What starting a photography business taught me about confidence, pricing, professionalism, and building something real. In 2019, I bought a camera because I wanted better football pictures of my son. I accidentally built one of the highest-rated photography businesses in Ashburn, Virginia instead. And along the way, I learned a lot about running a profitable…
🎙️ Blog
🧐 What is Good Debt?
Posted on Author Amanda PoffenbergerPosted in Debt, Good Debt, Interest Rates, Mortgage, RefinanceLeave a Reply
Did you know there’s such thing as “good debt?” I’ve got a low-rate (2.45%) mortgage and 0% car loan at the momentito, and we’re going to dive deep into why this is to my advantage. 📌 TLDR Situation Typical “Pay It Off” Instinct What “Good Debt” Means Why it Can Be Smarter 2-3% Mortgage Throw…
🧮 Elder Care Finances: When Simplifying Makes Sense
With the unexpected passing of my mother in April 2025, my siblings and I went into full crisis mode for my then-85-year-old father, who was living with both advanced heart failure and lung disease/fibrosis. My father was a retired Marine who served in Vietnam as a radar technician, by the way. He was an amazing…
🔑 My Five Key Personal Finance Lessons
Posted on Author Amanda PoffenbergerPosted in 401(k), Key Lessons, Personal Finance, Psychology of Money, Saving, WealthLeave a Reply
I started my adult life in debt, and turned it around to build enough wealth so hubby and I can both retire by 55. Here’s what I’ve learned. TLDR: Let’s Begin at the Beginning After my father lost his job in the 80s, my mom needed to stop being a stay-at-home mom and (re)enter the…
👶🏻 How to Raise Financially Literate Children
As a mom, I am incredibly proud of teaching my son financial literacy. As Chief Engineer of the Hot Mess Express in my 20s, I overcame debt and a near total lack of financial literacy to build enough wealth so hubby and I may be able to retire when we’re both 55. In today’s fast-paced…
🔎 What to Look for in a Financial Advisor
Do you have a financial advisor? That’s not ChatGPT? Hubby and I have had a financial advisor in our lives for over ten years, and I’m telling you, it’s made such a huge difference for us. Until that point, we were barreling through life saving here and there, but without someone to confirm we were…
⚕️ What’s an HSA?
A couple years ago, I decided to switch from a standard healthcare plan to a High-Deductible Healthcare Plan (HDHP) with a Health Savings Account (HSA). Why? I was the only one in my family (out of my husband, son and me) really using our standard healthcare plan, and felt like we were overpaying. The more…
🤖 A ChatGPT Retirement Analysis Prompt
Most people don’t actually know if they can retire when they want—they’re guessing. This is the exact prompt you can use to start getting real answers. I recently created this for my husband and me, and it was incredibly helpful as we’ve entered a new phase of life. I retired from the federal government and…
😵💫 The Psychology of Money
When I was about 8 years old, my father lost his job. It was devastating for my family. We struggled financially, though my parents did an incredible job shielding us from the worst of it. We had a roof over our heads, food in the fridge, clothes on our backs, and we were safe. But…
🐝 Welcome to the Budget Bee!
Are you hungry for some sweet financial perspective that makes you giggle a bit? I’m Mandy, and I’ve learned a thing or two about personal finance, retirement, and even elder care finance management. I’m here to share what I’ve learned with you, and I hope you giggle a bit along the way. Thanks so much…