EP. 119 Moving On From Failure

EP. 119 Moving On From Failure

“Failure should be our teacher, not our undertaker.” - Denis Waitley

I have failed in my time and it was during those failures where I learned who I was, what I wanted out of life, and what not to do next time. The first 2 years of my oldest daughter’s life are painful to reminisce. I was drowning in a job that took over my entire life, I had clutter and debt and then I had a miscarriage. It was horrible, chaotic, and emotionally draining, to say the least. I didn’t have a budget, I didn’t know how to manage my life and overall — I was a mess.

I decided to get intentional about my life when I hit a breaking point. I quit my job and became a SAHM. It took me about a year to recover, unwind and clean up the mess we had made. It hurts to look back and it hurts to feel like those years were thrown away in an abyss, but the reality is that I learned my grit and my grace in those trying times.

Keep waking up. Keep moving forward. Keep showing up For yourself and the people you love. It is all worth it when you triumph over your failures and fears.

EP. 118 Millennial Money

EP. 118 Millennial Money

As Millennials, we live with the guilt of killing thousands of industries per day. We’re lazy and we expect things to be handed to us with no effort. We need safe spaces and avocado toast to make it through the day. We have debt up to our eyeballs, get married later in life and think of plants and dogs as our kids.

If you’ve ever heard our generation chalked up to these tropes, Episode 118 is for you. Katelyn Magnuson joins Sami on A Sunny Side Up Life Podcast to discuss how Millennials are blazing their own trails and changing the conversation around norms. Especially money norms.

EP. 117 Having an Intentional Holiday

EP. 117 Having an Intentional Holiday

⁠⁠’Tis the season to deck those halls, but what if you’re too overwhelmed to even think about holly and tinsel? In this episode, Sami shares how it is possible to have a simpler and more intentional holiday, and how it could actually make your family closer… and jollier.

EP. 116 Sami Does 'Ask Me Anything'

EP. 116 Sami Does 'Ask Me Anything'

⁠In this flipped episode of A Sunny Side Up Life, Sami is on the other side of the proverbial desk. Vee from Vee Frugal Fox asks Sami about everything from personal finance and ice cream flavors to who she voted for in the 2020 election and why she feels a personal responsibility to amplify politics on this platform. You’ll want to listen to this!

EP. 115 Paying Off Debt: Snowball vs. Avalanche

EP. 115 Paying Off Debt: Snowball vs. Avalanche

⁠You’ve heard Sami say it a million times: “Personal finance is personal”. This philosophy applies at the very start of your debt free journey. Paying off debt is as personal as anything else in personal finance. It’s kind of obvious... because it’s in the name.

That’s why we’re breaking down The Debt Snowball Method v. The Avalanche Method and what method works best with different scenarios. We explain what these two methods are, why each could work for you and more!

EP. 114 Why Personal Finance Is Political

EP. 114 Why Personal Finance Is Political

Politics directly affects everything from unemployment and job creation, to taxes, healthcare, education. If you care about personal finance and your family’s budget — you must care about politics too.

In this episode, I’m digging into why you can’t detach politics from money, how it directly affects our financial literacy and our education systems, and why I feel so strongly about exercising your right to vote. Plus, I’ll share my tips on how to make voting with your kids in-tow super simple.

EP. 112 Breaking The Hustle Culture

EP. 112 Breaking The Hustle Culture

You’ve probably heard the term “gazelle intense” and all of the reasons why you should hustle to get your debt paid off as fast as possible, but what if that hustle proves to be toxic?

In this episode, I’m sharing what exactly hustle culture means, how to know if it’s becoming toxic in your own life, and how to find the balance between achieving your goals and not losing yourself in the process.

EP. 111 Using Financial Independence As Social Activism

EP. 111 Using Financial Independence As Social Activism

In this episode, @winningtowealth shares the ups and downs of his family’s debt-free journey, simple investment tips to reach FIRE, and why financial independence should be considered a form of social activism for POC and allies.

Plus, Michael will walk us through how he and his wife got on the same page about money, how his daughter changed his goals, and the effects COVID has had on his career.

EP. 110 Finding Life Balance in 2020

EP. 110 Finding Life Balance in 2020

I see you -- working, virtual learning, cleaning, cooking, and being a human being with her own list of needs.

In this episode, I’m sharing a love note of encouragement and actionable tips for all of my ladies out there trying to do ALL THE THINGS during COVID-19 and 2020 in general.

EP. 109 Travel Hacking + Living By Your Own Rules

EP. 109 Travel Hacking + Living By Your Own Rules

In this episode, @aunt.kara shares where to start with travel hacking, how to not get overwhelmed by the process, and some fun stories about her family’s trips. Plus, she gives us a look inside of her well-rounded lifestyle and wealth-building strategies.

EP. 108 10 Budget Must Haves For Fall + Winter

EP. 108 10 Budget Must Haves For Fall + Winter

Once back-to-school wraps up, the next set of expenses roll in. Fall and Winter bring so many expenses from gifts and travel to fresh decor and new clothes.

In this episode, we’ll break down all of the must-have budget items for this season, plus a few you might have forgotten about.

EP. 107 Taking on Racism in The Debt Free Community with guest Jasmine Tillery

EP. 107 Taking on Racism in The Debt Free Community with guest Jasmine Tillery

"I was very disappointed to see people that I considered leaders in the space drop the ball, and as a Black Woman I kind of felt excluded." -Jasmine Tillery

In this episode, Jasmine Tillery from @moneyandmomming + @blackpfcommunity shares with us why improving financial literacy is crucial to Black communities. She shares how she's helping to change the conversation, and what others in the Debt Free Community can do as well. Plus she shares her best advice for other parents wanting to change their family trees and build generational wealth.

EP. 105 How To Have A Mostly Simple Life with guest Christine White

EP. 105 How To Have A Mostly Simple Life with guest Christine White

⁠Most of us just want to be happy and live a mostly simple life. But how do we make that a reality?⁠ ⁠

This week, Christine White is joining me to explain how achieving simplicity with your money, food, home, spills over into every aspect of your life and helps to improve your mental health. Plus, she’s giving us all the details on her cross-country move to break free from depression and to start working from home.⁠

EP. 104 32 Lessons Learned On My 32nd Birthday

EP. 104 32 Lessons Learned On My 32nd Birthday

I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons in my 32 trips around the sun, and in celebration of my birthday, I'm sharing some of these sacred words of wisdom with you.

EP. 103 Minimize Your Clutter To Maximize Your Life with guest Katy Wells

EP. 103 Minimize Your Clutter To Maximize Your Life with guest Katy Wells

What if I told you that your clutter isn’t just stuff taking up space in your home? It’s actually taking up space in your mind and your budget.

This week, I’m joined by decluttering pro Katy Wells. She’s sharing tips on how to start getting rid of stuff, how to break free from impulse shopping, and how minimalism can help your budget too.

EP. 102 Is Renting Throwing Money Away?

EP. 102 Is Renting Throwing Money Away?

In this episode, I'm breaking down all of our family's numbers for our old mortgage, our current rental, and our future custom home. Plus I'll explain how math backs me up on the argument that renting isn't always "throwing money away". Join me for this much-debated conversation.

EP. 101 Easy Tips For Having A Healthy And Balanced Life with guest Kristin Dovbniak

EP. 101 Easy Tips For Having A Healthy And Balanced Life with guest Kristin Dovbniak

As women, we spend way too much time stressing about perfection in our eating and toggling between an all-or-nothing approach to healthy living.

In this episode, Kristin Dovbniak shares with us how to ditch dieting, simplify nutrition, and uncomplicate eating so we can eat well and live well, without stress or restriction.

EP. 100 Q+A With My Girls special guests June, Izabell, and Melanie Womack

EP. 100 Q+A With My Girls special guests June, Izabell, and Melanie Womack

In celebration of my 100th podcast episode, I wanted to something really special and fun - cue inviting my three crazy children to be my guests!

This week, I'm interviewing my daughters, June (9), Izzy (6), + Melly (4). I'm asking them all about their favorite things, what they'd do with a million dollars, the pros and cons of living in a tiny house, their dreams for the new house, and so much more.

EP. 99 Slaying The Real Estate Game with guest Deedra Boodram

EP. 99 Slaying The Real Estate Game with guest Deedra Boodram

After you conquer your budget and overcome your debt, the next step on your journey is to build wealth.

In this episode, Deedra is walking us through her family’s journey from slaying debt to slaying the real estate game. She’s sharing how and why her family has decided to supplement their military retirement with rental properties.