Cait Flanders from the popular personal finance blog Blonde on a Budget and I talk about her recent debt pay-off, her shopping ban and her new simplistic lifestyle. Long episode description: I really looked forward to having Cait Flanders from Blonde on a Budget on my podcast. I think she was actually one of the first guests I approached to be on the show and she said yes right away (thanks Cait!). Not only is Cait one of my all-time favourite personal finance bloggers, we’ve also become really great friends over the past few years. She is seriously just as genuine in-person as she is on her blog, which is why I think we get along so well. I’m a give it to me (and give it to you) straight kinda gal and Cait is definitely one of the most honest people and bloggers I know. Not many people could write about getting themselves out of debt and embarking on a shopping ban like she does. A bit of background on how this episode came together, I actually recorded it on site in Vancouver. I went to Vancouver in March to visit my family and while I was there I had a bit of free time. So, I asked Cait to come over and we recorded this episode together. I was pretty nervous because this was the first time I’d ever used all of my podcast equipment by myself (I previously relied on my audio engineering husband), but luckily I didn’t mess anything up and it went pretty smoothly. Besides Cait being a friend and a favourite blogger of mine, the big reason I wanted her to share her story on my podcast was because it is so relatable. She racked up a bunch of credit card debt, had to move back in with her parents, then started blogging about her situation as motivation to get out of the hole she dug herself. And she did it, and continues to live a more financially responsible lifestyle which includes a shopping ban and living like a minimalist. We mentioned a few resources on the show, so I wanted to include them below. And if you’re just getting into personal finance and budgeting yourself, I highly recommend checking out Cait’s new Mindful Budgeting Program below. It’s a super handy tool to help you start budgeting with your best foot forward! Mentioned on the show 30-Day Minimalism Challenge Helpful budgeting tools The Mindful Budgeting Program Shownotes: jessicamoorhouse.com/3