Budget Effect: How to Budget, How to Pay off Debt, Save Money, Live on a Budget, Improve your Money Mindset on a single income
It's time to break free from financial stress with simple, effective strategies designed for moms craving a method they can actually stick to! In this podcast, Budget Strategy Coach, Erin Britt, shares a 5-step monthly budgeting method that reduces overwhelm and helps you pay off debt, build wealth, and live abundantly. Whether you're struggling with impulse spending, relying on credit cards, or feeling too busy to budget, you'll find practical tips and mindset shifts to take control of your money. Join a community of moms ready to align their spending with their values, plan for the future, and break free from the stress of paycheck-to-paycheck living. It’s time to budget smarter, enjoy life more, and move toward financial freedom—without sacrificing the things you love. This is a debt podcast! Topics we cover: Foundational Budgeting Skills: How to create and stick to a budget, even with limited income. Simple, actionable steps to build a zero-balance budget each month. Overcoming Impulse Spending & Credit Card Reliance: Strategies to control impulse buying and overspending. Breaking the cycle of using credit cards as income and paying off debt sustainably. Budgeting for Busy Moms: Budgeting tips for real life - especially budgeting tips for busy moms Intentional Living & Aligning Spending with Values: How to figure out your core values and create a value-based budget How to spend intentionally without sacrificing things you love. Aligning household routines and systems with financial goals. Financial Preparedness & Saving for the Future: Building emergency funds and saving for bigger expenses with confidence. How to manage everyday expenses while planning for future goals like retirement, vacations or a home. Self-Care & Financial Wellness: Prioritizing self-care to avoid burnout. Developing healthy habits for long-term financial success and balance. Mindset Shifts for Financial Growth: Abundance mindset Embracing financial mistakes as opportunities for growth and grace. Tracking Spending & Staying Accountable: Practical tools to track where your money goes and stay in control. The power of community and support systems A note from Erin: As a single mom and sole provider with no additional support, I paid off thousands of dollars in debt on a teacher’s salary. I know firsthand that it’s possible to take control of your finances, no matter your income or circumstances. My straightforward, foundational approach to budgeting simplifies the process, giving you the tools and confidence to manage your money effectively and build a secure financial future. If I could do it on my own, you can too—and I’m here to show you how. *How can I pay off my debt? *Is there an easy budget method? *How can I simplify my household expenses? *How can I pay down credit card debt? *How can I stop relying on credit cards? *How to start budgeting for beginners? *How to budget on one income? *How can I live within a budget? *How do I write a budget? *How do I spend less? *How can I move forward financially? *What if I don't have enough money to invest? *How can I build wealth? *How can my budget reflect my core values? *How can I LIVE ABUNDANTLY on a budget? *Is there someone out there who understands being a single mom that can help me with my finances?! :) I got you, girl. Erin Britt is your host and can be found on Instagram (@budgeteffectpodcast)
Episodes
A year plan helps you zoom out and see all your money at once, not just month to month. When you do that, a few powerful things happen:
- You gain clarity around what you’re actually capable of in a year
- You can set realistic goals for saving, investing, vacations, and self-care
- You understand why money feels tight — and what to adjust
In this episode, I walk you through:
- What a year plan is (and what it’s not)
- How to create o...
Thinking about new money goals — or just want to feel less stressed and more in control?
These 6 reflection prompts will help you reset your finances in a way that actually fits your life.
They’re not ONLY about crunching numbers (although we crunch a few).
They’re about making sure your money is working for your real life, your values, and the things that matter most.
Free Resources:
Do you feel like budgeting only “works” when life is calm and organized?
In this episode, we’re talking about why consistency matters more than perfection — and how to keep moving forward with your money even when life feels messy.
I walk you through the three core habits of a solid budget routine and what consistent (not perfect) action actually looks like in real life:
- Setting up your zero-balance budget — even if you’re l...
Do you want to feel more in control of your household finances?
In this episode, I’m giving you the 3 habits that make budgeting easier, calmer, and more consistent. This episode walks you through the three simple habits that keep your budget running smoothly—just like a good morning routine.
These habits are the foundation of a budget you can actually stick to, even when life feels busy or chaotic.
Other episodes mentioned in t...
If you’re tired of overspending — whether you never stick to your plan or you blow your budget on random Tuesday trips — this episode gives you four simple “batching” strategies to keep your spending under control.
You’ll learn how to batch:
- Monthly essentials so you stop making extra trips (and extra purchases).
- Seasonal clothing so you only buy what you truly need.
- Gift giving (holidays + kid birthdays) so you stop forgetting wha...
Unexpected bills? Kids’ expenses piling up? I get it. Even on my single-income teacher’s salary, I’m still saving money every month—and it’s because of these 4 simple habits.
In this episode, I’ll show you the easy, everyday things you can start doing to finally keep more of your money without cutting all the fun out of your life.
Simple habits. Real savings. You can do this.
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
💪 Do you wan...
Think your budget keeps failing because you’re “bad with money”? Nope.
It might actually be because you haven’t eaten enough kale… seriously.
In this episode, we pull back the curtain on all the non-money habits that impact your spending—your schedule, your energy, your clutter, your routines, and (yes) what’s happening in your fridge. You’ll learn why budgeting isn’t just tracking numbers; it’s about managing your life so you ...
The holidays are coming — but you don’t have to rush or stress this year. In this episode, Erin helps you get ahead now so you can feel calm, organized, and financially prepared when the season arrives.
You’ll walk through how to plan your time, money, and mindset in advance — so you can be present with your kids and actually enjoy the holidays.
💡 What You’ll Learn
- How to start future-thinking with your ...
Welcome to Part 2 of our KIDS and MONEY series.
Here's a link to Part 1 - Episode 77.
In this episode we cover:
- How to do allowance with your kids
- How to teach kids to be patient when they want something
- How to budget with kids at any age
- How to help our children deal with marketing, consumption, and comparison
It's filled with practical steps to helping your kids develop healthy money habits and mindsets!
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
Ever notice how your thoughts about money shape your results? In this episode, Erin breaks down two powerful ways of thinking about your household money: “if” and “because.”
Are you telling yourself:
- “I’ll stick to my budget if everything goes smoothly”?
- “I’ll save if there’s anything left over”?
Or are you shifting toward:
- “I’ll stay consistent because I want freedom”?
- “I’ll save bec...
In this episode, I sit down with Emily from @RaisingLittleMillionaires to talk about how to teach kids about money in practical ways. We’re already teaching them about money—whether we realize it or not—through our habits and conversations. Let’s do it better!
We cover the 3 essential money mindsets to teach at home:
- Split it before you spend it – give kids real practice with saving and spending.
- Make spending hard and saving easy...
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
If you leave your money sitting in your checking account, it’s going to get spent — just like cookies left out on the counter.
In this episode, I’ll share three powerful reasons you need to move your money forward.
You’ll learn how moving money helps you protect it from impulse spending, make faster progress toward your goals, and be prepared when future needs or wants come up.
Whether you’re p...
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
What do you do when you need to add a new expense but your budget already feels maxed out? Recently, I did just that.
In this episode, I walk through the steps I took to make it work:
- Figuring out the true cost (monthly and yearly)
- Testing it in my budget and year plan
- Deciding what categories I was—and wasn’t—willing to cut
- Adjusting amounts until everything fit
If you’ve ever tried to f...
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
When I launched The Budget Effect podcast, I started with four powerful effects of budgeting that completely transformed my life and finances. A year and a half later, do I still stand by them? Spoiler alert: yes—but I’ve also discovered even more life-changing benefits along the way.
In this episode, I’m reflecting on what happens when you go beyond “just ...
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
Are you only thinking about right now when you budget—just making it through the week or the month? Or maybe you’re swinging the other way, thinking about retirement decades from now but not sure how you’ll cover next season’s expenses.
In this episode, I’m introducing you to something I call the Ladder of Future Thinking—a simple way to look ahead in your ...
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
Ever find yourself in a low-vibe state —you’re frustrated with your progress, comparing yourself to others, or tempted to spend money just to feel better? You’re not alone, and you don’t have to stay stuck.
In this episode of The Budget Effect, we’re talking about what to do when discontent creeps in—especially when it’s tied to money, material things, or not be...
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
This episode is part quiz, part game, and totally eye-opening. We're playing a special version of Would You Rather—not the kind your kids play, but one designed to help you figure out what you truly value when it comes to spending, saving, and planning your life.
Do you crave adventure and experiences… or cozy nights and a home you love? Are you pinning tra...
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
Have you ever stuck to your budget for a few months, hit a savings goal, or paid off a credit card—and then celebrated by spending money that set you right back? 😬 You're not alone, and you're not doing it wrong… but there is a better way.
In this episode, we’re talking about how to reward yourself in ways that actually support your financial progress...
Short answer? Absolutely not.
In this episode, we’re breaking down the stereotypes around Type A and Type B personalities—and how both types can thrive with budgeting. Whether you love color-coded spreadsheets and a perfect plan (hello, Type A!) or you’re more go-with-the-flow and creative (hi, Type B!), budgeting can still work for you.
We’ll look at:
- The typical traits of Type A vs. Type B people
- How both personality types can sh...
🎉Grab your free Budget School JUMPSTART.
We go through different stages in our lives, and of course our budget is going to look different throughout those different seasons.
In today’s episode we are going to talk about two of those different seasons:
before debt-free
and
after debt-free.
Are there different methods? Different goals? Different motivations?
And what should always stay the same?
That&apos...
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