Optimal Finance Daily - Financial Independence and Money Advice

Optimal Living Daily | Diania Merriam

Episodes

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Dec 12, 2025 • 12min

3384: [Part 1] How to Create Sustainable Money Habits by Liz of FrugalWoods on Mindful Consumption

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 3384: Liz from Frugalwoods lays out a practical framework for building sustainable money habits by emphasizing small, consistent changes over dramatic overhauls. By reshaping routines, engineering your environment, and disrupting autopilot spending, she shows how frugality can become effortless and long-lasting. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.frugalwoods.com/2020/01/31/how-to-create-sustainable-money-habits/ Quotes to ponder: "Frugality can become your default and you can train yourself to do the right thing with your money." "Routines create automatic pathways for how we live our lives; we can follow positive routines or negative routines." "If you want to spend more time reviewing your finances and goal-setting, make it part of your weekly/monthly routine." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 11, 2025 • 11min

3383: The Honeymoon Phase of Early Retirement by Leif of Physician on FIRE on Finding Purpose in Retirement

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 3383: Leif explores the emotional rollercoaster that often follows early retirement, comparing its initial thrill to a honeymoon that inevitably fades. As routines set in and novelty wears off, the real challenge emerges: facing boredom, fear, and the search for lasting fulfillment. Learn how pivoting from scarcity to abundance thinking can help transform this emotional shift into a powerful catalyst for personal growth. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.physicianonfire.com/honeymoon-phase-of-retirement/ Quotes to ponder: "Fear is likely a result of wondering if you have enough. Not enough money. Maybe enough joy? Happiness? Potential fulfillment?" "Choose the abundance mindset rather than the scarcity one, and you might find that you need fewer spreadsheets to keep track of your joy." "Keep digging into what brought you moments of flow in earlier phases of life, keep bringing those back." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 10, 2025 • 10min

3382: Frugal or Cheap: How to Tell and Why it Matters by Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock of Women Who Money

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 3382: Vicki Cook and Amy Blacklock break down the subtle but impactful differences between being frugal and being cheap, helping you assess whether your money-saving habits align with your values or if they may be costing more than you think. Learn how mindful spending can preserve relationships, support long-term goals, and still keep your finances in check. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://womenwhomoney.com/frugal-or-cheap-how-to-tell-why-matters/ Quotes to ponder: "Frugality means your spending decisions are aligned with your priorities and values, not going without or suffering because you lack things you need." "Being cheap is being selfish with your money." "Trying to save money can be a real challenge and there may be times where you find yourself being cheap instead of frugal." Episode references: BeFrugal: https://www.befrugal.com Ibotta: https://www.ibotta.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 9, 2025 • 9min

3381: When It Pays to Spend Money to Save Money by Amanda Brownlow on Intentional Spending

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 3381: Amanda Brownlow challenges the traditional mindset of extreme frugality by showing how intentional spending can lead to long-term savings. From prioritizing health and quality items to investing in insurance and expert financial advice, she explains why spending a little more now can prevent costly mistakes and replacements later. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://hellobrownlow.com/2020/10/14/spend-money-to-save-money/ Quotes to ponder: "Spending money on a gym membership (that you actually use), home gym equipment, whole food items, supplements, and more can help keep you healthy." "Staying healthy not only makes you feel good, but you save money in the long term, too." "You may need to save up money to purchase what you really want, but that higher quality item will pay for itself over time because you won’t have to buy it again." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 8, 2025 • 10min

3380: What You Can Learn From Millennials For a Better Financial Future by Kathleen Coxwell of New Retirement

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 3380: Kathleen Coxwell highlights how millennials, often seen as financially unstable, are actually modeling habits that can lead to a more flexible and fulfilling retirement. From downsizing and ditching costly assets to prioritizing experiences, connection, and purpose, their lifestyle offers valuable lessons in living well both now and later. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.newretirement.com/retirement/learn-from-millennials-for-better-retirement-2/ Quotes to ponder: "Millennials crave the joy of adventures and discoveries, whether epic or everyday." "Talking about money is a good thing. Behavioral research has found that having peers who have good financial habits can help you to have good financial habits." "You can actually slow down the clock by trying new things." Episode references: U.S. Census Bureau: https://www.census.gov Pew Research Center: https://www.pewresearch.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 7, 2025 • 10min

3379: Snatch Up Your Long Lost Money by J. Money of Budgets Are Sexy on Tracking Down Lost 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 3379: J. Money unpacks how billions of dollars in unclaimed property are just sitting around, waiting to be claimed, including hundreds his own wife forgot about from a decade-old paycheck. With step-by-step guidance and a few laughs, he shows how easy (and free) it is to search for and reclaim your lost funds, and possibly help your friends and family do the same. Read along with the original article(s) here: http://www.budgetsaresexy.com/find-unclaimed-money-property/ Quotes to ponder: "It literally takes a handful of seconds to get started, and there’s no excuse for not giving it a shot." "Claims can be made into perpetuity in most cases, even by heirs." "Unclaimed property is one of the original consumer protection programs." Episode references: Virginia unclaimed property search: https://vamoneysearch.gov/ Unclaimed.org (National Association of Unclaimed Property Administrators): https://www.unclaimed.org Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 7, 2025 • 8min

3378: You Don't Have to Give Up Important Things to Get Important Things Done by Michael Mehlberg

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 3378: Michael Mehlberg challenges the productivity trend of cutting out distractions by flipping the script, urging us to protect the activities that fuel us through a not-to-give-up list. This powerful mindset helps you stay motivated, avoid burnout, and build a life that balances achievement with joy. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://michaelmehlberg.com/blog/2018/5/30/you-dont-have-to-give-up-important-things-to-get-important-things-done Quotes to ponder: "Forced self-control only works when you're not stressed or tired." "Without a clear purpose for every item that goes on this list, you'll find yourself ignoring it, or worse, binging on the very things you add to it." "And that's the beauty of a not-to-give-up list. You put the focus on what's important in your life." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 6, 2025 • 11min

3377: Money Stress: Why We Use Money to Feel Bad About Ourselves by Dr. Lisa Firestone of Psych Alive

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 3377: Dr. Lisa Firestone explores how our emotional history, especially early experiences with money, shapes our current financial stress and self-worth. She reveals how the "critical inner voice" hijacks our judgment, fueling guilt, anxiety, and self-sabotage, and offers practical tools for developing healthier financial beliefs and habits. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.psychalive.org/money-stress-why-we-feel-bad-about-money/ Quotes to ponder: "The critical inner voice can cloud your judgment when it comes to money, because you are no longer making choices based on real, practical information." "Don’t avoid your fears or try to self-soothe. Neither buying something you can’t afford nor denying yourself any little luxury will truly relieve you." “The critical inner voice often creates conflict between couples when it comes to money.” Episode references: Stress in America survey by the American Psychological Association: https://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 5, 2025 • 12min

3376: How Do the Wealthy Invest? by Nick Maggiulli of Of Dollars and Data on Building Wealth Mindfully

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 3376: Nick Maggiulli unpacks how wealthy individuals allocate their assets, revealing that investment strategies often depend more on access and status than on performance alone. While ultra-wealthy investors lean heavily into alternatives like private equity and hedge funds, this typically happens after wealth is accumulated, not as the path to it, offering a crucial reminder to focus on what works for your own situation rather than mimicking the elite. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://ofdollarsanddata.com/how-do-the-wealthy-invest/ Quotes to ponder: "Try not to forget that the wealthiest 10% of Americans own nearly 90% of all U.S. stocks!" “Not all investing is about money, sometimes it’s about status too.” “There are many ways to preserve and grow your wealth. The hard part is finding what works best for you.” Episode references: Michael Kitces: https://www.kitces.com Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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Dec 4, 2025 • 10min

3375: Should Cash Be Part of Your Emergency Fund? By Honey Smith with Get Rich Slowly on Smart Emergency Planning

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 3375: Honey Smith explores the practical and psychological benefits of keeping physical cash as part of your emergency fund, especially in times when digital access to money may be disrupted. Weighing the pros and cons, from peace of mind and preparedness to lost interest and security risks, she offers clear guidance on how much cash to keep, where to store it, and why doing so could be a smart addition to your financial safety net. Read along with the original article(s) here: https://www.getrichslowly.org/should-cash-be-part-of-your-emergency-fund/ Quotes to ponder: "You'll never be out of money when you need it." "Cash can't be garnished like a paycheck or bank account, and it isn't easily traced." "If you lose the money, it gets destroyed, you are robbed, etc., you may have very little recourse." Episode references: Mint: https://mint.intuit.com/ Capital One 360: https://www.capitalone.com/bank/savings-accounts/online-performance-savings-account/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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