As we continue our Thoughtful Money Series, today’s episode focuses on the dreadful “d-word” we all know and despise: Debt. Debt is that familiar friend that finds its way into our finances. Some of us blatantly hide our debt from family and friends, while others secretly stash shopping bags and bank statements to avoid money conversations entirely. Regardless, we all tend to not disclose the full truth surrounding our debt and fail to notice when lack of discipline turns on us in our finances. Our guest this week is here to help us move past the disorganization and confusion that is our current financial state and help us put the PERSONAL back into personal finances. She understands that a financial plan isn't one size fits all, and believes that we all have the ability to live our OWN version of a Rich Life. Melody Wright is a trained Ph.D. scientist that left the bench behind to become a Financial Empowerment Coach, Certified Financial Education Instructor, Speaker, and personal finance Author. While she's always had a passion for science, she has an even bigger passion for helping people create a better life through financial education and traded in her safety goggles and pipettes for debt repayment calculators and spreadsheets. When faced with $212K of debt that didn't include their mortgage, she used the analytical skills learned from her time in science to develop a framework that helped her family pay off over $100,000 in debt in less than three years. Now she's living her version of a Rich Life and through bold conversations, coaching, and the creation of strategic money management systems, she has helped thousands of people stop being Aimlessly Broke™ and transform their mindset, behaviors, and practices related to money. Melody has been featured on the Rachael Ray Show, named a new money expert by Glamour Magazine, and has appeared on Grow -CNBC and several podcasts. Key discussion points from this episode include: Command The Stage - 04:16 The 7 Stages Of Grief For Finances - 8:22 Aimlessly Broke vs. Broke On Purpose - 15:22 Navigating Money Conversations & Relationships - 17:19 Pivot Your Financial Goals - 24:13 Create A Space For Financial Success - 29:58 Let Go Of Control - 34:37 It’s Your Turn - 41:01 This episode is brought to you by our complimentary Purpose Chasers community. Want to share your aha moments with a group of like-minded purpose chasers from all over the world? Visit iamapurposechaser.com and join NOW.   Being Broke On Purpose Takeaways “If I’m going to be broke, I want it to be on my own terms. - Melody Wright “Aimlessly broke means that you are broke for no reason, but when you’re broke on purpose, you’re broke, but the reason why you’re broke is because you have a plan and a purpose behind how you’re going to spend your money.” - Melody Wright “Sometimes people will want your results, but not necessarily want the sacrifice.” - Patrice Washington “You can’t look at someone and compare your journey to theirs.” - Melody Wright “Be thoughtful about one goal that you can really attach yourself to and focus on it.” - Melody Wright “Being aimlessly broke means you have a lack of goals or vision for your finances.” - Melody Wright “By working hard in the beginning, we give ourselves an option to slow down later.” - Melody Wright “Even paying off debt can be a form of chasing money.” - Patrice Washington “I believe in investing in the things that bring me joy, but I have to learn how to do it in moderation.” - Patrice Washington “You have to live a life with balance.” - Melody Wright “Recognize the things that bring you joy and create that balance in your life.” - Melody Wright “I will do what God asks me to do because I realize what reward looks like when I am obedient.” - Melody Wright “Everything is aligned for a reason.” - Melody Wright No matter who you are and what you’ve achieved, many of us only feel as good as the last thing we’ve achieved.” -