Beyond Budgets Podcast

Deb Meyer

Transform your family's finances with the Beyond Budgets® podcast. Host Deb Meyer, CFP®, award-winning author of Redefining Family Wealth and mom of 3, empowers parents to save diligently, invest wisely, and contribute generously. We delve beyond budgeting tools into values-based financial planning, marriage and money, college saving plans, investment strategies, tax-saving secrets, insurance essentials, and more. Tune in biweekly on Thursdays for solo episodes and enlightening expert interviews. Your journey to financial success starts here.

  1. 1 DAY AGO

    Tame the Tax Chaos: Get Organized & Confident for Tax Season

    Tax season doesn't have to be overwhelming, especially when you're armed with expert tips and a solid system. In episode 58 of the Beyond Budgets® Podcast, host Deb Meyer breaks down what parents need to know about getting organized for tax season. From estimated taxes to state-specific credits, this episode is packed with practical strategies to reduce your stress and increase your confidence before the April 15th deadline. You'll walk away with actionable steps to get your paperwork in order and avoid costly mistakes … whether you're a W-2 earner, small business owner, or self-preparer using TurboTax. We also debunk common myths (like what extensions really mean) and highlight when it's time to call in a tax professional like an Enrolled Agent or Certified Public Accountant. 📝 Episode Highlights (0:35) Extensions ≠ Extra Time to Pay – Understand the April 15th deadline, even if you file late (2:45) Estimated Tax Basics – Avoid underpayment penalties using IRS "safe harbor" rules ( 06:40 ) When to Hire Help – Consider a tax pro if you've moved, inherited assets, or run a business.  ( 09:30 ) How to Organize Documents – Stay tax-ready throughout the year ( 15:08 ) OBBBA Deductions – Why 2025 could be the first year you itemize in a while.    ✨ Don't forget to leave a review if this episode helped you! It makes a big difference and allows more parents to get the support they need to build wealth wisely. 🔗 Listen to Episode 48 New Tax Breaks for Parents: What the One Big Beautiful Bill Act Means for Your Family Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP® Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values. Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

    28 min
  2. 29 JAN

    Reinvention, Personal Branding & AI with Mike Kim

    Bestselling author and branding strategist Mike Kim joins Deb Meyer to share how personal branding isn't just for entrepreneurs. Mike offers real-life tools to help you show up with more clarity & confidence, whether you're climbing the corporate ladder or building something of your own. Mike also opens up about a recent season of reinvention, sparked by personal loss. He shares how to navigate big transitions, what it means to do work of material consequence, and why slowing down might be your next best move. Plus, they dive into the evolving role of AI: how it's shaping both our careers and our kids' futures. This is a powerful conversation for any parent looking to lead with intention.   🎧 Highlights [0:02:20] Mike's Three Ps Framework [0:06:45] How to reinvent without blowing up your life [0:07:39] What it means to do work of material consequence [0:12:04] The power of "wintering" in a go-go-go culture [0:15:01] Intrapreneurship: How to lead and innovate inside a corporate job [0:23:10] Personal branding for traditional employees, especially on LinkedIn [0:27:30] Wisely using AI in your professional life and parenting       📚 Resources Mentioned You Are the Brand by Mike Kim Own Your Career, Own Your Life by Andy Storch & Mike Kim (plus free workbook downloads) Mike's newsletter: mikekim.com/newsletter Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP® Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values. Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

    37 min
  3. 15 JAN

    College Admissions Secrets: What Parents Need to Know Before Junior Year

    In this candid episode of Beyond Budgets®, host Deb Meyer shares her perspective as both a financial planner and a mom of a high school junior navigating the complex world of college prep. You'll hear: [0:00:03] Behind-the-scenes insights from Florida college tours (University of Florida, Florida State University, and UCF) [0:04:50] Key admissions guidance from a local high school teacher, including the real impact of essays and extracurriculars [0:07:15] Early Action vs. Early Decision – what they mean and why deadlines matter [0:08:30] Ivy League book shoutout: Where You Go Is Not Who You'll Be by Frank Bruni [0:11:20] Affordability vs. Prestige – how to help your teen build a balanced college list [0:18:00] AICE, AP, IB, and Dual Enrollment – comparing academic pathways in high school [0:19:00] Florida Bright Futures Scholarships – eligibility, requirements, and cost savings   Whether your child is in middle school or already a junior or senior, Deb breaks down what to prioritize, how to keep expectations in check, and how to prepare without sacrificing your retirement or overwhelming your teen.   Related Episodes: Episode 5: Understanding College Financial Aid with Joe Messinger Episode 33: College Funding Secrets Every Parent Needs to Know with Ann Garcia Episode 55: How Dual Enrollment Saved This Family $60K in College Costs with Shelly Branine   📤 Share This Episode: Know a fellow parent navigating college prep? Forward this episode! Sharing Deb's real-world insights could be the spark another family needs to start their own college conversations. Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP® Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values. Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

    26 min
  4. 1 JAN

    How Dual Enrollment Saved This Family $60K in College Costs

    "My daughters went to prom, played sports, were in student council, and still finished college before high school ended." – Shelley Branine Wondering how your family can save tens of thousands of dollars? Then you don't want to miss this special episode with Shelley Branine, mom of two and author of the upcoming book Finish College in High School. Shelley shares her family's incredible journey using dual enrollment to help both her daughters graduate college debt-free. Listen in if you have a middle school or high school student and are feeling overwhelmed by rising college tuition rates. Shelley offers hard-won wisdom, sharing alternatives to the traditional 4-year college path. Episode Highlights (03:46) Why her "average" kids thrived (and why yours might, too) (06:10) What dual enrollment is, and how it differs from AP and IB programs (12:10) Common myths about scholarships and why they're so competitive (16:05) How to explore dual enrollment options in your state, even for private school students or those with learning differences (20:23) The real risks of student loans and why Shelley's family avoided them Connect with Guest Shelley Branine Website | Instagram | Shelley's Book, Finish College in High School Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP® Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values. Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

    31 min
  5. 18/12/2025

    Small Habits, Big Wins: How Parents Can Set Goals That Actually Stick

    "Small, incremental steps will always get you further than a giant leap, especially when they're rooted in your values." – Deb Meyer As we turn the page into a new year, goal setting becomes more than just a buzzword. It's a tool for transformation. In Episode 54, host Deb Meyer dives deep into how parents can set intentional goals that actually stick. Learn why small, sustainable habits beat massive overhauls, how to identify and overcome limiting beliefs, and how to create SMART goals that align with your family's core values. Whether you're aiming to save more, invest wisely, or improve your health, this episode provides a simple roadmap to start strong in 2026. Get practical steps, faith-filled encouragement, and real-life strategies to help you lead your family with clarity and purpose in the year ahead. Episode Highlights [0:00:37] Deb's personal journey: Weight gain, body image, and making a change [0:07:30] Applying those same goal-setting principles to saving money [0:11:00] Should you work with a financial planner or coach? [0:15:30] A unique goal-setting exercise: writing your future self a letter [0:20:00]How to handle setbacks, redefine your "why," and pivot your plan Resources  Books: Finish by Jon Acuff and Your Best Year Ever by Michael Hyatt Nourish App: https://www.usenourish.com – Dietitian support app XY Planning Network for fee-only, fiduciary CFP® professionals NAPFA (National Association of Personal Financial Advisors): https://www.napfa.org Compass Catholic Financial Coaching: https://compasscatholic.org Want Personal Help? If you're looking for a faith-aligned, fiduciary financial planner for your family, Deb has availability in the new year. Click here to book a free, initial consultation. Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP® Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values. Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

    22 min
  6. 04/12/2025

    How to Make Money Fun Again: Joe Saul-Sehy on Emergency Funds, Insurance & Family Adventures

    What happens when personal finance meets fun, adventure, and real-world wisdom? Deb Meyer sits down with Joe Saul-Sehy, the dynamic co-host of Stacking Benjamins and author of Stacked, to talk about money in a way only Joe can: light, insightful, and incredibly human. We explore how humor can disarm money fears, why emergency funds are really self-insurance, and how to approach disability and life insurance like a true risk manager. Joe also dives into how automation trumps discipline when building lasting financial habits. Plus, Joe shares insider tips from his passion project podcast, Stacking Adventures, highlighting how families can travel smart and turn everyday moments into unforgettable experiences. Episode Highlights: [2:10] Why humor is a powerful tool to make money approachable [6:00] How an emergency fund functions as "self-insurance" [6:30] The real ROI of cash reserves [15:00] What "own occupation" disability coverage really means and why most people miss it [22:07] How to evaluate life insurance options (term vs. permanent) without falling for industry bias Connect with Joe Saul-Sehy Stacking Benjamins Podcast Stacking Adventures Podcast, travel tips for adventurous families Joe's book Stacked: Your Super-Serious Guide to Modern Money Management Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP® Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values. Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

    35 min
  7. 20/11/2025

    Gifts of Grace: Reclaiming Simplicity During the Holidays

    The holidays are here, and with them come emotions ranging from joy to overwhelm. In this heart-centered episode, host Deb Meyer shares a timely message to help parents slow down, align spending with values, and create lasting peace during the Christmas season. She opens with a beautiful rendition of the Shaker hymn "'Tis the Gift to Be Simple" and explores how the simplicity it speaks of can serve as a financial and spiritual guidepost through the noise of Black Friday, gift-giving pressure, and packed family schedules. In this episode, you'll learn: (10:36) A values-based framework for choosing gifts that foster connection (8:21) The power of automating gift savings and how to start in January (12:52) Ideas for experience-based gifts (15:17)Catholic resources for Advent to nurture faith amid the hustle (18:14) How generosity through time, talent, and treasure can reshape your family's holiday rhythm   Deb also highlights Chelsea Williams' insight from episode 51: that 80% of money decisions are perspective, not math—and how that truth becomes even more relevant during emotionally charged seasons. Featured Resources Core Values Exercise:​ Think2Perform Book: The Family Board Meeting by Jim Sheils Advent Devotional: Shadow and Light by Tsh Oxenreider Catholic Mom Advent Bundle (Available until Nov. 21): CatholicMomBundle.com Claim your FREE Cozy Catholic Christmas Catalog Listener Challenge Take the values exercise and review your holiday gift list. Ask: Does this reflect who we are and the values we want to pass on to our children? Don't forget to share the episode with a friend who's feeling the pressure of the season. Help them find peace through perspective and purpose! Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP® Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values. Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

    21 min
  8. 13/11/2025

    The Parent's Guide to Rewriting Money Scripts

    How do you move from financial survival mode to long-term stability when you're raising kids and navigating constant demands? In this episode of Beyond Budgets, Deb Meyer is joined by financial educator Chelsea Williams to explore how our earliest experiences shape our lifelong relationship with money and what parents can do about it. You'll learn why financial change is 80% mindset and only 20% technical, and how understanding your money story can unlock new possibilities for your family's future. Chelsea shares a practical framework that helps families create healthy financial habits by focusing on beliefs, not just budgets. They also discuss what most people don't realize: a child's core values and beliefs about money are formed mainly between the ages of 0 and 12. For parents of young kids, this is a critical window. The way we talk about spending, saving, and value can either plant seeds of fear or lay the foundation for confident financial decision-making later in life. Episode Highlights (09:05) Why mindset matters more than math when it comes to financial stability (10:16) How to identify and rewrite the limiting beliefs that may be holding you back (11:48) What to say (and not say) to your kids about money, especially around spending (24:04) A realistic way to set spending boundaries that align with your family values (25:05) Why most wealth is built slowly Whether you're managing finances solo or as a couple, and whether your kids are toddlers or teens, this conversation offers a hopeful and grounded approach to building financial peace—one decision at a time. Resources Mentioned MoneyMastery.work – Chelsea Williams' course, upcoming book, and podcast The Opposite of Spoiled by Ron Lieber  – A helpful read on raising money-smart kids   Connect with Host Deb Meyer, CFP® Founder of WorthyNest®, helping faith-driven parents build financial plans that reflect their values. Download your FREE guide | Follow us on YouTube | Take the Financial Wellness Quiz

    31 min

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About

Transform your family's finances with the Beyond Budgets® podcast. Host Deb Meyer, CFP®, award-winning author of Redefining Family Wealth and mom of 3, empowers parents to save diligently, invest wisely, and contribute generously. We delve beyond budgeting tools into values-based financial planning, marriage and money, college saving plans, investment strategies, tax-saving secrets, insurance essentials, and more. Tune in biweekly on Thursdays for solo episodes and enlightening expert interviews. Your journey to financial success starts here.