HerMoney with Jean Chatzky

Episode: A Week In Her Wallet: A 47-Year-Old Who Hasn’t Paid Credit Card Interest in 20 Years
Guest: Megan, age 47, office manager, marathon runner
Date: December 5, 2025

Overview

In this episode of HerMoney’s "A Week in Her Wallet" series, host Jean Chatzky sits down with Megan, a 47-year-old New Yorker who hasn’t paid credit card interest in over 20 years. Megan shares her approach to tracking spending over a week—detailing her separate finances with her spouse, her marathon training expenses, her budgeting philosophies, and why autonomy and intentionality are key to her financial wellness. The episode is full of practical advice and candid reflections on money, relationships, and the value of tracking where your dollars go.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Why Track Spending?

• Curiosity and Openness: Megan volunteered to share her week’s spending out of curiosity and a belief that “we don't talk about money amongst our friends enough” (05:04).
• Nonjudgmental Attitude: She approached the exercise with openness, unfazed whether her totals were high or low.

2. Financial Structure: Separate but United

• Structure Overview: Megan and her husband keep most of their spending money separate but have joint savings. Each pays different bills, with “the biggest bills” (like the mortgage) handled by her husband, and Megan covering utilities and other expenses (05:34, 21:19).
• Why It Works:

  "I’m really pro keeping our money separate or spending money — some of our money separate. It really works for us. I think we both like having autonomy." (18:20)

• Social Reactions: Megan notes mixed reactions from peers and family—some find it surprising, others, especially younger couples, do the same. She attributes differences in practice to generational or life stage factors (17:16, 18:20).

3. Day-By-Day Spending Breakdown

Day 1: Personal Care

• Eyebrow Wax and Tint:
  • $59 service + $12 tip. First time trying tinting, Megan frames it as outsourcing a task, similar to hiring a landscaper (08:24).
  • Notable Quote:

    "It was beautiful and I loved it...then I went back a second time and she like over-waxed them and they were so thin...So I took to the internet and they told me I could just use Just For Men and do it myself for $13. So I’m back to doing it myself. But I did save $70 a month." (09:58)

• Tipping Philosophy:
  • Former food service worker, tips 20% habitually.

    "I’m never going to not offer, and they pretty much always take it." (11:14)

Day 2: The Costco Run

• Groceries and Membership:
  • $130 spent, mostly on groceries, with some impulse buys like protein bars. Notes value in Costco’s executive membership due to regular purchases for household (12:07).
• Marathon Training Cost:
  • “This is my fifth marathon. When I started running, I called it my free hobby. And that couldn't be farther from the truth.” (14:03)
  • Expenses include nutrition, gear, and more frequent takeout.

Credit Card & Budget Mastery

• Zero Interest for 20+ Years:
  • Pays credit card weekly, tracks via spreadsheet.

    “I go in weekly and pay it. I’m constantly looking at that … I keep a spreadsheet, like my check register.” (15:40)

  • Scarred by small debt in early adulthood, resolved to never pay interest again.
  • Key Habit: Moves most paycheck into savings, keeps checking account deliberately low to curb spending temptation (06:43).

4. Philosophy on Joint & Separate Finances

• Generational & Cultural Differences:
  • Megan and her husband married in their 30s, remain childless, and find autonomy in keeping some money separate.
  • Pushes back on research or articles that equate “money together” with more trusting relationships:

    “I took a little offense to it … whatever works for you, you should do. But … it’s such a big part of the reason that our marriage works that we don’t have issues with finances.” (20:16)

5. Social Life & Strategic Indulgence

• Budgeted Social Spending:
  • Coffee shop and bar meet-ups with her running group are routine—and intentionally budgeted, not spontaneous indulgence (28:54).

    “That is a big part of my social life. So it’s sometimes more than … I don’t even go out on the weekends, and we do that. Yeah, that’s budgeted in. That would be one of the last things that came out if I were ever cutting down.” (28:54)

• Intentionality with Takeout:
  • Prefers takeout as a choice, not as a last-minute necessity.

6. Week’s Total and Reflection

• Weekly Spend: About $400, which Megan thought was typical—not particularly lean (29:24, 29:38).
• Advice for Listeners:

  "I think you should definitely [track your spending] because whatever the outcome, it's just more knowledge and you can adjust if you need to, or you can just be happy with it if you're feeling good about it." (30:44)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Paying Off Credit Cards:

  “I haven’t paid interest on a credit card in…I don’t know, 20 years or more, probably since a little after college.” (16:29)

• On Keeping Money Separate:

  “I think that's very polarizing…some people felt the same that I did…some people were saying, I don't want to say that you shouldn't do it, but that was more out of the norm. I don't know if it's a generational thing. I don't know what it is.” (18:20)

• On What’s Worth Spending For:

  “When I go out three days in a row and I spent, let's see, I don't know, $25, but it was because I was socializing with my friends, that's worth it to me. It could be a lot worse if we went out to dinner or brunch. So to me, that's money well spent.” (27:37)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [04:54] Jean welcomes Megan and introduces the episode’s focus
• [05:29] Megan introduces her background, living situation, and income structure
• [08:24] Day 1: Eyebrow waxing and philosophy on outsourcing tasks
• [10:44] Salon tipping customs and changes over time
• [12:07] Day 2: Costco run, grocery spending, and marathon training costs
• [14:03] Real costs of marathon training
• [15:40] How Megan avoids all credit card interest; spreadsheet habits
• [17:16] Separate finances in marriage, generational and cultural context
• [20:16] Discussing the article about couples’ finances and her philosophy
• [21:19] “Yours, mine and ours” breakdown for big goals and practical household split
• [26:09] Social outings with the running club; coffee and takeout spending
• [28:54] Budgeting for social interactions and coffee as a key line-item
• [29:24] Weekly spend total and Megan’s reaction
• [29:38] Reflection and advice on the process of tracking spending
• [29:48] Marathon update—personal best (PR) time!
• [30:44] Final advice to listeners on tracking their own spending

Tone & Style

Throughout, the conversation is warm, practical, occasionally humorous, and always nonjudgmental. Jean and Megan share a candid, relatable discussion, full of actionable tips and clear evidence that intentional money management is both empowering and individual.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Tracking spending, even briefly, is a powerful self-discovery tool.
• Keeping some finances separate in a relationship can foster autonomy and reduce conflict—if it fits your values and circumstances.
• Paying off credit cards weekly and keeping a low-balance checking account are simple yet highly effective anti-debt strategies.
• “Budgeting” doesn't mean inflexibility—there’s space for treats like coffee with friends when you’re intentional and realistic.
• Your financial “normal” may pleasantly surprise you—awareness is the first step to lasting confidence.

For women (and anyone) seeking a down-to-earth approach to finance, this episode offers practical tools, permission to do what works for you, and encouragement to start shining a light on your own wallet—without shame or guilt.