What We Spend

There’s a lot of dopey financial advice out there. Jill Schlesinger is here to call it out, answer your questions, and help you manage your money without losing your mind. No jargon. No judgment. Just clear, actionable financial guidance about saving, investing, buying a home, managing your career, and deciding how to spend your hard-earned dollars. When it’s time to panic, Jill will tell you. When everyone else is panicking and you shouldn’t be, Jill will tell you that too. Your money. Your move. Let’s go.

It’s not always easy being a woman in construction. But for Alden, a union carpenter in Massachusetts, the challenges come with a big payoff: the most financial stability she’s ever had.

Sharing an episode of Giving Done Right, a podcast from the Center for Effective Philanthropy about how to make an impact with your charitable giving. Shifts in federal policy and funding have profoundly impacted the nonprofit sector, and it has never been more urgent that donors act decisively and wisely. You’ll hear from experts across the social sector who shed light on the rapidly shifting landscape of need and the crucial, but complex, role of charitable giving in filling critical gaps. In this episode, Julie Butner, president and CEO of one of the largest food banks in the U.S., reveals that food bank clients are often working families who simply can't afford basic necessities. She explains how modern food banks have evolved far beyond emergency food distribution to address root causes through healthcare partnerships, nutrition education, and community gardens. The eye-opening conversation challenges common misconceptions about who needs food assistance and addresses debates about the roles of government and private philanthropy. You can listen to more Giving Done Right at https://link.mgln.ai/whatwespend.

Dan is a university post doc in the midwest. He’s getting married next spring— and discovering just how expensive weddings really are.

A few years ago, Alissa suffered the devastating loss of her husband. In the aftermath, she was left to navigate not just grief, but all the financial questions and decisions that came with his death —finding work, supporting four kids, and the emotional weight of figuring out how to use the money he left behind. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Charli is a filmmaker living in the Bible Belt. They’re on the brink of a big step in their relationship – moving in together and merging finances. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Jacob just graduated college in Wisconsin — but his degree in computer science might not mean what it used to. Now, he’s struggling to land a full-time job and questioning what comes next. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Mick owns a fireworks shop in Indiana. We'll follow him during the week leading up to July 4th — his busiest and most profitable time of year. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Scotty is a federal employee in Washington, D.C. He's made it through multiple rounds of DOGE layoffs, but the uncertainty has forced him to think more seriously about the future—and whether, even if he keeps his job, he can afford the life he wants. If you want to be on What We Spend , we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Morgan works as a consultant, but her income is not the only thing making her life possible. She’s opening up about her financial privilege, her relationship to it, and why she thinks more people should do the same. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Mel is a touring musician based in Pennsylvania. But despite her many successes in the music industry, she still has to work odd jobs to fund her rock star dreams. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Eryka is a professor and a bartender in Pittsburgh, who is used to working a lot of jobs to support herself. But after years of working non-stop, Eryka is slowing down a little, and assessing what she wants her work to look like now. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Molly is a lawyer in Chicago, whose youngest kid is about to leave for college. As she prepares to be an empty nester, she’s thinking about selling her house and looking ahead to a whole new chapter. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Michelle is a copy writer in Australia, and she’s part of the FIRE movement—Financial Independence, Retire Early. After watching how her parents worked, she set out to take a different path—and retire by 35. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Last week we heard from Michael, a single dad of twins in Massachusetts. This week he’s leaving all the hidden fees and mishaps of the cruise and returning home—where it’s much harder to ignore the weight of his current financial situation. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Michael is a single dad of twins in Massachusetts. He’s overwhelmed by the costs of raising a family on a teacher’s salary, but this week he’s trying to escape it all—by going on a cruise. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Angela is a single mom raising 10 kids in Iowa. She manages a lively home, all while supporting her family with a career that isn’t guaranteed to be lucrative — writing novels. If you want to learn more about the organization that supported Angela, Dress for Success, check out their website: https://dressforsuccess.org/ If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Yuhas is leaving behind their career as a makeup artist to step into a new one—as a drag queen. Performing as CryBaby, they're about to make their full-time debut. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Last week, we spoke to Maxine—a long-haul trucker who works full-time, but still lost her home when she could no longer pay her rent. We wanted to know how that could happen. And it turns out, the problem is much bigger than we thought. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com

Maxine is a long-haul truck driver in North Carolina. She loves her job, but she doesn't make enough to pay her bills. If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com