If money makes you anxious, you’re not alone—and you’re not “bad with money,” either. In this episode, we unpack how financial anxiety shows up in sneaky ways, like avoiding bills or obsessing over spreadsheets, and why your nervous system might be more to blame than your budgeting skills.

You’ll hear how perfectionism and procrastination trap us in cycles of avoidance, plus how small steps—like mindfulness, habit-stacking, and realistic money routines—can gently shift your mindset. We also explore the underrated power of self-compassion when dealing with money shame and why sustainable progress always beats crash-budgeting.

This episode is for anyone who’s ever felt overwhelmed by money stress and wants a calmer, more empowered path forward. With relatable stories and zero judgment, it offers both insight and practical tools to ease the pressure. Listen in and start building a money routine that supports your mental health—not messes with it.

Get my free guide to where to spend your next dollar: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-money-ladder-now

Get my guide on how to destroy your debt: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-guide-to-destroy-your-debt

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Financial Anxiety

02:00 Breaking the Cycle of Financial Anxiety

02:46 Procrastination and Perfectionism

04:17 Mindfulness and Self-Compassion in Finance

06:34 Take Action!

08:54 Building Sustainable Financial Habits

10:46 Financial Self-Care

12:43 Automate Where Possible

15:07 Celebrating Progress and Resilience

Ever wonder why money still feels stressful, even when you’re earning more? In this episode, we dig into the sneaky money scripts you picked up as a kid and how they quietly shape your habits today. From dinner table arguments to “we don’t talk about money” silence, your early experiences might be steering your financial choices more than you think.

We explore how subconscious beliefs like “I’m bad with money” or “rich people are greedy” turn into grown-up patterns like avoiding your budget or feeling guilty after every splurge. You'll hear how shame, fear, and even stress can drive your decisions, and what to do when emotions hijack your wallet. With real-world examples and practical tips, we show how self-awareness and self-compassion can rewrite the story.

This one’s for anyone who’s ever felt stuck in old money habits without knowing why. If you’re ready to unpack the emotional baggage in your bank account and make more conscious choices, this episode is your starting point. Tune in and start editing your money story.

Get my free guide to where to spend your next dollar: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-money-ladder-now

Get my guide on how to destroy your debt: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-guide-to-destroy-your-debt

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Childhood Money Experiences

01:13 The Connection Between Childhood Experiences and Current Money Behavior

03:09 Rewriting Your Money Story

08:38 The Emotional Drivers of Money Decisions

09:45 The Power of Shame

13:41 Fear and Stress

17:30 Empowering Yourself Through Awareness and Self-Compassion

Most people quietly accept whatever number their boss or cable company throws at them, and it’s costing thousands over a lifetime. This episode of Your Money on Easy Mode takes aim at the fear of asking, showing you why silence is expensive and negotiation is one of the highest-ROI money skills you can build.

We dig into the two biggest negotiation opportunities you’ll face: raises and recurring bills. You’ll hear why employers expect you to counter a job offer (and how most people who ask walk away with more), plus the simple scripts that turn an “I’m not sure” into an extra $5,000 on your paycheck. Then we flip to the expense side—from internet and phone bills to subscriptions and insurance—with real-world examples of people saving hundreds in just one call.

This episode matters because these aren’t abstract tips; they’re practical, repeatable moves that immediately put money back in your pocket. If you’re ready to ask for more, pay for less, and finally stop leaving money on the table, hit play and start negotiating smarter.

Get my free guide to where to spend your next dollar: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-money-ladder-now

Get my guide on how to destroy your debt: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-guide-to-destroy-your-debt

Chapters

00:00 The Power of Asking

01:15 Negotiating Raises Effectively

05:58 Negotiating Job Offers

08:40 Reducing Monthly Bills

11:30 Managing Subscriptions Wisely

15:38 Wrapping Up: Your Action Plan

What if your money problem isn’t the lattes, it’s the life costs you’ve stopped questioning? In this episode, Damien pulls back the curtain on the real budget killers: fixed costs. He breaks down how rent, car payments, recurring bills, and even silent bank fees are eating up your cash flow, and more importantly, how to take them down without upending your life.

You’ll hear how to negotiate rent without sounding awkward, the case for keeping your old car longer, and why a 5-minute call to your bank or credit card company could save you hundreds. There’s also a step-by-step strategy for canceling unused subscriptions, negotiating better service rates, and plugging the silent leaks in your budget. Real-world stories, practical scripts, and no shame, just smart tweaks that create room to breathe.

This episode is for anyone who feels like they’re doing everything right but still stuck paycheck to paycheck. If you want to build wealth without cutting joy, it starts by shrinking the stuff that doesn’t spark it. Tune in and take back control of your cash flow.

Get my free guide to where to spend your next dollar: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-money-ladder-now

Get my guide on how to destroy your debt: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-guide-to-destroy-your-debt

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Budgeting Myths

01:24 Tackling Housing Costs

05:47 Rethinking Transportation Expenses

08:21 Managing Recurring Bills and Subscriptions

12:21 Fighting Back Against Bank Fees and Interest

15:46 Strategic Financial Moves for Growth

Ever feel like your money problems follow you around no matter how much you earn or save? That’s not just bad luck — it’s your invisible money scripts at work. These are the hidden beliefs we pick up in childhood — things like “money is evil” or “I’ll always be bad with money” — and they quietly shape every decision we make with our wallets.

In this episode, we break down the psychology behind these scripts and the four big money mindsets that run the show: the Avoider, the Worshipper, the Status Seeker, and the Vigilant. You’ll hear how they show up in everyday habits, from dodging bills to splurging on “status” purchases, plus real stories of people who challenged those beliefs and rewrote their money story. Along the way, you’ll get simple reflection exercises to spot your own scripts — and practical strategies to flip them.

Why does this matter? Because your bank balance isn’t just about math — it’s about mindset. Once you see the stories running in the background, you can finally take back the controls and use money as a tool, not a source of stress. Press play and start rewriting your money story today.

Get my free guide to where to spend your next dollar: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-money-ladder-now

Get my guide on how to destroy your debt: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-guide-to-destroy-your-debt

Chapters

00:00 Understanding Invisible Money Scripts

04:27 The Four Money Characters

06:19 Breaking the Scarcity Mindset

08:18 Tying Self-Worth to Income

12:46 Rewriting Your Money Story

What do a doughnut shop, a discount department store, and a failing real estate tech company have in common? This summer, they all became meme stock darlings—soaring hundreds of percent in days, only to crash just as fast. In this episode, we break down the wild return of meme stock mania in 2025, from Opendoor’s 500% surge to Krispy Kreme’s sugar-fueled rally, and why everyday investors keep getting burned by hype over substance.

You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how social media platforms like Reddit, TikTok, and X reignited speculative chaos—complete with short squeezes, echo chambers, and FOMO-fueled trading frenzies. We dig into why these stocks exploded (hint: it wasn’t earnings), what red flags were ignored, and what really happens when hype outruns reality. If you’ve ever wondered how a nearly bankrupt company becomes the hottest name in finance overnight, this one’s for you.

Whether you’re meme-curious or meme-wary, this episode will sharpen your BS detector and help you spot a viral trap before it wrecks your wallet. And if you’re ready to skip the chaos and invest the smart way, check out our companion episode How I Invest—a no-nonsense guide to index funds, low fees, and long-term wins.

Get my free guide to where to spend your next dollar: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-money-ladder-now

Get my guide on how to destroy your debt: https://stan.store/YMOEM/p/get-the-easy-mode-guide-to-destroy-your-debt

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Meme Stock Mania

01:49 The Return of Meme Stocks in 2025

05:07 Case Study: Opendoor's Wild Ride

08:03 Case Study: Krispy Kreme's Surge

10:35 The Role of Social Media in Stock Trends

12:05 FOMO's Role in Meme Stocks

14:07 Identifying Red Flags in Meme Stocks

19:21 Navigating the Meme Stock Minefield

21:15 Conclusion: The Risks of Meme Stock Investing

Is your checking account quietly draining your wealth? In this episode of Your Money on Easy Mode, we break down why parking all your cash in checking isn’t the safe move it seems. With inflation running circles around the tiny interest banks pay, “safe” money can actually lose value faster than you think.

Damien unpacks the hidden risks of overstuffed checking accounts, showing how inflation erodes purchasing power and how missed interest adds up to thousands over time. You’ll hear practical rules of thumb for how much cash to actually keep on hand, why high-yield savings accounts are the better parking spot for your emergency fund, and how retirement accounts supercharge your long-term money growth. Along the way, we debunk the myths that keep people stuck, like the idea that investing is just gambling.

If you’ve been letting extra cash sit idle in checking, this episode will show you smarter, low-stress ways to put your money to work without taking on wild risks. Think of it as a reality check and an easy upgrade for your financial setup.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction

01:28 The Inflation Trap

04:06 The Savings Account Solution

06:59 Grow Even More with Retirement Accounts

09:02 Knocking Down 3 Money Myths

10:57 The Bottom Line

That “free” $300 bank bonus? It’s real, but it’s not always easy money. In this follow-up to our beginner’s guide to bank bonus churning, we dive into the pitfalls and fine print that can turn your payday into a headache. From hidden fees to getting flagged by ChexSystems, this episode is all about protecting your profits and avoiding the most common mistakes that trip up new churners.

We walk through the top risks: monthly fees that quietly drain your balance, tax surprises, missed requirements that disqualify you from the bonus, and sneaky terms that claw it back if you close the account too early. But we also take things up a notch, exploring advanced strategies like running multiple bonuses at once, household churning with a partner, tapping into savings and business account promos, and creating a dedicated “bonus float” to keep your money in motion. You’ll also learn how seasoned churners track everything and recycle banks for repeat rewards.

Whether you’re curious about turning bank promotions into a lucrative side hustle or just want to make sure you don’t leave money on the table, this episode is packed with tips to help you churn smarter, not harder. Hit play to protect your earnings, boost your returns, and walk away with a strategy that actually works.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction to Bank Bonus Churning

02:02 Avoid Monthly Account Fees

03:51 Tax Implications of Bank Bonuses

05:34 Do Banks Track Your Churning?

07:33 Navigating New Customer Limitations

08:15 Failing to Meet Requirements for Bonuses

09:50 Opportunity Cost of Large Deposits

11:29 Is It Worth the Hassle?

12:25 Do Not Commit Fraud

15:31 Advanced Strategies for Maximizing Bonuses

15:53 Staggering and Stacking Bonuses

16:46 Leveraging Household Churning

17:46 Exploring Savings and Business Account Bonuses

19:13 Utilizing Resources and Communities

20:21 Optimizing Bonus Funds Rotation

21:19 Meticulous Tracking for Success

22:05 Strategic Account Closures and Reopenings

22:54 Leveraging Referral Bonuses

23:35 Mind Your Credit

26:11 Taking Action