Hey Girlies,

This week we're THRILLED to share our first-ever guest episode! We sat down with Amanda Bourbonais, founder of Health First Freelancer, who's rewriting the rules on balancing finances and wellbeing. ⚖️

Whether you're managing a chronic condition or just trying to *adult properly*, health expenses can crush your budget. So how do you prioritize your wellbeing without sacrificing other financial goals? 🤔

Amanda's got answers. She built a six-figure freelance business while managing chronic Lyme disease and created a framework where health isn't an afterthought — it's the foundation.

In this episode, hear…

* How much of Amanda’s budget she allocates for health spending

* Why she doesn't feel guilty spending a lot on her health

* Budget-friendly health hacks for those without six-figure incomes

* Why Amanda ditched traditional insurance for CrowdHealth (and pays under $200/month)

* Her favorite health splurge (and the one that wasn’t worth it…)

This isn't just about building a business around illness — it's about creating a life where your wellbeing and financial success strengthen each other.

We know you’re going to love this episode.

And if you’re eager to learn more from Amanda, check out her online community, Health First Freelancer. She also has a YouTube channel with more health & business tips.

To health and money,

💗 Emily + Cassidy

P.S. Okay, big news!!! This is the last free episode of the month… because next week, we’re officially launching The Finance Girlies Insiders — our paid subscription tier. 🎉

That means:🔥 One Insider-only episode each month, starting with anonymous wedding confessions, money drama, and a full script workbook🫢 Juicier convos that are too real (or too spicy) for the main feed🎧 Real listener coaching sessions + deeper stories from our lives💸 Early access to Q&As, exclusive polls, and discounts on future events and products🎁 Plus, surprise extras we’re cooking up behind the scenes

No matter what, you’ll get three free episodes a month — but the final episode of the month will be just for Insiders. (If you’re a free subscriber, you’ll get a free preview of every paid episode in your feed so you can decide if it’s worth unlocking.)

But if you already know you want more — now’s the time.

We’re offering founding member pricing: just $5/month (normally $8), and you get to keep that rate forever.

💌 Sign up as a founding member 👇

This special pricing disappears next Wednesday (May 28), when our first Insiders episode goes live.

We can’t wait to show you what we’ve been working on. 😉

Have you ever laid awake at night, your mind racing with money worries? Or avoided opening your banking app because just seeing the numbers makes your chest tight?

You're so not alone.

This Mental Health Awareness month, we wanted to dive into something that affects nearly half of Americans — the powerful connection between our finances and our mental wellbeing.

Because here's the thing: Money stress isn't just about numbers.

It lives in our bodies.

It affects our sleep.

It impacts our relationships.

And it sometimes makes even small financial tasks feel completely overwhelming 🫣

In our latest episode, we share:

* The jaw-dropping stats about just how common this struggle is. 📊

* Our own experiences with money stress. 💵

* Why money and mental health create this tricky cycle that can be hard to break. 🔄

* Why the shame around both topics makes everything feel so much harder. 😔

But don't worry — this episode isn't all heavy vibes.

We also give you several gentle, practical strategies that can help when money stress bubbles up. (These are tiny, manageable steps, not major overhauls that make it too scary to start).

After listening to this episode, we'd love for you to check in with yourself: How is money affecting your mental health right now?

💌 If this topic resonates with you, we'd love to hear your story. Drop us an email or comment below, and let us know what topics or resources would help you handle your financial anxiety.

And remember — we're all figuring it out together.

Until next week, Emily + Cassidy 💸

The world of credit cards can be a little overwhelming. From understanding interest rates and fees to points-hacking and rewards , it can be hard to figure out which cards are actually worth having.

That's why today, we're literally opening our wallets to show you the credit cards we each carry around. But don't worry, we're not points-optimization wizards spending hours tracking categories or timing applications. We're just two regular gals who've figured out how to get some pretty sweet perks without making our money lives too complicated.

📌 Time Stamps:

[00:00:00] The cards in our wallets right now

[00:05:00] Emily's personal credit cards and annual fee philosophy

[00:09:00] Cassidy's credit card lineup and favorite card

[00:15:00] How we split spending between different cards

[00:21:00] Our business credit cards (spoiler: we have the same one!)

[00:27:00] Why keep business and personal spending separate

[00:29:00] How we actually use our points and rewards

[00:35:00] Our credit card philosophies and how they've evolved

[00:43:00] Credit score checks, regrets, and final thoughts

Anyone else think the wedding industry can be a little bit... extra?

From the average wedding cost ($33,000) to the costs incurred as a guest, we're breaking down why weddings are so expensive… and how we think about spending when it comes to throwing the biggest party of your life.

In this episode, we share what we personally prioritized for our own weddings, which traditions feel overrated, and how to create a meaningful celebration without giving in to industry pressure.

📌 Time Stamps:

[00:04:00] The shocking statistics: average wedding costs

[00:07:00] How much these Reddit users spent as wedding guests or members of the bridal party

[00:10:00] Our takes on overrated wedding expenses

[00:19:00] Would you rather: wedding expense edition

[00:31:00] Why the wedding industry is like this: social media pressure and "wedding tax"

[00:37:00] What actually mattered to us as brides

[00:43:00] Memorable wedding moments that weren't flashy but made a big impression

[00:46:00] Finding your own wedding values

Summer is just around the corner, and while we're all mentally planning beach trips and patio drinks, our bank accounts are quietly dreading what's coming.

In this episode, we break down those sneaky seasonal expenses that somehow surprise us every single year. From al fresco dinners out to wedding travel costs, we're getting real about our own summer spending habits. Spoiler: We both spend more this time of year!

Not only do we help you plan for what’s coming, we also cover practical strategies to enjoy summer for less.

Episode Highlights:

[00:02:00] Why Emily's fun money mysteriously vanishes during patio season

[00:03:00] Cassidy's YNAB revelation: May/June = most expensive month for 3 years straight

[00:05:00] "Summer Slippers" – those little expenses silently draining your account

[00:08:00] Travel, weddings, and the pet-sitting costs we always forget to budget for

[00:12:00] The real cost of keeping kids entertained all summer long

[00:13:00] Freelancer alert: preparing for the summer income slump

[00:18:00] Napkin math and creative budget-trimming for summer splurges

[00:21:00] How to score summer gear without the sticker shock

You know about Dry January, right? It’s where you give up alcohol for the first month of the year. This idea inspired our own challenge, and in March, we each gave up a specific type of spending to see what would happen. For Cassidy, that meant cutting out Amazon completely, while Emily challenged herself to shop only at local businesses for all discretionary purchases. We called it Dry March and recorded everything to share in this episode.

What began as a money experiment revealed a lot about convenience, community, connection, and the hidden mental load of modern shopping habits.

In this episode:

📌 Time Stamps:

[00:03:00] Cassidy's surprising discoveries about her Amazon habits and subscriptions

[00:07:00] The financial and psychological impact of abandoning the convenience of one-click shopping

[00:17:00] How shopping locally helped deepen Emily's connection to her community

[00:27:00] The unexpected challenges of maintaining spending limitations while traveling

[00:32:00] What surprised us during and after this challenge

[00:34:00] What's next for our spending habits after the challenge

📩 Join The Finance Girlies email list:https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/email-sign-up💖 Email us your money questions:hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸 Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

Money questions keeping you up at night? You're not alone! In this special Financial Literacy Month episode, we open up our inbox to tackle your burning financial questions related to all things personal finance.

From the intimidating "how much do I actually need for retirement?" to the all-too-relatable "why do I feel so behind compared to my friends?", we’re answering your questions with our own experiences — without judgment or jargon.

Whether you're stressed about investing, puzzled about budgeting with inconsistent income, or simply too scared to even look at your bank account, listening to this episode is the perfect first step.

📌 Time Stamps:

[00:02:00] How to find a balance between retirement savings and enjoying life now

[00:09:00] How to create healthy financial relationships with a partner

[00:12:00] Investment strategies

[00:16:00] Whether or not to participate in your 401(k)

[00:19:00] How to budget with inconsistent income

[00:23:00] How to prioritize debt

[00:26:00] How to deal with financial comparison

[00:33:00] How to get over the fear of looking at your finances

[00:37:00] How to know whether you need to hire a financial advisor

📩 Join The Finance Girlies email list:https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/email-sign-up💖 Email us your money questions:hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸 Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/

Filing taxes is one of those things we’re all expected to figure it out on our own. Unfortunately, this often means it can be confusing, frustrating, or even downright terrifying.In this episode, we pull back the curtain on their real-life tax experiences, from our first terrified attempts at TurboTax to navigating the complexities of self-employment taxes.

We’ll also:

Bust common tax myths, including what a “write-off” actually is and how tax brackets work

Share personal stories of surprise tax bills

Offer practical advice for building confidence during tax season

Help you figure out when it’s time to outsource

Whether you're an employee or business owner, a DIY filer or a CPA enthusiast, this honest conversation will help you approach tax season with less anxiety and more clarity.

🎧Listen in to hear about:

[00:02:00] Our tax journeys over the years, from nervous first-time filers using TurboTax to business owners who outsource.

[00:10:00] Common tax filing mistakes, including those we’ve made over the years.

[00:12:00] How procrastination and anxiety affect our approach to tax season, and how organization can help you get a hold on tax stress.

[00:16:00] Tax myths and misunderstandings, including why a big refund isn't always good, how tax brackets actually work, and why “tax write-offs" aren’t what most people think.

[00:25:00] DIYing your taxes vs. getting professional help

[00:30:00] Talking about taxes with partners, friends, and other business owners, and how to build confidence in tax-related conversations.

📩 Join The Finance Girlies email list:https://www.thefinancegirlies.com/email-sign-up💖 Email us your money questions:hello@thefinancegirlies.com 📸 Follow us on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/thefinancegirlies/