Jesse Mecham, creator of You Need a Budget, discusses budgeting and personal finance. Topics include the importance of budgeting for unexpected expenses, alternatives to emergency funds, using credit cards responsibly, teaching kids about money management, and motivating yourself with budgeting.
Jesse Mecham emphasizes the importance of breaking the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and getting out of debt through his You Need a Budget system.
Many people fail at budgeting because they try to forecast their income and expenses instead of focusing on the actual money they have on hand.
Jesse Mecham introduces the concept of embracing true expenses to eliminate stress and financial surprises by planning for larger, less frequent expenses in advance.
Deep dives
Importance of Changing Headlights
It is important to change out headlights before they burn out and lose visibility. Sylvania's lighting experts explain that headlights can dim over time, reducing visibility by up to 50 feet. Changing headlights promptly helps improve visibility and reduces glare distraction on the road.
Jesse Mecom's Personal Finance System
Jesse Mecom, creator of the You Need a Budget Personal Finance System, discusses his philosophy and system in his book called You Need a Budget. He emphasizes the importance of breaking the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle and getting out of debt. Jesse outlines the four rules of his budget system and provides actionable advice on implementing them to gain control over your finances.
Why Most People Fail at Budgeting
Many people fail at budgeting because they try to forecast their income and expenses instead of focusing on the actual money they have on hand. Jesse Mecom explains that people often set unrealistic expectations for themselves and expect perfection from the start. Instead, he advises starting with a clear understanding of the amount of money available and the priorities it should be assigned to.
Embracing True Expenses
Jesse Mecom introduces the concept of embracing true expenses, which involves planning for larger, less frequent expenses that tend to catch people off guard. Whether it's car repairs, vacation, or holiday spending, allocating a portion of your budget to these expenses and breaking them down into manageable monthly amounts helps eliminate stress and financial surprises.
Aging Your Money
The goal of aging your money is to step away from living paycheck to paycheck. Jesse Mecom encourages people to have the freedom to spend money they earned at least 30 days ago. By reducing financial stress and making better financial decisions, aging your money allows individuals to gain more control over their finances and prioritize their goals.
If you find yourself running out of money before your next paycheck or if you’ve been having trouble making a dent in your debt, then you, my friend, need a budget. My guest today is Jesse Mecham, he’s the creator of the You Need a Budget system and software and he’s just written a book about the philosophy underpinning his system. It’s called "You Need a Budget: The Proven System for Breaking the Paycheck to Paycheck Cycle, Getting Out of Debt, and Living the Life You Want." Today on the show, Jesse tells us the personal story behind his software, why most people fail at budgets, and the myths people have about budgeting. He then walks us through the four rules of the You Need a Budget system, as well as actionable advice on how to implement them. Whether your goal is to pay off your debt or to simply get some control over your finances, this episode is for you.
Get the Snipd podcast app
Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode
Save any moment
Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways
Share & Export
Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more
AI-powered podcast player
Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features
Discover highlights
Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode