The Financial Confessions No Husband. No Kids. No Regrets. | Just Getting Good
Nov 20, 2025
Glynnis MacNicol, an author and journalist known for her memoirs, discusses life after 50 with a refreshingly candid perspective. She shares her journey of being childfree in New York, reflecting on the joys and struggles of dating at her age. Glynnis critiques societal expectations around marriage and explores the complexities of financial independence as a single woman. With insights on aging, sexual agency, and the vibrant experience of living authentically, her conversation is a celebration of freedom and self-empowerment.
01:21:27
Perspective Grows With Age
- Glynnis felt behind in her 30s but more secure by 40 and onward.
- Aging gave her perspective and self-forgiveness that improved satisfaction.
Choosing Memoir Over Fiction
- Glynnis wrote memoirs instead of fictionalizing her life to show real narratives for childfree women.
- She wanted readers to see authentic experiences rather than imagined arcs.
Invisibility Can Become Envy
- Being childfree and unpartnered can make you both invisible and envied at different life stages.
- Networks of friends with similar choices reduce the need to explain your life.
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Intro
00:00 • 3min
Glynnis’s career and memoirs
02:48 • 1min
When life started feeling good
04:02 • 2min
Why she chose memoir over fiction
06:00 • 3min
Paris, solitude and 'enjoying myself'
09:01 • 2min
Being older: ahead or envied
10:58 • 3min
Confidence versus regret
14:10 • 1min
Marriage, partnership realities
15:30 • 5min
Trad-wife fantasies and history
20:20 • 5min
Seeking professional validation
25:22 • 5min
Real estate regrets and renting
30:38 • 5min
Why New York still matters
35:13 • 4min
Perceived Instagram wealth versus reality
39:16 • 5min
Income, expenses, and survival in NYC
44:42 • 7min
Trade-offs: health, freedom, security
51:32 • 10min
Sex, age, and cultural taboos
01:01:50 • 5min
Dating, desire, and agency
01:06:47 • 6min
Surprising joys of aging
01:12:33 • 3min
Key money and relationship lessons
01:15:29 • 3min
Advice for single thirty-somethings
01:18:30 • 2min
AI, youth, and generational changes
01:20:21 • 51sec
Outro
01:21:11 • 16sec
#11431
• Mentioned in 3 episodes
I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself
One Woman's Pursuit of Pleasure in Paris
Glynis McNichol
Glynis McNichol's "I'm Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself" is a memoir detailing her experiences pursuing pleasure and self-discovery in Paris.
The book explores themes of female sexuality, aging, and societal expectations.
McNichol candidly shares her journey of embracing her desires and challenging conventional narratives surrounding women's experiences.
It's a refreshing and empowering read for women navigating their own paths to self-acceptance and fulfillment.
The book has received significant attention for its honest portrayal of female sexuality in midlife.
#1884
• Mentioned in 18 episodes
A Room of One's Own
Virginia Woolf
In 'A Room of One's Own', Virginia Woolf delivers a groundbreaking essay that addresses the status of women in literature and society.
The essay, originally based on a series of lectures given at women's colleges, posits that for women to write fiction, they must have money and a room of their own.
Woolf explores the historical limitations faced by women in accessing education, careers, and artistic endeavors, and she critiques the societal structures that have hindered women's creative expression.
Through the fictional character of Judith Shakespeare, Woolf illustrates the tragic fate of a talented woman denied the opportunities available to men.
The essay concludes with an exhortation to women to claim their intellectual and creative freedom, advocating for economic and intellectual autonomy as essential for fostering creativity and self-expression.
#17364
• Mentioned in 2 episodes
All the single ladies
Unmarried Women and the Rise of an Independent Nation
Rebecca Traister
All the Single Ladies is a New York Times bestselling investigation into the lives of unmarried women in America.
The book, written by award-winning journalist Rebecca Traister, explores the historical and contemporary landscape of single women, their impact on social change, and the various factors influencing their choices.
Traister conducted over 100 interviews with academics, social scientists, and prominent single women to uncover the significance of single women in driving movements such as temperance, abolition, secondary education, and more.
The book covers class, race, sexual orientation, and features vivid anecdotes from both contemporary and historical figures, emphasizing the collective power of single women in guiding legal, economic, and social progress.
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Having People Over
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Chelsea Fagan
#1405
• Mentioned in 23 episodes
All Fours
Miranda July
Miranda July's "All Fours" is a poignant and unconventional novel that explores themes of aging, mortality, and the complexities of human connection.
The narrative unfolds through the experiences of an unnamed narrator grappling with her changing body and relationships.
July's writing style is characterized by its intimate and often humorous approach to profound subjects.
The book delves into the challenges of intergenerational friendships and the societal obsession with youth.
Ultimately, "All Fours" offers a reflective and empathetic portrayal of the human experience.
#1147
• Mentioned in 26 episodes
Little House on the Prairie
Laura Ingalls Wilder
The Little House on the Prairie series consists of nine novels that follow the life of Laura Ingalls Wilder from her childhood in the Big Woods of Wisconsin to her adulthood in the Dakota Territory.
The books chronicle the Ingalls family's experiences, including their moves to various parts of the American frontier, their struggles with disease and natural disasters, and their daily life as pioneers.
The series includes titles such as 'Little House in the Big Woods,' 'Little House on the Prairie,' 'On the Banks of Plum Creek,' 'By the Shores of Silver Lake,' 'The Long Winter,' 'Little Town on the Prairie,' 'These Happy Golden Years,' and 'Farmer Boy,' which is about Almanzo Wilder, Laura's future husband.
#7921
• Mentioned in 5 episodes
Heartburn
Nora Ephron
Heartburn is an autobiographical novel by Nora Ephron, inspired by her marriage to and divorce from Carl Bernstein.
The story follows Rachel Samstat, a food writer, who at seven months pregnant discovers her husband Mark Feldman's affair with Thelma Rice.
The novel vividly depicts the breakdown of their marriage, interspersed with recipes and anecdotes that humanize the characters.
It explores themes of love, betrayal, and revenge, all presented with Ephron's characteristic wit and humor.
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No One Tells You This
Glynnis MacNicol
#735
• Mentioned in 36 episodes
The sun also rises
Ernest Hemingway
Originally published in 1926, 'The Sun Also Rises' is Ernest Hemingway’s first novel and a classic example of his spare but powerful writing style.
The novel follows a group of young American and British expatriates as they wander through Europe in the mid-1920s, capturing the moods, feelings, and attitudes of the cynical and disillusioned Lost Generation.
The story centers around Jake Barnes, a World War I veteran and journalist, and Lady Brett Ashley, as they journey from the wild nightlife of 1920s Paris to the brutal bullfighting rings of Spain.
The novel portrays an age of moral bankruptcy, spiritual dissolution, unrealized love, and vanishing illusions, reflecting the existential disillusionment characteristic of the Lost Generation.
Thanks to our good friends at Advisor.com for sponsoring this series! Schedule a FREE consultation call with Advisor today and never make another financial decision alone! Get $500 off your first year with them by signing up through TFD. Take this short quiz to get started: https://bit.ly/Advisor1120Welcome to our brand new series, Just Getting Good, where Chelsea sits down with women over 50 to talk about life, love, money, aging, and everything in between. For our fourth episode, Chelsea sat down with writer Glynnis MacNicol who spoke very candidly about dating after 50, being childfree, living her life authentically as herself, her career as a writer, the financial difficulties of living in NYC, and why things can be harder for women who are not partnered. We loved hearing from Glynnis and hope you enjoy her insight!You can follow her here: https://www.instagram.com/noonetellsyouthis/?hl=enThank you so much to Glynnis for speaking so candidly with us! OTHER FINANCIAL PRODUCTS WE PERSONALLY ENDORSE: For investing - Betterment https://bit.ly/JGGBetterment1120Our favorite budgeting app - Monarch https://bit.ly/GlynnisMonarch1120We have new episodes dropping every Thursday! Come back for more!Want to support TFD? One of the best ways is to join our membership program, The Society at TFD — join at the premium tier and get instant access to our latest member podcast, RomComOnomics! You can become a member here on YouTube or over on Patreon (we recommend Patreon for a better user experience!) — Join here: https://bit.ly/46jmyUE