The Reframe

This week, let's discuss four sets of listener questions on a range of topics:1. Setting kids up for financial success (including credit card authorized users, allowances, Roth IRAs, and the pros and cons of brokerages for minors);2. Making the best use of small Instacart and DashPass credits from your credit cards;3. Staying motivated on the path to FI; and4. Discussing FI with friends, without all the awkwardness.As always, these are my opinions and experiences -- NOT financial or professional advice of any flavor!Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Is it trending among the zoomers? Perhaps. Is it a through-line in my 2026 goals? Absolutely! Tune in to hear all about "analogue" as a Word of the Year: what it means, what it doesn't mean, and how it will play out in practice.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Comin' in hot with seven joyful and adventure-filled categories this year: (1) health and wellness, (2) family, (3) solo fun, (4) friend fun, (5) giving, (6) creative projects, and (7) home and environment.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Kathleen reviews her 2025 goals, reflecting on successes and flops. She shares insights from walking every street in her city and riding the DC Metro, discovering hidden gems along the way. A quirky attempt to try vegan ice cream didn’t pan out as expected. She celebrates planting a Kwanzan cherry tree while discussing family goals and the importance of presence. There’s fun musings on thrift store finds and her journey into DIY skills, all punctuated by a year marked by unexpected events and a focus on meaningful progress.

Tune in to hear 13 lessons -- from practical to philosophical -- that I learned from a year of thrifting fashion!No new clothing purchases made their way into my closet this year, but plenty of new-to-me gems did, along with a new appreciation for living la vida secondhand.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Join Dr. Sarah Hart Unger, a pediatric endocrinologist and productivity guru, as she dives into the importance of joyfully planning our lives. She shares her journey from medicine to planning, and explains how effective systems can enhance both calm and chaos. Discover her three essential pillars for task management, and learn about nested goals to connect daily tasks to bigger dreams. Sarah also offers insights on coping with disappointment, creating meaningful planning rituals, and the value of community in achieving your goals.

Exploring the journey from financial independence to early retirement, the hosts discuss the surprising perks of going part-time. They highlight how this approach can ease mental transitions and reshape identity beyond just work. Listeners learn about the value of structuring daily life to avoid existential drift and the financial benefits of gradually reducing hours. By staggering retirement plans, couples can manage emotional adjustments more smoothly. The conversation emphasizes that part-time work can reveal internal anxieties and test living within a FIRE budget.

We've spent nine in-depth episodes talking about earning and burning points. Let's round this out with one final piece: how to track your points and the awesome trips that result!Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Travel portals: a simple booking dream, or a potential nightmare? Tune in this week to learn the pros and cons of booking your points-based travel through bank travel portals.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Let's chat about redeeming points for hotel stays! From private plunge pool luxury to road trip spots to lay your head, we cover it all. This week, we walk through the Big Four programs (Marriott, Hilton, Hyatt, and IHG), including tools to help you find, book, and rebook hotel travel. We also discuss a solid points-bookable alternative for family travelers who find the drawbacks of hotels to exceed their desirability.Please reach out! Gmail is thereframepodcast2025@gmail.com, and Instagram is ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Kathleen at The Reframe Podcast⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.