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Journeys of Financial Wellness
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- 3 weeks ago10 min
Real $tories Episode 80: Debt Settlement Companies
This episode kicks off a new educational series built around a simple idea: personal finance shouldn’t feel so complicated. We’ll break down common money topics and explore ways to make managing your money feel a little more approachable.  Today, we’re taking a closer look at debt settlement.   For anyone struggling with credit card debt, the available options can sound confusingly similar. When money is already a source of stress, it can be difficult to tell which options may help, which carry significant risks, and which are most likely to fit your situation.  To help clear up the confusion, we spoke with a GreenPath expert about how debt settlement companies work, along with their potential costs and risks.   (We’d love your feedback on this new format, as your input helps us shape future episodes! Share your thoughts in our brief survey.)  Key Moments 1:13 Leanne shares her experience considering a debt settlement company. Listen to her full episode here.  3:50 How does debt settlement affect your credit?  4:48 What debt settlement companies may charge  5:41 Potential tax consequences of debt settlement  6:58 Potential legal risks of working with a debt settlement company For a closer look at what to consider, read more about the risks of debt settlement.risks of debt settlement.  GreenPath Financial Service Debt Management Program GreenPath is a trusted national nonprofit since 1961, learn how GreenPath’s Debt Management Program can help you pay off your debt in 3-5 years, while helping you develop sound financial literacy. <div class="wp-block-button gp-content is-style-outline is-style-outlin
- Sep 15, 202659 min
Real $tories Episode 79: SIMON KOMLOS
Simon Komlos’ life has followed a winding road that began in a Hungarian orphanage. At six years old, he told his parents he would become a millionaire one day. When they laughed it off, their reaction only fueled his determination. Against the odds, he achieved that dream before turning 30—but reaching the top wasn’t what he expected, and the experience inspired his next chapter.  That next chapter reflects Simon’s passion for financial literacy. He co-founded a popular financial education app and recently wrote his first book, Start Young and Build Freedom, which teaches entrepreneurship to teens.  Drawing on his own experiences, Simon shares money and life lessons throughout the book—including how moments of greed derailed his finances. He also explains why practicing gratitude has become central to his view of a successful life.  Ready to explore Simon’s lessons on entrepreneurship and financial freedom? Discover the book. For listeners interested in entrepreneurship, GreenPath recently released the Small Business BootcampSmall Business Bootcamp, a free series of online courses that support new small business owners in building a strong financial foundation.   Key Moments 2:56 Simon reflects on his childhood and his dream to become a millionaire.  5:31 He struggles in school but develops other valuable life skills, like coding.  10:24 He considers the cultural differences between Germany and the U.S. and how they shaped attitudes toward money.  13:54 He learns a powerful lesson as a young entrepreneur.  19:00 He gets caught up in the cryptocurrency bubble.  24:58 He details the story of how he cofounded a successful financial education app.  31:28 After achieving his childhood dream, Simon experiences “arrival fallacy.”  33:39 He shares the story of how his book came to life.  43:41 He shares practical advice from the book.  46:17 He discusses the role gratitude plays in pursuing financial goals.  51:50 Simon offers his perspective on debt.  55:55 Our cohosts reflect on the themes from Simon’s story.  GreenPath Financial Service <h2 id="h-debt-management-program" class="wp-block-heading has-primary-color has-text-color has-link-color has-medium-font-size wp-elements-c175a6d9e951f7ecebbc37693af1f287" style="margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--small);margin-bottom:var(--
- Sep 14, 2026
7 Ways to Get Out of Credit Card Debt
Key Takeaways Start with a clear picture of your finances. Understanding exactly where your money goes each month can help you find opportunities to put more toward credit card debt. A payoff plan may combine several strategies. Budget changes, additional income, lower borrowing costs, and a consistent repayment approach can each support progress, depending on your situation. You don’t have to solve debt on your own. A free financial counseling session with GreenPath can help you understand your options, create a personalized action plan, and determine whether a Debt Management Program may help. When groceries, utilities, insurance, and other essentials cost more, a credit card can become the place where the math finally stops working. You charge one expense to make room for another, then watch interest push the balance higher even as you keep making payments. Maybe an emergency started the debt. Maybe your paycheck no longer stretches as far as it did. Or maybe everyday costs have made it harder to pay more than the minimum. Whatever the cause, carrying credit card debt can leave you feeling like you’re working hard without getting ahead. You’re not the only one feeling that squeeze. In a 2026 survey, 56% of consumers said they use credit cards for basics such as groceries, gas, childcare, or utilities. If you’re searching for how to get out of credit card debt, the answer isn’t another lecture about spending. It’s a realistic plan that helps you lower interest costs, create room in your budget, and make steady progress. These seven strategies can help you take the next step from wherever you are now. 1. Build a Credit Card Debt Budget Before you can make meaningful progress on credit card debt, you need a realistic picture of your finances. Start by listing each credit card’s balance, minimum payment, annual percentage rate (APR), and due date. Seeing those details together can help you understand the full picture, avoid missed payments, and decide which account to prioritize. Spend the next 30 days tracking your income, expenses, and spending habits. Review bank statements, credit card transactions, receipts, and subscriptions. Look for patterns that might be draining money without delivering much value. Reviewing several weeks of transactions can reveal recurring services, convenience purchases, and other expenses you may choose to reduce or redirect. The goal isn’t to judge your spending. It’s to identify opportunities to redirect money toward your debt payoff goals. 2. Cut Expenses for Debt Payments When essentials already take up most of your income, there may not be much left to cut. Start with expenses that are optional or flexible, and avoid changes that put housing, food, health care, transportation, or other necessitieshousing, food, health care, transportation, or other necessities at risk. Depending on your budget, that might mean pausing an unused subscriptio
- Sep 8, 2026
Student Loans in 2026: What Borrowers Need to Know
Key Takeaways Federal student loan repayment has fully resumed, making it important to understand your repayment plan, loan servicer, and current loan status. Missing student loan payments can lead to delinquency, credit score damage, and collection activity, making early action critical. If student loan debt is making it harder to manage your budget or other financial goals, GreenPath’s financial counselors can help you create a personalized plan. Student loans can feel like road construction: just when you think you’ve figured out the detour, another sign points you in a different direction. Their impact also extends well beyond the monthly bill. In a 2026 SoFi survey of 1,000 U.S. adults with federal or private student loans, nearly 70% said student loan debt had held them back in life, while about 63% said it significantly limited or prevented them from saving for the future. Those pressures show up in day-to-day decisions: roughly 60% of respondents said student debt had influenced their career or job choice, and 55.5% said it had affected where they chose to live. The survey also found that more than half of borrowers had missed or made a late student loan payment at least once. Whether you’re trying to lower your monthly payment or avoid student loan delinquency, you don’t need to become a student loan expert to make smart choices. A few practical steps can help you avoid costly mistakes and keep your broader financial goals in focus. Federal Student Loan Repayment in 2026: What’s Changed? For many borrowers, 2026 is the first year in quite some time that student loans feel fully back. The pandemic-era payment pause is over. Collections on defaulted federal student loans resumed in 2025Collections on defaulted federal student loans resumed in 2025, and many borrowers are once again seeing student loan activity reflected on their credit reports. At the same time, repayment programs and forgiveness options have continued to evolve, creating confusion about what programs are available and which rules apply. According to Federal Student Aid data through June 2025, approximately 42.3 million recipients held $1.67 trillion in outstanding federal student loans. Student loans remain one of the largest categories of consumer debt in the country. The result is a lot of uncertainty, even among borrowers who have consistently stayed current on payments. If you’ve found yourself wondering whether you’re enrolled in the right repayment plan, eligible for forgiveness, or at risk of falling behind, you’re far from alone. Student Loan Delinquency Is Rising: What Borrowers Should Know One of the biggest student loan developments in 2026? The return of delinquency reporting. During the pandemic-era payment pause, many borrowers had little reason to worry about missed
- Aug 21, 2026
Retirement Planning in Your 20s, 30s, 40s, 50s, and Beyond
Key Takeaways Retirement planning is less about finding extra money and more about making consistent decisions that give your future self more options. Every decade brings different priorities, but it is never too early or too late to improve your retirement outlook. If retirement savings feels overwhelming because of debt, budgeting challenges, or competing financial goals, GreenPath’s financial counselors can help you create a plan that works for your real life. Retirement planning can feel like one of those things you’ll get around to eventually. Right after you finish paying off student loans. Or when the kids are older. Or once you’ve landed the next promotion. Or when life becomes less expensive. (So… never?) The reality is that retirement planningretirement planning is not a single event. It’s a series of small decisions made over decades. Thankfully, you do not need a six-figure salary, a finance degree, or a perfectly optimized investment portfolio to make meaningful progress. In fact, one of the biggest advantages in saving for retirement is time. Even small retirement contributions can grow significantly when given years to compound. And yet, many Americans still feel uncertain. The 2026 Retirement Confidence Survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute and Greenwald Research found that “just over one in five Americans feel very confident about their ability to have enough money to live comfortably throughout their retirement years.” That stress is understandable. Housing costs, healthcare expenses, caregiving responsibilities, and debt can all compete for the same paycheck. Let’s break retirement planning down by age and focus on practical, realistic actions you can take at every stage of life. Why Retirement Planning Matters at Every Age Retirement planning is about more than reaching an arbitrary savings number. It’s about creating future flexibility. The ability to decide when to retire. The freedom to work because you want to, not because you have to. The confidence to handle unexpected expenses without derailing your plans. The encouraging news? Retirement plan design is helping more employees save. Vanguard’s 2026 “How America Saves” report found that participation reached a record 86% among eligible employees in the plans it administers, and 45% of participants increased their savings rate in 2025. Whether you’re just starting to save for retirement or catching up later in life, your next step matters more than your current retirement account balance. Retirement Planning in Your 20s: Build the Habit Your twenties often involve first jobs, student loans, apartment hunting, and figuring out what you’re doing for dinner three nights from now. Retirement can seem impossibly distant. <p class="wp-block-paragraph" style="m
- Aug 14, 202643 min
Real $tories Episode 78: Emily
Emily grew up in a household where money was tight, shaping her mindset around finances as she entered adulthood. Eager to embrace life and support loved ones, she often found it hard to say no—leading to experiences she cherishes, but also to mounting debt she came to regret.  After her boss suggested she reach out to GreenPath, Emily made the call—and felt immediate relief after speaking with a caring financial expert. With GreenPath’s support, she transformed her approach to money and steadily paid down her debt.  Years later, Emily is debt-free and looking toward the future with hope and excitement—dreaming of one day owning a cozy home down a quiet dirt road.  Key Moments 2:19 Emily recalls how money was tight growing up and how her childhood influenced her spending patterns as she became an adult.  5:12 She started using a credit card for her job that eventually caused her some financial struggle.   8:00 As she helps her family members celebrate milestones, Emily’s finances get further strained.  13:35 After she became overwhelmed with her debt, her boss recommended that she reach out to GreenPath.  16:46 She recounts the relief she felt talking to GreenPath.  22:35 Emily discusses how her spending approach with her family has changed as she has become more disciplined with her finances.  25:47 She thinks back to the joyful feeling she had when she became debt- free.  27:53 Her money that had been allocated towards her debts gets used for some unexpected travel and medical expenses.  31:19 She shares her future dreams of homeownership.  39:08 Our co-hosts reflect on the themes and lessons learned from Emily’s story.  As we continue sharing stories like Emily’s, we’re also exploring new ways to bring real-life financial journeys to our audience. Soon, we’ll be testing a fresh format for Real $tories. More to come! GreenPath Financial Service Debt Management Program GreenPath is a trusted national nonprofit since 1961, learn how GreenPath’s Debt Management Program can help you pay off your debt in 3-5 years, while helping you develop sound financial literacy. Learn More<
- Aug 5, 2026
Back-to-School Budget Crunch: What to Do When Expenses Are More Than You Planned
Key Takeaways Back-to-school shopping often creates hidden costs beyond basic classroom supplies, making budget overruns a frequent challenge for parents. Taking immediate inventory, prioritizing essential items, and utilizing alternative purchasing methods can stop overspending in its tracks. If back-to-school expenses leave you feeling overwhelmed or reliant on high-interest debt, GreenPath offers free financial counseling and a debt management program to help you get back on solid financial ground. You start with a reasonable plan: a backpack if last year’s zipper finally gave out, a few notebooks, maybe new shoes if the current pair is barely hanging on. Then the school emails arrive, the supply list gets longer, and suddenly there are classroom fees, activity costs, lunch account deposits, and a calculator your child needs by Friday. That is how a back-to-school budgetback-to-school budget that looked manageable in July can feel stretched thin by August. One trip for basics turns into three, and the “just a few things” list can quickly become a much bigger expense than you expected. If this season has you adjusting, delaying, or rethinking purchases, you are not alone. Back-to-school spending has become one of the most demanding financial moments of the year for many families, especially when everyday costs are already high. How Much Do Families Spend on Back-to-School Shopping? If your back-to-school spending goes over budget, it is easy to wonder if you missed something. But many families are running into the same problem: school supplies, clothing, technology, and activity costs have all become more expensive. According to 2026 data from the National Retail Federation, families with elementary through high school students plan to spend an average of $863.86 on school-related purchases. When you multiply that across two or three children, the total cost can rival major holiday spending. At the same time, household budgets are feeling squeezed from multiple directions. The 2026 Deloitte Back-to-School Survey found that 57% of surveyed parents expect the economy to worsen in the next six months, and 31% qualify as “hyper value-seekers.” Even so, these value seekers expect to spend about $610 per child—14% more than other parents—suggesting that deal-hunting is less about strict cutbacks and more about choosing purchases carefully. When higher everyday costs meet last-minute school needs, even a thoughtful back-to-school budget can get knocked off track. Why Back-to-School Expenses Multiply So Fast Back-to-school expenses can snowball quickly. Here are a few common reasons the final total ends up higher than expected: Hidden fees add up: School supply lists usually cover pens, folders, and notebooks. They may not include athletic fees, art class materials, device protection plans, PTA dues, or school lunch account deposits. Kids outgr
- Jul 28, 2026
How to Talk to Kids About Money During Tough Financial Times
Key Takeaways Honest, age-appropriate conversations about money can help children feel more secure, even when your family is facing financial stress. Everyday moments, from grocery shopping to adjusting family plans, can become opportunities to teach kids about money and build lifelong financial confidence. If financial stress is making it difficult to plan ahead, GreenPath’s free financial counselingfree financial counseling can help you create a realistic path forward for your family. Your child notices more than you think.  Maybe they’ve asked why you’re buying a different brand at the grocery store, skipping your usual Friday night takeout, or saying “not this month” when they ask for something new. Maybe they’ve overheard a conversation about bills or noticed that you seem more stressed than usualmore stressed than usual. Children are naturally observant. Even when parents try to protect them from financial worries, kids often recognize when something has changed. That doesn’t mean they need to know every detail of your family budget. But avoiding money conversations altogether can leave children to fill in the blanks themselves. And for many kids, uncertainty can feel more stressful than a simple, honest explanation. Talking to kids about money during tough financial times isn’t about sharing adult problems. It’s about helping children understand what’s happening in a way that feels safe, honest, and appropriate for their age. Those conversations can provide reassurance today while helping children develop healthy financial habits they can carry into adulthood. Why Talking to Kids About Money Matters Many parents hesitate to discuss money because they don’t want their children to worry. That’s an understandable instinct. But children often sense financial stress whether it’s discussed or not. They notice changes in routines, fewer purchases, canceled plans, or tension between adults. Without context, they may make assumptions or even believe they are responsible for changes happening at home. A calm, age-appropriate conversation can replace uncertainty with reassurance. Recent reporting shows that rising everyday costs are making these conversations more relevant for many families. A 2026 CNBC article noted that many parents are becoming more transparent with their children about money as household budgets tighten, including explaining why certain purchases may need to wait or no longer fit the family budget. The goal isn’t to have a perfect conversation. It’s to create opportunities for children to learn about money and feel secure. How to Talk to Kids About Money: Start with Reassurance, Not Financial Details <p class="wp-block-paragraph" style="margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--smal
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