The Jesse Mecham Show

Jesse shares some case studies from the Mecham household, where he has taught his kids to budget their savings the YNAB way, giving those savings dollars a job. The kicker? Their savings sit in the same checking account as their fun money. With practice and the four rules, however, they have developed the discipline to spend only what they have budgeted for each purpose.   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Jesse welcomes Jason and Katie Hoschouer to the podcast. Together they paid off $78,000 of debt in a mere 28 months, an amazing burst of focused saving and budgeting!   Jason is a retired police officer with 23-years experience in the force, now turned financial coach. He helps other first responders get their budgets in order, pay off debt, and build savings so they don't have to live paycheck to paycheck and work tons of overtime to make ends meet. He also hosts a podcast about finance for first responders, Badges & Budgets.   GPS Financial Coaching https://www.gpsfinancialcoaching.com   Badges & Budgets Podcast Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/badges-budgets/id1611201890 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4vcWckWJibgAaRSyY5o8bu?si=15e96a154eaf44d7  

Jesse invites the CEO of YNAB, Todd Curtis, to the show to discuss the anatomy of the company, the collaborative philosophy behind the work done by the various teams and functions, and some of the previous work and experiences that have shaped Todd's attitudes about operations and business culture.   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Nina Clark grew up in a large family tight on money, but with a mother who was very good at budgeting and stretching a dollar. Nevertheless, she wasn't taught anything about money growing up, so she learned her money lessons the hard way: overdrafting her checking account and racking up debt at a young age. Things got more complicated when she went through a divorce and became a single mother. Ever determined and positive, Nina regained her financial footing and became a seasoned budgeter with a little help from YNAB.   Nina's story is also unique in that she's never worked conventional jobs, and never made much money, so she had to budget carefully to pay off her debts. While working various jobs, she started a bookkeeping service to supplement her income, throw extra cash at her debt each time she landed a new client. Nowadays, Nina's budget is helping her save for retirement, travel, and help her daughter travel the world as well.   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

It's that time of year again, and April 15th looms! Taxes are due soon, and perhaps no other financial topic generates as much confusion and as many questions. To that end, Jesse answers questions about taxes from YNAB listeners who wrote into the show. As with any tax question, when in doubt it's always best to contact a tax professional!   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

Jesse compares the pros and cons of the 15 year vs the 30 year home mortgage. While there are plenty of online calculators out there that will spell out the difference in interest costs and amortization between the two, Jesse argues that perhaps the math isn't the most important factor. It's how you feel about paying off the mortgage earlier.   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com  

International student of mystery Mackenzie is financially wise beyond her years... all thanks to YNAB and embracing the four rules while a young college student. Since discovering YNAB Mackenzie has traveled throughout Europe, and has come up with some unique strategies for managing her budget in a variety of currencies: the British pound, the euro, and US dollars. She's also learned some lessons about careful budgeting living in some of the most expensive cities in the world, like London.   The most important thing for college students, she says, is to just get started with YNAB. Try just tracking your expenses for a month, and get some data about your spending habits. Then you can get a realistic picture of what a college budget should look like. You're always going to spend more on food than you think, she says, so your budget should reflect that. Secondly, be prepared to roll with the punches and go with the flow. Things change a lot from freshman to senior year -- work/study opportunities open up, off-campus housing becomes available, you might want a car -- and you can expect your budget will too.  Learn to be OK with not having a perfect budget, and know that you will only get better at it over time.     College students can use YNAB for a year FOR FREE. You just need to provide proof of enrollment. Check the link below for more details: https://www.youneedabudget.com/college/  

Long-time YNAB team member Erin returns to the podcast to discuss strategies for managing your grocery budget. With prices on the rise, many people are tightening their budgets, and groceries are a common line item of concern. Erin offers tips for making grocery shopping simpler, avoiding unnecessary purchases, and making strategic "fun" food purchases (like frozen pizzas) for those days when you just don't feel like cooking.   As Erin reminds us, your family's grocery bill is personal! It's tempting to want to compare yourself to others, or to an average, but the best strategy is to start with where you are and find ways to adjust from there. Food is a very personal thing, and many factors play into the food choices people make (allergies/restrictions, location, busy lifestyle, food availability, etc), so keep your eyes on your own plate.   A few of Erin's favorite cooking and food-related YouTube channels: Frugal Fit Mom: https://www.youtube.com/c/FrugalFitMom See Mindy Mom: https://www.youtube.com/c/SeeMindyMom Ardent Michelle: https://www.youtube.com/c/ArdentMichelle You Suck at Cooking: https://www.youtube.com/c/yousuckatcooking Glen and Friends Cooking: https://www.youtube.com/c/GlenAndFriendsCooking   Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com

In honor of 2/22/2022, which is quickly approaching, YNAB is giving you the chance to gain a little extra momentum in your budget this year. YNAB is giving away $2,222 to a lucky podcast listener! But you have to follow a few rules to have a chance to win: On 2/22/2022, make a public post on Facebook, Instagram, Tik Tok or Twitter and tell us what you would do with $2,222. Tag YNAB on your social media platform of choice (tags listed below). Fill out the form on the YNAB website: https://www.youneedabudget.com/22-giveaway/   For those who don't do the social medias, you can email pr@ynab.com and include promotion/contest name in the subject line.   A complete explanation of the rules and terms and conditions can be found at: https://www.youneedabudget.com/22-giveaway/   YNAB social media tags Instagram: @youneedabudget 
 TikTok: @youneedabudget
 Twitter: @ynab Facebook: @iYNAB   Good luck!