Simplify and Enjoy Podcast Elle Martinez

Not happy with the service you’re getting from your bank? It may be time to switch. Learn how credit unions work and see if they’re a better banking option for you!
Move Your Money to a Better Banking Option Where you bank matters. For most families, their checking and savings accounts are the foundation of their financial system. When it's not working, it just makes everything harder.
We know because we’ve had some really bad experiences with a few of the big banks.
Whether it was poor customer service, needless fees, and minimum balances requirements (even though the interest rates they were offering were abysmal), we just felt like it was a headache and chore dealing with them.
Years ago we decided to move our money to where we could get great service and get perks like better rates with savings. One of the places we picked was a credit union, specifically Coastal Credit Union. We’ve been happy with switching over, but the focus today is not on us, but on you.
It doesn’t matter to me whether you choose a community bank, credit union, online, or yes, one of the big players. I just want you to be happy where you bank. Seriously.
Which is why I’m happy to have Emily Nails, VP of Cooperative Strategies and Executive Director of the Coastal Credit Union Foundation on the show today.
Not only are they a sponsor of this podcast, but they’ve also been our credit union for over ten years.
In this episode, we’ll get into:
how credit unions work the benefits that credit union members can enjoy how credit unions benefits their communities Let’s get started!
Resources to Easily Manage Your Money Your money should be working as hard as you, but managing it should be easy. Here are some of my favorite tools and resources to stay on top of your finances!
Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Coastal Federal Credit Union  Credit Unions vs. Banks: How to Decide Send in your family and financial questions here! If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families.
We’re families looking to support and help one another out. Hope to see you there!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.
As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.
We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!

Open enrollment season is here and I want you to be prepared. Learn what you need to know so that you can choose an affordable healthcare insurance plan that covers your family's needs!
Finding Affordable Health Insurance How would you like to help set up your finances for this next year so that it runs smoother and that you are gonna be hitting your money goals faster?
That might very well be the case if you take time to carefully to go over your options with Open Enrollment.
I know it might not seem like the most exciting thing when you get that packet, but you can have a huge and significant win with your finances if you take the time to really research your options and make sure that you're maximizing your benefits.
With open enrollment, there are going to be so many Health insurance is typically the biggest decision families worry about, and understandably so.
Health insurance can be expensive.
A recent health employer benefits survey found that the average premium for family coverage is $22,463 per year. That includes what your employer pays. However, most only a percentage. On average, employees are paying $6,106 year for premiums for their family plans. Now you add in copays and your deductible and it can be pricey, well you can see how important it is to find the right health insurance plan for you.
You might feel like we did – trying to strike a balance.
On one hand, handing over that much money month after month when we basically use it for annual well visits seemed like such a waste.
But we didn’t want to be under covered either. Have you’ve seen those bills from the doctor’s office or hospitals?
If you’re fortunate, your HR department will have prepared a side by side analysis, comparing the major components of your different options.
Still, depending on your family’s particular needs such as dealing with a chronic health issue, you may have dig through that digital or paper packet to find answers about whether or not a specific things is covered.
So how do you sort through things? Today we’re dive into some of essential things you need to know so you can work together as a family and find the best option for you.
In this episode we discuss:
exactly how copays, coinsurance, deductibles, and more work so you know what coming out of your pocket and what's covered compare how typical base plans work versus high deductible health plans the ins and outs of health savings accounts We have a lot to cover so let’s get started!
Resources to Build Better Family Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!
Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Are High Deductible Health Plans and Health Savings Accounts an Affordable Option for You? How to Maximize Your Work Benefits During Open Enrollment Send in your family and financial questions here!
If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families.
We’re families looking to support and help one another out.
Hope to see you there!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! If you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better, come check out Coastal today.
We’ve been Coastal members for a few years have been happy with their services.
Did you know that Coastal offers a Health Savings Account? If you have a high deductible health plan, you need to take advantage of an HSA.
Find out more about what Coastal offers here!


Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.
Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become finan

Teaching kids about money doesn't have to be boring! Discover how to make learning about finances fun and engaging for your children!
Teaching Kids Smart Money Habits As parents we want to prepare out kids so when they decide to go off on their own, they’re equipped with not just the essential life skills, but also have wisdom on knowing when and how to use those skills.
Believe it or not, part of showing them the ropes is teaching them about money.
Because if we don’t, they’ll have a much harder time pursuing their goals because they’ll be weighed down by the consequences of bad money habits such as carrying a massive amount of debt.
Sadly carrying debts seems to the case for many Americans as I was reviewing some numbers from The Motley Fool about average debts.
Average credit card debt $5,733 Average personal loan debt $11,281 Average monthly new car payment $736 Average monthly used car payment $523 That’s a lot of baggage to carry Here’s the thing, though – how do you start those lessons?
It really is a family project. We have a big role as parents, but others in our circle can also be a wonderful help with getting our kids smarter with their money.
Paul Vasey is on the show to talk about how. He’s financial educator and the creator of Cash Crunch Games which is all about helping families have a fun time learning about finances through games. He also recently published a book – Raising Money-Smart Grandkids.
As you can guess from the title is focused on the grandparents, but most of those topics apply to parents as well.
In this episode we get into:
the power of conversations and games in shaping your child's financial mindset how to navigate discussions about budgeting, saving, and making choices within a limited budget creative ways to engage your kids in hands-on experiences that make learning about money fun and relevant to their lives We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
Resources to Build Better Family Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!
Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Cash Crunch Games Raising Money-Smart Grandkids Nuts and Bolts of Creating a Budget That Works Cashing Out: Creating a Flexible Financial Plan That Fits Your Family How to (Actually) Make Managing Your Money Fun FamZoo Kids and Money: How to Teach Them About Bank and Investing Accounts Financial Wellness: Tracking More Than Just the Numbers Send in your family and financial questions here!
If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families.
We’re families looking to support and help one another out.
Hope to see you there!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.
As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.
Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.
Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more! Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher. Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth togeth

Are you a parent trying to juggle your family's budget while still enjoying life? We’re going to walk you through how to find a balance with raising your kids, managing your money, and have fun!
Parenting on a Budget: Strategies for Juggling Kids, Money, and Happiness When you’re a parent, it can sometimes feel like there are so many demands on your finances and times. As we raise our kids, we may have to deal with daycare, school trips, extra curricular activities, family vacations, saving for college or trade, the list goes on and on.
Oh wait, you’re also expected to save for your own retirement.
It feels like a lot, right?
The pressure we feel from others or that we put on ourselves can make it seem like the price of parenthood is too much.
While we do have more responsibilities as we raise our kids, there are some real joys with it. The trick is find a way to identify your family’s particular priorities and manage your money in a way that balanced and fits the particular season of life you’re in.
Which is why I’m so glad Melissa McCollough from Coastal Credit Union is here to join us.
Not only is she the Digital Marketing Manager behind Coastal’s blog, but she’s also a mom who knows firsthand the juggling act of parenthood.
I love someone in the trenches chatting with me about making this work well.
In this episode we get into:
common challenges parents and families face when it comes to budgeting, and how to get through them effective strategies for saving money on kid-related expenses without sacrificing quality or experiences tools and resources, both online and in your community, that can make it easier to stay on top of your money so you have more time with your kids So, whether you're a parent looking to navigate the complexities of family finances or simply curious about the art of budgeting, this podcast episode is a must-listen.
We have a lot to cover, so let’s dive in!
Resources to Build Better Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!
Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Finding the Best Paying Side Hustles for You Why and How You Need to Diversify Your Income 18 Money-Saving Challenges To Save More Money! Send in your family and financial questions here! If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. 
We’re families looking to support and help one another out.
Hope to see you there!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.
As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.
We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!
Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.
Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more! Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher. Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together!

Are you looking to have some fun while saving up for your goals? We'll explore ten monthly money challenges that you and your family can try out!
Taking On Monthly Money Challenges As I mentioned last week, there's a wonderful opportunity for you to reset things with your finances and have a big win with your family and financial goals. There's three full months or 15 weeks, depending on how you want to look at it left in the year.
You can knock out some really big goals in that time. One thing that can help you out with that is monthly money challenges.
We got a variety of challenges that we're going to cover today that can help you develop new habits and routines. You can use that money to put towards whatever goal you're working on.
There are some great challenges you can do throughout the year like the 52-Week Savings Challenge and the 365-Day Nickel-Saving Challenge, which I’ll include in the show notes. There are also wonderful weekly challenges you can take on too.
However for this episode, I want to focus on monthly goals. I feel like that's a big enough chunk of time where you can effectively knock out something. And it gives you enough flexibility that if you're having a bad week, you can still finish up on a high note.
In this episode, I’m going to cover:
the psychology monthly money challenges go over the different types of money challenges you can take on highlight ten money challenges We have a lot to cover, so let’s get started!
Resources to Build Better Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!
Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Where Can I Find the Money to Build Emergency Savings? Send in your family and financial questions here! If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. It’s a group Andy, Andrew from Family Money Plan, and myself run as a team.
We’re families looking to support and help one another out.
Hope to see you there!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.
As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.
We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!


Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.
Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more! Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher. Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together! Photo Credits: Othmar Vigl

Today we’ll go over five steps on how to reset and achieve your big family money goals for before the year wraps up!
How to Reset and Reach Your Family and Financial Goals It’s the first full week of September. How are things going of you this year so far?
Looking back at 2023 so far, it’s honestly been a year of ups and downs for us.
Summer break for example had us taking two family trips around North Carolina which we certainly needed. Unfortunately my mom was in the hospital in the first part of July so our focus was on her for a few weeks. Thankfully she’s doing better now.
Honestly, though, I cut back on projects and some work I had planned here on the site and podcast. I also feel a bit weird saying this on the podcast, but yeah, I wasn’t as diligent as I usually am with finances.
Here’s the thing though – for the most part we’re still on track for our goals.
How?
As we have tackled our family and financial goals like saving down debt, saving for emergencies, and investing, we’ve developed habits and a financial system that has made it easier to stay on our goals. Cause I really do believe that there are times you need to give your family attention. If you have your financial system up, you can feel less stressed and better able to handle life’s curveballs.
I’d like to show you some ways you can manage your goals if you ‘re in a similar situation, where your focus hasn’t been on your finance because of family obligations.
The good news? You still have sixteen full weeks before this year is over. There is still plenty of time for you to make progress on your family and financial goals!
Resources to Build Better Budgets If you’re looking to start or revamp your budget so you can reach your family and financial goals faster, check out some of these resources below!
Best Budget and Money Apps: Empower, Tiller, Mint Grab Your Copy of My Book: Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money Where Can I Find the Money to Build Emergency Savings? Send in your family and financial questions here! If you’d like to chat more your money system, please join us in our private and free Facebook group – Thriving Families. It’s a group Andy, Andrew from Family Money Plan, and myself run as a team.
We’re families looking to support and help one another out.
Hope to see you there!
Thank You to Our Sponsor Coastal! Support for this podcast comes from Coastal Credit Union! Come check out Coastal today if you’re living in the Raleigh Durham area and looking to bank better.
As a credit union, Coastal serves its members first and foremost including an annual loyalty bonus.
We've been members for years and love their service and competitive rates on checking and savings accounts!
Support the Podcast! Thank you so much for listening to the podcast! If you enjoyed this episode and found it helpful, here are some ways to support it.
Spread the word! If you enjoyed this episode and think it can help a buddy get on the path to dumping debt and become financially free, please share. Join our coffee group ☕: Get access to exclusive behind the scenes videos, chats, and more! Leave a review. Honest feedback and reviews make a big difference and gets the word out about the podcast. Leave your review on Apple or Stitcher. Grab a copy of Jumpstart Your Marriage and Your Money. My book is designed for a busy couple to set up their finances in four weeks. Get tips and tools that have worked for other couples on their journey of building their marriage and wealth together! Photo Credits: George Milton, Taryn Elliott, and Max Andrey