What We Spend

I Was Never Going To Be Able To Retire Anyway

Stephanie is a 61-year-old rideshare driver. She lives with a roommate in the same apartment complex where she grew up. She has little in savings and limited financial wi

A Bodybuilder's Budget

James is a bodybuilder. Even at the amateur level, staying competitive requires a significant financial investment, from supplements and trainers to gym memberships. We f

I Have a Second Home, Now I Need A First

We join Kathy for a week in theHamptons, in the second home she and her husband own. She knows how lucky she is to be in this position–but that's not always how it feels.

The Ups and Downs of IVF

Amanda and her wife are going through IVF, a process that's taxing emotionally, physically, and financially. Their families come from different worlds, one blue-collar an

I’m Obligated To Think About Privilege, Even If it’s Painful

Charlie, a recent college grad, comes from a wealthy family—and he has complicated feelings about it. That's part of what drew him to a job in the Netherlands, which he h

One Paycheck, Two Kids, and 10% to the Church

Alyssa is a postal worker and her family’s primary breadwinner, so budgeting is serious business. Her magic spreadsheet is the key to making her salary stretch to meet th

Introducing: What We Spend, Season 2

Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening

Introducing: Money Moves with Jill Schlesinger

There’s a lot of dopey financial advice out there. Jill Schlesinger is here to call it out, answer your questions, and help you manage your money without losing your mind

Laying the Foundation

It’s not always easy being a woman in construction. But for Alden, a union carpenter in Massachusetts, the challenges come with a big payoff: the most financial stability

The Cost of Feeding America, from Giving Done Right

Sharing an episode of Giving Done Right, a podcast from the Center for Effective Philanthropy about how to make an impact with your charitable giving. Shifts in federal

Here Comes the Bill

Dan is a university post doc in the midwest. He’s getting married next spring— and discovering just how expensive weddings really are.

Death Admin

A few years ago, Alissa suffered the devastating loss of her husband. In the aftermath, she was left to navigate not just grief, but all the financial questions and decis

Joint Accounts

Charli is a filmmaker living in the Bible Belt. They’re on the brink of a big step in their relationship – moving in together and merging finances. If you want to be on

New Grad, Now What?

Jacob just graduated college in Wisconsin — but his degree in computer science might not mean what it used to. Now, he’s struggling to land a full-time job and questionin

Business is Booming

Mick owns a fireworks shop in Indiana. We'll follow him during the week leading up to July 4th — his busiest and most profitable time of year. If you want to be on What

Surviving DOGE

Scotty is a federal employee in Washington, D.C. He's made it through multiple rounds of DOGE layoffs, but the uncertainty has forced him to think more seriously about th

I Try to Be Transparent About My Level of Privilege

Morgan works as a consultant, but her income is not the only thing making her life possible. She’s opening up about her financial privilege, her relationship to it, and w

How To Be a (Working) Rock Star

Mel is a touring musician based in Pennsylvania. But despite her many successes in the music industry, she still has to work odd jobs to fund her rock star dreams. If yo

Always On the Clock

Eryka is a professor and a bartender in Pittsburgh, who is used to working a lot of jobs to support herself. But after years of working non-stop, Eryka is slowing down a

The Kids Are Grown — Now What?

Molly is a lawyer in Chicago, whose youngest kid is about to leave for college. As she prepares to be an empty nester, she’s thinking about selling her house and looking