Debt Sucks Podcast

Ben Matthews

5.0 (2)
Self-Improvement
Updated Weekly

The Debt Sucks podcast is all about tackling the messiness of debt, adulting, and taking control of your finances without losing your mind. I’ll be sharing practical tips, real talk, and strategies like the Debt Sucks Plan to help people crush their debt and live a life of freedom.

6d ago

My Energy - How Much of You Is Left at the End of the Day?

Debt drains energy. Take My Energy back. Financial stress can quietly drain your mental and emotional energy long before it creates an obvious crisis, with bills, debt, uncertainty, and repeated decisions constantly running in the background. This episode explores eight practical ways to reduce that burden, from getting debt onto paper and creating financial rules to building emergency savings, simplifying accounts, and focusing on one financial problem at a time. The goal is not simply to have more money, but to reclaim more attention, peace, choice, and energy for the life and people that matter most. Topics Ben Matthews explores in this episode: (00:00) How background financial stress silently drains daily mental and emotional capacity. (02:01) Why evaluating the "energy rate" of debt matters just as much as tracking balance and interest. (02:50) How transferring debt details onto a single worksheet gets problems out of your head and creates a clear plan. (04:00) Methods for reducing daily decision fatigue through automation and set financial rules. (04:48) The benefits of giving money a set weekly appointment rather than worrying seven days a week. (05:48) How targeting small debts with high emotional friction frees up instant mental space. (06:42) How an emergency fund absorbs minor disasters before they turn into multi-layered financial fires. (09:39) Practical techniques for eliminating daily microstress, such as canceling subscriptions and turning off shopping alerts. Learn more: https://debtsucks.info Talk with Ben Matthews: 803-799-1700 Subscribe to the Debt Sucks Podcast! Apple: https://apple.co/3Fz2vXE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vTVtMFd6BlbeA5gqTQW9i YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebtSucksPod?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/debtsuxspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/debtsuckspod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@debtsuckspod X: https://x.com/debtsuckspod The Debt Sucks Podcast is your fun, no-BS approach to debt relief. Say goodbye to stress, shame, and debt. Hosted by consumer bankruptcy attorney Ben Matthews, this is your weekly dose of real, relatable advice on crushing debt. If you’re dealing with mounting bills or sick of living paycheck to paycheck, we’re here to help you take control of your finances and find your way out. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
Sep 23

My People — Who Gets The Best of Me?

Is money stress ruining your relationship? Financial stress and debt often extend beyond bank accounts to damage personal relationships, leaving loved ones with depleted emotional energy and unnecessary friction. By shifting from individual blame to a unified team approach, partners can utilize practical tools like short weekly check-ins and emergency savings to align their goals. Ultimately, establishing financial control builds deeper trust and ensures family members receive the very best version of you. Topics Ben Matthews explores in this episode: (01:34) Discover how debt and money stress can create irritability, resentment, secrecy, blame, distraction, and arguments inside relationships. (02:39) Learn why small purchases can trigger enormous fights when the deeper issue is fear, uncertainty, or a lack of financial breathing room. (03:34) Start from the same financial truth so everyone understands the numbers and can attack the actual problem instead of attacking each other. (04:29) Shift money conversations from “me versus you” to “us versus the problem” and create short, productive weekly money meetings. (06:18) Explore how childhood experiences with money can shape what security, spending, saving, freedom, and financial danger mean to different people. (07:16) Create one shared financial win that gives everyone something meaningful to work toward while building greater financial stability. (09:08) Stop keeping score, establish healthier boundaries for difficult conversations, and focus on creating a financial system that feels fair and respectful. Learn more: https://debtsucks.info Talk with Ben Matthews: 803-799-1700 Subscribe to the Debt Sucks Podcast! Apple: https://apple.co/3Fz2vXE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vTVtMFd6BlbeA5gqTQW9i YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebtSucksPod?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/debtsuxspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/debtsuckspod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@debtsuckspod X: https://x.com/debtsuckspod The Debt Sucks Podcast is your fun, no-BS approach to debt relief. Say goodbye to stress, shame, and debt. Hosted by consumer bankruptcy attorney Ben Matthews, this is your weekly dose of real, relatable advice on crushing debt. If you’re dealing with mounting bills or sick of living paycheck to paycheck, we’re here to help you take control of your finances and find your way out. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
Sep 16

How Much of Your Time Is Actually My Time?

Debt isn’t just taking your money, it’s stealing your time. Every monthly debt payment represents actual work hours sacrificed to creditors, meaning debt steals valuable time rather than just money. By calculating a take-home hourly rate, spending decisions can be evaluated in terms of time cost to help reclaim individual freedom. Eliminating recurring monthly payments allows individuals to buy back their personal time and gain true control over their lives. Topics Ben Matthews explores in this episode: (00:00) Understand the difference between available hours and true personal time after accounting for daily obligations. (01:50) Discover how debt claims future work hours before those hours are even worked. (02:40) Calculate a take-home hourly rate to reveal the hidden time cost of monthly debt payments. (03:31) Evaluate impulse purchases by converting dollar amounts into required work hours. (04:26) Recognize how monthly financing deals hide the true amount of time sacrificed. (05:20) Reclaim personal hours by systematically eliminating debt and keeping a time scoreboard. (07:05) Use intentional spending to purchase services that return personal time. (08:01) Protect future freedom by viewing savings as stored time rather than just money. Learn more: https://debtsucks.info Talk with Ben Matthews: 803-799-1700 Subscribe to the Debt Sucks Podcast! Apple: https://apple.co/3Fz2vXE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vTVtMFd6BlbeA5gqTQW9i YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebtSucksPod?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/debtsuxspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/debtsuckspod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@debtsuckspod X: https://x.com/debtsuckspod The Debt Sucks Podcast is your fun, no-BS approach to debt relief. Say goodbye to stress, shame, and debt. Hosted by consumer bankruptcy attorney Ben Matthews, this is your weekly dose of real, relatable advice on crushing debt. If you’re dealing with mounting bills or sick of living paycheck to paycheck, we’re here to help you take control of your finances and find your way out. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
Sep 9

You Make Good Money. So Why Isn't Any of it Yours?

Do you often find yourself asking, “Where did my paycheck go?” A good salary can look impressive while leaving very little money available for actual choices. This episode introduces the concept of “my money,” showing how to calculate what remains after required expenses and how to gradually increase that number through smarter spending, fewer payments, emergency savings, and intentional planning. The goal is not simply having more money to spend, but creating more breathing room, control, freedom, and options. Topics Ben Matthews explores in this episode: (00:00) Discover why the amount you earn matters less than how much remains after everyone else gets paid. (00:48) Learn how to calculate your “my money” number by subtracting required monthly expenses from take-home income. (01:35) See why turning a vague feeling of being broke into a specific monthly shortage makes the problem easier to solve. (03:26) Find your first $100 of extra monthly money by reviewing spending without judgment and identifying expenses you no longer value. (04:23) Learn how to distinguish small spending leaks from structural financial problems that cannot be solved by canceling a streaming service. (06:08) Understand how eliminating recurring payments can permanently return part of your future paycheck to your control. (07:00) See how a small emergency fund can prevent unexpected expenses from becoming new monthly debt payments. (07:52) Learn how assigning, protecting, and automating your available money can turn higher income into intentional financial progress. Learn more: https://debtsucks.info Talk with Ben Matthews: 803-799-1700 Subscribe to the Debt Sucks Podcast! Apple: https://apple.co/3Fz2vXE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vTVtMFd6BlbeA5gqTQW9i YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebtSucksPod?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/debtsuxspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/debtsuckspod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@debtsuckspod X: https://x.com/debtsuckspod The Debt Sucks Podcast is your fun, no-BS approach to debt relief. Say goodbye to stress, shame, and debt. Hosted by consumer bankruptcy attorney Ben Matthews, this is your weekly dose of real, relatable advice on crushing debt. If you’re dealing with mounting bills or sick of living paycheck to paycheck, we’re here to help you take control of your finances and find your way out. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
Sep 2

How Back-to-School Spending Turns Into Holiday Debt Stress

Believe it or not, planning for the end-of-year holidays starts now. Back-to-school season can quietly become the beginning of holiday debt as school expenses, fall activities, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas costs pile on top of one another. This episode explains why emotional spending, especially around children and family traditions, can turn reasonable purchases into a season-long financial problem and lead to a painful January debt hangover. Listeners learn how to calculate the true cost of the holidays, save toward it in advance, establish spending rules, and create meaningful memories without sacrificing future financial choices. Topics Ben Matthews explores in this episode: (00:53) Learn how individually manageable expenses can stack together from August through December and turn into a four-month financial avalanche. (01:49) Understand how emotional pressure around children, fitting in, family memories, and marketing can influence spending decisions beyond simple math. (02:53) Consider the difference between creating meaningful memories and creating monthly payments that continue long after the holidays are over. (03:46) See how the excitement of December can become a January holiday debt hangover when credit card statements arrive and the celebrations are finished. (04:37) Build a Christmas Rockpile that includes gifts, food, travel, decorations, activities, donations, and other overlooked holiday costs before deciding what you can afford. (05:42) Use the Hammer and a beginning-of-school financial reset to create a weekly savings target and identify where holiday cash can come from before December. (08:32) Create a practical holiday action plan by setting up a separate Christmas account, finding your Hammer, establishing spending rules, and protecting your future goals from seasonal debt. Learn more: https://debtsucks.info Talk with Ben Matthews: 803-799-1700 Subscribe to the Debt Sucks Podcast! Apple: https://apple.co/3Fz2vXE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vTVtMFd6BlbeA5gqTQW9i YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebtSucksPod?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/debtsuxspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/debtsuckspod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@debtsuckspod X: https://x.com/debtsuckspod The Debt Sucks Podcast is your fun, no-BS approach to debt relief. Say goodbye to stress, shame, and debt. Hosted by consumer bankruptcy attorney Ben Matthews, this is your weekly dose of real, relatable advice on crushing debt. If you’re dealing with mounting bills or sick of living paycheck to paycheck, we’re here to help you take control of your finances and find your way out. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
Aug 26

How to Build Financial Stability When Your Income Changes Every Month

How can you build financial stability when you never know exactly what your next paycheck will be? Variable income does not have to create variable stress, but it requires a different financial system than the one designed for people with steady paychecks. This episode explains how to find a realistic income floor, create an income smoothing account, pay yourself consistently, prepare for taxes and emergencies, and use strong months to strengthen your financial position instead of expanding your lifestyle. It also explores how intentional spending and a brutally honest look at your finances can create more control when inflation and unpredictable income are working against you. Topics Ben Matthews explores in this episode: (00:00) Managing unpredictable earnings requires moving past traditional financial advice tailored to fixed paychecks. (02:39) Understanding the psychological traps of famine brain and feast brain reveals why variable income creates emotional spending patterns. (04:22) Calculating a realistic income floor based on historical earnings forms a solid baseline for household spending. (05:11) Establishing an income smoothing account allows variable earners to pay themselves a consistent, predictable salary. (06:08) Dividing incoming revenue into distinct buckets for taxes, smoothing, and unexpected emergencies protects long-term stability. (07:05) Directing surplus earnings from high months into specific savings and debt goals prevents lifestyle inflation. (09:47) Conducting a brutally honest money breakdown helps track true expenses and counter the impacts of inflation. (11:11) Exploring bankruptcy or professional legal consultations offers a fresh start for individuals overwhelmed by debt. Learn more: https://debtsucks.info Talk with Ben Matthews: 803-799-1700 Subscribe to the Debt Sucks Podcast! Apple: https://apple.co/3Fz2vXE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vTVtMFd6BlbeA5gqTQW9i YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebtSucksPod?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/debtsuxspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/debtsuckspod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@debtsuckspod X: https://x.com/debtsuckspod The Debt Sucks Podcast is your fun, no-BS approach to debt relief. Say goodbye to stress, shame, and debt. Hosted by consumer bankruptcy attorney Ben Matthews, this is your weekly dose of real, relatable advice on crushing debt. If you’re dealing with mounting bills or sick of living paycheck to paycheck, we’re here to help you take control of your finances and find your way out. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
Aug 19

How To Talk About Money Without Starting A Fight

Money arguments are rarely about the numbers alone because spending, saving, and debt can trigger deeper emotions involving security, trust, shame, and respect. This episode explains how couples can replace blame with curiosity, schedule productive money meetings, and approach financial problems as teammates. It also offers practical questions and tools for turning overwhelming debt and relationship stress into an honest, shared plan. Topics Ben Matthews explores in this episode: (00:00) Financial conversations in relationships often trigger emotional fights because they touch on underlying feelings of security, fear, and respect. (00:57) Couples frequently argue about what money represents—such as value, appreciation, and childhood upbringing—rather than actual dollar amounts. (03:42) Waiting for a financial crisis or overdue bill before bringing up money turns conversations into emotional reactions instead of proactive maintenance. (04:34) Scheduling a regular weekly money meeting with clear rules helps partners celebrate small financial wins and review income neutrally without blame. (05:28) Attacking financial problems directly instead of criticizing personal identities creates a constructive environment for resolving tough money issues. (07:16) Overcoming feelings of embarrassment and shame around debt is essential for transforming financial obstacles into shared mathematical solutions. (08:06) Laying out every debt balance on paper using the rock pile method grants couples total clarity and actionable power over their finances. (11:23) Initiating a weekly money conversation using four targeted questions can guide partners toward shared financial goals and long-term peace. Learn more: https://debtsucks.info Talk with Ben Matthews: 803-799-1700 Subscribe to the Debt Sucks Podcast! Apple: https://apple.co/3Fz2vXE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vTVtMFd6BlbeA5gqTQW9i YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebtSucksPod?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/debtsuxspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/debtsuckspod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@debtsuckspod X: https://x.com/debtsuckspod The Debt Sucks Podcast is your fun, no-BS approach to debt relief. Say goodbye to stress, shame, and debt. Hosted by consumer bankruptcy attorney Ben Matthews, this is your weekly dose of real, relatable advice on crushing debt. If you’re dealing with mounting bills or sick of living paycheck to paycheck, we’re here to help you take control of your finances and find your way out. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/
Aug 12

The $5,000 Microwave Handle

How can one small purchase trigger thousands of dollars in additional spending? A seemingly minor broken microwave handle can trigger a psychological spending cascade that results in thousands of dollars in unexpected debt. By understanding the Diderot Effect, consumers can recognize how upgrading a single item often creates a false urge to replace everything around it. Establishing an intentional emergency cushion serves as a vital buffer that keeps everyday mishaps from spiraling into financial distress. Topics Ben Matthews explores in this episode: (00:00) Discover how a $2 piece of plastic eventually created a $5,000 expense. (00:53) Learn why debt often enters your life through ordinary and seemingly responsible decisions. (01:39) Follow the first domino as one replacement makes every surrounding appliance appear outdated. (03:38) Understand the Diderot effect and how one new possession can trigger a cycle of additional upgrades. (05:21) Explore why many debt decisions begin with love, generosity, and the desire to make someone happy. (06:52) See how unplanned purchases become part of a growing financial “rock pile.” (07:51) Learn how a small emergency cushion can turn a potential financial crisis back into a minor inconvenience. (10:17) Review four practical lessons for recognizing spending cascades and preparing for unexpected expenses. Learn more: https://debtsucks.info Talk with Ben Matthews: 803-799-1700 Subscribe to the Debt Sucks Podcast! Apple: https://apple.co/3Fz2vXE Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5vTVtMFd6BlbeA5gqTQW9i YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DebtSucksPod?sub_confirmation=1 Facebook: https://facebook.com/debtsuxspod Instagram: https://instagram.com/debtsuckspod TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@debtsuckspod X: https://x.com/debtsuckspod The Debt Sucks Podcast is your fun, no-BS approach to debt relief. Say goodbye to stress, shame, and debt. Hosted by consumer bankruptcy attorney Ben Matthews, this is your weekly dose of real, relatable advice on crushing debt. If you’re dealing with mounting bills or sick of living paycheck to paycheck, we’re here to help you take control of your finances and find your way out. This episode was produced by Story On Media: https://www.storyon.co/

5

out of 5

2 Ratings

The Debt Sucks podcast is all about tackling the messiness of debt, adulting, and taking control of your finances without losing your mind. I’ll be sharing practical tips, real talk, and strategies like the Debt Sucks Plan to help people crush their debt and live a life of freedom.

Creator

Ben Matthews
Years Active

2025 - 2026
Episodes

89
Rating

Explicit
Copyright

© 2025
Show Website

Debt Sucks Podcast