Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice
Optimal Living Daily | Diania Merriam
Optimal Finance Daily, hosted by Diania Merriam, the innovative mind behind the personal finance conference EconoMe, takes you on an enlightening journey through the world of personal finance. Each episode brings to life the most compelling and practical advice from leading financial bloggers and experts. Diania’s engaging narration and insightful commentary transform complex financial concepts into relatable, actionable insights. Whether it’s budgeting, investing, debt management, or money mindfulness, she covers it all, making financial wisdom accessible to everyone.Gain not just knowledge, but also the motivation to apply it in your daily life. It's not just a source of personal finance tips; it’s a daily companion that guides you towards financial independence and savvy money management, all delivered with Diania's trademark enthusiasm and expertise. By focusing on early retirement, financial independence, and saving money, each episode provides you with the tools needed to achieve your financial goals.This podcast is designed for those passionate about personal finance, early retirement, financial independence, and saving money. It’s your go-to source for practical advice on managing your finances, saving money, and working towards early retirement. Each episode offers actionable steps to foster financial independence and secure your financial future.Listen now, and become an OLD friend--your optimal life awaits...
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jan 1, 2026 • 9min
3407: 6 Ways to Fix Your Finances and Resuscitate Your DOA Money Situation by Mikey Rox on Financial Recovery Steps
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3407:
Mikey Rox lays out six practical, no-nonsense strategies to help you take back control of your finances, from ditching impulsive spending to identifying hidden subscription drains. With expert insights from voices like Jeff Kreisler and Logan Abbott, this guide empowers you to be more mindful with your money and avoid common financial traps that keep people stuck.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://lenpenzo.com/blog/id50507-6-ways-to-resuscitate-your-doa-finances-today-2.html
Quotes to ponder:
"When you buy something that used to be $100 but is 35% off, you’re not ‘saving’ $35, you’re spending $65. Instead, compare the price you’re paying to zero, that is, the price of not buying it at all."
"Pull up your online banking information and write down every single recurring subscription that you’ve paid during the past 90 days."
"These methods are unavoidable, but keep in mind that paying in cash will always save you money. Try to be mindful and treat all of your payments as if they were cash."
Episode references:
Wirefly: https://www.wirefly.com
Dollars and Sense: https://www.amazon.com/Dollars-Sense-Smart-People-Money/dp/006265120X Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 31, 2025 • 10min
3406: How To Teach A Curious Friend About Financial Independence by A Purple Life on Introducing Financial Freedom
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3406:
A Purple Life shares her simple yet powerful approach to guiding friends through the path to financial independence. By letting curiosity lead the conversation, encouraging preparation, and offering gentle follow-ups, she shows how to make meaningful financial change feel both approachable and empowering.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://apurplelife.com/2019/04/16/how-to-teach-a-curious-friend-about-financial-independence/
Quotes to ponder:
"People are sensitive to money talk."
"Finances in the US have the weird distinction of being up there with sex, religion and politics for topics that we don’t often discuss."
"Gentle reminders seem to help keep people on track."
Episode references:
401(k): https://www.investopedia.com/terms/1/401kplan.asp
Mint: https://www.mint.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 30, 2025 • 12min
3405: [Part 2] The Greatest Risk To My Retirement Goal by Craig Stephens of Retire Before Dad on Securing Your Future
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3405:
Craig Stephens breaks down the future costs of college for his three children and how these projections impact his retirement timeline. With detailed modeling, realistic assumptions, and a surprise family update, he explores the financial trade-offs between saving for education and maintaining long-term retirement goals, all while embracing the unpredictability of life.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.retirebeforedad.com/greatest-risk-to-retirement-goal/
Quotes to ponder:
"Kids come with a price tag, but ultimately they are priceless."
"Estimating the cost of college 15 years out is not an exact science."
"Any change to a variable alters the numbers by tens of thousands of dollars."
Episode references:
The World’s Simplest College Cost Calculator: https://www.savingforcollege.com/calculators/worlds-simplest-college-cost-calculator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 29, 2025 • 10min
3404: [Part 1] The Greatest Risk To My Retirement Goal by Craig Stephens of Retire Before Dad on Securing Your Future
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3404:
Craig Stephens reflects on his ambitious plan to retire by age 55, beating his father by one year, and the financial realities that threaten that goal. With his children’s college expenses looming in the same year as his intended retirement, he explores the deep impact of generational choices, personal sacrifice, and the ROI of higher education.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.retirebeforedad.com/greatest-risk-to-retirement-goal/
Quotes to ponder:
"I reject the notion that because younger generations are statistically more likely to live longer than our parents, we will need to work longer."
"More than a decade ago when my Dad retired from his teaching career at age 56, I told him my retirement goal was to beat him and stop working at age 55."
"According to a recent study by Alicia H. Munnell at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, the average age of retirement for men in the US is 64." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2025 • 10min
3403: 5 Things to Consider Before Making a Purchase by Dan Erickson with No Sidebar on Reducing Impulse Buys
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3403:
Dan Erickson shares five thoughtful strategies to help curb impulsive spending by encouraging a shift from emotional wants to practical needs. His advice empowers listeners to slow down, reflect on true priorities, and make purchasing decisions with greater clarity and purpose.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://nosidebar.com/purchase/
Quotes to ponder:
"Wanting is an emotional response to being unsatisfied with what you already have."
"When we spend money, we have to work harder and longer to recoup our loss."
"Walking gives you time to consider the pros and cons of your motivations to buy."
Episode references:
Dictionary.com definition of "want": https://www.dictionary.com/browse/want
Dictionary.com definition of "need": https://www.dictionary.com/browse/need Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 28, 2025 • 11min
3402: In Defense of the Worry Warts by Greg Audino on Embracing Anxiety Traits
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3402:
Greg Audino offers a nuanced counterpoint to Wayne Dyer’s popular philosophy that worry is always unnecessary. By exploring the modern gray area between what we can and can’t control, Audino validates the emotional experience of striving in uncertain situations and emphasizes the importance of self-acceptance as the real starting point for growth.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://medium.com/invisible-illness/in-defense-of-the-worry-warts-6cd8e3af3319
Quotes to ponder:
"Her worry becomes not about if she can control it, but how."
"Wayne Dyer is quoted as saying, 'Recognize the preposterousness of worry. Ask yourself over and over, ‘Is there anything that will ever change as a result of my worrying about it?’'"
"There’s nothing wrong with you for worrying. It’s not senseless, it’s circumstantial."
Episode references:
The Power of Intention by Wayne Dyer: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Intention-Learning-Co-create-World/dp/1401902162 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 27, 2025 • 12min
3401: If You Want to Make Good Money Decisions, There Is A Simple - if Unconventional - Way to Make Them by Charlie Brown
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3401:
Charlie Brown explores how questioning mainstream financial advice, rather than blindly following norms, is the key to making empowered, informed money decisions. By urging us to challenge our sources, biases, and societal expectations, Brown invites listeners to consider alternative paths that may better align with their personal goals and values.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://themakingofamillionaire.com/if-you-want-to-make-good-money-decisions-there-is-a-simple-if-unconventional-way-to-make-them-5144fd208bc4
Quotes to ponder:
"Everything good in my financial life happened when I started to question what I was told was normal."
"You can only know better and do better if you’re prepared to do the questioning."
"Questioning life decisions is fun. Once you start to do it, you realize how many more options are available to you." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 26, 2025 • 11min
3400: How Much of Personal Finance is Luck? By Jen Hayes on Fortune in Finance
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3400:
Jen Hayes challenges the bootstraps-only narrative in personal finance by exploring the quiet power of luck in shaping financial outcomes. Through personal stories and relatable examples, she shows how chance events, both good and bad, can shape our financial paths, while also emphasizing the importance of personal responsibility and resilience in responding to life’s unpredictability.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.jenhayes.me//how-much-of-personal-finance-is-luck/
Quotes to ponder:
"Getting stuck in a victim mentality will not help you get out of your financial mess."
"A sizable portion of your net worth is based on luck."
"You may have to do some difficult things to turn your situation around, like getting a second job, asking for a raise, finding a better job, starting a 'side hustle', and/or drastically downsizing your current lifestyle." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 25, 2025 • 10min
3399: Estate Planning 101 by Jesse Cramer of Best Interest on Planning Future Assets
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3399:
Jesse Cramer breaks down the essentials of estate planning with clarity and a touch of humor, demystifying a topic many avoid until it’s too late. Learn how to protect your loved ones, reduce tax burdens, and ensure your assets are handled exactly the way you want, no matter your age or life stage.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://bestinterest.blog/estate-planning-101/
Quotes to ponder:
“Estate planning is almost always done with an attorney. CFP financial planners are frequently involved, too.”
“Why set up a trust? It might be to ensure your wishes are followed post-death. Or to reduce tax burden.”
“Keep the documents safe! Store a copy of your estate plan in a safe place.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Dec 24, 2025 • 13min
3398: What is Financial Literacy? by Jake Wengroff with I Will Teach You To Be Rich on Essential Finance Skills
Discover all of the podcasts in our network, search for specific episodes, get the Optimal Living Daily workbook, and learn more at: OLDPodcast.com.
Episode 3398:
Jake Wengroff lays out a clear, actionable approach to mastering your money by shifting how you think about it, no spreadsheets, no stock-picking stress, just smart systems and mindset shifts. Drawing from Ramit Sethi’s five-step method, this guide helps you automate your finances, uncover hidden income, invest early, eliminate debt, and boost earnings without sacrificing the joy of spending.
Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.iwillteachyoutoberich.com/financial-literacy/
Quotes to ponder:
"You won’t miss the money because all (or most) of your money will go where it’s supposed to go, automatically."
"Understanding how credit card debt, credit history, credit reports, and credit scores work, and their relationship to your overall financial health, is an important part of your financial literacy."
"You can use the skills and experience you already have to make more money and put it into your accounts." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
