Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host a happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

Today is not only the last Friday of the month, it’s actually the last Friday of the year. Every year for the past four years, the Happy Hour Ladies and I share our year in review, and we discuss the highs and lows of the year that’s about to end and then share our goals for the upcoming year. I love recording happy hours, but these year end episodes are always my favorite.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/2019-year-end-review-with-the-happy-hour-ladies/

At the end of every show, I ask for your suggestions on show topics and I love them, so keep them coming. Today’s show is a direct answer to podcast listener Erin’s request. She emailed me and said, “Going off of your episode on entrepreneurship, which broached the topic of angel investing, I would love to hear a show talking about the due diligence process and how more women can get their feet wet on the active investing side of things!”

The Financial Gym wouldn’t exist without Angel Investing, so I was excited to tackle this subject. Joining me today is Charlie O’Donnell, founder of Brooklyn Bridge Ventures. He was the lead investor in the Financial Gym’s seed round of funding and he is going to talk about the process of investing in startups and the best way to manage Angel Investing.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/angel-investing-with-charlie-odonnell/

I have been helping people get financially fit for over seven years now. People ask me all the time about the quickest way to get financially healthy and the first place I tell them to look is their food spending. After your mortgage or rent, and possibly your student loan payment, the next largest monthly expense in almost everyone’s budget is food. Food was a huge problem area for me before I got financially healthy, and I made a number of excuses as to why I couldn’t change my ways. Well, we’re heading into a new year and a new decade so let’s stop the excuses.

Joining me today to help you make smarter food spending choices is Talia Koren, founder of work week lunch. She’s going to share lots of important tips and tricks to help you save money in one of your largest spending areas.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/meal-prepping-with-talia-koren

Getting in the hot seat today is not only a Financial Gym client, she’s also a Financial Gym Trainer. Beca is here to share her personal finance journey that led up to a very fateful day, when she attended a Financial Gym open house, and then she gets financially naked. I hope you enjoy getting to know Beca, as much as I love working with her.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-financially-naked-with-beca/

Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host a happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

Today we are talking about health insurance, the types that we have, the types we’ve used, how we budget for it, and how you should prepare during open enrollment time.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/healthcare-and-open-enrollment-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

Over the last eight years of helping people get financially healthy, I’ve found that people with clearly defined goals that are personally meaningful have the highest probability of achieving success, and not only achieving their goals but typically much sooner than they expect.

That’s why I’m excited to have Tori Dunlap, founder of Her First $100K join me today to share why she set a big goal for herself by the age of 25 and how it’s motivated her to help others do the same.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/her-first-100k-with-tori-dunlap

This episode’s topic is particularly near and dear to my heart, because we’re talking about military money. For those of you who don’t know, my grandfather and grandmother on my dad’s side were both in the Army, and my dad is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy and was an active member in the Air Force for most of my childhood.

Today we’re specifically talking about it because this week we’ve launched a new plan specifically designated for members of the military, retired or active, based on their unique professional, personal, and financial journeys. We have launched a specific military designation for our trainers that requires extra training in everything from military life to military paychecks to military retirement plans. It’s an exciting next chapter of the Financial Gym, and joining me today are the two trainers leading the charge, Mike and Joy. They’re going to share their personal stories as well as how a career in the military can impact your financial life.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/military-money-with-joy-and-mike

Brandi asked me to record an episode that addressed the challenges that she and thousands of others face in the barbering and hairdressing communities. Many of us who sit in their chairs know about their personal lives, but not about how they can manage through their careers and get financially healthy at the same time. Brandi joins me today to discuss her career in this field and how others in it can benefit from some of the hard lessons she’s learned.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-financially-healthy-in-any-profession-with-brandi/

In the hot seat today is our client, Hannah, Founder of HZ Organized and performer in New York City. She joins me today to discuss her road to financial health and share how much unexpected success she’s had in a short period of time.

Be aware that Hannah was very open about her struggles with an eating disorder, so if this type of conversation will have triggers for you, I recommend not listening to it.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-financially-naked-with-hannah/ 

This year as you’re preparing to change over your holiday thoughts from Halloween to Thanksgiving, the Happy Hour ladies and I can be in your ears helping you plan to have a happy and financially healthy holiday spending season.

We share our thoughts on holiday spending and give you some practical advice for how not to get carried away this holiday season.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/holiday-spending-with-the-happy-hour-ladies/

Just when I think I’ve seen every angle around the topic, I’m pleasantly surprised by some fresh thoughts.

I’m even more excited that those thoughts come from a long-time blogging friend of mine, Kassandra Dasent, Financial Consultant and CEO of Minding Your Money.

Kassandra joins me today to talk about how you can manage a healthy relationship with money while also managing healthy personal relationships. We tackle every type of relationship, from love interest, to friendship, to family. This is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/when-relationships-and-money-intersect-with-kassandra-dasent/

For over seven years now, I’ve watched the amazing transformations that take place when someone embarks on a financial wellness journey. You may decide to get financially fit because of a particular pain point, like student loan debt or lack or savings, but once you start focusing on your money, it’s amazing what different doors and opportunities can open up.

Joining me today is Kiera Doyle, hairdresser, host of the Beauty Therapy podcast, and Human Design reader, to talk about her journey toward financial fitness, and how it led to a truly unique side hustle she never anticipated. If you know anything about human design and you are curious about mine, stay tuned toward the end to hear what Kiera has to say about me.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/financial-transformation-human-design-with-kiera-doyle/

At the Financial Gym, clients of all financial shapes and sizes come to us to work on the areas of their finances they would like to tone up. Some want to get more education on investing, some want to learn more about budgeting, some want to figure out their student loans, and many want to understand the options they have to resolve the debt that they’ve accumulated.

Resolving debts is exactly the specialty of today’s guest, Leslie H. Tayne, author, attorney and award winning founder and director of the Tayne Law Group. Leslie joins me today to answer debt resolution questions from bankruptcy, to debt settlement companies, and everything in between. If you or someone you know is wondering about fixing up your debts, this is a conversation you will not want to miss.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/debt-settlement-with-leslie-tayne 

This month, I’ve had a theme of entrepreneurship, and we are continuing that theme to happy hour. All of the happy hour ladies have worked traditional nine-to-five jobs and started their own businesses.

Today we discuss, as we discuss all things, honestly the pros and cons of both career choices and whether or not we could go back to a nine-to-five job after being entrepreneurs.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/pros-and-cons-of-working-nine-to-five-with-the-happy-hour-ladies/

Continuing my entrepreneurs theme of the month, I’m introducing you to an entrepreneur who is my woman crush in every way imaginable. Hitha Palepu is an Entrepreneur, Angel Investor, Author and Consummate Multi-hyphenate as she says. Hitha joins me today to share her personal entrepreneur journey through three businesses and why she loves investing in other founders.

As a side note, I’m apologizing in advance for my sound quality. We recorded the entire episode only to find out my mic wasn’t captured. So for my sound snobs, I apologize in advance. The good news is that Hitha does most of the talking and she sounds great!

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/becoming-an-entrepreneur-with-hitha-palepu/

The month of September has officially become entrepreneurs month here on the podcast, and today I’m featuring Lily Womble, founder of Date Brazen.

Lily spent years as a successful matchmaker only to realize that most of the dating work had to begin way before the matching could take place. She joins me to share her entrepreneurial journey and how we can all have more fulfilling and meaningful dating lives.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/date-brazen-with-lily

As an entrepreneur, I always love sharing other entrepreneurs’ journeys with you on this show. I’m fascinated about why people decide to start businesses and the types of businesses they start.

Today’s guest has a really fascinating business. I am speaking to Jen Glantz, founder of Bridesmaid for Hire and Author of the book Always a Bridesmaid for Hire, about why she started her business and the tolls that her entrepreneurial journey have taken on her personal life.

Hello Martinis and Your Money Listeners! Today is the last Friday of the month and my regular listeners know that on the last Friday of the month, I host the happy hour on the podcast where I gather great friends with me to drink cheap drinks and talk about money topics.

It's not only the last Friday of the month, but the last Friday, in my opinion, of summer time and as I gave myself some summer vacation to air replays, I also gave the happy hour ladies a month off as well.

This week I’m re-airing the episode we recorded around home ownership. This is honestly one of my all-time favorite episodes because I think there was so much great information shared and it was a truly honest dive into the pros and cons of home ownership and why we support it or not.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/homeownership-with-the-happy-hour-ladies-2

Getting in the hotseat today is our client Paige. Paige has a really fascinating backstory and I applaud her for her bravery in sharing it, but I have to warn you that if you have triggers around substance abuse or physical abuse, you may want to skip listening to this episode.

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-financially-naked-with-paige/

I think of financial health as having a number of pieces to the puzzle that all come together to make us financially healthy people. The primary pieces, or the outline of the puzzle, include budgeting, expense management, saving, credit management, debt management, investing, insurance or risk management, and income management.

At the Financial Gym, we help our clients figure out all of these pieces and where they fit into the puzzle, and, while I think they’re all equally important, I think the investing piece is typically the last one people figure out. Either they haven’t gotten to a point where they’re saving enough to make investing a priority, they’re afraid to start, or they don’t know where to go to learn more about it. That’s why I’m excited to have Amanda from the Dumpster Dog Blog and Invested Development, to talk more about investing and the amazing resource she’s created to help you get started, or get more comfortable with, the investing piece of your financial health puzzle.

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

In my seven years of helping people get financially healthy, a common emotion I’ve seen from clients is anxiety. We have clients avoid their first sessions with us, avoid quarterly reviews, or avoid their trainers totally, because of the anxiety their financial situation brings up in them. In fact, this episode was inspired by a long-term client of the Gym, who asked her trainer if I could do a show around financial anxiety. Despite the fact she is experiencing great success around her money, she can’t kick the anxiety it brings her.

Today I invited my friend, Amanda Clayman, Financial Therapist and Financial Wellness Advocate for Prudential, to discuss the topic of financial anxiety, including how common it is and how we can manage it in our lives. This is a really important topic for everyone and I hope it helps a lot of people out there.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/financial-anxiety-with-amanda-clayman

At the Financial Gym, we call the first time our clients meet with their financial trainers, and share all of their financial details, the financially naked session. It’s typically a meeting where a lot of clients start out anxious and honestly a number of people avoid joining the financial gym out of the fear and shame they have around their money situation and I want to tell you that no matter what your situation you shouldn’t feel that way.

The only reason you could possibly feel like that is if you’re not willing to do anything about changing your money situation.

To help anyone out there who may be feeling bad about their financial situation, today, I’m going to let you know you’re not alone. Today, I’m sharing with you my financial situation ALL of the numbers and all of the details.

As I said on the show, I have been just about all of our clients at some point in my adult life and you’re about to find out why.

Joining me to hear all the dirt is one of my all time favorite trainers at the gym, Joy.

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/http-traffic-libsyn-com-martinisandyourmoney-maym220_financially_naked_session-mp3/

Today the ladies and I are reviewing two recent personal finance related articles, one claiming that the personal finance industry sucks and another about a woman out-earning her significant other.

Lots of food for thought and, as you can imagine, we had lots of thoughts to share around these topics.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/headlines-with-the-happy-hour-ladies/

Two years ago, when we first started to raise money for Financial Gym and we were working on growing our client numbers, we decided to record a podcast episode with current clients so that potential new clients knew what the experience was like. So Kelly, Maria, and Jen all joined me to share their experience as Financial Gym clients.

Last year, Jen reminded me that we were coming up on the one-year anniversary of recording that episode, so we checked back in with this FinGym threesome. Well, my friends, another year has passed and these three women are still Financial Gym clients and join me today to share what’s happened with them over this past year.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/client-happy-hour-with-kelly-maria-and-jen/

Getting Financially Naked with Tai and Jordan

Today’s naked session is a super special one for me. Not only is the person in the hot seat one of my trainers, but she also brought her husband along for the ride. This is actually our first couples’ naked session with both partners present and fully financially naked. My trainer Tai is a financial work in progress, like many of us, and I give her mad props and respect for sharing her numbers, even though she is relatively early on in her own financial wellness journey. She did this because she wants to help others and I know this will.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-financially-naked-with-tai-and-jordan

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, you only have a few more days to lock in our 2018 rates as our rates for new clients are going up in 2019. Head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

Investing Revisited with the Happy Hour Ladies

I knew that we spoke about investing in the past during a happy hour, but a few tidbits from a conversation with Mrs. Frugalwoods made me think that we should revisit this topic having a gut feeling that the conversation would be fresh.

Well, as you’ll hear in this show, we were all shocked to find out that it’s been over four years since we talked about investing on the happy hour and you better believe the conversation was fresh. I hope you enjoy hearing our investing experiences.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/investing-revisited-with-the-happy-hour-ladies

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, you only have a few more days to lock in our 2018 rates as our rates for new clients are going up in 2019. Head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

Cameron is a financial journalist and author of the book Mom and Dad we need to talk – how to have essential conversations with your parents about their finances.

This is a topic that not only hit me personally as you’ll hear but also I deal with a lot in helping my client’s plan for their future.

If you’re parents are still alive and in your life, this is a podcast you won’t want to miss.

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, you only have a few more days to lock in our 2018 rates as our rates for new clients are going up in 2019. Head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/mom-and-dad-we-need-to-talk-with-cameron-huddleston/

Every time you meet with a client and they ask you a question, you have no idea what direction they’re leaning and all you can do is give the best advice from your personal experience, from a financially sound decision, and also from an understanding of your client.

I was recently asked by a listener to do a show about one of the most common sounding board questions financial planners get so I thought I would expand the conversation to answer other hot topic questions financial planners get. When I thought about who I would have this conversation with, the only person who came to mind, who happens to be one of my favorite and retired financial planners, Joe Saul-Sehy of the Stacking Benjamins podcast.

Joe joins me today to get thrown under the bus and answer some common financial planner questions. As usual, I loved hearing Joe’s financial advice and guidance and I hope you do as well.

For more information, click here 

Ben Jones, Entrepreneur and Financial Educator who is equally passionate about financial literacy as I am, joins me to talk about resources he’s created to help people of all ages, especially children, become financially literate.

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, you only have a few more days to lock in our 2018 rates as our rates for new clients are going up in 2019. Head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/educounting-with-ben-jones/ 

Have you ever tried to talk about personal finance with your friends? Have you ever gotten financially naked with your friends or vice versa?

I’m asking my Happy Hour friends about how they interact with their friends about money, and you’ll be surprised by the responses. As always, we had a great time.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/friends-and-money-with-the-happy-hour-ladies/ 

Kayla started her journey with us to getting financially healthy only to take a huge step in another direction, which was certainly not part of the original plan. She joins me today to share her story and how that impacted her finances.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-financially-naked-with-kayla 

As some of you know, I have a gripe against weddings. I don’t love watching clients go into credit card debt planning or participating in weddings. So you can imagine how excited I was to hear about

Heather Fier, aka the Wedding Hacker, created her business to literally help couples plan the weddings of their dreams in the most cost-effective way.

As some of you know, I have a gripe against weddings. I don’t love watching clients go into credit card debt planning or participating in weddings.

You can imagine how excited I was to hear about Heather. She joins me to share why she decided to start this business and share some really great ideas for how couples can save on their wedding.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/the-wedding-hacker-with-heather-fier/ 

Getting in the hot seat today is our client Rebekkah who is coming up on one year at the Gym. When she started with us, she had $767 in the bank and wondered if it made financial sense to join. She’s going to share her journey and where she is today.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-financially-naked-with-rebekkah/ 

April is Financial Literacy month. Today the Happy Hour ladies and I are talking about financial literacy — when we gained it, the reason it’s a problem in our country, and ways we can get more comfortable with it.

As always, this was a fun and informative conversation that I hope you enjoy.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/financial-literacy-with-the-happy-hour-ladies  

Shannon shares thoughts, updates and lessons learned over the past year as she approaches her 41st birthday.

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If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your goals, head over to - or send friends to - https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

I was fortunate and privileged to have my college education funded by my parents and, 23 years ago when I started college, I knew that was a big thing.

I remember watching my college roommate go off to work-study and feeling thankful that wasn’t me. Then we graduated, got similar jobs at Bank of America, and shared an apartment, and she had an extra $500 a month in student loan payments that I didn’t have.

Fast forward to me starting the Financial Gym and I feel like all we see, day in and day out, are people trying to figure out student loans and live their best lives possible while doing so.

I’m thankful to have my friend David Carlson back on the show to chat more about student loans and the book he’s written to help with them, Student Loan Solution: 5 Steps to Take Control of Your Student Loans and Financial Life.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/student-loan-solution-with-david-carlson/ 

I always say that without physical, mental, or financial health, what are we doing this for. I view all three as equally critical to allow us to live our best lives.

Even though May is Mental Health Awareness Month, I wanted to kick off my discussion in April and speak to a mental health practitioner to answer all of the questions I’ve had around my own mental health, like how do I find the right therapist? How much should I pay? Can I negotiate? and more.

Joining me to answer my questions, and hopefully yours, is Jenny Maenpaa, Psychotherapist and Women’s Leadership Coach and Founder of Forward in Heels. Jenny is a long-time friend of the Gym and I love her perspective on all things mental health.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/forward-in-heels-with-jenny-maenpaa/ 

Today we’re talking about what has been a hot topic lately, especially in the personal finance writing space: privilege.

At least we started with privilege, and then the conversation progressed to the ups and downs of being a public voice in the very sensitive days we are living in.

I hope you enjoy this conversation and, as always, receive it in the positive manner in which we intend to communicate.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/privilege-with-the-happy-hour-ladies 

Anna survived an abusive relationship and shares how she’s putting together the pieces of her financial life in a very non-conventional way.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-financially-naked-with-anna/ 

I always love talking to guests about how we can live a better life. After all, it is part of the slogan on my podcast.

Today I am excited to have back on the show Shanah Bell, founder of Adaptive Nourishment and author of the book The Art of Being a PITA, to discuss how her career of working over 50 jobs informed how she can help other people navigate the ins and outs of getting what they want and living the life they want.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/the-art-of-becoming-a-pita-with-shanah-bell 

Getting in the hot seat today is another dude who’s a long time podcast listener and also a long-time financial gym client. I’m excited to have Paul join me today to share his digits and his journey to a financially healthier lifestyle

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-naked-with-paul/

When I last had this guest on the podcast, she was still an anonymous blogger who was just on the verge of making the leap to a public outing and declaring financial independence with her husband.

Fast forward over a year and now she has written a book to discuss her experience leading up to financial independence and why she’s not a typical FIRE (Financial Independence Retire Early) persona.

I’m excited to have back on the show, and for the first time publicly, Tanja Hester, author of Work Optional: Retire Early the Non-Penny Pinching Way, founder of Our Next Life Blog, and co-host of The Fairer Cents podcast.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/work-optional-with-tanja-hester/ 

All four of the Happy Hour ladies took the leap to self employment in different ways and for different reasons.

Today we share why we made those leaps, the lessons we learned after taking them, and some really important tips we want you to know so you can make the best decisions around self employment.

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, you only have a few more days to lock in our 2018 rates as our rates for new clients are going up in 2019. Head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

Until next time, take care!!

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/self-employment-with-the-happy-hour-ladies/ 

In a recent search of the top employers represented from Financial Gym clients, I discovered that the number one employer is “Self Employed.” We work with a lot of freelancing, entrepreneurial clients and it’s one of the many things I love about the Gym.

Freelancer finances are difficult to understand and plan for and we love helping our clients build businesses in a financially healthy way. I also love all of the ways people can build a business, so today I’m talking to Diana Davis, a Health and Wellness photographer in New York City, about how and why she started her business and how she’s built a successful practice doing the two things she loves most, design and photography.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/building-a-freelance-business-with-diana-davis/ 

Stacey, a Financial Gym client with a not-so-pretty past financial life, gets financially naked. She hopes you will learn from her mistakes.

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, you only have a few more days to lock in our 2018 rates as our rates for new clients are going up in 2019. Head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-naked-with-stacey/ 

At the Financial Gym, we call the first meeting you have with a trainer the “financially naked session.”

This is my first married couple to get financially naked on the show. Not only are they married with children, they also run a farm.

I just love the diversity of Financial Gym clients.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-naked-with-natalie/ 

Today we’re talking about homeownership - why we’ve done it or why it is not even a life goal of ours, and the pros and cons.

My biggest takeaway is to make your financial goals your own. If homeownership is a goal of yours, make sure you go into it with eyes wide open. If it’s not a goal, no big deal. It is not a requirement in life to own a home. It is important that you have life goals that resonate with you, not someone else.

Notes for this show as well as links to my guest's sites can be found at http://financially-blonde.com/homeownership-with-the-happy-hour-ladies-2.

If you have any topics you would like for me to cover on this podcast, I encourage you to email me to Shannon@finblonde.com or tweet to me @blonde_finance or join the private Martinis and Your Money Facebook group and let me know what you want to hear.

And if you want to work with my team at the Financial Gym to help you achieve your 2019 goals, you only have a few more days to lock in our 2018 rates as our rates for new clients are going up in 2019. You don’t have to start your membership until January 2019, but you need to sign up before the end of this year. So head over to or send friends to https://financialgym.com to lock in your low rates today. I wish you and your family the happiest and healthiest of new years!

Until next time, take care!!

Joining me to discuss how dating can impact your finances is Financial Gym trainer Jenn and her client Rebecca. They share their personal stories of love, loss and recovery and how their finances were impacted because of it.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/unexpected-breakups-with-jenn-and-rebecca/

Last year, as we were working on building the Financial Gym brand, we worked with a number of influencers to help get the word out about the Gym. During that time, we saw the value of working with them, not only as a brand to help us build our brand, but we saw the value that could come from being an influencer.

Today I’m talking to Shanna Tyler, Life and Business Coach and founder of Self Soul Sport, about how she became an influencer, how you can become one, and how you can make money doing it.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/becoming-an-influencer-with-shanna-tyler 

Getting financially naked in the hot-seat today is my first dude! I know that my podcast may seem as though it’s skewed toward women; however, I’ve known for years that guys are listening as well, and Jon is one of those guys. Jon is a longtime listener who volunteered to get financially naked with me and all of you.

For more information, visit the show notes at http://financially-blonde.com/getting-naked-with-jon/