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Student loan debt can make you feel like you’re never going to get ahead, especially when your total student loan balance is hundreds of thousands of dollars - as it is for this weeks' listener. In this episode host, Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez, interviews Melissa Jean-Baptiste, the founder of Millennial in Debt, about her journey of paying off $102,000 of debt, and her strategies for anyone else trying to do the same. Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fertility treatments like IVF and IUI are expensive, and for most Americans, not covered by insurance. Not to mention, there are no guarantees, making it difficult to know how much these treatments will ultimately cost. This week on Money Confidential, we talk about how to pay for the fertility treatments you need and navigating a financial plan in the midst of so many unknowns. Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Real estate prices are insanely high, and now mortgage rates are also rising. Has first-time homeownership ever felt more out of reach? On this week’s episode, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez talks to Dr. Daryl Fairweather, chief economist at real estate brokerage Redfin, about what today’s housing market means for prospective buyers, plus whether it makes more sense to buy or rent right now.   Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This week we are going to hear from three past expert guests who know what it’s like to balance the needs of their children (like paying for college) with their own, sometimes competing, financial needs (like saving for retirement). Learn how these experts find balance while also educating their children about spending and saving money early on. If you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Episode Summary: You want to travel, but you’re not sure if you can afford to - at least not without guilt or fear of jeopardizing your other financial goals. In this episode, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez speaks with founder of Pennywise Traveler, Angel Trinh, about practical ways to save on travel. And how to build your travel spending into your financial plans alongside the rest of your money goals. Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez- Host/Producer Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Producer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s frustrating when you’re not getting what you want out of your career, whether it’s money, meaning, or in the case of this week's listener, both. So what do you do next? Give up the security of a steady paycheck to pursue your passions? Or stick it out and hope that someday you’ll make more money -- and if that’s a possibility, what can you do to try to make it happen? On this episode, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez turns to Terri Trespicio, author of Unfollow Your Passion: How to Create a Life that Matters to You, for answers. Money Confidential is produced by: Stefanie O'Connell Rodriguez - Host/Producer Mickey O'Connor - Senior Editorial Director, Real Simple Lottie Leymarie - Executive Producer Jenny Snyder - Audio Engineer Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Money Confidential from Real Simple is back with your real money stories, struggles, and secrets. When it comes to finances, we know it’s not just about the money, it’s about what the money means for you. Each week, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez talks to a listener about their money problems, and gets real answers from financial experts.⁠ Because we all have money secrets. We just need more space to talk about them. This is the place for real talk about money, and real solutions that actually work. New episodes drop every Monday, starting May 16th. Follow Money Confidential wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than half of Americans say they are living paycheck to paycheck -- including this weeks’ listener, a 39-year-old college professor who, despite having a high income, is struggling to stick to a budget. For help, Stefanie interviews Alison Baggerly, the founder of Inspired Budget, about the practical financial and emotional strategies our listener can use to break free of the paycheck-to-paycheck cycle for good. If you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Budgeting isn’t a fun concept--it fact, for many of us, it’s incredibly off-putting. We tend to associate budgeting with denying ourselves of everything we enjoy. This week, however, you’ll hear from three previous guests who offer a fresh perspective on budgeting as a way to afford what you really want, without feeling deprived at all. Tune in, and get ready to look at budgeting in a whole new way. If you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investing is an excellent way to grow your own personal wealth. But when it comes to filing your taxes when you have investments, there are certain things you need to know–so you don’t end up with penalties like this week’s listener, Lorraine, did back in 2019. For advice, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez turns to Kristin Myers, editor-in-chief of The Balance, and Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of Investopedia. Dealing with debt? Buying a house? Getting married? Confused about investing? Planning for retirement? If you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this week’s episode, we meet Daria, a Brooklyn-based listener who’s currently finalizing her divorce from her husband. Like every other major life event, divorce changes the way in which you should file your taxes. For advice on how to get your taxes right after a divorce, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez turns to Kristin Myers, editor-in-chief of The Balance, and Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of Investopedia. They’ll also delve into everything you need to know when filing your taxes after retirement. Dealing with debt? Buying a house? Getting married? Confused about investing? Planning for retirement? If you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Milestone moments such as getting married, buying a home, or having children can change the way you file your taxes as much as they can change your life. But it’s important to know all the implications of making a change so you don’t run into trouble like this week’s listener did. Gretchen thought she was making all the right decisions by filing separately from her husband–then was slapped with penalties from the government. For advice on filing taxes after several major life events, host Stefanie O’Connell Rodriguez turns to Kristin Myers, editor-in-chief of The Balance, and Caleb Silver, editor-in-chief of Investopedia. Dealing with debt? Buying a house? Getting married? Confused about investing? Planning for retirement? If you have a money story or question to share, you can send us an email at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail at ‪(929) 352-4106‬. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices