Travel can feel exciting, meaningful, and completely overwhelming all at the same time.

In this episode of The New Money Habits Podcast, Nino Villa is joined by Bereket Kelile, New Money Habits’ trusted voice in future planning, to talk about how to turn a travel dream into a real plan. Together, they explore why travel goals often feel out of reach, how vague assumptions can make a trip feel more expensive or complicated than it really is, and why getting specific is usually the first step toward making progress.

Bereket shares stories from his work with clients, including one couple who assumed a Europe trip would be too expensive until the numbers became clearer, and another couple who only needed a simple deadline to finally take the next step toward a weekend getaway. Those stories point to a practical truth: when a goal stays vague, it is hard to act on it. But when you give it a destination, a timeline, and a next small step, the plan starts to take shape.

Nino and Bereket also talk about how travel planning connects to future planning more broadly. Whether the goal is years away or only a few months away, the process is similar: make the abstract concrete, gather real numbers, identify the next step, and build momentum from there.

If you have a trip you want to take but have not known where to begin, this conversation will help you move from “someday” to something clearer.

Learn more at NewMoneyHabits.com

Join the New Money Habits Community

• Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits

• Become a member starting at $7/month

• Start your 7-day free trial today

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode

• Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting process
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planning
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com

• Join Our Free Facebook Group:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits

• Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact

• Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedom
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp

Music Credits
This episode features music by Summer School.

Connect With Us
Follow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates.

In the final part of this conversation, Coach Nino Villa and Mary Ann Stenquist focus on one of the most practical parts of mindful spending: how to make better decisions in real time.

Mary Ann shares her four Ds of decision-making, a simple framework designed to help people slow down, think clearly, and make spending choices with more intention.

This part brings the conversation into everyday application and helps connect mindset with action.

If you’ve ever wished you had a simple way to pause before spending and make a stronger decision, this episode will give you something practical to work with.

Learn more at NewMoneyHabits.com

Join the New Money Habits Community

• Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits

• Become a member starting at $7/month

• Start your 7-day free trial today

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode

• Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting process
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planning
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com

• Join Our Free Facebook Group:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits

• Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact

• Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedom
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp

Music Credits
This episode features music by Summer School.

Connect With Us
Follow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates.

In Part 2 of this conversation, Coach Nino Villa continues talking with Mary Ann Stenquist about a deeper question: why does shopping sometimes feel less like a want and more like a need?

Mary Ann connects the six spending types to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs and explains how spending is often tied to emotional needs that are not being met in more lasting ways

This conversation goes beyond “just stop spending” advice and looks at what is actually happening underneath the surface. You’ll hear why dopamine is only part of the picture, how marketers tap into those deeper needs, and why mindfulness matters if someone wants to change their relationship with money

If shopping has ever felt like an escape, a reward, or something you turn to when life feels heavy, this episode will help you understand why.

Learn more at NewMoneyHabits.com

Join the New Money Habits Community

• Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits

• Become a member starting at $7/month

• Start your 7-day free trial today

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode

• Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting process
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planning
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com

• Join Our Free Facebook Group:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits

• Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact

• Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedom
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp

Music Credits
This episode features music by Summer School.

Connect With Us
Follow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates.

In this episode of The New Money Habits Podcast, Coach Nino Villa is joined by Mary Ann Stenquist, The Money Make Under and Spending Coach, for Part 1 of a conversation about why overspending happens and how to start understanding it more clearly.

Mary Ann shares how her own frustration with overspending led her to a different question. Instead of asking why the budget was not working, she started looking more closely at how money was actually being spent and what was driving those decisions. That led her to identify six common spending types and the emotional patterns behind them

In this episode, you’ll hear why overspending is not always a budgeting problem, how someone can overspend even in categories that feel necessary, and why understanding your spending type can become a starting point for much healthier money habits

If you’ve ever felt confused about why you keep spending in certain ways even when the numbers seem fine on paper, this conversation will help you start making sense of it.

Learn more at NewMoneyHabits.com

Join the New Money Habits Community

• Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits

• Become a member starting at $7/month

• Start your 7-day free trial today

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode

• Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting process
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planning
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com

• Join Our Free Facebook Group:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits

• Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact

• Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedom
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp

Music Credits
This episode features music by Summer School.

Connect With Us
Follow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates.

In this episode of The New Money Habits Podcast, Coach Nino Villa and Maria Casillas explore something most people don’t immediately connect:

The relationship between clutter and your money.

We tend to think of clutter as a physical problem — too much stuff, not enough space — but it often shows up the same way in our finances. Accounts spread out, decisions delayed, things sitting in the background longer than they should.

And over time, that lack of clarity starts to compound.

In this conversation, Nino and Maria walk through what it actually looks like to “clean up” your finances — not by doing everything at once, but by starting to see things more clearly.

They talk about how clutter affects your mental energy, how disorganization carries over into money decisions, and why small steps toward clarity tend to create more momentum than big, overwhelming plans.

You’ll also hear practical ways to:

• identify where financial clutter is showing up
• simplify your financial picture
• manage your time and attention more intentionally
• help the next generation build better habits early

If things have felt scattered, unclear, or heavier than they should, this episode will help you start making sense of it — one step at a time.

Learn more at NewMoneyHabits.com

Join the New Money Habits Community

• Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits

• Become a member starting at $7/month

• Start your 7-day free trial today

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode

• Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting process
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planning
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com

• Join Our Free Facebook Group:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits

• Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact

• Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedom
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp

Music Credits
This episode features music by Summer School.

Connect With Us
Follow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates.

In this episode of The New Money Habits Podcast, Coach Nino Villa explores three ideas that can reshape the way you think about everyday money decisions.

First, Nino walks through one of the most common budgeting questions people ask: How much should we actually spend on food? He shares practical strategies to help you determine a realistic food budget for each pay period so you can feed your family well without feeling out of control at the grocery store.

Next, he discusses a growing financial trend among Gen-Z that may sound surprisingly familiar to older generations: cash stuffing. This approach to managing spending highlights how simple, tangible systems can help people stay intentional with their money.

Finally, Nino invites listeners to consider a deeper question: What does it mean to serve money? Rather than allowing money to control our decisions, cultivating a mindset of stewardship allows us to manage money with clarity, purpose, and responsibility.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🧠 How to determine a realistic food budget for each pay period
📊 Why budgeting for food first can bring more stability to your finances
💵 What the cash stuffing trend reveals about managing spending intentionally
⚖️ The difference between serving money and letting money control you
🌱 How a stewardship mindset can transform your relationship with money

If grocery spending has ever felt confusing or inconsistent, this conversation will help you approach it with greater clarity and confidence.

Learn more at NewMoneyHabits.com

Join the New Money Habits Community

• Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits

• Become a member starting at $7/month

• Start your 7-day free trial today

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode

• Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting process
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planning
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com

• Join Our Free Facebook Group:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits

• Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact

• Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedom
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp

Music Credits
This episode features music by Summer School.

Connect With Us
Follow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates.

In this episode of The New Money Habits Podcast, Coach Nino Villa explains why the words we use around money matter more than we think — especially when it comes to saving.

Many people are taught to build an “emergency fund,” but that language often creates stress, fear, and avoidance. Nino challenges that idea and introduces a more grounding alternative: the Peace of Mind Fund.

This conversation explores how language shapes belief, belief drives behavior, and how subtle shifts in wording can lead to calmer, more intentional financial decisions.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

🧠 Why the term “emergency fund” can increase anxiety
🕊️ How reframing savings as a Peace of Mind Fund changes behavior
⚡ How money scripts and past experiences influence how we save
📊 How much to save to get started (using the 25% guideline)
🔧 Practical ways to begin building your Peace of Mind Fund without stress

You’ll also hear why saving isn’t about sacrifice — it’s about building security — and how small, intentional steps can help you respond to life’s unexpected moments with calm instead of panic.

Learn more at NewMoneyHabits.com

Join the New Money Habits Community

• Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits

• Become a member starting at $7/month

• Start your 7-day free trial today

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode

• Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting process
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planning
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com

• Join Our Free Facebook Group:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits

• Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact

• Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedom
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp

Music Credits
This episode features music by Summer School.

Connect With Us
Follow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates.

In this episode of The New Money Habits Podcast, Coach Nino Villa answers listener questions about budgeting for gift giving, paying off debt, and planning for spontaneous spending without creating financial stress.

Many people struggle to balance generosity, debt elimination, and everyday enjoyment. Nino walks through how intentional financial planning makes room for all three — without guilt or chaos.

In this conversation, you’ll learn:

• How to budget for gifts without disrupting your financial plan
• Why planning for “unexpected” spending reduces stress
• Practical steps for managing and eliminating debt
• How to build a money plan that supports both responsibility and enjoyment

Money management isn’t about restriction. It’s about intention.

When you plan ahead, you create space for generosity, progress, and peace of mind.

If you’re working to build better financial habits while staying grounded and realistic, this episode will help you think differently about budgeting, debt, and everyday spending.

For more tools and resources, visit NewMoneyHabits.com

Join the New Money Habits Community

• Join our free community and connect with others building healthier money habits

• Become a member starting at $5/month

• Start your 7-day free trial today

Helpful Resources Mentioned in This Episode

• Watch on YouTube: Full video version of this episode

• Payday Power Planner (FREE): Streamline your budgeting process
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Food Number Calculator (FREE): Simplify food budgeting and planning
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/helpful-tools

• Submit Your Questions: Email us at podcast@newmoneyhabits.com

• Join Our Free Facebook Group:
  https://www.facebook.com/groups/newmoneyhabits

• Schedule a Free Call with Coach Nino:
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/budgeteers/contact

• Online Course: How to Create a Better Budget: Your Foundation to Financial Freedom
  https://www.newmoneyhabits.com/bootcamp

Music Credits
This episode features music by Summer School.

Connect With Us
Follow @newmoneyhabits on social media for more insights, tools, and updates.