Home Budget: Money Habits Every Homeowner Needs – Karen Adams | Home Building Podcast
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One of the biggest challenges homeowners face is: debt. Behan sits down with financial expert & owner of Financial Management 101, Karen Adams, to explore what it takes to become financially in control for homeowners balancing life. Karen discloses several strategies & tactics she teaches to help people to live a life free of money stress. If you’ve ever felt stressed about your mortgage, struggled to pay off credit cards, or wondered how to build financial security while still enjoying life, this episode will give you a clear, practical roadmap.
Chapters
00:23 – Why finance matters as much as design in building a home
01:05 – Introducing Karen Adams (Financial Coach, Financial Management 101)
02:04 – Interest rates then vs now: what’s changed
03:31 – The difference between good debt and bad debt
05:01 – The trap of “small payments” thinking
07:08 – How banks profit off credit card debt
08:24 – Credit cards vs debit cards: what’s safer?
09:56 – Debt reduction strategies: snowball vs avalanche
13:31 – The importance of accountability and financial coaching
17:34 – Why mindset is 80% of the money battle
19:13 – How to make budgeting less painful
21:17 – Celebrating wins while paying off debt
22:47 – Why couples must align on money goals
24:16 – Using visual budgeting tools to stay on track
26:26 – Should you roll credit card debt into your mortgage?
30:20 – Why “band-aid” fixes don’t solve financial habits
34:13 – How offset accounts really work
40:14 – Getting in front: savings buffers & emergency funds
42:00 – The power of 3–6 months of expenses in savings
44:09 – Starting your investment journey after debt
45:47 – Karen’s $10K home improvement answer
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