Her Dinero Matters

It’s official! Her Dinero Matter’s 10-year birthday is here and I still can’t believe it. This episode is all about celebration, and we’ll do just that with a thorough review of the most unexpected truths I've learned about money, identity and what it really takes to feel financially confident, especially when you're carrying cultura, family and dreams on your shoulders. Are you ready to dig deep into these money lessons? Although this podcast has evolved over the years, the original vision still remains: the conversations we’ve had so far reflect the financial journeys of many, with a focus on how money intersects with language, culture, and upbringing, especially for Latinas. Today’s convo is all about highlighting something so many of us have already suspected: how money is deeply emotional and our decisions are often shaped by our upbringing, and this emotion is valid. It also emphasizes that every financial journey is unique and valid, progress is personal, and cultural expectations greatly influence…

Have you ever re-crossed paths with someone from years ago and been stunned by the direction their life has taken? I know I have, and the resulting conversations almost always end up being fascinating. Since we are one week away from celebrating Her Dinero Matters 10-year anniversary (mic drops) this week’s episode will take you on a trip down memory lane along with four past guests. Today’s convos are all about catching up, reflecting on growth, and seeing how life (and money) has evolved for these incredible women. Get ready for a heartwarming journey through time and (of course!) transformation! Ten years can bring about immense change, both personally and financially. However, more often than not, life moves in such mysterious ways that it’s almost impossible to keep up with your friends and acquaintances updates, let alone with news of anyone else. Just think about it for a second: when was the last time you listened to someone’s inspiring story only to forget all about them a few days later? As Her…

xiety-ridden way? Well, here is some good news: it is possible to use the wisdom of your bodily sensations to regulate your nervous system and get out of money stress mode. In this week’s episode, Sandra Hinojosa dives into big stuff like how money can be used as a weapon in relationships and what it really takes to feel safe and confident making financial decisions. Ready to be inspired? If you’ve experienced a financial setback and had your mind spiraling out of control because of it (even when, deep down inside, you know that life happening is to be expected and no big deal), you know there are times when our bodies just seem to have a mind of their own: no matter how much we try to think “positively” or intellectualize the situation, our typical anxious response is always there, waiting to jump on us. Ever wondered why this happens? The short response to this is that our money experiences are deeply connected to how the body stores memories and traumas, particularly those related to early experiences…

Have you ever had that weird moment where you realize your money habits aren’t entirely yours? That maybe, just maybe, you’re playing out a script written long before you were born? That’s the exact realization this week’s HDM guest had a few years ago. In this episode, I have a vulnerable and insightful conversation with Antuanett Lopez, where we talk about money stress, her journey from Peru to the US, and the impact this has had on her financial decisions. Let’s jump right in! More often than not, money stories have nothing to do with factual, very much in-your-face numbers; it's about the emotions, the unspoken fears, and the silent lessons we carry. Those first impressions, the ones we often don’t even realize are there, can shape our financial lives in ways we never imagined (yes, money stress is a thing). A simple phrase overheard, a look of stress on a parent’s face, these tiny moments become the foundation of our relationship with wealth. They whisper stories of scarcity or security, fear or…

Have you ever caught yourself reflecting on a past event, only to realize how much your current life situation has changed? Not only that: in hindsight, you can now see how this experience has fundamentally altered the way you understand yourself and your life. If you find yourself nodding along, this episode's journey on resilience and reinvention might just resonate with you. Join me as I welcome back Jackie Velez for a conversation about navigating life-altering shifts and discovering true abundance through adversity. We tend to map out our lives with certain assumptions, believing we know how we'll face major challenges. We imagine ourselves responding with grace, logic, and strength. However, life rarely unfolds according to these plans. Reality often presents circumstances that are much more intricate and transformative than we could have predicted. These events can challenge the core of who we think we are and how we view the world. So, let me ask you this: can you truly picture yourself handling the…

Have you hit that proverbial midlife stage only to realize that, lately, you just don’t feel like your former self? Or maybe you have experienced a series of symptoms that no medical practitioner can properly explain? If this resonates, perimenopause may be behind it all. In this special episode, Amanda Thebe, a fitness and women’s health expert, will walk us through her personal experiences with perimenopause and why educating ourselves is so crucial. If you are a woman, intuitively you know that perimenopause and menopause are a reality you will someday have to live through. But, if I asked you how that day-to-day reality would look, do you trust your ability to paint a detailed picture? Can you see yourself doing things differently? Changing the relationship you have with not only your body, but also with your beliefs? If the answer is no, no need to panic. Menopause (and its little sister, perimenopause) is a reality every woman will have to walk through, but to this day, awareness around this new life…

Have you ever thought "If only I knew X back then, Y would be so different now"? If that's a yes (hello, tendency to revise past events under the light of what you know now) you will love this HDM episode! In this part reflection, part gotcha episode, I'll share 5 money lessons I collected through 5 (!) decades on this planet. Shall we dig in? This week I'm celebrating my 50th birthday and, as the saying says, there are some things you can only learn with age. Unsurprisingly, money lessons fit perfectly within that category. Some people still believe that managing your finances effectively is something you only learn to do through seasons of trial and error. While I believe there’s value to that, my years of experience in this industry have taught me that, to get the most out of your experience, you don’t always have to go through the pain of trying and failing. Money lessons can be learned in gentler ways. This is why, in this special episode, I'll share 5 lessons I've learned over five decades on this…

Over the past few decade, financial empowerment has been one of the core guiding principles in my mission and business. So when the opportunity to become the Director of Financial Empowerment at Empower, a non-profit organization working with the Hispanic community in Wichita found me in late 2023 something inside me clicked. In this episode, I’ll take you to meet the incredible team behind Empower and share how this experience has re-shaped the way I think about money and community. Shall we dig in? If you’ve been listening to this podcast for a while, you know that financial empowerment lies at the heart of all I do: from the products and educational content I create to every speaking engagement or consulting call I’ve ever been involved with. However, as it happens with all the beliefs and definitions we hold dear, I never really questioned if my definition of financial had room for growth. Not until early in 2024, life’s twists and turns put me in front of Empower, a non-profit doing grassroots work in a…

Are you among those who believe financial planning is something that only people with big incomes or inherited wealth should do? If so, then you’re not alone. Although planning skills are often seen as a spontaneity killer, the truth is that having a flexible plan under your sleeve is the best way to face uncertain times. In this week’s episode, Elaine King, founder of Family and Money Matters, will share why having a personalized financial plan is so important. Have you ever wondered why uncertain times always hit us so hard? It is a real paradox. Intuitively, we know that life can change at a moment’s notice. We’ve seen friends and family navigate all kinds of rough patches, and if you were around in the 80s, you have also lived through a couple of recessions and economic downturns. Intellectually, we understand that uncertainty and change are a part of life. And yet, when it’s time to develop a plan to navigate the huge waves of this ocean called constant change, some of us still resist. We either feel…

If you are a small business owner or you plan to become one anytime soon, I can almost guarantee that one of your biggest concerns right now (if not the main concern) is how to make your business profitable in the long term without burning yourself down to the ground. Or some version of this. Well, today is your lucky day!. In this week’s episode, our guest, Dr. Karwanna D. Irving (aka, The Queen of Government Contracts) will share her playbook to do just that. Shall we dig in? Typical advice for new business owners usually emphasizes a few “well-known” things. First things first, being in business is hard –the first few years will feel like an absolute grind (#yikes). Second, you have to start small to test the ground and gain momentum –forget about big contracts in year one. You should focus instead on perfecting our processes. And finally, the most important thing: you need to price yourself competitively –meaning, you have to find a rate that your client is willing to pay. Well, in today’s HDM episode we…

If you are among the 44% of Americans who want to get rid of debt in 2025, but you are still not sure what the best way to achieve this goal, this week’s HDM episode is for you. Today, Rachel Hart, founder of Budget, Save and Blog will walk us through the radical debt-repayment plan that allowed her to slash $78,000 in credit card debt in only 1.5 years. Shall we dig in? If you’ve ever tried to set up a truly long-term goal (think at least 3+ years from now), you know that doing this falls perfectly in the proverbial easier-said-than-done category. The main problem? Our brains are wired to privilege short term satisfaction over long term success. Getting an instant $20 cash rebate from a $1000 purchase? Yes, please. Receiving thousands of dollars in ROI after 30 years of investing? Honestly, not that enticing (who is willing to wait 10 long years to see the reward coming, if it ever does?). This is why paying off debt sometimes feels like an impossible quest, especially if the amount of money you have to…

If you love to plan for things, you already know that thinking ahead has some serious benefits in the mental peace department –when you plan things in advance, you remove some of the uncertainty that our brains tend to associate with all future-related events. In this week’s episode, I’ll share with you what the financial benefits of thinking ahead are and how you can put yourself in future-me thinking mode. You don’t need to specialize in financial forecasting to understand that, when it comes to personal finances, making decisions and planning with your future self in mind has some major advantages. Intuitively, we all know that long-term planning (aka, thinking ahead) coupled with consistency is, admittedly, one of the best strategies out there. However, when you are immersed in the day-to-day grind, where the rhythms of life pulse in a never-ending staccato, it's easy to forget that there’s more to the day than your never-ending to-do list. You also have goals and dreams, future projects and plans that…

Achieving financial stability doesn’t have to feel like an uphill climb all the time. In fact, it’s possible to build a strong financial foundation without feeling overwhelmed by your own numbers (spoiler alert: the whole journey can even be fun!). In today’s episode, Dr. Darla Bishop will share why being “good” with money doesn’t require an advanced degree in economics or superior mathematical knowledge. Shall we dig in? If you are a regular listener of personal finances podcasts, chances are you know someone who is really “good” with money. Meaning: for as long as you’ve known them, this person has never shown visible signs of financial struggle. From ongoing conversations, you know they’ve been working the same job for quite some time, paid their bills consistently, took regular vacations with their families, and even managed to offer support for their college-aged kids. The most surprising thing? You know, for a fact, that generational wealth is not at play here. Your acquaintance didn’t inherit a…

When you are living in a financial situation filled with dramatic ups and downs, sometimes you start to sense that maybe, just maybe, the real culprit behind the craziness is everything… but the money itself. Yes, you might not be bringing in the income you want, but something inside you suspects that, even if you did, your current situation would still be a thing. If this paradox feels familiar, this is your episode. This week, Jessica Moorhouse is back on the podcast to share her insights on why, sometimes, our financial struggles have nothing to do with actual money. Shall we dig in? If you are a long-time listener of this podcast, chances are you’re also the proud owner of solid financial knowledge. You’ve probably read your fair share of money books, are constantly on the lookout for down-to-earth financial advice, and, overall, you do have a good understanding of where your finances currently stand. The ups and downs of your daily money management are not that new to you. And yet, if a random stranger…

Are you tired of creating complex spreadsheets (sophisticated expense categories and advanced formulas included) only to realize a few weeks later that you are not following your carefully crafted plan? If you are still chasing the proverbial one-step budgeting/financial solution that will put your finances on the road to guaranteed success, this episode is for you. This week, Nicole Stanley, founder of Arise Financial Coaching, will share what you can do today to inject a dose of Money Momentum into your finances. “Spend less and save more.” “You can’t take vacations if you’re in debt”. “Before getting groceries, always check prices in different places.”. “Don’t buy things you don’t need.” “Stop buying $5 lattes.” When was the last time you heard this type of money “advice”? If you’re anything like me, the answer is probably “far too often”. While the intentions of the advice-giver usually come from a place of genuine care and desire to help, the unfortunate truth is that, when taken at face value, these…

If you feel that 2025 kicked off with an excess of horsepower —to the point where you are already holding on for dear life just to stay afloat (and it’s not even spring!)— this brand new episode of Her Dinero Matters may be just what you need. This week, we are finally kicking off a new season with a much-needed opening convo: What do you do when overwhelm starts knocking at your door? Intellectually, we all know the world is constantly changing. No matter where we are or what we do for a living, every day we wake up to the realization that our environments and circumstances are always adjusting. However, one thing is experiencing a few “normal” changes here and there, and quite another is being immersed in a world that shifts and turns at a breakneck speed, without having enough time to properly accept and integrate all the newness. If you’ve ever felt that everything around you is changing at an impossible speed, you’re not alone. In fact, a recent Globe Scan survey revealed that 8 in 10 respondents…

Have you ever felt so exhausted that you’ve found yourself dreading the things that only a few weeks/months ago brought you all sorts of joy? Do you feel that your energy and willingness to engage with your daily routines have evaporated? If the answer to any of these questions is yes, you might be engaged in a silent battle with a major public health enemy: burnout. In this episode, I’ll share with you my own burnout story and what I am doing to tackle it. Unfortunately, burnout is pretty much everywhere. The stats don’t lie. According to the SHRM’s Employee Mental Health Research Series, 44% of the survey respondents feel burned out and 51% report feeling “used up” at the end of their workday. It seems that in today’s work culture, burnout has become a standard. However, as it turns out, this 21st century is not limited to traditional workplaces. In this episode, I’ll share with you my own burnout story and what I am doing to tackle it. In this episode you will learn: Storytime: the full chismecito! What…

Wishing you and your loved ones a holiday filled with joy, love, and abundance. Thank you for being a part of this community—we wouldn’t be here without you. Happy Thanksgiving!

Have you ever felt mildly uninspired by your job, career, and in general, the everyday routine? It’s not that you don’t enjoy what you do or think there’s something wrong with how things are going. No, nothing like that. It’s just that, sometimes, the realization that you don’t feel seen or heard in certain situations is too hard to ignore. If you ever felt that, this week’s conversation will surely provide that extra dose of inspiration to reclaim your career path. In this episode, Carrie Peralta will share with us her insights on the biggest roadblocks that Latinas still face in the workforce and how to overcome them. Although nowadays our workplaces are more diverse and inclusive than ever, it’s undeniable that Latinas still have a long journey ahead, especially when it comes to breaking into highly competitive industries, like tech and finance. This is why this week’s interview with Carrie Peralta feels especially relevant. Carrie is a Career Coach and founder of Peak State Coaching. She’s on a mission…

If you’ve ever browsed your library’s psychology/self-help section, you know that boundaries are everywhere. No matter where you turn or who you ask, the topic always resurfaces, claiming its spot at the top of your list of good habits to acquire. However, one thing is talking about boundaries and another is actively setting them up. If you still struggle with this (FYI, you’re not alone!), maybe it’s time for a lil’refresher. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing a quick primer on boundaries, why they matter, and how having a couple of them firmly set can (and will!) enhance your holiday experience. If you are anything like me, you know actively setting up boundaries sounds way, way simpler in theory than in practice. The problem is that no one teaches how to do this, or even what types of boundaries to set and when. This lack of actionable insights becomes a glaring issue around the seasons when social interactions and demands for your time increase, such as the holiday season. This is why, this week I…

When was the last time that things didn’t go according to plan? If you’re anything like me, “quite often” is probably your answer (and there’s nothing wrong with that). The reason is simple: even the best thought and carefully weighted plans cannot keep life from happening, sometimes in the most random ways. In fact, although eliminating the unexpected from your life is almost impossible, no one ever teaches you how to react to life when things massively deviate from your original plan. This is why, in today’s episode, I’ll share with you five things you have to practice if you want to make your peace with the unexpected. We’ve all had a moment (or two) when we swore a plan or project would turn out alright. Maybe the whole thing was a low-stakes, low-pressure project where virtually nothing could go wrong, or maybe this plan was just replicating something you had already done in the past with a decent amount of success. In any case, the expectations were low, and your confidence soared. This is why, when…

Imagine waking up one regular Monday morning as you usually do… only to find out that all your income, close support network, and, in general, your regular financial support sources are forever gone, and now you’re back to square one (which, by the way, probably feels like square -1000). It may sound like a hard stretch, but for so many women, this nightmarish scenario highlights a common and real fear: the possibility of losing their stability in life because they don’t have their own money. And while this might sound scary, this week’s guests and dear friends will share how this lingering sense of insecurity pushed them to seek financial independence and, simultaneously, turned them into an inspiration to us all. Some people say the biggest lessons in life come whenever you least expect them, and today I’ll have to agree with the popular lore. In today’s episode, I’m having a conversation with two friends and fellow Accredited Financial Counselors®, Weslia Echols and Willa Williams who learned through…

Intuitively, we all know that leaving your home country for good is a challenging experience. Adapting to a new place, language, culture, job market, AND financial system is anything but an easy feat. However, knowing that it’s hard and listening to the first-person account of someone who not only survived the experience but also managed to thrive and build a meaningful career is truly inspiring. In today’s episode, we are having an empowering conversation with Jhoanna Astudillo, the Hispanic segment leader in BOK Financial’s Consumer Division. Jhoanna will share with us her biggest money realizations and how they came to be. When was the last time you had a hard time cashing a check at your local bank? Or the last time you had to wait one hour for someone to help you do a simple money transfer? If the answer to those questions is some variation of “I’m not sure”, today’s episode will surely surprise you. Like many immigrants, today’s guest had to re-start from scratch. From having to learn the language to…

Have you ever walked into a bank to request information about a product or service only to hear a long-winded and hard-to-understand explanation that, instead of providing answers, only creates more questions? This is an experience that almost everyone in the Latino community has experienced at least once in their lives. Not because financial concepts, in and by themselves, are too complex or impossible to understand. Not at all. Sometimes, it’s just because the ones giving all the explanations lack a foundational core element that, in an ideal world, every financial educator should have: cultural humility. In this week’s episode, Dr. Melinda Jimenez Perez will share with us what cultural humility is and why this not-so-obvious concept is essential when teaching (and learning!) about all things money. Let’s be honest: money and finances may not be as complex or abstract of a topic as calculus or some good old geometry, but still, that doesn’t mean everyone will be able to understand the basic tenets at once.…

When you are a parent, you all know sending your kids off to college and out of the house (aka, empty-nesting) will happen eventually, but no one really prepares you for it. And, like everything in this life, different people react to it in different ways. Since that moment in my parenting life is fast approaching, in this week’s episode I want to share a few empty-nesting hidden financial considerations that I’ve discovered along the way and why they matter. If you’ve already shipped your kids off to college and into the beginning stages of their adult lives, you know this is not an easy step. Not only are you effectively reducing your number of household members (#gasp), but, in a way, you’re finally putting to a test all those years of upbringing. Will your children be able to make the right life and financial decisions? You don’t really know, and everyone keeps saying you can only hope for the best. But, is that accurate? Does your financial involvement in your kids' lives effectively end on the day they…

Having honest and open conversations about real topics with our close friends is an essential part of life. And sometimes, knowing what other people are chatting with their pals can be truly eye-opening. If you’ve ever wondered how a conversation between two GenX women who are going through similar life experiences sounds like, you’re in for a true reveal. In this week’s episode, I’m having an informal chat with my good friend Librada Estrada about our kids stepping into adulthood, our health, and, of course, preparing financially for our future. Have you ever found yourself going through challenges or circumstances that no one else seems to be relating to? It’s not that your issues are uncommon or only specific to you, not at all. It’s more that you would prefer to have an open conversation with someone who not only is close to you but is also going through the same life stage as you are. Someone who relates to your lived experience in the way only a close friend can. Well, this week’s episode is a great…

If you are among the millions of people who rely on Google Maps to get to places, use Task Rabbit to find contractors, or have groceries delivered almost anywhere through Instacart, you are not alone. These services may feel like separate entities, but at the end of the day they all have one major thing in common: they are extremely convenient and, as such, most of them come with a hefty price tag. Does this mean you shouldn’t use them? The goal of this week’s episode is to answer that eternal question. Today, I’ll share my thoughts on the price of convenience and how you can use this bonus to your advantage. Picture the following scenario. It’s mid-week, and instead of decreasing, your workload is at an all-time high. You leave the office exhausted and in a daze, only to realize a few minutes into your commute that, yet again, you forgot about dinner. It seems that your brain just can’t plan a proper grocery haul so, just like you did last week, you decide to take the convenient approach. With just two or…

Although no one likes to think about financial bumps, the harsh reality is that, as long as you have money in this game, financial loss will always be part of the spectrum of possible outcomes, and while I’m all about positive thinking, I also want to stress the importance of being prepared for even the worst case scenario. This is why, in this week’s episode I’ll share with you five reasons why you should have a backup plan to protect you when the possibility of total financial loss starts to loom over the horizon. We all have our own version of the worst nightmare ever. For some, that no-go scenario is filled with creepy crawlers (shudder), crazy heights, or bad news. For others horrible traffic jams, crowded places, and unfortunate circumstances are all that it takes to qualify something as a seriously bad dream. However, if we leave the specifics aside, we can all agree that most of us consider total financial loss as one of the most accurate definitions of nightmarish scenarios. In today’s day and age,…

Splurging or saving? That is the question. And if you have a financial goal that requires you to save big and consistently, you probably know firsthand how stressful and frustrating spending decisions can feel. You see an item that catches your eye big time and, while former you would have proceeded to buy it without any additional thoughts, the new you is running a full forecasting projection the minute you gaze upon the price tag. If this scenario sounds familiar, you’re in good company! In this week’s episode, I’ll share with you a set of guiding questions that will help you navigate the delicate art of figuring out when it’s better to save and when it’s safe to splurge. No adult life is fully complete without a full set of (deceptively) crucial decisions. Whole wheat or white bread? Cats or dogs? A relaxing staycation or an adventurous one-week vacation? Green juice or salad? All of these will give you a few guaranteed harsh minutes. However, when it comes to deceptively simple decisions, saying yay or…

Have you ever been through a phase in your life when all you want is a serious reset? If you suspect this need to overhaul everything won’t just go away with a few days off or even a short trip to the beach, you’ve landed in the right space. In this week’s episode, I’m sharing a few exciting updates on the direction this podcast will be taking in this new season. And, spoiler alert, it all boils down to one single thing: balance. How does life look like when we are so busy that we can’t even see properly what’s standing right in front of us? I’m sure that, like most women I know, at some point, you too have been overwhelmed and swamped by life’s circumstances. Whether it’s because you have a demanding job, are in charge of small children with multiple activities and conflicting schedules, or just happen to be the unlucky victim of a complicated commute, sometimes functioning without a good dose of overwhelm is just not an option. When that happens, all we need (all we crave, in fact) is a big, massive break.…

Budgeting doesn’t need to be complicated! There are plenty of great budgeting tools out there that make it easier to manage your finances, but how do you choose the best one for you with so many to choose from? Once you do choose, how do you not overwhelm yourself? And what is the trick for staying consistent? We discuss this and more in this solo episode. Creating a monthly budget can help you gain an understanding of your financial situation and set clear goals. With so many options available when it comes to budgeting tools, it can be overwhelming to decide which ones to go with. In this episode, I share several budgeting tools as well as help you figure out how to choose the best one for you without a headache. In this episode you will learn: Three key details to help you choose the budgeting tool for you Why you should define financial responsibility for you. One key tip on how to manage your finances without stress For a quick recap of this episode go to https://www.jenhemphill.com/338 The post,…

Are you needing new ideas or inspiration when it comes to saving that money? Our Reina Crew this month discusses just that! Don’t miss out and tune into this episode. A little bit about our panelists for this episode: 🙋🏻‍♀️ Cindy Zuniga is the founder of Zero-Based Budget Coaching LLC. After graduating from law school in 2015 with over $210,000 of debt, Cindy took control of her money by immersing herself in the world of personal finance. In 2018, she launched @zerobasedbudget to document her debt payoff journey and simplify personal finance concepts. After recognizing, through her platform, people’s unique needs and goals, Cindy founded Zero-Based Budget Coaching LLC and offers personal finance coaching services and speaks to audiences small and large about budgeting, saving, investing, and more. Cindy practices law full time as a commercial litigator. 🙋🏻‍♀️ Katia Perez-Chesnok is an entrepreneur, financial literacy blogger & advocate and millennial mom. She worked investment and commercial banking for more…

If you’ve ever felt broken, you know there’s probably nothing worse than the collection of anxious, self-defeating thoughts (and ensuing feelings) that fall upon you every time you realize you’re broke and can’t afford a basic expense, whether it is rent or just essential groceries. But, what if there was a mental switch that you could turn on everytime you feel broken and defeated? Something that allowed you to turn the situation around? Would you use it? Well, you’re in for a treat! In this week’s episode, Angelina Rosario, success coach, author, and motivational speaker will share with how she learned to turn brokenness and setbacks into fuel for success Hopelessness isn’t fun. It's easy to become carried away by the tide of negative feelings and intrusive/anxious thoughts that pop up whenever you’re going through a rough patch and your finances reflect your life circumstances all too clearly. Being broke is like wearing clothes that are too small for you: outsiders may not notice right away, but you feel…

Did you know that according to studies conducted by Andrew Naber, an organizational psychologist, the average person spends roughly 90,000 hours at work in a lifetime? It’s wild. Since work is such an important part of our lives, spending our days in an unsupportive and draining environment (aka, a job with toxic work conditions) definitely has the potential to turn our lives upside down. But, what do you do when this unfortunate situation becomes your reality? Is it possible to find a way out? That’s exactly what Doris Quintanilla, founder of the Melanin Collective, will attempt to answer in today’s episode. It’s Sunday evening and your body knows it. As soon as the day starts to fade out, an annoying and anxious voice in your head starts to turn up the volume. Before you know it, your heart is racing, your palms are sweaty, and a bone-aching sense of dread, like a Siberian tiger pouncing out of nowhere, engulfs you. The proverbial Sunday Scaries, an ever-present malaise that two years ago you believed to…

Did you know that believing in your capacity to make things happen (aka, believing in yourself) plays a huge role in the outcome of your projects and plans? It may not seem like a big deal, but a lack of belief can actually hinder you in ways that are hard to calculate with a simple spreadsheet. In this episode, I’ll share with you why belief in yourself is so important and what to do to cultivate this skill. Have you ever had a project in which you meticulously planned every step? In fact, everything was so well thought out in advance that you were certain this thing was going to turn out to be nothing short of amazing…except it didn’t. And now, with the advantage of hindsight on your side, you can finally start to see there was indeed a missing ingredient: belief. Or to be more specific: a lack of belief in yourself (and your skills). A lack of belief that, more often than not, translates into a lack of trust in your ability to make things happen. In this episode, we are going to dig deep and discuss…

Have you ever heard the story of someone who managed to overcome a dire financial situation and immediately thought “I would love to know how they did it”? I know I have! As any curious human would do, I’m always on the lookout for stories that showcase what others have done to overcome hurdles, especially if those roadblocks were money-related. In this episode, Kara Perez, the founder of Bravely Go, an award-winning financial education company, will share with us how she overcame some major financial challenges and how the experience shaped her. Financial resilience is probably one of the most important skills you will ever develop. The ability to bounce back from setbacks and be strategic when organizing your priorities will always serve you well. The only problem with this? A huge catch-22: to develop financial resilience you have to “walk the talk”, as Kara Perez's story aptly demonstrates. Kara grew up on the East Coast and, just as many of us do, she was raised in an environment where money was tight.…

When it comes to organizing our lives, we all have our ways and secret hacks… but in my opinion, nothing will ever beat the joys of having a realistic, well-thought checklist supporting your daily musings. No matter what my goals are, when I have them properly laid out in a list, magical things happen. If you are the type of person who also thrives when a handy checklist is provided, and you’ve been wanting to do some financial re-organization, I’ve got you covered. In this episode, I will share the 4-step checklist that I regularly use to review my finances whenever I feel some extra organization may be in order. When was the last time you had an incredibly productive day? The kind of day when the stars magically align and, out of the blue, you become a task-crushing machine that just makes stuff happen? I’ll be the first to admit that, for me, a day like this doesn’t happen as often as I would like, but regardless of that one thing is certain: the productivity gods do tend to visit more when I plan my day…

Ever heard of no-spend challenges? Although the name may sound a tad bit intimidating, this is a new challenge trend that I’m actually looking forward to trying out. At the end of the day, when done with intention, no-spend challenges can be a great way to reboot and rethink your regular spending habits. This is why in this week’s episode I’ll share with you my best tips and tricks to get the most out of a No-Spend challenge. Have you ever found yourself taking all sorts of wrong turns when driving to a new destination? Maybe you’re visiting a friend for the first time, or you just landed a new job and are commuting to a brand new workplace for the first time, ever. Regardless of the specifics, it seems that some part of your brain didn’t get the memo and now it’s trying to take you to a familiar place. If you’ve ever had this experience, you probably know firsthand how powerful the forces of our repeated behaviors are. More often than not, our habits (especially the tricky ones) tend to get in our way…

Have you ever found yourself in a financial situation that just feels hopeless? Whether it is massive credit card debt or student loans with balances that never actually shrink, at some point in our lives, almost everyone has walked through this long, dark-ish corridor, and it’s not a great place to be. And yet, one fact remains: overcoming a financial crisis might be hard, but it’s not impossible. In this week’s episode, our guest Nashira Lynton will share how she managed to get out of a dire financial situation without losing her sense of self in the process. Money is something we all think about. Not doing so it’s almost impossible: we all have bills to pay, groceries to buy, and loved ones to take care of. However, when it comes to assessing the health of your financial situation, admitting (especially to yourself) that you are, in fact, living through a seemingly endless financial crisis, with no end in sight, is one of the most challenging things ever. Accepting that you are in a dire money situation…

Have you ever felt disconnected from your money? As if you and your wallet had nothing in common? Maybe you have even caught yourself saying things like “It’s just money, we’ll be ok” whenever you lose some, or “I’ll figure something out” when, financially, things don’t go as planned. The weirdest thing is that, even if today you are not in a financially tough spot, money is not exactly flowing into your hands. If this disconnect rings true, would you believe me if I said that a lack of clarity about your values and beliefs around money might be the main culprit? Well, today’s episode might make you change your mind. At this stage of the game, we all have a general idea of how important values and beliefs are in our daily lives, especially when it comes to all things money management. In fact, for most people, the relationship that exists between them and their money depends almost entirely on the type of beliefs they have about it. Do you see money as a source of conflict and future anxiety? Then dealing…

Picture the following scenario. You’re at the bank, reviewing the contract for the new savings account that you’re about to open when you stumble upon a term you’ve never seen before. You reread the sentence, trying to figure it out and make sense of the language, but the terms are just not ringing a bell. What do you do? Do you bring the issue to the attention of the Account executive, asking for further clarification, or do you just let it slide? If you are the type of person who would rather forget the whole situation instead of taking the risk of looking bad, this week’s episode with Gidget Benitez is a must-listen. I get it: openly admitting that you don’t know or understand something that everyone else seems to get right away is not easy. The fear of being judged for our lack of knowledge of things that everyone considers “essential” can push us to hide and pretend we get it when we actually don’t. Some people even seem to believe that feigning understanding is the only way to operate and make things…

Have you ever found yourself questioning your hard-earned money skills time and time again? Maybe you’ve spent months (or years) learning all there is to know about investing and budgeting. You’ve done the courses, attended the webinars, read the books, and even chatted with professionals and qualified advisors. And yet, for some reason, when it comes to owning your knowledge, of saying “heck yes” to your budding money skills, something in you wavers. You hesitate. You feel uncomfortable and out of place accepting that yes, you have become financially literate. Sounds familiar? Then this week’s convo with Kayla Nedza may make you reconsider. Let’s be honest: putting your most honest, confident, and self-assured money self out in the world is no easy feat. In fact, when it comes to owning your money skills (and knowledge!) a weird paradox usually pops up: the more you know about a topic, the less confident you feel about the accuracy of your claims and beliefs (btw, this is why most subject matter experts…

Are you always “saving” on little things here and there? You may not be the type of person who consistently saves 10% of their income for retirement, but anyone who knows you can tell you’re the queen of frugality. Between avoiding brand names at the grocery store (in favor of the Store Brand) and being a die-hard fan of a zero-waste lifestyle (did anyone say reused Mason jars?), you are the living embodiment of the frugal person. But, do you know how much money you are actually saving through your frugal lifestyle? Or, are these imaginary savings just that —a pretty illusion? As a self-declared frugal person, a close friend of mine is always looking for new ways to save a couple hundred extra dollars a month. For the past six months, saving on fuel has become one of her biggest goals. On a regular recharging day, she travels to the other side of her city to refuel at a tiny gas station that charges 30% less than her regular Shell station. That sounds like a sweet deal…until you consider her regular station…

If you have a budget, I’m sure you know why keeping track of your expenses is important. What you probably don’t know is that daily ins and outs are not the only numbers worth tracking. In fact, if you want to truly stay on top of your finances there are four numbers you should keep an eye on. In this episode, I’ll share what these numbers are, how to keep up with them, and why tracking them will make a difference in the long run. Keeping track of your expenses is an essential part of budgeting: there’s just no way around it. However, I get why you might find this whole expense tracking thing a little bit tedious (or just plain boring!), especially if you are new-ish to budgeting and you’re still working on creating a system that works for you. If that sounds all too familiar, this week’s episode might be just what you need. Today, we’ll start with a quick review of the basics of expense tracking (a lil’ refresher is always welcome!) and why it’s important to keep up with those numbers. Then, we’ll move on…

What’s the first thing that comes to your mind when you hear “money rules”? If you’re anything like me, you probably think about complicated must-dos, or old-as-time financial practices that, by now, are pretty much set in stone. But, what if I told you that money rules don’t have to be inflexible (or even tied to money per se) to be effective and life-changing? Would you believe me? Well, let’s put that to the test! In today’s episode, I’ll share with you 8 money rules that have helped me take my money management to a whole new level. If every time you hear the words “money rules” you hear the distant echo of Scrooge McDuck rigidly screaming “I made my money by being tougher than the toughies and smarter than the smarties!”, maybe it’s time to reconsider your approach to the concept of “rules” (plot twist: being inflexible is not part a money rule job description! #notreally). Here’s the deal: when it comes to money management & finances, having rules that work is crucial. Not only they will help you make…

It’s happening! With this episode, Her Dinero Matters is officially hitting the 400-episode mark! To celebrate, I’ve put together a special episode that will break our traditional format but in a fun way! This week I’m sharing Her Dinero Matters Origin Story with you and the lessons I’ve taken home after recording 400 weekly episodes (#wild!). For most people (myself included), 400 may not feel like a huge number, but whenever I say out loud that I’ve spent almost nine years recording weekly podcast episodes to help women improve their relationships with money, I always get a shocked stare. NINE YEARS! That’s a lifetime. And I’m sure that lifetime magic is what contributes to making this episode feel extra special. It all started in 2015 when podcasts that talked to women about money were not a very common sight. Yes, podcasting and financial advice in general existed, but the offer available back in the day did not match the specific vision I had in my head: a space where we could come together as women to…

We all know about the importance of getting better at managing our finances, but many people come face to face with a giant wall when it comes to the practical side of things. Is there a specific routine or a way of doing things that facilitates everything? And if there is, how can you start implementing those best practices in your financial management? In this week’s episode, I’m going to share how I manage our household finances, the systems I use, and the things that could be improved. I don’t know if it’s just me, but with the boom of AI, I feel nowadays everyone is talking about systems and automation. Financial conversations are not the exception. While I am a huge fan of saving precious time by automating tasks, I also recognize that building effective systems to better manage your finances takes time and a good chunk of trial and error. This is why in this week’s episode I’ve decided to share how I manage our household finances. I’ll talk about the systems that work for us, how I’ve built them, and…

If you are a regular consumer of financial content (hello podcasts!) and someone asked you for a quick recap of the five, most valuable lessons you’ve uncovered so far, what would your answer be? Well, I know for sure that my list wouldn’t include things like budgeting, savvy retirement planning, or only spending on stuff I need! Curious to know why? In this week’s episode, I’m sharing five underrated money lessons that have completely changed the way I relate to money. Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about all the money advice that just exists out there in the world. I’ve been working in this industry for more than ten years now (!) and despite the massive amount of financial content that is poured every day into the internet, there are foundational topics that, to this day, still don’t get much attention. Yes, we all “know” about the importance of having a budget, planning our expenses, thinking about retirement early on, and, in general, all those financial how-to’s that, once mastered, make your life…

It's time for change. The financial system needs to better serve women, especially Latinas. I know that may sound controversial, but stay with me as you will learn how you can navigate it despite the odds and what one woman is doing to disrupt change. We'll be diving into a thoughtful discussion on how we can better navigate the current financial system. To explore this important topic, I'm thrilled to be speaking with Vrinda Gupta, an inspiring leader in the FinTech space who is making huge strides in bridging systemic gaps for diverse communities. Vrinda is the CEO & Co-Founder of Sequin, a women’s finance club and fintech empowering women to step into financial freedom with banking, education, and community. In this episode you will learn: 3 gaps that women and minority groups experience in the financial system. Why it is important for women to educate themselves about money, building credit, and wealth. The hidden facts about banks that you need to know about. For a quick recap of this episode go to…

Frustrated because you feel time has passed, and you haven't invested or saved? Stay tuned as today I'll share with you three steps you can start right away to take control of your finances. The question of "I'm starting from zero, I'm 40+, with nothing to show but my income, what do I do?" is one I encounter frequently. If this resonates with you, know that you're not alone, and there's hope. It's not too late, you can make a positive change. In this episode, I'll guide you on getting unstuck with two key questions. Additionally, I'll clear up the confusion surrounding emergency funds and provide a straightforward system to help you manage your money. In this episode you will learn: How you can start creating a plan to save and invest from scratch regardless of your age. The key considerations for an emergency fund that fits your current situation. The details behind a simple system to manage your finances (and doesn’t rely on using credit cards) For a quick recap of this episode go to…