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NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

NerdWallet's Smart Money Podcast

Budget Rehab: A Debt-Free Couple Plans for a Wedding, House and Baby (Plus: Inside Disaster Betting Markets)

Sep 10, 2026 · 38m

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On this episode

About this episode

Learn how a debt-free couple budgets for a wedding, a house and a baby, plus why disaster betting markets are booming. How much of a $20,500 monthly income could go toward a wedding, a first home and a future baby, all within the same few years? Hosts Sean Pyles, CFP®, and Elizabeth Ayoola sit down with a debt-free military couple, Jack and Lauren, to dig into their budget and figure out where their savings could be prioritized. You'll hear how the couple built their monthly numbers, how their retirement contributions stack up years down the road, and where spending on subscriptions, transportation and eating out is quietly adding up. Would you bet money on whether a hurricane makes…