
The Jesse Mecham Show
Money shouldn’t be this hard - and it isn’t! Join YNAB founder Jesse Mecham each week as he dives into spendfulness, a mindset that will help you stop second-guessing, spend more confidently, and live the life you want.
Latest episodes

Mar 27, 2023 • 11min
Ask Jesse: Talk Slower, Pay Down Debt Faster
It's time for another round of Ask Jesse! Jesse fields questions from podcast listeners about how to manage multiple bank accounts, negative budgeting, and whether he can slow down his speech pattern (sorry Leslie!) Find a YNAB Certified Coach: https://www.ynab.com/coaching-directory/ Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Mar 20, 2023 • 4min
Rule One and the Pursuit of Nothing
Jesse challenges the idea of constantly pursuing something financially. For many of us in the modern world, our default is to always be chasing something -- more things, more experiences, more retirement funds, more debt paid down. Some of these things are a net good, some... maybe not. Jesse reminds us that our financial life doesn't always have to be in pursuit of something. It's ok to just let your money support your life, and nothing more. Can you do that, just for a little while? Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Mar 13, 2023 • 3min
Expensive Is a Lazy Word
When people say "that's too expensive," what do they mean really? That they can't afford it, that it costs too much for a certain group of people, that it costs too much on principle? Jesse relates Rule One to the word "expensive" and concludes that its meaning is too slippery to be a useful term for people following the Four Rules. Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Mar 6, 2023 • 14min
Ask Jesse: Travel Hacking, Credit Cards, and YNAB'er Experiences
In this installment of Ask Jesse, Jesse answers questions from podcast listeners about travel hacking and credit card and debit card fraud protection. He also reads an experience from one YNAB'er who switched from using credit cards to debit cards. Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Feb 27, 2023 • 4min
Rule One and DIY FTW
Jesse analyzes a recent situation in which he was planning to build something in his wood shop, when a friend remarked that he could buy the same thing a lot cheaper. While we talk about money all the time in YNAB, and frequently equate money with time, and discuss the tradeoffs of buying this thing versus that thing -- Jesse reminds us that we don't have to think of everything in terms of economic decisions. Sometimes you give dollars a job (Rule One) which is for sheer enjoyment. Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Feb 20, 2023 • 16min
Debit vs Credit Card Smackdown (and a Rant)
In response to episode #603 "You Spend More Money with Credit Cards," many listeners wrote Jesse to pick a bone with his claim that the debit card was a superior way to pay for things. The arguments usually boil down to the assertion that credit cards have better purchase protection and fraud prevention compared to debit cards. Jesse addresses these concerns, and more, on today's episode. Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

5 snips
Feb 13, 2023 • 15min
Ask Jesse: Save for Cars or Pay Down Mortgage, Debt Consolidation, and How Do You Know When to Spend?
Jesse answers questions from the YNAB mailbag, including whether a couple should save for new cars to replace aging vehicles, or pay down the mortgage faster, whether debt consolidation is a good idea, and how exactly do you know when it's ok to spend money? Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Feb 6, 2023 • 5min
One Thing That Tells You You're Doing Money Right
Jesse shares one key indicator that you are budgeting and doing your money right. Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Jan 30, 2023 • 5min
A Major Downside to Not Having Money Stress
Not having money stress is a GREAT feeling to have. But a YNAB employee, Katie, pointed out a downside to it -- people assume you make more money than you really do. Because who else would have no money stress except people who are rolling it in? Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Jan 23, 2023 • 9min
Ask Jesse: Doubling Income, Real Estate, Debit Card Fraud Prevention
Jesse fields more listener questions today, including what you should do when you double your income (teaser: there's really not a wrong answer as long as it's saving!), how to budget for real estate investments, and whether debit cards have sufficient fraud protection to use over credit cards. Please keep your questions coming! Send them to: askjesse@ynab.com Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com
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