What We Spend
What We Spend is a podcast that invites people from across the United States to openly discuss their personal finances. Each episode features a different individual sharing details about their income, spending habits, and financial goals over the course of a week. The show aims to provide a transparent and relatable look at how diverse households manage their money. Listeners are encouraged to submit their own stories to be featured on the podcast.
Episodes
I’m Obligated To Think About Privilege, Even If it’s Painful
Charlie, a recent college grad, comes from a wealthy family—and he has complicated feelings about it. That's part of what drew him to a job in the Netherlands, which he hopes might offer a greater sense of equality, its stronger public services, and overall better “vibes” than the US. We follow Charlie through his first week in the workforce and see how it changes the way he thinks about money, pr
One Paycheck, Two Kids, and 10% to the Church
Alyssa is a postal worker and her family’s primary breadwinner, so budgeting is serious business. Her magic spreadsheet is the key to making her salary stretch to meet the demands of her growing family, their tithing obligations, and ideally a little fun. And right now it’s more serious than ever: she’s on unpaid maternity leave. Join Season 2 host Lloyd Lochridge as he follows Alyssa through a we
Introducing: What We Spend, Season 2
Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend.
Laying the Foundation
It’s not always easy being a woman in construction. But for Alden, a union carpenter in Massachusetts, the challenges come with a big payoff: the most financial stability she’s ever had.
The Cost of Feeding America, from Giving Done Right
Sharing an episode of Giving Done Right, a podcast from the Center for Effective Philanthropy about how to make an impact with your charitable giving.
Shifts in federal policy and funding have profoundly impacted the nonprofit sector, and it has never been more urgent that donors act decisively and wisely. You’ll hear from experts across the social sector who shed light on the rapidly shifting la
Here Comes the Bill
Dan is a university post doc in the midwest. He’s getting married next spring— and discovering just how expensive weddings really are.
Death Admin
A few years ago, Alissa suffered the devastating loss of her husband. In the aftermath, she was left to navigate not just grief, but all the financial questions and decisions that came with his death —finding work, supporting four kids, and the emotional weight of figuring out how to use the money he left behind.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespe
Joint Accounts
Charli is a filmmaker living in the Bible Belt. They’re on the brink of a big step in their relationship – moving in together and merging finances.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
New Grad, Now What?
Jacob just graduated college in Wisconsin — but his degree in computer science might not mean what it used to. Now, he’s struggling to land a full-time job and questioning what comes next.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Business is Booming
Mick owns a fireworks shop in Indiana. We'll follow him during the week leading up to July 4th — his busiest and most profitable time of year.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Surviving DOGE
Scotty is a federal employee in Washington, D.C. He's made it through multiple rounds of DOGE layoffs, but the uncertainty has forced him to think more seriously about the future—and whether, even if he keeps his job, he can afford the life he wants.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
I Try to Be Transparent About My Level of Privilege
Morgan works as a consultant, but her income is not the only thing making her life possible. She’s opening up about her financial privilege, her relationship to it, and why she thinks more people should do the same.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
How To Be a (Working) Rock Star
Mel is a touring musician based in Pennsylvania. But despite her many successes in the music industry, she still has to work odd jobs to fund her rock star dreams.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Always On the Clock
Eryka is a professor and a bartender in Pittsburgh, who is used to working a lot of jobs to support herself. But after years of working non-stop, Eryka is slowing down a little, and assessing what she wants her work to look like now.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
The Kids Are Grown — Now What?
Molly is a lawyer in Chicago, whose youngest kid is about to leave for college. As she prepares to be an empty nester, she’s thinking about selling her house and looking ahead to a whole new chapter.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
On FIRE
Michelle is a copy writer in Australia, and she’s part of the FIRE movement—Financial Independence, Retire Early. After watching how her parents worked, she set out to take a different path—and retire by 35.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Single Dad Comes Back to Shore (Part 2)
Last week we heard from Michael, a single dad of twins in Massachusetts. This week he’s leaving all the hidden fees and mishaps of the cruise and returning home—where it’s much harder to ignore the weight of his current financial situation.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Single Dad at Sea (Part 1)
Michael is a single dad of twins in Massachusetts. He’s overwhelmed by the costs of raising a family on a teacher’s salary, but this week he’s trying to escape it all—by going on a cruise.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
How to Support 10 Kids? Write 55 Books
Angela is a single mom raising 10 kids in Iowa. She manages a lively home, all while supporting her family with a career that isn’t guaranteed to be lucrative — writing novels.
If you want to learn more about the organization that supported Angela, Dress for Success, check out their website: https://dressforsuccess.org/
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at
Full Time CryBaby
Yuhas is leaving behind their career as a makeup artist to step into a new one—as a drag queen. Performing as CryBaby, they're about to make their full-time debut.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
America's Working Homeless
Last week, we spoke to Maxine—a long-haul trucker who works full-time, but still lost her home when she could no longer pay her rent. We wanted to know how that could happen. And it turns out, the problem is much bigger than we thought.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Paid by the Mile
Maxine is a long-haul truck driver in North Carolina. She loves her job, but she doesn't make enough to pay her bills.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Getting by as a Teacher's Assistant
Victoria is a preschool teacher's assistant in New Jersey. She's struggling to make ends meet—and weighing whether to get her teaching license.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
At the End of a Broadway Run
Olivia is an actress in New York City. She's in the last week of her Broadway show, and facing the uncertainty many actors face between gigs— unemployment.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you. Write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Trying, Really Trying, to Enjoy Spending
Helena works remotely as a marketing director. This week, she's traveling—part of her new goal to stress less and enjoy her money.
If you want to be on What We Spend, we'd love to hear from you: write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Retired and On Edge
Cherry worked as a social worker in Massachusetts for nearly 40 years. Now, she's adjusting to retirement, and questioning whether it was the right decision.
The Price of Parenthood
Jay is a Religious Studies professor in Maine. He has a toddler, a newborn, and a new outlook on money.If you want to be on What We Spend, we’d love to hear from you: write us at whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Trapped by Student Debt
Kellie is the Director of Client Services at a medical spa in Utah. She wants a kid and a home, but she has over $150,000 in student debt. If you want to be on What We Spend, we’d love to hear from you.Write us at: whatwespendpodcast@gmail.com
Introducing: What We Spend
Imagine if you could ask someone anything you wanted about their finances. On What We Spend, people from across the country and across the financial spectrum are opening their wallets—and their lives—to tell you everything: what they make, what they want, and—for one week—what they spend.
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