Hey Girlies,
Happy 2026!
We hope you had a relaxing holiday — and regardless, we hope you’re easing into the new year with some fresh January energy. ❄️
A couple weeks ago, we published an episode called Your 2026 new year money reset. If you haven’t listened, it outlines a super quick, simple exercise for facing your biggest money pain point. (There’s even a cute downloadable worksheet you can fill out. 💅)
With that episode, we’re not suggesting you conquer all your financial to-dos this month. In fact, we’re kinda suggesting the opposite: Just pick one thing — the thing that’s taking up the most space in your brain — and take one step toward addressing it.
I (Emily) took our advice, as I’ve got a few financial to-dos currently hanging over my head. I wanted to share how it went — both to inspire you to do your own reset and to remind you that Cassidy and I are financially imperfect and right there with you.
So without further ado:
✨ Emily’s 2026 new year money reset ✨
(Prompts taken straight from our worksheet)
The pain point: I’m paying more than I need to in taxes and not taking full advantage of the retirement accounts available to me as a freelancer. I know I’m missing out on tax savings, but opening a new account feels like a huge administrative burden, and I’m not sure which account type is the best one for me.
How I want to feel instead: Confident and decisive, knowing I’m making smart moves that’ll save me money (even if there’s no “perfect” decision).
Tiny ways to ease the pain:
Research retirement plans available to me
Ask friends who’ve opened self-employed retirement accounts about their experience
Reach out to my tax pro for her two cents
Potential roadblocks and how I’ll handle them:
Analysis paralysis — Getting stuck in the research phase, not opening an account because I’m not sure which is the best choice and it’s easier to put it off.
→ When I feel paralyzed by decision making, I’ll remind myself that any choice is better than staying stuck.
Small, specific, time-bound experiment for January:
By January 9th, I’ll have chosen an account to open. With that decision made, I can start taking action, knowing I can always open another account in the future.
Whew — this honestly feels like all the “goal” energy I can muster for the month, but I know even taking these simple steps are going to close so many tabs in my brain.
Quick ask: If you use our 2026 new year money reset worksheet and go through the exercise above, can you let us know? We’d love to share some of your financial pain points and ways you’re tackling them (anonymously) in future newsletters to help inspire other girlies who may have the same struggles. Just hit reply to this email.
Okay, on to this week’s episode, where we get the financial pep talk we all need right now. Enjoy!
On the pod 🎧
In unfortunate news, the microphone gods failed us this week, and Cassidy’s audio sounds… interesting. So if you start listening and wonder who TF is talking, we swear, it’s her. 🤦🏼♀️ Regardless of this slight audio hiccup, our guest this week, Brigitte Killings, was a joy to interview — so don’t be deterred!
Okay, now back to normal programming.
In this week’s episode, we chat with Brigitte Killings — someone who’s spent decades helping people make sense of money in real life, not just on paper.
Brigitte has worked in financial services for over 30 years and currently leads community outreach and education efforts at JPMorganChase’s South Division. But what really shapes her perspective is the fact that she’s also a mom, a caregiver, and someone who’s lived through the same money seasons many of us are in (or heading toward).
Brigitte brings a calm, grounded wisdom to this conversation — the kind that makes you feel less behind and more capable. She talks about money as it relates to real life: such as parenting, generosity, career choices, aging parents, and the quiet habits that build security over time.
In this conversation, we cover:
The money habits Brigitte wishes more people built in their late 20s and early 30s
Why “free money” from retirement matches is so often left on the table
How simple savings buckets can make life feel calmer and more intentional
How to talk to kids (and family) about money without shame or secrecy
What gives Brigitte real hope about Gen Z and young Millennials
It’s an episode that feels like a deep exhale — thoughtful, practical, and full of perspective you’ll want to carry with you long after you finish listening.
More of a reader? Check out the full episode breakdown on our blog.
🎤 Mic drop moment:
“You don’t have to minimize your lifestyle — you just have to plan for it.”
Resource roundup 📚
Our friend Taylor Nelsen (The Financial Planner) wrote a piece titled Growth over goals, and we had to share her refreshing take. Essentially, she presents a mindset of “more this, less that” — a way to lean into growth in the new year without overcomplicating your life with metrics and “arbitrary stressors.” Preach!
Okay, we know we mentioned AARP a couple of weeks ago, but we couldn’t not mention it after talking with Brigitte about the pressures of the sandwich generation. If you’re caring for older parents (or think you will be in the near future), check out AARP’s resources on caregiving. There’s even an online community you can join.
We’ve been seeing a lot of “low-buy,” “no-buy” content in recent weeks — and though we haven’t subscribed to a specific philosophy, we’re always trying to be more conscious consumers. If you’re in the same boat, check out this episode of The Finance Girlies Podcast, where we experimented with giving up Amazon and big box stores.
Catchup corner 💬
2026 highlights so far:
E: Spending time outside every day. I’ve been loving exploring local trails on skis or foot, and I dragged myself out of bed on Saturday for a community run with my local track club.
C: My mom flew in Jan 1, so it’s been such a joy getting to kick off 2026 with her.
What we’ve been reading/watching/listening to:
E: The early days of 2026 have been jam-packed with reading, I’m happy to report. One of the 3 (!) books I’ve finished so far this year is Ariel Lawhon’s The Frozen River. It’s been on my list for a while, but my book club chose it as the final book of 2025. We meet tonight to discuss, and I can’t wait! (Spoiler: I loved it!)
C: Last year, Emily got me hooked on season 1 of America’s Sweethearts (The Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders documentary). Well, I finally just got Netflix, so my mom and I plowed through season 2 in one day. She’s a huge Dallas Cowboys fan and ended the season by saying, “I don’t think I’ll look at this football team the same.” 🫠
What we’ve been cooking:
E: After lots of rich holiday food, I decided to experiment with a healthier take on quesadillas. I roasted and smashed sweet potatoes and added a can of black beans, a can of diced green chiles, green onion, cilantro, garlic, a dash of adobo sauce, chili powder, cumin, and feta (the only cheese I had). I spread the mixture between two tortillas and fried it — delicious.
C: This potato soup and these brownies have been on repeat this winter season.
Money tip of the week 💸
This week’s tip comes from Brigitte’s philosophy of planning for the lifestyle you want to have.
Here’s one quick way to do this while keeping things simple:
Think about one thing you want to experience/do/have this year.
Maybe you want to splurge on birthday gifts for your friends, take spontaneous weekend trips, or pay for unexpected car repairs without stress. Whatever it is, add it to your budget, and start allocating money to fund this new goal.
Even if you can only set aside a few dollars a week, you’re training yourself to plan for the life you want — instead of living in a reactionary state. Ideally, seeing that money add up (even if it’s a slow build) will help you feel more zen, more proactive, and more in charge of your financial future.
Thanks for being here, girlies! Be back next week.
Love ya, bye!
Emily + Cassidy
