PODCAST · education
The Jesse Mecham Show
by Jesse Mecham
Money shouldn't be this hard — and it isn't! YNAB founder Jesse Mecham is here to help you finally stop worrying about money and get good at spending it.
Episodes
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For Change
Perhaps the highest form of what money can do for you is for change, that is, to facillitate growth, explore new opportunities, and help transition through different phases of life. Whether it's leaving the workforce to focus on family, moving on from a job you didn't like to pursue a new role…
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For You
Believe it or not, money can also be... for you. To spend on you and your wants. Many people carry around the idea that their money only exists for others, and that they are somehow unworthy of spending on themselves. But part of freeing yourself from money worry is freeing yourself to spend on...
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For Ease
Money can be for now, it can be for later, but it can also be for ease. What do you mean, ease? Simply put, when you get one month ahead on your spending -- you start living on last month's income instead of yesterday's income -- your life gets simpler. No more timing games trying to figure out...
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For Later
What does your money need to do? Last week, Jesse talked about the first answer to this question -- the money "for now," those non-negotiable expenses or goods that need to be paid for or bought in the immediate future. He urged you to consider what exactly what non-negotiable, and that the term...
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For Now
Jesse continues discussing the new central question of the YNAB method -- what does your money need to do? -- which replaced the old commandment to give every dollar a job. There are only five ways to answer this question, but it is deceptively deep. One of those answers is "for now," that is…
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What Is Enough?
Jesse ponders the question -- what is enough? What if you set the bar at physical subsistance, enough food, shelter, and clothing to be secure? If that is enough, then everything you have beyond it is extra. When you set the bar there, then everything you spend on extra takes on more meaning --...
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Slow Down
In keeping with the theme of last week's episode and reducing your information intake, today Jesse encourages reducing your to-do lists as well. Referencing Oliver Burkeman's Four Thousand Weeks, he points out that waiting to relax and engage in leisure until after the to-do list is finished is a...
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Information Overload
YNAB is all about creating clarity with your money, and that central question -- what does it need to do? -- and therefore, clarity in your life. Clarity is very difficut, if not impossible, to achieve when you are overloaded and overwhelmed with inputs. Today Jesse challenges you to unhook...
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The Most Important Thing Is Right In Front of You
Jesse reflects on the technological and cultural sea change underway as AI permeates everyday life. After publishing his new book, Never Worry About Money Again, Jesse scheduled the release of the audiobook version -- which he recorded himself in a studio in Salt Lake City -- only to find that...
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Ask Jesse: Ditching Credit Cards, Leasing Teslas, What Jesse Eats for Breakfast
In part 3 of the latest installment of Ask Jesse, Jesse reflects on his 2023 experiment of ditching his credit card and spending only with a debit card -- which he stills does today! He also answers a question about what he eats for breakfast, and shares how his experience leasing a Tesla (which…
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Ask Jesse: Getting Your Partner On Board with YNAB, Kids Savings Accounts, and YNAB'ing with Kids
In part 2 of the latest installment of Ask Jesse, Jesse offers some advice about how to work with a spouse who is reluctant or disinterested in YNAB. He also discusses savings accounts for kids, and how the Mecham family uses YNAB with the kids, at each stage of age and maturity. Got a question…
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Ask Jesse: Pre-Tax vs Roth IRA's, Giving Dollars Jobs in Retirement, Saving for Multiple Goals at Once
Jesse's answering questions from his inbox, including questions about which retirement accounts to contribute to, how to save money in retirement when you don't have an income, and how a young person can save for multiple goals at the same time. Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email:...
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Never Worry About Money Again (An Excerpt)
Jesse reads a short excerpt from his new book, Never Worry About Money Again. How does it feel to not worry about money day to day? It's not the end of all worry, but the freedom from money worry gives you the space to think about and work through the rest of your life. As Jesse says, the way you...
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Signs You Need to Work on Your Money Skills
Pre-order Jesse's new book! www.neverworryaboutmoneyagain.com Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: [email protected] Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official Twitter/X: @ynab Tik Tok: @ynabofficial
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I Just Wanted a Donut
Jesse shares a story about how one little donut that he passed by every day on his way to class as a struggling college student inspired him to develop a method for managing money that transformed his life, and millions of others by creating YNAB. Pre-order Jesse's new book now!...
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Sticking It to the Bankers
Americans have done it again, setting a record $1.25 trillion in credit card debt as of Q1 2026. There was a time in not too distant history, however, when credit card debt went down, and bankers were afraid, at least for a little bit. Getting good at money doesn't have to be hard, and money...
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Getting Good at Money Is for Both of You
For those in relationships, getting good at money is not just a gift to yourself, it's a gift to you and your partner. Getting good at money means spending well, and spending well for a couple means putting more of yourselves out into the world via your dollars. Spending well leads to alignment,...
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From Good to Great at Money: Becoming a New You
Over the last several weeks Jesse has laid out some of the hallmarks of going from being bad at money (which is, frankly, how most of us start out) to good at money, including the benefits of being good at money -- less stress and anxiety, enjoying life more, engaging with life more. All these…
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Jesse Has a New Book! Never Worry About Money Again
That's right, Jesse has a new book out and it's available for pre-order now. After twenty years of running YNAB and a decade plus of podcasts, Fan Fests, speaking engagements, and more, Jesse has distilled his thinking about money into his best work: Never Worry About Money Again. Getting good at...
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Bad to Good... It's More You
When you're no longer stressed about money, you begin to enjoy the things you like guilt-free. Whether it's a treat or a tool or an experience you've always wanted, getting good at money frees you up to pursue happiness in life and express more of yourself in the world. In short, it's makes you...
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Going From Bad to Good with Bills
How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: [email protected] Follow YNAB on social media:...
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Going from Bad to Good with Money
When you're bad at money, it only brings you worry. Get good at it, however, and it's empowering. Like Thanos' gauntlet. How do you get good with money? YNAB is a great place to start! Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at ynab.com/jesse Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube:...
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Face Reality, Get Good with Money
Reality can be a scary thing. When we're bad with money (and most of us start that way), money feels, well... we'd rather just not look. Maybe if we don't look, that thing we're worrying about -- not having enough for looming bills, going into debt -- well maybe it will just go away. But we don't...
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Writing A Letter from Your Future Self
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: [email protected] Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official...
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Writing a Letter to Your Past Self
Jesse offers a thought experiment (or a real experiment if you choose to actually do it, which you should!): write a letter to your past self -- you get to decide how long ago -- teaching him or her about money. Tell them about the things you've learned, some of the mistakes you've made, and what...
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The Moment You Realize You're Good With Money
Jesse recalls his experience as a young missionary in Germany struggling to learn the language. Every day he would take notes of words or phrases he didn't know, and every evening he would study those words. Then one day, he had a conversation with a man in Stuttgart, and he answered completely…
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The Unfair Advantage of Being Good with Money
At YNAB we often talk about how getting good with money can help you reduce stress, improve your confidence, improve your relationships, and generally bring you a sense of peace and security -- which is true! There are also some hard mathematical advantages to getting good with money. Jesse…
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What My Kids Think About Money After 21 Years of YNAB
For a lot of people, money carries a lot of negative connotations and emotional baggage. But when you ask kids about money, before they have had a chance to develop negative associations with it, you can hear a different story. Jesse asked his kids what they thought about money and shares some of...
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Who Could You Become If You Weren't Worried About Money?
It's an interesting question, isn't it? Imagine for a second... your credit cards are paid off, you have cash in the bank, your bills are on autopay and you don't even know when they will hit because you already have the money in your account. In fact, you get to the first day of the month and…
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You're Not You When You Are Worried About Money
Remember those Snickers commercials about people acting out because they were "hangry?" We could say the same thing happens to people who are stressed about money. Maybe you're shorter with your kids, maybe you feel pressure to work more hours, to move faster, maybe you argue with your spouse…
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Money Destroys Relationships... But It Doesn't Have To
Money is the source of many relationship conflicts. It's the number one reason cited for divorce, for one. Money can, frankly, destroy relationships, but it doesn't have to. You can claim ownership of your money, and rid yourself of money stress -- and by extension, reduce your relationships…
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Start Where You Are, Not Where You "Should Be"
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: [email protected] Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at: www.youneedabudget.com Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official...
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Seeing the Whole Picture When You Spend
One of the interesting effects of using YNAB is how it shapes your vision of money through multiple viewpoints. There's the spending you are doing now, when you make a transaction, then there's the tradeoff that spending causes in the future, becuase the spending you do now impacts the spening…
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Waking Up From a Financial Bender? Don't Look Back
If life has pummeled you, and you've woken up from a financial bender -- hundreds of uncategorized transactions in YNAB with no recollection of what happend to all that money -- it's ok. Just get back on the horse and start again. Jesse offers a humorous, and helpful, solution. Categorize all…
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Bad With Money? It's Just a Skill Issue
If you think you're bad with money, you're not alone. Money management is not something that comes natural to most, and it's certainly not something that most of us are taught. But getting good with money is a skill, and that's good news! No matter where you are starting, you can get better at...
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Unpaid Bills Are Parasites
You've probably got an item or two on your to-do list that you never seem to get to. Whenever you think about, you aren't in a position to act on it. There always seems to be something in the way when you have time and attention to complete the task. Yet these open loops, as they are sometimes...
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Want to Stop Impulse Spending? Try Making a List
Almost everyone spends on impulse from time to time -- it's pretty normal human behavior -- but we don't always want to spend impulsively. Jesse recommends a simple strategy for dealing with your impulses: make a list! Write down all the things you want as they come to you. Sometimes the act of...
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Should I Build My Savings or Get Rid of Debt?
According to YouGov, one of the top resolutions for 2026 is saving more money. While Jesse has issues with the concept of "saving" money as he has discussed in previous podcasts, the intention is still clear -- people want to get to a more stable financial position, which (for most) means more…
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It Matters
One small change can make a huge difference. Jesse shares a recent experience with his strength training. After stagnating and failing to make gains for a long while, he read about a simple post workout drink consisting of protein and dextrose powder. He tried it, felt his recovery jump through…
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Do This Now for a Better December
Happy New Year, Merry Christmas, and Happy Holidays! We hope you had a wonderful holiday season. Now that it's January once more, it's time to tally up the damage from the holiday season... that is, if you didn't plan for the damage already! Unfortunately, Christmas and New Year's is a season…
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Buy Or Rent? The Real Question You Should Be Asking...
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: [email protected] Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official…
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More Money = Less Stress? Think Again
It's a common trap to think that making more money is the answer to your financial worries. Many people think that if they just had a bigger income, then they'd be able to afford everything they needed and wanted, and they wouldn't have to worry anymore. But a recent experience reminded Jesse…
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How Savers Become Spenders
Everyone is familiar with the "savers and spenders" dichotomy: some people identify as savers and others spenders, the implication being that spenders are irresponsible with money and savers are wise and frugal. As Jesse has argued, it's a false dichotomy. In fact, YNAB's overarching goal is to...
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Want to Stop Worrying About Money? It's All About Timing
Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow Got a question for Jesse? Send him an email: [email protected] Sign up for a free 34-day trial of YNAB at www.youneedabudget.com Follow YNAB on social media: Facebook: @ynabofficial Instagram: @ynab.official…
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You're Bad With Money. Here's How to Fix It
The average person is bad at money. Actually, most people are bad at money! Living paycheck to paycheck, with little to no savings and a lot of debt is the norm. But you don't have to be. Learning to spend well is the key to learning to be good with money, because all things finanical flow from...
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Delay... Not Debt
Jesse shares a story about helping his daughter use YNAB to plan her spending and save for an electric bicycle. The bike was $600, quite a big ticket item for a 9 year old, but together they came up with a plan and created a target in YNAB to assign money toward that goal each month. And when the...
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Jesse Is Taking a Short Break: Stay Tuned!
Jesse is taking a short break while he's on the road. He'll be back in a couple weeks! Follow Budget Nerds on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuIUGmbCDklkDCDm-cQqv2g Watch The Jesse Mecham Show on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@jessemechamshow Got a question for Jesse? Send him an...
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Changing The Rules of Money | Dave Crombleholme Live from Fan Fest Minneapolis 2025
In today's episode, Jesse hands over the mic to YNAB team member Dave Crombleholme, who presented at the Minneapolis Fan Fest in June 2025. Dave is perhaps most famous for his idea of the Wish Farm at YNAB, but he's also spent a long time wrestling with the word budget. In Dave's presentation, he...
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Money Is the Medium, Money Is You | Jesse Live from Fan Fest Minneapolis 2025
In June 2025 at YNAB Fan Fest Minneapolis, Jesse gave a talk about how money is a medium -- not just of exchange, but, ultimately, of you. When you really examine what it is that money does in the world, it is a thing which translates your energy and effort (required to earn the money) into...
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How to Stop Worrying About Money (If You're Not a Billionaire)
When worry creeps in to your money, the knee jerk response is to think: "I just need to make more money, that will solve my problems." But as Jesse shares in a humorous conversation with his daughter, it's interesting how quickly you can spend more and more money in your mind. Unless you're a...
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does The Jesse Mecham Show have?
The Jesse Mecham Show currently has 831 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is The Jesse Mecham Show about?
Money shouldn't be this hard — and it isn't! YNAB founder Jesse Mecham is here to help you finally stop worrying about money and get good at spending it.
How often does The Jesse Mecham Show release new episodes?
The Jesse Mecham Show releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 831 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to The Jesse Mecham Show?
You can listen to The Jesse Mecham Show on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts The Jesse Mecham Show?
The Jesse Mecham Show is created and hosted by Jesse Mecham.
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