Over the years, many readers have said they wish they had spoken with me before making a financial move.
Through the Color of Money column, my work has reached thousands of households over the decades. “Your columns have changed my family’s life for the better in so many ways,” one reader emailed.
Whether I’m teaching personal finance classes in my community or in a local reentry program for incarcerated individuals, my mission has always been the same: helping people make smart decisions with their money.
Now, I’m expanding that work to reach even more people on a personal level.
I’m launching a new video podcast, “Dollars and Sense with Michelle Singletary,” that builds on my decades of experience guiding readers through tough money choices.
I want to talk with you. You might be wrestling with major decisions, such as paying for expensive care for your pet, buying a house, launching a small business or having children; managing the financial demands of supporting your children and aging parents; or worrying that you haven’t saved enough for retirement or that you’re spending down your nest egg too fast.
Now you can get my take on these questions in advance, tailored to your specific circumstances.
Here’s the deal: to get help, you have to be completely honest. This vodcast will be a judgment-free zone, but real solutions require vulnerability and transparency.
Too often, people ask me to weigh in on a financial dilemma, but when I ask them to clarify, they only vaguely know their numbers.
Budget? They don’t have one.
If they say they don’t have enough money to save for an emergency fund or retirement, I’ll ask: “Do you spend a lot on eating out?”
“No, not really,” they insist.
However, their bank statements tell the truth. They’ve been lying to themselves for so long that they naively believe their own story about frugality. They have no idea where their money is really going.
Cluelessness is the enemy of financial freedom, and ignoring your actual spending sabotages your goals.
If you’re ready to lay out the numbers and face your financial truth, I’m here to help you figure it out.
The show will build on the principles I preach and practice: living below your means, demonstrating generosity, building generational wealth, and either living debt-free or working on a clear plan to eliminate what you owe.
If you’re struggling with managing your money, please consider appearing as a guest on my show.
Do you have a financial issue you keep avoiding? Do you need a budget makeover? Are you facing a big decision that you’re having trouble figuring out?
Are you and your spouse on the same page financially? Or maybe you’re finding it tough to set money boundaries with your adult children? Is there a long-term goal you’re having trouble achieving?
If you’re nodding along to any of these questions, I’d love to work through your situation on the show. If you know someone who could benefit from my guidance, please share this opportunity with them. This is a nationwide search.
Here’s the biggest ask. You must be willing to be on camera and to openly discuss your income, budget and debts. My goal is not to embarrass you or expose you to intense scrutiny. My hope is that your experience connects with someone out there who feels unheard, and that when they recognize themselves in your journey, they won’t feel so alone.
As part of the program, I’ll have a recurring featured segment titled “Should I Buy This?”
Think of me as the late movie critics Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert, assessing your next big purchasing decision.
Siskel and Ebert may be gone, but I’m channeling the legendary duo to bring their famous thumbs-up, thumbs-down verdicts to your shopping cart. If the math makes sense, you’ll get my green light. If it doesn’t, I’m shutting it down.
I’ll have interviews with financial experts who can help calm your nerves when stock market volatility keeps you up at night.
Plus, you’ll hear candid interviews with celebrity guests who share their own financial lessons, missteps and hidden costs that come with fame and fortune.
Are you long overdue for a reality check on your finances?
If so, please send an email to [email protected] or fill out the online guest questionnaire. We will begin taping in September, so the sooner you submit a form, the better.
To get updates about the program, I encourage you to subscribe to my free weekly newsletter (washingtonpost.com/newsletters/personal-finance).
Financial advice is never one-size-fits-all. Yet too much of today’s financial advice is either incorrect or a scam, or it promises unrealistic shortcuts to early retirement or debt reduction, turning money management into an exhausting second job.
Personal finance can feel intimidating, but you don’t need to feel embarrassed about what you don’t know. I’m here to offer time-tested advice in a space where no question is too basic.
If you need advice on your finances or just want to hear how others navigate theirs, tune in to my new “Dollars and Sense” vodcast. I’m excited about this new platform, and I’d love for you to be part of it.
The post Need a budget fix? My new video podcast can help. appeared first on Washington Post.
