If you’ve been feeling that itch to make more money, build something of your own, or finally stop asking permission to live your life - this episode is for you.

In this chatty, unfiltered episode, I talk about how to think about money and business as a game, why fear of failure keeps so many women stuck, and how to spot real business opportunities hiding in plain sight. From messy kids’ rooms and co-parenting chaos to thrift stores, food trucks, network marketing, content creation, and weird ideas that just might work , we cover it all.

I share stories from my own businesses (the wins and the ones I outgrew), how to know when to start small, when to pivot, and why not trying is the only real failure. We also talk about different ways to make money, what to consider before jumping in, and how to choose something that actually fits your life - not just your bank account.

If you’re craving flexibility, creativity, and income without burning yourself out… this episode will light a fire.

✨ What We Talk About

• Why making money is a game - not a moral issue
• How fear of failure keeps women stuck (and how to redefine it)
• Starting small instead of waiting for the “perfect” idea
• Finding business ideas in what’s missing or overflowing around you
• My experience with food trucks, Etsy, thrifting, and creative businesses
• Network marketing, affiliate income, and personal branding (the honest take)
• Why consistency beats shiny objects every time
• How content creation fits almost any business model
• When to listen to advice - and when to trust your gut

🔗 Mentions & Resources

• Magnetic Content Club – Founding members open now
• Weekly Zoom trainings + planning
• Founders rate: $15/month (locked in for life)
• Thursday Zoom: Monetization & strategy

👉 https://buy.stripe.com/9B6dR975m3Mh4jU8zfebu00

You can email me at hello@melissalahti.com with any questions or find me over on fb at https://www.facebook.com/melissalahtibrown

👋 About Your Host

If this is your first time here, welcome. I’m Melissa Lahti. I’m a mom of many, a longtime entrepreneur, a teacher at heart, and a woman who believes life gets better when you stop waiting for permission. I’ve built and rebuilt businesses, navigated divorce and blended family life, and learned how to make money in ways that support real life, not drain it. This podcast is where I share what I’m learning about business, motherhood, creativity, healing, and making a living that actually fits the life you want.

Saving money gives us a dopamine hit… but actually doing the things that save money? That’s where it gets real.

In this episode, I share how I learned to save money when we truly had none - from paper routes and food stamps to garage sales, dumpster diving, negotiation tactics, and learning how to stretch food, fuel, and everyday life without shame.

This isn’t about perfection or Pinterest frugality. It’s about letting go of ego, getting resourceful, and realizing that the best things in life really are free - or at least a whole lot cheaper than we think.

If you’re in a tight season, trying to get out of debt, or just want practical, lived-in strategies that actually work for real families, this episode is for you.

Next week, we’ll talk about my favorite topic of all: making money

Because you can only save so much, but income has no ceiling.

If this episode resonated with you, message me.
Tell me what number you’re trying to get down; groceries, debt, gas, or something else and I’ll help you think through it.

And make sure you’re here next week, because we’re talking about how to make money, not just save it.

Christmas break is over, the house is finally quiet, and I’m having some real realizations.

In this episode, I talk candidly about what it actually means to decenter our kids - not by loving them less, but by finally including ourselves again. I share how years of motherhood, homeschooling, guilt, over-functioning, and saying yes at the expense of my nervous system slowly pushed me to the edge… and why I’m choosing a different way now.

We talk mom guilt, identity loss, boundaries, content creation, social media backlash, creative courage, and what it looks like to become more self-aware instead of more self-sacrificing. If you’re a mom who loves her kids deeply but knows something has to shift so you don’t disappear in the process, this one is for you.

If this episode resonated with you, please:

• Share it with a mom who needs permission to rest

• Send me a message — I love hearing from you

• Follow along on Facebook & TikTok for daily unfiltered thoughts (Melissa Lahti Brown)

• Subscribe so you don’t miss what’s coming next

New episodes drop weekly (again — we’re back on schedule 😅).