Description

This episode of The Retirement Readiness Podcast features hosts Tim Regan and Kaitlyn Hedger taking a closer look at what it means to kickstart your financial life in your mid-twenties to mid-thirties. Kaitlyn, an advisor and head of the Kickstart program at Prairie View Wealth Partners, joins Tim for a practical conversation on why budgeting and cash flow management is a crucial next step after setting your financial goals.

“Decisions start to become easier when you have that resource to go back to,” Kaitlyn shares, as she and Tim discuss the everyday realities of managing money—whether it's tracking variable expenses, reassessing lifestyle habits, or feeling overwhelmed by debt.

Listen in as they walk through the Kickstart framework, designed to help young adults align their spending and saving with their personal goals, navigate debt without shame, and foster intentional money habits for the future.

Key topics include:

• Assessing where you are financially after setting goals
• Building practical, judgment-free budgets
• Understanding cash flow, from income sources to variable expenses
• Strategies for tackling debt, especially student loans, without letting it control your outlook
• Using "money mapping" to stay on track and make informed choices as life changes

3 Key Takeaways

1. After setting your financial goals, it’s essential to honestly assess your current financial position—what’s coming in, what’s going out, and what truly needs to change.
2. Budgeting doesn’t have to be restrictive or shame-based. Instead, it’s about aligning your actions with your intentional goals and making every dollar work for you.
3. Managing debt is part of the process, not something to avoid. Creating a sustainable plan, rather than letting anxiety or outside pressure dictate your choices, lays a stronger path toward long-term financial well-being.

Have questions or want more resources? Visit pvwp.com for additional tools and support, and be sure to check out previous episodes of the Kickstart series.