That Can Turn Into a Full Time Income (Part 4) https://youtu.be/DPQwY_U3lKY

Connect with Andrew

Instagram → https://bit.ly/Skool-Instagram

TikTok → https://bit.ly/Skool-TikTok

Facebook → https://bit.ly/Skool-Facebook

Podcast → https://bit.ly/Skool-Podcast

Youtube → bit.ly/Skool-Youtube

Newsletter → https://bit.ly/Skool-Newsletter

Website →⁠ https://mastermoney.co ⁠

X → ⁠https://x.com/mastermoneyco

LinkedIn →⁠ ⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrew-giancola-45027b340 ⁠

Question for you:

How much do you actually spend on vacations in a year? Post the number and see how it compares.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices