Finance Girlies: Money Conversations for Gen Z and Millennial Women

Emily & Cassidy | Resident Finance Girlies

Do you feel like you’re making progress with money, but somehow still feel behind?  Maybe you’re already saving, paying your bills on time, and investing a little.  But you still find yourself thinking: "Wait… am I actually doing this right?" And when you try to find the answer, you get even more frustrated because everything online feels like it was made for some Wall Street bro obsessing over his next trade. If you’re craving money conversations that actually reflect you — an ambitious, vibrant woman using her money to build a life that feels abundant in every sense — come hang with us. Welcome to the Finance Girlies, a money podcast for the girlies who’ve never felt seen by traditional finance advice.  We’re your hosts, Emily Batdorf and Cassidy Horton. Between the two of us, we’ve spent more than a decade researching and writing for big publications in the personal finance space.  Now, every Wednesday, we’re sharing our financial knowledge, experience, and hard-won confidence with you. (And when it’s helpful, we bring in trusted experts to help us unpack the more complex topics.)   During each episode of The Finance Girlies, we’ll cover topics like: Why you don’t have to feel “ready” before you start investingHow to be a more conscious consumer when you’re constantly being #influencedHow your career as a freelancer, entrepreneur, or employee affects your financial realityHow to handle money conflicts in relationships — and strategies to avoid them altogetherHow your money beliefs directly impact your financial habits and choices Together, we’ll explore how you relate to money: through conversations with your partner, the paycheck you earn, and how you spend your days. Instead of throwing prescriptive advice at you, we’ll give you helpful reframes, mindset tools, and why-did-nobody-teach-me-this tidbits to help you build financial confidence every day. If you’ve ever felt like personal financial advice was too dry, impractical, condescending — or just too bro-y — we invite you to pop in an earbud and let out a deep exhale. 

  1. 3d ago

    Do you need a will? Probably, and here's why / 93

    A will can feel like something for a future version of you — one with a house, kids, a spouse, and a lot more assets to worry about. But when you start thinking about the bank accounts, belongings, pets, and people already in our lives, it may be time to question that assumption. Chances are, a will is worth having sooner than you think. The good news? Creating one might not be nearly as scary — or time-consuming — as it sounds. Cassidy recently went through the entire process, and in this episode, she’s walking through exactly what it looked like. We cover what happens if we don’t have a will, how to choose beneficiaries and the people who will carry out our wishes, and why getting a good-enough plan in place can be better than waiting for the “perfect” one. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ [01:00] What a last will and testament is — and what it can actually cover[01:30] Why a will can matter even if we’re single, don’t have kids, or don’t own a home[03:30] What can happen to our assets, pets, and belongings if we die without a will[05:00] Choosing an executor and why it’s important to talk to them ahead of time[07:00] The different ways to create a will, including using an online service[09:30] A step-by-step look at creating a will, from guardians to beneficiaries[14:30] Choosing an executor, power of attorney, and healthcare directive[19:00] Handling the emotional overwhelm of deciding who gets what[20:30] How long the process actually took — and why breaks helped[21:30] Getting documents notarized, storing them safely, and reviewing a will over time✨ Resources ✨ EthosLegalZoomTrust & WillSend us Fan Mail Apply to our pilot Financial Coaching program at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. Learn about our Financial Coaching pilot program and apply at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

  2. Sep 9

    Minimalism, money, and finding your “enough” with Kelly Foss / 92

    How many things have we bought for a version of ourselves who doesn’t exist yet? The art supplies for a hobby we’ll pick up someday. The clothes for a lifestyle we don’t actually live. The product that promises to make some part of our routine just a little bit better. Those purchases can add up — in our homes, our budgets, and our mental load. But being more intentional with our spending doesn’t have to mean depriving ourselves or stripping our lives down to the bare minimum. In this episode, we’re talking with Kelly Foss, host of the Millennial Minimalist podcast, to explore what minimalism can teach us about money. We talk about defining our own version of “enough,” recognizing when we’re spending for our aspirational selves, and deciding what’s genuinely worth bringing into our lives. We also get into emotional spending, the purchases that are absolutely worth making, and how buying less can help us feel better about spending on what we truly value. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ [01:00] What minimalism actually means — and why it’s more about intentionality than owning as little as possible[06:30] The emotional side of clutter, stress spending, and why buying something new rarely fixes the feeling underneath[10:30] How to figure out what “enough” looks like when it comes to clothes, hobbies, and everything else we own[15:00] Practical ways to decide what stays, what goes, and what we’ll realistically use[18:30] The aspirational-self spending trap — and how social media can convince us to buy for a life we aren’t actually living[22:00] How buying less can reduce money anxiety, decision fatigue, and the mental energy we spend thinking about purchases[24:00] Finding our personal “number” and deciding what we genuinely want our money to support[27:00] Spending more on the things we value — from workout classes to coffee — while intentionally spending less elsewhere[33:00] How to enjoy our money without slipping into overconsumption, plus examples of purchases that genuinely improve daily life[40:00] A simple experiment for anyone who keeps buying things and wondering, “Why did I even buy this?”✨ Resources ✨ Kelly’s podcast: Millennial Minimalists Kelly’s website: mastersimplicity.comListen to the Finance Girlies on Kelly’s podcast: Money Made Simple with the Finance GirliesSend us Fan Mail Apply to our pilot Financial Coaching program at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. Learn about our Financial Coaching pilot program and apply at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

  3. Sep 2

    How to buy a car from start to finish (our car-buying stories) / 91

    This episode was previously available exclusively to our paid subscribers and is now being released to all listeners. We’re excited to share it with all the girlies out there! If you enjoy it, please take a minute to leave a rating and review on your favorite podcast platform — and thanks for listening! 💗 Buying a car is one of those financial decisions that can make even the most confident money person second-guess everything. How much should you spend? Is new or used the better choice? Are you getting a good interest rate? And how do you know when you’ve researched enough to actually make a decision? We’ve been through all of that ourselves, so we’re bringing one of our most popular previously insiders-only episodes out from behind the paywall. We’re revisiting our two different car-buying experiences — one brand new and one certified pre-owned — and sharing the actual numbers behind both. We get into how we decided what we could comfortably afford, what mattered most when choosing our cars, and how we approached financing and negotiating. We also share how Cassidy negotiated $9,000 off the initial dealership price, why Emily chose certified pre-owned, the extra ownership costs we planned for (and a few we didn’t), and what we’d keep in mind the next time we’re car shopping. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ [00:00] Why buying a car can bring so much financial stress and overthinking[05:30] What we each wanted in a new car — and how we set our budgets[12:00] How we researched cars and narrowed down our options[18:00] Choosing between new and certified pre-owned vehicles[24:30] Getting into the numbers: financing, interest rates, and negotiation[32:30] Negotiating thousands off the purchase price — and the tactics that helped[43:00] Buying certified pre-owned, paying cash at the dealership, and navigating a trade-in[52:00] The extra costs of car ownership, from insurance to winter tires[58:30] Car-buying rules of thumb, loan terms, and our practical tips before heading to the dealership✨ Resources ✨ Consumer Reports Kelley Blue BookAuto loan calculator (Bankrate)Send us Fan Mail Apply to our pilot Financial Coaching program at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. Learn about our Financial Coaching pilot program and apply at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

  4. Aug 26

    What should I invest in as a beginner? / 90

    We truly believe investing can be simple. But all the jargon — 401(k)s, IRAs, ETFs, target date funds — can be enough to stop a new investor in her tracks. When every decision seems to come with another acronym or account type to understand, it’s easy to keep putting off getting started. In this episode, we’re going back to the basics to answer two key questions: Where should your money go, and what should you invest in once it gets there?  We walk through the accounts you may want to prioritize, beginner-friendly investment options, and what we’d each do if we were starting from scratch today. Remember: You don’t need to understand everything or build a perfectly optimized portfolio before you begin. You just need enough clarity to take that first step — and you can adjust as you learn. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ [00:00] The two questions that can make getting started with investing feel much simpler[02:00] Why an employer-sponsored retirement plan with a match may be the best place to start[04:00] How HSAs work, including the triple tax advantage that makes them so valuable[05:30] Roth vs. traditional IRAs — and why choosing the “perfect” one matters less than getting started[08:00] When a taxable brokerage account might deserve a higher spot on your investing priority list[11:00] Why trying to optimize every decision can keep us stuck — and why our investing strategies can change over time[12:30] The beginner investing step that’s easy to miss: actually investing the cash after transferring it[14:00] How target date retirement funds offer a simple, beginner-friendly approach[16:00] A more hands-on strategy using index funds and ETFs[18:30] What we’d each do if we were starting from scratch today — plus our beginner investing roadmap✨ Resources ✨ Why you don’t feel ready to invest (and how to start anyway) / 67We tried it: Opening (and investing in) an HSA / 89Roth IRA or 401(k)? Where to invest first with Sean Mullaney / 72Is investing $100 a week enough to fund retirement? / 85Send us Fan Mail Apply to our pilot Financial Coaching program at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. Learn about our Financial Coaching pilot program and apply at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

  5. Aug 19

    We tried it: Opening (and investing in) an HSA / 89

    Opening a Health Savings Account (HSA) sounds like something that requires hours of research and a dozen decisions. In reality? After putting it off for almost a year, Cassidy finally opened one in eight minutes. In this episode, we’re sharing exactly how we opened, funded, and invested our HSAs — from choosing a provider to deciding how much to keep in cash versus invest. We also talk about when it makes sense to use your HSA for medical expenses today and when you might choose to let that money grow for the future. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ [00:00] Why HSAs can be so powerful — and why investing the money is worth considering[03:30] How we chose where to open an HSA and set up contributions[06:30] A real-life look at our HSA investments (and realizing we may have some adjustments to make!)[09:00] Putting off opening an HSA for almost a year — only to get it done in 8 minutes[11:30] Funding and investing an HSA, including how much to keep available in cash[13:30] Using your deductible as a guide for deciding how much HSA money to keep in cash[15:00] Therapy, menstrual products, and other expenses that may qualify for HSA funds✨ Resources ✨ Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): The incredible financial tool you may be overlooking  (Finance Girlies episode 54)Fidelity HSAIRS list of qualified medical expensesSend us Fan Mail Apply to our pilot Financial Coaching program at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. Learn about our Financial Coaching pilot program and apply at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

  6. Aug 12

    10 money rules we don't follow anymore / 88

    It's funny how some money rules can feel like absolute truth... until they don't.  As we've learned more about personal finance — and lived a little more life — we've found ourselves changing our minds about advice we used to follow (sometimes, without question). Some of those rules helped us build great habits, while others eventually became more limiting than helpful. In this episode, we're sharing ten money rules we've personally let go of over the years, from avoiding all debt and obsessing over lifestyle creep to believing you have to buy a house or put 20% down to be "good" with money. We talk about what changed our minds, where these rules can still be helpful, and why personal finance is often a lot more nuanced than the internet makes it seem. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ [00:00] Why we're revisiting the money rules we used to follow, and why it's okay for your financial philosophy to evolve[02:00] Why we no longer believe all debt is bad, and how low-interest debt can sometimes make financial sense[04:30] Our approach to using credit cards responsibly, and why avoiding them isn't always the best advice[06:00] Why waiting to invest until you're completely debt-free can cost you valuable time in the market[09:00] The difference between intentional lifestyle upgrades and keeping up with everyone else[12:00] Why we don't believe buying a home should be everyone's default financial goal (but it’s okay if it’s your goal) — and why renting can be a great choice for many[16:00] The truth about putting 20% down on a house and why many buyers take a different path[19:30] Why your emergency fund is meant to be used, and how to let go of the guilt when life happens[24:00] How our views on the FIRE movement have changed and why balance matters more than financial perfection[29:30] Why the "financially optimized" choice isn't always the right choice — and how talking openly about money can make all the difference✨ Resources ✨ Episode 70: Rethinking the Emergency FundEpisode 8: Debt 101: Is being in debt always bad?Send us Fan Mail Apply to our pilot Financial Coaching program at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. Learn about our Financial Coaching pilot program and apply at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

  7. Aug 5

    Our month-long money diary: Does our spending align with our values? / 87

    We love a good “look at your numbers” moment — but what happens when you take it one step further and ask, does this actually reflect the life I want?  In this re-release of a previously Insiders-only episode, we map our real-life spending against our core values. And honestly, it felt a little vulnerable. We start by sharing our personal values, then break down exactly where our money went throughout the month. Finally, we talk through what felt aligned… and what didn’t. From therapy and travel to yoga memberships, beauty spending, and supporting local businesses, this conversation is equal parts practical and reflective — the kind that helps us zoom out and course-correct without shame. If you’ve ever felt like you’re “doing okay” with money but are still wondering if you’re actually making the most of it, this episode is for you. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ [01:30] Why we started by defining our core values before looking at a single dollar we spent.[05:00] A peek inside our real spending from the month — including rent, travel, groceries, therapy, and more.[12:30] The discretionary purchases that brought us the most joy — and the ones that made us pause.[14:00] How travel, yoga, therapy, and meaningful relationships showed up in our spending.[16:30] The purchases that didn't feel as aligned with our values, even if they weren't "bad" decisions.[19:30] Why some spending categories feel so emotionally loaded, and how we're learning to think about them differently.[25:30] From beauty routines to housing costs, we share the purchases we sometimes second-guess — without the shame.[31:00] The values we'd spend even more on if money weren't a limiting factor.[39:00] What this exercise revealed about our habits, plus the small course corrections we're making moving forward.[44:30] One simple question that can tell you far more than just tracking where your money goes.✨ Resources ✨ Ramit Sethi’s Rich Life JournalThe Slight Edge by Jeff OlsonYou Don’t Need a Budget by Dana MirandaSend us Fan Mail Apply to our pilot Financial Coaching program at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. Learn about our Financial Coaching pilot program and apply at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

  8. Jul 29

    Personality-based budgeting with budget coach Erin Britt / 86

    Some people color-code their budgets, reconcile every transaction, and genuinely enjoy a spreadsheet. Others would rather do just about anything else. If you've ever looked at someone else's budgeting system and thought, There's no way I could keep up with that, you’ll want to hear this conversation. In this episode, we chat with budget strategy coach and host of The Budget Effect, Erin Britt, to unpack one big question: does your personality determine whether you'll be good at budgeting? We explore the strengths that both type A and type B personalities bring to money management, why flexibility matters more than perfection, and how to build a budgeting system that actually fits your life instead of forcing you into someone else's. ✨ Episode Highlights ✨ [00:00] Why personality type has more to do with budgeting than you might think.[02:00] Can type B personalities actually budget? Why everyone needs a money system, even if you hate structure.[06:00] Breaking down the common traits of type A and type B personalities, plus how each one influences money habits.[09:30] Why traditional budgeting advice often feels designed for type A personalities — and what type B budgeters need instead.[11:30] The freedom of giving yourself permission to change your budget every month as your life changes.[16:30] Why personalizing your budget categories can make budgeting feel more motivating and aligned with your values.[19:00] Budget "rules" you can let go of, and why flexibility doesn't mean giving up financial boundaries.[23:30] How different budgeting styles — from detailed categories to broad spending buckets — can all be successful.[26:30] How to tell whether a budgeting method simply needs more practice or genuinely isn't the right fit for you.[32:00] What type A and type B personalities can learn from each other, and why comparison rarely helps your financial journey.✨ Resources ✨ Listen to Erin's podcast, The Budget EffectVisit The Budget Effect website: https://thebudgeteffect.comSend us Fan Mail Apply to our pilot Financial Coaching program at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. Learn about our Financial Coaching pilot program and apply at thefinancegirlies.com/coaching. 📩 Get The Finance Girlies newsletter:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/newsletter 💻Visit The Finance Girlies website:  https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/ 💖Email us your money questions:  hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

4.9
out of 5
9 Ratings

About

Do you feel like you’re making progress with money, but somehow still feel behind?  Maybe you’re already saving, paying your bills on time, and investing a little.  But you still find yourself thinking: "Wait… am I actually doing this right?" And when you try to find the answer, you get even more frustrated because everything online feels like it was made for some Wall Street bro obsessing over his next trade. If you’re craving money conversations that actually reflect you — an ambitious, vibrant woman using her money to build a life that feels abundant in every sense — come hang with us. Welcome to the Finance Girlies, a money podcast for the girlies who’ve never felt seen by traditional finance advice.  We’re your hosts, Emily Batdorf and Cassidy Horton. Between the two of us, we’ve spent more than a decade researching and writing for big publications in the personal finance space.  Now, every Wednesday, we’re sharing our financial knowledge, experience, and hard-won confidence with you. (And when it’s helpful, we bring in trusted experts to help us unpack the more complex topics.)   During each episode of The Finance Girlies, we’ll cover topics like: Why you don’t have to feel “ready” before you start investingHow to be a more conscious consumer when you’re constantly being #influencedHow your career as a freelancer, entrepreneur, or employee affects your financial realityHow to handle money conflicts in relationships — and strategies to avoid them altogetherHow your money beliefs directly impact your financial habits and choices Together, we’ll explore how you relate to money: through conversations with your partner, the paycheck you earn, and how you spend your days. Instead of throwing prescriptive advice at you, we’ll give you helpful reframes, mindset tools, and why-did-nobody-teach-me-this tidbits to help you build financial confidence every day. If you’ve ever felt like personal financial advice was too dry, impractical, condescending — or just too bro-y — we invite you to pop in an earbud and let out a deep exhale. 

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