Financial Coaching for Women: How To Budget, Manage Money, Pay Off Debt, Save Money, Paycheck Plans

Vanessa and Shana | Budget Besties | Bougie On A Budget | Dave Ramsey Fans
  • 4.6 (297)
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  • UPDATED SEMIWEEKLY

***TOP 1% MONEY & FINANCIAL SUPPORT PODCAST*** Do you make good money but have nothing to show for it? Tired of using your bank account & credit card balances as your budget? Want to get debt-free but don’t want to sacrifice everything to do it? Ready to save money and build generational wealth? You’re in the right place! We’re telling you exactly how to budget, pay off debt, save money & stop living paycheck to paycheck. We’re Shana & Vanessa: BFFs, business partners & Dave Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coaches (and unofficial marriage counselors). We’re glad you’re here.

  1. 1D AGO

    Stop Stealing Your Own Spending Money, Storm Mode & Savings Buckets: Lessons From The Sessions | 532

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp! Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now! Hey budget besties — today we’re pulling back the curtain on real-life lessons from our private coaching sessions. Because if our clients are dealing with it… chances are you are too. We’re talking layoffs and job loss prep, why “0% interest” debt can still be a budget emergency, how to build a storm-mode mock budget, and the surprisingly confusing question: is pet food a savings bucket or a spending bucket? (Answer: it depends… but we’ll make it make sense.) We also get into a big one for parents: stop robbing your own spending money to cover everyone else’s categories, and let’s teach kids how to manage a set amount instead of learning “just go over and Mom will fix it.” Plus, we’re giving you permission to simplify your budget: categories > tracking every little transaction. Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level: 1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook 2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall 3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice. This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase. Click here to view our privacy policy.

    20 min

  2. 3D AGO

    Make Your March 2026 Budget with Us: A Step-by-Step Monthly Money Plan | 531

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp! Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now! Budget besties, February is basically a blink—so we’re not letting March sneak up on us without a plan. In this episode, Shana and Vanessa walk us through their simple, repeatable monthly budget process: close out the current month first, then build the next month’s budget in a specific order so your money feels calmer, more automated, and way less “where did it go?!” We follow a real-life client example (two teacher incomes, lots of moving parts, still totally doable) to show how every income source counts, why we only list minimum debt payments at first, how to wrangle subscriptions without shame, and how to create spending categories that stay consistent month to month. And yes—sometimes savings buckets pause when life is life-ing (hello trips + birthdays). The win is that the plan still works, and you can still make progress—without defaulting to credit cards. Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level: 1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook 2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall 3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice. This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase. Click here to view our privacy policy.

    28 min

  3. 6D AGO

    Car Paid Off, Student Loan Debt Next? The Best Move for Your Budget | 530

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp! Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now! Amanda joined us to talk through a super relatable moment: they’ve built a solid budgeting system… and now the question is what to do with a big, scary student loan balance once the car is paid off. Add in military life + possible paycheck disruptions, and you’ve got a perfect “real life” money crossroads. The best part? Amanda’s already doing the work—multiple spending accounts, savings buckets, paycheck-ahead living—and it literally protected their family during a potential shutdown pay delay. Budget bestie win of the year. 🥳 What we coveredA huge win: Being a paycheck ahead so a shutdown/pay delay doesn’t force a panic loan.The real question: Car #2 will be paid off in July—should they roll that payment straight into student loans Dave Ramsey-style?Why it feels impossible: Doctorate-level debt + preschool-hours income + three little kids + a spouse who’s gone a lot.The mindset shift: Doctorate-level debt can be tackled more aggressively when you’re closer to doctorate-level income.Storm Mode permission: When life is unstable (shutdown uncertainty, limited work hours, heavy family load), it’s okay to pause aggression and pay minimums temporarily.Quality of life matters: Not as an excuse—as a sustainability strategy. Date nights, small “fun money,” and feeling less tight can keep you consistent for the long haul.Tactical tip to reduce overwhelm: Even if the loans are “one balance,” they’re often broken into multiple smaller loans inside the account. Tracking them separately can make the mountain feel climbable.Meet-in-the-middle plan: After the car payoff, consider splitting the freed-up payment:top off key savings buckets (annual bills, gifts, essentials)increase spending accounts to reduce day-to-day stress Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level: 1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook 2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall 3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching This...

    15 min

  4. FEB 18

    How We Started a Podcast (Accidentally) and Grew to 1.5 Million Plays

    🎧 Want the free Podcast Bootcamp + VIP upgrade? Click here. Today is a short, fun, behind-the-scenes episode where we’re taking you back to the VERY unglamorous beginning of Financial Coaching for Women. 😂🎙️ If you’ve ever wondered how you even found us, why this show feels so “meant to be,” or what it looked like before we had any clue what we were doing… this one’s for you. In this episode, we cover:The moment Shana accidentally started a podcast (yes, on purpose… but also not) 😳Vanessa’s reaction: “How do you accidentally start a podcast?!”Our first “studio”: a garage + yoga mats + blankets + towelsThe umbrella era… because we thought it would stop sound waves 🫠Why people tell us, “I feel like God led me to your podcast” and why we fully agreeThe pivot point when we realized: “Oh… this podcast could actually be a thing”How we went from 3,000 plays to 1.5 million plays and 500+ episodes later Want the behind-the-scenes and the blueprint?If this episode has you thinking, “Okay… maybe I could start a podcast (or finally get serious about mine),” we’re inviting you to join Steph Gass’ free Profitable Podcast Bootcamp (Feb 23–27). ✅ Grab your spot here: stefaniegass.com/budgetbesties Use code: BUDGETBESTIES for a free VIP upgrade. We’ll see you over there. And if you’re just here for the origin story, we love you the most. 😉

    13 min

  5. FEB 16

    What To Do With Your Tax Refund So It Doesn’t Disappear: Pay Off Debt, Fund Your Savings Buckets, or Treat Yo’ Self? | 528

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp! Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now! Tax season is here, budget besties—and while it might not be anyone’s favorite, it is inevitable. In this episode, Shayna and Vanessa walk you through a simple, step-by-step plan for what to do with your tax refund (or what to do if you owe), so the money doesn’t disappear the second it hits your account. We talk about why refunds often vanish without a plan, how “I’ll pay it off when the refund comes” keeps you stuck in a behind cycle, and how to use your budget to decide what comes first. You’ll learn how to choose between the three main refund options—debt, savings buckets, or a splurge—based on what your real life and your full-year budget actually need. Plus, two pro tips: what to consider if you’re getting a big refund every year (hint: it may be time to revisit withholding), and how to prepare now if you owe taxes so next year doesn’t feel so painful. The goal? For your tax return to feel like a bonus—not the thing holding your whole financial year together. Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level: 1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook 2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall 3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice. This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase. Click here to view our privacy policy.

    16 min

  6. FEB 13

    How to Budget as a Couple: Separate Accounts, Automation, and Debt Payoff - Jamie's Story| 527

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp! Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now! Hey budget besties — today we’re hanging out with Jamie (Twin Cities, MN!) to talk about what it actually looked like to go from “shooting from the hip and hoping for the best” to having a real plan, real peace, and real progress. Jamie and her husband Kevin have been together since they were teenagers (married 23+ years), and like a lot of us, they weren’t raised with money skills modeled clearly. They’d do “a program” for a while, fall out of rhythm, and then drift back into chaos. Add in big-life curveballs (home repairs, medical stuff, kids getting older, college around the corner), and it hit a breaking point: the stress and uncertainty started feeling too expensive to ignore. So they brought in coaching — and everything changed. Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level: 1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook 2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall 3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice. This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase. Click here to view our privacy policy.

    28 min

  7. FEB 11

    Real Coaching Lessons: Budgeting for Paycheck Gaps + Planning College Visits Without Debt | 526

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp! Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now! Today we're pulling back the curtain and sharing real stories from our private coaching sessions – because if our clients are dealing with it, chances are you are too. From job transitions messing with pay schedules to college visits sneaking up on us (hello senior year!), we’re breaking down exactly how we helped our clients navigate these challenges without falling into a debt spiral. We’re talking about: Why funding your grocery account is non-negotiableWhat to do when your paycheck date shifts and the bills don’t careThe sneaky stress of college visit expenses – and how to stop pretending it’s not happeningHow skipping a debt payment to build a buffer is actually a smart moveThe power of planning ahead (even if your kid is just a freshman) These are the kinds of wins that may not look flashy on paper — but the Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level: 1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook 2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall 3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice. This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase. Click here to view our privacy policy.

    9 min

  8. FEB 9

    How To Fix The Money Beliefs Sabotaging Your Budget | 525

    Curious? Watch Our Money Makeover Bootcamp! Ready? Buy Our Simplified Budget System Now! Hey budget besties! 💸 This episode is for every single one of us walking around with invisible—but very real—money baggage. Whether it came from childhood sayings like “money doesn’t grow on trees” or past relationship drama, Shana and Vanessa are breaking down where our money beliefs come from and how they shape the way we spend, save, and stress about money today. 💼 What is money baggage anyway? It’s the beliefs, habits, and emotions around money that you’ve carried—sometimes without even knowing it. And they’re often rooted in family dynamics, cultural expectations, or past financial experiences. 🎯 In this episode, we explore: The most common money messages we heard growing up (and how they STILL influence us today)How fear of spending or scarcity mindsets show up in our relationshipsWhy two people can bring wildly different money habits into a marriage—and how that causes tensionThe weight of cultural or family pressure to live a certain lifestyleThe emotional toll of money trauma from past relationshipsAnd most importantly, how to recognize your patterns and choose a new path forward 💬 Shana shares how her childhood taught her not to ask for things (because the answer would be no), and how that belief showed up in her marriage—even when it didn’t make sense. Vanessa gets real about how her parents losing their jobs drove her to pay off her mortgage early. These stories aren’t just personal—they’re universal. And they show us just how deep this stuff runs. ✨ But here’s the good news: You get to decide what comes next. You’re not stuck in the patterns you were handed. Whether you're scared to spend or scared to talk about money at all, you can shift how you handle your finances—and we’re here to help you do it. Let’s Take Our Relationship To The Next Level: 1️⃣ Facebook Group ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/facebook 2️⃣ Be on the Podcast ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/livecall 3️⃣ Private 1-on-1 Coaching. ➡︎ budgetbesties.com/coaching This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not personal financial, legal, or tax advice. This description may contain affiliate links, meaning we may get a commission at no cost to you if you click & purchase. Click here to view our privacy policy.

    13 min
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***TOP 1% MONEY & FINANCIAL SUPPORT PODCAST*** Do you make good money but have nothing to show for it? Tired of using your bank account & credit card balances as your budget? Want to get debt-free but don’t want to sacrifice everything to do it? Ready to save money and build generational wealth? You’re in the right place! We’re telling you exactly how to budget, pay off debt, save money & stop living paycheck to paycheck. We’re Shana & Vanessa: BFFs, business partners & Dave Ramsey Solutions Master Financial Coaches (and unofficial marriage counselors). We’re glad you’re here.

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