Financial Feminist

If you thought “hacking” your money meant clipping coupons or extreme budgeting, today’s episode is going to blow you away. Earlier this year, I sat down with Chris Hutchins, of the All the Hacks podcast, to talk about how to maximize value in every area: spending, saving, earning, and traveling. Chris spoke to us about real, actionable hacks that go way beyond clipping coupons—including side hustles that don’t require starting a business, ways to “game the system” to cut costs on everything from groceries to luxury hotels, and how to rack up credit card points without going into debt. If you want to stop overspending, learn to travel smarter, or create extra income on the side, pull up a chair. Chris’s links: Website: https://allthehacks.com/  Visit https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 Intro 07:01 Side Hustles and Creative Money-Saving Strategies 20:03 Travel Hacking and Credit Card Points 24:59 Advanced Travel Hacking Tips 43:14 Negotiating Airbnb and Hotel Upgrades 46:58 Finding Unclaimed Money 55:51 Credit Card Application Strategies 01:00:16 Teaching Kids About Money 01:09:23 Bora Bora Travel Deals 01:12:36 Non-Money Related Life Hacks Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ever wondered if saving your first $100K is actually doable—or just another financial fairy tale? I’m Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K and host of the Financial Feminist podcast, and in this special replay episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on real-world steps for building tangible wealth and saving money on everything—starting with building an emergency fund, to paying off debt, investing, and automation. We also get into why your mindset matters just as much as the numbers, and how a supportive community can make or break your progress toward that six-figure milestone. Tune in to learn how to get YOUR first $100K in 2026. Visit https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 Intro & Welcome02:15 What is “Your First $100K”?05:07 Personal Finance is Personal07:49 Step 1: Build an Emergency Fund11:19 Step 2: Pay Off High-Interest Debt15:11 Step 3: Let Your Money Work for You19:40 Step 4: Automate Your Savings22:30 Step 5: Don’t Do It Alone24:53 Final Motivation & Takeaways Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As we close out 2025, I know so many of us are ending the year exhausted, overwhelmed, and craving even the smallest spark of hope — and that’s exactly what today’s episode is here to give you. From the power of local community events to the healing magic of nature, art, or activism, this episode will give you simple, actionable ways to end 2025 feeling more hopeful (without the toxic positivity or wellness fluff). I’m sharing the real, tangible practices that have helped me reconnect with joy in a year that felt painfully heavy.  Visit https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 Intro 01:20 Shifting to Hope: Why It Matters 01:47 Tip 1: Go to a Community Event 02:59 Tip 2: Read a Fun Book 04:17 Tip 3: See Women Play Sports 06:39 Tip 4: Get Into Nature 08:14 Tip 5: Protest, Rally, or Activism from Home 10:49 Tip 6: Experience Art & Live Performances 12:21 Tip 7: Run for Something & Local Political Engagement 13:56 Tip 8: Do Something Alone 15:41 Tip 9: Volunteer & Give Back 17:00 Closing Thoughts: Hope, Community, and Looking Ahead Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today’s episode of Financial Feminist is all about unlocking what I truly believe is the easiest money you will ever make — and yes, it’s as simple and lazy-girl-friendly as it sounds. I’m breaking down the one passive income strategy that requires zero extra hours, zero new skills, and absolutely zero stress: a high-yield savings account. If you’ve ever wished you could make money while taking a nap, running errands, or sipping a drink on the beach, this episode shows you exactly how to make your existing money work harder for you, without sacrificing your already-packed schedule. Looking for a HYSA? We've done the research for you. See our partner recommendation (terms apply): ⁠https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod 00:00 Intro 01:14 The Problem with Checking Accounts 02:44 Why High-Yield Savings Accounts Matter 04:21 How to Set Up and Use a HYSA 08:44 The Power of Earning Interest 09:23 Using HYSA for Emergency Funds & Goals 10:22 Overcoming Myths & Fears 12:24 Making Money Passively 14:03 Is My Money Safe? 15:10 Final Thoughts & How to Get Started Visit https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Neha Ruch, author of The Power Pause, joins to challenge societal myths about career breaks, especially for mothers. She emphasizes that pausing can be a strategic move rather than a setback, offering ways to safeguard finances and skills during caregiving. Neha discusses how to frame the pause on resumes, ways to stay connected professionally, and the importance of viewing these times as temporary chapters. She also shares insights on the financial dynamics within relationships, advocating for clear agreements to maintain dignity when one partner steps back.

Today is the LAST day to get 50% off Stock Market School! Join now: https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod What happens when the life you’ve spent decades building shatters overnight? Today’s guest, Jen Hatmaker, joins me to talk about the moment everything collapsed—and how she rebuilt her identity, her faith, her confidence, and her finances from the ground up. In this deeply honest conversation, we explore what it means to wake up to your own power after betrayal, divorce, and a total life upheaval, and how taking control of your money can become the foundation for reclaiming every part of your story. Jen’s links: Book: https://jenhatmaker.com/awake/ Website: https://jenhatmaker.com/ Visit ⁠https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod⁠ to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 Intro 00:54 The Story We Tell Ourselves vs. Reality 02:04 The Moment Everything Changed 04:00 Why We Ignore Red Flags 06:36 The Cost of Disruption and Divorce 09:14 Money Reckoning After Divorce 12:07 Why Women Opt Out of Finances 15:19 The Emotional Labor of Money 17:22 The First 90 Days: Financial Overwhelm 20:06 Becoming Financially Literate 22:44 From Shame to Action 25:22 Taking Ownership and Finding Safety 28:22 The Cost of Self-Erasure 31:07 What Happens When Women Have Money 34:07 Deconstructing Faith and Identity 38:42 Finding New Definitions of Church 41:18 Advice for Anyone in Upheaval Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Get 50% off Stock Market School during our Black Friday sale! Join here: https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod Saving money doesn’t have to feel like a punishment, and in today’s episode, I’m proving it. I’m diving into coaching questions from listeners about how to save without feeling deprived, how to break out of scarcity mindset, and how to balance long-term goals with actually enjoying life. From processing layoffs and using your emergency fund without guilt to understanding why fear hijacks your finances, this episode is packed with practical money advice, emotional mindset shifts, and actionable tools for creating a sustainable financial plan that still lets you have a life. If you’ve ever struggled to save without feeling deprived, or wondered how to make money choices that feel good today and set you up for tomorrow, this coaching session is for you. Mentioned in this episode: Millionaire Mindset: https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-show-notes/millionaire-mindset-taking-risks/ How to Get Out of Financial Survival Mode: https://herfirst100k.com/financial-feminist-show-notes/financial-scarcity/ Visit ⁠https://herfirst100k.com/ffpod to stay up to date and find any resources mentioned on our show! 00:00 – Money Coaching With Tori: Ask a Multimillionaire Anything 01:00 – Listener Win: Starting a Side Hustle With Confidence 02:15 – Why Women Struggle With Taking Risks 04:00 – How to Start a Business When You’re Scared of Judgment 05:00 – Question 1: “I’m Afraid to Touch My Savings After a Layoff” 06:15 – How to Use Your Emergency Fund Without Guilt 07:00 – Navigating Layoffs, Uncertainty, and a Volatile Job Market 08:00 – Is It Time for a Career Pivot or Freelancing? 09:00 – Resetting Your Career After a Job Loss 10:00 – Why You Need a Personal Project During a Job Search 11:00 – Question 2: “How Do I Stop Living in Scarcity Mode?” 12:00 – Balancing Saving, Spending, and Generosity 13:00 – Understanding Your Financial Trauma & Scarcity Triggers 14:00 – How Fear Lies to You About Money 15:30 – The “Put Fear in the Back Seat” Strategy (Liz Gilbert Method) 17:00 – How to Budget for Generosity Without Derailing Your Goals 18:30 – Why You Can’t Pour From an Empty Cup (Money Edition) 20:00 – How Scarcity Mindset Affects Your Financial Decisions 21:00 – Why You Must Talk About Money in Therapy 22:00 – Question 3: Balancing Saving for Retirement With Wanting to Live Now 23:00 – YOLO vs. Long-Term Money Goals: Finding the Middle Ground 24:00 – Make Retirement Feel Real: Visualizing Your 65-Year-Old Self 25:30 – “Saver vs. Spender” Is a Myth — Here’s What You Actually Are 27:00 – How to Trick Your Brain Into Enjoying Saving Money 28:00 – Using the Three-Bucket Budget to Spend Guilt-Free 29:00 – Lightning Round: Emergency Funds, Life Insurance, and Over-Saving 31:00 – What Life Insurance Should Actually Look Like 32:00 – How Much Is Too Much in Savings? 33:00 – Free Resources: 7-Day Money Reset + Stock Market Workshop Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Explore the duality of Dave Ramsey’s financial advice! The discussion reveals what he gets right, like the importance of emergency funds and confronting debt, but also critiques his oversimplified approaches. Learn why a $1,000 starter fund is insufficient and how labeling all debt as bad can be misleading. The conversation touches on the harmful nature of shame-based budgeting and the outdated advice on childcare. Finally, discover a more adaptable financial game plan that combines the useful parts while avoiding the pitfalls.

Dan Weissmann, a journalist and host of An Arm and a Leg, dives deep into the chaotic realm of U.S. healthcare. He unveils how the system feels rigged, sharing strategies for navigating insurance and medical bills. Listeners learn about challenging unfair charges, negotiating bills, and finding fair prices for care. Weissmann also highlights the emotional toll of medical debt, especially on women, and offers tips on advocacy in the doctor’s office. Get ready to empower yourself in the world of healthcare.

Nicole Lapin, a bestselling author and money expert, shares her harrowing experience of losing her home in the LA fires shortly after giving birth. She discusses critical financial oversights, like skipping business insurance, and emphasizes the importance of documenting belongings for claims. The conversation highlights the emotional ties between money and safety, and offers parenting finance tips, including establishing 529 plans for children's education. Dive into essential lessons on overcoming financial shame and rebuilding after disaster.